Writing in Bursts (For the Book) and Bursting with Thoughts

Here we are. Another week ahead!

I managed to get a fair bit of writing done over the course of the last week. If I continue to burst-write like this, I'll be able to finish the book in a couple more weeks.

That said, I am currently spending a lot of time thinking about gemology. Having visited the recent Singapore International Jewelry Expo (SIJE), I met a lecturer from the local Jewelry Design and Management International School (JDMIS) who introduced a suite of courses that they teach.

Perhaps I should learn how to make my own jewellery through metalsmithing. Obviously, it's going to cost a pretty penny but at least the tools needed for the course are included in the cost.

While at the Expo, it was fun to interact with vendors from different countries. The sharing of experiences and ideas was invigorating and I learned a lot from them. If I get a chance, I'd certainly like to visit them in their countries and observe their local culture.

Learning never gets old.

Lessons From Online Shopping

Online shopping - the convenience of buying what you want and having it sent to you instead of having to carry it home yourself.

To encourage spending, online shopping sites use all kinds of incentives, from daily draws for coupons to members-only discount codes. Some use limited time offers to create a sense of urgency while others offer free shipping if you spend above a certain amount.

My main takeaway from shopping online is that you should always think about it before clicking "Buy". Yes, the deal may longer be here tomorrow but do you really need that new powerbank with the torchlight function?

Sleep on the deal and decide the next day. You may find the deal much less attractive after you've had some rest. Remember, fatigue lowers control over impulse. Also, if you feel pressured to buy, you are more likely to regret it later.

Of course, I've made my fair share of bad buys. I attribute most of them to not having spent enough time to think about it - something that salespeople are disinclined to give you. 

How does this relate to teaching? Teaching is very much like selling, except that the teacher is selling an idea or concept and the learner is paying in time and attention. If the teacher is able to sell ideas effectively, the learner is more willing to give his attention and time. A good teacher knows how to package his information in an attractive, engaging manner. He also gives his learners time to use that information and try it out - tactics that ensure that the information sticks.

Sales skills - not just for salespeople.

The Easily Offended and The Online Rants

It seems that, almost every day, somebody somewhere in the world gets offended at something and produces a long tirade against it. Sometimes, this is done on social media platforms like Facebook or blogs. Other times, it becomes published on e-zines or websites that accept article contributions.

The amount of insipid, inane rants online has increased exponentially in recent years and, young people being easily influenced, think that this is the norm. They think that once they have an opinion, everybody needs to hear about it, whether or not it has been thought through or researched properly.

We are all entitled to our opinions, it is true. However, if no consideration is given to whether or not it benefits or builds others up, it is perhaps best to leave things unsaid.

We are blessed with technological wonders like the internet that our ancestors could scarcely dream of and we end up turning it into a toxic, negative wasteland of drivel and spite. Such a pity, isn't it?

As I end my rant, here's to hoping for a brighter, kinder internet in the future, one where we can nourish and nurture one another instead of tearing each other down. Cheers!

A Demonstration in Bangkok

After a long trip, I'm back to blogging.

Half of the trip was spent in neighbouring Malaysia and the other half was spent in Thailand - Bangkok specifically.

I haven't been to Bangkok in a long while but my memories of it were of friendly locals, colourful culture and great food.

I wasn't disappointed.

Most of the local stall owners and people I interacted with were friendly and ever-helpful. One particular incident stood out to me: I was attempting to ask how much I needed to pay for some street food (which was delicious, by the way) and the stall owner spoke about as much English as I spoke Thai. So, she demonstrated by taking out the amount of money I needed to pay and showed it to me, all the while chuckling. I paid the amount shown and thanked her.

This incident reminded me that demonstrations can be very effective, even when there is a language barrier. It is, after all, one of the ways we learned about the world around us while growing up.