Nisar Keshvani

Obituary: ASP Koh – An SPF Legend has checked out …
By Nisar Keshvani

Meeting ASP Koh in 1995, 1997 and 2005
In all honesty, I only met ASP (Retd) Stephen Koh three times in my life.

First in September 1995, as a 19-year-old recruit at the Singapore Police Academy (Thomson Road) – whilst performing cleaning duties near his “adopted” pond outside the Academy mess, where he reared his prized fish. I remember trainers warning us as we cleaned the pond that if any one of the fishes died, our fate would lie in the hands of ASP Koh. When I told him this, he just laughed.

Next, at his office in May 1997, when interviewing him as a national service police reporter, months before his retirement from the Force. This too, after much persuasion from Supt (Retd) Chin Fook Leong, his close friend, and the then Deputy Director of Police Public Affairs Department. He only allowed us to feature him in a new profile section of Police Life Monthly if he kept the story simple and focused on him rather than his achievements.

And the last, in December 2005, as a reservist, working on a documentary entitled: “My Police Academy: 1929 – 2005”, paying tribute to the Thomson Road Academy as it closed its training doors before shifting to the new Home Team Academy in Choa Chu Kang.

On all three occasions, though, the impression he left on me and my peers go beyond what words can describe.

ASP Koh – the decorated officer
So who is ASP Koh, you ask?

ASP Koh, was Officer in Charge (OC) of the Police Tactical Team (PTT). During the early days, the PTT was a motley crew of officers from the eight troops in SOC, a band of volunteers who served even on their off days for a monthly allowance of $50. “My success was due to these volunteers. We were like family and I gave them fatherly advice when I could,” ASP Koh told us.

The PTT was re-organised in 1993 into the Special Tactics and Rescue (STAR) team with a dedicated armed response team under the Special Operations Command.

When we first interviewed him in 1997, he was hesitant to allow us to acknowledge this – more out of humility than anything else but today, we can safely say that ASP Koh is also the man who shot the notorious gunman Lim Keng Peng aka Ah Huat, who had earlier killed a restaurant owner. Ah Huat also shot PC 3649 Goh Ah Khia on 18 December 1985 at Jalan Pelikat – PC Goh passed away in hospital a few hours later.

When relating the fateful day when the officers met Ah Huat once again in a 1988 shoot-out, he said: “Yes, I did face situations in which some officers would have gone weak in the knees. If I said I was not afraid then, I would be a liar. But I guess it’s the training that steels your nerves.”

He recalled how, during the hostage bus situation, Ah Huat and another gunman seized two ladies and shot the bus driver. ASP Koh had three seconds to make his decision and from a distance of 40 – 50 feet, he immobilised Ah Huat. The bullet hit the windscreen, split into two and struck the gunman in the arm and the core of the bullet injured his chest. “I guess luck was not on his side,” ASP Koh said wryly.

For his bravery, he and other police officers were commended by the then-President Wee Kim Wee and he was promoted from Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Leading by example
On paper, these were ASP Koh’s accomplishments acquired through his 35-year uniformed career.

But the deepest impressions he left on me were the philosophies he spouted during our brief conversations. A staunch believer in leading by example, ASP Koh always encouraged esprit de corps among his officers.

“I believe a policeman’s life is very precious. If anyone has to die it should be me. A commander’s responsibility is to ensure that every person is accounted for and no unnecessary risk is taken,” says ASP Koh.

Tough-guy Cop
He also shared with us how, during his early days with PTT as volunteers they trained with the Armed Forces, and learnt rappelling techniques from seasoned foreign officers. Volunteer or regular, for him, it was no guts, no glory and the pursuit of excellence.

Recalled Course Manager SSgt Eric Phoon, his former colleague at PTT: “Even though we were not professionals in those days, he would practise new rapelling techniques on his own. I remember once after we came back from a Commando course, we showed him and he did it without a second thought. He has suffered numerous injuries in his time, and recently went for an operation.”

A Humble Officer
He heartily recalled his humble beginnings as a police constable in 1962, and his days as a trainee at the Academy. During those times, recruits were issued a wooden box instead of a cupboard to store their police gear, and when policemen wore khaki shorts instead of the blues we see today.

“I was a trainee in 1962. SI SaSa once caught me whistling at women police officers and as punishment, I had to stay in for three solid weekends. My task was to push a wheelbarrow of cleaning gear up this hill with Sgt Hassan, as we scrubbed and cleaned the Academy grounds. I will never forget that,” he recalled.

Goodbye ASP Koh! An SPF legend has checked out of duty …
As we pay our last respects, say our goodbyes and bid farewell to ASP Koh whether in individual silence or in uniformed unity, we salute this classic tough-guy cop and thank him for putting his life on the line time and again for fellow Singaporeans.

In the same breath, we salute past, current and future officers – identified or unnamed – for serving the nation and keeping crime at bay.

ASP Koh – as Ms Kittybond Koo, Deputy Director, Ministry of Home Affairs Heritage Development Unit, aptly describes: “an SPF legend has officially checked out of duty” and now leaves behind a legacy for the next generation.

Cortege Details
ASP Koh is now resting at Church of St Mary of the Angels, Bukit Batok East Ave 2, opposite Bukit Batok Park. Cortege leaves on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 @ 1.30pm.

Nisar Keshvani is a consultant, educator and journalist. During his National Service (1996 – 1998), he was Police Life writer.

—– ENDS —–

ASP (Retd) Stephen Koh
Brief Biography
ASP Koh joined the Force as a constable on April 16, 1962 and served at Geylang Police Station. He later moved on to the Police Coast Guard and then to his legendary stint with the PTT. He retired as OC Fitness and Training, Police Academy and then from 2005 was attached to AETOS where he was trainer. He was last interviewed on video for the documentary – My Police Academy: 1929 – 2005. He passed away on 27 February 2010, at the age of 66.

My Police Academy: 1929 – 2005 (12 mins)
By Effandi Mohamed, Ho Ser Ching and Nisar Keshvani
Synopsis

During its 76-year history, the Police Academy has seen thousands of officers pass through its gates. The times, uniforms, skills, training and people have changed but the Police Academy at Thomson Road, as a training ground remained the same.

“My Police Academy: 1929 – 2005″ is a 12-minute video tribute. The montage sequences are peppered with legendary police officers like DAC Ang Hak Seng, DAC Loy Chye Meng, ASP (Retd) Stephen Koh, ASP (Retd) C V Gabriel, INSP (NS) Dominic Chan Jin Hou, INSP (NS) Lawrence Yap, INSP (NS) Tan Siang Meng, SI George Pillay, SSSgt (Retd) Rengasamy Muthuveran, SSSgt (Retd) Madavy Nair, T/Sgt’s Desmond Liang Chew Wei Bin, Choy Wei Hao, Fadhli Fadzli, and TS/Cpl Jayaganesh.

From shooting, fitness, classroom to the morning parade call, it captures the everyday life of a trainee. Police officers reminisce trainee life in the 60s, describe changes in training philosophy, and recount romance and friendship in the Academy’s rustic environment.

Maybe You’re the Reason Your Job Is Boring
4:20 PM Thursday January 7, 2010

http://blogs.hbr.org/hbr/cramm/2010/01/three-reasons-why-you-should-f.html?cm_mmc=npv-_-MANAGEMENT_TIP-_-FEB_2010-_-MTOD0222&referral=00203

If you are finding your job a little boring, you aren’t alone. There are many who feel trapped in their current jobs since the economy has removed a few of the seats in the corporate game of musical chairs. But I challenge you to see that it’s actually you, not the job, that’s boring. First, see if you recognize any of these hard truths:

You’re on autopilot.
When bored, our brains shift into autopilot. This isn’t a good thing for you or your company. Unfortunately, shifting into autopilot is what our brains do best. Our past experiences create the neural pathways upon which our survival depends. The brain interprets current reality and responds to similar situations using behaviors that have served us well in the past. These shortcuts help us save time, but can also sap our interest.
Your energy level is less than impressive.
When we are bored, our energy level dissipates and we lose the focus and purpose so necessary to excel at the job at hand. Our brains no longer work for us and actually start working against us.

You’ve become a conformist.
It’s not unusual for leaders to start sleeping on the job once they hit year three or four. At this point, they have molded the organization in their own image. They know their people, processes, and technology aren’t perfect, but have adjusted to their imperfections and lose sight of the opportunities for improvement. Every day brings the same set of problems and the same responses. From a performance perspective, the sharp “blacks” and “whites” so obvious on Day 1 become indistinguishable shades of gray. “I can’t believe what’s going on here!” slowly but surely becomes “I can’t believe how tired I am!”

So what’s the solution?
Wake yourself up by renewing your leadership agenda.Re-engage by mentally firing yourself and spending the next few weeks acting as if you just joined the company. This entails assessing the current situation anew with the help of key stakeholders. Make it a disciplined process.

This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Although you are bored, you are also extremely busy. Your only choice is to extract yourself from day-to-day operations while you redefine your organization’s future. It’s time to delegate or defer and make sure that the “First 90 Days” activities take priority in your calendar. Activities such as clarifying strengths and opportunities, confirming the mandate for change, and determining how to better allocate existing resources.

This approach is uncomfortable and definitely not boring. Take heart that your organization can operate just fine (for a while) without you and it’s far better to fire yourself mentally today rather than wait for your organization to do so — for real.

‘Rob me’ site reveals empty homes
By Zoe Kleinman
Technology reporter, BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/technology/8521598.stm

A website called PleaseRobMe claims to reveal the location of empty homes based on what people post online.

The Dutch developers told BBC News the site was designed to prove a point about the dangers of sharing precise location information on the internet.

The site scrutinises players of online game Foursquare, which is based on a person’s location in the real world.

PleaseRobMe extracts information from players who have chosen to post their whereabouts automatically onto Twitter.

“It started with me and a friend looking at our Twitter feeds and seeing more and more Foursquare posts,” said Boy Van Amstel, one of PleaseRobMe’s developers.

“People were checking in at their house, or their girlfriend’s or friend’s house, and sharing the address – I don’t think they were aware of how much they were sharing.”

Mr Van Amstel, Frank Groeneveld and Barry Borsboom realised that not only were people sharing detailed location information about themselves and their friends, they were also by default broadcasting when they were away from their own home.

Simple search

The website took just four hours to create.

“It’s basically a Twitter search – nothing new,” said Mr Van Amstel. “Anyone who can do HTML and Javascript can do this. You could almost laugh at how easy it is.”

He said that the site would remain live but stressed it was not created to encourage crime.

“The website is not a tool for burglary,” he said. “The point we’re getting at is that not long ago it was questionable to share your full name on the internet. We’ve gone past that point by 1,000 miles.”

Mr Van Amstel added that in practice it would be “very difficult” to use the information on the website to carry out a burglary.

Charity Crimestoppers advises people to think carefully about the information they choose to share on the internet.

“We urge users of Twitter, Facebook or other social networks to stop and think before posting personal details online that could leave them vulnerable to crimes including burglary and identity theft,” said a spokesperson.

“Details posted online are available for the world to see; you wouldn’t hang a sign on your door saying you’re out, so why would you post it online?”

Published: 2010/02/18 10:39:06 GMT

© BBC MMX

3:53 PM Wednesday January 6, 2010
by Mark W. Johnson

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2010/01/have_you_already_killed_your_n.html?cm_mmc=npv-_-MANAGEMENT_TIP-_-FEB_2010-_-MTOD0218&referral=00203

As we close the books on 2009 and, with the Federal Reserve, look to 2010 with “guarded optimism,” I’ll bet no one is adding to their New Year’s list the resolution: “Ignore growth opportunities.” And yet, odds are that someone in your company has already thought up its next great growth opportunity. And suggested it at some point. And gotten no response.

If I’ve learned anything from my years helping companies come up with breakthrough innovations, I’ve learned that. Remarkably often, the high-growth potential innovations our teams help our clients identify were there all along.

It’s not hard to think of companies that have failed to capitalize on their own great ideas. Xerox, inventor of the mouse, the laser printer, and the graphical user interface, comes immediately to many minds. Perhaps less well-known is the fact that it was a Kodak engineer who invented the first digital camera — in 1975.

At first glance, Kodak’s case looks especially easy to explain.Steve Sasson, the engineer in question, probably sealed his fate from the start by referring to his invention as “filmless photography” when he demonstrated it to senior management. Why would a company that makes its profits from selling film ever entertain the idea of a filmless camera? Management’s reaction — “that’s cute, but don’t tell anyone about it” — was nothing if not predictable.

But the forces at work at Kodak are really the same ones operating in the less-obvious case of Xerox — and in your company as well.

Every successful company is successful because it’s fulfilling some important job customers really need done better than another other company does in a way that turns a profit — that is, it’s delivering real value to customers while creating real value for itself and its shareholders.

That’s not easy. (If it were, the five-year failure rate for new ventures would be something far south of the 50% it consistently is.) It requires a company to conceive and hone an effective business model — to deliver a potent customer value proposition according to a viable profit formula through an efficient and effective combination of resources and processes. Start-ups struggle to do that; incumbents spend years perfecting their winning formulas.

To bring to market something radically different — like filmless photography — usually requires a radically different way to turn a profit than your company is currently engaged in, one that will likely call for different processes, different resources, and — most problematic — different overhead allocations and margin requirements. Why go to all that trouble for something that has a 50/50 chance of failure?

Because start-ups don’t have your legacy systems, they’re not saddled with your overhead costs, and they don’t need to stick to your margin requirements. Even more important, they’re not spending a minute of their time thinking about how to convince customers to buy more of your products or services. They’re spending all of their comparatively miniscule energies thinking of ways to capitalize on new opportunities by satisfying customers’ unmet needs.

There’s no good reason why incumbents can’t devote a similarly minuscule amount of energy doing so as well. Because the question is not whether to stick with your current offerings or bet on a new, high-risk one. The question is how much time will you have before someone else comes up with the same innovations your bright, clever staffers have thought of — and what will happen to your customer base when they do?

To its credit, Kodak recognized that it couldn’t ignore filmless photography forever and in the 1990s invested substantial sums and eventually successfully brought out the carefully differentiated EasyShare camera and printer combination. Kodak may have had the luxury of sitting on its revolutionary idea for decades, but how many companies today are willing to take that risk? Is yours?

Mark W. Johnson is chairman of Innosight, a strategic innovation consulting and investing company with offices in Massachusetts, Singapore, and India, which he cofounded with Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen. Mark’s forthcoming book is Seizing the White Space: Business Model Innovation for Growth and Renewal.

Here’s an excerpt of Chetan Bhagat’s speech at Symbiosis — Short & good to read…Full speech and more information below.

—–

Don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

“Life is one of those races in nursery school where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same is with life where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One thing about nurturing the spark – don’t take life seriously. Life is not meant to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up?

It’s ok, bunk a few classes, scoring low in couple of papers, goof up a few interviews, take leave from work, little fights with your people. We are people, not programmed devices………”

———

Full Speech: http://www.chetanbhagat.com/speeches/speech_2.php
SPARK
speech given at the orientation program for the new batch of MBA students
Symbiosis, Pune, July 24, 2008

© Chetan Bhagat
Good Morning everyone and thank you for giving me this chance to speak to you. This day is about you. You, who have come to this college, leaving the comfort of your homes (or in some cases discomfort), to become something in your life. I am sure you are excited. There are few days in human life when one is truly elated. The first day in college is one of them. When you were getting ready today, you felt a tingling in your stomach. What would the auditorium be like, what would the teachers be like, who are my new classmates – there is so much to be curious about. I call this excitement, the spark within you that makes you feel truly alive today. Today I am going to talk about keeping the spark shining. Or to put it another way, how to be happy most, if not all the time.

Where do these sparks start? I think we are born with them. My 3-year old twin boys have a million sparks. A little Spiderman toy can make them jump on the bed. They get thrills from creaky swings in the park. A story from daddy gets them excited. They do a daily countdown for birthday party – several months in advance – just for the day they will cut their own birthday cake.

I see students like you, and I still see some sparks. But when I see older people, the spark is difficult to find. That means as we age, the spark fades. People whose spark has faded too much are dull, dejected, aimless and bitter. Remember Kareena in the first half of Jab We Met vs the second half? That is what happens when the spark is lost. So how to save the spark?

Imagine the spark to be a lamp’s flame. The first aspect is nurturing – to give your spark the fuel, continuously. The second is to guard against storms.

To nurture, always have goals. It is human nature to strive, improve and achieve full potential. In fact, that is success. It is what is possible for you. It isn’t any external measure – a certain cost to company pay package, a particular car or house.

Most of us are from middle class families. To us, having material landmarks is success and rightly so. When you have grown up where money constraints force everyday choices, financial freedom is a big achievement. But it isn’t the purpose of life. If that was the case, Mr. Ambani would not show up for work. Shah Rukh Khan would stay at home and not dance anymore. Steve Jobs won’t be working hard to make a better iPhone, as he sold Pixar for billions of dollars already. Why do they do it? What makes them come to work everyday? They do it because it makes them happy. They do it because it makes them feel alive Just getting better from current levels feels good. If you study hard, you can improve your rank. If you make an effort to interact with people, you will do better in interviews. If you practice, your cricket will get better. You may also know that you cannot become Tendulkar, yet. But you can get to the next level. Striving for that next level is important.

Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born. To be happy, we have to accept it and make the most of nature’s design. Are you? Goals will help you do that. I must add, don’t just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balancedmeans ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.

There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.

You must have read some quotes – Life is a tough race, it is a marathon or whatever. No, from what I have seen so far, life is one of those races in nursery school, where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.

One last thing about nurturing the spark – don’t take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said – don’t be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It’s ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.

I’ve told you three things – reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.

Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don’t go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you. But it’s life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember – if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that’s where you want to be.
Disappointment’ s cousin is Frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don’t know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release. Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts, having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life – friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.

Unfairness – this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you. In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty damm lucky by Indian standards. Let’s be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don’t. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don’t get literary praise. It’s ok. I don’t look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It’s ok. Don’t let unfairness kill your spark.

Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is Isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.

There you go. I’ve told you the four thunderstorms – disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.

I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, your eyes will shine the same way as they do today. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying – I come from the land of a billion sparks.

Thank You.

Biography

Chetan Bhagat is the author of three blockbuster novels, Five Point Someone (2004), One Night @ the Call Center (2005) and The 3 Mistakes of life (2008). All the three books have remained bestsellers since their release and have inspired major Bollywood films. The New York Times called Chetan the ‘the biggest selling English language novelist in India’s history.’ Seen more as a youth icon than just an author, this IIT D/ IIMA graduate is making India read like never before.

Chetan also writes op-ed columns for leading English and Hindi newspapers, focusing on youth and national development based issues. Many of the issues raised by Chetan’s columns have been discussed in Parliament and among the top leadership of the country.

Chetan quit his international investment banking career in 2009, to devote his entire time to writing and make change happen in the country. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Anusha, an ex-classmate from IIMA and his twin boys Shyam and Ishaan.

The Disadvantage of Twitter and Facebook
5:15 PM Tuesday September 8, 2009
by Michael Schrage | Comments (51)

http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cs/2009/09/a_single_question_haunts_me.html

A single question haunts me as I write this:

Will you forward this post to someone you respect?

Every day, people I like and respect — and quite a few I don’t — take a quick moment of their digital time to forward me an article, a blog post, a link, a chart, a URL, a review, a YouTube Q&A that they think I will find of interest. I confess I’m frequently astonished — both pleasantly and not — by who sends me what. When more than two people send me the same thing, I know to pay attention. And furthermore, at least twice a week, these “forwards” trigger something that I will pursue or even change my schedule in order to do. “Forwards” are that useful. I’m happy to get them and I remember who sent them.

I send them too, and whenever browsing online, I always make the effort to find and forward at least a couple of compelling clips and links to colleagues and clients. I want them to know that, not only am I thinking of them but, I’m also constructively acting on those thoughts. I want them to be pleased, grateful, and impressed. An immediate call or exclamatory “Thanks!” in response is a clear “win.” People should feel confident that I’m literally and figuratively looking out for them. That feeling should be core to my “brand.”

Yes, I know that Facebook and other social networking platforms change the posting paradigm and render practices like forwarding a digital anachronism. Perhaps. The real issue here is not the act of forwarding or receiving forwards but the challenge of creative customization. To the extent that posting something on a Wall or a stream or a blog is undifferentiated “broadcasting” rather than a one-to-one exchange, something important is missing. As much as I admire the socialnets, there’s something about the personal quality of the forward — the set-up, the introduction, the annotation, etc. — that makes me feel special when I get one and makes me feel clever when I send one.

I like those feelings, sure; but it’s also good business practice.

Managing communities of colleagues and clients via digital media will come to further dominate our workplace efforts, and smart managers will hone their “forwarding quotient”—their FQ. Unlike mass tweeting, this one-to-one “customized” communication strikes me as a superior business and personal practice. It forces me to be empathetic, anticipatory, and aware. It makes me more sensitive to individual perceptions and needs. And I get feedback telling me how aware and helpful I really am. I even create virtual histories of “forwards” that I can audit, review, and rethink. Imagine if more managers developed these skills.

There’s no simpler, faster or easier way to appear professionally smart and personally attentive than being forward-oriented. Between BlackBerries, iPhones, Google, and Bing, finding and forwarding the goods has gone from technical nuisance to self-disciplined choice. Folks with high FQs are people clever enough to send links and text that make their recipients eagerly look forward to them. Senders build their brands as individuals exquisitely attuned both to the growing wealth of useful information and what their clients/customers/colleagues might need to know. If there’s a quicker or more cost-effective way to make yourself look thoughtfully relevant to people or prospects who matter, I’ve yet to come across it. (Though it can also make you look painfully self-indulgent. Who doesn’t have an idiot colleague or acquaintance who can’t resist forwarding jokes, YouTube videos of kittens, or bilious political commentary? That’s interpersonal brand-building of a different sort.)

As I review my sent mail over the last two years, I estimate I’ve forwarded an average of five items a business day — or roughly 100 a month. When I examine who they were (largely) sent to and the relationships we have, I’d have to say that — on a value-per-unit-time basis — “forwarding” ranks as one of my most productive behaviors either online or off.

You might consider conducting a similar “traffic analysis” and “content review” of your own mailboxes. Do you know your FQ? What’s the FQ of the top five folks forwarding to you? Wouldn’t it be great to have a metric that tracked which of your forwards were forwarded?

And most of all, I’m dying to know: Will you forward this post to someone you respect?

A researcher at MIT Sloan School’s Center for Digital Business and a visiting fellow at the Imperial College Business School, Michael Schrage is the author of Serious Play and the forthcomingGetting Beyond Ideas. His research focuses on the behavioral economics of innovation through models, prototypes, simulations and experiments.

Watson Institute Visiting Fellows
2010 APPLICATION

The Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University seeks several recent PhDs for three year residential visiting fellowships, beginning July 1, 2010. The mission of the Watson Institute is to pursue interdisciplinary research on pressing global issues and to foster more direct engagements between scholarship and policy and public debates. The latest publication about recent developments and current research trajectories can be found in the Watson Institute’s Fall newsletter (PDF).

Successful candidates will pursue their own research and also contribute to the development of collective and collaborative research at the Institute. They will teach one course per semester, chosen in consultation with the Institute’s director, and advise students.

Salary: $55,000 (12 month) plus individual health and dental coverage.

The committee will begin reviewing applications on February 15, 2010.

Brown University is an AA/EEO employer and especially welcomes applications from women and minority candidates.

All Applications must be submitted online. Click here to apply.

OSI Chevening Scholarships for study in the United Kingdom
For more information see

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/news?&sort_on=date&sort_desc=0&start:int=15

DEADLINES:

January 2010

12th – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Oxford Scholarships – 9 Month Research & Master’s Awards
The Open Society Institute offers support for postgraduate study in the UK for doctoral students, junior lecturers, and young professionals from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

18th – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Essex Human Rights Scholarships
The program offers support to students from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to pursue postgraduate programs at the Human Rights Centre.

25th – OSI/FCO Chevening/Staffordshire University (MSc in Economics for Business Analysis)
OSI offers support for university graduates from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, or Montenegro with outstanding academic qualifications for the MSc in the Economics for Business Analysis program at Staffordshire University.

25th – OSI/Staffordshire University (MPhil/PhD in Economics)
The Open Society Institute invites university graduates from applicants from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Montenegro to apply for this MPhil/PhD in Economics distance-learning program.

29th – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Warwick Scholarships
OSI offers support for scholars from Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Mongolia with the chance to read for a master’s course at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Warwick.
February 2010

1st – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Cambridge Scholarships
Scholars from Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are invited to apply for awards in the social sciences and humanities.

2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/Royal Holloway University of London Scholarships
This scholarship program provides opportunities for applicants from Pakistan to study for an MSc Democracy, Politics and Governance or MSc Medical Sociology at Royal Holloway.

2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Sussex Scholarships
The Open Society Institute invites applications from suitably qualified students from Albania, Belarus, and Kosovo for a one-year in MA Contemporary European Studies or an MA European Politics.
2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Edinburgh Scholarships (Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Palestine, and Syria)

The scholarships offer support for independent postgraduate study at the University of Edinburgh for students from Georgia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, the occupied Palestinian Territories, and Syria.

2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Manchester Scholarships (Economic Studies)
These scholarships provide opportunities for applicants from Mongolia and Tajikistan to study for a one-year MSc program in economics at the University of Manchester, UK.

2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Manchester Scholarships (Department of Government)
OSI offers support to scholars from Belarus, Mongolia, Russia, and Uzbekistan to participate in a master’s program in politics at the University of Manchester.

2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of York Scholarships
The program offers scholarships to suitably qualified individuals and/or young professionals from Afghanistan and Tajikistan to pursue an MA Post-War Recovery Studies at York.

2nd – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Glasgow Scholarships
OSI cosponsors scholarship opportunities for qualified students from Indonesia to study for an MSc in International Politics.

4th – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of Nottingham Scholarships
The scholarships provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study at the University of Nottingham for students from Indonesia, Jordan, and Syria.

4th – OSI/FCO Chevening/University of St Andrews Scholarships
The scholarships provide opportunities for independent postgraduate study at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, UK, for applicants from Indonesia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

18th – OSI/FCO Chevening/University College London Scholarship (School of Slavonic and East European Studies)
These scholarships support students from Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, or Serbia to undertake master’s studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London.

For More information see

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/news

2010-2011 Fellowship Opportunity
Short-Term Travel Grants (STG) Program

IREX is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted
for the 2010-2011 Short-Term Travel Grants (STG) Program

STG provides fellowships to US scholars and professionals to engage in
up to eight weeks of overseas research on contemporary political,
economic, historical, or cultural developments relevant to US foreign policy.

The STG application is now available online at:

http://www.irex.org/programs/us_scholars/uss_info.asp

Completed applications are due no later than 5 pm EST on February 2, 2010.

Postdoctoral Scholars and Professionals with advanced degrees are
eligible to apply for the STG Program. In addition to the
pre-departure logistic support provided by IREX staff, the Short-Term
Travel Grant also provides:

* International coach class roundtrip transportation
* A monthly allowance for housing and living expenses
* Travel visas
* Emergency evacuation insurance
* Field office support

Questions may be addressed to the STG Program Staff at stg@irex.org or
by telephone at 202-628-8188.

Countries Eligible for Research:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary,
Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova,
Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan

STG is funded by the United States Department of State Title VIII Program

SCHOLARSHIP- Weidenfeld Scholarships and Leadership Programme, Oxford Univ.

The Weidenfeld Scholarships and Leadership Programme is expected to
support up to 40 Scholars in the 2010-2011 academic year. This
Programme, launched in May 2007, offers outstanding postgraduate
students and young professionals, primarily from Eastern Europe,
Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East,
support for graduate studies at Oxford University complemented by a
comprehensive leadership development programme.

In seeking to cultivate leaders of the future, the Programme selects
students and young professional with clear leadership potential, and a
demonstrated commitment to contributing to public life. It offers them
the unique opportunity to:

* Pursue fully funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford
with no restriction as to the chosen academic field; and

* Participate in a comprehensive leadership programme providing them with:
– The knowledge and skills needed to contribute to public life in,
and play a transformational role in the development of, their
countries and regions of origin;
– Lasting professional networks across cultures and continents to be
drawn on throughout their post-university careers.

We are asking friends and colleagues around the world to circulate the
attached information through relevant networks in order to increase
awareness of the scheme and widen the pool of eligible candidates for
the next academic year.

As with other scholarships, candidates need to apply through the
official University of Oxford application process by mid January,
2010. Application documents for the 2010-11 academic year are
available on the Oxford University website. Interested candidates must
be accepted by Oxford before being considered for a Weidenfeld
Scholarship. Please note that applications to the Scholarship are
submitted through the Oxford University application form.
Additional information about the programme, the criteria for
eligibility and the application process is attached. Further
information about the programme is available on the Institute for
Strategic Dialogue website www.strategicdialogue.org.

Should you require any further information about the Weidenfeld
Scholarships and Leadership Programme, please do not hesitate to
contact Victoria Fraser, the Weidenfeld Scholarships Programme
Associate, at vfraser@strategicdialogue.org or by telephone at +44 207
493 9333.

The professional relationships fostered at Oxford, combined with our
leadership programme, is paving the way for the trans-cultural,
trans-continental and thus sustainable networks of leaders of our
future. We would be most grateful for your assistance in raising
awareness of the Weidenfeld Scholarships and Leadership Programme by
circulating this information to relevant universities, networks of
students, educational advising centres in your country, and
appropriate professional networks.