Posts
Thoughts lead to purpose,
Purpose leads to actions,
Actions form habits,
Habits decide character,
Character fixes our destiny.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What shall we feed to our children?
Organic milk, organic food, our life experience, our knowledge, winning strategy, banking account, highest life insurance in case of accidents of us?
Or like Kungli’s family, living everyday in faith, with no dependable or predicable income, no health insurance, laying down all credentials and high earning power jobs in front of the cross but feeding Zach their obedience in the Lord?
What we feed our children will grow with them and within them will conquer the world? So they will know where to seek help and who will help them when we not able or even do not exist any more?
Or like Kungli’s family, living everyday in faith, with no dependable or predicable income, no health insurance, laying down all credentials and high earning power jobs in front of the cross but feeding Zach their obedience in the Lord?
What we feed our children will grow with them and within them will conquer the world? So they will know where to seek help and who will help them when we not able or even do not exist any more?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What shall we inject to our children, Reality or Compliment?
I grew up in hearing comments like “ you are not good at doing this” “this is not your strength” or even “you are not this material”. Parents and teachers inject their own but sincere and honest judgment for young people for their benefits and goods.
One significant thing that we learned at ESL class is not the pronunciation but the no matter how bad the questions from the students, we should reply “it is a very good question”. I sometimes felt that the word of interesting has been overused that I don’t even know what it truly means.
I understand the meaning and power of encouragement but sometimes get confused with injecting compliments vs. injecting reality, which one brings more benefits to the listener? Our teachers injected reality for us and helped us calibrate our course, what’s wrong with that? We all turned out to be just fine as scientists, engineers and lawyers in world-renowned institutions.
Now we are facing our next generation, growing up in United States? What should we inject to them? Reality or Compliment?
There is a theory called “lava effect” stating quantum physics supports: We’re all connected, The universe is conscious/aware, Thoughts are “energy”,… we are talking to our conscious, therefore we should inject positive energy to our surroundings. I agree with the conclusion but find it hard to believe for we are all connected.*some one supports me here.
I don’t have a child now so I don’t know if the challenges of raising a child will make this matter buried in the noise. But I want to share with him or her that always think positively. No matter how bad the situation is, it could be worse. As long as God is living, there will be a way out.
* http://sashen.com/blog/category/quantum-physics/
One significant thing that we learned at ESL class is not the pronunciation but the no matter how bad the questions from the students, we should reply “it is a very good question”. I sometimes felt that the word of interesting has been overused that I don’t even know what it truly means.
I understand the meaning and power of encouragement but sometimes get confused with injecting compliments vs. injecting reality, which one brings more benefits to the listener? Our teachers injected reality for us and helped us calibrate our course, what’s wrong with that? We all turned out to be just fine as scientists, engineers and lawyers in world-renowned institutions.
Now we are facing our next generation, growing up in United States? What should we inject to them? Reality or Compliment?
There is a theory called “lava effect” stating quantum physics supports: We’re all connected, The universe is conscious/aware, Thoughts are “energy”,… we are talking to our conscious, therefore we should inject positive energy to our surroundings. I agree with the conclusion but find it hard to believe for we are all connected.*some one supports me here.
I don’t have a child now so I don’t know if the challenges of raising a child will make this matter buried in the noise. But I want to share with him or her that always think positively. No matter how bad the situation is, it could be worse. As long as God is living, there will be a way out.
* http://sashen.com/blog/category/quantum-physics/
What should we pass on to our next generation?
Almost all my close friends in the seven years had a baby or two within the last two years. Their lives changed from significantly to everything is baby centered. No matter how cautions they have been with spending money, they throw a fortune on organic food, baby clothing, toys, etc. Watching them, I can not help to conclude one more time that parents are willing to give everything to for the good of their child.
But what is the best a parent can pass on their children? Saving money for medical, dental, law school? Take them all kinds of talent/star program to strength all the hard and soft skills?
My mom has given me lot of wisdom as I grew up. She inspired me to be interested in English. because good command of English will lead to good earning power. She was right until my college days. World changes so fast that what advice we can give to our next generation?
According to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY&feature=fvw)
many jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004. Wow, at this speed, what advice we can give our children so that they can survive?
I don’t have an answer, do you?
* Kungli has a correlation between this video with book of Revelation. http://agapehousenet.blogspot.com/2009/03/did-you-know-we-are-in-fast-changing.html
* An updated video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILQrUrEWe8
But what is the best a parent can pass on their children? Saving money for medical, dental, law school? Take them all kinds of talent/star program to strength all the hard and soft skills?
My mom has given me lot of wisdom as I grew up. She inspired me to be interested in English. because good command of English will lead to good earning power. She was right until my college days. World changes so fast that what advice we can give to our next generation?
According to this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY&feature=fvw)
many jobs in 2010 did not exist in 2004. Wow, at this speed, what advice we can give our children so that they can survive?
I don’t have an answer, do you?
* Kungli has a correlation between this video with book of Revelation. http://agapehousenet.blogspot.com/2009/03/did-you-know-we-are-in-fast-changing.html
* An updated video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Un-intentional blindness
It occurred to me that I passed by my destination without noticing it twice today. Apparently, I was deeply lost in my thoughts.This reminds me the Un-intentional blindness concept from Mike Aguilera. Fedex always has an arrow in their logo but I never notice it was there until he circled out. Can you see it?
What is our life long desire or destination? Could it be that it is just close and handy, but you and me are buried in our daily routines and thoughts, then we miss it? It’d better not.
Three words to avoid in a business conversation
(Notes from a session with Mike Aquilera, communication expert, with personal modification)
1. Hope
It is a softening word. Instead of saying “I hope to hear back from you”, a better way should be “I am looking forward to hear back from you”.
“I hope my qualification, our service, our technology etc will meet your need” should be changed to “ I believe we will deliver …I believe my qualification…..”
2. Don’t
It is a simple negation word. But imply the opposite.
If we came across someone with a gun, if we say don’t shoot. We are implying we are afraid he is going to shoot. Instead we should say stay calm, something more in the positive aspect.
3. Try
“Try” sends out weak message to people, meaning you are not sure.
Let me try to explain, suggesting you are not sure if you can explain.
Instead, we should just confidently say: Please let me explain.”
A friends invits you to lunch, if you reply “I will try to be there”. Most of the time, your friends will not count on you to be there.
In business conversations, we need to inject positive, confident, trustworthy impression and relationships, so let us avoid using these three words as much as we can.
1. Hope
It is a softening word. Instead of saying “I hope to hear back from you”, a better way should be “I am looking forward to hear back from you”.
“I hope my qualification, our service, our technology etc will meet your need” should be changed to “ I believe we will deliver …I believe my qualification…..”
2. Don’t
It is a simple negation word. But imply the opposite.
If we came across someone with a gun, if we say don’t shoot. We are implying we are afraid he is going to shoot. Instead we should say stay calm, something more in the positive aspect.
3. Try
“Try” sends out weak message to people, meaning you are not sure.
Let me try to explain, suggesting you are not sure if you can explain.
Instead, we should just confidently say: Please let me explain.”
A friends invits you to lunch, if you reply “I will try to be there”. Most of the time, your friends will not count on you to be there.
In business conversations, we need to inject positive, confident, trustworthy impression and relationships, so let us avoid using these three words as much as we can.
Branding
Personal Branding (Notes from a seminar by Judith Dauphinails, with some modification)
What is branding?
Branding is not about creating an image but about value and emotion. It is not what we sell but what we stand for.
For example, Volve has been known for “Safe” and Apple as “Think differently”.
Why branding?
Benefits of branding:
• Recognition
• Be Sought after
• Charge a premium
• Thrive during economic downturn
• Attract and retain
“Your visibility is more important than your ability”.
Our ability is necessary but not sufficient for long lasting success.
What should be our brands? How to know?
• Know ourselves
• Identify our attitude
• Define our brand community
Articulate our vision and purpose
• Vision: what we would like to see transformed
• Purpose: our role in executing the vision
Identify our strength and motivational needs
• What things that we really stand out in our work environment
Identify our Values and Passion
• Name top of each
Clarify our Goals
• Make list, prioritize and identify most logical next steps toward the goal
What others say about us is our brand.
Branding component
Rational attributes: results-oriented, detail oriented, dependable, and decisive
Emotional attributes: compassionate, luxurious
It is the emotional attributes making people buy.
For example: Cars are just transportation vehicle but there are so many brands. Some value in cars let us buy one but not another.
Branding statement
• Mandatory value statement
• Position rather than presenting
Position: tell a story from the customer’s point of view
Presenting: tell a story from our point of view
Focus on what we can provide/deliver to our customer
Logo
An easy art (not a picture) can be a logo.
Name with word art, font, color can be a logo. Such as Google, IBM.
Color
Yellow: Bright
Blue: trust, credible. (IBM)
Red: Power (Adobe)
…
Branding community
• Join professional organization
• Join Chamber of Commerce
• Take a freelance project
• Try teaching a class at a community college
• Write an opinion piece for your local newspaper, or book reviews
• Secure a speaking engagement on a panel
• Network
Resources
• For Branding: ducttapemarketing.com, reach.com
• Business card: overnightprint.com, vistaprint.com($), cranes.com($), 123print.com
• Different fonts: Dafonts.com
• Crowdspring.com
Blog
Typepad.com, wordpress.org,
Blogger.com
3C’s of brand communication
• Clarity: We express your unique promise of value
• Consistency: We always send the same message in content and style
• Constancy: We communicate frequently
Inspiration
Brand you. Be Distinct or be Extinct.—Tom Peters.
What is branding?
Branding is not about creating an image but about value and emotion. It is not what we sell but what we stand for.
For example, Volve has been known for “Safe” and Apple as “Think differently”.
Why branding?
Benefits of branding:
• Recognition
• Be Sought after
• Charge a premium
• Thrive during economic downturn
• Attract and retain
“Your visibility is more important than your ability”.
Our ability is necessary but not sufficient for long lasting success.
What should be our brands? How to know?
• Know ourselves
• Identify our attitude
• Define our brand community
Articulate our vision and purpose
• Vision: what we would like to see transformed
• Purpose: our role in executing the vision
Identify our strength and motivational needs
• What things that we really stand out in our work environment
Identify our Values and Passion
• Name top of each
Clarify our Goals
• Make list, prioritize and identify most logical next steps toward the goal
What others say about us is our brand.
Branding component
Rational attributes: results-oriented, detail oriented, dependable, and decisive
Emotional attributes: compassionate, luxurious
It is the emotional attributes making people buy.
For example: Cars are just transportation vehicle but there are so many brands. Some value in cars let us buy one but not another.
Branding statement
• Mandatory value statement
• Position rather than presenting
Position: tell a story from the customer’s point of view
Presenting: tell a story from our point of view
Focus on what we can provide/deliver to our customer
Logo
An easy art (not a picture) can be a logo.
Name with word art, font, color can be a logo. Such as Google, IBM.
Color
Yellow: Bright
Blue: trust, credible. (IBM)
Red: Power (Adobe)
…
Branding community
• Join professional organization
• Join Chamber of Commerce
• Take a freelance project
• Try teaching a class at a community college
• Write an opinion piece for your local newspaper, or book reviews
• Secure a speaking engagement on a panel
• Network
Resources
• For Branding: ducttapemarketing.com, reach.com
• Business card: overnightprint.com, vistaprint.com($), cranes.com($), 123print.com
• Different fonts: Dafonts.com
• Crowdspring.com
Blog
Typepad.com, wordpress.org,
Blogger.com
3C’s of brand communication
• Clarity: We express your unique promise of value
• Consistency: We always send the same message in content and style
• Constancy: We communicate frequently
Inspiration
Brand you. Be Distinct or be Extinct.—Tom Peters.
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