Confidence Amidst Uncertainty

Bob Dylan sang “The times they are a-changin’” – and of late, it’s been changing at warp speed. There is sense that everything was due three days a ago, and it used to be that banks would call and remind you of late payment after the due date But nowadays they call you one week before it’s due to remind you not to be late. The same is true of young adults who are in such a hurry to prove themselves but not knowing how to.

Let me just cut to the chase and say that it all begins with confidence – if you don’t have this in place, you can pretty much forget about getting ahead in the shark-infested waters of today’s corporate world.

We’ve had some young people who have joined us as interns fresh products of our education system and when they speak, it’s like getting instructions for a top secret mission. Some will say, “I cannot speak English – so I’m shy” so what? Do you need to speak fluently to speak with confidence? I think not. Confidence is believing in yourself and projecting it in everything you do. So if you feel uncertain, take a look at the way you dress – perhaps you need to change that, or maybe increase the tone of your voice. There are many things you can do and do it consistently and you’ll see a whole new you that you’ll be glad to have found.

You Say What?!

Lately, I have had to work with quite a few fresh graduates – and the experience has left me wondering if I’m in a foreign land. It’s not because speaking to them is a new and exotic experience, but because the English spoken seems foreign enough. This makes me think – what’s happening in schools and local universities?

I’ve heard of teachers who suffer trying to instill basic language skills in their students, worried that they will not do well in their English exams. However, when the results are announced, these students will be awarded A’s, but don’t reflect the results at all. So much has been said about the importance of English. The Maths and Science subjects were supposed to have been taught in English – how many schools carried it out?

Have you taken a look at the standard of English used in some of these text books? It’s enough to make you faint. I have also heard that there are some lecturers who refuse to speak in English and are very adamant about it. How can the learning begin when the teaching or teachers in this case refuse to budge?

Effectively and Interactively Empowering Children

We read about kidnapping and worse, murder of young children on a daily basis. There is almost one report a week and it’s scary to say the least. What’s even more frightening is that this situation is in grave danger of being swept under the carpet and treated like just another everyday “normal” occurrence. When things like this happen, reactive and proactive differences become as clear as day. It’s time to stop saying “oh poor thing” and start making a stand and do something about the situation simply because we can. All it takes is one voice and you’ll find that it’ll soon resound with the support of a thousand others.

In view of this, outLOUD Studios is taking things one step further not just by being proactive but also interactive and effective in reaching out to as many children possible through our Stand Up, Speak Up, Stay Safe safety awareness project as part of our five month Great Orange Charity Drive. It’s going to be a huge year-end event and it’ll involve Aikido professionals who will coach these young participants in basic self-defense techniques and the ability to be more aware of their surroundings.

If you are a parent, older brother, sister reading this, remember that you have the power to protect your child and sibling. And perhaps you can tell a young child this today – tell them that they are strong and brave, special and entitled to a life not lived in fear.