recently, this topic has been popping up in many of my conversations - i wonder if it's providence or something that has been bugging me such that i find a way to weave it into my conversations!
"the singaporean jadedness".
it's something that infects many of us in singapore. why, how, when - these questions plague many of us. some are more expressive about it while others are less so. but deep down, we all know that it's something that we have to cope with.
the same routines after a while, the same joys, the same heartaches - perhaps it's a modern disease.
is this all there is to life? the rat race, the transcience of human relationships and the constant quest for fulfilment and meaning?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Fastlane
I'm currently trying to get through "Groundswell", an awesome book on the transformational power of social media and conversations. The reason I have to "try to get through" it even though it impresses me tremendously is that working life has greatly reduced my "me time"!! *sobs*
Anyway, one of the corporate blogs mentioned in "Groundswell" is GM's Fastlane blog started by Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of GM.
http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/
What amazes me about this blog is the level of conversations happening on it even though GM's top management (the key contributors to this blog) doesn't reply to comments anymore.
I say "anymore" because when I examine the earliest entries by Bob Lutz, many of them made references to comments and even thanked netizens for their ardent support.
My conclusion? That even blogs go through a maturing cycle. In any blog's early days, the writers of the blog have to make the concerted effort to establish a connection with their readers. Of course this can only happen if the writers actively respond to comments as an indication of their sincerity about wanting to understand these comments.
As the blog community matures, however, the blog becomes more self sustaining. Yes, it's important that top management continues to contribute meaningful blog entries but there is no longer a need for writers to reply comments anymore because members of the blog community now converse fervently with each other. The blog takes on a life of its own! How amazing.
Another aspect about this blog that impresses me is the interactivity of it. On a regular basis, visitors of the blog are invited to engage in webchats with top management at GM. At the same time, the GM Facebook and Twitter pages have designated GM employees responding to posts.
Yet again, another thought that occurs to me is - would this blog have been as successful in Asia? Somehow, in Asia, we haven't grown accustomed to airing our opinions and talking openly about them with strangers. What's worse is that many of us are pretty apathetic, preferring to talk about topics that are highly relevant to us. Would this GM blog have garnered the same level of conversations in Asia then?
Anyway, one of the corporate blogs mentioned in "Groundswell" is GM's Fastlane blog started by Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of GM.
http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/
What amazes me about this blog is the level of conversations happening on it even though GM's top management (the key contributors to this blog) doesn't reply to comments anymore.
I say "anymore" because when I examine the earliest entries by Bob Lutz, many of them made references to comments and even thanked netizens for their ardent support.
My conclusion? That even blogs go through a maturing cycle. In any blog's early days, the writers of the blog have to make the concerted effort to establish a connection with their readers. Of course this can only happen if the writers actively respond to comments as an indication of their sincerity about wanting to understand these comments.
As the blog community matures, however, the blog becomes more self sustaining. Yes, it's important that top management continues to contribute meaningful blog entries but there is no longer a need for writers to reply comments anymore because members of the blog community now converse fervently with each other. The blog takes on a life of its own! How amazing.
Another aspect about this blog that impresses me is the interactivity of it. On a regular basis, visitors of the blog are invited to engage in webchats with top management at GM. At the same time, the GM Facebook and Twitter pages have designated GM employees responding to posts.
Yet again, another thought that occurs to me is - would this blog have been as successful in Asia? Somehow, in Asia, we haven't grown accustomed to airing our opinions and talking openly about them with strangers. What's worse is that many of us are pretty apathetic, preferring to talk about topics that are highly relevant to us. Would this GM blog have garnered the same level of conversations in Asia then?
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Miss Invisible
For anybody who has ever felt invisible, unnoticed and insignificant. :)
About this song: Marie Digby catapulted to fame when netizens showed their fervent support for her song-writing and song covers, which she circulated through social media. This song, "Miss Invisible" won her the top prize in Pantene's pro-voice contest.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
"This is Home" - Switchfoot for the soundtrack of "The Chronicles of Narnia"
a song i hope to sing in my heart, one day. :)
smiles
as i'm growing older and stepping deeper into the adult world, i'm beginning to realise that people smile a lot.
in other words, the "problem" is not that people aren't smiling. people ARE smiling.
but how many of those smiles are truly from the heart? how many are truly happy? that's the big question.
how about ourselves? are we smiling to mask some other sentiments? or are we smiling genuinely from the heart?
it gets harder to find "realness" and authenticity.
but those precious things and people who are real in our lives find very special places in our hearts.
:)
in other words, the "problem" is not that people aren't smiling. people ARE smiling.
but how many of those smiles are truly from the heart? how many are truly happy? that's the big question.
how about ourselves? are we smiling to mask some other sentiments? or are we smiling genuinely from the heart?
it gets harder to find "realness" and authenticity.
but those precious things and people who are real in our lives find very special places in our hearts.
:)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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