Personal liberties and choices

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 13 — The focus should be on the modern nation-state and its political culture and how it molds the cultural entities and the nature and meaning of freedom. The desire to be universal and philosophical in viewpoints about culture and freedom, including freedom of expression should be expressly stated; otherwise we would be carried away into the blissful world of idealism.

Culture is always subjective and usually inclusive; freedom, on the other hand, is never absolute and always relative, including freedom of expression.

Freedom was usually defined by mores, norms and values of a particular social collective (community, tribe, society, kingroup, etc.) embedded in oral tradition such as adages, proverbs, the dos and don's, etc.

Most modern nation-states, whether in Asia or Europe, are populated by people of different cultures, languages, and creeds. Very rarely is a modern nation-state "mono-culture", the majority being multi-ethnic, multi-culture, multi-lingual, and multi-religious.

Unfortunately, it is a frightening world that we live in. Today, every time and everywhere we turn, we face bloodshed, brutal rapes, arson, suicide bombers, and the like. There is so much emphasis and pressure on the fact that the future is the responsibility of the youth of today. But what we have failed to realize is that we live in a world where good examples should be exhibited by our leaders. Yet the general feeling is one of despair. How is peace to be taken seriously when there is no practice of what is being preached?

Your personal brand is what you stand for and how you want others to see or perceive you. Your functional values can be expressed through the way you work and the way you solve problems. You can convey dependability and integrity in the way you carry out your duties and responsibilities at work, in the family, and in society.

I think that functional thoroughness and efficiency are manifestations of one's functional values. One can convey one's expressive values through one's attire, hobbies, and adornments. One's values are also revealed through the music one listens to, the books and magazines one reads, and the movies one watches. These tell people about one's personality.

Your expressive values can work for or against you, depending on the image you want to portray and the environment you are in. Your central values are revealed in the way you treat your family, coworkers and friends. They are unveiled in times of crisis, celebration, joy, distress, and achievement. They tell people what you stand for in life.

The sum total of functional, expressive, and central values make up a person's brand. How you want to position yourself to others is another kettle of fish and is entirely up to you. But your values must match your positioning to appear authentic.

To have a more successful career and a more fulfilling personal life, brand yourself, I say. If surveyed, most people would say that conversations with a stranger are difficult to get going and are usually sticky and short. In contrast, conversations with a friend are more likely to be easy to keep going, smooth, and long. The magical ingredient that makes conversations flow is the presence of rapport.

Great conversations have a kind of harmony. Rapport, then, is about connecting, finding that sometimes difficult initial spark between two people. It is about relationships, and you know the importance of building these in business and social circles. Relationships built on trust are at the heart of strong business outcomes and conversations, and connections are central in nurturing these great relationships. Rapport is both the magnet that attracts and the glue that transforms strong connections into great relationships.

Delving deeper, rapport is derived from the old French word "rapporter," which literally means 'to bring back.' This suggests that rapport fades and needs to be brought back afresh each time. This need for renewal suggests a focus that reconnects the parties, reignites their relationship, and refreshes the levels of trust between them. What I am trying to say, basically, is that it boils down to a matter of personal liberties and choices.