Right now I am trying hard to improve the quality of my content on social media. My mom always tell me to hang out with the type of  people I want to be like . If I want to share high quality original content, I should spend more time following people who share high quality content. Last night I came up with a new organization system for my social media, mainly Google+. My Twitter list will be very similar.

Circles Of Knowledge [Green]

I organize this group of circles by the quality of the content. If I find your content becomes more useful to me, I would move you up one level. If I find the quality decreases, I will move you down one  or uncircle you.

1. Love [100%]

   This is the only circle I would check when I am busy. It is my must read list.
   If you are in this circle, it means I adore everything you share and don’t want to miss a single post. I want to become like you.
   - Original content. People in this circle share informative content AND explain why they share it. I enjoy when people add their point of view.
   - NO meme, NO GIFs

2. Like [75%]

   If you are in this circle, your content is very informative. Sometime you share your thought sometime you don’t. I like almost everything you share. :]
   OR
   You have excellent content however it is less relevant to me. Most photographers would be in this circle because I like words better than photos.

3. OK [50%]

   Most people would be in this circle. Sometime I like your content, sometime I don’t
   - You might share informative link, reshare other people’s post but I want to see more original content from you.

4. Unsure [25%]

   Most of the time I dislike your content, however occasionally you share high quality content.
   OR
   I am not sure how much I love your content yet.

Explore [Blue]

 This is the circle for people who

- Added me

- Commented, Reshared, +1ed my posts

- Had a good discussion with me

- Suggested by other people

If I like your content, I will move you to one of the Green circles

If I dislike your content, I will remove you from this circle

I’ll delete this circle every 2 weeks and start adding new people from scratch.

I use this circle to discover new people with good content.

Tools [Purple]

I use these circles to organize my thought. I only share it to myself

1. Treasure

Interesting post that I might reshare in the future.

2. Evernote

To send a post to Evernote

3. Message

To organize all the message I send to people.  It is my Outbox for Google+

People I Know [Pink]

I usually don’t read these circles. You are here because I know you. If you have good content you would be in one of my green circles. If you don’t, I just don’t want to tell you how much I hate your content and explain why I am not circling you.

So far the system works really well. I will keep you updated.

It is your turn: How do you organize your Google+ circles or FB/Twitter lists?

If I win a Nobel prize, I will thanks  MinutePhysics for teaching me about  schrodinger’s cat

~ Monster

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

My little sis is teaching me physics. I asked her where she learned it from and she told me Youtube. She reminds me of myself.

Children don’t need to be taught how to learn, they are born learners.

When I was a little girl, I loved physics.  I saved my money to buy physics books . However I wanted to buy more books than I could afford.  At some point, I came up with an idea to make money. I bought my books at a wholesale book store, read and sold them at discount retailed price to my classmates. Most of the time, I made profits. That was how I taught myself physics and business when I was in elementary school.

However my favorite subject became my most hated subject when I started highschool. I didn’t like people telling me what to learn.  Physics was my lowest mark in highschool. I thought I would fail it and wouldn’t get into any college. Monster reminds me how much I used to love physics.

And now I cannot stop watching MinutePhysics. Check out this guy, his videos are amazing.

Enjoy

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Don’t take me wrong, I love learning. However I am not a fan of  the way our education system works. My parents don’t teach me, they only help me to explore whatever I am interested in. I know traditional school might work for some people, but not me. I came across these interesting video on Google+ last night. They explain the way I think about our education system.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you like the videos, check out the organization’s website and learn more about Born To Learn.

Majority of material on the website and animations is taken from the book Overschooled but Undereducated: How the crisis in education is jeopardizing our adolescents byJohn Abbott and Heather MacTaggar. I am trying to get a copy soon. I will let you know what I think about it after I finish reading.

 It is your turn: What do you think about the videos?

I don’t attend conference for content.

I know it does not make sense to most of you. But from my experience, I learned that most of the time I get no value from attending conference just for the content.

1. Nothing will be groundbreaking

Most of the time that will be the case. If you have kept up to date with your industry news which you should, nothing is going to be new. Most of the speakers at conference have at least a book and/or a blog.  They usually shares the most juicy information online already. They are just going to tell the same story in a different format. It is much cheaper to subscribe to their blogs, follow them on social media and buy their books on Amazon. The content is created for the mass not individual. It is usually too general and won’t be the answer to your problem. Remember most of these guys have consulting businesses. They cannot give out everything if they want to stay in business

2. You can gain access to content after the conference

Just assuming I was wrong, and there are some important information that you need to know. Many conferences will upload videos on their websites a few days after the conference. You can watch all the talks later whenever you want. If that is not the case, I am sure at least a few people will blog about it. With a simple Google search, you will find all the key points that you need to know. And if you are lazy like me, you will go on Twitter and follow the conference hashtag.

3 Sometime the speaker is not the expert

Last year, I had a dinner with someone I met at a social media trend forecasting event.  And we had a very interesting conversation.

Me: Why am I good enough to have dinner with you but not good enough to be followed back on Twitter?

Mr. CMO: Sorry I haven’t checked Twitter in a while, I will follow you now

He took out his Iphone and tried to login on a browser.

Me: What is wrong with your Twitter app? Why don’t you use it?

Mr. CMO: There is an app for Twitter?

Me: You didn’t know that? 0_0

Mr. CMO: I am a location based guy.

Me: I don’t think you checked in on Foursquare earlier.

I spent half an hour showing the guy how Twitter works and he still didn’t get it. Two weeks before that night, the same guy was on the stage talking about the future of social media.

Most of the time, companies send their executives to represent them at conferences instead of the experts who are behind all the work.  It doesn’t make sense to me to listen to someone who might be more clueless than I am.

A lot of the time the expert is sitting right next to you. Last year at Podcamp Toronto at one of the session, the speaker  did not show up. Some people left and a few stayed. We took turn sharing what we know about the topic. It was better than all the other sessions I went to that day.  Everyone is teacher, I always learn something from them.

The best lessons are in the hallway.

4. Why should I listen to someone when I can talk to that person directly.

I am very lucky to have many successful  friends. A lot of the time, I already know the speakers before the conference and exactly what they are going to talk about. If I don’t, I know I will manage to get to know him/her at some point soon. I prefer to have a chat with the speaker over some good wine. Usually you will learn more from them outside the conference. Of course, not everyone has the same network as me. But you can pretty much become anyone’s friend if you master the art of relationship building.

If I don’t go to conference for the content, what do I do there?

I go to conference to meet new people and catch up with friends. It is time for me to build relationship and nurture the one I already have.

I don’t go to conference just to exchange business cards. It is not speed dating in the business world. I take my time to get to know people.  I can spend a good half an hour just listen to someone’s life story. I show them that I care. We have one and only one first impression, and we should make it unforgettable.

Do you want to have a stack of business cards or do you want people to remember who you are next year?

And when I am not skipping the conference to chat with someone in the hallway, I would be on my laptop writing email or connecting with people on social media. The best part is the person will get the follow-up message right after the conference. It makes you stand out because yours will be one of the first follow-up emails. IMHO it is the best time because your mind is still fresh. You still remember exactly who you are writing to. Have you ever woken up the day after a conference and have no clue who you met the day before?

The back of my business card.

If you don’t have time to write email, make some notes on their business cards as soon as possible. I also like to take pictures of the business cards and save in my Evernote just in case if I lose them. If you are really good, take a picture of everyone you meet.  My father does it  all the time, he always says it is for his phonebook. Everyone in his contact list has a photo. I am very very very bad with name. One time I spent 15 minutes trying to remember my stepbrother’s name. A picture worths a thousand word, it can be very helpful the next day. I also use Hashable  to keep the list of people I meet because I always lose business cards.

The best thing you can do at a conference is building relationship and invest in people. I met some of my best friends at conferences and you can too.

Remember…

Ten years from now many of the information you learn at the conference will be out of date, the only thing will last is the relationship you build today.

Photo: 1 sammydvintage

You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.
~Scott Adams

With the rise of Klout, a company that measures influences on social networks  which I usually refer as the Social Media Clown, online influencers become the hottest celebrities of the digital age.You have seen these influencers sitting front row at fashion week next to Anna Wintour or walking the red carpet at a movie premiere with George Clooney. Have you ever wondered what they do on daily basis?

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

This is a normal day of a social media influencer.

9:49 a.m  Tweets “just woke up”. Googles a hangover cure.

10:05  a.m Checks Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Email. Reads  online newspapers and blogs to check last night party photos. Sends the editor an email request to removing a photo where “the influencer” looked too fat.

10:35 a.m Tweets about how beautiful “the influencer” is today.  Uploads a picture herself  on Instagram. Checks in “the influencer’s fabulous office”  on Foursquare…..[Incase anyone forgot how important she is].

10:45 a.m  Reads a frienemy’s blog and finds out ABC PR agency did not invite the influence to a party. Breaks a vase and tweets ” _____ party is just for influencer-wanna-be”

10:46 a.m Checks Twitter

10:47 a.m Checks Twitter

10:48 a.m Checks Twitter

10:50  a.m Writes a blog post about last night party.

11:30 am Works on the “next viral” Ebook => “How to party and influence people”

12:45 p.m Checks Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest. Counts new followers and fans.

1:00 p.m Eats lunch with another influencer. Spends 20 minutes tweeting back and forth with the other influencer on Twitter so everyone can see that the influencers are eating together.

2:15 p.m Asks restaurant’s manager to cover the bill and promises to write a review. Of course it will be a good one because it was a free meal.

3:00 p.m Pitches to brands and asks for samples…..a lot of samples.

4:00 p.m Takes more pictures and shares them on Instagram.

4:30 p.m Googles “How to gain more Twitter followers”, ” Cheap Facebook Fans”, “How to become influential on social media”

5:00 p.m Drops by ____store to pick up a dress for the many parties of the night. Takes picture and  shares on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter. [This is what a girl needs to do to borrow a dress!]

6:00 p.m Arrives at party A. Tweets “the influencer has arrived #PartyAbyBCD”

7:00 p.m Open bar => drinks

8:00 p.m Still drinking…it is free

9:00 p.m …..still drinking

10:00 p.m Time to go to party  B

11:00 p.m Drinks more

…… Not sure what happens

2:00 a.m Home

This is a joke. Don’t take it too seriously. A lot of people claim to be influencers. Partying day and night, and writing about it the next day does not make you an influencer.  Having a high Klout score or a big following does not make you an influencer.  Popularity is NOT influence. It takes a lot more work to become a true influencer.

True  influencers would never call themselves  ”influencers” because they are too busy adding value to others’ lives. They use their powers for good not personal gain. These are the only “influencers” we need to know.

The above post was originally posted on The Bay Observer.

Time flies. I cannot believe it is the end of the week already. Next week will be a busy one. I am going to Women in Biz Network Conference next week, there will be a lot of interesting things to share with you guys :] I cannot wait to learn from some of the most amazing women. For now, I am going to share with you the most interesting reads I came across this week

Links You Don’t Want To Miss 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

5 Biggest Misconceptions About Unschooling This is not the first time I share an unschool link. You know I am a fan of the movement.  My friend Annie wrote an amazing post about her unschool experience not long ago. She is the hostess of  homeschool chat on Twitter. I had a conversation with her a few weeks ago about unschooling, and we both agreed that  most people don’t get unschooling. People often assume many things about unschooling because they refuse to get to know it. You know I am not a big fan of school but I believe both traditional school system and homeschool have their values. One might work for a person but not another.  I think everyone should know the basic about unschool because it is one of the education options for our children. This post answers 5 most asked questions  about unschooling. A must read if you are a parent or planning to become one.

The Facebook Face-Plant: “Nobody Put a Gun to Their Heads” Everyone is talking about Facebook IPO now. This is the best Facebook IPO article I read this week. My parents taught me to take responsible for every action.You should blame yourself before anyone in most situation. I have to agree with Jeff Matthews that there are many signs, and people just ignore them. They made the decisions and they should stop the blaming game and focus on fixing it.

“They wanna blame the underwriters, they wanna blame the analysts, they wanna blame NASDAQ, they wanna blame the insiders.  But how about they look in the mirror?” he said.  “Nobody put a gun to their heads and told ‘em they had to buy it.”

What I’ve Learned About Learning 

“Here’s are two key lessons — both really the same lesson — I’ve learned about learning, in all my years of study and in trying to teach people:

1. Almost everything I’ve learned, I didn’t learn in school; and
2. Almost everything my students (and kids) have learned, they learned on their own.”

‘We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.’

~Lloyd Alexander

Project Glass: My Experience Using Google Glasses If you want to know more about the infamous Google Glasses, check out this post.

Google+ Hangouts On Air: What Marketers Need to Know I don’t think I have ever read a post from Social Media Examiner that I dislike. That blog has some of the most informative social media articles out there. Does not matter if you like or dislike Google Plus, I think Hangout is a powerful tool especially for small businesses. This is a good read for a Hangout newbie.

Emart’s shadow QR code. This is the most-creative-not-so-crazy QR code idea I have ever seen. You must watch the video below. I really want to talk to the marketing team behind this idea.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

A true story Last but not least, there must be a link from Seth Godin. I don’t want talk to much and tell you everything because you know Seth’s posts are super short. Check it out, it is another good advice.

Now it is your turn. Please share some fabulous articles that you read this week in the comment right below

Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Harold R. McAlindon

I blog a lot about leadership. I tweet a lot about leadership. I talk a lot about leadership.

BECAUSE.

I believe in order for anyone to be successful, they need to know how to lead.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you follow me on Twitter, you might notice that I am a fan of The Art of … Conference. On June 5, The Art of Leadership will bring 6 New York Times Bestselling authors and leadership authorities to Toronto.

It is a good opportunity to learn more about leadership and network with some of  the greatest leaders. Tickets start at $399, but you can save $50 with Promo Code TOSOCIAL.

The organizer of The Art of Leadership conference gave me a pass for one  of my lucky readers to attend the conference, I wouldn’t pass  this opportunity. What is better than spending a day at a leadership conference with one of my beloved readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will announce the lucky contest winner on May 31.
Good luck

Nobody really cares who you are, what you do or what they can do for you.

They only care  how you are going to add value and what is your role in their lives.

People only remember the people who make their lives better.

If you want to be successful on social media or in real life, forget about yourself and start adding value to people.

Give before receive.

If you still don’t believe me take this quiz

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care

via Work Smart Lifestyle by Britt Michaelian

Photo: jcoterhals

My grandparents love the internet. Everyday my grandma spends more time surfing on the internet than me. However she does not know English and tech at all. Whenever I see them, I always check their iPad and computers and fix all the problems. One day, My grandmother’s husband wanted to learn how to use something. I was busy and I told him I will teach him later.

When I got home I got in so much trouble. My mom told me her stepfather was not happy. I should have said I will show him instead. I didn’t get it at that time. My  step grandfather said I was impolite and disrespectful; I am not in the position to teach him anything…. OUCH…that what I got for doing a favor.

As I grew up I realized people don’t like to admit when they don’t know something. It makes them feel stupid. No matter what they say, people like to believe they are smart. Sometime they are too embarrassed to ask. Don’t try to be someone teacher just be their guide. It will make people feel more comfortable around you. I am on social media sharing with you guys not teaching.

It is very easy to make yourself look smart, but it is better to make other feel smart. When people are happy, it is much easier to get what you want.

If you are smart….make other people feel smarter.

You will be surprised how much more people will love you.

Photo: ahouseinthehills

5 Reasons Why I Will Marry Money

1. There is nothing wrong about that

I grew up as an élite in Vietnam. My father is a financial and real estate investor. Anyone he introduces to me would be in the same industry and most likely they all have money…a lot of money. Why would I marry someone without money when I can marry one with money? It’s just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one.  When two people come from the same background, it is so much easier for them to relate to the other. There are a many amazing men out there but it is easier to find someone who is in my circle already.

It is ok for men to marry pretty women, but people always judge when  women marry wealthy men. Why don’t they think she marries into wealth because she deserves it? Marriage is a business. If both parties are happy, there should not be a problem. Some marriage will last, some won’t.  Smart women control their lives, they don’t let other people do it. They do what is the best for them, and a lot of time marry money is one of them.

2.The type of men that I love would always be wealthy.

I am used to be around super successful and powerful men.I don’t feel safe around men without a brain and clear vision. I know really well how the roller coaster of life looks like. I am not ready to share my life with someone who I don’t feel secure with.  All my life I expect to marry an ambitious intelligent man who is willing to take risk because I feel safe around them. In life usually those men are very successful. Success goes together with wealth and power. Is it wrong to marry a person I love? I don’t think so.

Smart women usually want to share their lives with smart men. Smart men dream big and take big action. They always fight to get what they want. At the end they usually get rewarded with a successful career.

3.  Poor Men are more dangerous.

Who is more dangerous: a man with everything or the man with nothing? They are both dangerous. However a wealthy men has more ties. Anything he does will affect his personal brand/reputation,wealth, power, and  social status. He has more responsibilities , anything he does might affect many people’s lives. A poor man has nothing to lose. NOTHING.

My future husband would less likely to leave his family because his stocks are going down if there is a scandal. A happy family usually looks better for business. He will have to pay great price for any mistake he makes.

If my future husband has no money, I have no idea what he would do. Of course there are always some exception. Most of the time, it is true.

Smart women usually go for a more secure option. There are investments you need to take risk, marriage is not one of them.  Wealthy men are more stable than one with nothing

4 . I want a stable life for my children.

My family went bankrupt when I was a kid. We had everyone including family turned against us. It was hard. I want a more secure life for my children because I don’t want they to experience what I had. What if I get very sick and I can provide them the best life? Their father will. What if I want to stay home and homeschool my children? My family will be able to afford that because my husband will be able to provide us a decent life without me working. There is nothing wrong about wanting to provide your kids the best life. Of course money does not warranty happiness it but it makes life easier.

Smart women think about other people not just themselves. Their marriage would have impact on many people, they have to invest their live wisely.

5. I want my marriage to last.

My mom always tell me the formula for true love is

True Love = Look + Health + Wealth + Power + Status + Chemistry

When you love someone for all the things above, the relationship is stronger and more likely to last. It is almost impossible for everything to be gone all at the same time. Wealth is very important in any relationship. The leading cause of divorce is finance. When we have financial problem, we are more likely to fight with our spouse.

 I don’t know any investor who would  invest in a company and hope it will go bankrupt. It is the same rule in the business of heart.  When I invest my life into a marriage, I want it to work out. I don’t like divorce they are messy. It is not  very PR friendly at all. A divorce can have negative impact on business and family’s reputation. I don’t think I like the high price I might have to pay for a divorce. I would prefer to marry a financial stable guy, my marriage will more likely to last.

Smart women think more about the long run than short turn. Marriage is a long-term investment. Most people don’t think about divorce when they get marriage. Smart women would be more likely to marry a man who share the same financial mind-set as her. If she does not depend on any man, no man should depend on her.

But There Is A  Condition

Smart woman only marry men who can make money, not the one who has money.

I know life is like a roller coaster. There are up and down times. I have experience both and I know it is not easy. I am expecting to share both times with my future husband. People turned their back against us when my family lost everything. I wouldn’t do that to anyone.

If I marry a man who was born into money, there is the chance he has no clue how to make money. It is not likely I would marry someone like that because I don’t like them. But if it happens, my life will be miserable when we lose everything. He wouldn’t know how to stand back up. I want to become someone wife not sign up for a babysitting job. I don’t respect people who only know how to spend money especially not their money.

If I marry a man who know how to make money, no matter what happens he will find a way to back to the top. I don’t mind sharing hard time with him, because I know it is only temporary.

Smart women don’t go after what they can see because it can be just an allusion, they go after the brain. It is easy to lose wealth, power and status; it is harder for a great man to lose his millionaire mind. Smart women marry men with future. He might not be rich now but the money will come.  Marriage is a long-term investment, and smart women know it.

Note To Gold Digger

Darling I just defended you but it does not mean it is ok for you should go after someone just for the money.

You should marry money because you deserve it, not because you want it.

1. Wealthy men are smart.

Usually wealthy men  get to the position where they are, most of them know how to read people. They can easily tell if you are going after their money. They know really well what you are thinking. If you don’t deserve to be their wives, they will dump you like last season booties. Of course you can move from one man to another, but how long can you do that? It is not a stable life. And if you think you can get a lot of money from a divorce. There is something called a prenuptial agreement. Darling you will leave your husband without a penny like when you marries him.

2. Wealth does not last.

Nothing lasts, including wealth. It is easy to live when you have a lot of money. But it is not easy when you lose everything. How do I know? I already experienced it. It is not easy to end any relationship. When your husband cannot afford buying you another Birkin or the newest Ferrari, are you going to leave him? If you do, I am sure your gold digger reputation will spread really quick. I am not sure how many serious man will want to marry you.

If you just want to marry for money, forget it. It is a lot of work and high risk. It is better  to build your own legacy because you can control it.

3. We are strong independent women, we don’t need men.

I believe what is not mine will never be mine.  I don’t like to depend on anyone because I know I cannot control it. Why would you? If you have no control of your life, you are in serious trouble darling. If you are not happy without a man, you wouldn’t be happy with one. Happiness comes from within.

Wake up my love, life is only a fairy tale is hard work is your fairy godmother. If you want to marry money, try to become a millionaire-wife-material. That is the only way. And most successful men I know like an independent woman because they know if anything happens, their love will be alright. Smart men want to find a women who will stay during bad time not the one who just wants them for their money. Everybody loves them when the money is there.

When you have money, your friends know who you are. When you have no money, you know who your friends are.

Gold digger is only mistress material not wife. Men will play with you and move on to the  hotter and newer toy. At the end of the day, smart men always come back home to their wives.

Be a platinum digger, go for the brain not just the money. You are a smart woman and I know you deserve  better and you should too.

A lot of people make a big deal when they see a woman marry money. I don’t believe it is bad at all. I know my value and what I deserve. At the end of the day, I don’t forget money is in the formula of true love.

It is your turn: Would you marry money?

Photo: 1. Rajputro 2. Gregory Jordan

Links You Don’t Want To Miss 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Fixing the Google+ Engagement Problem Even though my heart belongs to Google+, sometimes I have to face the truth. Gideon Rosenblatt makes some good points. I am sure the Google+ team is listening. If you haven’t circled Gideon yet, you should. He is a great guy on G+.

How to make money online This is the only post you need to read about making money on the Internet from Seth Godin

Everything Is Dead A great post from Danny Brown [@dannybrown]. We do not like changes no matter how good, and more convenient a new development is. Last time I checked, people are still listening to free radio.  It took 100 years before the machine press replaced the hand press. We cannot change our habits overnight. It is not that easy to kill an outdated technology or industry.

Men, women can be friends, but should they? My friend Kana [@pawspix] I have always asked myself this question. It is an interesting article. Now I know why many of my friendships don’t last.

Blur Worthy? If you are worrying about privacy, you really need to read this. Data is gold. It is very hard to stay in your bubble, and sometimes your neurotic need to remain private will bring you more harm than good.

Nine Dangerous Things You Were Taught In School I have attended 9 different schools, not including preschool and kindergarten, in both Asia and Canada. I have  to agree with this article. Of course, I am not a normal child. Read it, and let me know what you think.

Tips and Tricks for Hangouts on Air This is the best list of hangout tips I have ever read. Great share from +Fraser Cain

Now it is your turn. Please share some fabulous articles that you read this week in the comment right below

Photo:  Arindam “mak” Ghosh

I reorganized my Evernote and found an old note. I thought you would enjoy it.

There is a lovely story (I don’t know if it’s actually true, but I like to think that it is) about a diplomatic reception hosted by Queen Victoria of England:

The reception’s guest of honor was an African chief and all was well until the servants brought out finger bowls for the guests to wash their hands. The African chief had never seen a finger bowl before and started drinking from it. Upon seeing this, all the other guests stopped talking and started looking at the chief with disproving looks. Queen Victoria took her own bowl and promptly drank from it as well.

To me, this is the definition of a lady.

Source: Quora

It is very easy to make fun of people, any of us can do it. It takes  a true leader to stand up for others.

Photo: Flickr

“the point of having kids is to raise them up to be themselves, not you. If you’re lucky they learn from your mistakes and turn out better.”

~ Life Unexpected (TV Show)

Photo: trialsanderrors

Two posts, Same content, Different Formats

One remained unknown, the other went “viral”

Now I finally understand this proverb

A picture is worth a thousand words

Definition of COMMON SENSE
: sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts

Merriam Webster

Yesterday I was going to write a post about an incident in my life. I told a friend about it and she was shocked. I did not expect that at all because it is normal in my world. Backstabbing and framing others  is nothing new in business. Before yesterday I thought it was common sense.

I grew up as part of an elite society in a third world country. My family talks about business, politic and culture during dinner. When I was 6, I already followed the United States presidential election.  I read economic and marketing magazines since I was 8. By the age of 12, I already  learned war strategies and face reading ( and I am so bad at face reading). It felt normal to me because most people around me know it.  It is survival skill that we need to know.  And I thought all the other kids learned the same thing.

I was wrong.

Nothing is clear anymore Sourse:Nellie Vin

A common business knowledge for me might be something totally new for a friend who came from a blue collar background. It is because we did not have similar experiences in life. What is common knowledge for me does not mean it will make sense for others. I have a lot of clueless moment when Western culture does not make sense to me at all.

Is common sense really common sense anymore?

We are living in a global village. We might live in a neighborhood where most people share the same religion, social status and education; but our networks are bigger than that. People come from different parts of the world with different cultures and social backgrounds. Most of us don’t experience the same thing in life. It is more difficult to share a common knowledge. A normal thing for you might be something new for others. Common sense is becoming a loose term.

Can we call Western common knowledge common sense?

I don’t think so, with the rise of Asia and other part of the world. It is no longer Western countries and the rest of the world. What is common sense for you might not make sense for other people. For example, it is impolite to ask for people’s age or marital status when you first meet someone according to Western culture. However, it is okay to ask those questions when you just meet someone in Asia.

The internet makes the world smaller but also more complicated. People think differently.

We need to stop assuming everything is common sense and start listen to the other people.  Because…

Common sense is not so common.