Dear class,

I have noticed that some of you are holding back during the course of the lesson when questions are posed by the educators. This is especially so when it comes to the “Q & A” session at the end of each team’s presentation, where some of you have also hesitated to question the presenting teams. 

There are several benefits to asking and answering questions, as follows:

• Improves analytical skills: When you ask a question in class, you are actually clarifying some facts on behalf of your classmates as well. This benefits the class on the whole. The same can be said when you pose a question to the presenting teams. When you attempt to answer a question posed to you by one of your friends, you have to think things through before answering. This improves your analytical skills, a set of skills that is drastically different from your presentation skills.  While your presentation skills involves getting your message accurately across to your target audience, analytical skills involves exploring issues from various perspectives (some of which you have not even thought of previously) and putting forward your stand persuasively and convincingly.  A good presenter needs both analytical and presentation skills since both are vital ingredients for an interesting and credible presentation.
• Gaining confidence and learning humility: When you start to ask questions consistently, you began to develop a skill to explore issues from various perspectives, which is good. And if you were to answer your friend’s or your educator’s question correctly, it builds your confidence over time. And confidence is an important ingredient to being successful in life. And if you were to answer a question incorrectly, you learn humility from the experience, which is also good.  This is because it is always good to remind ourselves that all of us make mistakes and we do not know everything. When we are able to accept ourselves, others will be more accepting of us.
• Failures are the stepping stones to success: Following from the last point above, we should have an awareness that failures are the stepping stones to success. Many successful individuals fail many times in their lifetimes. Therefore, avoiding failures will also hinder you from being successful. Instead, go ahead and put in your best effort in everything you do (which includes asking and answering questions in class). If you fail, learn from your mistakes and try again. It’s merely a matter of time before you succeed. But remember, we must all learn from our mistakes and failures.

So, I hope that all of you are able to put in more effort in class by asking and answering questions during the course of the lessons, which includes the “Q & A” sessions at the end of the presenting sessions.

Keep up the enthusiasm!

The Lake of Ceranest is a beautiful place.

And Ceranest is the quiet and remote town to the east of France. It has been said that people living in this town never grow old. Of course, this is merely a legend. But even some legends have their basis based on facts. And this is one of them. Stories on the origins of how Ceranest comes about have been passed through the folks residing in the town for years. Ceranest has a culture of cohesiveness, and the people in Ceranest often comes together to celebrate any happy occasions.  Doors are left open at night since theft and burglars are almost unheard of.  Smiles are often seen on the faces of the Ceranestians (as the residents like to call themselves), a sign of contentment and joy.

The name of the town Ceranest does not come by accident. Rather, it is based on a folklore. There once was a hero named Ceracrest who braved the storm to claim the land of Ceranest as his own. The land is known as Coldfrost then, as the place was covered in snow and what was left living are the scavengers and reptiles that fought for survival against the temperamental weather and the intense cold. It was a dreadful place where no humans will ever hope to live in.  But Ceracrest believed in the impossible and so set about setting up a hut for shelter and slaughtering the nearby wolves for food. Over time, the predatory animals began to learn to respect this man whom they have initially regarded as a prey but have turned out to be a formidable foe.

With his skills as a hunter, Ceracrest set about setting fire to the trees in the woods. Strange as it may sound, the fire spread through the land and warmth soon replaces the cold.  Merchant ships soon anchored near the land and explorers began to arrive. People began to settle on ColdFrost, a land who has long lost the significance of its name. As Coldfrost warmed up to its occupants, the residents decided to name the land after its founder and called it Ceranest, adding the term “nest” to the founder’s name to signify the cohesiveness of the community.

Although the land of Ceranest has lost its cold climate, the snow that has melted has formed a lake that surrounds it. This lake is the legendary Lake of Ceranest, and it’s considered by many to be the most beautiful lake in the world. It is also the testimony of one man’s sheer will and determination to turn a forsaken land into one of vibrancy. Lake Ceranest is also the place where The Fisherman seeks solace for the most of his life. Evenings have always been beautiful at the lake, where the water reflects the starry night sky.

And it was on one of these fateful evenings when The Fisherman met Sam.

The sun was sinking into the horizon when The Fisherman was in the midst of packing up his catch for the day and securing the fishing net to his bicycle. The bicycle has been The Fisherman’s mode of transport for years. He has not bought the bicycle but has received it as a gift from one of his neighbours. Gift-giving is a common tradition practised by Ceranestians. Several kids soon ran towards him, and a few of them can be seen to be hugging Peace, a Golden Retriever that belongs to The Fisherman. Peace and The Fisherman has been friends for years now. Come to think of it, Peace is now nearing his prime.

Suddenly, a man ran up the road towards the Fisherman. He was dressed in a blue long-sleeved shirt with a yellow tie and black pants, an attire seldom seen in Ceranest. Upon seeing him, the children began to scramble and hide behind The Fisherman, stealing a peek at the man from behind The Fisherman once in a while.

“Hi,” The man greeted The Fisherman. “Name’s Sam. I am from an advertising firm Lockart & Harter. I am here on business. My car has broken down further down this road, and I wonder if I can get some help. I can offer cash upfront if you need them.”

The fisherman took one long look at Sam.

“Cash don’t work here.” The Fisherman muttered.

“I’m sorry?” Sam was straining his ears. He believed that he has heard it right the first time, but he just needs to confirm it. In the same way that he always confirms a client’s request before every deal.

“I said cash don’t work here. Cash is not the currency in Ceranest.”

“Well, I can use credit. Which card do you accept? I have a few here.”

Sam began to open his wallet and began pulling out the numerous credit cards that he has on hand.  To Sam, credit cards are a necessary possession for any advertising executive.  They facilitate smooth business transactions when he dines with clients since he’s always the guy who gives the treat.

 ”Credit cards are not heard of here as well.” Turning to Peace with the intention of feeding him, The Fisherman smiled. “Advertising guys like you makes credit cards magical and global on TV, showing that credit cards are portals to a good life since it’s acceptable by everyone. Well, young man, credit cards are unheard of in some places, and Ceranest happens to be one of them.”

“So, what’s the currency in Ceranest?” Sam enquired.

“Sincerity and gratitude.”

The reply took Sam by surprise. Firstly, he has never heard of Ceranest. It’s a strange town to begin with, where every resident smiles at you when you walk past them. There seems to be a bouncing stride when they walk, as if the residents are always happy when they go about their daily lives.  And now, he’s being told that reciprocity is a form of currency in this town? This is just plain weird.  Back in his hometown, ”transactions” is the word of the day. Not ”sincerity”. And definitely not “gratitude”.

 ”So…” Sam began to close his wallet and put it back into his pants. “How do I pay with ’sincerity’ or ‘gratitude’?”

“Well, let’s see…” The Fisherman looks upwards, pondering deeply as if Sam has just asked a very abstract question, one that requires much thought.  After a long pause, The Fisherman turned to Sam. “A smile……. or a nod of your head?”

 ”Serious? How do all the people survive without cash or any form of credit?”

“All of us have our own strengths. We just use them to help one another. And as you can see with your eyes, we are not only surviving, we are doing very well. We are a group of close-knitted and self-sustaining communities. We plant crops, keep some for ourselves and exchange the rest with our friends who will offer us some form of aid in return. Maybe it’s educating their children? I provide these. Or maybe, it’s elderly care? Darley over the other end of the town provides those. ”

“All the residents in Ceranest are still bartering?” Sam wondered aloud.

“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way.” The Fisherman stole a glance at Sam before returning to the task of transferring his catch from a pail to several large plastic bags filled with seawater. The Fisherman intends to bring these bags back to his family to show his children. It’s not often that he was able to capture such big salmons and eels.  ” ‘Exchanging of goodwill’ will be a better phrase, don’t you think?”

Sam was amazed at the way things work around Ceranest. It’s true that the entire town is self-sustaining.  He has never seen anything quite like it before. The people have all the basic necessities and they seem to be satisfied with their possession. There are  no big cars and there’s no private housing.

How is advertising ever going to even survive here? 

This thought flashed through Sam’s head.

As if reading Sam’s thoughts, The Fisherman turned to Sam and offered him a packet of water with a red salmon swimming inside.

“This is how we advertise. We offer our friends some of our catch and have them coming back for more. No TV, no radio and no internet.”

“You know about the existence of the internet?”

“Well, yes. I know Phil Collins and Kenny G too.”

“How?”‘

“Word of mouth. We have international friends here as well, you know. There’s tons of information being circulated in the world right now. But somehow, only good things come through here, you know? Isn’t this how it works? The good things always stand out from the rest. Someone will eventually recognise them and through word of mouth, they became popular culture. Word of mouth is cheaper and often more effective than advertising, yes?”

Sam has nothing to say to that, as it seems to be true. It’s almost taboo for an advertising guy to even acknowledge this fact but still, this seems to be so.

“I am heading to Janley’s garage to see if he’s able to help you” The Fisherman began to ride his bicycle eastwards, the empty pails bouncing on one side of the bicycle and the several plastic bags of fishes on the other, swinging around with water splashing out of the bags due to the impact of the bicycle on the uneven ground.  

“Hey, I am going with you!” Sam shouted.

Without turning his head, The Fisherman pointed to his right.

“Head to the house on my right. Within two hundred metres, you will come to a hut with a signboard “Fish’s best friend” above the entrance. That is my place. Knock on the door and when my son Joseph opens the door, tell him that you are The Fisherman’s friend and pass him the packet of fish I have handed you. He will let you in.”

Fish’s best friend? What an irony!

Sam let out a laugh as he walks towards the hut as directed by The Fisherman. As he trekked along the worn pavement, he turned to look at the disappearing view of The Fisherman as he took a left turn and disappeared around a street corner. Peace followed closely behind. With nobody else to protect them, the kids scrambled in all directions, seeking the safely of the bushes and trees from the stranger that they considered strange. 

Suddenly, Sam came to a realisation that he did not know The Fisherman’s name. 

Letting out another laugh, Sam continued walking.

To be Continued…….

*All characters in this story are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Some issues worth exploring:

• Farmers used to produce their own crops and barter (defined as ”
  to trade goods or services without the exchange of money” by the freedictionary.com) them for goods that they need. Why is bartering replaced with currency and what are their differences?
• Is the usage of currency more efficient than bartering? Why is the use of currency favoured over bartering?  
• What is the effectiveness of advertising as compared to word of mouth (defined as “spoken communication” by thefreedictionary.com)?
• How can advertising be more effective?
• In a world of consumerism, is the value of cash more valuable than an expression of sincerity or gratitude?

Dear class,

I will be starting another series on this blog, and will be naming it “The Fisherman and Sam” series. While the “Talent” series provides a factual description of the various talents in us through our personalities, “The Fisherman and Sam” series will take on a narrative style in the form of a story. From the stories in this series, I hope that we are all able to draw some lessons of life through the interactions of the primary characters, which in this case revolves around The Fisherman and Sam. So, do keep a lookout for it.

Below are the character introduction of The Fisherman and Sam:

Sam: Sam is a typical corporate employee working in a multinational company (MNC).  He is academically-inclined and regards life as a journey to achieve his goals.  Hence, he has always put in his best effort in everything he does. This probably explains his quick climb up the corporate ladder, and being promoted to be the Director of Advertising within a year. Few among his friends ever made it made it that far within such a short time. And this is something that Sam has always took pride in. That is, his achievements.

Nevertheless, Sam always feels that something is missing in his life. He is always looking, always searching. Initially, Sam thinks that he can find the missing puzzle of his life in his work. Thus, he has spent long hours in the office, wrapping up every last piece of documentation that requires attention and closing every sales deal that is possible. “Super-achiever” is a term that is associated with Sam in the office, a mark of recognition given to him by his colleagues and peers who often held Sam in high regard.

However, over time, Sam realises that fulfillment cannot be found in his work.  So, he looks for it outside the office, in the company of friends. Still, Sam feels that his life is empty. So, he went for romance. After several attempts, Sam finds himself in a daze, as romance gives him a different type of happiness but a different kind of pain as well.

Feeling disappointed, Sam decided to stop looking. And just when he’s just wandering along the pier going nowhere, Sam met The Fisherman. Through the interactions that he made with The Fisherman, Sam’s life begins to change for the better. And finally, he found happiness.

This is often the case, isn’t it? Just when we are so exhausted in looking for something and are on the verge of giving up, the thing that we are searching for all this while appears right before our eyes.

The Fisherman:   The Fisherman has no name. Or maybe, he once has a name. It just does not matter to him anymore. People now know him only as The Fisherman. The Fisherman probably likes to be called this way. As the name implies, The Fisherman loves to fish. In fact, he often spends an entire day fishing. In good weather, of course. He lives in a hut just by the side of the lake with his wife and two children, a son and a daughter. And the other children playing by the lake like The Fisherman for his good-natured disposition and humour.

Throughout his life, he has never worked in an urban city before. Not even when people tell him that riches can be found in the faraway cities. The Fisherman delves in simplicity and is never one who succumbs to consumerism. And urban cities have an allure that attracts the unaware and the uninitiated.  The cities have a way of stuffing one with irrelevant information and commodifying things and people. And these are things that The Fisherman is aware and steer clears of.

But life has a way of bringing people from different walks of life together. This is probably the reason why The Fisherman chances upon Sam one fateful early evening, along the lake of Ceranest while fishing.  This chance encounter will change both their lives forever.

Dear class, 

We are all talents in this world. Nobody is less than that.

Knowing this is important. But what’s more important is that we are able to identify our talents and realise our true potential. There are many of us who live our entire lives without fully utilising our talents. I hope that you will be one of them who will realise your talents. Hence, I have started this “Talent” series to help you explore the talents that you have.

There are many ways to identify talents. The fact that we tend to excel in the things that we love to do has shown the possibility of identifying talents through our interests.  We are also able to identify our talents in something that we do best as well. However, for this “Talents” series, I have chosen to look at the various types of talents through our personalities as I feel that our personalities – albeit some minor changes due to our life experiences – usually stay the same over a lifetime. More importantly, our personalities usually give a more accurate gauge of the career options that we are able to explore. Many research tests in recent years that are personality-based seem to reinforce this perception. Do note that the term “The Nurturer” as used in this article is different from what is reflected on the materials you may find online. This is because I am defining this term based on the experiences of my interactions with such talents. The same can be said of the subsequent talents that I will be writing on.   

So, let’s begin with the first type of talent, known by many as “The Nurturer“.

Individuals who are considered as Nurturers are often overlooked by many in society, precisely because they often do not take up prominent positions such as a company’s CEO or even members of senior management in the corporate workplace.  The primary focus of the Nurturers in their lifetime is not in creating a vision for companies but rather, developing a vision for individuals and to develop the fullest potential of every single individual under their care.  And these may include mentees, students, a fellow colleagues or even their loved one.

They have a knack of identifying other’s strength and encouraging them to further develop them. And they usually have the ability to do this to such an extent that others are able to carve out a career path that are meant for them over a lifetime. It is therefore not surprising that people often gave great thanks to the Nurturer for helping them identify the paths in their lives that they are taking.  Hence, gratitude is often given to the Nurturers, who often accept them in humility.  To the Nurturers, to help is not a favour or an obligation. It is a calling.

However, the Nurturer’s greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. I believe this speaks true of all if not most personalities. The Nurturer’s tendency to be caring is sometimes taken advantage of. It has often been said that Nurturers may be among the individuals who are often bullied. From personal experiences, I beg to differ. In most instances that I came across, Nurturers are often respected instead. Personally, I feel that deep down in the hearts of all of us, we respect individuals who care about us, who notice us and who give us a helping hand. And in return – be it in a conscious or subconscious manner - we have a tendency to want to return the kindness rendered. And this should always be the case. As the saying goes: kindness begets kindness.

While most of us recognise talents that is aligned and in tune with our own, Nurturers are usually able to identify talents in others that are different from their own. This is what makes the Nurturers so powerful and charismatic as it has often been said that a person is powerful not because of his or her strengths and abilities but rather,  it’s his or her ability to appreciate talents while employing and nurturing them in the endeavours where they can be at their best.  Such is the charismatic prowess of a Nurturer.

The nurturers often have the unique ability to blend into any environment.  It’s this precise skill that enables Nurturers to be skilled mediators when it comes to conflict resolution as they are able to get on good terms with the various personality types. An aura of amicability seems to revolve around nurturers and people find them to be pleasant and caring. Nurturers are also often among the first few individuals that come to someone’s mind should they require any form of assistance, assurance or advice.

Nurturers are the gems in this world. They provide the light at the end of the tunnel. Or rather, they are the light at the end of the tunnel. They enable us to reach an equilibrium when it comes to our emotional level.  Some of us have even associate the Nurturers with the term “Births” and “Rebirths”, for the Nurturers have the unique ability of seeing the talents in any individual and making them shine in life.

So, are you a Nurturer?

If so, the following are some career paths that you might like to consider:

•  Teacher (at all levels)
•  Counsellor
•  Social Worker
•  Career Coach
•  Career Consultant
•  Writer (of relevant genres and publications)