SNS is shaking the tract of business. Some subordinate keywords emerged. Social game, social shopping, social ERP and other *social* things around. And new business opportunity arises while those social keywords being entrenched.

Also there’s a chance for the items strengthen the movement. For example, dating site would move to social dating or auction might go with social commerce like Groupon and LivingSocial. Zynga, the social game company in Facebook, is now bigger than most other game companies. The power is immense.

What a tragedy for services drained by SNS. The thing to learn is, no business lasts forever.

However, I am doubtfully wondering if it really works. Is there any other experiment to search for the guys who have thought positively and haven’t succeeded in their jobs? Or, did the evangelists of positive thinking try to find the exceptional case of not-positive-but-success genius? The ground why we should be positive is too weak to follow.

[ Is it the portrait of positive thinking? ]

Here is my personal opinion which I am sure that it would be more receptible; the source of the positive thinking determines whether it is the true positive. Do you think that you are an optimist? Then consider that what the source of thinking and saying good words is. It may be many answers like your optimistic nature, a kind of duty in life, an excellent way to happiness, etc. And what I suggest as an answer is, belief.

The belief is to believe in who you are. Or in what your business is. Strong belief may deliver great motivation in life. It makes you blind from the outer environment but focus on your identity. It lets you see the purpose of your life and that brings the vividness. It gives the meaning.

Please ask yourself that what do you believe now. And if there has been nothing to believe, then start it off.

I identify myself that I am a kind of generalist. My concerning area? Lots. I try to learn from various sources in sections like business, world news, technologies, politics, entertainment, whatsoever. And have it destroyed me? Never.

When I was in high school, I built a simple economical hypothesis. If the society needs specialist, then many people will try to be the one. In some day, the supply of specialist would tailgate the demand and the competition would be a rat race. And my conclusion was, being Generalist to connect those special people would be a nice choice.

It seems weird today but that is the doctrine which has led me to breeze through the flow. I feel that it was a good shot. In terms of business, far-reaching sight is a vantage point and accessibility to the information would be a great help. Generalist takes those kinds of things instead of expertise.

You know what? Most specialists may say that “I am afraid that it is not my area” when they face some unfamiliar matter. But generalists may say differently. That is the competitive factor of the generalist and that’s why the generalist works today.

The first is the hardest but the next is the harvest. Most people are fearful for the first tryout. But they would be surprised when they know they have a capacity to be skillful for many kind of works. They judge themselves easily that they cannot do the thing. Why not focus on the possibility?

Recently, I found a very interesting thing that anyone can get into the level above the normality when he or she continues to do something. Of course you may not achieve the highest level in the area you try to do, but I guess that Speciality is out of demand and Generality is needed to connect lots of specialists in the future time.

Actually this argument advocates myself. I like to learn about many things; computer science, business, maganement, finance, world politics, music, design, etc. Simply it seems such a dick to split the attention into many areas but I believe that it would work someday as communication issues arise in modern business world. Grouping different kinds of teams would make the company efficient and can deliver plenty of benefits.

And also, it nutures your ability of adaption to every circumstance even though the world changes fastly. And Generality is a kind of great capacity to be respectful hidden behind the global trend of uniting nations.

Be accustomed to do the first tryout. That would be an immeasurable value.

Normally, People don’t like to be rejected so they consider on the other side and seldom reject others. In a relationship, however, a proper rejection helps communication and leads to more gracious solution for perplex circumstance. For example, John gets a request from his lovely girl-friend Jane to bring her to school. But he has no time to do that because he has plans at the time. (e.g. appointment with a professor whose office closes at 6 p.m. and now is 10 to 6) What is your answer to Jane if you were John?

Most people’s answer is OK in reality. They don’t think John should reject it as they want John not to cut the connection. In fact, they don’t see the matter in the right way. If he does say YES and do nothing, the relation would be broken more desperately. It’s miserable for John to be kicked from such a well-intended allowance.

Yes is not able to be the answer for all. Saying no clearly gives good impression to others if it is transferred properly. It’s funny to think of methodology on this, though, I want to remain the list of the way how to reject here.

- Do not say “NO” directly. Other better way always exists.
- Avoid to be No-man. You should not reject or be negative for everything.
- Explain your situation and the reason why you cannot do that.
- And apologize for the rejection.
- If you can afford it without ignoring other matters but you just don’t want to do, say it honestly but politely.

The law, ethics, and etiquette. Each of them have their own advantage. The law is mandatory but not complete as it judges righteous for bad things in ethics. Ethics is a little bit subjective and does not compel us to keep it. Etiquette is various culture by culture so it cannot be the standard.

And then, what is the answer for the question? The reason is, RESPONSIBILITY. That means freedom involves the responsibility for his or her saying and doing. He is dissolute guy who doesn’t do even what they say. Freedom makes influence with trust but license destroys relationship. Let freedom be the chance to change.

1. Define your problem exactly.

The first step is to clarify your problem. That is not the meaning of knowledge but definition. If you’re suffering from your girl friend, then ask yourself what the reason is. This step is the most important thing because most problems start with obscure state and get to the misleading answer. I have an example. A team manager asked me what he should do for unity of his team members. There was no passion and people do their work as a chore and go home when the time is over. He doesn’t know why the team goes in that way.

What would you do in this situation? What do you think about the reason? Let’s backtrack the reason. Most of all, the members don’t have any motivation. Why? Their work is not funny and is not profitable. They may say that the work is not their type. And why do they think like that? Communication. The manager thought that they would work hard spontaneously. Is it true? No. The manager should talk with the members so that they can know what they do and how they contribute to the society.

You may understand how to define your problem. Just trace the reason and find out the REAL reason. Then you can go to the next step: Treating.

2. Retreat the mental problem.

Most problems are accompanied with mental problems. In the above example, the relationship between manager and members broke down and they didn’t trust each other. You should deal with the inner mental problem first. If you have committed a wrong thing to someone, apologize to them. If hurting others, say “I am sorry for hurting you.” The Last Lecture of Randy Pausch says that proper apology consists of three parts.

1. Say what you did was wrong.
2. Say that you feel badly that you hurt them.
3. Ask how you make this better.

The relationship cannot be easily recovered. But you’re willing to be changed and the mind is delivered to others, it can be treated.

3. Change your life.

Once you confess that you’re wrong, then change your life. That wrongs must not be repeated. It is not easy but it creates trust. Others with whom you treat may think of you as a good person. The point is, you must be changed. Problem is an obstacle which makes it difficult to achieve a desired goal, objective or purpose. You already achieve your goal. If you react that again, the trust will fall down to the abyss. You can’t regain it.

Be brave with your tongue but let it be as much as your life. Your influence to others comes from your tongue. (and most problems also come from it) The best way to deal with problems is not to make such problems. As a human, however, you can recover it though they irritate you.

The Sanguine

The sanguine temperament breeds a warm, friendly, and outgoing person who draws people like a magnet. He is a good talker, a happy-go-lucky optimist, the “life of the party.” Though generous and compassionate, responsive to his surroundings and to the moods or feelings of others, he features some natural weaknesses. He is often weak-willed, emotionally unstable and explosive, restless, and egotistical. And he has a strong tendency to be disorganized and unproductive. Sanguines make good salespersons, speakers, actors, and sometimes leaders.

A sanguine is rarely depressed in the company of others. He is such a response-oriented person that the sight of another individual usually lifts his spirits and brings a smile to his face. Whatever periods of depression he does experience almost invariably occur when he is alone.

The Choleric

The choleric temperament produces a practical activists. He is strong-willed, a natural leader, and very optimistic. His brain is filled with ideas, projects, or objectives, and he usually sees them through. Although very productive in life, he reflects serious natural weaknesses. He is self-sufficient, impetuous, and hot-tempered and tends to be harsh or cruel. In fact, no one can be as cutting and sarcastic as a choleric. He makes a good supervisor, general, builder, crusader, politician, or organizer, but he is not usually skilled at doing precise detail work.

The choleric rarely becomes depressed, primarily because his active, goal-conscious mind keeps him so motivated that he projects fourteen different programs simultaneously. If one of them proves baffling or frustrating, his disappointment is short-lived, and he quickly pursues a fresh challenge. Cholerics are happy when busy, and thus they have little time to be depressed. Their primary frustration in life is that there are not enough hours in the day to engage in their endless supply of goals and objectives.

The Melancholy

The richest of all temperaments is the melancholy. Rich not only in gifts and aesthetic appreciation, this temperament has the capacity to experience the entire spectrum of emotional mood fluctuations. It is also rich in emotional weaknesses, particularly in the tendency to become angry and depressed. Some of the world’s greatest geniuses have been gifted melancholies who squandered their talent in the slough of despondency, becoming apathetic and unproductive.

Naturally perfectionistic, very sensitive, and appreciative of the fine arts, she is analytical and self-sacrificing. As a rule she is not outgoing by nature and rarely pushes herself forward, but she makes a very faithful friend. However, she tends to be moody, critical, pessimistic, and self-centered. The world’s greatest artists, composers, philosophers, inventors, and theoreticians have typically been melancholies.

The Phlegmatic

The easygoing, never-get-upset “nice guy” is the phlegmatic. Besides featuring a calm and likable disposition, Mr. Phlegmatic is a cheerful fellow who works well with other people, an efficient, conservative, dependable, witty person with a practical turn of mind. Since he is quite introverted as a rule, his weaknesses, like his strengths, are not as readily perceptible as those of other temperaments. His most obvious weakness is a lack of motivation. He can ignore work graciously and is prone to be stubborn, stingy, and indecisive.

His ability to look at life through the eyes of a spectator may generate a tendency to avoid getting onvolved with anything. Phlegmatics make good diplomants, since they are natural peacemakers. Many are teachers, doctors, scientists, comedians, and editors. When externally motivated, they make very capable leaders.

- Tim Lahaye & Bob Phillips’ Anger is a Choice

What is the main difference? The main idea is that the Oriental people think circular while the Western think directly. That is, the East prones to accept all the opinions but the West is likely to choose only one opinion. I show the list of the specialties of the East and the West below.

How the East thinks

• They prefer experiences to logical thinking.
• They like to find the moderate solution with composition of both opinions.
• They value relationship more than their individual identities.
• They’d rather compromise than argue with.
• They see the forest.
• They learn nouns more quickly.
• They like to say “HOW” and seldom say “WHY”

How the West thinks

• They prefer logical thinking to experiences.
• They like to choose only one solution, either one or another.
• They value personal independence more than their relationship.
• They’d rather argue with someone than compromise.
• They see the tree.
• They learn verbs more quickly.
• They like to say “WHY” and seldom say “HOW”

By these characteristics, you may think when you work in foreign countries especially in other cultural environment. It’s not always true but you can consider it to make your relationship more flexible in other part of your nation.