We were lucky to catch up with Robert Kuang recently and have shared our conversation below.
Robert, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My life is fueled by the people in it, and we often take the time we have together for granted. The more effort I put into reaching out to others in times of struggle, the more I am reminded that the world is a lot bigger than my current circumstances, and I am a part of that world.
I value achievement and excellence in my work, but I’ve found that resilience is not measured by the peaks and valleys of our lives. Instead, caring for my relationships, including my sometimes tumultuous relationship with my body, has cultivated the resilient person who can show up in challenging moments.
Another important relationship for me is honoring and acknowledging my ancestors and those who came before me. It reminds me to show up, that time goes on, and no matter what, I belong.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I (he/they) am a coach, musician, and content creator with a focus on creative expression, leadership development, and energy restoration. In addition to one-on-one coaching and group facilitation, I frequently curate workshops and events that brings artistic expression, experiential learning, and community into one space.
As a musician, I’ve had the pleasure of composing ambient piano tracks for guided meditations and multimedia projects. I am also the creator of the “Side by Side” podcast, which features interviews with entrepreneurs and artists about their personal journey and body of work.
At the start of 2024, my colleague Ashley and I launched an interdisciplinary writing workshop, called “Embracing the Multidisciplinary Writer,” and it’s been a joy to bring so many elements of my background and expertise into one community. We plan to offer this workshop again in the future, so please visit www.robertkuanghome.com to stay up to date.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I am a big proponent of cultivating “soft skills” to enhance and maximize your technical skills, particularly with the oversaturation of certain career fields and markets right now. The less “copy and paste” you are in your application of your skillsets, the more your skills can speak for itself.
One “soft skill” is cultivating mindfulness and working with your five senses. As we practice discernment in our sensory experience of the world, we can tune into our nervous system and remain centered with more and more agency.
Another skill I value is something I developed through coaching training, which is the practice of facilitation. How a meeting or event goes is not strictly tied to what you know, but how you are with people.
Finally, I encourage everyone to have a creative or artistic outlet that allows for mental rest and connects you to your inner child. Find something that you could have enjoyed as a kid, and allow your imagination to actually imagine, without needing a certain outcome. Some people call that play, but that word downplays the potential challenge in actually finding play in the modern world for adults.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
As a coach, I like to say that my clients and I work together on everything that affects their ability to create, make, and complete things. In school, we learn different subjects like Math and English to help us grow and live the life we want. Coaching is like that, but instead of learning a subject, we work with a person and what they’re like, to challenge them grow and live the life they want.
In the modern world, clients are juggling multiple priorities in their professional, personal, and creative life. Therefore, a simple act of accomplishment or success may not be fulfilling if it jeopardizes other aspects of your life. My job is to hold space for the entire canvas that is your multi-faceted life, and support a client’s journey in having the different aspects of their life work together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.robertkuanghome.com
- Instagram: @robertkuanghome
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kuang
- Other: “Side by Side” podcast: https://sidebysidepodcast.podbean.com/
Image Credits
Image Credit: ChelliseMichaelPhotography, Amelia Oon
