Showing posts with label tutors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutors. Show all posts
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Who's the centre of the universe?
This morning I was walking the dog on the beach before sunrise. On the eastern horizon I noticed a tiny ball appearing so I stopped to wait for the global show. As the minutes slid by and the few clouds lit up around the edges, I reflected on the language we use to describe the sunrise. To start with: ‘sunrise’. The sun isn’t ‘rising’ – we and the globe we are on are turning towards its light. In the evening the sun ‘drops’ behind the hills. Yet we are merely turning away from the sun on that same easterly orbit that makes the sun appear to rise.
It’s almost as if we still believe in the flat earth theory!
I have once or twice managed to get a sense of turning away from the sun when watching the sun ‘set’ – feeling myself, feet riveted by gravity to the earth, moving away into darkness. However, trying to envisage our physical relationship with heavenly bodies, the sun and the world itself is very hard to do. It is so much easier to see ourselves as our own centre of the universe and act as if that is true.
When that flat earth perception is set as ‘truth’ the intention to act as a global force is harder to maintain. Our actions become simply a need to make ourselves feel good ... now. We won’t do ‘this’ because we will have to stretch outside our comfort zone; we won’t bother to recycle because we haven’t time; we’ll buy at the supermarket because we can’t be bothered to learn a different way, and so it goes on.
It is only when something forces us to look at our interconnectedness and the impact we have on others that we might take a step out of the centre of our universe. I was lucky enough to attend a Landmark Forum where a corner of that understanding was revealed to me. It changed my way of seeing, even though old habits persist.
In many ways the internet has become an opportunity to connect. While many may be using it to merely expand their personal universe by grabbing fame or notoriety, others are using it to increase their connectedness and act as a force for change. In some small way eBrainz can add its voice to increased connectedness by linking those who know to those who want to learn. My grateful thanks go out to the course providers who are coming on this journey of discovery.
It’s almost as if we still believe in the flat earth theory!
I have once or twice managed to get a sense of turning away from the sun when watching the sun ‘set’ – feeling myself, feet riveted by gravity to the earth, moving away into darkness. However, trying to envisage our physical relationship with heavenly bodies, the sun and the world itself is very hard to do. It is so much easier to see ourselves as our own centre of the universe and act as if that is true.
When that flat earth perception is set as ‘truth’ the intention to act as a global force is harder to maintain. Our actions become simply a need to make ourselves feel good ... now. We won’t do ‘this’ because we will have to stretch outside our comfort zone; we won’t bother to recycle because we haven’t time; we’ll buy at the supermarket because we can’t be bothered to learn a different way, and so it goes on.
It is only when something forces us to look at our interconnectedness and the impact we have on others that we might take a step out of the centre of our universe. I was lucky enough to attend a Landmark Forum where a corner of that understanding was revealed to me. It changed my way of seeing, even though old habits persist.
In many ways the internet has become an opportunity to connect. While many may be using it to merely expand their personal universe by grabbing fame or notoriety, others are using it to increase their connectedness and act as a force for change. In some small way eBrainz can add its voice to increased connectedness by linking those who know to those who want to learn. My grateful thanks go out to the course providers who are coming on this journey of discovery.
Best regards
Heather Sylvawood
Happy course creation
From the Team at eBrainz
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Kiwis are such shy birds
Are we victims of the symbols we live by? I rather think so. Language is a powerful tool to keep us entrenched in the position we find ourselves. Think about the Kiwi. We call our sports people kiwis, and then we use a by-line that says “Kiwis CAN fly”. That implies we have been told that we can’t but we will show them. Can you imagine a citizen of USA protesting: “Eagles can fly”. They wouldn’t ever think they had to prove it. Eagles fly and they fly above everything else, while kiwis shuffle around in the undergrowth. How deeply does that unspoken language take root in our souls?
I am attending the World Internet Summit in Auckland next week. I’m attending because I have a pressing need to learn the best methods of marketing eBrainz. Marketing it involves making sure that heaps of people learn about the amazing courses we are creating on eBrainz, and ensuring the course tutors benefit from a stream of participants.
As a result of registering, I have received a steady stream of videos and audios from the World Summit Team giving lots of hints and other benefits. I keep thinking: why haven’t I told the course tutors about this opportunity? It’s such value for money - $197NZ and you can bring a friend for free (sorry I am already bringing a friend). It’s four full days of training for creating and marketing an online business. FOUR DAYS! Of course you do have to stay in Auckland for the four days ... and you have to get there. But if you’re creating your eBrainz course with the intention of benefiting from online markets then it’s a no-brainer.
Why my reluctance to tell you all about it? I think it is related to my shade of Kiwi culture. I felt shy about telling you because if you spent your money and came away unsatisfied, how would I feel? Apologetic, of course. So my natural inclination is not to share this opportunity, just in case. I’ll just shuffle away in the undergrowth and hope no one sees me.
But imagine if you came along and benefited so much your small business took off! If I don’t tell you about the Summit, you might never uncover the opportunity. Well here I am getting over my shyness and telling you. If you want to know more, email or phone me. It’s on May 19th to 22nd – not far off so you need to make decisions fast.
As a result of registering, I have received a steady stream of videos and audios from the World Summit Team giving lots of hints and other benefits. I keep thinking: why haven’t I told the course tutors about this opportunity? It’s such value for money - $197NZ and you can bring a friend for free (sorry I am already bringing a friend). It’s four full days of training for creating and marketing an online business. FOUR DAYS! Of course you do have to stay in Auckland for the four days ... and you have to get there. But if you’re creating your eBrainz course with the intention of benefiting from online markets then it’s a no-brainer.
Why my reluctance to tell you all about it? I think it is related to my shade of Kiwi culture. I felt shy about telling you because if you spent your money and came away unsatisfied, how would I feel? Apologetic, of course. So my natural inclination is not to share this opportunity, just in case. I’ll just shuffle away in the undergrowth and hope no one sees me.
But imagine if you came along and benefited so much your small business took off! If I don’t tell you about the Summit, you might never uncover the opportunity. Well here I am getting over my shyness and telling you. If you want to know more, email or phone me. It’s on May 19th to 22nd – not far off so you need to make decisions fast.
And about the shy Kiwi? Is it only coincidence that we took as our national symbol a bird who only comes out under cover of darkness and hunts alone? Why didn’t our nation assume the melodic Tui who sings out his heart at the beginning of every day, or the elegant white heron, or the cheeky kea? Although, come to think of it, even the kea hides his colours under his wing. Did we assume the self-effacing kiwi symbol because it best represented who we saw ourselves as – hard-working, get-on-with our lot and don’t expect too much? Or has the symbol of our nation somehow limited our thinking? Think about the mighty eagle and the national self-belief of many Americans.
Happy course creation
From the Team at eBrainz
Phone 64-3-525-7073
Phone 64-3-337-0234
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