The 'Selfie': Mental Disorder Or Insight To Getting Better Results?

The news was unbelievable. It spread like wildfire through social media, instantly becoming a Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter phenomenon. It exemplified what news organizations, advertisers, and companies had chased for so long—“going viral.” What was it? It was an announcement that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) had officially classified taking ‘Selfies’ as a mental disorder. In fact, the announcement also stated that the APA also claimed to name the disorder ‘Selfitis.’

Unbelievable news? Yes, because it was apparently a hoax from Adobo Chronicles, a website who uses the tagline ‘up-to-date, unbelievable news.’ No mention of this supposed new ‘Sefitis’ disorder can be found on the APA website, and has not been confirmed by any credible source.

Of course, the story, and the validity of the hoax are undeniably amusing. But, what we found more interesting was the fact that the spoof (published on March 31st) became a viral phenomenon almost overnight. Why did so many people latch on to the notion, and share the presumed ‘news’ story without ever questioning whether or not it was valid? Basically, people loved hating ‘Selfies.’ Why?

Oxford officially named ‘Selfie’ the word of the year in 2013. And, although the word ‘Selfie’ might be popular to say, the concept of taking photos of ourselves seems to come with a perception of either narcissism, or, if nothing else, a sense of humor (one that mocks narcissism).

We actually found the viral nature of the hoax (and concept of the ‘Selfie’) so interesting that we scoured the internet to find data from a reputable organization about how many people are actually turned off by the notion of ‘Selfies.’ Of course, we couldn’t find any credible numbers. We simply found a lot of opinions. Nevertheless, we did find one statistic interesting. The PEW Research Center reported that 91% of teenagers have taken a ‘Selfie’, which might suggest a divided perspective between generations. However, we also know plenty of adults who regularly participate in the cultural trend as well.

Still, why did people love the hoax so much, and what can we learn from it?

The cultural phenomenon of the ‘Selfie’ exposes a very basic human desire—to feel noticed, appreciated and recognized. And, although the ‘Selfie’ may not always elicit the most appropriate type of recognition (possibly why people love to hate it), receiving just a few likes from our Facebook or Instagram friends uncovers a foundational aspect of human psychology that can actually help drive results in the workplace—when people are recognized and feel appreciated, they repeat the behavior that was recognized.

A 10-year, 100,000 person study conducted by The O.C. Tanner Institute andHealthStream HSTM +0.62% throughout the United States and Canada confirms that recognition tops the list of things employees say they want most from their employers. According to the study, 79% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving. And, of the people who report the highest morale at work, 94.4% agree that their managers are effective at recognizing them. In contrast, only 2.4% of people who have low morale say they have a boss who is great at recognition.

Does the desire to be recognized and appreciated feel like a ‘mental disorder’ now?

A survey of mental health professionals conducted by YourTango.com, revealed that the desire to feel appreciated isn’t just for the workplace either—it’s actually critical to a healthy relationship. According to a survey that was focused on finding the most common issues within a marriage, 65% of respondents cited “communication problems,” as the most common factor that leads to divorce. The top communication complaints by men in couples considering divorce were: nagging/complaining (70%), followed by their spouse not expressing sufficient appreciation (60%). The number one complaint (83%) from women who responded was “a lack of validation for their feelings and opinions” (sounds a lot like ‘recognizing’ feelings and opinions).

Love ‘Selfies’ or hate them, this viral hoax gives us all insights that we can use. It reveals that A) there is a human desire to be recognized and appreciated, and B) we shouldn’t make those people closest to us ask for it.

At work: Learn to practice recognition. Look for the people who help you achieve your goals, the people who make your life easier, or those simply brighten your day. Make sure you applaud people for a job well done, and say “Thank you” for their efforts. The study by The O.C. Tanner Institute and HealthStream suggests that the most effective recognition can drive performance, if recognition is practiced frequently, is specific to a goal or effort, and is given in a timely fashion.

At home: Learn to practice appreciation. It’s often those closest to us who we assume don’t need to hear how much we appreciate them. Tell your partner, your children and your friends why you appreciate what they do. As evidenced by the YourTango.com survey, “communication problems” doesn’t seem to be a lack of communication, but instead, a lack of positive communication. Try it.

Online: Okay, so you can see by our marginal attempt at a ‘Selfie’ that we’re not experts at the “duck face” (in fact, we had to ask a 12-year old what that facial expression was called). But, we are experts in seeing the value of the trends—and culling for deeper insights. Just for a week, intentionally recognize the people around you and keep track of it. You’ll not only get a picture that reveals how good you are at recognizing others, but you’ll probably be shocked by the positive responses you generate.

nurnajwa

Can Deodorant Cause Cancer? ~Danalaximii~

Don’t believe rumors that antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer. Most good studies over the years have not found a link.
One concern has been that paraben preservatives in antiperspirants and deodorants could migrate into breast tissue and cause cancer. However, a new English study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology found that antiperspirant and deodorant users and women who never used these products had similar levels of paraben residues in their breast tissue.
Parabens are added to many cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food products, and have been detected in nearly all human blood and urine samples. It’s thought that parabens may increase cancer risk because of their weak estrogenic activity, but so far there has been no convincing evidence to support this claim.

Strawberry Plants ~Danalaximii~

Welcome to the last source you will ever need for information about strawberry plants!  You have likely eaten your fair share of those delightful red berries, and we hope to encourage you to learn as much as you can about the flavorful fruits and the strawberry plants that produce them.  We exist to spread excitement about strawberries and hope that you will benefit from the information contained here.
Whether you want information on growing strawberries, eating strawberries, scientific information on the actual strawberry plants or strawberry varieties, or even information about where you can purchase strawberry plants or strawberry seeds, you will find help on Strawberry Plants .org.  This entire site is dedicated exclusively to all things related to the strawberry plant.
Be sure to browse the Reference Pages to the left (or just below this paragraph).  They are a wealth of information on topics related to learning about strawberry plants.  Be sure to come back often as we regularly update this site with new information and details about strawberries and strawberry plants!  And, of course, remember that this site is best read with a bowl of fresh strawberries in hand…

Drop a coin, grab a snack - Kiosk-in-a-box spreads in Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's long-toiling office workers have an incentive to stay chained to their desks: shrimp-flavoured crackers, cafe-au-lait taffies, spicy potato chips and M&M candy.

Confectionery maker Ezaki Glico has taken convenience to a new level for corporate employees too busy to pop out of the office with kiosks-in-a-box filled with munchies.

The three-drawer box - roughly the size of a countertop file cabinet - contains 24 items when fully stocked. Company workers simply deposit 100 yen (58p) in a frog-shaped piggy bank, open a drawer and take the snack of their choice.

On the face of it, relying on trust may seem a risk, but Japanese are well known for their honesty. The business is also profitable and at least one major retailer has followed suit.

Goods are replenished or replaced weekly by an army of 500 part-time workers. The contents on offer change every three weeks, adding an element of surprise that vending machines do not provide, said Keisuke Furuyabu, who heads the business, called Office Glico.

"There's an air of mystery and fun," he said.

When a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck Japan in March 2011 and paralysed the capital's public transportation system, stranded office workers subsisted on Glico snacks.

Notes of gratitude gave the company the idea of marketing Office Glico as a useful addition to disaster relief, said Furuyabu.

"We cleared out the boxes that day, since hundreds of us spent the night at the office," said Nobuhiro Nagasato, an IT worker.

Nagasato routinely nibbles on Office Glico snacks, even though a convenience store is just around the corner. "I can't be bothered to leave the building," he said.

LONG HOURS

Japanese corporate culture is legendary for long working hours. A Japanese worker puts in an average 1,735 hours a year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), far more than most European nations.

Office Glico, which also offers a fridge-and-freezer version carrying drinks and ice-cream, now serves 1.8 million people in 100,000 locations, twice the number of Japan's ubiquitous convenience stores.

Last year, it racked up $44 million (£26.5 million) in sales and turned a profit for the first time since it started 12 years ago.

To drive growth, it plans to add breakfast items and midnight meals. It sees potential growth in nursing homes to take advantage of Japan's fast-ageing population, where seniors outnumber children by about two to one. It expects sales to grow another 30 percent in three years.

The company has seen some surprising patterns in demand, Furuyabu said.

Grown men were snapping up baby crackers while bosses were using the snacks as a token treat to thank hard-working staff.

Ezaki Glico, best known for its stick-shaped Pocky snacks, called Mikado in Europe, says inspiration came from unmanned road-side vegetable vendors common in rural Japan.

Convenience chain major FamilyMart started a copycat service, "Office Famima," last year.

Furuyabu says he now gets requests all the time from food makers to be included in Office Glico refreshment boxes. Kameda Seika, a top maker of rice crackers, makes small packages designed exclusively for the box, complete with an Office Glico label.

Could the honour-system work outside Japan, a country where lost wallets regularly end up back with their owners?

"Collection might be an issue," Furuyabu said, acknowledging that Office Glico's 95 percent recovery rate could be tough to replicate beyond Japan's shores.

(Editing by Ayla Yackley and Neil Fullick)

An office worker holds up a snack from Ezaki Glico's kiosks-in-a-box Office Glico, …

nurnajwa

Rise of the Guardians :D

The spirit of winter Jack Frost is lifted with amnesia from the depths of a frozen pond by the Man in the Moon only to discover no one can see, hear, or touch him. Three hundred years later at the North Pole, North, better known as Santa Claus, becomes aware that Pitch Black, the Boogeyman, has returned and is threatening the children of the world. After alerting fellow Guardians the Tooth Fairy (Tooth for short), the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman/Sandy of the problem, North learns that Jack Frost has been selected by the Man in the Moon as the newest Guardian. Jack Frost, frustrated and hurt by centuries of isolation, declines the invitation, but North persuades Jack Frost to cooperate by explaining their mission and the looming threat.

Meanwhile, Pitch Black and his Nightmare minions raid Tooth's palace, taking all the children's teeth and the memories stored within. He also captures Tooth's helper fairies except for a single fairy named Baby Tooth who is rescued by Jack Frost. Resentful that he himself is not believed in, Pitch plans to destroy children's faith in the Guardians and thereby weaken them by preventing Tooth from doing her work. To avert this, the Guardians travel the world collecting teeth, and promise Jack that when they find Pitch, they will help him regain his own baby teeth and through them the memories of his past life. On the expedition, a young boy named Jamie Bennett is delighted to discover the Guardians in his room. He believes in all of them except for Jack, whom he cannot see. Pitch learns of the Guardians' resistance and attacks Jack and Sandy. Despite Jack's efforts to save him, Sandy is overwhelmed and seemingly killed by Pitch.

The dejected Guardians rally by helping Bunnymund prepare his eggs for Easter. Although slightly complicated by the intrusion of Jamie's sister Sophie, the preparation goes smoothly. Jack takes Sophie home, but afterward a mysterious female voice lures him to Pitch's lair where Tooth's fairies and the teeth are being held. Pitch keeps him distracted with the promise of his teeth's memories, while Jack's absence allows the Nightmares to raid Bunnymund's domain, shattering all the eggs, and destroying the children's belief in the Easter Bunny.

After facing the disappointed Guardians, a despondent Jack departs in disgrace to Antarctica. There, Pitch tempts him to join forces, but Jack refuses, claiming that he wants to be loved, not feared. In retaliation for rejecting the offer, Pitch threatens to kill Baby Tooth unless Jack relinquishes the source of his power which is his staff. Pitch breaks the staff and throws Jack and Baby Tooth down into an ice crevasse out of anger, where Baby Tooth convinces Jack to unlock his memories in an attempt to counter his despair. Long ago, his memories teach him, he was a mortal teenage boy who died saving his little sister from falling through the ice of the pond in which he awakened at the film's start. Because of that sacrifice, the Man in the Moon changed him into a spirit and chose him as a Guardian. Inspired by the revelation, Jack restores his staff and returns to help the Guardians.

Due to the power of Pitch's Nightmares, only one child (Jamie) still believes. Jack races to the boy first and strengthens Jamie's wavering faith in the Guardians, but by creating snow in Jamie's room, he causes him to believe that Jack Frost is real. Jamie is finally able to see him much to Jack's delighted surprise. The weakened Guardians arrive to confront Pitch, while Jamie gathers his friends to support them. Pitch's powers prove no match against the children's faith, which allows the restored Guardians to battle Pitch. Sandy is resurrected by this belief and joins the fight, leaving Pitch defeated, the children's faith restored, and Jack with believers of his own. Upon seeing that he is no longer believed because of his defeat, Pitch attempts to escape, but his Nightmares track down his fear and drag him away into his lair.

At this victory, Jack accepts his place as the Guardian of Fun and resolves to protect the world's children with his new friends.

Post for 19th of august :)

EBOLA ~Danalaximii~

Ebola Virus Infection

Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body.

As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop. This leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.

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The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus, kills up to 90% of people who are infected.

Could There Be an Outbreak in the U.S.?

Although movies and books describe major outbreaks of Ebola-like disease in the U.S., they're just fiction. So far serious Ebola cases have only shown up in Central and West Africa.

The CDC says there’s no significant risk of Ebola in the United States.  It has strong safety measures in place for people who have Ebola and are brought to the U.S. for treatment.

Ebola can spread from country to country when people travel. So it is possible for it to reach the U.S. if an infected person travels here. But there are ways to prevent people from coming to U.S. airports with the disease.

Airline crews are trained to spot the symptoms of Ebola in passengers flying from places where the virus is found. Crews are told to quarantine anyone who looks infected.

How Do You Get Ebola?

Ebola isn’t as contagious as more common viruses like colds, influenza, or measles. It spreads to people by contact with the skin or bodily fluids of an infected animal, like a monkey, chimp, or fruit bat. Then it moves from person to person the same way. Those who care for a sick person or bury someone who has died from the disease often get it.

Other ways to get Ebola include touching contaminated needles or surfaces.

You can’t get Ebola from air, water, or food. A person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t spread the disease, either.

What Are the Symptoms of Ebola?

Early on, Ebola can feel like the flu or other illnesses. Symptoms show up 2 to 21 days after infection and usually include:

• High fever
• Headache
• Joint and muscle aches
• Sore throat
• Weakness
• Stomach pain
• Lack of appetite

As the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as from the eyes, ears, and nose.  Some people will vomit or cough up blood, have bloody diarrhea, and get a rash.

How Is Ebola Diagnosed?

Sometimes it's hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may test to rule out other diseases like cholera or malaria.

Tests of blood and tissues also can diagnose Ebola.

If you have Ebola, you’ll be isolated from the public immediately to prevent the spread.

5 Ways to Think Like a Champion

I meet and learn from Champions every day. Not just in locker rooms but in classrooms, hospitals, homeless shelters, homes and office buildings. I’ve learned that to be a champion you must Think Like a Champion. Champions think differently than everyone else. They approach their life and work with a different mindset and belief system that separates them from the pack.

1. Champions Expect to Win – When they walk on the court, on the field, into a meeting or in a classroom they expect to win. In fact they are surprised when they don’t win. They expect success and their positive beliefs often lead to positive actions and outcomes. They win in their mind first and then they win in the hearts and minds of their customers, students or fans.

2. Champions Celebrate the Small Wins – By celebrating the small wins champions gain the confidence to go after the big wins. Big wins and big success happen through the accumulation of many small victories. This doesn’t mean champions become complacent. Rather, with the right kind of celebration and reinforcement, champions work harder, practice more and believe they can do greater things.

3. Champions Don’t Make Excuses When They Don’t Win – They don’t focus on the faults of others. They focus on what they can do better. They see their mistakes and defeats as opportunities for growth. As a result they become stronger, wiser and better.

4. Champions Focus on What They Get To Do, Not What They Have To Do – They see their life and work as a gift not an obligation. They know that if they want to achieve a certain outcome they must commit to and appreciate the process. They may not love every minute of their journey but their attitude and will helps them develop their skill.

5. Champions Believe They Will Experience More Wins in the Future – Their faith is greater than their fear. Their positive energy is greater than the chorus of negativity. Their certainty is greater than all the doubt. Their passion and purpose are greater than their challenges. In spite of their situation champions believe their best days are ahead of them, not behind them.

If you don’t think you have what it takes to be a champion, think again. Champions aren’t born. They are shaped and molded. And as iron sharpens iron you can develop your mindset and the mindset of your team with the right thinking, beliefs and expectations that lead to powerful actions.


post for 18th of august 2014

7 Keys to Becoming a Positive Person

“The quality of your thinking about whom you see in the mirror largely determines the quality of your life,” according to speaker and bestselling author Brian Tracy and therapist Christina Tracy Stein in their book Kiss That Frog! 12 Ways to Turn Negatives into Positives in Your Life and Work.
“If you change your thinking about yourself, you change your life — almost immediately.”

As such, the authors help readers morph their negative thoughts and emotions into positive ones and fulfill their potential. They note that developing high self-esteem and a positive attitude takes practice. In the last chapter of their book, Tracy and Stein spell out the seven keys they say will help you be the best that you can be.

1. Use positive self-talk.
Tracy and Stein believe that how we talk to ourselves determines 95 percent of our emotions. If we don’t talk to ourselves positively, then our default is negative or worrisome cognitions. As they write, “…your mind is like a garden. If you do not deliberately plant flowers and tend carefully, weeds will grow without any encouragement at all.” They suggest saying statements that are positive, present and personal, such as “I can do it!” and “I feel terrific.”
2. Use positive visualization.
According to Tracy and Stein, visualization is probably the most powerful ability we have. They suggest readers “Create a clear, exciting picture of your goal and your ideal life, and replay this picture in your mind over and over.”
3. Surround yourself with positive people.
The people we live and interact with play a big role in our emotions and success, Tracy and Stein write. “Decide today to associate with winners, with positive people, with people who are happy and optimistic and who are going somewhere with their lives.”
4. Consume positive mental food.
The authors suggest feeding your mind educational, uplifting and inspirational information. (As they say earlier, “Good in, good out.”) Seek out info that makes you “feel happy and more confident about yourself and your world.” This might come from books, magazines, CDs, audio programs, DVDs, online courses or TV programs.
5. Practice positive training and development.
Dedicate yourself to a lifetime of learning and growing. Tracy and Stein quote entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
6. Practice positive health habits.
“Some of the factors that predispose us to negative emotions of all kinds are poor health habits, fatigue, lack of exercise and nonstop work,” write Tracy and Stein. So they suggest taking great care of your physical health by eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly and getting plenty of rest and relaxation.
7. Have positive expectations.
“Your expectations become your own self-fulfilling prophecies.” That’s why Tracy and Stein encourage readers to expect the best. “Expect to be successful. Expect to be popular when you meet new people. Expect to achieve great goals and create a wonderful life for yourself.”


Post for 15th of august 2014

What's Next for Experimental Ebola Drug?

Ebola Outbreak in Africa

A Spanish priest Tuesday became the first European to have died from Ebola, even after the country’s health ministry confirmed they had received the experimental serum called ZMapp designed to fight Ebola.

Father Miguel Pajares, 75, died Tuesday after contracting the disease while treating patients in Liberia. Pajares was evacuated to Spain last Thursday and was being treated at a Madrid hospital when he died.

The hospital where Pajares was treated has not confirmed the use of ZMapp due to privacy concerns. But if Pajares was treated he would be only the third person to receive the treatment and the first to die from Ebola after being treated with ZMapp.

Experts said that Pajares’ death does not reveal much about the effectiveness of the drug itself, but highlights why public health officials are pushing for a more regimented trial of the drug.

Here are some information regarding the Ebola virus disease

Key facts

• Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.
• EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests.
• The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
• Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus.
• Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. No licensed specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals.

Signs and symptoms

EVD is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.

People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a laboratory.

The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is 2 to 21 days.

5 Secrets to Looking Confident While Speaking in Public

I

f you break out in a cold sweat or even feel butterflies when you think about standing in front of others for a presentation or interview, you are not alone. Fear of public speaking is estimated to affect 75 percent of adults. Rethinking the way we perceive stress may actually improve our physical and mental performance. It may be easier to give in to our fears, but you will accomplish much more in life and feel a greater sense of pride for facing them.

For some people, with just a little effort they have the ability to conquer these fears. For others, it takes a lot more work and some tips or tools for masking these mental pressures. I understand the need for these tools all too well because I myself was an honorary member of the latter set of individuals and worked tremendously hard to make it look like I'm a member of the former.

In the past 19 years as a speaker, I've found that there are five tools I've used to demonstrate the strongest level of confidence when I'm on the stage. Regardless of whether I'm in front of a few business clients or thousands of audience members, these five tips have helped me communicate presentations that I can always be proud of.

1. Get the audience laughing.
In my experience, I've found that opening with a joke always starts a speech off in the right direction. It immediately lightens the mood in the room and helps me relax. There is something about looking out in the audience and seeing smiling faces that helps create a bond -- particularly if I can get the audience to join me in laughing at myself. Laugh at yourself is incredibly self-deprecating, and if you get others to join you in that laughter, then it creates a level of trust. The laughter allows your attendees to break down the wall that forces them to see themselves as vastly different from you.

2. Focus on people who are nodding.
When you feel like you aren't connecting with your attendees it can be extremely nerve wracking. And your nerves can be taken to a whole other level if there are people who appear completely disinterested. You can often look out in the audience and find a few people who are nodding along with your story or points. There is a real sense of reassurance when someone is agreeing with you. And the more you focus on these individuals, the more confident you sound. And the more confident you sound, the more people you attract. Part way through your talk, you could likely find a room full of people nodding along with you or sitting on the edge of their seats hanging on your every word. All of a sudden, the nerves are gone.

3. Be expressive with your emotions.
When I first started speaking, I can admit that I was nervous. I watched videos of my speeches and realized that I sounded AND looked nervous. There are times that no matter what you tell yourself to calm your concerns, it just doesn't work. Anxieties aren't always the easiest thing to quell. I realized that I was just more prone to tensions when I kicked off my presentations. I often couldn't stop the tensions, but I found that I could hide them. Playing up my emotions by really getting into the excitement of my story or working to honestly feel the disappointment I had experienced, I was able to mask the jitters. It's much easier to hide one emotion with another than it is to hide an emotion by suppressing it.

4. Practice, practice, practice.
There are many people that believe that speaking is something you are good at or not. I have learned through personal experience that speaking is something you can build up -- but, you have to be willing to put in the time. When I started speaking I realized I needed to work on my skills so I went to 100 different Rotary clubs around the Los Angeles area and offered to speak for free if I could place a video camera in the back of the room. After each engagement, I'd review the videos to see what I could improve. Just as in school, sports and business, the more I practiced, the more confident I was and the better I'd perform. As an aerial skier, I would do my jumps hundreds -- if not thousands -- of times before I would perform a maneuver in competition. I realized that speaking should be no different. With more and more practice delivering speeches, I could visibly see my performances improving. And you can't help but gain self-esteem with the more experience you have.

5. Be prepared if you make a mistake.
One of the most important lessons I learned as a speaker actually came from late-night TV. I saw an interview with Johnny Carson and he confessed to preparing a joke that he'd keep on hand if and when he made a blunder. No matter how professional someone is and how long they have spoken, everyone makes mistakes. And the mistakes actually make people appear more human and come across as more relatable. But, when we become uncomfortable with slip-ups and gaffes, then our audience becomes more uncomfortable as well. As I shared in my first tip, laughing at ourselves can put everyone at ease. So try preparing a comment like, "I guess those swan dives off our family loft as a child did have its repercussions." It helps you suppress some of your speaking fears when you know you have one or two "get out of jail free" cards on hand.

So no matter if speaking is your number one fear or you just want to come across with more confidence, the cold sweats and internal butterflies will soon be a thing of the past.

Motivational Tips and Tools:
As an Olympian, best-seller, inspirational speaker and Biggest Loser motivational expert, I'm often asked for tips, tools, quotes and activities to help people reach their goals. I like to end all of my blogs with short tools that are driven from actual advice I've shared.

This week's tip:

Confidence comes from within and no one can create it for you. You won't build confidence if you don't take action. Know that making yourself uncomfortable a couple times will help you feel more comfortable in the same situation forever after. The people who actually look the most awkward are the ones who are afraid to try.

Sudirman Arshad

Dato' Sudirman bin Haji Arshad, DIMP (Posthumous), JMN, AMN, AMP (25 May 1954 – 22 February 1992) was a Malaysian famous singer and songwriter. He had started his career after winning the "Bintang RTM" on 11 August 1976. Besides, he is the title holder of "Asia's No. 1 Performer" on 19 March 1989 as he won the ‘‘Asian Popular Music Awards’’ competition in Royal Albert Hall in London.^[1]He was known as the "Singing Lawyer", the "People's Singer", the "Patriot Singer" and the "Elvis Presley of Malaysia". He was also a composer, lawyer, writer (memoir and children books), cartoonist, entrepreneur and actor.

Early life[edit]

Sudirman was born on 25 May 1954 in Temerloh, Pahang as the youngest of seven children born to Hj Arshad Hassan and Ramlah Dahlan (the first stateswoman in Pahang during the 1950s). His passion for singing and entertaining started at a very young age, when his siblings and neighbors would happily let him entertain them.

Sudirman Arshad completed his secondary education in Sultan Abu Bakar School (SABS), Kuantan. After turning down a scholarship to further his studies in medicine, he studied law instead and received his degree from the University of Malaya. He was called to the bar and became a practising lawyer. He married Kamariah Jamaluddin in 1981, but divorced her three years later.

Career[edit]

Music[edit]

Possessing of a clear piercing tenor with a surprising breadth of range and dynamic control especially at the extreme high end, Sudirman's voice was instantly recognizable every time one of his songs are played in local radio or television. His ability to act through his voice is evident from songs such as "Bercanda di Pasiran Pantai", a Latin-flavored duet with Anita Sarawak which displayed the sultry quality of his voice. His unique talents had helped him to win many local competitions from Bintang RTM Best Singer (1976) to Muzik-Muzik TV3 Best Performer and Berita Harian Popularity contest Most Popular Artist. He topped Malaysian, Brunei and Indonesia charts with songs such as "Merisik Khabar", "Milik Siapakah Gadis Ini" and "Salam Terakhir".^[2] Songwriters who have supported him in the past include S. Atan, Manan Ngah, Michael Veerapan and Syed Harun. Even today, his songs are popularly played especially during National Day and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Sudirman was also the first Malaysian singer to perform at The Paddock at the Hilton of Kuala Lumpur in 1983^[3] and was the singing ambassador for companies such as Proton,Malaysia Airlines, Honda Cup and honored pioneer card member with Hong Leong Bank. He was known for his versatility and sang Malay, Indian and Chinese songs with outstanding choreography. He was even known for sketching the portrait of his fan while singing.

Local musicians who have played for him include Alex Boon, Jay Jay (singer guitarist), Hillary, Ricky, Fauzi Marzuki, Michael Veerapan, Mac Chiew and Jenny Chin. Local women who have performed with him as his dancers (whom he refers to as "The Girls") include Joanne (Zainal Abidin's[disambiguation needed] wife), supermodel Samantha Schubert and Linda Jasmine Hashim (now one of the leading dancing choreographer cum teacher in Malaysia's reality TV program show Akademi Fantasia).

Some Muslim fundamentalists and leftists detested his concert performances. Some even threatened and distributed warning pamphlets of "something would happen" during hisUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Bangi concert to deter people from attending. The concert was postponed following protests from the UKM students union body, its academic staff association and the dean of the Islamic Studies faculty and six other student bodies. This incident was captured by Zainuddin Maidin (then journalist, now former Minister of Information) in his book "The Other Side of Mahathir". He narrated that the then-Prime Minister had called a few ministers to his residence to review the situation as the issue reflected Malaysia's position in terms of modernization. The meeting led to the conclusion that the show had to be allowed to go on. Sudirman's fans turned up in force. He went about pleasing the crowd, crooning his hits. One campus resident said, "At last something alive has come here." The negativity surrounding the UKM incident was not long-lasting. The irony of it is that, a couple of years after Sudirman's death in 1992, UKM held a Sudirman karaoke competition.

Sudirman produced an album for his favourite nephew, Razman Azrai, under Sudirman Productions. Also known as Atai, he had a couple of hit songs that topped the charts in 1985.

In April 1983, Sudirman sang a song for the late Puan Sri Saloma titled "Mama". When Sudirman approached her shortly before her death, Saloma expressed her disbelief with tears — that someone like Sudirman would still remember and make a song solely for her.

On 14 April 1986, Sudirman held an open air concert on Chow Kit Road, which was the first time ever that a street concert drew a 100,000-strong crowd on a Monday night. It jammed the stretch of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Muda to Jalan Raja Alang. Several fans fainted in the crowd, a few suffocated and were rushed to the hospital. A Malaysian English tabloid, The Star, wrote that "Kuala Lumpur came to a standstill and it had nothing to do with the recession, but with one man, Malaysia's top entertainer, an electrifying performance and most memorable night".^[4]

Sudirman's songs topped the charts with every new album that he released. There was a time when his song "Merisik Khabar" climbed up to the #1 position for two months while his second song "Milik Siapa Gadis Ini" from the same album came in second and stayed at the top for a few weeks after "Merisik Khabar".

In 1989, Sudirman won the title "Best Performer" at the Asia Music Award 1989 contest at the Royal Albert Hall, London. There, Leslie Cheung (Hong Kong Cantopop founding father), Anita Sarawak (Singapore's Best), Epo (Japan singer song writer), Kuh Ledesma (Philippines pop diva) and many other singers represented their respective countries.^[5]

As Sudirman was known by many as "Malaysia's No 1 Entertainer", he was chosen to perform for Malaysia's SEA Games closing ceremony in 1989 and many others such as the opening ceremony of Sepak Takraw competition, Merdeka, New Year and other national functions. In most cases, he would use his own money to ensure a successful concert.

Sudirman Arshad also had a strong fanbase in Singapore. His concert there resulted in a large turnout at the Kallang National Stadium in August 1987. People came from all classes, races and ages. Kelvin Tan Look Siew, Director of Singapore Armed Forces Music & Drama company, said, "We wanted to bring down a prominent artist from the region and Sudirman's name automatically cropped up."

EMI London took him on to work together with Stock, Aitken & Waterman (British producer trio who took on Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley) for the world market with a song titled "Love will Find a Way". Vic Lanza, manager of WHAM (duet of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) pronounced Sudirman as the institution of Malaysian Music industry. He was brought to The Beatles famous Abbey Road Studios and recorded the album, but died soon afterwards.

Literature[edit]

Sudirman Arshad wrote his autobiography Dari Dalam Sudir in addition to some cartoons and weekly columns for magazines and some local newspapers such as Karangkraf.

One of his books for children titled "Taming Si Budak Pintar" was recognized the best by Mobil-Mabopa, a Mobil Oil book writing competition.

Moreover, he was also a journalist and columnist, who wrote on various serious issues. One journalist puts it, "It was quite difficult for us to concentrate on our job. The person sitting across the table during the meeting is a celebrity!" Those he interviewed include Tun Ghafar Baba.

Acting[edit]

Besides singing and writing, Sudirman also acted in a film called Kami,^[6] which was released in 1982. It was about two destitute orphans who find each other amidst the Kuala Lumpur street life. This film also spawned a track, "Pelangi Petang" (Malay meaning "Evening Rainbow"), which has been heralded as an iconic song by Malaysia's music industry.^[6]

Television[edit]

Sudirman also successfully hosted Malaysia's TV gameshow "Keluarga Bahagia Singer". This program was sponsored by Singer Malaysia, a subsidiary of Singer Corporation(before it was taken over by Berjaya Group in 1989).

Charity work[edit]

Sudirman was also well known for his charity work in which he helped invite veteran artists in the slots of his singing shows aside from giving them generous donations. Money charity for mosques and people in need was something he would do willingly. During his life, he had also adopted and brought up an Indian boy from a poor family and he would actively seek charity work through the Singers, Musicians and Composers Association of Malaysia (PAPITA).

Business[edit]

Sudirman Arshad also became Malaysia's first successful singer-entrepreneur by promoting Malaysia's most famous carbonated drink Sudi, with business magazines and TV programs from Australia to Hong Kong featuring the drinks. Within six months, Sudi broke five per cent of the carbonated drink market in Malaysia. Later, Sudirman opened a franchise of Sudi Shoppe apparel and a Sudi restaurant.

He was Malaysia's first singer to be on the cover of Malaysian Business and Asian Business magazine. He had a business office atop the UBN Shangrila Tower and Sri Hartamas. He also served as Vice President of PAPITA.

Death[edit]

On 17 July 1991, Sudirman was admitted to Pusat Perubatan Tawakkal Kuala Lumpur (ICU) for 4 days. It was reported that he collapsed while singing at Butterworth, Penang. He died at 4 a.m. on 22 February 1992 at the age of 37 in his sister’s (Datin Rudiah) house in Kuala Lumpur after suffering from pneumonia for 7 months.

Thousands in Asia took part in his funeral procession. His remains were sent to his hometown in Temerloh, Pahang. Later, he was laid to rest at Chengal Muslim Cemetery, Temerloh, near the graves of his parents.

Legacy[edit]

Sudirman Arshad was named 'Malaysia's Singing Ambassador' by the Malaysia Tourism Development Board (MTDC). He was the voice behind the MTDC (Malaysian Tourism Development Corp) tune, To know Malaysia is to love Malaysia which was composed by American Emmy, Grammy and Oscar nominated singer and songwriter Carol Connors. He was referred to as the 'Singing Dynamite' by Singaporean journalists. His singing brought him standing ovations in Australia (in Sydney and Melbourne), Japan, Kuwait and theUnited States (Hawaii). Simon Napier-Bell, the manager for George Michael's band Wham!, referred to Sudirman Arshad as the 'institution of Malaysian music industry'.

Sudirman's work was recognized by the industry when he was posthumously awarded an Anugerah Industri Muzik award and a street (Jalan Sudirman) was named after him in his hometown of Temerloh. PAPITA created an award especially categorized under his name, which to this date has yet to be won by anyone.

In the Malaysia Book of Records, Sudirman Arshad was given a posthumous award together with P Ramlee, Mokhtar Dahari, Tun Ghafar Baba and Ramasamy Letchemanah(Mighty Man).

On 26 July 2010, The National Choir paid a tribute to the late entertainer by organizing a concert in conjunction with the KL Music Festival 2010, with an audience of about 1,000 present.

post for 12th august