Health

I kicked off my reflection by considering my health. As I reflected, getting enough quality sleep is crucial for a productive day. It enables me to concentrate better on my daily plans, maximising the value I get out of my time. Moreover, having sufficient sleep helps me manage the mental stress levels. On days when sleep was lacking, I'd occasionally feel a bit on edge with my emotions. After experimenting with different sleep durations, I've realised that I'm at my best with a solid 6-7 hours of sleep per day.

It's crucial to do more exercise to boost overall health and well-being. I've experience in various workouts like HIIT, running, hiking, table tennis, and jumping rope. I set a daily goal of 30 minutes of exercise too. However, I struggled to keep the exercise routine intact because of heavy workloads and lots of travelling. My health took a hit—started my days tired, felt some shoulder pain, and the scale kept inching up. I recognised the substantial impact of this on my daily routine, prompting me to make an effort to reestablish the habit of exercising. I discovered that building a habit takes being in the right environment and maintaining discipline, a lesson learned from the Atomic Habit book, and it typically takes at least 3 months. Moreover, during my travels, the ever-changing environment had a detrimental effect on my motivation and the consistency of my habit. Consequently, I realised the importance of preparing myself to adapt to diverse situations and environments to sustain the habit. Here are examples of how I made it happen:

• When space for exercise was lacking, I had to either create or find a suitable place.
• In the absence of equipment, I had to either purchase the necessary gear or engage in alternative exercises without equipment.
• Faced with weather or time changes, I had to maintain discipline in the initial days, allowing my body to gradually adapt to these variations.
  It's worth highlighting that forming a habit takes a minimum of 3 months, but it can unravel in just 2 weeks. Following a series of activities and travel, I recently embarked on rebuilding my exercise routine from the start of December. My aim is to reduce some weight and add a bit more muscle to complement various outfits. To stay on track, I invested in a Garmin watch and a new pair of running shoes, serving as reminders to keep up with daily exercise.

Since September, I've been dealing with some serious morning sneezing, possibly attributed to the early stages of hay fever or the presence of dust around me. After returning to Melbourne in early December, I cleaned my room, altered my workspace, and invested in an air purifier to minimise dust. After using the air purifier for a few weeks, I've noticed an improvement, with a gradual decrease in the frequency of my sneezing.

A significant move I made this year was getting porcelain veneers at the dentist's, even though it came with a hefty price tag. I'm happy with this decision because it enhances my appearance and boosts my confidence, especially during presentations. This experience taught me the importance of both a polished appearance and high-level knowledge in meeting business standards. A good appearance often sets a positive tone, facilitating a smoother flow in presentations.

Travel

Traveling is a fantastic way of acquiring experience and gaining a deeper understanding of the world around us. In comparison to the past few years, I embarked on numerous journeys this year, both for personal and business reasons. Within Australia, I explored various places such as Ballarat, the Grampians, Healesville, and Eildon Lake. Internationally, I've been to India, Singapore, the U.S., and Vietnam. Further details of these trips are outlined below.

Camping and Outdoor Activities

In February, my family and I took a trip to the Grampians. We booked motel rooms in Halls Gap for a night. Within two days, we explored Bellfield, Zumsteins, and various nearby mountains for photography activities. Additionally, I made it a personal routine to wake up early in the morning, around 5 AM, to go out, meditate, and enjoy the Winter season's natural beauty. This trip also taught me valuable lessons on preparing items and food for similar long journeys in the future.

I travelled to Ballarat several times this year to catch up with my friends. I relished the cold weather in this place in this place during the autumn and winter seasons. The Ballarat Botanical Gardens looked stunning in the autumn season with colourful flowers and the cool atmosphere. Additionally, St. George's Lake is fantastic for picnics and hiking activities. My friends and I also visited the Art Gallery of Ballarat and took a tour of Sovereign Hill, two must-visit places in Ballarat. Overall, I gained great experiences and enjoyed wonderful moments with my friends in Ballarat.

I travelled to Eildon Lake for camping with my friends this year. It was a road trip from Melbourne CBD. We took a break in Healesville along the way. The cold weather in both Eildon Lake and Healesville was fantastic. Camping overnight in Australia was a first for me, and the trip taught me valuable skills such as preparing essentials and food, setting up a tent, and acquiring necessary information for camping activities. I particularly enjoyed the morning hike at Eildon Lake and reveled in its beauty during the autumn season.

India

I travelled to India for the Global Investors Summit 2023 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, marking several first-time experiences:

1. It was the first time with flights more than 8 hours of flight, including transit stops in two places such as Singapore and Bali.
2. This visit marked my first time setting foot in India.
3. I attended a large-scale business event for the first time.
4. It was also my first time presenting on India's media channels.

During the 3-day stay in Visakhapatnam, I gained insights into business, Indian culture, and cuisine:

• The first day of an event is always the most important one.
• Preparation of at least one compelling story for media interactions is crucial.
• India's competition with China extends across biotech and manufacturing, with a focus on infrastructure investments and government strategies supporting startups and international investors.
• Industrial sectors such as logistics, transportation, and renewable energy play a pivotal role in India's economic growth.
• Politics indirectly influences mass production.
• A significant portion of India's IT workforce is engaged by large companies for product-centric work rather than contributing to innovation across multiple industries.
• Despite its proximity to the sea, the air pollution in the area is notably high.

After Visakhapatnam, I travelled to Hyderabad, where I spent 2.5 days. My activities in Hyderabad include:

• I discovered variations in cuisine from city to city, engaging in street food exploration and observing daily life activities, including a visit to the grocery store D-Mart.
• I explored Golconda, an ancient architectural marvel, and delved into the dynamics of the old city and the art museum to gain insights into India's history and culture.
• I explored Charminar, a renowned attraction, to observe local market activities.
• A trip to Ameerpet, an IT district in Hyderabad, exposed me to a hub of technology tutorials. It is worth noting that I travelled to this place by auto rickshaw and train.
• A visit to T-Hub, India's largest incubation center, provided a firsthand look at the vibrant startup ecosystem, where funded startups across diverse industries collaborate and thrive.
  Reflecting on the overall journey, it was a great trip to India. I packed my bags with valuable lessons learned from this enriching experience and went back to Australia.

The U.S

I travelled to the U.S, marking the other first-time experiences:

1. Fulfilling a long-held dream, I stepped foot on the U.S.
2. I flew with United Airlines for the first time, enduring the longest flight of around 14 hours.
3. Observing daily life and delving into U.S. culture was a great experience.
4. In comparison to Australia, I was a bit surprised when seeing many electric vehicles in this country.
5. I had the the first-ever longest road trip from Atlanta to Boston, including my first encounter with a car incident on a highway.
6. I experienced the scorching heat of Dallas, Texas, during summer.
7. Trying out Airbnb accommodations was a first for me.
8. Meeting and presenting to business owners, directors, and venture capitalists was another first-time experience.
9. Seeing the White House in person and exploring Times Square in New York were great moments.
10. Visiting Harvard University in Boston marked yet another great milestone.

During my one-week stay in San Francisco, I gained insights into startup culture, the mindset of U.S. business people, the industrial market, and effective business presentation techniques. Many lessons were learned, prompting me to share the majority in other blog posts while highlighting a few key takeaways:

• I learned that prioritisation is one of the important things that people are educated about in this country. Even with many problems to be solved, capital will always be allocated to companies that address pressing challenges. Due to this mindset, business people in the U.S. tend to be direct to the point. For example, if they are not interested in a business presentation, they express it directly to save time for other important work. Another example is when presenting to capitalists; you need to directly convey your ideas and what you need to make those ideas happen.
• There are many technologies and services such as Google Fi, Amazon Streaming, and others available in the U.S. but not in other countries. Hence, the domestic market in the U.S. is already huge compared to the international market. Furthermore, to enter the U.S. market, it is advisable to stay and have business representation in the country.
• Maintaining funds in startups is as challenging as acquiring them, requiring careful consideration of product growth and investor expectations.
• I learned that concepts in books are not enough to express the reality of the startup world. Therefore, it is important to talk to people in various roles such as investment bankers, business owners, business directors, venture capitalists, and other roles to understand more about such reality.

After San Francisco, I travelled to Dallas, Texas, experiencing its extreme heat and enjoying a catch-up with a friend. The lifestyle in Texas is notably calmer than San Francisco. Also, the living expense is relatively lower than other places.

Following Dallas, I visited Atlanta for business meetings, amazed by the city's surrounding forests and impressive airport. Then, I had a road trip to the Washington DC. Unfortunately, the car got hit by the driver without a license, causing an incident on the highway near Durham. A traffic jam ensued a few minutes after the incident. No one was hurt, and the issues were resolved within 5 hours. I learned that it's crucial to have a driver's license before driving and to have enough practice before driving on the highway. Afterward, I stayed in Richmond for a night before traveling to Washington DC the next day. In Washington DC, I spent half a day in a casual meeting and learned more about the mindset of people involved in government agency work.

After Washington DC, I travelled to New York for business meetings and a visit to Times Square, a crowded area with lots of business buildings and advertisement boards. At night, I had a chance to visit the South American restaurant to taste their cuisine which is quite similar to Vietnamese cuisine.

From New York, I travelled to Boston to visit Harvard University. The area where I stayed has many Vietnamese people and houses that were constructed with the traditional architecture. After staying in Boston for 2 days, I travelled back to New York and prepared my luggage for the flight back to Australia.

Reflecting on the journey, it was an enriching experience, offering valuable lessons for both business and personal growth. I will definitely travel back to the U.S soon, but I'd like to make it as the personal trip for the different types of exploration.

Vietnam

I returned to Vietnam, marking several first-time experiences:

• I underwent a procedure to get porcelain veneers for fixing my teeth.
• It was my first time traveling to the North of Vietnam, specifically to Hanoi and Ha Long.

During my three-week stay in Vietnam, I visited the dentist for porcelain veneers. Furthermore, as usual, I explored a variety of Vietnamese foods. I also visited relatives, caught up with friends, and managed a business there. I learned more about the latest careers of my friends. Two noteworthy events were my sister's engagement celebration and a visit to various places in the North of Vietnam. The engagement event was fantastic, providing valuable knowledge and experience for my future reference.

My family and I had a trip to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, enjoying beautiful weather for traveling. We tasted different types of cuisine here, which was delightful. Importantly, the trip changed some of my thoughts about the North of Vietnam. It's obvious that travelling reshapes your knowledge.

Reflecting on the journey, it was a satisfying trip, but I look forward to exploring more regions of Vietnam on my next visit.

Singapore

I travelled to Singapore for some casual catch-ups, marking another set of first-time experiences:

1. It was my first time traveling to Singapore without family.
2. I visited Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown for the first time.
3. My first visit to Singapore City Gallery took place.
4. I experienced street food at Lau Pa Sat for the first time.
5. Trying Malaysian food in VivoCity was a first for me.
6. I explored MacRitchie Reservoir Park for the first time.
7. I entered Marina Bay Sands and visited its casino for the first time.
8. I explored the Little India area for the first time.
   Although I had visited Singapore more than 10 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the rapid growth of the country. The infrastructure and services are truly amazing. Reflecting on the journey, it was a fantastic trip.

Knowledge From Books

Here are 8 books that I have read this year:

• Mindset - Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential - I gained insights into the growth mindset from different perspectives, including individual, team, and management viewpoints.
• Thinking, Fast and Slow and Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - I explored the answers to the following questions: How are habits formed or destroyed? How can better decisions be made? How can some decision-making processes be automated to solve problems faster and more effectively?
• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals and 4 Hour Work Week Blueprints - 27 Muse Businesses Revealed - I learned more about the definition of productivity and the importance of being focused on producing high-quality outcomes, such as novel research work, solutions to tough problems, and making tough business decisions. Furthermore, I wanted to understand why some individuals are more successful than others, even when they have the same amount of time.
• Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, Business Model Generation and Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist - I delved deeper into concepts about the startup world and the investment processes. Furthermore, I gained insights into designing and innovating business models that drive growth for businesses. It is worth noting that the majority of concepts and terminologies covered in these books laid a great foundation for my U.S. trip.

Business

Despite encountering both highs and lows along the journey, the company I co-founded in Vietnam started growing this year. We presented our business, products, and team capabilities to numerous people (incl., business owners, business directors, venture capitalists, C-level business people, etc.). Eventually, we secured several projects from big players in the U.S. Faced with substantial business demand, we initiated the expansion of our team in Vietnam, providing more opportunities for the next generation and tackling a broader range of real-world business problems. Through my contributions to this business, I've gained valuable insights into pitching a business, establishing business relationships, managing a large team, objectively handling conflicts, and other aspects crucial to sustaining business growth.

Achievement

Here are some highlights of my achievements this year:

• In terms of research, I co-authored five peer-reviewed publications covering diverse topics such as the applications of natural language processing in contextual information retrieval, video-based education, and validating human values in mobile applications. Additionally, I contributed to the field with research on a decentralised federated learning strategy for privacy preservation in machine learning and the application of deep reinforcement learning in UAV dynamic tracking. With all publications, I received 17 citations more this year.
• I was awarded a full scholarship for my PhD degree, which I commenced in October. My research primarily focuses on applying context-aware multi-agent systems to handle uncertainties and dynamics in real-world environments.

Quotes of the year