Posts filed under ‘Writing’
Sharing the Knowledge
An institution of higher learning’s role as a disseminator of knowledge and skills are inherent. Every semester, students are given assignments, case studies, presentation as well as research papers. The purpose of these exercise are to gauge the student’s comprehension and application of the learned materials.
Using case studies, the lecturers hope that their students can apply the theories and make recommendation. A more alert student would certainly do his or her work as relevant as possible.
Introducing Scribd
Scribd (http://www.scribd.com) is a free Internet-based communication platform. This website has attracted millions of users to form a myriad of communities revolving various interests. Scribd proudly calls itself the world’s largest social reading and publishing company.
So what does this have to do with students and institutes of higher learning?
Not every institution has the luxury of publishing its own set of books. Through the democratisation of publishing by Scribd, small institutions now have that opportunity. What’s more: in cyberspace, all location are equal.
Google search engine operates through an ever-changing algorithm which matches a user’s search with the most relevant information online. Through these keywords, Google search can produce a student’s work online, uploaded on Scribd.
Scribd allows users to share the document/work published with people they feel should know it. Just imagine when a user finds a student/lecturer’s work to be useful, then proceeded to share it. If it’s relevant to the industry, the idea has a potential to go viral! Remember, it’s not any Tom, Dick or Harry who’s sharing the work – it’s professionals, practitioners and experts!
How to go about it?
Based on what the institution is trying to promote, here is one mechanic to execute this:
Request that every group/student submit a soft copy of their work to the lecturer. Preferably through email. The lecturer assesses the work and passes it to the relevant officer. This officer ensures that before the document is uploaded to Scribd, there is at least a “watermark” or header/footer where the college’s name can be seen. Leave the student’s name and student ID intact with the document.
The Benefits
First, this acts as a testimonial. This student is real and is studying here. He or she is not a model hired to execute an advertisement.
Second, cost wise, this effort is free. It’s works in tandem with the assessment flow of a typical college. It’s also so simple to execute and maintain!
Next, when students realise that their work is available online, it can act as an incentive to do better. When something’s online, anyone can asses the work – including potential employers.
This method allows people to share the work safely. With the in-built security features of Scribd and the watermarks by the college, the reader can trace the source of the information.
Transparency is forced through this process. From transparency, it must be fueled by confidence, dedication and pride. Just as Ivy League and top 100 universities are proud of their faculty’s and students’ works, even a minor college should emulate this positive culture. In the workplace, an employee’s action will be appraised, assessed and critiqued after all. But when confidence, dedication and pride is merged, you can be sure of the level of participation.
As Scribd is a global platform, the number of potential readers are enormous! If you’re recruiting international students, wouldn’t this work in your favour?
The more the relevant content is online, the more a college’s brand becomes known.
Aldric’s New Office in Amcorp Tower, AmCorp Mall
Aldric Tinker, Freelance Writer and Certified NLP Practitioner (NFNLP, USA), now maintains an office at the following address:
Suite 1208, Level 12, Amcorp Tower,
Amcorp Trade Centre
No. 18, Persiaran Barat,
46050-Petaling Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
How to get there:-
In addition to that, you calls can be made to +6 03 7948 5248. On top of the present fax number, (+6 03 9282 7697), you can also fax +6 03 7955 6363.
3 Ways to Write Your Compelling Copy
Copywriters are sales executives behind the laptop. Whether they are agency-based or freelance, their job is effectively to write persuasive copy to promote an idea, brand or product. As long as they type on their keyboard, they must keep one goal in mind: will my reader read this?
Let me take this a bit further for you. Say you’re planning to write a brochure or flyer. What will you need? In a nutshell, a decent command of your chosen language. How do you string the words so your readers will read this to the end and then hire you or buy your product?
Here’ are three things you can do to convert that creative expression of yours to a money making copy:-
- Insert subtle commands. Tell your readers what you want them to do – in a subtle manner. You may insert these commands in any section of your copy. When you decide to use negatives, like ‘don’t’, make sure the phrase following it is something you want your reader to do. Confused? When someone told you ‘Don’t look down?’ Or ‘Don’t turn around?’, what are you inclined to do?
- Tie in to emotions. At the end of the day, you and I spend our time, money and energy to acquire something that will make us feel good. What made you buy you last purchase? How do you feel about it?
- Highlight benefits. Unless you are trained in IT lingo, you couldn’t care less what RAMs, CPUs, USBs, bus, GH, Pentium IV etc are. When a lawyer speaking legalese to you, might as well you hear someone speaking in alien language! A car with titanium cover means nothing to you unless you are told that you enjoy solid protection in the event of a crash.
To demonstrate, as you are reading this, don’t think of the taste and crunchiness of a green apple. Don’t think of how good the coffee brewing in the kitchen that will freshen you up!
Now tell me, what did you just think about?
Aldric Tinker, Certified NLP Practitioner (NFNLP, USA)
It’s been a marvellous 5 days throughout the Certified Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner’s course. Dr. Will Horton is one great Master Trainer, considering that he’s got over 50k experience. Learning from this FBI-trained US Army Veteran just moves senses, creates ideas and combines old ones to become a greater solution. All five senses (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory) practically came alive. You get to hear things more vividly, see things more relevantly and feel the way you should!
Besides one great facilitator and trainer, my fellow participants were also a bunch of inspiring and awesome people! We had the brightest of minds, the most sweetest of souls, the most enterprising of personalities! Everyone are special in their own way, so not meeting them after 5 days straight is slightly awkward. But hey! Wait! Being NLP practitioners, we practically established excellent rapport and communication with each other! We have the skills then as we have it today. It can be duplicated, no matter where, when and whom.
So, it’s a new day. My first day as a Certified NLP Practitioner. Let’s see what magical works I can do today. After all, the journey has just begun!
Thank you, all, for making this experience a great one!
With warm sincerity,
Aldric Tinker, Certified NLP Practitioner (NFNLP, USA)
What is it worth to you?
During lunch on Saturday, Dr. William Horton, Niza, Phillip and myself sat at the table in the Best Western Premier Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Amidst the aromatic restaurant coming from the buffet, we were talking about rates and professionalism continuing a remark Dr. Horton made.
When he was approached by a client who wanted to improve a particular skill, he paused for a moment. He looked at this person and tried asking one question he never asked before: if you get this result, what’s it worth to you?
Relating back to my experience, I have held back much of my potential ‘for the sake of gaining experience’. While my copywriting idol, Robert Bly, wrote in his book Secrets of a Freelance Writer – How to earn $100,000 or more that pricing is important. To charge peanuts, you get exactly peanuts. If you charge peanuts, your clients will see and feel that you are too insignificant to be bothered with. Here you will start to hear the little Critic in your head bashing you up.
My NLP Master Trainer’s insight reinforced a new belief I embraced after reading T. Harv Edgar’s Secrets of a Millionaire: I choose to be paid for my results.
So, what’s my stance on fees? How much do I charge for writing a script or a speech, a brochure or a flyer, a blog or other copywriting jobs, you have to know how much is it to you.
Before you answer that, think about it: what do you want by hiring me? What does that do for you? What does hiring me do for you? How would you feel and see when you do? What will you hear when you allowed one NLP Practitioner, trained by an FBI-trained U.S. Army veteran renowned Master Trainer of NLP, take up the job? Don’t think of how you personally can benefit from this experience – it is company or organisation sponsored!
So, what is your project worth to you?
Engage Your Mind, Hypnotise It!
Hey there! Can I offer you a Krispe Kreme donut?
It’s been a while since I last updated this blog. Since then, besides the Men’s Health Refine & Define Challenge 2009 modules, one thing that I look forward to is the Certified NLP Practitioner Course I am attending from June 24 to 28, 2009.
Some time after reading Adam Khoo’s Master Your Mind, Design Your Destiny, the idea of NLP somehow got lodged in between the hemispheres of my brain. I was curious of this little course which changed this obscured boy’s life by leaps and bounds. Sure, his success isn’t attributed just to NLP, but it was a starting point.
One day I was browsing the papers, New Straits Times to be exact, I cam across this advert. A U.S. NLP Master Trainer is coming over to Malaysia later this month to teach the basics of NLP. What caught my attention was the certification. Just imagine: I’m going through the same road the Millionaire-at-24 trod before. Plus upon completion, I would enjoy a two-year membership with the Florida-based National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming (NFNLP).
Wait! Back up! What on earth is NLP?!
To answer that, I bought myself a little book – you know how I am with books!
After reading this book, which I bought at Times Pavilion for RM68.00, I come to conclude that NLP – or Neuro Linguistic Programming – is about speaking to your brain in a language it can understand so it could achieve a desired outcome. Embrace it or distance from it, NLP certification can be regarded as one of those craze a number of us are after. Used properly, it can improve lives. Check out that Adam Khoo guy again.
Let me give you some examples of the brochure:
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Remove the emotional charge from unpleasant memories;
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Be able to build rapport with anyone.
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Control almost any situation.
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Improving and using states of mind.
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Defuse tense situations.
Besides paying for the 5-day intensive Certified NLP Practitioner programme, inclusive of lunch and tea breaks, you will receive a VCD, two books, the invoice, timeline of the programmes, programme materials and the two-year NFNLP membership.
This course will be conducted by William D. Horton, Psy. D., CADC, – a licensed psychologist, an alcohol and drug counsellor, a Master Trainer of Neuro Linguistic Programming, a Certified Hypnotherapist and trained through the Red Cross programme for Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. The good counsellor have also been trained by US’s FBI at the FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, and recently taught at an FBI Lead Crisis Negotiation Course. This veteran of the Army and Naval Reserve is also considered a leading expert in subconscious communications.
The five-day intensive module is organised at Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur by NLP Academy, Power Events, Success Shop and Power Press & Design Sdn. Bhd.
Not bad, eh, for a 22-year old freelance copywriter?
Hmm… Maybe I’m able to get this Oris watch after all – without having to stake everything on a competition. After all, the idea was to be refined and defined!
Bengkel Intensif Penulisan Skrip 2
Here is a message I got in my Facebook mailbox. It’s an Intensive Screenwriting Workshop Series 2: Back by Popular Demand. Organised by Martias Mohd. Ali, this workshop is guaranteed to be fun, exiting and eye-opening.
Among others, the speakers have included Zaidi Omar and Wan Maimunah. As a participant of the 1st Intensive Screenwriting Workshop, I learned a lot and chances are I am returning back for more!
Details are as the follows:-
Bengkel Intensif Penulisan Skrip 2
Atas pemintaan ramai, kursus Intensif Penulisan Skrip untuk kali ke 2 akan di adakan di FINAS
tarikh : Ahad , Mei 10, 2009
Masa : 9:00am – 6:00pm
Location: FINAS Panggung Mini P. Ramlee, Jalan Hulu Klang
Yuran : RM 100.00Kursus in hanya terhad kepada 100 orang pertama yang mendaftar sahaja dan segala kertas kerja latihan serta DVD bersangkutan akan di berikan kepada peserta.
Bagi mereka yang berminat untuk menyertai Bengkel Intensif Penulisan Skrip 2 ini bolehlah membuat pendaftaran dengan menghantar e-mail berserta:
Nama Penuh :
No Telefon :
Alamat :
Ref Pembayaran :kepada alamat email seperti dibawah:
untuk keterangan lanjut sila layari page ini :
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=95982525970&ref=mfSekian terima kasih
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