Categories
Books

The Complete Guide to Living in Singapore

I know it can be disorienting and scary starting a life in a foreign land so I wrote a guide which I hope will give you some help and guidance.

This book is not your usual tourist book about the Top 10 Attractions in Singapore (although I will touch on that in the later chapters). This is a manual about living in Singapore, from a naturalised Singapore citizen who has been living in Singapore for more than 20 years. I have come to love this tiny island country which may be small but has everything you possibly need, if you know where to look. 

The Complete Guide to Living in Singapore
You can buy it here on Amazon.
Categories
Dating

How to Reject Someone Politely

We have all gone on dates or someone ask us out and we are not interested in the other party. Here are some tips to reject someone politely:

  1. Be honest and clear: It’s essential to be upfront with your feelings and communicate your decision to him clearly. Try to avoid giving mixed signals, as it can lead to further misunderstandings.
  2. Show gratitude: If the guy has been respectful and considerate towards you, it’s worth expressing your appreciation for the time spent together. Thank him for his interest and make it clear that you enjoyed his company.
  3. Be respectful: While you may not share his feelings, it’s important to treat him with respect and kindness. Avoid using hurtful language or dismissing his feelings.
  4. Offer an explanation (optional): You don’t necessarily have to provide an explanation for our decision, but if you feel comfortable doing so, it can help the guy understand where you are coming from.
  5. Set clear boundaries: Let him know that you don’t see the relationship progressing beyond friendship and that you hope to maintain a positive and respectful relationship.

How to Reject Someone Politely

Here are a few examples of polite rejection:

  • Thank you for expressing your interest in me, but I don’t feel the same way. I appreciate the time we’ve spent together, but I think it’s best if we remain friends.
  • I really appreciate your interest and openness, but I’m not able to reciprocate it. I know it may be hard to hear, but I’m not interested in moving forward.
  • I’m sure you’re cool, just not right for me and I’m mature enough to recognise this and be upfront about it, essentially freeing up time for both of us to find someone more fitting.
  • I’m sure you’re amazing in many ways, but I have a lot of clarity about what I want at this point in my life, and I don’t see us as a good match. Wishing you luck finding your person.
  • I know it can be hard to put yourself out there, but unfortunately, I’m not interested. I appreciate you asking and being respectful, though.
  • Thank you for making yourself available. With that being said, I am clear that this isn’t going to be the right relationship dynamic for me. I do hope all the best for you, though, as you continue your journey.
  • It was nice getting to know you. I’m looking for XX (a serious relationship, someone who shares my political values, a partner who likes to be in nature, etc), so I don’t think we’re a good match for each other. I hope you find who you’re looking for.
  • I hope you know how much I care about you and the relationship we have. I know it’s not easy to share your feelings and I admire the courage it took to let me know how you’re feeling. I don’t want to hurt you, but unfortunately, I don’t feel the same way. I understand if you feel disappointed and that this may make our relationship awkward for a bit. Take all the time you need and when you’re ready, I hope we can still be friends.
  • I appreciate your confidence in asking me, but I don’t think we’re on the same page. I’m not interested in dating, but thanks for asking!
  • I really appreciate your interest in me, but I’m just not feeling  a romantic connection between us. I hope we can still be friends.
  • You’re a great guy, but I don’t see us as more than friends. Thank you for understanding.
  • I’m flattered by your interest in me, but I don’t think we’re the right match. I wish you all the best.
  • I think you’re a wonderful person, but I don’t feel the same way. I hope we can still be friendly towards each other.
Categories
Books

The Happiness of Pursuit – Finding Purpose in Life Through Quests

One of my favorite book is Chris Guillebeau’s book “The $100 Startup”. Because I read that book, NLB app recommended “The Happiness of Pursuit” to me.

I have been pondering the question since my 20s: what is the purpose of my life? It can’t be just to graduate, get a job, get married and have kids? If that’s all to life, how am I different from animals?

The Happiness of Pursuit

“The Happiness of Pursuit” suggests that we can embark on quests to bring meaning into our lives.

A quest is different from general life improvements such as getting in shape or quitting smoking. A quest has the following characteristics:

  • A clear goal and a specific end point: You can clearly explain a quest in a sentence or two. Every quest has a beginning, and every quest will come to an end.
  • A clear challenge: You need to overcome something, it does not have to dangerous or impossible but it shouldn’t be easy.
  • Requires sacrifice: To pursue a big dream, you must give something up along the way.
  • Driven by a calling or a sense of mission: It need not be divine inspiration but most people feel pushed or driven to pursue their quest.
  • Incremental progress towards the goal: Many quests are composed of a long and slow march towards something.

To sum it up, a quest is a journey towards something specific, with a number of challenges thoughtout. Most quests also require a series of logical steps and some kind of personal growth.

I, for one, have a quest. I want to visit every country at least once   in this lifetime. I have had this dream since young. I don’t know why, but I just have this burning desire to travel the world.

My parents kept telling me that it is meaningless and a total waste of money. I kind of accepted that and made peace with myself that I will go to as many counties as I can.

But after reading “The Happiness of Pursuit” and reading about how Chris Guillebeau achieved his quest of visiting every country before the age of 35, I realised that if he can do it, why can’t I? It rekindled the fire for this lifetime quest and I am going to finish it. I don’t know what kind of personal growth I will get out of it but at least I know I will be happy that I have done it.

What is your next quest?

Categories
Books

超级恋爱催眠术 – Love Psychology Methods to Help You Find Love

Love Psychology is a subtype of psychology where you bypass the guy’s conscious mind and speak directly to his subconscious mind.

I’m sure you know of pretty ladies who have problem finding a boyfriend, yet there are other not-so-good-looking women with guys falling at their heels.

The reason the pretty ladies cannot find love while the not-so-pretty ladies can, is because the not-so-pretty ladies learned about love psychology.

超级恋爱催眠术

Let me share with you 5 love psychology methods that I recently learned from this book 超级恋爱催眠术.

Wineglass Method

This method will help you to get a guy’s attention at a party

How to do it: Make sure he can see you, order a glass of red/white wine, run your fingers from bottom of the wine glass stem to top.

Why it works: The wine stem looks like a penis, his subconscious mind will feel like you are stroking his penis.

Physical Touch

If you like a guy and you want to know if he is interested in you, you can use this Physical Touch method.

How to do it: Touch his shoulder in a I-only-touched-your-shoulder-because-I-have-no-choice way, such as touching his shoulder to stand up or make your way out to the toilet. If he does not show any sign of discomfort, you can now proceed to touch his arm. Again, do it in an unintentional way, such as asking him to pass you the sauce. If he still does not show any sign of dislike, you can be sure he does like you.

Why this works: Most of us only like to be touched by people we like and trust. Start from the shoulder which is more neutral and slowly proceed to arm which is more personal.

Extra 2 Seconds

If you want a guy to know that you are interested in him, use this Extra 2 Seconds Method.

How to do it: Look at him for extra 2 seconds and look away

Why it works: He will be puzzled why you look at him for an extra 2 seconds, and when you do it a few times, his subconscious mind will pick up the message that you are interested in him.

Mirror His Actions

If you want to let someone’s guard down, be it a stranger or a new  colleague, you just have to mirror his actions.

How to do it: If he rests his arms on the table while asking you a question, rest your arms on the table while answering him.

Why it works: This will make him think “it feels like I have known her for a very long time”.

Mirror His Emotion

If you want establish deep connection between you and someone else such as your spouse/children/parents/colleagues, mirror his emotions:

How to do it: If he says something to you in a happy tone, reply in a happy tone. If he says something to you in an angry tone, reply in an angry tone.

Why it works: This will make him think that you understand him, hence he feels emotionally closer to you.

Besides the 5 love psychology tricks that I have listed above, 超级恋爱催眠术, there are many other tips and tricks in this book. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to find love. The only problem for some is this is a Chinese book so it’s a bummer if you can’t read Chinese.

 

Categories
Lifestyle

I switched to Ubox 9 and never looked back

I switched to Ubox 9 from Unbloc Tech and never looked back.

I signed-up for Singtel’s mioTV during an IT show a few years ago. It was a good deal because the first few months were free. My plan has long expired but I didn’t want to recontract because it’s so expensive! I was paying S$37.20 per month which amounts to S$466.40 per year!

That was when a girlfriend told me about a television box that she was using. She said it allowed her to watch all the channels without having to pay for a monthly subscription.

It sounded really good but I didn’t act on it. Maybe it was procrastination, or maybe it was because my aunt in China got me a television box before and it didn’t work so I wasn’t really convinced.

In the meantime, I continued using mioTV for many more months, paying a hefty monthly fee.

I went to that girlfriend’s house one day for her birthday and she showed me the new Ubox 9 from Unbloc Tech. It had a few hundred channels, she could even watch the latest movies.

Unbloc Tech TV Box - Micox

She told me that she bought it from a shop in Sim Lim Square but she couldn’t remember the shop name or which floor it was on. I ended up going to every level and finally found it on the first floor.

The shop is called Micox and they are the legit distributor for Unbloc Tech television box. The retail price is S$288 before GST which totals to S$308.16 after GST.

Unbloc Tech TV Box - Setup

Once you have made payment, they will install the apps for you on the spot. All you need to do when you get home is connect the HDMI cable to your television and you can start watching.

Ubox 9

Ubox 9 is the newest version of Unbloc Tech television box. It comes with Android 10.0 operating system, 4GB Ram, 64GB of storage, supports WiFi 2.4G and 5G and supports 6K videos. You can read all about it on the Unbloc Tech website.

There are over 100 channels from Singapore/Malaysia, UK, US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China.

My father is so happy that he can watch live-stream of sports tournaments from China and around the world. Finally we won’t have to struggle to watch the Spring Festival Gala concert during Chinese New Year the coming year. There is even an app where I can watch all the latest movies and drama series.

The shop gives you 1 month hardware and 3 months software warranty but I had no problems with it at all.

Categories
Life

China’s “Bai Lan” (摆烂) Phenomenon is Here in Singapore Too

I just watched this Youtube video about the “bai lan” (摆烂)phenomenon among youths in China. It reminded me of friends, colleagues, maybe even myself.

I think this phenomenon is not only restricted to China. I know for a fact that it is very much alive in Singapore as well. I didn’t have the right word to describe it but I think “bai lan” might be an appropriate term.

I have a colleague who constantly expresses her wish to retire early so she can stay in a retirement home. She will get fed and bathed everyday, without having to worry about anything anymore. Isn’t that the “bai lan” attitude?

I myself have also exhibited symptoms of the “bai lan” phenomenon at many points in life. I find work tiresome and repetitive, I only do whatever is expected of me and have no motivation to excel. To me at the moment, work is just my means of earning enough salary to live a comfortable life. Work-life balance is very important to me.

Bai Lan

Factors that contribute to the “bai lan” phenomenon:

  • Higher standard of living: The average standard of living has drastically improved in many countries such as China and Singapore. Gone are the days where you either strive or starve. Many young adults realise they don’t have to work very hard in order to sustain a reasonable standard of living.
  • Work-life balance: The influence of Western culture has brought attention to the concept of work-life balance. More and more people are realising that work is not the most important thing in their life, enjoying life is.
  • Cookie-cutter factory-style work: The evolution of work in general contributes to the “bai lan” phenomenon. Work should be an expression of who we are, and not doing repetitive cookie-cutter factory-style work.
  • High property prices in China: The property prices in China has risen ten-fold in many large cities in China. Many young adults realise that they many not be able to afford a house even if they work themselves to death, so they just give up.

What Can We Do

I believe there will always be a group of people in any society who will have the “bai lan” mentality and we should not over-generalise. Everyone have a right to live life the way they see fit. You can’t expect everyone to be a high-achiever.

These strategies might help some of those who want to get out of the “bai lan” state:

  • Give recognition and praise: The old Chinese culture believes that giving praise will only weaken one’s spirit and make them lazy. But I believe that most people work hard because they want to be recognised for their hard work and it validates their effort. Bosses and managers should give due recognition and praise in the form of awards and monetary incentive to stimulate workers’ will to succeed.
  • Work based on strengths: Albert Einstein has a famous quote which I like very much: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” I feel that many people are working in jobs which are not in line with their nature so they feel like fish out of water. It might be a good idea to take a personality test like Myers-Briggs Type Indicator which will help you to discover your personality and what type of job you are most suitable for.
  • Personal goals: There is a saying “life without goals is like a race with no finish line; you’re just running to nowhere”. It is crucial to set goals within both your work and life.

These are my thoughts on the “bai lan” phenomenon that has the Chinese government so anxious. What do you think about the “bai lan” phenomenon? Tell me in the comments below!

Categories
Shopping

LPB Thrift – The Best Thrift Shop in Lucky Plaza

LPB Thrift - Shop Front

Forget Salvation Army Praisehaven Mega Family Store. Lucky Plaza is hands down the best place for thrift shopping. Lucky Plaza is already known for selling cheap clothes but I recently realized that level 6 of Lucky Plaza is thrifting heaven. LPB Thrift is the biggest thrifting store there.

LPB Thrift - Interior

The moment you enter the store, you will see racks after racks jam-packed with clothes. There are literally thousands of clothings at LPB Thrift. From blouses to shorts and skirts, you can find everything here.

LPB Thrift - Prices

The prices are even sweeter. It’s S$4 for blouses, shirts and shorts or S$10 for 3 pieces. Denim pieces are S$8 a piece and there are a few racks of premium items at higher prices.

There are no fitting rooms, but you are allowed to try them on over your own clothes. There are mirrors at various locations in the shop.

I bought a denim dress, a pink dress and 3 tops for just S$18. How awesome is that!

It is only when I took a closer look at the receipt did I realize that LPB Thrift is actually a sister shop of Refash. LPB Thrift accept clothes donations but they do not buy clothes, you can do that at Refash.

LPB Thrift - Pinoy Ave SG

If you get hungry from all the thrifting and shopping, you can get some delicious-looking Filipino food at Pinoy Ave SG next door. These Filipino ladies sure know how to enjoy life.

Thrift Apparel

LPB is not the only thrift shop on level 6 of Lucky Plaza. There are 3 smaller thrift shops Thrift Label, Thrift Apparel and Vivi K.

Thrifting is so fun and so cheap, I don’t think I will be buying clothes from regular shops anytime soon.

Categories
Life

Beware of India Call Centre Scams

I just watched a video on India call centre scams (you can read the written version here) and it really gives me the goosebumps.

These tech support scams mainly These old people live alone and they are not tech-saavy, so when they encounter technical issues, they call tech support for help.

Quoting the video,

India has become a leader in the international tech support scamming industry, taking more than more than US$1 billion a year from the United States alone.

There are also people like Leo (not his real name) who has levelled up into and “entrepreneur” or a scam call center consultant who sets up scamming outfits for those with money to invest. From hiring to hardware, he has it down to a science, especially on how long it will take to generate returns for the investors.

The worst is, even when people like investigative journalist Samarth Bansal and Snigdha Poonam uncovers the truth about these India call centre scams, the Indian police does nothing! There are no laws or legislations to govern online transactions that originate in another country.

Some scambaiters such as ‘Sven’ decided to take things into their own hands. Through reverse tracking, he has managed to get into the company’s systems, securing access to their confidential files and real-time CCTV footage of scams taking place. And yet when ‘Sven’ reports the scam centre with detailed evidence to the police, the Indian police sends him off saying it’s not under their jurisdiction.

I am not a scambaiter and I don’t exactly know how these scams work but one lesson I have learned from love scams is:

If someone you just met asks for money from you, there is a high chance it’s a scam.

Categories
Books

Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson

Do you find that you get along better with certain people rather than others? It is easy to talk to some of your friends; you always found the right words and everything just flowed smoothly. There were never any conflicts, and you liked one another.

With other people, however, everything just went wrong. What you say fall on deaf ears, no matter how you conduct yourself. We call them idiots, but it’s really because we don’t understand them. This is because 

Everything you say to a person is filtered through his frames of preference, biases and preconceived ideas. What remains is ultimately the message that he understands. It is very rare that the entire message gets through exactly as you conceived it in your mind. 

Surrounded by Idiots

I recently read the book ‘Surrounded by Idiots’ by Thomas Erikson and I learned a lot about different personality types from this book. There are many ways to categorise personality and human behaviour. This book uses the widely-used method called DISA – an acronym that stands for Dominance, Inducement, Submission and Analytic. Each of these behavior types is associated with a color – Red, Yellow, Green and Blue.

It’s important to understand the 4 different types of human behavior pattern so that we can communicate better. About 80 percent of all people have a combination of two colors that dominate their behavior. Approximately 5 percent have only one color that dominates behavior. The others are dominated by three colors.

Let’s go through each of these 4 personality types and their characteristics.

The 4 Personality Types

Red – Real Alpha  

  • Aggressive 
  • Goal-oriented 
  • Controlling 
  • Convincing 
  • Performance-oriented
  • Powerful
  • Results-oriented 
  • Intense
  • Opinionated
  • Straightforward 
  • Independent 
  • Decisive
  • Impatient 
  • Pushing 
  • Speed
  • Timekeeper
  • Ambitious 
  • Problem-solver 
  • Initiator
  • Strong-willed 
  • Pioneer
  • Innovator

A Red person is a dynamic and driven individual. He has goals in life that others may find difficult to even imagine. Reds strive forward, always pushing themselves harder, and they almost never give up. Reds are task-oriented extroverts and they enjoy challenges. They make quick decisions and are often comfortable taking the lead and taking risks. A common perception is that Reds are natural leaders. These are people who willingly take command and go to the fore. Their disposition is ideal in competitive situations such as a CEO or a president. 

Reds have no problem being blunt. When asked a specific question, they often say exactly what they think, without any frills. They have opinions on most things, and they trot their thoughts out quickly and efficiently.

Few things annoy Reds more than sluggishness. While other people may find it difficult to make a decision, Reds are prepared to make quick decisions in order to keep things moving. Once he’s decided, then it’s full steam ahead.

Reds love difficult tasks, so their level of ambition is usually boundless. The ability to manage difficult situations and challenges is the defining attribute of Red behavior.

Famous Reds: Steve Jobs, FDR, Venus Williams, Margaret Thatcher, Barack Obama and Mother Teresa.

Yellow – Heads in the Clouds

  • Talkative 
  • Charming 
  • Self-centered
  • Sensitive 
  • Needs attention
  • Communicative 
  • Spontaneous 
  • Social 
  • Inspiring 
  • Full of vitality 
  • Open 
  • Sociable 
  • Enthusiastic 
  • Adaptable 
  • Flexible
  • Optimistic 
  • Expressive
  • Creative 
  • Imaginative 
  • Easygoing 
  • Encouraging 
  • Persuasive 

Recognizing a Yellow is easy. He’s the one who’s talking all the time. He’s the one who gives answers rather than asking questions. He answers a question by telling a story that may or may not have anything to do with the issue. But it really doesn’t matter, because he will put you in a cheerful mood. Besides, his unshakably positive attitude also makes it impossible for you to feel upset for long. 

They are also very typically touchy-feely people. Like Reds, Yellows are very willing to make quick decisions, but they can rarely explain why using rational reasoning.

People with lots of Yellow in their behavior are focused on creating relationships. They inspire those around them, and the best way to achieve this is through building relationships. Yellows know everyone. They have more acquaintances than everyone else. They like everyone. A Yellow doesn’t need to know a person very well before calling him his friend. Anyone who doesn’t actively dislike them they consider to be a pal.

Just like Reds, Yellows have lots of energy. They find most things interesting, and Yellow individuals are the most curious people you’ll ever meet. Everything new is enjoyable, and a great deal of Yellow energy is spent finding new ways of doing things. Yellows want to know what’s going on. They want to be where it’s all happening, and they will make sure to be at every party. 

If there is anything that characterizes Yellow behavior, it’s unlimited optimism and enthusiasm. The Yellows’ entire being is concentrated on one thing—finding opportunities and solutions. Yellows have the unique ability to twist and turn things. To put it simply, they turn everything upside down and think outside the box. The Yellow’s intellect is very fast, which means that it can be difficult to keep up. Sometimes they can even find it difficult to explain their wild ideas.

With all their energy and optimism, Yellows are very persuasive. It’s easy for them to get carried away, seeing opportunities and solutions where others might only see a dead end. With the help of language, they really are masters at winning over people to their side. Most Yellows have a rich and varied way of gesticulating, so that they can convince you not just with their words, but with their entire bodies. But it’s not just energy and will. Yellows have a unique way of expressing themselves that sways their listeners. They often use vivid and colorful imagery when they speak, which appeals to all five senses and creates an impression that is felt by the whole body.

Famous Yellow: Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Pippin from The Lord of the Rings and Han Solo from Star Wars.

Green – Change is Difficult 

  • Relaxed 
  • Self-controlled 
  • Composed 
  • Modest 
  • Lengthy 
  • Prudent 
  • Discreet 
  • Reluctant
  • Conceals feelings 
  • Thoughtful 
  • Considerate 
  • Kind
  • Helpful 
  • Supportive 
  • Persistent 
  • Stable 
  • Reliable
  • Loyal 
  • Producer
  • Good listener 
  • Understanding 
  • Patient

Greens are more passive than others, they are easy to deal with. They let you be yourself. They don’t demand much, and they never kick up a fuss unnecessarily.

Greens will not offend people if they can avoid it. They’d rather not offend anyone at all. They usually strive to fit in, which makes them more balanced people. They’re ideal for calming down confused Yellows and they’re excellent at warming up Blues, who, on occasion, can be a tad too cold.

You can expect a helping hand from a Green whenever you need it. They are pronounced relational people who will do everything within their power to save your relationship. And they will invest lifelong.

They are also pronounced team players. The team, the group, the family, always comes before the individual, and I would even say that societies consisting of Greens will always take care of the sick and the weak. They will not leave a friend in need; you can call them at any time. They always offer a shoulder to cry on.

Change isn’t their greatest strength, even though change isn’t completely foreign to them. If you can simply justify the change and give him enough time, even a Green will be prepared to try new things.

If a Green says that he will do something, you can be confident that he’ll do it. If it’s in his power to deliver, he will. It won’t be done in the shortest amount of time possible, but it will show up in your inbox roughly within the expected time frame. For the Green, it’s natural to look after everyone else around them.

If your organization needs reliable employees, then hire Greens. They constitute the stable core who will do the job well. They don’t have problems taking orders—as long as the orders are formulated in an appealing fashion. Greens enjoy stability and a certain predictability in the workplace, in the home, with the family, just about everywhere.

Greens are introverts, they don’t talk just for the sake of talking. When you are quieter than those around you, it’s natural that you listen. And Greens will listen. They are interested in you and your ideas. They have a genuine ear for human problems. They might not offer any suggestions or solutions, but they understand what you’ve told them. You often find Greens in the public sector, where they help others, with no concern for personal gain.

Famous Greens: Mr. Rogers, Gandhi, Michelle Obama, Jimmy Carter and Jesus.

Blue – In Pursuit of Perfection

  • Seeks facts
  • Correct
  • Quality-oriented
  • Perfectionist
  • Scrutinizes
  • Meticulous 
  • Systematic 
  • Questioning 
  • Conscientious 
  • Conventional 
  • Logical 
  • Analytical 
  • Objective 
  • Structured 
  • Methodical 
  • Follows rules 
  • Reflecting 
  • Needs time 
  • Quiet
  • Reserved 
  • Distant 

Blues check their facts before they open their mouth. If the question doesn’t come up, it’s unlikely that your Blue buddy will say anything on the subject. He has no need to tell everyone about what he knows. But you can usually bank on the fact that what he says is correct.

Blues are impressively modest to avoid making a fuss, even if you know everything. It’s usually sufficient that you, the Blue, are clear about who knows best. A Blue may know a thing or two, but because Blues often miss the big picture, they don’t always act immediately. He knew that he knew the answer, and that was good enough. There’s also no need to cheer, applaud, or call a Blue up to the podium when he’s done something tremendous in an amazing way.

A Blue can rarely get too many facts or have too many pages of fine print. No detail is too small to be noticed. Cutting corners is simply not an option for a Blue. He would rather burn the midnight oil checking all the facts of the case than miss the slightest detail. A common misconception is that Blues are unable to make decisions, but that’s not the case. He simply had no need to decide. For him, the process leading up to the decision was significantly more interesting.

Another important characteristic Blue behavior is they’re generally very cautious. They often think safety first. Where a Red or Yellow would take a wild chance, a Blue will hold off and consider everything one more time. You need to get to the bottom of things before you act. Sometimes a Blue can even completely refrain from starting something because he can’t assess the risks. A Blue generally solves everything by creating advanced systems that manage the possible risks that may arise. The benefits of this are evident. Blues won’t be taken aback by unexpected events in the same way others would be. And in the long run, they save a lot of time.

Things can’t be allowed to go wrong. Quality is all that matters. When a Blue individual thinks his work runs the risk of being shoddy or low quality, things come to a standstill. Everything must be checked out. A Blue is prepared to dive deep to get everything exactly 100 percent correct. Blues argue that if they’re going to do something, they must do it correctly. As a very honorable and honest person, Blues usually find it difficult to lie, they will always point out the defects they uncover—even defects that may reflect poorly on them.

Logical and rational thinking is critical to a Blue. Out with all the feelings (as much as possible) and in with logic. They value logical thinking highly, but they can very easily become depressed when things don’t go their way. Few people can repeat the same task an infinite number of times in exactly the same way like Blues can. They have a unique ability to precisely follow instructions to the letter without questioning, provided they understood and approved of it in the beginning. 

It’s impossible to find arguments that a true Blue will accept. He will never be fooled; he will always get what he paid for. It gives him an inner peace because he knows he has checked everything out very accurately. Under normal circumstances, they’re very calm and balanced. Probably because they keep tabs on everything.

Many Blues I’ve met don’t say a single word unnecessarily. They are just very, very introverted. Quiet on the outside, but under the surface anything could be happening. Listen attentively when Blues do actually talk, because they’ve usually thought through what they say. It’s because they don’t feel the need to be heard. They are observers, spectators, more than central characters. They can find themselves at the edge of a group where they observe and record everything that is said. According to a Blue’s values, being silent is something positive. If you have nothing to say—keep quiet.

Famous Blues: Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Sandra Day O’Connor, Condoleezza Rice, Mr. Spock from Star Trek.

Adapting to Red Behavior 

If you want to adapt to a Red’s tempo—hurry up! Speed up! Speak and act more quickly. Look at the clock often, because that’s what a Red does. If you can conclude a meeting in half the time—do it!

If you want to have a Red’s full attention, cut the small talk. It’s vital that you’re clear and straightforward. Determine the most essential point of your message and start there.

Don’t use a single word unnecessarily. But make sure you’ve done your homework when it comes to the background. Questions may come up. If a Red senses that you’re uncertain, you’ll be grilled on the facts. Written materials should be concise and, above all, well laid out. No endless dissertations written by someone who loves the sound of his own voice. A single line jotted down on the back of the napkin will do the job.

Stick to the topic! The easiest way is to prepare your case very precisely before going into a meeting with a Red. If, in the middle of an interesting discussion, another thought pops into your head, write it down and ask at the end of the meeting if it’s okay to raise the issue. Otherwise, schedule a new meeting.

Paradoxically, Reds are the easiest to sell to. If you want to do good business, the only thing you need to do is step into a Red’s office, present your suggestions, and then ask about a deal. When a Red trusts you and has decided that you’re a decent person who can be advantageous to him, well, then he may very well start discussing cars, boats, or the latest politics. Play ball with him. But then and only then.

Deliver your opinion without blinking. In the end, you might have to concede, but never sell yourself short. The best thing you can do is place yourself in the center of the storm, telling him that he’s wrong. When a Red discovers that you won’t give in, he will turn in an instant.

Show that you work hard. You should report back regularly about what you have done and present—briefly—the result of your efforts. Be willing to take initiative. Offer suggestions that the Red didn’t ask for. 

If you really want to help Reds do better work, try to demonstrate the benefits of keeping an eye on the details. Explain that the results will be better and profits larger if they just consider a couple of small but crucial elements of the project. If you’re good at arguing, your advice will be followed.

Give examples of instances where time was lost by being too hasty. Point out the risks involved in hurrying too much. Explain that others can’t keep up, and point out that it would be great if everyone knew what the project was about. Don’t give in. Assert that not even he can manage everything himself. Force a Red to wait for others.

Reds calculate risks by constantly looking at the facts. Facts are something they understand. Give examples of situations that historically were shown to be dangerous. Prove things with facts and demand that the person thinks twice before deciding to take on a new project without first having checked the conditions.

Reds need to understand that the road to full transparency is to adapt to others. By realizing that no one can manage everything alone, they can be prevailed upon to pause and actually care about other people.

You should confront his behavior immediately. Don’t allow any exceptions; just say loudly and clearly that you won’t tolerate coarse remarks, nastiness, and uncalled-for tantrums. Demand adult behavior, and if he loses his temper just leave the room. It’s important that you never let him get his way just by barking his head off.

Adapting to Yellow Behavior

A Yellow functions best when he is happy and content. His creativity is at its zenith and all his positive energy flows. You should strive to create a warm and friendly atmosphere around him. Smile a lot, have fun, and laugh. Listen to his crazy jokes, laugh along at all his childish remarks, and kindle the easygoing and happy-go-lucky atmosphere.

Always start with the big questions. If you want to keep a Yellow’s attention, strip away as much of the minutia as you possibly can.

Yellow feels his way. He has a high tolerance for uncertainty and isn’t overly afraid of risks. Adapt to it.

Allow a Yellow to devote himself to the latest thing. He’ll love it. If you want to sell something to a Yellow, use expressions like “state-of-the-art,” “newly developed,” and “never before used.”He’ll like you because you’re so exciting and so interesting and, above all, innovative. Equip yourself with lots of energy, because it can be challenging to keep up-to-date, but Yellows will adore you. However, be prepared to be replaced rather quickly if they find someone else who is even more knowledgeable about newer things.

Become approachable. Demonstrate that you’re available; smile a lot; be sure to have open body language.

You have to know what your message is and exactly what response you need from them. You must persuade the Yellow, happy person to answer your questions very concretely.

Coordinate all appointments properly with Yellows. Synchronize your watches.

If you really want to help a Yellow get organized, make sure he gets at least some structure in his life. Help out by creating a simple list. Create a structure for him. Yellows are the ones who are most in need of structure in the form of diagrams and checklists.

Yellows like getting attention; they throw themselves into the center of things faster than anyone else. They need to understand that there are other people in the room and they have to let others enter the conversation. You may very well become enemies in the process. You’re definitely taking a risk here.

Yellows talk more than they work. They have a penchant for talking about everything they need to do rather than actually doing anything. To help your Yellow friend you need to make sure that he puts his shovel in the ground and starts digging. Push him, but push gently. Treat him a little bit like you would treat a child. Be kind but clear.

If you wish to get through to a Yellow with negative feedback, you need to be persistent. Create a friendly atmosphere in the room and find the right tone so that your criticism lands where it should. Clarity is key. Make sure to be extremely well prepared, with all possible facts to substantiate your claims. Get real answers to your questions, and be sure that he understands the message. Insist that he writes down what you have said. Ask him to repeat your feedback.

Adapting to Green Behavior

Show that you’re prepared to listen to what he is anxious about. Help your Green friend to face his fear of the unknown. Encourage him to brave things that feel scary and still move ahead.

Allow the Green his periods of peace, quiet, and inactivity. He needs to function like that.

Ease Greens’ minds by explaining every step of the plan.

If you have a comment to make about a Green’s behavior, make sure you’re careful about how you present it. If it involves criticism, you should deliver it in private. Make sure that the person you are talking to understands that you still like him, but that you believe that he and the group (work team, sports team, family, association) will function better if he changes certain things. Don’t ask him what he can do about the behavior; just ask him to do certain specific things.

If you want Greens to accept change, you’ll have to equip yourself with a good dollop of patience. Break down the process into small pieces and set aside a few weeks to persuade, win over, and spell out the particulars. You must describe the process in detail, and since no one is going to take any notes, you’ll have to go through it again, and again, and again until the message gets home.

If you want to make headway with a large group of Greens, you have to take command, get a firm hold on the steering wheel, and, in some cases, simply get into the driver’s seat yourself. They won’t get started unless you put them on the track.

Adapting to Blue Behavior

Make sure you can show that you’ve done your homework and are well prepared. And—most important—if you don’t have the answer, just say so. Acknowledge that you don’t know. Don’t offer any excuse just to get out of the situation.

Stick to the task. Work with checklists where factual matters are noted—things you can tick off together with the Blue. Don’t ask how things are going for him on a personal level.

Think through what you want to say and what you want to convince a Blue to believe. Put daydreams and visions aside. It may even be worth rethinking the kind of language you will use to talk about your plan. Skip all those inspirational speeches. Stick to the facts, and be clear.

Prepare yourself well. When you think you’re prepared and that you know all there is to know about an issue, go through it all one more time. Make sure you have answers to absolutely everything. Accept that this person might want to have more data to feel secure. Give him the details he needs in order to move on.

Be particularly meticulous in your work when trying to impress a Blue; otherwise, he will view you as sloppy and careless. Avoid criticizing Blues for taking too much time or fussing over details that may be unnecessary. Instead, praise them for their attention to detail and the superior work they do. Let the Blue understand that you are doing quality work and that you understand its value.

Remind Blues that other people have feelings. Give examples of times when he bruised other people’s feelings. Explain that he doesn’t need to express himself critically all the time. Show him that people can take great offense when others criticize their home, car, spouse, or children. Be clear and tell him that being honest isn’t an excuse for being callous. Point out that constant criticism rarely accomplishes anything.

Calmly and methodically tell the Blue that he needs to speed up. This time is precious and must be used correctly. Point to the big picture. Give him valid reasons he should go against his instincts to be slow.

Tell your Blue friend that if he has to make a decision without all the facts, he can follow his gut. This can apply to work or ordering at a new restaurant. Speak clearly and loudly to the Blue, and explain that if he doesn’t make a decision he’ll end up going hungry. Prove that it’s better to do something rather than remaining paralyzed, waiting for more information. Point out that that it’s logical to use intuition in this situation because you don’t have all of the facts.

In order to get something to happen, provide the decision maker with the necessary data required for him to make a decision about one of the candidates. Push him to make a choice. Remind him that the deadline is approaching. Point out the repercussions of delaying the decision.

You can read in depth about the four personality types in the book ‘Surrounded by Idiots’ by Thomas Erikson.

Categories
App

Send Anywhere – The Best File Transfer App

I use iPhone iOS and my father uses Samsung which uses Android operating system. We always had problems transferring files to each other’s phones. Sending via WhatsApp or WeChat causes major image loss. It was so frustrating until I found this file transfer app called Send Anywhere.

The best part about Send Anywhere is there is no image loss. The maximum file size you can send is 10G which is more than enough for most users. Heck, my father actually backed-up his old phone and sent the whole thing to his new phone via Send Anywhere!

Not only can Send Anywhere be used between iPhone and Android, it also works between handphone (iPhone or Android) with computer (Mac or Windows).

Now let me show you how to use this app in different circumstances.

Send Anywhere – iPhone to Android and Vice Versa

Send Anywhere 1

If you want to send files and images between iPhone and Android phones using Send Anywhere, you will need to download the app from App Store and Google Play respectively.

Once both phones have the app, you can start to transfer files and images.

The person sending will select the images or files from his/her handphone and hit the “Send” button on the lower left corner of the screen.

The receiving person can start the transfer in a number of ways:

  • key in the 6-digit key after hitting the “Receive” button at the bottom of the screen
  • scan the QR code (if you are sitting next to each other)
  • click on the link in the email the sender sent you

Send Anywhere – Phone to Computer and Vice Versa

Send Anywhere 2

Sending files and images from phone to computer and vice versa is pretty much the same as between handphones. If you intend to use it a lot, you can consider downloading the Mac or Windows software.

If you are just using it occasionally, you can just use the web version. Just type “Send Anywhere” into the search engine and click on the Send Anywhere website.

To send files and images, you can upload the file or image from your computer. The receiver can receive the file or image by 6-digit key, QR code or email link.

Send Anywhere – Price

Send Anywhere is free to use. There is an upgraded Send Anywhere Plus which gives you 1TB cloud storage and 50GB file transfer for $3.99 per month. 

Conclusion

If you ever need to transfer image files or images to anyone, consider using Send Anywhere. Send Anywhere makes file transfer so effortless and stress-free. There is no image loss and image quality is awesome.