Some people have a knack for making you feel smarter for having listened to them.
Not only are they able to summon facts and studies, they make their points in a logical flow, and explain complex words if they use them.
They don't shove emotional rhetoric down your throat, instead calmly explaining their views and expounding on them when asked to do so.
Because of how prepared they are when questioned, it's clear that they have thought through what they are saying.
One of these people, whom I've been listening to for some time now (on YouTube, primarily), is Dr. Jordan Peterson.
I find his eloquent articulation of what he believes and observes to be highly compelling.
Some time ago, I bought one of his books - 12 Rules for Life - An Antidote to Chaos, and am making my way through it, having to pause every now and then to ponder upon what he writes in it.
Though this isn't exactly light reading, it's full of thought-provoking information, laid out in Dr. Peterson's engaging style of dry humour. I highly recommend it.
Why I Won't Write a Book About Other People's Expertise, Experiences, and/or Stories
Writing a book that is a collection of other people's expertise / experiences / stories doesn't make you an expert.
Oh, it will certainly allow you to be perceived as an expert.
And it makes you a good collator of information, and, if you've been paying attention, a good student of your interviewees.
But you're not really an expert.
Not yet, anyway.
This isn't to say that you shouldn't write a book.
I'm just saying that it may make more sense to write a book about something you are personally good at, even if it's not necessarily a "marketable" or "popular" book.
If I want to learn from a known expert about their expertise, why would I learn it second hand from someone else?
Unless that person has something valuable to add.
I Had Childhood Ambitions. I Didn't Become Any of Them.
When I was a kid, at different points in time, I wanted to be a Cook (I didn't know the word Chef), a Librarian, and a Scientist (specifically, an Entomologist, one who studies insects).
Perhaps as a way of fulfilling at least one of them, I would stay in the kitchen to watch my mum cook. Though I didn't take notes or ask a lot of questions, I still remember and use a lot of the techniques she used.
Being a Librarian is still somewhat appealing to me, though I can't say I'm going to be great with putting books back on the shelves. I've always been a messy reader, with my books all over the place.
I almost never put them back in my book cabinets (yes, plural) until I'm sure I won't be reading them for a while, or forced to do so. I suspect I'll have trouble maintaining a neat library.
And, although I liked observing insects, especially praying mantises, I didn't want to touch them. I've recently learned that it's because I've always had sensory issues.
So, a career of studying something I cannot touch is a bit... Difficult.
Oh, the picture attached is of one individual of a couple of colonies of mantises I found in East Coast Park, where I go on Photo Hunts. I go back and check on them about once a week or so. This one is about 2 months old.
Today, I'm an Educator, Consultant, and Workshop Wrangler.
I would never have imagined as a kid that I'd be here. And yet, this has been my work for over 15 years.
Funny, isn't it, where life takes you?
I Spent Two Months Plus Doing These Things During Singapore's Circuit Breaker
Now that Singapore’s Circuit Breaker has entered Phase 2, with limited openings of certain establishments, I suppose we could say that we are starting to get back to some sense of ‘normal’.
Perhaps this is a time to take stock of what I’ve done over the past 2 months or so.
The main achievement?
I produced 4 sets of curriculum/content.
Namely,
1) Forensic Investigative Skills
The original purpose for this one is for the school market, of course. This will be put to use in July, as long as schools remain open.
That said, I think that it will be both useful and fun for adults as well. The skills, after all, are used in our everyday lives - information gathering, observation, problem solving, and so on.
I’ll have to see who I can talk to to get this started.
2) Health Science
Again, this was made for the school market, but can be useful for those who have aged parents and/or children to take care of.
3) Harnessing Your Quiet Strengths
Now, this one has a little story behind it. It was originally developed for Introverts Network Asia (INA), but things have tapered off for this, so I never finished it, leaving it half done.
I decided to just finish it up. At least I now have a set of curriculum ready to go should I need it, either live or, perhaps, as an online course.
It is, as expected, aimed at introverts and helping them to make use of the strengths that they perhaps regard as insignificant, but are actually highly valuable.
I see this as an accompaniment to The Introvert Teacher, and intend to have them linked together.
4) 4D Your Message
This is my take on communication skills, slightly angled towards newer educators/trainers, but can definitely be used by anyone who wants to get their message out.
This, too, has a story behind it. It was originally conceived for online delivery as part of an initiative by an organisation. But, as with the previous set of content, this, too, fizzled out.
I decided to just have it finished up.
My main thought at the moment is figuring out how to bring these things to more people once Circuit Breaker properly ends.
I've considered online training, but the activities, especially for the first two, are best done live. I could potentially redesign them, but it’s A LOT of work.
Alternatively, I could have them converted to videos and sell an online course. I’m not sure yet.
I’m also finishing up a project I started 2 years or so ago - my book on gem buying, titled A Gem of a Deal.
The good news is:
A Gem of a Deal is NEARLY finished! Yay!
Here’s a cover I designed for it. It may not be the final version, but I’ll use it for now.
I’ll put more information up on Loupin Jewels.
Yes, I designed it myself. Photoshop and Illustrator. ;)
Photographing gems!
It’s quite a long story behind this, but I’ve started to photograph gems again. This time, the results look pretty good, even if I do say so myself.
Sapphire Crystal
Garnet Crystal
Prehnite Cabochon
Emerald Piece
And, of course, I’ve been collating some of my old photos.
It’s been a fairly productive couple of months, I’d say.
Here’s to an even more productive 2 months ahead!