Sui Generis People in the world today, especially in Singapore, are too willing to settle for fitting in with the status quo and just doing what they are told to do. Here's my thoughts on society, education and life in general; and my views on being significant. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 21 2140

Articles from Sui Generis

Support My Blog 2007-09-24 04:32:00 I've just set up a donation button via PayPal on the sidebar. So, if you like my blog, feel free to donate. All donations are greatly appreciated.Half of all the donation will go to the Global Nomads Group. It's an organization that aims to bring young people together from across the world.From their website:clipped from www.gng.orgGlobal Nomads Group programs aim to: Increase young people's knowledge of the world and its peopleIncrease collaboration and dialogue between students of different culturesand nationalitiesHighlight critical world issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to global warming,to warProvide an educational framework in which students can become active leadersin their own educationI think it's a really good organization. I really like the idea of connecting young people around the world, and helping them understand more about the world around. But if you have any organization you personally support, you can leave a note when you make your donation, and half of your donatio ...

Superhero 1 - Batman 2007-09-23 11:36:00 As a continuation of my previous post, I'll be doing a short series on Superheroes this week. I'll be taking a look at a few of the fictional Superheroes in pop culture, and examining the lessons we can learn from them in the quest to be the next superhero of our world.So, on to the superhero for today - Batman. I'm starting with him because I think it's a really important lesson, and something we should grasp right from the start.Batman is a superhero without any powers per se. He's a normal guy, but he makes the most of his intelligence and the skills he has in order to succeed. He makes full use of the equipment at his disposal as well, his utility belt being an essential part of his costume.And I think that's the first thing we have to learn. The potential to be a superhero is in every one of us. You don't have to be born with a superpower. You don't need to have god-gifted abilities. All you need to do is have a willingness to take what you have, and make the most of it. D ...

Arrested at Circuit City 2007-09-23 07:28:00 Michael Amor Righi tells the story of how he got arrested at Circuit City, for refusing to allow the store manager to look through his bag, and for not showing his driving license to a police officer.clipped from codeorange.usI understand that my day would have gone a lot smoother if I had agreed to let loss prevention inspect my bag. I understand that my day would have gone a lot smoother if I had agreed to hand over my driver's license when asked by Officer Arroyo. However, I am not interested in living my life smoothly. I am interested in living my life on strong principles and standing up for my rights as a consumer, a U.S. citizen and a human being. Allowing stores to inspect our bags at will might seem like a trivial matter, but it creates an atmosphere of obedience which is a dangerous thing. Allowing police officers to see our papers at will might seem like a trivial matter, but it creates a fear-of-authority atmosphere which can be all too easily abused. A really interesting ...

SABLE-3 Balloon 2007-09-23 06:01:00 That's a beautiful picture, isn't it? Guess what it took to take that picture? It's a real photo from space. But it wasn't any organization or NASA attempt or anything. All it cost was $487. And it was done by a group of students and the owner of a small photography business.You can read more about it at the official site of SABLE.More than just a beautiful photo, I think it's a really inspiring story.It took 3 tries - and 2 years - to get that photo. But it's a great example that if you really believe you can do something and don't give up, you can truly go as high as you want to.Like my blog? Make a donation. For more information, click here. ...

Dennis Bergkamp the Genius 2007-09-22 12:42:00 Alan Smith recently wrote a really good article on the brilliance of Bergkamp.For those of you who aren't soccer/football fans, Bergkamp was basically a genius of a player. He could pick out passes and do things that others could only dream of. I think the photo depicts it perfectly. When Bergkamp played, he brought new color to the game, and exposed the dullness of the others players. Nick Hornby put it this way, "When Dennis arrived, he exposed something about England. It's as if you're watching a film with special effects where everything is very small, and it's fine as long as they keep the cameraman out of the picture.... but then 'oh, they're only an inch tall'."There are a lot of things that I can write about regarding Bergkamp, but I just want to point out 3, and what you can learn from them.Firstly, one of the great things about him is his vision. Ask any football fan, and they'll tell you his vision was legendary. His imagination and creativity as well ...

My aStore 2007-09-21 23:33:00 I have just set up my aStore. Contains books and resources which I've read and find to be valuable.Doesn't have too many products at the moment, but I'll definitely be adding more to it over time. So keep checking back, yeah?Like my blog? Make a donation. For more information, click here. ...

Be a Superhero 2007-09-21 12:19:00 Tom asks whether you will be the next Superhero.clipped from www.lifegoalaction.comA Superhero is simply someone who publicly solves a large problem. A Superhero finds out what is wrong in the world and makes it right. They needn’t where stretchy pants or live in a shroud of secrecy. They don’t need to be super-human or immortal. All they need is to put themselves in the right place so that they can serve men by solving an important problem. I think it's a really good question to be asking. You should really read the whole article, it's a really good write. I do think there are a couple things (at least) I want to point out about superheroes.Firstly, one thing that is required to be a superhero is the willing to do something different.Firstly, superheroes need to be true to themselves. Imagine if Spiderman wasn't happy with what he had and tried to fly like Superman. He'd fail - probably really badly. You need to discover what you're good at, what you are capable of, and g ...

Thanks, Tom 2007-09-21 10:57:00 Just wanted to thank Tom from LifeGoalAction for featuring me in his series of stories, and also for the kind words about my blog.It's a great honor to be featured, especially as the first in the series. =).For those of you who don't read Tom's blog yet, you really should. And you guys should submit your stories as well.Like my blog? Make a donation. For more information, click here. ...

Build-up to Blog Action Day 2007-09-20 12:52:00 I mentioned earlier that I'm participating in Blog Action Day 2007. The day is approaching, in less than a month's time, on October 15th.I already have a couple of ideas on what I could write about, but I would like to hear from you, especially if you're passionate about the environment. What are you doing to help the cause? What new/creative ideas do you have about helping the environment?You can carry this to your blog (and link here so I know), or comment here. Or you could email me if you want. Like my blog? Make a donation. For more information, click here. ...

Sui Generis: Behind the Scenes 2007-09-20 12:30:00 Chris Brogan recently posted 100 blog topics for his readers to write about. It's a great list and one I'll be referring back to in future, I'm sure. But for now, I want to write about the 9th item on the list "How I Find Blogging Ideas".This blog is getting known as a personal development blog. And yet, I'd like to think that it's different from other personal development blogs. This is no criticism of the other blogs, it's just where I see my niche (or where I want my niche to be).For example, I don't think many other personal development sites would have posts which link to Men.style.com. And yeah. That's basically what this blog is about.The whole point of this blog is to get you (the reader) to think about your life. To take note of what's going around you and learn to see the lessons and opportunities in everyday occurrences. And that's why I try not to post links from all sorts of sites and topics, and relate them to the lessons and message of this blog. That's why I ...

Connie Talbot 2007-09-20 10:31:00 This story is a couple of months old, so if you already know of it, my apologies. But the show didn't air in Singapore (or at least I don't think it did), so I was kind of out of the loop about it.Anyway, the main story. I think I'll let the video clip speak for itself. Here's Connie Talbot, finalist in Britain's Got Talent (though many say she should have won).*It's only 7 minutes, so watch it, if you haven't befor. Stop reading for a while and watch it. Or even if you have, maybe you'd want to watch it again. Done? Ok, now you may continue.There's nothing much I can say other than it's pure inspiration. Really goes to show that age doesn't matter and that (cliche as it sounds) dreams really can come true. Absolutely brilliant, and I'm sure we'll see more of her in the future.Watch the video, and learn from her. Don't let anything stop you from pursuing and achieving your dream.Like my blog? Make a donation. For more information, click here. ...

Personal Development List 2007-09-19 10:48:00 I've been recently tagged for Priscilla Palmer's Personal Development list.It's quite long, and easily found on quite a lot of sites, so I'm not going to copy the whole list here (sorry Priscilla). The list is quite complete and I can't really recommend anything new, but I will if I find something.For now, I'll just share my top few blogs from that list. In no particular order:Chris Brogan at ChrisBrogan.comPeter at I will Change Your LifePeter Haslam at Necessary SkillsPhil Gerbyshak at Make It GreatKarl Moore at Karlblog.comYeah. If/when I manage to find something new, I'll recommend it. But those are just 5 of the blogs which I think are really good. The whole list is worth checking out, though, if you have the time (it's a long list).And I just want to thank Peter at I will Change Your Life for recommending my blog and Priscilla for including me in the list. I'm honored.Like my blog? Make a donation. For more information, click here. ...

Growing as a Person 2007-09-19 10:36:00 Talent Development Resources shares with us Terrence Howard's views on growing as an artist and a person.clipped from talentdevelop.comWe have to remember.. that we’re all artists.The reason that I’m an actor, or an artist, is ultimately because I’m trying to paint a self-portrait, and the most complete and beautiful self-portrait that you can.My future’s about trying to be a better man. My future’s truly about trying to be a better human being. I can’t tell you if one day I’ll be standing up there with an Oscar or directing, but I am going to be the best human being I possibly can.Very well said. And I think the full interview is worth the read as well.Life's about expressing yourself. We're all artists, and we're all painting self portraits, whether you realize it or not. And the thing about self portraits is that they aren't effective if they look like someone else. The best self portraits reflect what is unique about the person being painted.Imagine your life as ...

20% Time in Education 2007-09-18 09:38:00 I briefly mentioned Google's 20% rule in an earlier post. In case you didn't read it, then I think you should. But if you really don't want to, here's the segment about the 20% rule.clipped from derrickkwa.blogspot.comI really love the 20% concept, where Google engineers are allowed to work on any project they want for 20% of their time at work. It's a brilliant concept, and a lot of Google's products have come out of it (Google News, Orkut and apparently GMail as well). I think it'd be interesting to have that concept applied to education, but that's for another day.Well, today is to be the "another day".Imagine that concept in education. 20% of the time, students are allowed to learn and explore whatever they want. That's one full day a week (assuming a five-day school week). One full day where students can learn and explore whatever they are interested in, to allow them to pursue whatever projects they want. No proposals and approval needed. Whatever they are interested in. ...

Ahead of the Ball 2007-09-17 11:39:00 One of the traits of a good striker in football is running ahead of the ball. I've heard quite a few commentators praising strikers for making a run, and taking a gamble on the possibility that the ball might end up there. I've seen many goals been scored from rebounds or loose balls because a striker was willing to gamble.I think that's a skill that is useful for all of us. Taking a gamble on where the ball might be. The "ball" could be anything. If you're in business, that ball could be your targeted market. Where will the market be in 5 years time? You probably won't have a definite answer, but more often than not, it's worth the gamble.Planning for where the market will be instead of where it is now means that you're one step ahead of your competitors. Positioning yourself for the future is often a better choice than merely reacting to what has happened. Because then, the control and initiative is in your hands. And that's really important.Are you willing to take the gamble ...