Hi,
I thought I’d make the audio transcript available here on the blog so that it’s more accessible to others.
Welcome to Ark2Ark! Let me begin by thanking you for taking a moment to listen to this introduction.
Ark2Ark is the place where you can feel at ease and be assured in the knowledge that you are coming into contact with valuable insights to help you move further, grow bigger, act better, get clarity and feel more centred and certain about the situations facing you and those around you.
Hi, my name is Asad Khan - and you know throughout my academic, professional, business and community life, I have dealt with a wide variety of people who talk about a range of issues that they are confronted with: be that in their organisations, their teams, their businesses, their study or work place, social circles, community and faith groups or even their families.
And I often wonder how the people seek to resolve their issues and move forward. After 12 years of being at the forefront of many diverse projects in an array of settings, my primary interests now are:
a) To understand the coping mechanisms of people who wish to excel in their field of ambition; and
b) To identify the critical features that distinguishes the ones who really make a mark for themselves - from those who just pass through time without really paying attention to their self-worth, destiny or legacy.
As you aware, we are now living in a global economy where the exchange of ideas, news, trade, people and culture are moving at rapid speeds and more than ever before, it seems clear to me that those who are keen to make significant progress in our times are the ones who get ahead of the rest by structuring key strategies into their mental, emotional, physical, social and spiritual patterns.
I think you will agree, that we are all facing challenges at multiple levels of our everyday lives – whether that be dealing with customers & clients; patients & colleagues; relatives or spouses; friends & neighbours; public authorities or others…right through to the other side, where one needs to get clear their own career aspirations & promotion; finances & health fitness; lifestyle habits; relationships & companionship; learning & contribution; and sense of purpose.
This I think is the dilemma of our times – and we are, as the Chinese saying goes, “living in interesting times”. I mean take a look around you and you’ll see we’re making great advances in areas such as science & technology, media, transport and construction, yet at the same time so many of us seem to lack the recognition of vital factors such as higher purpose, values and judgements.
This makes me want to strive to understand not only human needs and motivation, but also the prominent features that stifle progress and harmony in all areas of our lives.
The reasons for this is as you can see: that for some their material resources far outweighs their spiritual resourcefulness, so they begin to feel a sense of urgency to get clear on what their actual aims of life are, and how they can make meaningful contributions back to others; this way they aim to feel truly fulfilled.
Yet with others, their emotional wellness seems to be far greater than their material bank, but then they may find it hard to manifest their inner yearnings into the practical world.
I’d like you to understand that at any given moment in time a person is in one of two conditions: (a) fortunate; or (b) unfortunate. From my personal experiences, it isn’t always clear as to which category one may actually be in – however they may appear to be otherwise on the outside.
Take myself for example: I had everything going for me – career wise, social status, finances, professional credibility and a track record of achievement - till life dealt me another hand – and I ended-up losing a significant portion of those advantages that I took for granted.
In retrospection, life was teaching me major lessons - far greater than I had expected – and I am actually grateful for the opportunity to have been afforded the time for serious self-reflection and the space necessary to study my own value system.
This was a chance for me to really take stock of my experiences and begin to consider more carefully the full direction of my life and the features that are most important to me – such as
• Time – Health – Family;
• Skills Set – Goals – Abilities;
• Opportunity to Give Back to Others;
• Authentic Values & Overall Purpose.
What transpired as a result was Ark2Ark – and what it really is about is helping people - at every level of society - to get their personal balance right - so not only do they get on track to achieve their ambitions – but also feel complete whilst doing so.
Now I know the challenges are great - and so they require equally great solutions, and I believe this can only happen through a dialogue – an opening if you like.
We aim to help create the environment where you are given both the time and space to open-up to the challenges and face them authentically. The greater the scope of challenge around you, the deeper the moments of reflection that are required to muster-up the strategies to help solve and overcome them.
This is where you will be engaging your whole existence – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual centres to become focussed on achieving outstanding results.
That’s why we aim to help you get full alignment of your mind, body and soul so that you feel confident and comfortable with taking vital decisions that will affect any areas of concern, and also have a lasting positive impact on your future.
Remember, it was not long ago when Nelson Mandela was sitting in his prison looking out of the small cracks in the walls of his cell - having spent 26 harsh years for wanting to bring about a change in the condition of his people. But it wasn’t just the sunlight or air he was seeking through those gaps, he was envisioning his plans for materialising the dreams that he had incubated for several decades.
He is one living example of the power a person gets when living on purpose and with passion – and it is this inner world that I wish to demonstrate to you as the most potent and meaningful – because this is the place where the greatest and most profound transformation takes place first – and be sure to know that every human soul has the gift of choice in using it for their benefit.
So allow me to ask you this:– despite what you may have achieved so far; where you have been; whom you’ve interacted with; what you have done; or what you may acquired or amassed; what you may cherish, value or believe in – tell me in all truth and sincerity – is this all there is, or do you think there is more?
I, for one, would like you to think that there is more and to not have to settle with accepting anything less.
So really, my team and I help you to uncover the fundamentals of your being through asking searching questions in an attempt to help you to discern the reality around you.
And let me also add this: it doesn’t matter to me whether you are:-
• the janitor of the building or the CEO of the blue chip company housed within it;
• the student attending a place of learning or the specialist delivering the material;
• the social entrepreneur wanting to make things happen or a national politician working to bring to the people what you claimed;
• the home maker, professional, executive or anyone else –
In fact it doesn’t matter to me whether you’re tall or small; thin or large; dark or light; single or partnered; wealthy or impoverished; male or female or whatever -
For what truly matters to me is the place you are at right now – deep inside of you – and even more, the processes that you are undertaking to understand
- Which side of the fence you wish to be & which way you wish to evaluate things?
- What you are trying to achieve & what factors are your true callings?
- How you wish to feel & how do you desire to be remembered?
It is this sense of meaning and interpretation of your surroundings that Ark2Ark offers individuals, teams, organisations and communities - at every level - unparalleled service and insights.
Combining time-tested skills from both eastern and western best practices, we are helping people to bridge the gap between the levels of mere sensory inputs and that of higher cognitive processing. We are here to help people come together on a shared platform of progress and harmony.
So, go ahead and get your workbook now - which details some key ideas for you to digest and raise awareness about the beauty and power of your uniqueness. Look around the site and when you are ready, join our online community where there are great conversations taking place from people around the world - who have a chance to raise their voice and share their thoughts on 3 principal areas of:
- Leadership and management;
- Personal and social effectiveness; &
- Health and Well-being
Once you have signed-up, be on the look-out for updates revealing information on forthcoming live events – as well as providing top tips aimed at bringing higher perspectives straight to you –equipping you with essential knowledge to help you advance further in the game of life with the,
Science of Success and the Art of Contentment!
Asad
