Post-flu thoughts: Future-proofing?

I was hit by a flu bug a little over a week ago.

It came after a period of sleep anxiety, the effects of which I still feel every now and then. My immune system was probably pretty low after a few days of non-sleep, thanks to an inconsiderate neighbour from upstairs. Despite multiple attempts to communicate, they continue walking like elephants and randomly dropping items on the floor at all hours of the day and night, and early in the morning.

This isn’t going to turn into a rant about inconsiderate neighbours, as much as I’d like it to be.

I just wanted to write some of my thoughts down while I was ill.

I still had to go to work, though for 1.5 days, when the fever finally showed up, I couldn’t anymore.

Because of the vast amounts and varieties of remedies, the symptoms (apart from the fever) were very mild. Even the dreaded post-cough rarely comes up. I usually suffer from a post-infection cough for at least another week or two.

I was reminded, during the illness, that, though my colleagues were mostly understanding and tried to help, I cannot stay in a state of work responsibility forever.

I would certainly hope that I stay in good health for the rest of my life - and should probably be more proactive in ensuring that this is the case.

That said, there is an increasing urge to work in a less-stressful up-and-down way.

I actually asked an AI platform to analyse and make suggestions based on my preferences, skills, and limitations. Some of the suggestions are extremely useful. I intend to follow at least some of them.

Because I have not fully pondered and considered all the information, I’ll delay talking about it until a future post. This one is just an update - a much-needed one.

RICE - Reward, Ideology, Coercion, Ego - Drivers of Motivation

RICE is an acronym about 4 things that drive motivation:

Reward.

Ideology.

Coercion.

Ego.

Reward is fairly self-explanatory. Anything that a person determines to be fulfilling can be considered a reward, be it actual money, time to themselves, satisfaction, and so on.

Ideology is what a person values, believes in, and, often, informs their sense of purpose and direction. For example, if a person places a high value on honesty, then they would want to tell the truth or, at least, not lie.

Coercion is the use of pressure, even force, to get someone to do something. Most people resist and abhor this when it’s done to them. They may comply, but only to relieve that pressure.

Ego is a person’s image or perception of themselves that they wish to upkeep, not only for themselves, but in front of others as well.

Of the four, Ideology is the most powerful drive, followed by Ego, then Reward, and, finally, Coercion.

Coercion, once used, will break trust and increase suspicion and wariness. It frequently causes irreparable damage to a relationship and should not be used lightly.

I find RICE to be a useful acronym to keep in the back of my mind for a variety of things. Since I believe that we perform actions for specific reasons, it helps me to decipher a person’s reasons for doing or saying certain things.

While I may not agree with their actions, I can at least have an insight on why they may be doing something.

This gives me some leverage when negotiating with them or convincing them of something.

I’ve found this useful as an educator, when I’m doing business - buying and selling, as well as in various relationships that I have.

Saying the right thing, at the right time, in the right way is a very powerful thing.

It certainly opens up the possibility of manipulation, but, hopefully, you won’t have to resort to that.

Wondering What to do with Courses that I Developed in the Past

As I was clearing files on my computer, I went through a folder that contained a number of courses that I developed a number of years ago, while I was doing speaking engagements and writing and licensing my workshops for schools.

I haven’t looked though them in years, so some of the information is definitely outdated now.

The style that I designed them in could also certainly do with some updates.

That said, the main information is still good.

Since some of the workshops were licensed, I cannot be sure that the people who licensed them from me aren’t still using them or have made modified versions of them.

Though they have assured me that they are no longer using my material, they are running businesses, and how can I be truly certain? There is always some kind of duplicity in people like that.

They can say that they aren’t using my material after making modifications to them, and make that statement technically true.

I suppose one way of going forward is to ignore it and take them at their word.

Another way of doing it is to relaunch my programmes - after some updates.

A third way is to upload it all for free and simply allow the market access to it.

I’m not sure yet which route I’ll take.

Time will tell.

This is the cover page for one of the modules in a series I wrote on Healthcare

An Exposé on the Education System?

I have frequently joked with colleagues, past and present, that, when I finally retire from being part of Singapore’s education system, I may write some sort of exposé on the people in it who make life difficult for their own colleagues, external vendors and, also, the very students they profess to be educating and nurturing.

No naming of names, of course. For the benefit of the students from those institutes of learning.

It’s no secret that not all educators should be educators.

And, certainly, every system has its flaws.

But to behave with so little regard for others than themselves in a profession that is clearly about others? That’s just not right, is it?

On the flip side, I have met passionate, courageous educators who give their all and more to their students.

I have also met numerous thoughtful, kind educators who consider others before themselves.

It isn’t them that we need to worry about, though we should be concerned for their well-being under such a difficult system with unrelenting expectations and grinding routines.

It is the relative few who need to be expelled from their positions.

If only the general public knew about these people and how much they adversely affect the lives of the students under their charge.

Well, since I’m still somewhat involved in the system, it isn’t time to do it yet.

Someday, it will be.