Meetups On The First Week Of August

The past week, I met up with two individuals whom I met from previous workshops / events.

My meetup on Wednesday first introduced himself as Sia (though that's actually his last name, I believe). He has just started his studies at NUS in Business Admin. He told me about his internet marketing experience (pretty extensive at that) and offered to connect me with a couple of his friends, who run a website for resellers.

He also shared that he has started reading up on investment strategies and other financial information. This makes me sound like a financial planner (I'm not), but I must say that I'm glad to meet someone who takes responsibility for his own financial future at such a young age. I certainly didn't care much about it when I was his age.

I offered my expertise to him and his coursemates - to coach them in public speaking and presentation skills (at no charge, of course). He has thus far found 5 interested parties. Very quick to take action, very enterprising. I look forward to working with him.

My second meetup was with Coen. When I first met him, I pegged him as a rather quiet, and certainly deeply thinking individual. It turns out that my first impression was pretty accurate. We shared thoughts and information about ourselves and what we do.

I learned that he now trains in corporate settings, coaches people and also works closely with his business mentors and partners, purposefully setting time aside to do so. 

What I found remarkable was how aligned our values are when it comes to leadership, teaching and influencing others. His background in personality-based training and his love of psychology and language skills are also similar to mine, though he has certainly had much more formal training in personality assessment than I have.

Some time through our conversation, he told me that he was looking for speakers for a Toastmasters event in November themed 'The Introvert Speaker'. Having heard of my book title, he asked me if I was interested to do a segment for the event. Naturally, I said yes. How could I not? It is so immensely related to what I've written about, it seems almost tailor-made for me. He even mentioned that if my book could be printed by then, I could sell copies of it at the event. Sounds like great motivation for pushing it out!

Finally, he offered his expertise and insight for what I'm working on - my desired entry into the corporate training industry, as well as other aspects of my training career. He mentioned that he would like to pay it forward, because someone once did the same for him. For that, I am truly thankful. Coen, if you're reading this, thank you. I look forward to working alongside you and learning more from you.

Networking 101 with Mervin Yeo

Last night, I was at the Association for Professional Trainers, Singapore (APTS) meeting and the speaker was Mervin Yeo. I didn't tell him that I would be present last night and so he was a little surprised to see me.

He talked about his pet subject - networking. Having attended events that he has organised and hosted, I must say that he is certainly an expert on the topic.

He cleared a few misconceptions about networking - about how people think it's only about talking to other people, that it's difficult and stressful, and that it's all about name cards and quick introductions.

Mervin reminded us that the mindset we hold when networking will determine the outcome of the relationships we form. If we are only there to 'push name cards' or collect them, we will form superficial 'contact' relationships. If, however, we take the time to find out how we can collaborate and help the other person, we form 'connection' relationships. 

We do this by introducing people to each other as well as to products and services that have benefited us. We also have the opportunity to share ideas, feedback and information, knowledge and expertise, as well as advice and encouragement.

With a right mindset about networking - how it's about helping others, and not just about yourself - it's going to be much easier to go up to another person and make a new connection.

Of course, networking benefits us as well. Mervin illustrates this by showing us that networking gives us:

1) Sources of inspiration

2) Job / Gig recommendations

3) Referrals

4) Connections to people we want to meet

5) Opportunities to learn and profit

6) Information about the industry, market and other things we may have never considered

7) A an avenue to stay on track of our goals

With such benefits, I ended up feeling that I've lost many chances to network (with the right mindset) in the past. I'm going to have to self-accelerate in this area and get out there to do it.

To top it all off, one of the founders, David Lee, encouraged all of us to write on two post-it notes. One note will contain an offer of value to someone else (for free, of course), that is, how we can help another person. The other note will contain a request for help in area that we need.

Well, I offered my help to guide and assist new fellow trainers in their presentation skills and their training processes, both of which I have been sharpening over the past 10 years.

I requested help getting into corporate training sessions, especially in the area of presentation and communication skills, as well as my pet topic - introversion, this time, in the workplace.

It was a great learning session, during which I also got to talk to some new people and practise my networking skills. And, as I'm now a full-fledged member of the association, I'm proud to be part of it.

Racial Harmony

On Thursday, I assisted a fellow trainer friend at his talk on racial harmony in a local JC. The session consisted of a film made by a local director/producer and a discussion afterwards.

One of the statistics that my friend stated got me thinking. Only 20% of Chinese in Singapore have a close friend who is from another racial background. Granted that we make up the largest proportion of the local population, that number is still pretty low.

Racial harmony is, doubtlessly, an important thing to have and we have done a fairly good job of it so far. Racial riots no longer occur, though the same cannot be said of racial tensions.

My pondering over this was also spurred on by the gem and jewellery fair that occurred over the weekend. A number of the vendors are familiar faces, though there are also quite a few new ones. 

As I spoke to the different vendors, the cultural differences between us quickly became apparent. Simply the way they related to the locals here was obviously different from the way they related to their own countrypeople. I even had a chance to observe some interactions between vendors from different countries. It was, in a word, interesting.

Perhaps, deep down, we are all still very much more comfortable with people who are similar to us and race is a point of commonality for many. After all, who could argue that race and culture are related and that it is easier to make cultural references with someone who has the same understanding as we do?

That said, I enjoy meeting people from different countries, and hope to have many more opportunities to do so in the coming years.

July Week Of Many Events

In the coming week, I will be meeting with a business developer friend for one of the training companies I work with.

I will be discussing the possibility of introducing new programmes involving some other trainers I met and myself. Thus far, I have not seen any programmes in the Singapore education industry that are similar in scope. Well, pioneering a niche is always a good experience. Whether it succeeds or not, we will learn something from it.

I am also working on helping a couple get their wedding bands made. Their wedding date is coming up and it's all quite a rush, but I have a very reliable designer and smith who is able to do it. Now, it's all up to the couple, whether they are willing to go ahead with the project. Their alternative is to simply buy ready-made bands from one of the many jewellery shops / chains in Singapore.

My other suggestion was for them to visit the upcoming Gem & Jewellery Fair at Marina Bay Convention Centre and look for a suitable pair of rings there. It's a little hard to believe that the event is almost here, meaning that a year has passed so quickly.

There'll also be a network / training session on Wednesday evening this week. It'll be good to catch up with some familiar faces. I must say that I'm glad to have expanded my network of like-minded people in the past couple of years. Before, I wondered if I was the only person doing what I do. Now, I know that there are actually many others who are similar to me in my work life and style.

I'll also be attending a housewarming party by a couple who recently got married. I haven't seen them in a while, so that'll be a good chance to see how they are. 

All in all, it's going to be event after event this week. Let's get productive!