Archives for June 2020

Only You Can Help Yourself

‘The best way to predict the future is to create it’ — Abraham Lincoln

I stumbled upon this quote when I was downloading a picture that I have created online using a paid software.

Every time, I hit the download button, a positive message would come up before the picture appears.

This became the source of my topics. I was doing exactly this, creating my future.

If there is anything that the Covid-19 situation taught me is that I cannot depend on my dental practice alone. A second career preferably a COVID-proof one is desirable.

Covid-19 crisis brought a large part of the economy to a halt particularly businesses that have contact between people. Travel, tourism, restaurants, retail, banking, entertainment, etc faced dire consequences.

On the other hand, some businesses experienced more traction.

The reason is obvious- they rolled with the punches.

With lockdown and quarantine being enforced and work from home became the new norm, companies who could pander to these needs thrive.

The key is the adoption and use of technology in this unprecedented era.

The most famous example is Zoom, a video conferencing platform that was pushed to the forefront of technology during the pandemic as it enables companies who wanted to work remotely.

It also facilitated contact between families, friends, social institutions, etc resulting in an exponential growth in revenue.

Microsoft Teams, Google meet also offered their free versions of video conferencing making the use of these platforms the likely mainstay of our future meetings.

In Singapore, healthcare shops like pharmacies, medical and dental clinics could stay open while all other non-essential shops were ordered shut. It helped that pharmacies were already online so purchases could be made.

Dental clinics suffered as the scope of work was restricted only to emergencies and even then, most were to be channeled to appointed hospitals to prevent the possibility of cluster formations. That is when I realized I need to turn to digital technology to bolster my income should the virus strike again.

Restaurants and many food outlets were also ordered to shutter and quite a number many folded up due to failures to meet costs as well as poor businesses. Those who quickly jumped on the bandwagon of food delivery apps were able to continue business daily. So did delivery companies business escalated.

In fact, the few eateries near my workplace have been running a brisk business to increased takeaway orders as dine-in was prohibited and special promotions with new menus helped further to engage more customers.

Technology backed companies usually do well. When schools were shut down, those tuition centers that quickly adopted technological means to continue with the students’ education stayed in business much to the relief of their parents.

The examples of people who thrived with technology are innumerable. When a friend used to lease out her apartment, it took the agent few months and many visits to view the place before a new tenant would sign up.

This time, using a good virtual tour, the agent was able to secure a tenant within two weeks. Everything was done without time taken by all parties to view the apartment and the deal was sealed based on trust and the condition seen in the video. Even documents were signed and forwarded through the computer.

As more companies turn to online for more presence, companies that teach soft skills like Website creation, building e-commerce stores, and digital marketing would see an uptick in interest to cater to these needs.

Herein, lies my interest to be technology savvy. Since I started learning about website creation, it had piqued my interest and increased my creativity.

Lockdown was bearable as I was engaged in learning this new skill. I have started creating websites and an e-commerce store and I do see this as an interesting and relevant side career.

We now learn that the companies that thrived well in Covid-19 are predicting their future by creating them by engaging digital technology. This is what I planned to do too — Continuous learning, adapting, and adopting the changes by being technologically savvy.

It Is The Most Underrated Thing We Do But You will Get What You Want.

Summer LotusJun 21 · 5 min read

I was a very reticent person. That did not stand me in good stead for the most part of my life.

When your world is closed up, the outside world is also closed up to you. I watched how some of my peers could get very far in life – most of them were sociable, gregarious, and outgoing.

Many reached high stations in their careers and satisfaction in what they wanted to do.

They get noticed because they can communicate. They asked questions and favors. They were not shy.

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask remains a fool forever.” — Chinese proverb

It was due to the lack of this trait that made me searched for a public speaking course many years ago. I went through several courses but finally found a structured one in SIM2 Toastmasters Club where I have honed my skills for many years.

With an increase in self-confidence and improvement in expressing myself succinctly, it has made a dramatic change in my life. My career became more established and my interests and hobbies increased because I started asking questions and found out that Life has a lot to offer.

As a dentist, I learned to ask poignant and pertinent questions to understand my patients’ complaints, and l would listen to them more intently. Then I would offer my solutions. All customers liked to be heard and if you do not ask, they may not tell much so their needs would not be met.

Outside of dentistry, I had applied my art of asking in my learning whether it was a foreign language or a workshop. Before this, much of my learning was status quo because I did not ask enough.

But nowadays, I have decided to question more fervently. My modus operandi to attain more knowledge and skill in life is to ask questions. So much so that, at a recent workshop, a lecturer expressed in dismay that I was a cumbersome character but he still had to furnish the answers.

I was also speaking on behalf of my fellow classmates who were too fearful to ask any questions. Anyway, my queries were valid ones and I knew they would secretly thank me for them.

That led me to do better in my course and workshop. The typical important words of ‘what, why, when, where, how, and who. This is very much what we would apply in writing an article and making it an interesting story. I now used it in my daily life. Asking to find out more and asking to understand more.

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s frequently quoted observation is that we often meet people who are often better than us at something and we must be eager to learn from them.

Socrates believed in asking questions. “ An unexamined life is not worth living”. Ask and discover for yourself the solutions and the truth to solve problems. Things do not just appear as they are, there must be a reason. If something is amiss, ask, and find out if they should be the way they are.

Back to my course on website building, I found out why are some websites more beautiful and engaging. Because they used the right tools. Because they have a good theme. Because they have good content.

Why is that important? Because if you run a business that depends on your website presence, users would linger longer on your website if it is interesting and they are likely to become your potential customers. How then to build a beautiful website? What are the important tools? How to use them? That is when you learn to use your creativity to fabricate one.

I would draw answers out of my Instructors the way one draws blood from a vein. Like a six-year-old.

Thanks to their good chat group support, I was able to quench my thirst for answers without interrupting in class. Every question that I asked, I noted the answers so as not to repeat them.

After that, I went to set up my own website, an e-commerce store, and a blog. It may not be the most beautiful one but it was a good start.

Then I had learned to ask some more questions. I have become pally with my accountant and through our meet-up, I found out that ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. ) may require companies to have websites to authenticate their existence. Many companies do not have websites.

Therein lies a gold mine of opportunities.

I shared with my accountant my work and she mentioned that she needed a company website too. I asked her to give me the opportunity to create one for her and she said yes.

In return, I gave her a deal she found hard to turn down.

In fact, many of her clients do not have websites so the road to more website creation has been paved.

These days, I am turning into a requester. There is no embarrassment in being that.

Knock and it shall open, ask and you shall receive.

You rarely not get what you want unless the request is absurd.

You rarely not get what you want if you could benefit the opposite party in return for the favor- it should be both ways.

You rarely not get what you want if you have applied all my persuasive skills learned at Toastmasters.

I rarely not get what I want because I believe that people are generally helpful and as long as we are sincere.

That is what I did, asking Wann Shing for a comprehensive guide to navigating Pathways, or I will never get started on projects.

The precondition is that one must first put in your effort when you are learning a skill or trade so that by asking questions and getting your answers, you can then progress and become good in what you do.

Don’t be shy about asking questions or for help. Just ask. It does not mean you are weak. It means you are wise and brave. If it is no, so be it. Try harder and someday, it would be yes. If it is yes, you are onto a brand new world.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” — — — Albert Einstein

Why it is a profitable activity.

Walking seems like such a passive activity but it has proven to be of immense benefits. It did occur to me so much until this lockdown happened.

Most of us know that walking, especially if it is brisk is a weight-bearing exercise that not only strengthens the bones and muscles, it can burn calories and improve your blood flow resulting in better cardiovascular health.

In addition to keeping your weight or reducing it depending on intensity, it elevates your mood due to the release of feel-good hormones or endorphins, improves your balance, and manages other conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol.

Many are still not doing it due to a lack of time /commitment. I think it is due to a lack of priority. One needs at least 30 minutes of brisk walking daily to reap the benefits. Otherwise, it would translate into a longer walk.

Living in a frenetically paced world, walking is undervalued for its contributions to our overall being. I used to see it as a perfunctory activity, to be done and get over with.

With the Covid-19 situation, becoming housebound daily for several hours over the last few months began to take a toll on one’s psyche. The aches and pain from sitting at the computer for long hours started to annoy.

At 6.30 pm, I strapped on my mask and got out of the house. 

I have been doing daily pre-sunset walks for months now and have realized the benefits.

Pre-Covid19, I have never looked at my neighbors’ houses with such curiosity.

Now, I noticed and began to enjoy the different architecture of each house, their lightings, plants, even the materials used for their construction. Many of these ideas could be incorporated into my house during our coming refurbishment.

The trees and the plants were so lush. We are indeed blessed with the beauty of nature and it is heartening and inspiring to see that people are very house and garden proud. 

Walking can be educational. During pockets of rest, I whipped out my phone and used the apps on the smartphone to identify plants and flowers. It is an amazing way to learn about them. 

In addition, I have noticed that quaint cafes and eateries have sprung up without my realizing them. I was impressed by their showcases and their ambiance that I told myself I would be back to spend a nice afternoon there to chill. Life around my residence was so vibrant but I was spending too much time at work!

A gelato parlor that was allowed to open also enticed me. Strolling along, licking my ice cream, and enjoying the views, hmm what a life! My life-long dream of opening a gelato counter was also rekindled.

I was happy to stumble upon a small Italian grocery shop where I found some fresh pasta and other high-grade ingredients that I could easily source for my Italian dishes. Why queue at the Supermarket when the price differences are not so significant?

I also chanced upon the blue pea flower bush along the road. With this special flower, I can make a caffeine-free tea or the liquid made from soaking this flower could be added to rice where it would become pastel blue, smell fragrant and taste awesome. But more significant is that Blue pea can be used to treat inflammation, conjunctivitis, induce brain health, and increase vitality.

There was no more need to go online to purchase it anymore. Some things in life are free!🥰

An important finding is that walking helps to boost creative thinking. It must be the increased blood flow as I always have eureka moments ( not just in the bathroom ) during walking. Many of my ideas surfaced during my walks and I would key them instantly into my smartphone. Writing this article for the Medium was conceived during my evening walk.

A Stanford study found that walking increased Creative inspiration by an average of 60% versus sitting. It is believed that walking if its well-paced, sparks connections between brain cells. The right rhythm induced thinking resulting in better working memory.

So, Walking is a brain elixir besides protecting your body’s health.

More credence to this claim comes from the fact that top thinkers all incorporate walking into their daily routine. From creatives like Charles Dickens and Hemingway to Scientists like Darwin and Einstein. These great minds have one thing in common- they all take long walks.

Long ago, the significance of walking probably arose since Roman times.

Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, conducted his lectures while walking the grounds of his school in Athens. An old fresco depicted Aristotle and Plato walking while discussing topics with their followers, holding books in their hands. The students were also called peripatetics meaning walkers.

Beethoven was known to take several breaks during his typical workday. Regardless of the weather, he would carry his pen and music sheets to write on in case inspiration struck.

Frederick Nietzsche was a philosopher, composer, poet, and author. He once wrote that “ all truly great thoughts are conceived by walking” He would set off for a two-hour walk every day with a notebook. 

There are many famous people with prolific works also related to suing walking as a routine or rest.

This seemingly banal activity has many different purposes from stimulating creativity to calming our nerves to preventing diseases. So get up, go for a walk, and awaken your inner genius.