The Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From The Greatest Showman

1. Creative ideas can create social mobility

In the movie, P.T. Barnum’ character was a pauper who had to fight for his survival and prove his worth to his future father-in-law. Yet, he always managed to find a way to get by and even climb the social ladder to become wealthy.

When his American Museum failed to take off, he had a brilliant plan to create a circus featuring unique people and it became a big hit for many. Even when his circus had been destroyed and no bank would give him a loan to rebuild his business, he was resourceful and came up with the idea of setting up a tent to run the show.

His combination of creative ideas and opportunistic risk-taking tendencies not only made him the greatest showman, but also the greatest salesman.

2. Money should not be the end goal

When one tastes success for the first time, it is tempting to want even more. Such was the case with Barnum. After his circus had taken off, his appetite was not satiated and he wanted more recognition and fame. More importantly, he wanted to prove his worth to his father-in-law, a snobbish wealthy man who had chastised him since he was a child. Yet, as he became more and more ambitious he recruited the renowned opera singer from Sweden, Jenny Lind (without actually hearing her sing) and toured with her, leaving his family behind and neglecting the circus that he worked so hard to build.

As the movie reminds us, success comes with a price and sometimes, a hefty one. His circus was burned down by bigots, his wife left him and he became bankrupt. In fact, the burning down of the circus served as a symbolic representation of Barnum’s downfall. Thankfully, Barnum was able to redeem himself by remembering why he wanted to be successful in the first place; it was to provide his family with a comfortable life.

3. Give your employees something valuable

After the circus had been destroyed and Barnum was at his lowest point, thinking he had nothing left, his employees rallied around him and gave him the strength to start all over again. He not only gave them jobs as performing acts in the circus, he also gave them a new purpose in life. While the rest of the world had shunned them, and labelled them as ‘freaks’, he saw something extraordinary in them and groomed them into talented performers who brought joy to the masses.

4. Mutually beneficial connections are important 

Barnum was drawn to Phillip Carlyle because he belonged to the upper echelons of society. He noticed that Carlyle was discontented with his life even though he was wealthy. Therefore, Barnum offered him an opportunity to be his business partner. Despite tensions between them, Carlyle found joy in working for the circus as it was unpretentious and real, unlike his previous job in the theatre, which was reserved for the elite rich.

Carlyle also found the love of his life. In return, Carlyle pulled some strings to get Barnum a meeting with the Queen of England and gave Barnum the opportunity to rebuild the business after the fire. In fact, their mutually beneficial relationship becomes a motif throughout the movie, even towards the end when Barnum passes the baton and hands over the circus to Carlyle, in order to spend more time with his family.

From all these lessons from The Greatest Showman, which one greatly impacts you?

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I believe that children have powerful words to be read by the world.

This June, I embarked on a journey called, “The Young Authors Programme” with five young writers, as they each wrote and illustrated their own children’s book. What emerged from this beautiful journey were these unique and original stories written by children aged 9 to 11:

A young Malay girl takes her revenge on school bullies with her powerful silat moves.
The power of friendship and teamwork in children warriors saves an entire kingdom.
A couple who go on a romantic date is disrupted by a scary encounter.
Two schoolgirls befriend a talking Honey Guide bird who leads them to a rescue mission.
A magical helicopter transports curious children to adventures of a lifetime.

Here are some of my thoughts on the whole process:

1. There Is Incredible Value In Peer Feedback
I began the sessions with a peer review session, where every child would “pitch” their story ideas to the rest. It can be daunting to share your stories (something so personal) with a group of strangers and so when facilitating a peer review session, clear guidelines need to be established.

I explained to the young authors-to-be that we were building a circle of trust, helping one another rather than criticising, being a friend who listens rather than a harsh critic.

When giving feedback to their peers, they always began by stating what they liked about the story first. The benefits that are reaped from peer feedback are manifold. Instead of only listening to what I, the teacher had to say, they gained affirmation from their own peers vis-à-vis constructive feedback on how to improve and refine their stories.

“Your story is so original, I would so buy your book!” quipped one of the young authors encouragingly, as she listened to her peer telling her story. Through this exercise, they discovered what their target audience (children like themselves) would value from their work.

2. Mentorship And Guidance Lends Structure To New Writers
Children need good role models and mentors to guide them and for them to look up to. As part of the programme, the young authors-to-be had the privilege of being mentored by artist, Jamie Koh, and the renowned writer based in Singapore, Balli Kaur Jaswal.

Jamie guided them through a process of developing characters through illustration and the importance of colours and what they symbolise. Their illustrations played a major role in the telling of their stories.

The children had to discern which important events they wanted to illustrate and the best way to do so. One child, in particular, decided to add a unique streak in the hair of her protagonist – modelled after her mother and her protagonist’s best friend was a white bunny.

Balli offered them a unique perspective of being a professional writer. Most, if not all of them, had never been this up close and personal with a writer before. She shared her experience of being a writer since she was a child their age and how it all started with characters that arose from her vivid imagination and her life experiences. She also enhanced the quality of their writing, giving them concrete suggestions on how they could add to or modify certain aspects of the narratives.

3. Building Confidence In Young Writers Is About More Than Just Writing
While it is only natural the children were influenced by books they have read or well-known tales, it is imperative to nurture children to write about their own unique stories. Every child has a unique story to tell – it’s a matter of bringing it out of them and identifying what important messages they would like to say to their audience.

A 9-year-old Chinese student wrote a powerful story about a young Malay girl, wearing a hijab and being discriminated against and bullied in school. I was amazed by her ability to empathise with a completely different individual and to write such an authentic story. In her words, she “wanted to help both the bullies and the victims of bullies”. Her story was inspired by a real life incident of bullying in her school.

There were also unexpected, surprising storylines. The only boy in the group decided to write a romance story based in Singapore but also wanted to add an additional layer by adding in a “ghostly” encounter. It became a story with suspense, hilarity and ambivalence all at once. A young Henry James in the making, perhaps.

Beyond just writing a good story, I also wanted to encourage the children to “give back” to society and recognize that they had the potential to create an impact with their words. I introduced them to three different charities that supported children and invited them to “adopt” a charity. They enthusiastically agreed that the proceeds from the sales of their books would go to their adopted charity. One child has been encouraging everyone to support her adopted charity, World Vision, ever since.

By the end of the journey, I gained as much fruitful insight and experience as these young authors did. It is my sincere hope that these children and other children continue to write, as the world would be better for it.

To support these young authors who live in Singapore, please visit the Artistic Strategies website.

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There is a range of interesting topics available during our school holiday programmes (in  March, June, September, and November-December). These programmes, which also use the Artistic Writing teaching approaches, are the perfect way to ensure that your child is productively occupied while enjoying their break from school.

Young Authors Programme

Description:

Imagine your primary school child being a published author! In this programme, children will get to publish their own illustrated children’s book (approximately  15 pages) after four lessons! They will be taught basic illustrating skills and guided closely in the process of planning, writing and editing their stories. As a bonus, they will be getting feedback from a real -life published author and an illustrator. In addition, they could choose to print additional copies of their books to be sold and the proceeds from the sales would go to their adopted charity.

Event Details

First Intake Dates: 12th, 17th, 19th and 24th June. All classes will be from 3-5pm.
Second Intake Dates: To be confirmed
Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Cost: $300  (This  includes  all  learning  materials,  including  one  copy of  the  completed  book.  Additional copies of the completed book can be printed at a special rate.)

Each intake is limited to 5 participants. Only selected participants will be able to attend this programme.

Sign up for the Young Authors Programme!

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We are not taught how to craft our narratives or how to present our personal story (where we come from, what we stand for, and our goals and aspirations) in a compelling manner. And yet, this could be the single most important skill that children should acquire to survive and thrive in today’s world and beyond.

Here Are Five Reasons Why Storytelling Is Vital To Success:

1. We are selling our stories all the time

Whether it is a job interview, a school interview, or creating first impressions, we are constantly selling our stories. Recruiters today prefer looking at a potential employee’s LinkedIn profile rather than just his or her curriculum vitae.

A platform like LinkedIn provides employers with a well-rounded picture of the candidates, as it tells a story about their professional life, instead of just listing out their achievements. A LinkedIn profile with a persuasive story about someone’s skills, expertise, and background gives that person the edge. When children are encouraged to tell their stories, it becomes second nature to them – and will put them in good stead when they are applying for jobs.

2. The most impactful way to articulate our beliefs and values is through storytelling

Seth Godin, an American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker is right to point out that effective stories are made only when they are authentic. There is no point in spinning a story that does not originate from the real you. Children have the advantage in this respect because they often say what they really mean and feel. A noteworthy example would be 9-year-old Zianna Oliphant telling a heart-wrenching story about the effects of racism after police had shot a 43-year-old black man, Keith Lamont Scott, in Charlotte City, North Carolina, USA. The video of her story went viral, and was watched by millions of people worldwide.

3. Storytelling increases one’s confidence

I have personally witnessed how my students have grown in confidence after writing and publishing their own stories.  These stories take different shapes and forms, from a detective being pranked on April Fools’ Day to a fairy and her cat embarking on a journey in a magical garden. Seeing their ideas and words in print, and being read and appreciated by others, gives them a satisfaction like no other. They are reminded that their stories are important, and this spurs them on to write and tell even more stories.

4. By telling one’s story, one would not be subsumed under the power of the dominant other or drowned by the voice of the masses

In her famous TED talk The Dangers of a Single Story, novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie relates how she did not know that people like her (Nigerians, Africans) could be featured in literature because all the books that she had read had Western characters. When children are encouraged to write about their own life experiences, they are not just representing themselves, but also others like them. Through their characters and narratives, children have the power to articulate their unique thoughts; and give a voice to people in their community, and cultural or ethnic group, that might otherwise not be heard.

5. Stories humanize us

When we tell our personal stories, we are allowing others a glimpse into our lives and our world. We allow them to get to know us, empathize with our struggles, and celebrate our victories vicariously with us. The impact  is even greater when children tell their stories from the heart and imbue them with childlike innocence and purity.

The beauty of storytelling lies in the fact that any child can be nurtured to become an effective storyteller, given the right guidance and the right learning environment.

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As we embrace 2017, here are possible additions to your children’s bookshelf.

The collection that I have curated consists of a range of fiction and non-fiction books for children aged 7-12. Some of the subject matter in these books may be a little complex and layered, but worth exploring as starters for engaging conversations between parent and child, or teacher and students.

1. A Long Walk To Water: Based On A True Story by Linda Sue Park

An inspiring tale of two children, Nya and Salva, in war-torn Sudan. As they struggle to make their way to a refugee camp in Ethiopia, they find out that they cannot be protected from the violence and chaos forever. Yet, the story ends on a hopeful note for one survivor – Salva.

2. Art For Kids: Drawing by Kathryn Temple

This guide for children is easy to follow, and includes a variety of subjects that children can experiment with – from animals to portraits. Children will learn how to use basic shapes like circles to create elaborate outlines, and techniques like shading.

3. Inside Out And Back Again by Thanhha Lai

This unique collection of poetry tells the story of 10-year-old Ha from Vietnam. She is forced to flee with her family to Alabama as Saigon is in ruins during the Vietnam war. As she goes through gruelling experiences in this new world, she grows up and matures in the process.

4. TIME For Kids: Big Book Of How by Editors of TIME for Kids Magazine

Because kids are naturally curious, this non-fiction gem offers insightful answers to some of their biggest questions and exposes children to nature, animals, and science and technology, among others. The bite-size information in this book is easily digestible and memorable.

5. Mistakes That Worked: 40 Familiar Inventions & How They Came To Be by Charlotte Foltz Jones

While we often shun mistakes, this visually appealing book reminds us that mistakes could lead to some of the most interesting inventions that the world has ever seen – cheese, Coca Cola, and donut holes (to name a few). With creativity, there are boundless possibilities as long as we keep trying!

6. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This is not just a book about a child who has to endure alienation because of a facial deformity. Wonder teaches children and adults alike about the meaning of resilience. It also includes the perspectives of a few different characters, including the boy himself, and is an excellent tool to teach and learn about empathy and looking beyond superficial appearances.

7. Out Of My Mind by Sharon M Draper

A riveting tale about an 11-year-old girl born with cerebral palsy. She is unable to speak and walk, and can’t write. And yet, she is an extremely intelligent child with a photographic memory, unbeknownst to others. The twist in the plot reveals how she is able to finally express herself when she gets hold of a special device.

BONUS: Every Child’s Guide To Write Away! (Volumes 1 & 2) by Claudine Fernandez

Reading goes hand-in-hand with writing. Writing gives children the opportunity to apply what they have read and create their own imaginative narratives. These activity books allow children to embark on very exciting writing and artistic journeys with fun topics that include detective fiction, food writing, and time travel! Available here.

Happy book shopping!

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Words are powerful. They can both wound and show love deeply. A single word can change the entire meaning of the sentence. As we begin 2017, may we use words responsibly and thoughtfully to spread positivity.

Here are five tips:

1. Replace Negative Words With Positive Ones

When I am giving feedback to my students, I never use the word weakness. Instead, I use the term area of improvement. The former is defeating and discouraging, while the latter implies that with effort and time, progress can be made.

Similarly, a word like bad could be replaced with phrases like “I would prefer it if you…” and instead of saying what you don’t want, perhaps replacing it with a statement indicating what you do want could be more effective in communicating your messages.

2. Always Give Credit When It’s Due

Many times, it is easier to point out a fault or a flaw rather than to see the good in something or someone. Yet, noticing when someone does something well and pointing it out goes a long way: It leaves both the giver and the receiver in a better state of mind. Some phrases to start with:

“I thought it was excellent the way you…”

“I am impressed by…”

“I appreciate that...”

Yet Carol Dweck, a psychology professor at Stanford University and author of the acclaimed book Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success cautions us about praising too much and not pointing out where real learning could take place. This is an important reminder so as not to get too carried away with our praises.

3. Use The Right Tone

The right tone is as important, if not more important, than using the right words. Our tone conveys our emotions, attitudes, and intentions. If our tone is brusque or disinterested, it doesn’t really matter what words come out from our mouth. Let us always be mindful to use encouraging, gentle, and caring tones when we are speaking or writing to others.

4. Speak Or Write With Empathy

To build rapport and connection with others, it could be helpful to use words that convey a sense of empathy Phrases like “I understand where you are coming from….”, or “I know how you feel” gives the other person assurance that he or she is not alone, and builds trust between two people with similar experiences.

However, it is important that this sense of empathy is genuine and that we do not pretend or assume we understand how someone might feel. If we don’t, it might be better to just offer a listening ear or a supportive presence.

5. Achieve Understanding Through Paraphrasing

In our conversations and face-to-face interactions with others, we may encounter misunderstandings and miscommunication. Paraphrasing someone else’s words can help us achieve clarity because it shows the speaker our level of understanding. If we fall short, the speaker will be able to clarify immediately.

For example, you could say “You mentioned that…” or “I heard you say…”

Paraphrasing someone’s words is also an indication that you are listening and that you care about what the person has to say.

Happy New Year and may this year bring you words filled with positivity!

After all, words are something we will never be able to truly take back.

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She found her calling, and pursued it with unequivocal passion.

As women continue to be a driving force for change around the world, this series aims to highlight those who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to creating an impact.

In this exclusive interview, Connected Women caught up with Claudine Fernandez, Founder of Artistic Strategies Academy.

Claudine firmly believes that writing well is an essential life skill, and through her work, she dedicatedly motivates young minds towards more creative, passionate thinking, instils a love for the art of writing, and touches the lives of students, teachers, and parents alike.

This is her story.

Tell us about you and your business/career. Was it always your dream, to do what you are doing now?

I founded Artistic Strategies Academy, an institution that grooms young writers to be effective writers through the arts. I’ve always dreamt of setting up my own school for children – a place where children would love to write, by enjoying the process of artistic creation.

I’ve been an English and Literature teacher in both government and independent schools since 2007 and in my career, I have seen too many children feeling disenchanted or disinterested with writing. This was mostly due to the fact that they associated writing with boring memorisation and rote learning techniques, and felt disconnected from the stories they were made to write.

I always knew that it was my calling to teach but this time, I knew I had to do it differently.

I was inspired by the revolutionary techniques I learned at Harvard University, where I completed my Master’s Degree in Arts in Education. I realized how much children in Singapore could benefit from an arts education to become more critical thinkers and innovative creators, especially in the area of writing. Writing well is an essential life skill that needs to be nurtured from a very young age.

Venturing Out And Doing What Is Most Fulfilling

Teaching in a school was safe and stable. I could expect a monthly salary, and it was fulfilling in its own way. However, once I took the jump and decided to start my own programmes and develop my own teaching methods, I knew that nothing else would ever be more fulfilling – and the rest is history.

It’s scary to venture out and more often than not, I’ve been called “brave” for doing so. Slowly, I learned how to manage my expectations about the growth of the business and the art of selling. I wished I was more mentally and emotionally prepared to deal with the challenges of being a “one woman show”, doing everything from marketing, teaching preparations, and writing my own materials. Thankfully, I’ve had lots of help along the way from friends and family members.

Creating An Impact On The Lives Of Children, Parents, And Teachers

I have never been happier in my career. I wake up every morning, knowing that I will be doing something fruitful and making both children and their parents happy! This past year, it’s been more than what I’ve expected it to be, with the school’s expansion to a bigger centre in Bedok, writing my third children’s activity book that will be launched next year and publishing more children’s books that have been written and illustrated by my students.

Reaching Out To Those With The Same World View Vs Overhauling Others’ Mindsets

I’ve met a couple of parents who are most preoccupied with their child’s grades above developing other “soft skills” or the child’s confidence as a whole. Also, not all parents are willing to try out new and creative methods of teaching and learning – and it is a challenge to try and change their mindset.

I’m currently reading Seth Godin’ s All Marketers Tell Stories, and he makes a very good point that sometimes it is better to focus on reaching out to those with the same worldview and beliefs by being authentic, as opposed to overhauling others’ mindsets. This is something I am currently factoring into my content and marketing strategies.

Recognizing The Value Of Your Work

Never sell yourself short. Sometimes, educators adopt a very humble attitude and are undervalued for the work they produce. Since I’ve started my business, I’ve been reminded time and again by those in the education industry and other working professionals that I’m doing valuable work and should be compensated fairly for it. When I decide on the pricing for my workshops, I’m not only taking into account the hours of work put in, but also my educational background, expertise, and the unique qualities of the workshop.

Focusing On What Is Essential

When the results did not match my expectations, I used to feel disappointed because of all the effort and thought I put into my work, and I would wonder where I went wrong. Now, I’m a lot more easygoing and have learned to let go of some things to focus on the essentials, like the clients I have now and the best ways to nurture and coach them.

Work With Claudine

Artistic Strategies Academy will be organising a children’s writing competition next year, in conjunction with International Women’s Day and the topic will be “Female Empowerment”. The academy is looking for sponsors for prizes in the form of suitable classes, gift vouchers, products and services. Contact Claudine if you’d like to be a part of championing young writers!

We are the leaders, activists, innovators, and visionaries – whether in the public eye or behind the scenes
– who are revolutionising the way people think and live. We are #ConnectedWomen.

Join the Connected Women Community! – It’s free.

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Over the past two weekends, I conducted several workshops for parents and children on creativity and critical thinking.

I was delighted that the slots at these workshops were snapped up so quickly. This is a testament to the growing number of young parents who are involved in their children’s education, and want to learn with them.

Here are a few activities that both parents and children can do during the year-end school holidays! These activities enable you to spend quality time together while igniting your creativity:

Clay Creatures

Dabble and experiment with clay to make clay characters. You could even have a theme, like underwater creatures or pre-historic creatures. Take it a step further and bring these characters to life. You could take turns with your child to interview one another’s characters.

If you’re looking for good quality, non-toxic, pleasant smelling playdough, check out Tickle Your Senses Playdough¹. These come in different colours and with different moulds as well.

Co-Create A Story

There are many ways in which you can create a story together. One way would be to each write a sentence on a piece of paper and exchange papers, continuing from the sentence. Carry on this process until a full blown story emerges on both pieces of paper.

If you need story ideas, a good resource to check out would be Rory’s Story Cubes². Each side of the cube or dice has an image. You could roll the cubes randomly or pick which cube you would like to use.

Explore Museums With See-Think-Wonder

Visiting museums could be fun and enriching if there is a systematic way to look at and appreciate the exhibits. The

“See-Think-Wonder”³ Thinking Routine hails from Harvard University ’s Project Zero. It is a simple and accessible approach that can be used by individuals of all ages.

Basically, the routine goes like this:

See- What do you see or observe in the exhibit?

Think- What do you think about your observation?

Wonder- What question do you have about the exhibit?

It trains us to pay attention to details and have more in depth interpretations of our observations. This versatile routine can also be applied to advertisements, posters, pictures, and even books!

Think Of New Inventions

With the use of recycled materials like cardboards, gift wrappers, or empty bottles, create an object together that would be of use either to yourselves or someone else. If you’d like to do some research, you could find out more about problems that people are facing and generate ideas from there. This activity is guaranteed to awaken the entrepreneurial spirit in you and your child.

Have fun learning and creating with your child!

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In a society like Singapore, where academic success and grades are priorities, it is easy for children to develop an aversion to learning or anything associated with schools and examinations.

However, when children develop a love for learning, half the battle is won. There would be no need to force children to complete assignments or to pressurize them to study to achieve good grades. They would want to learn naturally, finding new information and discovering answers by themselves.

Here are four tried and tested ways, based on my teaching experience, to cultivate the love of learning in children:

1. Create A Safe Space For Children To Ask Questions

Children have the gift of curiosity and they should be allowed to pursue it without the fear of being judged or scolded. Once they have this safe space, their quest for knowledge will be ongoing and limitless. In my writing classes, I welcome questions instead of shunning them. As a result, my students get into the habit of not just asking me but also their peers questionsand, hence, deepening their learning.

2. Expose Children To Different Outdoor Environments

Often times, the outdoor spaces are the best classrooms, as learning becomes authentic when children are allowed to experience and interact with their surroundings. For example, when I was teaching the topic of neighborhoods, I brought the children around a neighborhood to take pictures, videos and audio recordings of the surroundings, while asking them to be observant of the sights, sounds and atmosphere. They thoroughly enjoyed it and after that multi-sensorial experience, they were able to write convincing and engaging narratives about their own neighborhoods.

3. Harness The Power Of Technology

The saying “If you can’t beat them, join them” holds true in this case. We cannot stop the advancement of technology in our children’s lives, but we can sure tap on the variety of resources available online or in the form of apps to enhance our children’s learning. Personally, I have found animated videos from Pixar to be very useful in guiding students to narrate and describe the actions, both verbally and in written form. I also like using storyboard or comic strip creators online that provide useful templates for illustrating and organizing the different events of a story.

4. Experimenting With The Arts

Most children love dabbling in different art forms, such as painting, sketching, ceramics, music, drama and dance because it allows them to bring their imagination to life. Practising the arts not only improves the psychomotor skills of the child but also makes them more sensitive to the world around them. A core component of my writing classes includes an artistic creation, such as a clay character, or a setting made of Lego or marshmallows, that they will be inspired to write about.

I hope you find these suggestions useful. It is my wish that schools, teachers and parents form solid partnerships to create learning environments to nurture the love of learning in children.

Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image Credit: Schoolgirl at front of elementary class talking with teacher from Shutterstock

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