Successful people don't have super powers, yes, they are human like the rest of us.
Ever had a shadow of doubt come over you? During time of great trials? Grossly looking down on yourself and your abilities, you sit and wonder why you are having difficulty. You look to your left, you see the flock of people having the same difficulty, constantly reminding you of your situation. Like a hammer pounding on a nail; a nail that wasn't custom made to fit the hole where it's being forcefully pounded into. You take deep breaths, one… two… three… and try so hard to think of the book you once skimmed about seeing things positively. How hard could it be right?
You look to your right, and like another child boasting the start pin on his chest, with the word "Number 1" on its center, you see the only person in the entire room not having difficulty. Breezing through whatever the situation throws at him. What grace, you say to yourself. What power, what intellect, he must have woken up early when the creator was handing over the goods. Intimidation, in it's very dangerous dose.
I knew I should've studied more during my college days. You then cover yourself with a heavier blanket of doubt. "What is he taking? What differences do we have? I bet it's a multitude of things, bet you he even has super powers" you say to yourself in different tongues. You take out your pedestal, the one that you should've been using for yourself, put that person on top of it and addictively marvel at his not so human (or not so you) feats.
What does he have that you don't? Nothing. A shave here and there, you'd be almost exactly alike. He too is stubborn at times, he too has his own personal problems, he too also engages in small talk, and he too has other difficulties in life. Even in things where you see the opposite of difficulty. Just for one little thing, the most important thing, he/she is too damn stubborn to be put down.
They work hard, they take a step further, they make a sacrifice, and do everything you can do. So what is the super power there?
Note:
I experience this most of the time, getting intimidated with a lot of people. People who seemingly have a knack for getting a perfect game or people who command authority. But I'm improving, how about you?
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Friday, 20 February 2009
Who are you really helping?
Volunteerism - The willingness of people to work on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain.
Selfless - Exhibiting or motivated by no concern for ones self.
A picture
A blind man in his 50's, father to a son almost rendered useless by his autism, husband to a nearly crippled woman, wakes up early everyday to think of things on how to bring food to their plates. Often times, he offers his services to his neighbors, carrying two big water containers in his aged-strained shoulders and hiking almost 2 kilometers to fetch water in the nearby river. Barefooted, he treks his way through grass, mud, sharp and slippery rocks and, on the better days, the heat of the sun burning through his week old clothes. Taking almost the whole day with the sun still up, gathers only an amount not even close to what we spend for a pack of cigarettes or a one way ride to work.
A little girl, closely watching the poor old man try to bring food to his family knock on their door. Wishing to herself, despite of their own situation, that she could give more than what she has on her left hand. Opening the door every single time, a gush of pure sympathy laminating itself to her core makes her teary eyed. The biggest question on her mind, how will I be able to help? Help more!
How else would she, in her position, HELP?
Given an opportunity, she calls up a television program geared to help people with the most touching stories. What does she do? She asks people from the program, without a doubt in heart, to help her neighbor. A wish that, by a stroke of luck, came true for her neighbor.
A thought
Why did she help? Why didn't she, given that opportunity, just ignore the existence of her neighbor and went ahead making up an even sadder story?
Are you really helping others selflessly? Do you do it for the sole purpose of just helping others? Just them, not you? Other people would say that kind of exhibition of generosity comes from selfless reasons.
"I help because I want to help…"
"I help because I'm happier when I see other people happy…"
"I help because I need to help…"
"I help because I had a calling…"
"I help because they need my help…"
"I help because It's for them, not for me…"
"I help because…"
Not putting phrases similar to "… cause I will benefit by…" in any part of the sentences.
I don't think so. Not the whole of it anyway.
A Reason
In mulling over doing or purchasing something, what will your thought process be?
You look carefully, see if it is worth it.
Will it benefit me?
Will it look good on me?
Will it complicate my life and cause problems in the future?
After versions and versions of related questions, what ultimate question needs answering… By my own understanding and standard, will I be happy?
You need to be at ease with helping people, before you go on and help people. And being at ease with helping people, means that you are happy with it, whole heartedly. Satisfying your need to be happy, is actually having the self in selfless without the less.
An action needs conviction woven tightly inside ones heart before it can be beautifully executed. What do I mean? You become selfish in the very first step of becoming selfless. You are actually helping yourself by helping others, you just don't realize it.
Reciprocating
On the picture, who will have the life long benefit from the experience? The little girl, in my opinion. Humility, compassion, generosity, selflessness, and many more, lessons in life taking almost a lifetime to learn. through one decision made, she has helped herself without even knowing it.
Again, you help yourself by helping others.
Selfless - Exhibiting or motivated by no concern for ones self.
A picture
A blind man in his 50's, father to a son almost rendered useless by his autism, husband to a nearly crippled woman, wakes up early everyday to think of things on how to bring food to their plates. Often times, he offers his services to his neighbors, carrying two big water containers in his aged-strained shoulders and hiking almost 2 kilometers to fetch water in the nearby river. Barefooted, he treks his way through grass, mud, sharp and slippery rocks and, on the better days, the heat of the sun burning through his week old clothes. Taking almost the whole day with the sun still up, gathers only an amount not even close to what we spend for a pack of cigarettes or a one way ride to work.
A little girl, closely watching the poor old man try to bring food to his family knock on their door. Wishing to herself, despite of their own situation, that she could give more than what she has on her left hand. Opening the door every single time, a gush of pure sympathy laminating itself to her core makes her teary eyed. The biggest question on her mind, how will I be able to help? Help more!
How else would she, in her position, HELP?
Given an opportunity, she calls up a television program geared to help people with the most touching stories. What does she do? She asks people from the program, without a doubt in heart, to help her neighbor. A wish that, by a stroke of luck, came true for her neighbor.
A thought
Why did she help? Why didn't she, given that opportunity, just ignore the existence of her neighbor and went ahead making up an even sadder story?
Are you really helping others selflessly? Do you do it for the sole purpose of just helping others? Just them, not you? Other people would say that kind of exhibition of generosity comes from selfless reasons.
"I help because I want to help…"
"I help because I'm happier when I see other people happy…"
"I help because I need to help…"
"I help because I had a calling…"
"I help because they need my help…"
"I help because It's for them, not for me…"
"I help because…"
Not putting phrases similar to "… cause I will benefit by…" in any part of the sentences.
I don't think so. Not the whole of it anyway.
A Reason
In mulling over doing or purchasing something, what will your thought process be?
You look carefully, see if it is worth it.
Will it benefit me?
Will it look good on me?
Will it complicate my life and cause problems in the future?
After versions and versions of related questions, what ultimate question needs answering… By my own understanding and standard, will I be happy?
You need to be at ease with helping people, before you go on and help people. And being at ease with helping people, means that you are happy with it, whole heartedly. Satisfying your need to be happy, is actually having the self in selfless without the less.
An action needs conviction woven tightly inside ones heart before it can be beautifully executed. What do I mean? You become selfish in the very first step of becoming selfless. You are actually helping yourself by helping others, you just don't realize it.
Reciprocating
On the picture, who will have the life long benefit from the experience? The little girl, in my opinion. Humility, compassion, generosity, selflessness, and many more, lessons in life taking almost a lifetime to learn. through one decision made, she has helped herself without even knowing it.
Again, you help yourself by helping others.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Blue prints
I was talking to a friend about this just the other day, it was about another friend. Some deep thoughts on the topic.
My friend was broken hearted. Her boyfriend cheated on her. she's about 22 years of age.
Of course, when asked, I give advice with caution but straight to the point. Caution, I did not direct her to do anything that will require her to choose a side, make a decision, or go do something where she feels half assed. Straight to the point, I give her the facts, at her young age she doesn't need to be as devastated as she is now. She needs to get up and move on. She kept on saying the opposite of what I was saying. That how can she live life and move on if the one she loved betrayed her trust... children... pft. I told her that life will go on, he is just a dot, a passer by, someone who will teach her lessons in life, and all that. At some point of the conversation I told her she was a stereotype. She cried because of that. Dumbfounded as I am because of that, I asked her why. She said I was judging her too soon... children... pft.
One thing stuck to me, she said "Alam mo RD, you don't know me. Wala kang karapatan para sabihan ako ng mga kung ano ano. Hindi mo alam ang sitwasyon ko, ang mga nangyari sa buhay ko."
What will your reaction be when faced with this kind of person?
Who cries after being called a stereotype, is the first. Come on. It was a conversation. pft. Maybe that's why her boyfriend got tired of her and left her :D Sorry for being mean, but I drive a strong point. After much thought on the reply, as I didn't want to say anything that will make her cry again. I told her " I don't need to know anything about the specifics of your life, about what he told you, what emotion you are feeling right now. Beneath all the twists, there is a blue print of that situation. Someone from another point in time, felt that same emotion, went through the same situation and they got through it. "
True, stories though told differently, follow a blue print. A schematics that needs only a careful eye to see and a strong heart to follow. No matter how complicated a problem might seem, there is a systematic way to go through it and prevail over it.
What is thrown to you only obscures your vision. If you choose to embed those into your being, bath yourself with it, it's your choice. You need not feel special in a negative way, that everything in your life goes wrong, you are always on the bad side of the stick, always unlucky and always miserable.
Hard thing to do, but when done, can do wonders.
My friend was broken hearted. Her boyfriend cheated on her. she's about 22 years of age.
Of course, when asked, I give advice with caution but straight to the point. Caution, I did not direct her to do anything that will require her to choose a side, make a decision, or go do something where she feels half assed. Straight to the point, I give her the facts, at her young age she doesn't need to be as devastated as she is now. She needs to get up and move on. She kept on saying the opposite of what I was saying. That how can she live life and move on if the one she loved betrayed her trust... children... pft. I told her that life will go on, he is just a dot, a passer by, someone who will teach her lessons in life, and all that. At some point of the conversation I told her she was a stereotype. She cried because of that. Dumbfounded as I am because of that, I asked her why. She said I was judging her too soon... children... pft.
One thing stuck to me, she said "Alam mo RD, you don't know me. Wala kang karapatan para sabihan ako ng mga kung ano ano. Hindi mo alam ang sitwasyon ko, ang mga nangyari sa buhay ko."
What will your reaction be when faced with this kind of person?
Who cries after being called a stereotype, is the first. Come on. It was a conversation. pft. Maybe that's why her boyfriend got tired of her and left her :D Sorry for being mean, but I drive a strong point. After much thought on the reply, as I didn't want to say anything that will make her cry again. I told her " I don't need to know anything about the specifics of your life, about what he told you, what emotion you are feeling right now. Beneath all the twists, there is a blue print of that situation. Someone from another point in time, felt that same emotion, went through the same situation and they got through it. "
True, stories though told differently, follow a blue print. A schematics that needs only a careful eye to see and a strong heart to follow. No matter how complicated a problem might seem, there is a systematic way to go through it and prevail over it.
What is thrown to you only obscures your vision. If you choose to embed those into your being, bath yourself with it, it's your choice. You need not feel special in a negative way, that everything in your life goes wrong, you are always on the bad side of the stick, always unlucky and always miserable.
Hard thing to do, but when done, can do wonders.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Core values beat bad circumstances any day
At the most dire of times, circumstances and events most people turn to superstition and religion. Believing that their tenacity and strong belief alone in the ancients and saints will be the key, the answer, the long awaited solution to the problem they are facing. It's not all bad to pray, go to mass, or even consult the mystics. After all, faith does wonders. A strong belief or faith gives an unexplainable fuel for an individual to go on and master the emotion and conquer anything in their way.
But what is really needed is going back to basics. From my experience, I too prayed more than the usual when in doubt or when facing a problem. The comfort that it brings me, is welcoming and warm. Though, again guilty of the placing trust where action is needed, not really serving it side by side with my core values.
From a tweet of @wilsonng
Crisis into an opportunity - Jim Collins
Taking the article to a more personal level, as it is indicated though it is a study made on why businesses succeed in tough times, I have realized that much of the values I hold and practice aren't located at my core being. I loose faith, belief, action when bombarded with emotional bombs. Not to be proud of the emotional weakness I have, but a fact that I must face. Reading the article above made me think twice of how I value my core values, of how strongly attached their roots are to me and of how time and circumstance proven are they to me. My verdict, guilty. I am one of the persons, most of the time, described above.
To give an example. Of the things that I always keep in mind, is the thought of proving people wrong when they say or even think negatively of me. I don't want to be put in a story and be written as the one who cannot recover, as the one who is lacking in good judgment, as the one who is always far behind. I despise it, who wouldn't, right? But it seemingly stops there, just the hatred. Which really makes a rotten apple out of a person, seriously. I do a rebound and recover, of course, but not as often as I would hope to. It was a weakness that I have, I told myself, at the same time contradicting myself saying that it wasn't put there to be accepted as it is, but rather as how you would understand it and how you will translate it.
Translating, adapting to maybe, perplexing problems with one of the most valuable tools, your values, will help you learn and recover. What am I talking about? Further using my example, now I'm feeling down because somebody, because of my mistake of course, wrote me down as someone who commits a mistake more often than the usual. The core value, I don't want to be branded with a negative title like that. What I should do, like to do at the darkest of problems, is to get out of the hole where the person wrote me into. I will do everything I can, a battle cry of resolve… I will not be put down. One way or the other I will prevail. I will erase it, even if written in permanent ink, and write myself a new version of my character. With that in mind, I will correct it with a plan, with a goal in mind, with my other values.
I won't focus on the difficult or troublesome situation dealt to me, I will focus on what I hold dear, on what defines me as a person, father, friend, husband and whatever role I will play in flesh or in spirit, I will focus on the positivity and value of my core being.
This year started rough, but hey, it won't be much of a life if it wasn't :)
And to think that I was lightly using the word value in one of my conversations with a friend of mine.
But what is really needed is going back to basics. From my experience, I too prayed more than the usual when in doubt or when facing a problem. The comfort that it brings me, is welcoming and warm. Though, again guilty of the placing trust where action is needed, not really serving it side by side with my core values.
From a tweet of @wilsonng
Crisis into an opportunity - Jim Collins
Taking the article to a more personal level, as it is indicated though it is a study made on why businesses succeed in tough times, I have realized that much of the values I hold and practice aren't located at my core being. I loose faith, belief, action when bombarded with emotional bombs. Not to be proud of the emotional weakness I have, but a fact that I must face. Reading the article above made me think twice of how I value my core values, of how strongly attached their roots are to me and of how time and circumstance proven are they to me. My verdict, guilty. I am one of the persons, most of the time, described above.
To give an example. Of the things that I always keep in mind, is the thought of proving people wrong when they say or even think negatively of me. I don't want to be put in a story and be written as the one who cannot recover, as the one who is lacking in good judgment, as the one who is always far behind. I despise it, who wouldn't, right? But it seemingly stops there, just the hatred. Which really makes a rotten apple out of a person, seriously. I do a rebound and recover, of course, but not as often as I would hope to. It was a weakness that I have, I told myself, at the same time contradicting myself saying that it wasn't put there to be accepted as it is, but rather as how you would understand it and how you will translate it.
Translating, adapting to maybe, perplexing problems with one of the most valuable tools, your values, will help you learn and recover. What am I talking about? Further using my example, now I'm feeling down because somebody, because of my mistake of course, wrote me down as someone who commits a mistake more often than the usual. The core value, I don't want to be branded with a negative title like that. What I should do, like to do at the darkest of problems, is to get out of the hole where the person wrote me into. I will do everything I can, a battle cry of resolve… I will not be put down. One way or the other I will prevail. I will erase it, even if written in permanent ink, and write myself a new version of my character. With that in mind, I will correct it with a plan, with a goal in mind, with my other values.
I won't focus on the difficult or troublesome situation dealt to me, I will focus on what I hold dear, on what defines me as a person, father, friend, husband and whatever role I will play in flesh or in spirit, I will focus on the positivity and value of my core being.
This year started rough, but hey, it won't be much of a life if it wasn't :)
And to think that I was lightly using the word value in one of my conversations with a friend of mine.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Stimulating Entrepreneurship during the hard times, starting it at the least
I remember a joke between my cousins over beer, if one would be president, he would put to death anyone who wants to be given help by everyone except him/herself, which would probably be everyone above the age of 3. Not one of the best jokes I've heard, not even close to being funny, but it got me thinking that it is true how a lot of our brothers and sisters refuse to see tha fact that self-help, as I would lazily term it, would do them good. Waiting for rain, and if it doesn't rain, they would blame everything to that black cat eating a full bowl of cat food most enjoyably given to them by the one now pointing a finger at them for their misfortune... "You cat, you!!! if you weren't so cute and adorable, great with excuses and if you weren't so easy to get along with... I'd be rid of you once and for all", funny...
Now relating to unemployment and the reportedly 5,000 OFWs who came home from being laid-off by their employers, I just hope that this won't multiply the above mentioned point to an even more frightening scale. It's a good thing Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has launched a package of assistance. A tight program, offers them a Php50,000 non collateral loan. But what's most interesting about this is the pre-requisite of a business proposal and a free bussiness course.
Providing a good start for our brothers and sisters, but the question now is, how will our OFWs respond to this? Relating to an interesting blog post by Jon Limjap, the problem will be if they decide to start up a business, how will they make use of the funds and what kind of business or project would they venture in? Filipinos being one of the most entreprenurial in the world commit a common mistake when going into business, not planning with the end in mind. Sustainability and the potential of the business to be profitable is ofcourse top in mind, but the bigger part of it, is to know when to grow the business further and to know what needs to be accomplished.
An easy thing to say, of course for me who still insn't an entrepreneur. But an very challenging and motivating thing for me to consider on my plans.
Now relating to unemployment and the reportedly 5,000 OFWs who came home from being laid-off by their employers, I just hope that this won't multiply the above mentioned point to an even more frightening scale. It's a good thing Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has launched a package of assistance. A tight program, offers them a Php50,000 non collateral loan. But what's most interesting about this is the pre-requisite of a business proposal and a free bussiness course.
Providing a good start for our brothers and sisters, but the question now is, how will our OFWs respond to this? Relating to an interesting blog post by Jon Limjap, the problem will be if they decide to start up a business, how will they make use of the funds and what kind of business or project would they venture in? Filipinos being one of the most entreprenurial in the world commit a common mistake when going into business, not planning with the end in mind. Sustainability and the potential of the business to be profitable is ofcourse top in mind, but the bigger part of it, is to know when to grow the business further and to know what needs to be accomplished.
An easy thing to say, of course for me who still insn't an entrepreneur. But an very challenging and motivating thing for me to consider on my plans.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Who should you ask forgiveness from?
From @inquirerdotnet twitter post:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090126-185577/Mexico-hit-man-dumped-300-bodies-in-acid
"TIJUANA -- A Mexican hit man who calls himself "The Soupmaker" has revealed how he dumped 300 bodies in vats of acid over the past decade to dispose of their remains for a drug trafficking cartel.
"They brought me the bodies, about 300 over the last nine to 10 years," Santiago Meza Lopez, 45, told reporters Friday a day after his capture by the army.
Meza Lopez said he had been paid some $600 a week for his work by drug boss, Eduardo Garcia Simental. He was arrested Thursday in Tijuana on the border with California, and is among the FBI's most wanted men.
"I ask for forgiveness from the families of the victims," Meza Lopez added.
In 2008, more than 5,300 people died violent deaths connected to cartel activities, with Mexican authorities having deployed some 36,000 police and troops to fight the drug traffickers."
At the most, the line in bold letters made me think, partly made a chuckle, who should he ask forgiveness from? Definitely not from the families of the victims alone. The sincerity of his statement is very much questionable.
Why do we have human burial? One word, respect. Of the whole lot of practices and methods of burial across cultures and distances, the dead need closure. Whether it be for the afterlife or simply avoiding a corpse from emmiting unpleasant odors. A list I got from our friendly dictionary:
1. Respect for the physical remains is considered necessary. If left lying on top of the ground, scavengers may eat the corpse, which is considered highly disrespectful to the deceased in many (but not all) cultures. See Sky burial
2. Burial can be seen as an attempt to bring closure to the deceased's family and friends. By interring a body away from plain view, the pain of losing a loved one can be lessened.
3. Many cultures believe in an afterlife. Burial is often believed to be a necessary step for an individual to reach the afterlife.
4. Many religions prescribe a particular way to live, which includes customs relating to disposal of the dead.
At the end of the day, one would also want respect and closure when he/she leaves the physical world, I wonder if it would bother him if his body was the one to be thrown in acid.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20090126-185577/Mexico-hit-man-dumped-300-bodies-in-acid
"TIJUANA -- A Mexican hit man who calls himself "The Soupmaker" has revealed how he dumped 300 bodies in vats of acid over the past decade to dispose of their remains for a drug trafficking cartel.
"They brought me the bodies, about 300 over the last nine to 10 years," Santiago Meza Lopez, 45, told reporters Friday a day after his capture by the army.
Meza Lopez said he had been paid some $600 a week for his work by drug boss, Eduardo Garcia Simental. He was arrested Thursday in Tijuana on the border with California, and is among the FBI's most wanted men.
"I ask for forgiveness from the families of the victims," Meza Lopez added.
In 2008, more than 5,300 people died violent deaths connected to cartel activities, with Mexican authorities having deployed some 36,000 police and troops to fight the drug traffickers."
At the most, the line in bold letters made me think, partly made a chuckle, who should he ask forgiveness from? Definitely not from the families of the victims alone. The sincerity of his statement is very much questionable.
Why do we have human burial? One word, respect. Of the whole lot of practices and methods of burial across cultures and distances, the dead need closure. Whether it be for the afterlife or simply avoiding a corpse from emmiting unpleasant odors. A list I got from our friendly dictionary:
1. Respect for the physical remains is considered necessary. If left lying on top of the ground, scavengers may eat the corpse, which is considered highly disrespectful to the deceased in many (but not all) cultures. See Sky burial
2. Burial can be seen as an attempt to bring closure to the deceased's family and friends. By interring a body away from plain view, the pain of losing a loved one can be lessened.
3. Many cultures believe in an afterlife. Burial is often believed to be a necessary step for an individual to reach the afterlife.
4. Many religions prescribe a particular way to live, which includes customs relating to disposal of the dead.
At the end of the day, one would also want respect and closure when he/she leaves the physical world, I wonder if it would bother him if his body was the one to be thrown in acid.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Downright practical use of online Social Networks
I got this from @wilsonng, twitter. Very practical use of Online Social Networks:
http://scobleizer.com/2009/01/12/if-you-are-laid-off-heres-how-to-socially-network/
I started using social networking sites/networks when I was in college just for the sole reason of being into it. The girls. The network of friends that will come with it. So everything there was, from my point of view today, useless. If I remember right, on my Friendster account, my description of myself before was just "an average guy". Nothing intellectual about it, nothing really interesting about it. Who would be interested with someone who is average.
Having the opportunity of being with great and inspiring people on my first job, current one, I saw the difference of treatment with the online community. I wasn't very much active online, as I was offline, before. They had a wealth of friends, opportunities, learning and other open doors or windows from their networks. Blogs, online forums of every interesting kind, mailing lists, formal articles, events, professional networks, resources and knowledge that were there and that were taken advantage of. I guess it really helped build the attitude. Helping build the very powerful notion of "self-help", that the Internet exists not only for porn, multi -media downloads, game FAQs, walkthroughs, women, men, pirated and cracked software or tools. It's one, a pool of great wisdom and knowledge. Two, a very helpful friend if you need complete, mundane, and even fake answers. Three, a venue for great ways to meet interesting and intellectual people that can help you form your art/interest, or help improve it. Four, as said in the link above, a way to help you find a job.
Taking advantage of the opportunities, I have already changed my view on the internet. I now have sense on my sites. And coming off from my point of view of it before, I am now constantly reaching other audiences, not only those already in the community, but also those who still are clueless of how powerful "knowledge that is freely and easily available" is, like the internet. I had an experience of teaching people how to use the internet, explaining to them how powerful it is. A child answering me, "can I play games on it?", me saying in reply, "oh sure, you can do everything on the internet, after a game, you can look for answers to your homework or project". Me telling a guy about my age, "Chong di lang pang porno ang internet, interesado ka sa webdev diba? Try the MSDN Rampup site, or the Microsoft Learning website, those sites will give you tons of learning opportunities and all".
You hit two birds with one stone, you teach them "self-help", and you open them up to the opportunities found online.
To list a few of my networking sites :D
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nolem_blckhrt
Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/rdcimafranca
blogger: http://rdcimafranca.blogspot.com/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/908/b5
Still not a networking animal. In time I will be :D
A definition of Social Networking Service, from our friend, the free encyclopedia
http://scobleizer.com/2009/01/12/if-you-are-laid-off-heres-how-to-socially-network/
I started using social networking sites/networks when I was in college just for the sole reason of being into it. The girls. The network of friends that will come with it. So everything there was, from my point of view today, useless. If I remember right, on my Friendster account, my description of myself before was just "an average guy". Nothing intellectual about it, nothing really interesting about it. Who would be interested with someone who is average.
Having the opportunity of being with great and inspiring people on my first job, current one, I saw the difference of treatment with the online community. I wasn't very much active online, as I was offline, before. They had a wealth of friends, opportunities, learning and other open doors or windows from their networks. Blogs, online forums of every interesting kind, mailing lists, formal articles, events, professional networks, resources and knowledge that were there and that were taken advantage of. I guess it really helped build the attitude. Helping build the very powerful notion of "self-help", that the Internet exists not only for porn, multi -media downloads, game FAQs, walkthroughs, women, men, pirated and cracked software or tools. It's one, a pool of great wisdom and knowledge. Two, a very helpful friend if you need complete, mundane, and even fake answers. Three, a venue for great ways to meet interesting and intellectual people that can help you form your art/interest, or help improve it. Four, as said in the link above, a way to help you find a job.
Taking advantage of the opportunities, I have already changed my view on the internet. I now have sense on my sites. And coming off from my point of view of it before, I am now constantly reaching other audiences, not only those already in the community, but also those who still are clueless of how powerful "knowledge that is freely and easily available" is, like the internet. I had an experience of teaching people how to use the internet, explaining to them how powerful it is. A child answering me, "can I play games on it?", me saying in reply, "oh sure, you can do everything on the internet, after a game, you can look for answers to your homework or project". Me telling a guy about my age, "Chong di lang pang porno ang internet, interesado ka sa webdev diba? Try the MSDN Rampup site, or the Microsoft Learning website, those sites will give you tons of learning opportunities and all".
You hit two birds with one stone, you teach them "self-help", and you open them up to the opportunities found online.
To list a few of my networking sites :D
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nolem_blckhrt
Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/rdcimafranca
blogger: http://rdcimafranca.blogspot.com/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/908/b5
Still not a networking animal. In time I will be :D
A definition of Social Networking Service, from our friend, the free encyclopedia
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