Touts

The Trapped Muslims of Malaysia

What good is there in keeping them as Muslims against their will?

Overrating Intelligence

Intelligence is the intellectual ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills systematically, coherently and logically. Once upon a time, intelligence was the primary quality I judged myself and others by. Even though I lacked it, and perhaps because of that, I prized it above other qualities. In an attempt to cultivate it, I kept an open mind, read difficult books (I still don’t understand them), entertained a diversity of thoughts, listened to intelligent people, …

Read more

The Seven Qualities of Indispensability

For me, the one quality that gets anyone hired, liked, nurtured, feted and even championed is indispensability. You can make a persuasive case for your hire if you cultivate this quality. Whatever your profession, employment or job. To be indispensable is to be essential, necessary, and integral to something. Being indispensable is to be part of the nucleus. It is commonly associated with salutary qualities such as reliability, sensibility, competency, credibility, loyalty, motivation and initiative. …

Read more

What I Tell Myself To Get Writing

You can do this. Get the pen and paper out. Or keyboard and screen. Or thumbs on the screen. Whatever works. All work. I can do it anywhere, anytime. Just a flat surface, paper and pen. Or my laptop. Get the timer out. Set the alarm. Set it for a minute. Just one. Can’t be writing more than one. Before starting the clock, close eyes and think about something. Breathe. See what comes. Get a …

Read more