Chao cac ban, hello friends,
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the quiet moments in between the work. The ones when no one's watching. When the emails are paused, when the metrics stall and you're left with just yourself, not your pitch deck, not your growth chart, not even your followers.
Just you.
And honestly, that's where the doubt creeps in, right?
Not the kind of doubt that shouts. The kind that whispers. What if this doesn't matter? What if I'm not enough? What if I’m just performing success but not really feeling it?
If that feels familiar, you’re not alone.
I’ve spent enough time around founders, artists, and visionaries, especially those of us in the diaspora, to know that we’re often carrying more than just our own goals. We're carrying the weight of expectation. Of proving something. Of making the struggle mean something.
And somewhere in that chase, it’s easy to forget ourselves.
That’s why I’ve been thinking about a different kind of scorecard. Not the ones investors ask for or what LinkedIn celebrates, but something more honest. More human. What I’m calling “Human KPIs.”
Key Performance Indicators, sure, but not for profit. For you.
For your energy. Your peace of mind. Your relationships. Your purpose.
Because here’s the truth I’ve learned the hard way: it’s entirely possible to hit your external goals and still feel empty. It’s possible to be productive and still be lost.
Success, if it’s built on disconnection, is fragile.
And doubt — when you ignore it — only grows louder.
So I started asking different questions. What if the real flex isn’t building fast, but building well? What if sustainable growth means tending to yourself, not just driving yourself?
Here’s how I’ve been thinking about it and maybe this helps you too.
1. Physical Fuel — Your Body
I used to think self-care meant a massage or a week off once a year. But I’ve come to realize: it’s in the basics. Breathing deeply. Drinking enough water & sleep. Moving every day. Mindful of your steps in life.
You know how chaotic founder life can get. Long travels. Countless ad hoc calls. Hotels with no gym and a street too noisy to sleep.
Still, the body keeps the score.
And if I’m honest, I’ve had moments where I couldn’t even think clearly because I skipped meals or hadn’t exercised in days. These days, I track my energy like I would track my cash flow. Not perfectly, but consistently.
I try to ask: Did I move today? Did I pause to breathe? Am I fueling myself like someone who actually wants to be here for the long haul?
What about you? What’s one physical rhythm you’ve lost in the grind?
2. Emotional Clarity — Your Mind
This is the one that sneaks up on me.
I can be in a room full of people, even speaking on stage, and still feel that inner voice: You’re not doing enough. You’re behind. Everyone else has it figured out.
Imposter syndrome doesn’t care about your resume.
And procrastination I’ve realized, often isn’t about time. It’s about emotions I’m avoiding. Fear of judgment. Fear of starting. Fear that what I make won’t be enough.
Lately, I’ve been learning to name my emotions. To sit with doubt instead of trying to outwork it.
One practice that’s helped: when I catch myself spiraling, I jot down one or two sentences. Not to analyze — just to notice. That awareness alone is often enough to shift things.
When was the last time you paused long enough to notice what you’re actually feeling?
3. Connection Capital — Your Relationships
There’s a Vietnamese phrase — tình làng nghĩa xóm — the sentiment of community, of neighbors who look out for each other. I think about that a lot.
In this global, digital life, I’ve had years where I’ve met a hundred people and still felt alone.
But I’ve learned: real connection doesn’t come from big networking events or clever DMs. It comes from intentional presence. Listening without needing to impress. Checking in without needing a reason.
My Human KPI here is simple: Did I have one meaningful conversation this week? Did I encourage someone? Did I let myself be seen, not the polished version, but the honest one?
That includes family too. Even if we’re thousands of miles apart. A quick voice note. A shared meal when I’m home.
What’s one connection in your life that could use a little more intention right now?
4. Purpose Compass — Your Spirit
This one is the deepest and the hardest to fake.
There are seasons where I’ve made great money, got featured in the right places, and still felt like I was building someone else’s dream. That’s a slow death.
For me, purpose isn’t always clear at the start. It unfolds in the doing.
Sometimes it’s as simple as asking: Am I still proud of this? Does this feel true to who I am and where I come from?
As a Viet Kieu, I carry stories I didn’t live through but that shaped me. My family’s sacrifices, their silence, their hope. I’m still unpacking that. But I do know this: building something that honors that lineage feels different than just chasing visibility.
And sometimes, it’s not even a grand project. It’s a small choice that aligns with who you are becoming. That’s what I try to track now.
Are you building something that feeds your spirit — or just your feed?
So here’s the invitation. Not to stop growing. But to grow well.
To track what matters.
To build something that can last, not just in the market, but in your own life.
If any of this resonates, maybe take a moment this week to choose one Human KPI to track. Just one. Start small. No pressure.
Maybe it’s going on that walk. Calling that old friend. Writing that page. Drinking that glass of water.
Small steps make the path. You don’t have to take the whole mountain at once. As we say back home — cắt con voi ra từng miếng thì mới mang qua cửa được. You have to cut the elephant into pieces to bring it through the door.
If you’re doing this too, I’d love to know. What’s your Human KPI right now? What’s the smallest action you’re committing to?
We’re not meant to do this alone. And your doubt doesn’t mean you’re broken, it just means you’re still human. Still listening.
Let’s keep building. But let’s do it in a way that feels good to come home to.
Keep it simple, keep it fresh, smile and let it go.
Yours truly, Trung
