Becoming a Public Figure

Come to think of it for a minute, in this day and age of social media and technology, everyone is a 'public figure'. What I mean by this is that, anyone and everyone has the opportunity to be a public figure. With the facility and tools that we have today, our profiles are all being posted on the world wide web. Such postings do indeed make each and everyone individual a 'public figure'. This arrangement is not a direct one for those who wish to be on the limelight, but rather takes a softer approach.

I would like to reaffirm the statement above with the decision of a Judge from Florida, where by being mentioned on the net can indeed make you a public figure. Public figures are usually categorised as politicians or celebrities, but so as long as there is a substantial presence, debate and contribution on your part, you too can be categorised as a 'public figure'. Please note that there can be serious legal implications for publishing such material on the internet, where the information or material might be untrue or one that tends to tarnish the reputation of an individual, which might lead to a claim of defamation.

Let's take a look at some of the Negative aspects of these developments.
Please note that when using the world wide web, you are crossing jurisdictions and breaking geographical barriers when communication or making contact with an individual or business.

First, some of these developments in the world of social media and networking are encouraging the 'death' of privacy laws. You might want to consider these questions:

1. What level of privacy should you anticipate from another individual online?;
2. What do others believe of your expectations?; and in addition to that
3. What would you consider as a reasonable expectation?

Secondly, more and more students and individuals are posting pictures of them comsuming alcohol, and some making references to drugs and sex, but what they don't realise is that these publications are permanent and that the world is 'watching' them. Some authorities have begun using these tools to help them in their investigation and have so far proved successful.

Thirdly, issues of information security, that involves spams and indetity theft occur all the time.

Fourth, there are sexual predators online who tend to prey on the 'weak', but where does this end?

You should know by now that Cyber Space is no Private Space! Anything and everything that you post online is visible to the whole world at large and such information might be abused and you might not even have the littlest idea on this.

Take for example, the trend of having online 'friends' on your facebook, myspace or friendster account might be a great thing, with the idea that the more 'friends' you have the merrier it is. Think again! A British Judge in the UK has ruled that your "facebook friends" cannot be defined as "friendship in the traditional sense". Such friends might turn out to be stalkers and they might even start harassing you, just because they seem to 'think' that you are a 'friend' of theirs. Imagine having 1 million friend, do you think you will know all of them? Very unlikely. But then again, these are just some of the donwfalls of the developments of social media and networking. You should be responsible of your own actions and when dealing with people online.

However, this is not always the case. Having 'friends' can be a good thing as well if you were to look at it from the business point of view. Most online marketers, will applaud to this idea of having a huge fan base and being able to connect to a huge amount of people online. It provides them with a headstart and a platform for their business and it also enables them to provide information, suggestions and advice to people online and it makes them an authority or expert in their respected field.

The idea of having 'friend' in the business world is to leverage their existing connections. It helps someone in the business world to expand their connection and establish their presense online with like minded people, who can invite them to their events through social participation. This too makes an individual a 'public figure' if you are active with your networks.

Infact, I kind of like AirAsia's tagline: 'Now Everyone Can Fly', but I would like to rephrase it to: 'Now Everyone is a Public Figure', with the rise of Social Media and Networking, and this is evident today. Stating that, there might be many arguments, where some may agree with this statement, but, literally: You are a 'public figure'. Here are the question that you might want to ask if you are in the business platform:

1. Are you doing the right things and acting with integrity to be one?
2. Are you acting like a winner and a person with high ambitions and vision?
3. Are you serving and providing for your community?
4. Are you open minded and willing to take responsibility for your actions?

You must understand and realise that for you to be respectable and be looked upon a 'public figure' you must be someone who speaks with authority and substance. You can only keep their attention by writing and speaking with authority.

The world is a small place after all and you can build new relationships really quick and boost opportunities by building new bridges between people from all over the world. I believe that there are always pros and cons in everything, but where do you look for your solution? As an entrepreneur, I always look for opportunities and the bright side of things, even though sometimes it might not seem to be so, but it is always best to keep an open mind and be aware of the things that you do and the law of cause and effect for each and every action of yours.

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Apple iPhone vs. HTC’s Touch Diamond

There has been so much of hype about the iPhone and its 3G status. I am not sure why everyone is going ga ga about the iPhone. There has been news that Apple has sold more than one million of its 3G phones on first weekend. Then, on the other side of the continent-- there is the new HTC Touch Diamond, another revolutionary mobile device that you might not want to miss out on.

Perhaps you might want to look at what these phone’s have to offer and you can then make your own verdict.

The Apple iPhone 3G

The iPhone 3G has a fast wireless technology, which allows users to make calls by tapping on a friends name, listen to music and watch videos on a 3.5” widescreen iPod with a multi-touch display, and the ability to browse the net with html emails and GPS mapping. It claims to be a ‘personal computer’ and redefines what a mobile phone can do.

Based on the specifications the iPhone runs on GSM Quad band frequency, EDGE Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a 2 Mega pixel camera. It comes with an 8GB (Black Model) and a 16GB (White Model) flash drive and weights about 4.7ounces (133 grams). The iPhone 3G is to be priced from $199 (this is not a stand alone price).

With lots of application platforms that you can download, the iPhone seems to be user friendly. It is rather a good tool to make your iPhone personalised and personal and this will put the internet in your pocket.

HTC Touch Diamond

However, from the other side of the world, HTC has launched its own unique version of its mobile device: the HTC Touch Diamond device. The HTC Diamond comes with a compact size handheld device that comes with a mobile browser and a 3D interface called TouchFLO 3D, which provides animated access to people, messaging, email, photos, music, weather forecasts.

The device runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and supports high speed mobile Internet access, which includes Bluetooth, and also a built in GPS system. The HTC Diamond has a new YouTube application for its users to watch user generated video content and the ability to access Google Maps for mobile mapping and traffic data and it comes with a 4GB internal memory and a 2.8 inch VGA display.

Observing and comparing these two devices based on its functionality and visual looks, I would prefer the HTC’s Touch Diamond mobile device. It is sleeker and smaller than the iPhone and it has a great craftsmanship with a comfortable feel when you hold it in your hand. It is also relatively simple to use as it comes with a Windows Mobile Software, which makes it easy to use as many are familiar with the use of Windows and it also puts the internet in your pocket.

Verdict: Personally, I would prefer the HTC Diamond as it has a sleeker and smaller design with added comfort to hold on to when on the phone.

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Is the World filled with ‘Good People’ or ‘Bad People’?

I took the coach today. I made my entry into the coach and paid my ticket fare as I boarded the coach. As I walked in, one man from the back raised his hand and said, “there is a seat for you there,” and I thanked him for pointing it out to me.

I then sat on the vacant seat and on my right was an elderly gentleman who was in his 70’s and on my left was a younger guy in his early 20’s. I sat down there enjoying the journey and all of a sudden the younger chap on my left started to fall asleep. He had his left arm and hand supporting his head and each time when he dozes his left arm drops and his hand hits my right arm.

I was thinking to myself “Great! This is what I need for a great start in the morning.” So this went on for a while and the elderly chap on my right saw this and I looked at him and both of us nodded our heads (as a sign to acknowledge this behaviour of sleeping in the coach). I was kind of patient and sympathised with that guy as he might have had a very long night and now he is getting the after effects.

As it continued over and over again and now his head started to rest on my shoulder, I thought to myself that enough is enough and there is always a certain limit of toleration that each and everyone has and can take. I then turned around and touched the guy and say “Excuse me, can you please stop hitting me with your hand!” (At this point I wanted to go on further, but he nodded his head and raise his hand to say sorry. I didn’t know if he even had a clue of what I was saying as he looked really dazed and confused.)

However, I thought that I shall save it for later if he does it again I will definitely speak my mind out and tell him that I'm not his pillow and if he needs to sleep go home and do it (I know this might sound harsh, but, personally if you are travelling in the coach, it is not a place to sleep and to make the others around you to feel uncomfortable as it is a vehicle to transport you from point A to point B). Well he got off three stops later and I was just glad for that.

A few stops later, couple more people boarded the coach and there very a few elderly people who just boarded. I thought that I would get up and offer my seat to them. You will not believe this. Just about when I picked my bag up and was about to get up, the elderly gentleman on my right gently caught my right arm. I was puzzled as to why he did so, and he told me to sit down.

I felt really bad as I remained seated and not offering my seat to the elderly people now. I stayed on and continued the journey and I asked the elderly gentleman a question and he didn’t say much and just nodded. As we approach to the end of the journey the elderly man said to me, “Do you know why I asked you to sit down and not get up earlier?”, I said, “No, why?” He said, “Because there were some ‘bad people’ around”. You know what? I was so mad and shocked at this guys attitude. I almost lost it could have given him a piece of my mind as well after the first incident. But I thought to myself. What’s going on in the world today? Why are people behaving so strangely and having such mindsets? Wasn’t that man’s act of asking me to sit down and depriving the seat to the elderly a bad act itself that made me a ‘bad person’ or was his actions that made him a ‘bad person’?

As we progress in life, I would like to think that we also progress mentally and mature in everything that we do, but sometimes there are people who remain stagnant in their image and their mindset. At the end of the day, the question is a subjective one, because you have the power to decide and do what is best for yourself and determine if the people around you are ‘bad people’ or ‘good people’? Perhaps it’s a personal point of view, but it has also be stated that “ordinary people can succumb to social pressure to commit acts that would be otherwise unthinkable”, as psychologist Phillip Zimbardo has seen good people turn evil.

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Social Networking: Old Game, New Tools

Social Networking and the Art of Building your networks has never been easier. Today, we have all the tools to help us build our networks online, quick and easy. It is still an old game with new tools, but we must choose the right tools to build our networks.

Social Networking sites are blooming and are gaining momentum online. There are so many of them and you will need to pick the right one for your niche. These sites have brought down the boundaries and geographical locations as to how people may communicate and interact with one another. Making friends and building your social or online networks is just at the click of the button, where you can request someone to be your 'friend' and whether you have anything in common with them.

You should never underestimate the power of these social networking websites, as they can really boost your credibility and your presence internationally. At the click of the button, you are making new contacts and friends online and these 'friends', may sometimes invite you to events and functions, where you can meet them face to face and further build your network. You may be invited to conferences, parties, and even weddings and these are some of the events that you should consider attending, if you wish to build your network and meet new people.

But, then again, online social networking is nothing compared to the good old way of meeting people and making friends face to face, as there is more interaction and you get to see how the person is able to relate to you physically. You are able to build better rapport with the person face to face than meeting them online. I am not saying that online networking is bad, but rather, it is a starting point for making friends and building your list and at the same time you are breaking the local barriers and boundaries and interacting with people on a global scale.

As a result of my 'online social profile' and network, I have been invited and attended many events that has enabled me to build my contacts on a global scale. I would suggest that if you haven't got an 'online social profile' perhaps you might want to consider creating one. You may create a profile that suits your needs and niche. You will never know how your 'social profile' may benefit you in the long run. What have you got to loose anyway? Only friends to make!

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Social Media and Politics

One of the things that I hate is Politics. It can really get dirty and I usually stay out of it. But, I would like to point out a few things in the development of Social Media and Politics in today's world. It is really interesting to observe how these events are unfolding over the past few years and how people are using it to gain popularity.

I would like to touch on the use of social media today (and not what they parties have done or not) by politicians and their parties. It is one of the most powerful form of media that we have today. The Internet has really changed the way we communicate and work. technology is changing and advancing from day to day and we all really need to adapt and keep up with this change. There are no two ways about it and we either do it or we don't! Period.

Case # 1

In the last British Election, we saw the labour party using Youtube.com as part of their political campaign and they were really successful in terms of promoting their campaign. I observed at that time that the British Government didn't even have any kind of 'multimedia status'. But they managed to pull through and utilised the availability of the social media. The labour Party components have also been successful in creating such pages and blogs online during their political campaign and it has proved to be a success.

One of them is Councillor James Alexander a Labour Party Candidate. He has his own Youtube page, which has about 424 subscribers. Then we have Labour: Vision, which also promotes the labour party and interviews and talks by other Labour candidates. And finally, 10 Downing Street, another Labour Party page, where you'll find exclusive films and features from No. 10 and the British Prime Minister.

In 2007, Tony Blair has even used the Internet to Congratulate Sarkozy on winning France's presidendial election (this video can be watched on the 10 Downing Street Page). The party and its candidates have done well by keeping up with the change of technology and the impact it has in the world today. They have also managed to adapt to the changes that have taken place and used it for their political campaign. Queen Elizabeth has also resorted to Youtube with her Christmas address, with hopes to reach the younger generation.

Case # 2

Now this second case scenario rally interests me. The Malaysian Government started the MSC (Multimedia Super Coridor) in 2006, which was designed to be a leapfrog Malaysia into the information and knowledge age.

This 'MSC status' seems to portray and provide that Malaysia is 'fit' and is 'some kind of a leader' in the information and knowledge arena. However, this was only backfired during the recent Malaysian elections in 2008, we saw a landslide victory and a political tsunami in Malaysian politics after 50 since independence.

You would assume that Malaysia's leading political party would resort to the use of the internet and social media as the British Labour Party did, but instead they didn't. It was admitted bluntly by the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that: "In the last election, we certainly lost the Internet war, the cyberwar," during an investors' conference. He also said that it was "a serious misjudgement" and that "It was a very, very serious mistake on our part", while the opposition parties, (e.g. Jeff Ooi won and became a Parliamentary Candidate), resorted to the use of blogs and social media as part of their campaign.

I was quite surprised by these remarks. How can the ruling political party that set the MSC, be so careless in the use of the internet and social media when they were the ones who implemented it? It doesn't seem to make sense.

It is just an old game, with new tools. How can one possibly ignore the facts and the tools that are readily available to you at this day of age? Are we just so ignorant still or are we going to adapt and use the tools available to us and stop making excuses?

Many other political parties like the Australian Democrats are resorting to the use of social media and it is becoming more and more common these days as it doesn't involve much in advertising costs. All you need is a computer and the internet connection to do so. One of the most remarkable promotion and the use of social media can be seen in the U.S. Presidential Campaign. It is arguable that part of Barack Obama success is due to use of social media, where he has made innovate use of social media, which includes pod casting, Twitter, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and others. There has also been a lot of online statistics showing forecasts of the winner of this current U.S. Presidential Campaign.

As you can see, the use of social media in politics is gaining it's dominance and momentum online. It is a viral game that is creating 'viral politics' and changing the way politics is run.

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Emotional Mastery

On Sunday, I went out with my nephew to one of the local telecommunication outlet to get my mobile phone line sorted. I was there for about an hour or so and I went home after that. As soon as I reached home and while I was still in the car, I received a call from an unidentified number. I was hesitant about answering the call, but I decided to pick it up.

And, it was my mum. She said to me, "Harry, please come home, your bother has met with an accident and she broke down into tears". I reacted as well and started to get worried and asked her, when and where did take place and how? I told my mum, I am just outside the out and I am coming in. This was definitely a testing time. In such times, any human being will surely react emotionally and burst out in tears.

As I walked into the house, I thought to myself, hang on there. I know that my brother has met with an accident, but what can I do about it by worrying? I am not sure what the extent of the casualty is and, there is surely no point of worrying and getting all hyped up over the matter. I thought to myself this is a test for me and a chance for me to master my emotions and control them. I started to apply what I had learned all these years about the human psyche and the effects that it has over the mind of man.

I walked in and went straight to the dining room, where my mum, dad, sister and some friends who came by heard the news as well. They were all worried and my mum told me that a car had hit into my brother, while he was riding his motorbike. They were all worried and started makings calls to find out where he was and which hospital was the ambulance was going to take him. At the same time, they wanted to drive down to the state where my brother lives, which was about 200km from the place that I live.

Everyone was upset and wanted to do something to help. I just had to intervene and ask them who provided you with the information? And, it was my brother who called them up. I thought, okay, that's a start and if he can call that means he is still conscious and that is indeed a good sign. I went on further and asked that if he said anything else? I was told that my brother seems to think that he has broken his leg in the accident.

So now, I thought that we are heading somewhere and I knew it might not be that serious as he was still able to communicate in a conscious and reasonable manner. In my past experience of rendering my service to the NHS, U.K.-- I observed that you can roughly tell by the impression of the individual if he/she has a broken bone. The signs or symptoms will usually be a great amount of pain or displeasure and that the person can usually be in hysteria or in a shock, without being able to reason properly.

As a result of all these events, I decided to reserve any judgments of the outcome and the seriousness of the matter. I told my parents to hang on for an hour or two until we hear from my brother again, and only then will we decide when to leave. They all agreed and we waited.

While waiting, I tried calling my brother's mobile phone and it was going to the voice mail. I tried calling every 10 minutes for the entire hour and finally got through to him and he said that he was on the way to the x-ray department. I then proceeded to ask him about his condition and I was told that there wasn't any head or bodily injuries and I was so pleased by that news. I informed my parents about the news and only decided to leave a little later to visit my brother that night. There was more that unfolded later that night, but I shall reserve those events for my own personal experience only.

I realised that, by practicing the 'stillness' of the mind has a very powerful effect towards your body and emotions. Many people, would however, react and over react to such situations, as emotions are difficult to control at times. But, the practice of mastering the mind does help to master your emotions and the outcome of your life.

I am not sure about you. But, have you experienced any of these events before personally or have you seen anyone within your foresight that had such an experience? What were your thought and response towards these events?

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