Somehow, I've managed to put a lot of what I know to some professional use, whether it's my ability to write, edit, speak, teach, take good photos, or, most unexpected of all, my love for gemstones.
I suppose honing skills that can be used in multiple domains is never a waste, even if you don't consciously think that you are developing those skills.
And perhaps that's the secret - to unconsciously improve them, not necessarily as part of your professional life.
I Had Childhood Ambitions. I Didn't Become Any of Them.
When I was a kid, at different points in time, I wanted to be a Cook (I didn't know the word Chef), a Librarian, and a Scientist (specifically, an Entomologist, one who studies insects).
Perhaps as a way of fulfilling at least one of them, I would stay in the kitchen to watch my mum cook. Though I didn't take notes or ask a lot of questions, I still remember and use a lot of the techniques she used.
Being a Librarian is still somewhat appealing to me, though I can't say I'm going to be great with putting books back on the shelves. I've always been a messy reader, with my books all over the place.
I almost never put them back in my book cabinets (yes, plural) until I'm sure I won't be reading them for a while, or forced to do so. I suspect I'll have trouble maintaining a neat library.
And, although I liked observing insects, especially praying mantises, I didn't want to touch them. I've recently learned that it's because I've always had sensory issues.
So, a career of studying something I cannot touch is a bit... Difficult.
Oh, the picture attached is of one individual of a couple of colonies of mantises I found in East Coast Park, where I go on Photo Hunts. I go back and check on them about once a week or so. This one is about 2 months old.
Today, I'm an Educator, Consultant, and Workshop Wrangler.
I would never have imagined as a kid that I'd be here. And yet, this has been my work for over 15 years.
Funny, isn't it, where life takes you?
Should I Start A New Instagram Account for Professional Purposes?
Over the past 2 years or so, I’ve been actively taking pictures while I’m at school workshops and other public events. Of course I have older pictures, but I never took them with specific purposes in mind.
I believe I have gathered enough to start putting them together into an online portfolio of my work.
Most of the major topics that I cover have been photographed to some degree (some more than others, of course, due to differences in frequency).
So, of course, the next step is to decide what platform I should make the portfolio on.
Since it’s mainly pictorial, I thought about using Instagram.
The reason I don’t use my personal account is that I’d prefer to reserve it for my truly personal life and interests - namely food, travel, and photography.
As such, I’ve registered another Instagram account and I plan to start posting soon.
It’s definitely going to be slow-going, but I figured it’s worth a shot.
After all, it’s better to put up a short blog post than none at all.
Let’s get started soon!
I Spent Two Months Plus Doing These Things During Singapore's Circuit Breaker
Now that Singapore’s Circuit Breaker has entered Phase 2, with limited openings of certain establishments, I suppose we could say that we are starting to get back to some sense of ‘normal’.
Perhaps this is a time to take stock of what I’ve done over the past 2 months or so.
The main achievement?
I produced 4 sets of curriculum/content.
Namely,
1) Forensic Investigative Skills
The original purpose for this one is for the school market, of course. This will be put to use in July, as long as schools remain open.
That said, I think that it will be both useful and fun for adults as well. The skills, after all, are used in our everyday lives - information gathering, observation, problem solving, and so on.
I’ll have to see who I can talk to to get this started.
2) Health Science
Again, this was made for the school market, but can be useful for those who have aged parents and/or children to take care of.
3) Harnessing Your Quiet Strengths
Now, this one has a little story behind it. It was originally developed for Introverts Network Asia (INA), but things have tapered off for this, so I never finished it, leaving it half done.
I decided to just finish it up. At least I now have a set of curriculum ready to go should I need it, either live or, perhaps, as an online course.
It is, as expected, aimed at introverts and helping them to make use of the strengths that they perhaps regard as insignificant, but are actually highly valuable.
I see this as an accompaniment to The Introvert Teacher, and intend to have them linked together.
4) 4D Your Message
This is my take on communication skills, slightly angled towards newer educators/trainers, but can definitely be used by anyone who wants to get their message out.
This, too, has a story behind it. It was originally conceived for online delivery as part of an initiative by an organisation. But, as with the previous set of content, this, too, fizzled out.
I decided to just have it finished up.
My main thought at the moment is figuring out how to bring these things to more people once Circuit Breaker properly ends.
I've considered online training, but the activities, especially for the first two, are best done live. I could potentially redesign them, but it’s A LOT of work.
Alternatively, I could have them converted to videos and sell an online course. I’m not sure yet.
I’m also finishing up a project I started 2 years or so ago - my book on gem buying, titled A Gem of a Deal.
The good news is:
A Gem of a Deal is NEARLY finished! Yay!
Here’s a cover I designed for it. It may not be the final version, but I’ll use it for now.
I’ll put more information up on Loupin Jewels.
Yes, I designed it myself. Photoshop and Illustrator. ;)
Photographing gems!
It’s quite a long story behind this, but I’ve started to photograph gems again. This time, the results look pretty good, even if I do say so myself.
Sapphire Crystal
Garnet Crystal
Prehnite Cabochon
Emerald Piece
And, of course, I’ve been collating some of my old photos.
It’s been a fairly productive couple of months, I’d say.
Here’s to an even more productive 2 months ahead!