How to become an original thinker

 JUST ORIGINAL BUT NEED REBRANDING

 

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What does it mean to be an original thinker and why is it important?
I believe these are wonderful questions. I have tried most of my adult life to be original for better or for worse. It has made me sometimes stand out, to be able to think of different and sometimes valuable new ideas and solutions and follow my own path.
It has also meant that I have become bored far too easily, it has made me unpopular at times and i have lacked a single-minded focus with my business (something i am trying to remedy with my Speed Thinking concept).
But to be an original thinker is still something to be cherished i believe. We all need people in our lives that help us see something in a different light or can open us to a new possibility. Original Thinkers are people with courage and imagination that do not want to follow the crowd nor accept the prevailing wisdom. Sometimes original thinkers are way ahead of everyone else and shine a light that others may follow and occasionally there are people that are original but are just plain wrong or mad or both.
But every now and then wouldn’t it be good to be more original at work (and your personal life).–to be the first person to think of a breakthrough solution and to jump ahead of the competition. To help others break out of the ‘me-too’ cycle?
How do you become an original thinker?
Here are some suggestions:
- Deliberately adopt an unpopular point of view and see the world fro this perspective e.g. is a good for the world that America is so powerful?
- Open your mind to new stimulus e.g. I read psychology and science magazines even though i am neither a psychologist nor scientist.
- Think of the ‘rules of the game’ that everyone seems to follow e.g. why are mobile phones getting smaller and smaller when the population is becoming older?
- Value your own experiences. We have been brought up to believe that our own experiences are somehow not valid they are too subjective. My bet is that if you are frustrated with a product or service for example then others feel the same way.
- Be fast. Don’t hesitate or second guess yourself. The lesson from Speed Thinking is that it is a process that enables your authentic and original self to emerge.
- Have courage. Be brave and follow your own thoughts. Be sure that if you voice a point of view others will follow.
These suggestions can help you become more original. Being able to think for yourself is a priceless ability and asset–in a washed out, neutral, grey world, a splash of colour can really stand out.
Ken Hudson
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Posted by Dr Ken Hudson on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 10:05 am
Filed under Brainstorming, Mental Training · 

Chess as mental training II

Ja Volim Mary Jane: Chess as mental training

 Saturday, 18 October 2008 at 19:51

← Previous revision Revision as of 11:51, October 18, 2008 Line 22: Line 22: [[Alfred Binet]] demonstrated in the late 19th century that good [[chess players]] have superior [[memory]] and [[imagination]]. [[Adriaan de Groot]] concurred with Alfred Binet that visual memory and visual perception are important attributors and that problem-solving ability is of paramount importance.
[[Alfred Binet]] demonstrated in the late 19th century that good [[chess players]] have superior [[memory]] and [[imagination]]. [[Adriaan de Groot]] concurred with Alfred Binet that visual memory and visual perception are important attributors and that problem-solving ability is of paramount importance.
- There are a number of [[experiment]]s that suggest that learning and playing chess aids the [[mind]]. The [[Grandmaster Eugene Torre Chess Institute]] in the Philippines, and the [[United States Chess Federation]]'s chess [[research]] [[bibliography]], among others, collect such experimental results. The advent of chess software that automatically record and analyze the moves of each game and can tirelessly play with human players of various levels, further helped in giving new directions to experimental designs.
+ There are a number of [[experiment]]s that suggest that learning and playing chess aids the [[mind]]. The [[Grandmaster Eugene Torre Chess Institute]] in the Philippines, and the [[United States Chess Federation]]'s chess [[research]] [[bibliography]], among others, collect such experimental results. The advent of chess software that automatically record and analyze the moves of each player in each game and can tirelessly play with human players of various levels, further helped in giving new directions to experimental designs on chess as mental training.
== References ==

FEAR !! Do Speed Thinking. What do you most fear ?

Pablito by NickYoungArt

We have all heard of the seven deadly sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride) but what of the seven deadly fears?

These are (in no particular order):

• 1. Fear of Dying

• 2. Fear of Ageing

• 3. Fear of Change

• 4. Fear of not Measuring up to Other’s Expectations.

• 5. Fear of Rejection.

• 6. Fear of Failure

• 7. Fear of making a Mistake

This is a personal list–no doubt there are others or you might have your own list. My point is that many people go through life limiting themselves in what they can achieve because they are trapped by their own fears. For example, let’s consider the first one (i.e. the fear of dying). Why worry about something that we know is going to happen? We can minimise the probability of it occurring early but that is about it. Religion has been created  to overcome this often crippling fear. With the promise of an after-life but do believe however that if we find meaning in your life then you do not have to fear death.

And while we are at it–why fear ageing (the second fear)? Again this is a natural biological process that every living organism goes through at varying rates. Again why worry about it? With age can come wisdom, maturity, kids and if we keep mentally active we can stay young in heart and mind.

The remainder of the seven fears can also be overcome or reduced. One of the reasons I am excited by Speed Thinking for example, is that it provides a glimpse of what we are all capable of because it enables you to just create, decide or solve without worrying about these fears. Why? Because you are too busy doing to worry about any of these fears. I have watched literally thousands of people amaze themselves because for a brief few minutes they are not being fearful. They are being authentic and original.
Posted by Dr Ken Hudson on Friday, October 2, 2009 at 8:44 am
Filed under Mental Training ·

Chess as mental training

Students of the Angelo King International Center, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Manila learning and playing chess tactics as mental training

There are efforts to use the game of chess as a tool to aid the intellectual development of young people. Chess is considered the "drosophila" of cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence (AI) studies, because it represents the domain in which expert performance has been most intensively studied and measured.^[1]
Although the results of research studies have failed to produce unambiguous support for the intellectual benefits of playing chess,^[2] several local government, schools, and student organizations all over the world are implementing chess programs.^[3]

Sample worksheet used in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, employing a chess variant to gain insights on the Peasants' Revolt

• New York based Chess-In-The-Schools, Inc.^[4] has been active in the public school system in the city since 1986. It currently reaches more than 30,000 students annually. 
• The American Foundation for Chess^[5] has initiated programs in partnership with local school districts in several U.S. cities, including Seattle, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Tampa. 
• The Chess'n Math Association promotes chess at the scholastic level in Canada. Chess for Success is a program for at-risk schools in Oregon^[6]. 
• Since 1991, the U.S. Chess Center in Washington, D.C. teaches chess to children, especially those in the inner city, "as a means of improving their academic and social skills."^[3].

As early as 1750 Benjamin Franklin, in his article The Morals of Chess, has advocated such a view:

• "The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it.

• By playing at Chess then, we may learn:

• 1st, Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action ...

• 2nd, Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: - the relation of the several Pieces, and their situations; ...

• 3rd, Caution, not to make our moves too hastily...."

• Alfred Binet demonstrated in the late 19th century that good chess players have superior memory and imagination.
• Adriaan de Groot concurred with Alfred Binet that visual memory and visual perception are important attributors and that problem-solving ability is of paramount importance.
• Thus, since 1972, at the collegiate level, the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County both recruit chessplayer-scholars and run scholastic outreach programs in their respective communities.
• On the other hand, at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, a number of social science faculty members have employed chess and chess variants in teaching lessons in social mobility, social stratification, etc.

• There are a number of experiments that suggest that learning and playing chess aids the mind. 
• The Grandmaster Eugene Torre Chess Institute in the Philippines, the United States Chess Federation's chess research bibliography, and English educational consultant Tony Buzan's Brain Foundation, among others, continuously collect such experimental results. 
• The advent of chess software that automatically record and analyze the moves of each player in each game and can tirelessly play with human players of various levels, further helped in giving new directions to experimental designs on chess as mental training.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Individual differences in chess expertise: a psychometric investigation". Acta Psychologica 124 (3): 398–420. March 2007. 
2. ^ Tim Redman (2006). Chess and education: Selected essays from the Koltanowski conference. Dallas, TX: Chess Program at the University of Texas at Dallas. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Jose Fadul (2008). Lessons in Chess, Lessons in Life: Application of the Psychology of the Game in Real Life. Lulu Press. ISBN 978-0-557-02158-1. 
4. ^ [1] chessinschools.org
5. ^ [2] af4c.org
6. ^ Chess for Success

[edit] External links

• [3] Benjamin Franklin: The Morals of Chess
• [4] U.S. Chess Center
• [5] USCF Chess Research Bibliography
• Chess and Alzheimer's disease Good Morning America with David Shenk
• [6] Grandmaster Eugene Torre.

Confidence Coaching

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The most important coaching, as it is the coaching provided for the development of an individual’s personality and the self-confidence. The coach should know the importance of confidence coaching, because the aim of this coaching is to improve the performance quality of an individual. For this there are certain steps to be followed and certain things to understand.

• Things to Be Kept In Mind 
• Confidence is the power of positive thinking of a mind, and this is possible only when one believes in oneself. This is a state of self confidence. When an individual is self confident, he or she is able to face the world with courage. The anxiety about the unknown matter does not affect such persons. This information will help those who lack confidence in themselves, to start building the character of self-confidence in them. The duty of a confidence coach is to make clear about the need of confidence or self-confidence in an individual.Self confidence provides not only positive thinking in the mind, but also to present a sound performances in all the aspects of life and thus to gain the goals in life. This knowledge would definitely act as a catalyst for motivating the person.

In order to give self-confidence coaching, there is a need for knowing the person very well. This will help the coach to understand where the person is actually lacking the self-confidence. The person should also know about this, as this realization will help in overcoming the problem. Make the person clear that nobody in the world is confident all the time in all the situations, and there are circumstances in which they may lose their self-confidence. This information is given due to convince the person that, lack of self-confidence is not an illness, but only a state of mind, where losing the confidence due to some reasons, which can be solved by good training.

• Procedures of confidence coaching: 
• At the fore hand there should be a belief in coaching, which is done with the person who lacks confident. The processes of coaching have a lot of history in boosting ones confidence. Begin the coaching section with the explanation of this, which could create a faith in person’s mind that through effective confidence coaching he will be able to boost out in his life for the achievement of the goals.

Through the interaction, the coach should be able to make the person understand and accept that there is a lack of confidence in them. This will help the coach and the person to identify the situation where the person is facing this problem. By understanding the situation, the real cause for the lack of self-confidence can be dictated. There by it can be identified that is the situation or the surroundings are creating the problem

Once the reason for the lack of confidence is fond, the next step is to make the person clear and the need of his goals. The realization about the goals can provide him the motivation to overcome his problems. The need for believing in oneself is too important for an achievement, and hence the coach should be able to create a belief in the person that he can be confident enough for his achievements.

Knowing more about the person’s history will help the coach to create a belief in him. This is possible, when the coach identifies the person’s achievements in the past and then addressing that issue and mentioning it as the person’s personal success.

Once finishing all these steps in the coaching or training section, the coach can start with the methods of coaching in order to remove the lack of confidence and developing the self-confidence that is already there in the person

Do mention the importance of the way a person dresses because, it is true that even dressing plays an important role in creating self-confidence

Seeking the help of life coaching for confidence is becoming a normal procedure.

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Coaching

• All human beings are born with a dream, which are there goals in their life.
• Attaining a goal is not that easy and hence there is a need for a clear and correct path for the easy attaining the goals. 
• This easy attaining of the path can be achieved with the help of a coach and coaching.
• And so it is said that “coaching” is the practice of giving sufficient direction, instruction and training to a person or a group people, so as to achieve some goals or even in developing specific skills.
• Though coaching is a system of providing training, the method of coaching differs from person to person, aim or goals to be attained, and the areas needed. 
• Still there are some common methods in coaching. 
• They are essential part of an effective coaching. These common areas includes

• Motivational speaking
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Supervised practice

Coaching can be either training a single person in specific field or a group of people in multitasking skills.
COACHING METHODS
Coaching methods differ according to the need of the trainer.

• In order to decide the coaching methods the coach should know about the trainer’s aim or the goal, skills and drawbacks, training environment, training aids needed etc. Apart from all these, there are some methods which is used in all types of coaching.
• While using different methods of coaching, the coach should keep in mind where he/ she is able to sustain the interest and motivation in the trainer for the desired goal. For this the efficient coaching includes the method of motivational speaking
• Motivational speaking is done by the coach at the time of coaching and hence the coach should also be a motivational speaker, who can make speeches professionally, intending to inspire and motivate his trainee. For this a trainer need not get any training certifications. The skill of public speaking is sufficient. In order to speak efficiently, the coach should know about the trainee completely.
• Coaching methods includes both theoretical and practical sections. Where motivational speeches are done theoretically, workshop, seminars come under practical methods. 
• Hence the method of training is decided depending on the need of the trainees. Coaching should always be systematical.

Coaching Fields
Coaching can be given in all the aspects of human life. Some of the area where coaching is given is

• Education coaching
• Sports coaching
• Entertainment (arts, dance, music) coaching
• Career coaching
• Life coaching
• Personal coaching
• Life and personal development coaching
• Systemic coaching
• Confidence coaching

Each type of coaching is having its own aim and so the coaches differ according the needs of the trainees. Each area is having its own specialized coaches. There are even coaching centers of training coaches. Coaching should be effective and correct, then only the goal expected will be attained. The process of coaching is not aiming at the cure of psychological illness. It is the training and direction of the trainees to reach and attain their goals.

• A coach is not a therapist, but a good trainer, friend, and a director.

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Running kids down is not coaching

Read and and to share this article for the good of coaching.

2010/03/14
KALAVAANI KARUPIAH
cj@nstp.com.my

THE long wait for a plan to revive sports in schools has finally ended.

Recently, the Education Ministry announced that sports activities would be made compulsory in the 10,000 schools nationwide starting next year, and that each student would be required to select a game of his or her choice.

Sports associations and organisations say they are ready to play their part to support the ministry's effort to revamp the schools' sports programme. Indeed, the effective implementation of programmes at grassroots level is integral. This is where talent is nurtured and cultivated.

However, based on observations and complaints from parents, one wonders how well sports associations and organisations are managing the talented kids under them.

After hearing vociferous complaints from parents, I decided to sit in at some of the training sessions at various venues to check out the veracity of what's being said.

I was concerned with what I saw.

Some of the children were bullied and shouted at. There did not appear to be any proper guidance.

The kids were not told what the do's and don'ts of the game were.

The dressing down of some of the students, some no older than 9, got were cringe-worthy and embarrassing, to say the least.

Parents said mischievous kids were "sidelined", even though being "naughty" is all part and parcel of being a child.

"The kids are not even given any form of motivation. So how can they be expected to excel?

"Some of them are very talented and they might represent and bring fame to our country like Datuk Nicol David, Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Shalin Zulkifli one day. It would be a waste if they were de-motivated by their coaches and dropped out.

"Hyperactive kids should be given advice, not sidelined and kept out of sight," said one parent.

Another parent said when she first approached the sports organisation her child was now in, there were all kinds of promises from the coaches and management.

"We enrolled our children based on all these promises, but most of them have never materialised.

"The kids, on their part, have done their bit and proved that they can excel and win tournaments.

"However, some of these children become jaded after a while as they are not given the proper guidance and motivation. Are the coaches even properly trained?

"The kids' potential is wasted. These kids are shouted at and embarrassed in public or when other players are around watching or listening. This is not fair.

"Sports organisations and coaches are not supposed to do this.

"They are trained to bring out the potential and capability in every player they train. They should be fair to everyone."

I totally agree with what the parents have said after observing the goings-on at several stadiums.

Every child should be given a fair chance to move up to the next level. There should be no favouritism.

A child's potential should not be crushed just because he or she is "naughty".

If talented children are not given an opportunity to progress, it will slowly kill their interest in the sport.

All sports organisations and coaches in all states should be keenly monitored and evaluated.

After what I have observed the past few months, I strongly feel that the government and sports authorities should seriously look into the issue before we lose our pool of young talent in sports.