The Greatest Gift .....love and ???

Education

I am now starting to realise and have an appreciation of the amount of effort, energy that it takes to assist someone in their learning. It is a big responsibility and sometimes, something we tend not to take too much notice of.

But what comes out of it is something that is invaluable, that enables a person to create opportunities for themselves, give them a decent chance at having the ability to make something of their lives. That is why I believe it is one of the greatest gifts you can give to fellow human being. It would be certainly seem obvious to all the teachers around the world, but for myself, I need to state my personal realisation and let as many people be aware. Normally, we take it for granted (free public education) and not stop to think of its importance, the role of teachers to change lives for the better, their ability to influence and make a difference in the world.


I have a strong desire to change the world for the better, to help those less fortunate, through my teaching my skills whether it be design, english or cooking (yum!). Where do you think this comes from you may wonder ? It is something that inspires me, that follows from my roots, and in a hidden way, how my parents have subconsciously nutured in me...so first and foremost, thanks Mum and Dad for providing me the best education in the world from all that you knew.
Thank you for my brothers and sisters, for teaching me and continuing to teach me as well as my friends.

But I reserve a special thanks to those great teachers who I have had the most impact in my so far short and exciting life:

Mr Debernadi (My legal teacher) incidently without his belief in me, I would have ended up on the wrong side of the the law and severely lacking any decent education.

My high school English teachers who gave me the love of expression and showed me the power and wonder in words.

Mr Spero (My 6th Grade teacher) who encouraged belief in myself, and my fascination with encyclopaedias.

Michael Wright (graphic design lecturer) showed me the value of ideas and continuing design support.

Sebastian Porto (multimedia manager) how to be relaxed and composed even with tight deadlines Peruvian style, invaluable tips on web design and photography.

Kim Colmer (design professor) for her support, contagious enthusiasm and insights into design.

Naomi (RMIT design lecturer) for showing me the power of narratives in web design and creative thinking.

Typography

Font: Frank Reuhl for more character (human ? qualities)

Fun with Futura font

Design for the Day! I'm on a roll..

Font: Univers LT 59 (I'm thinking it gives out a more graphic design / modern look with an air of fashionable hehe..well have to find more vocabulary to express character of letterforms)

I'm experimenting with different typography as it's an important area of design. I'm not quite sure where to start though, mmmm guess I figure out what already know and we'll go from there. So using different types would be a good basis, I know the basics of structure of the letter form, spacing, kerning, tracking etc. I guess I have to look around and find practical examples, as these details themselves don't really mean much to me yet, except just purely visual aesthetics.
I'll put up some links as soon as I find them.

Photoshopping

Design for the day!

Skillz 2 pay tha billz

Photo for the day!

Design for the day!

Been working on Photoshop tutorial (link to the Computer Arts Aeiko tutorial here) and this is what came about after 4 hours. Also another beautiful sunset captured with my trusty little Fuji digital camera.

How to be creative

Going downhill on the tram in Heidelberg, Germany

So you want to be more creative, in art, in business, whatever. Here are some tips that have worked for me over the years:

1. Ignore everybody.

2. The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to change the world.

3. Put the hours in.

4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being "discovered" by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.

5. You are responsible for your own experience.

6. Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

7. Keep your day job.

8. Companies that squelch creativity can no longer compete with companies that champion creativity.

9. Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.

10. The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.

11. Don't try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.

12. If you accept the pain, it cannot hurt you.

13. Never compare your inside with somebody else's outside.

14. Dying young is overrated.

15. The most important thing a creative person can learn professionally is where to draw the red line that separates what you are willing to do, and what you are not.

16. The world is changing.

17. Merit can be bought. Passion can't.

18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.

19. Sing in your own voice.

20. The choice of media is irrelevant.

21. Selling out is harder than it looks.

22. Nobody cares. Do it for yourself.

23. Worrying about "Commercial vs. Artistic" is a complete waste of time.

24. Don't worry about finding inspiration. It comes eventually.

25. You have to find your own schtick.

26. Write from the heart.

27. The best way to get approval is not to need it.

28. Power is never given. Power is taken.

29. Whatever choice you make, The Devil gets his due eventually.

30. The hardest part of being creative is getting used to it.

31. Remain frugal.

source: thegapingvoid.com

Notes on human behaviour - Social sadomasochism

Social sadomasochism -

in which people unconsciously desire to hurt and be hurt by each other through their nonsexual interpersonal relations.

E.g " .. the therapist recalls the obvious relish with which the woman had recounted the long history of her husband's mistreatment, and even seeks it out, for the very pleasure of talking about it. But what would be the nature of such pleasure? The therapist remembers the woman's self-righteousness. Could it be that the most important thing in the woman's life is to have a sense of moral superiority and that in order to maintain this sense she needs to be mistreated?

The nature of the pattern now becomes clear. By allowing herself to be treated basely she can feel superior.

Ultimately she can even have the sadistic pleasure of seeing her husband beg and plead to return, and momentarily acknowledge her superiority from his humbled position, while she decides whether or not to magnanimously take him back. And in this moment she achieves her revenge. When such women are examined it is generally found that they were particularly humiliated as children.

As a result they seek revenge through their sense of moral superiority, which requires repeated humiliation and mistreatment. If the world is treating us well we have no need to avenge ourselves on it. If seeking revenge is our goal in life, we will have to see to it that the world treats us badly in order to justify our goal. Masochists look on their submission to mistreatment as love, whereas in fact it is a necessity in their never-ceasing search for revenge and is basically motivated by hatred. "

excerpt from p.103 The Road Less Travelled by Scott Peck

Happy Valentine's Day

design for the day!

One day late for posting, but hey! was busy ;)

A heartwarming gesture from my bro to his lady:
Valentines Day Video
romance is alive and well!

Interview With David Gensler Of The KDU

IF – Interview With David Gensler Of The KDU

{smaller hotter brands primarily focused on global youth markets}

Brands that thrive in this market segment tend to be radically different on a number of levels. They tend to place "design" high on their list of priorities. Whether it is in their packaging or campaigns or products - design is king.

Seriously: many of the most effective solutions are often the most simple.

How to make the big pitch

" To be successful, there is a need for clarity and persuasion, and it has to be done face to face. Only a personal presentation gives you the capacity to tailor your case to a particular audience and respond to the questions and queries."

To be successful, there is a need for clarity and persuasion, and it has to be done face to face. Only a personal presentation gives you the capacity to tailor your case to a particular audience and respond to the questions and queries."

"One of the most important things that we, as trainers, can provide is how to structure a presentation. Each point has to be established: the context of the business, the opportunity that underlies the business proposal, how that opportunity might be met, the credentials of your company to address the opportunity, how the funds will be used and how the returns will be generated."

"...a good presentation is about more than just getting the facts straight. "In the end, it's also about the emotive connections of the offer -- and again this is where the personal nature of a presentation is crucial. It's about communicating your sense of commitment to the project. It is, really, about sharing your vision and convincing the audience that you have the ability to deliver it."

source: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au

We are the machine

Web 2.0 in a nutshell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

Working on life's balance

Working on life's balance - Opinion - theage.com.au

" Human beings know what we need. At our core, we understand what nourishes us. So why do we continue to undervalue the affluence of experience? Why do we put material affluence first all the time?

As it stands, whenever we think, talk or write about work-life balance, the first thing we address is work. Paid work still holds court. Paid work takes precedence. But the part requiring more balance and attention is the stuff of life, not work.

..reconsider the amount of the time we spend on supporting other people, strengthening our social networks and investing our energy in sustaining relationships and ourselves. "

Letting go

NO MAN HAS A CHANCE TO ENJOY PERMANENT SUCCESS UNTIL HE BEGINS TO LOOK IN A MIRROR FOR THE REAL CAUSE OF ALL HIS MISTAKES.
- Napoleon Hill.

So empty and vast
When we soar high and mighty
fall down just as quick and fast
rescue me,
for I do not want
this pain to last,
let my words not be empty
and my thoughts blossom with the joy that is underneath
in this struggle,

Change, renew
does anyone really care?
go ego go.

"Success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." Winston Churchill

Autopsy of a Start-up Disaster

Lesson 1: have a go

As children grow up they learn from their mistakes. I don't know why that should change when we become adults.

Lesson 2: know your risk

The risks were considerable. Genetraks needed to create an entirely new market rather than take a share of an existing one. It didn't help that the company also began to focus development on a diagnostic product for which the originally-funded technology was not suited.

Lesson 3: passion will only take you so far

"I think that passion is essential, but it's only half the ingredients. Passion, connected with the right technology, connected with a large market is probably the best set of ingredients for success,"

"Business is business, and until we have products in the market with customers paying for those products, we don't have 'success',"

Lesson 4: learn your lessons

15 INSIGHTS FROM A BATTLE-SCARRED START-UP CEO

1. Be brutally honest with yourself. Be wary of hearing 'what you want to hear' and not 'what you need to hear'.
2. Pay attention to those things that wake you up at night – they are usually important.
3. Have a complete understanding of all the risks at all times (with contingency plans formulated and updated regularly).
4. Keep a low public profile. Stay out of the headlines until you at least have product near to or in the market.
5. Stay humble and open-minded about any advice that is given or offered. You can always learn from anyone and everyone.
6. High quality governance and mentoring is critical. The right independent and commercially-focused Chairman is worth his/her weight in gold.
7. Insist on performance appraisals for individual Directors and the CEO on at least an annual basis.
8. Directors of the Board should be selected for the commercial value each can bring to the organisation's future development and success.
9. All Directors should be required to step-down after one year of service. They may be reappointed by a two-thirds majority for further years, but only on a year-by-year basis.
10. VCs may not necessarily make good Board members and are ultimately faced with a conflict of interest due to their exit focus and excessive workload.
11. Crawl before you can walk. Walk before you run. The first product is important – it has to be "a humdinger" – and all the resources of the company need to be focused on getting product to market as cheaply and as quickly as possible.
12. Hire slowly and fire quickly. When hiring – especially overseas, use a reputable recruitment consultant even though it will cost you more - and listen to their advice.
13. Never agree to a payment ofany up-front fees for the conduct of due diligence. If a VC is really interested in the deal, due diligence will be conducted at their expense until the deal is sealed.
14. Keep in touch with your 'inner voice'. If it feels right, it's right. If it feels wrong, then do not proceed. All the logic in the world can tell you it's right, but if the inner voice is doubtful, don't do it.
15. Some bright ideas are just that – they are too expensive, too risky and too time consuming for a start-up to commercialise (in Australia, in particular).

source: www.australiananthill.com