On Courage

Courage is the persistence to demonstrate the validity of one's beliefs despite the awareness of one's apprehensions. Society plays but a secondary role in determining one's actions in the ultimate analysis, although it must be clarified that the two are not mutually exclusive by any stretch of the imagination. Far be it for me to claim that only the anti-social, counter-cultural elements of society can be said to be courageous; some of them may in fact be running away or avoiding from that which is their genuine purpose. 

Courage is found in both the dramatic and the mundane. The journalist that gives his/her life in order to accurately communicate the truth about repressive regimes in war-torn areas of the world; the parent who disciplines the child firmly but gently, so that the child knows the importance of respecting boundaries of space and time; or even the strength of someone afflicted with an incurable illness to keep striving for the next meal when the authorities, society and loved ones stack increasingly insurmountable odds against him/her.

A prime example of Courage in Singapore is when MP Christopher de Souza defied party lines to oppose the passing of the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). Rare is the man who stands up for what he believes in, despite all opposition to the contrary. For this little act, you'll go down in history, so take a bow, Chris...

On Charisma

by Thomas Heng

Charisma is the ability to draw from the audience the questions that it is dying to enunciate, but is for one reason or another fearful to do so.

Charisma is the ability to intimately relate to the deepest experiences of another person, and to enable him to create meaning from these experiences.

On Public Speaking

Nick Morgan wrote a book entitled "Give Your Speech, Change the World: How to Move Your Audience to Action". It's a great book and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to go into the field of public speaking.

When I think a little deeper about it, the only worthwhile reason for giving a speech, a group presentation, or even a one-on-one meeting for that matter, is to change the world.  Indeed, what other purpose could there be?

May I always bear this in mind whenever I communicate with another person...