the power of character -...
TRANSCRIPT
07-13 March 2019
The Power of Character By: Sam Osunsanya
(Taken from: https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/campus/the-power-of-character/)
One crucial area of a man’s life that requires serious attention is his character. Your character will either make or break you. Your character will either promote or demote you. This is why good character can never be substituted for anything. Character determines where we go and how fast we get there. As a matter of fact, I see character as the power point of destiny. Where one ends up in life is a function of his/her character. I have seen so many highly gifted people being grounded. Young folks who have enormous potentials, but end up as a trash. Why? This is because no matter one’s gifts or skills, if good character is lacking, one is bound to be cast down. And this is why character still remains the capital key to success in life. Success without character is a risk. Greatness without character is heading for the rocks. Character does not just guarantee success, it also preserves it. We are in a society where people value reputation more than character. But we must also understand that reputation is what we are in the public, while character is what we are in the private. Character is not defined by how we look, but by who we are. You don’t need to look good to become good. Many believe that once a person is looking good outwardly that makes such person good; this is a big lie. Character is not what you wear, but who you are. What then is character? Over the years, thousands of definitions have been used to explain the word ‘character.’ However, I like to use one or two definitions related to my own point of view. Character is the combination of features and qualities of an individual. Every human has a belief system. This belief system determines how we think and what we think, which later result to our physical actions. It is also important to note that the qualities of what we exhibit, as behaviour is a product of what we believe. Therefore, we can define character as the product of our thoughts and beliefs. Looking at the two definitions, we can conclude that character is not a gift, but a choice.
Nobody has the gift of good character, neither is anyone unlucky to have bad character. It all bounces back to our choices. Everyone decides where to go and how to go. It’s all a matter of choice. However, good character is a product of positive moral values. These deals with what we believe to be right and wrong. At a point in one’s life, he/she will be left to do the right thing or the wrong thing. Good character is never a gift, but can be built by accepting the responsibilities that accompany it. A man’s gift is as safe as the character that manifests it. Shared by, Dexter Cannicula Dean for Secondary-JC
>> SCHOOL CALENDAR (MARCH) 7 Mar : Nyepi (Hindu New Year) 8 Mar : Music Day 13-21 Mar : Year 12 Ujian Sekolah 15 : Year 7 Service Learning (Panti
Werdha Melania) 15-18 Mar : NHJS: I/A Success Camp 16-24 Mar : Term 3 Holidays 24-30 Mar : Year 6 Immersion Programme 25 : Start of Term 4 26 : Year 3 Service Learning (Panti Asuhan
Uswatun Hasanah, Cengkareng) 28 : Year 8 Service Learning (Panti Asuhan
Kasih Anugerah) 29 : Year 5 Service Learning (Yayasan
Abhimata Mitrasamaya)
>> IGCSE / A-LEVEL STUDY CAMP FOR YEAR 10 AND YEAR 12 STUDENTS We would like to inform you that our Year 10 and Year 12 I/A study camp will be held in our school on 15 - 18 March 2019. We strongly recommend your child/ward to attend these sessions as these will allow them to simulate answering past exam papers aside from the in-class discussions of the answers to these papers. Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> Year 2 Service Learning A fundraising project, “Big Love Mission” was carried out from Monday, 11 February 2019 to Friday, 29 March 2019. We inspire our students to do good deeds by donating part of their own money every day into the piggy bank that will be made from used milk boxes or pringles cans during mentor time.
If you need clarification, please feel free to ask your respective Year 2 Mentors. Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> Year 3 Service Learning Programme We would like to inform you that the Year 3 service learning programme will be held on, Day/Date : Tuesday, 26 March 2019. Time : 2.30-4.00pm Attire : School attire on that day Venue : Panti Asuhan Uswatun Hasanah This programme will be a great opportunity for your child to learn to :
- spread happiness and kindness. - continuously do good deeds in their daily life. - understand that small acts count and
contributes to their ability to have care and compassion for others.
For more information, please contact: Ms. Kunthi ([email protected]) Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> Year 5 Service Learning Programme We would like to inform you that Year 5 Service Learning Programme will be held on, Date : 29 March 2019 Time : 08.00-12.00 Venue : Yayasan Abhimata Mitrasamaya Feel free to contact your child’s mentor should you have any further questions or concerns. Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> Year 6 Service Learning Programme We would like to inform you that Year 6 service learning programme will be held in Term 4 Week 1. There will be two fundraising projects in Term 3 to support Year 6 service learning as follows: 1. Class Piggy Bank Project 2. Fairgrounds If you have questions and/or need clarification, please feel free to email Ms Margaretha: [email protected] or your respective Year 6 Mentors. Kindly refer to parent letter for more details.
>> Year 7 Service Learning Programme We would like to inform you that our Year 7 students will going to Panti Werdha Melania on, Day/Date : Friday, 15 March 2019 Time : 09.30-12.45 Attire : PE Shirts and Long pants. Due to some restrictions, only a limited number of volunteers will be able to. See list of students below:
Please feel free to email Ms. Ashta at [email protected] or your respective Year 7 Mentors If you have any inquiries. Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> Year 8 Service Learning Programme We would like to inform you that Year 8 service learning programme will be held in Term 4. There will be two fundraising projects in Term 4 to support Year 8 service learning. They are as follow:
1. Shoes Box Bank 2. Kertas Kiloan
All the donation will be given to the orphanage, Panti Asuhan Kasih Anugerah on 28 March 2019. If you have questions and/or need clarification, please feel free to email Ms. Felicia at: [email protected] or your child/ward’s respective Mentors.
>> AY 2018-2019 End of Year Review (EYR) for Year 10 and Year 12 Please be informed that the EYR Schedule has been issued. EYR schedule will be from 25th March to 12th April 2019. For any enquiries, please contact: EYR General Matters: Mr. Michael Angelo ([email protected]) Mr. Jorge Alcantara ([email protected]) Chinese Speaking Test: Mr. Chen Qiang Min ([email protected]) Kindly refer to the parent letter for details.
>> 25th STUDENT LEADERS CONVENTION (SLC) in Singapore The Student Leaders Convention (SLC) is an event organised and hosted annually by Hwa Chong Institution (High School Section). The SLC provides an engaging platform for student leaders to discuss the pertinent social issues concerning youths today. For this convention, the minimum number of Year 11 participant is minimum 8 and maximum is 20. Below are the details: Date: 2 Jun 2019- 6 June 2019 Venue: Hwa Chong Institution, Auditorium (High School), Singapore. Payment Due date: Monday, 11 March 2019 If you have any questions regarding the virtual account payment method, you may e‐mail Ms Desi Natalia in our finance department at [email protected] or contact her at +62 21 589 029 62. Consent Form and Google Form: Please fill in the attached Consent Form and participant need to fill in the Google Form and submit by 11 March 2019. Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> SCHEDULE OF USBN (UJIAN SEKOLAH BERSTANDAR NASIONAL) and UNBK (UJIAN NASIONAL BERBASIS KOMPUTER) for Year 12 Please be informed that the schedules for USBN and UNBK for Year 12 have already been sent (dated: March 01, 2019). Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> 2019 SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVING EXAMINATION We would like to inform you that the registration for the International Primary School Leaving Examination 2019 (iPSLE) is now open, with details as follows: Registration : 1 March 2019 - 29 March 2019 Exam date : 1 - 10 July 2019 Payment can be made directly to our Finance personnel or to our Bank Account as given in the Registration Form. Kindly complete the form and return it on or before 29 March 2019 to your Primary 6 mentors or to Ms Herlin
or email her at: [email protected]
Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> Be Yourself Week
Be Yourself Week 2019 By: Marsha Elisabeth Rusli (S2I)
Be Yourself Week is an event where students get to wear a fun array of clothing to suit the specific day during the one-week event. This year, we decided to incorporate
the Fairgrounds theme, Blast From The Past into our fashion show’s theme for both Primary and Secondary.
For the fashion show, the winners of the lower and higher Primary divisions were P1I and P4E, whilst the winners for the Secondary and JC divisions were S1A and S4E. They were awarded 3 days of free clothes from the following Wednesday to Friday.
All the participants did a great job and the Primary division was especially excited and enthusiastic in participating and being very creative and expressive in the
clothing they wore, following each day’s assigned theme. Overall, there were minor issues but we managed to pull through and this event remains a huge success! We hope that next year they will be able to improve and create a better version of our annual Be Yourself Week. From the event, although there were students who were eagerly passionate in dressing up according to the
themes, we also noticed that some students did not dress up creatively and passionately according to the themes. Students were using free clothes without acknowledging the themes for the days. Therefore next year, the
student council would want to make sure that the students do have attires to fit the themes for each day.
The student council also observed and learned that we should always inform the winners of the fashion show beforehand on what specific days they are able to wear free clothes thus they would not misinterpret and get confused about the days.
‘Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is a progress, working together is a success’- Henry Ford
Throwback Day and Fashion Show
Congratulations! To all the fashion show winners: Y1-Y3 Category: Y1I : Dayton Sean Pangestu & Nicole Inara Santoso Y1A : Jayden Reinheart & Vidushi Gollakota Y2A : Jessica Claire Atmadja & Shawn Kinjiro Y4-Y6 Category: Y4E : Amadeo Dave Ra Nakanantha & Kaelyn Sara Y5E : Magnus Llewlyn Tan & Nichelle Himawan Y5T : Gabriel Cannicula, Kirsten Sheina & Tristan
Lontoh Y7-Y8 Category: Y7A : Daniel Cannicula & Katarina Trisha Wibawa Y8I : Nicole Diella Kartanegara & Zachary Pratama Y8A : Jesstin Andy & Katrin Alexandra Widjaja Y9-Y12 Category: Y10G : Aileen Bachtiar & Ferril Sucahyono Y9G : Amanda Foekri & Brian Mualim Y10E : James Young & Nadia Zahira Putri
>> NHJS Commencement and Graduation Ceremony Please be informed below schedule:
- 27 April 2019: Y10 Commencement & Y12 Graduation Ceremony .
- 29 May 2019: Y6 Commencement Ceremony Detailed information will be sent later through the parent letter.
>> Fairgrounds 2019 (23 February 2019)
Fairgrounds By:
Kathleen Humato (S4E) and Jasmine Kurniawan (S2I)
On the 23rd of February 2019, NationalHigh Jakarta School held its 11th annual Fairgrounds! Fairgrounds is a one-day bazaar selling food, drinks, and more, and hosts a variety of carnival games and attractions. This year’s theme ‘Blast From the Past’, was chosen so that the younger audience could appreciate and enjoy older music and movies while giving adults a sense of nostalgia. The Student Council’s objective was to raise funds for Happy Hearts, a charity helping to educate underprivileged children through the means of building a school for them. There was already a huge crowd outside the location before the event’s official opening at 1 p.m, and according to our large number of over 50 vendors, everyone was eager to buy goods and was satisfied with their quality. We, the NationalHigh Student Council would like to extend a huge thank-you to our helpful and generous sponsors and vendors for allowing us to make this event a success! The main attractions, which were called ‘Hacker’s Hub’ and ‘Triwizard Tournament’, were extremely popular among the visitors, with a waiting list of several rooms at any given time. The carnival games like ‘What’s In The Box’ and ‘Ring Toss’ were also played by many guests, many of whom gave positive feedback. We would also like to extend an apology to the students and parents who felt that we could have been more
accommodating towards our students. We graciously accept all feedback and hope that we can improve for our Fairgrounds next year. This Fairgrounds was also a valuable learning experience for the Student Council members and volunteers, as the planning and execution of the event taught everyone the importance of communication in handling mistakes, taking responsibility and eventually pulling through the successful event. The NationalHigh Student Council is incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make Fairgrounds a success and a unique experience for all involved, for the students, parents, teachers and outside visitors alike. Thank you all so much! The Fairgrounds committee would like to mention special thanks to the following sponsors for their support in this event!
>> National Exam Schedules The schedule of National Exam for Year 6, Year 9 and Year 12 for your reference. Please see the details for each schedule based on the level: Year 6 : - Ujian Try Out : 1 - 3 April 2019 (TBC) - Ujian Sekolah : 8 - 9 April 2019 (TBC) - Ujian Nasional : 22, 23, 24 April 2019 Year 9 : - Ujian Sekolah : 12 April 2019 - Ujian Nasional : 22, 23, 24, 25 April 2019 Year 12 : - Ujian Sekolah : 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20 March 2019 - Ujian Nasional : 1, 2, 4, 8 April 2019
>> LEO Club Jakarta Sutera Falcon To our Piagetian family, LEO Club Jakarta Sutera Falcon invites all of you, your friends and family, to our annual Garage Sale event happening on March 23rd. Our Garage Sale event will be held from 1PM to 3PM at the NationalHigh Basketball court. We will be selling donated goods that are still in good condition to anyone who comes. Should anyone like to donate any items, kindly find the steps to donate below:
1. Place the item(s) in a bag or sealed cardboard box 2. Write “Victoria Narmada JC2” onto the sides of the box/bag with a description of the item on one side. 3. Contact Victoria at (085287683636) or Samantha (081289998886) to inform us that you will be donating items. Kindly include a brief description of the items you have donated. 4. Drop it at the receptionist under Victoria Narmada (JC2) ’s name **We will start accepting collections from 10 March to 21 March. Please do note that we only accept used items still in good condition items include:
Toys
Storybooks
Textbooks
Clothes
Notebooks
Boardgames
Accessories
We hope to receive all your support and see you at the event! For any further inquiries, kindly contact: Victoria Narmada [email protected] or Samantha Hartono [email protected]
>>Year 6 Immersion (24-30 March 2019) We are committed to your child’s/ward’s success and have specially planned the PIAGET Academy Year 6 Immersion Programme, in partnership with Naval Base Primary School (NBPS), Palm View Primary School (PVPS), Rosyth School (Rosyth), Lian Hua Primary School and Pei Ying Primary School to facilitate your child’s/ward’s final lap towards preparation for the iPSLE. For further information please contact: Ms. Chie Sipin-Bjarenas [email protected] Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> International Model United Nations Conference 2019 Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an event in which students roleplay delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees.
Participants will resolve real issues and conflicts while at the same time, defend their assigned country’s interests. This MUN is for students in Years 8 to 12.
a. SIS PIK (01 February 2019)
Our NHJS students participated in the MUN conferencein SIS PIK. Three of our delegates were recognized as Honorable Mentions and one achieved as the Best Delegates, they are: 1. Calysta Ningtyas Harmawan (Y9G) – Honorable
Mention in UNHRC committee. 2. Jasmine Ivanna Kurniawan (Y8I) – Honorable
Mention in WHO committee 3. Ashley Audilia Oetomo (Y8A) – Honorable
Mention in UNHRC committee 4. Nadine Kei Inara (Y8I) - Best Delegates in WHO
committee b. NHJS (02 March 2019) NHJS held our very own MUN Conference 2019 for the first time, this conference was attended by delegates from several schools. Three of NHJS delegates were recognised as Honorable Mentions, they are: 1. Putri Aimee Srijaya (Y9G) – Honorable Mentions
in UNHRC committee 2. Nadine Kei Inara (Y8I) – Honorable Mentions in
WHO committee 3. Jasmine Ivanna Kurniawan (Y8I) – Honorable
Mentions in WHO committee
>> Business Case Competition
Congratulations to our Year 11 students for achieving 3rd Place in Business Case Competition held in STIE Triatma
Mulya, Bali on 1-3 March 2019. The participants are: 1. Anastasia Krystabelle (Y11P) 2. Kenneth Liyanto (Y11P) 3. Patrick Widjaja (Y11P) 4. Wesley Koe (Y11P)
>> Raffles Programme Scholarship The school has partnered with two top Singapore schools (Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls School) to offer the Raffles Programme Scholarship to select students. The first batch of tests for the scholarship will take place in 25-28 April 2019. Successful candidates will be granted full scholarship in RI/RGS for four years in Singapore. This scholarship is open to present Year 8 students. Parents and students who are interested to join, can inform the school through the Dean (Sec/JC). Thank you.
>> Year 11 Milestones Program (Meaning and Purpose) Meaning and Purpose (MAP), one of the milestone programmes in the PIAGET 12-Year Education Journey, is specially designed for incoming Year 11 students. MAP 2019/20 is scheduled between 18 September (Wed) – 25 September (Wed) 2019. For further inquiries, please contact Ms. Ong Chwee Geok (mentor in charge) [email protected] Kindly refer to the parent letter for more details.
>> POP Quiz Mathematics Winners
Congratulations! Y1-Y2 : Kathlyn Odelia Basuki (Y2A) Y3-Y4 : Reinhard Erasmus Rasiman (Y4G) Y5-Y6 : no winner Y7-Y8 : Aaron Jonathan Widjaja (Y7P) Y9-Y10 : Edwin Wongso (Y10G) Y11-Y12 : Richelle Brianna Hanusi (Y11P)
>> Students Performance at Bayu Buana Travel Fair Our primary students got a chance to do singing and dancing performances at Bayu Buana Travel Fair held at Puri Indah Mall on March 02nd 2019. They performed songs from the Chinese New Year Celebration, they are:
1. Jonathan Morwen Yu (Y1I) 2. Jadrianna Aletta Sutrisno (Y4G) 3. Stella Moira Atmadja (Y5E) 4. Year 3 Integrity 5. Year 3 Passion
>> Year 11 Fieldtrip (27 February 2019)
>>IMFEST Swimming Competition 2019 Congratulations to all the Winners of IMFEST Swimming Competition 2019!
Gold Medals: - Stanton Ferdinand Atmadja (Y1I): Freestyle. - Alicia Lontoh (Y3I): Freestyle and Back stroke. - Naiara Wijono (Y3I): Freestyle and Breast stroke. - Meagan Josephine Lee (Y4G): Freestyle and Breast
stroke.
- Chelsea Adela Seng (Y5T): Freestyle and Back stroke. - Siobhan Loh (Y5T): Breast stroke. - Nathan Owen Sutanto (Y5E): Breast stroke. - Jayden Daves (Y5E): Freestyle and Breast stroke. Silver Medals: - Jessica Claire Atmadja (Y2A): Freestyle. - Janyn Loh (Y3I): Freestyle and Breast stroke. - Ken Ananta Huang (Y3I): Breast stroke. - Meagan Josephine Lee (Y4G): Back stroke. - Siobhan Loh (Y5T): Freestyle - Nathan Owen Sutanto (Y5E): Freestyle. Bronze Medals: - Jessica Claire Atmadja (Y2A): Butterfly stroke. - Ken Ananta Huang (Y3I): Freestyle
>> Students Achievement We would like to congratulate Catelyn Nakayla Isman (Y6G) and Nicole Nathania Isman (Y8P) for achieving Bronze Medal in category 50m Butterfly Stroke and 100m Breast Stroke at DKI JAKARTA JUNIOR SWIMMER COMPETITION. Both of them are selected to become part of DKI JAKARTA JUNIOR SWIMMER.
>> OUTSTANDING CAMBRIDGE LEARNER AWARDS Congratulations to all the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awardees! CIE A/As Level 2018: Arthur Maximillian Tanjaya Best Across Three, First Place. High Achievement, Further Mathematics. Top in Country, Biology. Top in Country, Physics. Top in Country, Mathematics. Clarissa Gunawan Top in Country, Economics. Rivaldo Putra Tendean Top in Country, General Paper. IGCSE 2018 Top Achievers:
Kenneth Samuel Liyanto (Y11P) Top Achiever. Top in WORLD, Mathematics. Top in Country, Economics. Richelle Brianna Hanusi (Y11P) Top in Country, Business Studies. Andhika Tirtawisata (Y11P) Top in Country, Geography Annisa Victoria - Top Achiever Caitlyn Audrey Prabowo - Top Achiever Nicole Fay Wijaya - Top Achiever Sharrey Suhendra - Top Achiever Samantha Gabriella Wongsodiharjo – Top in Indonesia. Economics, Cambridge International AS Level. The ceremony, attended by the NHJS awardees was held in Sheraton Hotel Gandaria City, 27 February 2019.
>> Year 7 Australia Education and Cultural Immersion Expedition 2019 (Cairns/Townsville, Queensland, Australia) NationalHigh Jakarta School is committed to nurturing future-ready students with a global outlook. In this regard, we have forged a strategic partnership with an Australian school, The Cathedral School, situated at Queensland, Australia, to enable our students to experience the best of western education with a strong academic and outdoor curriculum which provides our students a platform to build a wide range of life skills and values. With this partnership, our students will be immersed into various activities ranging from living in the boarding house of The Cathedral School, learning Australian history and Aboriginal heritage and learning some further life skills. The activities will last for two weeks and it will give our students a chance to experience life as "a local" as they will be immersed and quickly adopt a new way of life and gain a wealth of new experiences,
both in the boarding house, the school immersion, as well as the cultural and outdoor programmes. Date: 22 June – 3 or 4 July 2019 (To be confirmed) Participants: Current Year 7 students – 7/8 girls or 7/8 boys (Total of 15 participants) Note: It must be emphasized that participants must know how to swim.
This selection process will be done between Week 7 and Week 8, not later than Friday, 1 March 2019. For further enquiries, please contact: Dexter Canicula [email protected]
>> SASMO 2019 COMPETITION This is an open invitation to all students from Year 2 to Year 10 who are interested in participating in the annual Singapore and Asian Schools Maths Olympiad (SASMO) 2019, Asia's very popular mathematics competition. DATE OF COMPETITION: 06 April 2019 Complete an application form and submit to your Math teacher attached with proof of payment. For more information regarding SASMO, you may visit this website: http://sasmo.id.
>> Invitation for Japan International Science and Mathematics Olympiads 2019 Greetings! We would like to invite your child/ward to represent our school in the Japan International Science and Mathematics Olympiads (JISMO – Science competition ONLY), which will be held on 30 March 2019. Registration for the Olympiads is open to students from Year 2 to Year 5. The objective of the competition is to provide a platform for students to develop their aptitude in Science through critical thinking. Should you have further queries regarding the competition, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]
>> Early Bird Discount of Tuition Fee Please be informed and note timeline of early bird discount:
- 15% for payment by/before 1 March 2019 - 10% for payment by/before 16 March 2019 - 5% for payment by/before 2 April 2019
SCHOOL BANK ACCOUNT Payment to be made by Bank Transfer to either one of the following account: YAYASAN NASIONAL CENDEKIA BANGSA JAKARTA
- PANIN BANK Intercon Megah Taman Kebon Jeruk | AC No. 154 500 3777 - BCA Intercon Megah Taman Kebon Jeruk | AC No. 625 0722 999 Virtual Accounts will be given to new students who have submitted registration forms and paid registration fees. Please add the student's name and grade level on the transfer slip and email to us. EMAILS School : [email protected] Admission: [email protected] [email protected] Finance : [email protected]
>> Free School Free Scool is one of our Student Council programme.
GROW CORNER Dear parents, We would like to invite you and your children to join and attend this session of Cornell Panel Discussion. This first ever Cornell Panel Discussion is an opportunity for students to receive insights from and interact with alumni/professionals who will share their experiences first-hand. Please kindly note that this event is exclusively for Secondary 3 onwards.
IGNITE and INSPIRE – by Kenneth Liyanto Ignite & Inspired Club created by Kenneth Liyanto (JC1) had its first event this past Friday 1st March 2019. Mr. Rionald A. Soerjanto was our first speaker. Mr. Rionald holds an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He has been awarded Best Design Firm 2007 and Best Local Business 2019 in Seattle, Washington. Mr. Rionald shared about his experience in the computer and business field. Our Secondary and Junior College students learned a lot from his sharing.
Public Speaking Is No Longer a ‘Soft Skill.’ It’s Your Key to Success in Any Field
Great persuaders have a competitive edge in the age of ideas.
BY CARMINE GALLO Published in: www.inc-asean.com
The hard data show that "soft skills" are in high demand. In a new LinkedIn analysis, "persuasion" was one of the top skills "most worth learning" in 2019. "Strengthening a soft skill is one of the best investments you can make in your career, as they never go out of style," according to the study. After conducting dozens of interviews for Five Stars, my new book on persuasion, I've concluded that it's time to stop referring to public speaking and the art of persuasion as 'soft skills.' A wealthy entrepreneur at Y-Combinator, the iconic investment firm behind startups such as Reddit and Airbnb, convinced me to stop using the term. During our conversation, he called out my mistake. "Let's talk about a soft skill like storytelling," I said. "Soft?" he shot back. "If an entrepreneur can't tell a convincing story, I'm not investing. You call it soft. I call it fundamental." Warren Buffett would agree. Whenever Buffett is asked about the one most valuable skill that anyone can build today, he says public-speaking. He even puts a value on it, as I wrote about in this article. "The one easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now -- at least -- is to hone your communication skills -- both written and verbal," Buffett says. The Growing Value of Changing Minds In a world built on ideas, the persuaders-- the ones who can win hearts and change minds--have a competitive edge. I've spoke to economists and historians like Deirdre McCloskey at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She conducted an impressive research project to prove that old-fashioned rhetoric--persuasion--is responsible for a growing share of America's national income. McCloskey analyzed 250 occupations covering 140 million people in the U.S. She created a statistical model based on the amount of time people in each category spent on public speaking and persuading another person to take action. In some cases, persuasion played a more limited role than others (think firefighters versus public relations specialists). McCloskey reached the following conclusion: Persuasion is responsible for generating onequarter of
America's total national income. She expects it to rise to 40 percent over the next twenty years. McCloskey's research was taken up by another economist in Australia who reached a similar conclusion. To understand why persuasion is no longer a soft skill, we need a short history lesson. In 1840, nearly 70 percent of the U.S. labor force worked on farms; today less than 2 percent of Americans work in agriculture. Manufacturing's share of the labor force has dropped from 40 percent in 1950 to under 20 percent today. Individual income from manufacturing continues to fall as robots replace workers and artificial intelligence takes over repetitive tasks once handled by humans. The main task of the jobs that are left--and the new ones created--is to change minds. As McCloskey explains, "Nothing happens voluntarily in an economy, or a society, unless someone changes her mind. Behavior can be changed by compulsion, but minds cannot." Even in the 'hard skills' jobs, persuasion sets people apart. "A coder who only knows technical skills might start at $40,000 to $80,000 in Silicon Valley. A coder who can speak to the client can easily command $120,000 and up," says McCloskey. She's right. I've interviewed young business professionals in their twenties and thirties whose careers are soaring and who get promoted much faster than their peers largely due to their ability to deliver presentations more effectively. Here's the key. They work at it. Public-speaking is a skill anyone can build. In Warren Buffett's office, he has one diploma on display. It's not his business degree. Instead, it's a certificate he earned after completing a public-speaking course. Buffett says it's the most valuable degree he has. For a man who's worth $80 billion, that's saying something. By calling public speaking a 'soft skill,' it diminishes the skill's value in a world that cherishes the 'hard sciences.' Public-speaking isn't soft. It's the equivalent of cold, hard cash.