Written by: Johnny Tan, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Since 9th grade, I spent the energizing days and weeks at the beginning of each new year carefully planning for the next 12 months. Over the years, during these times of reflection, one of the most treasured moments is reminiscing the assuring care and support I received from my 9 moms. It seemed like yesterday that my Malaysian mom, Nyah, uttered these encouraging words, “The day we stop learning is the day we give up on living.” Her intention is plain and simple. I need to have an attitude that every day is a new beginning. There is so much for me to seek and understand. I should not be discouraged and squander it away because of yesterday's problems and interruptions.
My mom believes we are born with a unique fingerprint of Divineness. Our given instinctive traits, fears, passions, and desires reflect our authentic genius self. The summation of these ingredients makes us who we are. She also believes that we are born into a specific family, place, and with particular challenges, requiring specialized nurturing, to learn and grow into who we are destined to become. My life's journey began when I was adopted at birth by my Malaysian mom. I spent the first 18 years of my life learning from her. One of the lessons she taught me was everyone possesses a seed of greatness. The essence of this seed, when nurtured carefully, allows the “Genius” in us to create our goals, dreams, and desires, prompting the “Talent” in us to accomplish them with a heartfelt passion! She believes this seed is the key to a successful life.
Four months after my 18th birthday, I landed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to attend Louisiana State University. A year later, just before my spring semester finals, I received a letter from home informing me of my father's sudden passing. The ensuing challenges led me to make decisions setting the course of my life, which caused me to not set foot in Malaysia again for 15 years. During this time, while living on my own in Baton Rouge, I began the journey of meeting my eight other moms, one at a time, over the next eighteen years. The timing of these incredible women appearing in my life was God-sent. These ladies found a way to mold my soul and guide my heart. They were my teachers, coaches, and counselors. We celebrated my achievements, teared up over my heartaches, and smiled during my contemplations. They consistently lauded my accomplishments, even when I was a little short of the targets at times. Collectively, my 9 moms used the “Power of Words” laced with unconditional motherly love to console, comfort, and cheer me on throughout the year.
As I reflect upon all the hits and misses in my life during the last 12 months, the introspection provides me with “A Rear View Vision of the Opportunities and Possibilities Ahead.” If I don't know what went wrong and take ownership, I can't proceed forward successfully. As I redesign my annual “New Year, New Me” plan, the exercise reveals what I need to learn and where I need to grow. It also shows me how to continue to live my life with passion by adjusting my thoughts and behavior tendencies, as “Passion is What the Heart Creates, and the Mind Formulates!”
Little did I know back then, at 18, an essential recipe for living life my Malaysian mom taught me became the guiding light in my voyage to discovering my “Genius Zone.” Today, two words, Resilient and Inspirational, best describe my life's journey. The relationships with my 9 moms and their unconditional motherly love helped define the road to my success, knowledge, and wisdom. I came to the United States pursuing a degree in Agricultural Engineering from LSU. Instead, I graduated from the University of Life, mastering the power of relationships, the nature of love, and the meaning of life! Thanks to my 9 moms, I learned that engaging others with authentic integrity, listening with empathy, and speaking with humility leads to real connections, true love, and joyful living. Along the way, at 33, I was a successful COO managing 25 restaurants with over 600+ multigenerational employees. Seven years later, I left the company to start my own business. In 2007, I experienced a spiritual awakening while writing my first book to honor my 9 moms. That pivotal moment in my life gave birth to my third career. Since then, From My Mama's Kitchen® platform has slowly become my main focus. Over the years, I have helped thousands of individuals through my book, radio show, keynotes, workshops, personal sessions, words have power clothing and merchandise collection, and most recently with a monthly digital magazine, “Inspirations for Better Living.” Our team of experts (former guests of FMMK Talk Radio) shares real-life stories to help moms navigate the motherhood journey as the COOs, if not the CEOs of their families. When mommy feels great, empowered, and happy, the ripple effect permeates throughout her circle of influence ‒ her family, neighborhood, and community. She matters in heart, mind, body, and spirit.
So, What is the “Genius Zone,” you asked? Here is where Curiosity turns chaos into peace. The Clarity produces a Creative mindset, which initiates the Courage to act with quiet, graceful Confidence. Living in the moment allows the celebration of successes as they occur. The perpetual synergy of Success, Harmony, and Joy inspires us to continue to Dream, Achieve, and Become. We are now Flowing with Life's Rhythm utilizing our Divine Emotional Intelligence Skills while experiencing an ever-expanding personal “Bubble of Quiet Confidence!”
One of the things my Italian foster mom, Carol, taught me was, “Wisdom is what we experience when we combine knowledge, understanding, and compassion.” Once we acknowledge that our true nature is more than a few personality traits, interests, and experiences, we will understand that what makes us essentially unique is that we are capable of changing our tomorrow by using yesterday as a point of reference and today as the launching pad for hope.
When we realize how our experiences contribute to "us" during our journey, we are ready to live with the synergy of oneness with our highest self and the immense potential we hold in each moment. By allowing Curiosity to educate us about ourselves, others, and the world, we allow faith, hope, and love to help us overcome fear, doubt, and anxiety. Clarity activates our creativity and ignites our Courage to act. We now find ourselves on the cusp of “an Ending and a New Beginning!” Success and joyful living are “Learning New Things” in our unique way. I hope the snippet of my life's experience will empower you to use your “rear view vision of opportunities and possibilities” to successfully navigate your "New Year, New Me" aspiration. Regardless of where you are in your journey, always remember; “Every Plan in Life is Different. Each Leads to Its Own Perfection. Every Moment is a Conscious Choice. Always allow Faith to Comfort, Hope to Inspire, and Love to Empower!” The most crucial life lesson I have learned is that “Real Wealth is not What We Accumulated. It Is What We Give Away!” Everyone has his or her interpretation of the word Wealth; mine is “Knowledge, Wisdom, and Time.” I am at my best when I share them with others. For me, contributing to people's happiness, being a blessing in their life, and helping them experience the abundance of their highest self, brings me enormous JOY! As an invited new executive contributor to Brainz Magazine for 2022, I would like to extend my invitation to you to join me once a month as we journey and navigate our way to live and perform in our respective “Genius Zone!”
With gratitude and blessings always,
Johnny Tan
Social Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO, From My Mama’s Kitchen®, Experiential Keynote Speaker, Executive Career & Life Coach, Mentor, Multi-Award Winning & Bestselling Author, Talk Show Host, Publisher of Inspirations for Better Living, and REIKI Master Teacher & Healer. Top 100 Visionaries in Education Award Winner 2020-2021 (Global Forum for Education and Learning ‒ GFEL)
Johnny Tan, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Johnny Tan's life journey and spiritual awakening have prepared him to be a compelling, fresh voice for conscious living and working. A former young successful COO at 33, and now, as an experiential keynote speaker, executive career & life coach, and mentor, he inspires and empowers others to reach their highest potential with a profound transformative message; “Resilience ‒ Designing Our Life to Live and Perform in Our Genius Zone.” Here is where we experience the Synergy of Success, Harmony, and Joy in everything we do!
Johnny is a Social Entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of From My Mama's Kitchen®, publisher of “Inspirations for Better Living” digital magazine, and the author of the multi-award-winning and bestselling book honoring his 9 Moms, From My Mama's Kitchen ‒ “food for the soul, recipes for living.” His “Words Have Power” approach to life helps people discover and connect with their highest self through inspiring quotes. Johnny was recently awarded the prestigious 2020-2021 Top 100 Visionaries in Education by the Global Forum for Education and Learning (GFEL). He is also a REIKI Master Teacher & Healer.
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