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Working with Localization on Websites and Mobile Apps in APAC

First and foremost, why does this blog post exist? What question are we trying to answer? A colleague of mine in the UK specifically asked me about localization, tools, and best practices—or lack thereof—in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since my company has expanded to various locations in the APAC area, including Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam, I am here to discuss frontend localization.

You'll likely encounter the term "i18n" in frontend development. Ever wondered what the 18 represents? It’s not 18 different languages; it's the number of letters between the first 'i' and the last 'n' in the word "internationalization."

Before diving in, let me introduce myself. I used to work as a technical lead in a bank and am sharing my previous experiences in the banking sector—a field rife with acronyms. You'll quickly realize that everything in banking involves an acronym, seemingly to sound more professional and obfuscate meaning.

I worked for HSBC, an acronym that humorously stands for "How Simple Becomes Complicated." Changing even a single character on a website is far from straightforward. The complicated process involves multiple teams—from business requirements to code review, quality assurance, and deployment—often taking up to two weeks just to change one word on a production webpage.

I was part of a team called ASD-ASP, which stands for Accelerated Scaled Delivery in the Asia-Pacific. My role involved building regional features for web and mobile platforms, such as FPX in Malaysia and PayMe for businesses in Hong Kong. The examples I mention are drawn from real-life experiences.

For instance, let's consider the page displayed below:

Notice anything wrong? The issue lies with the timer. Imagine being visually impaired and relying on an accessibility tool to navigate the page. You would be clueless about the remaining time to complete the transaction. Worse still, if you try to have the tool read the timer aloud, it will count down every second, leaving you no time to complete the transaction.

We used Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) to build this page. While AEM allows non-technical team members to make updates, the reality often involves frontend engineers making text changes or building dialogues using XML, creating an unnecessary layer of work.

In terms of mobile, our internal tools written in Python scripts read copy in various languages from a Confluence page to generate localized JSON files. The developer then includes this file in the app. This approach often creates more problems than it solves, as I'll explain shortly.

The copy team usually labels frontend designs using a Confluence page. This can easily go awry, as design screenshots often become outdated and engineers might use inconsistent keys to represent the same thing. Reusing keys across different pages leads to unexpected side effects when values are updated.

Next, consider the screen below for potential localization issues:

Here are five major pitfalls:

1. The term "country" can be problematic. For instance, listing Taiwan or Hong Kong as separate countries can be illegal due to national security laws.

2. Failing to localize the search bar is another issue. Search behavior and sorting algorithms vary between languages and regions.

3. Error messages also need localization, not just translation. It's better to map error codes to localized messages instead of translating entire strings.

4. Lack of versioning for translations can be disastrous, especially when business requirements change frequently.

5. Ignoring accessibility translations can be detrimental to the user experience, especially for visually impaired individuals.

Furthermore, machine translations like Google Translate are highly discouraged. For more successful localization, collaborate with local teams who can readily identify potential issues.

Any questions about localization? Feel free to ask. :)

Working with Localization on Websites and Mobile Apps in APAC

Welcome back to another episode of Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we explore strategies, best practices, and insights to help you enhance your professional skills. I'm your host, Victor, and today we're diving into the world of frontend localization.

But before we get started, let me share a bit about myself. I used to work as a technical lead in a bank, where acronyms seemed to rule the day. From HSBC, which hilariously stood for "How Simple Becomes Complicated," to ASD-ASP, the team I was part of—Accelerated Scaled Delivery in the Asia-Pacific—I learned firsthand how complex frontend development can be.

In today's episode, we'll be addressing a question from a colleague in the UK who reached out to me about localization, tools, and best practices in the Asia-Pacific region. With my company expanding to locations like Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam, it's a topic close to my heart.

So, let's start by demystifying the term "i18n" often used in frontend development. Did you ever wonder what the number "18" represents? Well, it's not actually about 18 different languages, but the number of letters between the first 'i' and the last 'n' in the word "internationalization."

Now, let's dive into some real-life experiences. During my time at HSBC, we faced numerous challenges when it came to making even the smallest changes on a website. It often took weeks to change just one word on a production webpage due to the involvement of multiple teams, from business requirements to code review, quality assurance, and deployment.

One example I encountered was a timer that posed serious accessibility issues. Imagine relying on an accessibility tool as a visually impaired user, and you have no way of knowing the remaining time to complete a transaction. It's a frustrating experience that could've been easily avoided through better frontend development practices.

Speaking of practices, we used Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) to build web pages. While it allowed non-technical team members to make updates, it frequently required frontend engineers to make text changes or create dialogues using XML—a process that added unnecessary complexity.

Mobile localization had its own set of challenges. We relied on Python scripts to read copy in various languages from a Confluence page and generate localized JSON files, which were then included in the app. However, this approach often created more problems than it solved, as we discovered.

One common issue was inconsistencies in frontend designs labeled using Confluence pages. Outdated screenshots and inconsistent keys caused unexpected side effects when values were updated. It's crucial to have a robust system in place to ensure accurate and up-to-date translations.

Let's now turn our attention to potential localization issues on-screen. Imagine a scenario where the term "country" is used to list Taiwan or Hong Kong as separate countries, which can be illegal due to national security laws. These are the kind of pitfalls that must be avoided in a robust localization strategy.

Another challenge is failing to localize the search bar. Search behavior and sorting algorithms vary across languages and regions, making it essential to adapt the functionality accordingly. Error messages also need proper localization and not just direct translation. Mapping error codes to localized messages proves more effective than translating entire strings.

Moreover, the lack of versioning for translations can be disastrous, particularly when business requirements change frequently. And let's not forget the importance of accessibility translations. Ignoring them can significantly harm the user experience, especially for visually impaired individuals.

While machine translations like Google Translate might seem tempting, they often fall short in accurately conveying the intended meaning. That's why collaborating with local teams who understand the cultural nuances and potential issues is crucial for successful localization.

I hope this discussion has shed light on the challenges and best practices involved in frontend localization. If you have any questions or want to share your experiences, feel free to reach out. Thanks for tuning in today, and remember, there's always room for continuous improvement.

在亞太地區的網站和移動應用上進行本地化工作

首先，為什麼這篇部落格文章會存在？我們試圖回答什麼問題呢？我在英國的一位同事特別問我關於在亞太地區的本地化、工具，以及最佳實踐——或者說沒有這樣操作的原因。

由於我的公司已經擴展到亞太區的多個地方，包括新加坡、菲律賓，和越南，我在這裡討論前端的本地化。

你可能會在前端開發中遇到「i18n」這個詞。曾經搞不清楚18代表什麼嗎？其實並非代表18種不同的語言；它指的是「internationalization」一詞中第一個i和最後一個n之間的字母數量。

讓我先自我介紹一下。我曾經在一家銀行擔任技術領導，現在想要分享我在銀行業的一些過去經驗——一個充滿縮寫詠詠的領域。你很快會意識到，銀行業的一切似乎都和縮寫有關，這看起來更專業，也使意思更為混淆。

我曾為HSBC工作，這是一個笑話般的縮寫，意思是「如何把簡單的事情變得複雜」。在網站上改變甚至一個字符也遠遠不是一件簡單的事情。複雜的過程涉及多個團隊——從商業需求到代碼審查，品質保證，和部署，往往需要花費兩個星期的時間來改變產品網頁上的一個詞語。

我是一個叫做ASD-ASP的團隊的其中一部分，這代表在亞太地區的加速規模化交付。我的角色涉及為網站和移動平台構建區域特性，比如在馬來西亞的FPX和在香港的商業PayMe。我提到的例子都是來自真實生活的經驗。

例如，讓我們考慮下面顯示的頁面：

注意到什麼問題了嗎？問題在於計時器。如果你的視覺有障礙，並且依賴訪問工具來導航網頁，你將對剩餘完成交易的時間一無所知。更糟糕的是，如果你嘗試讓工具將計時器大聲朗讀出來，它將每秒倒數，讓你沒有時間來完成交易。

我們使用Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)來構建這個頁面。雖然AEM允許非技術的團隊成員進行更新，但實際情況通常涉及到前端工程師進行文字更改或用XML構建對話框，創建了不必要的工作層。

在移動方面，我們的內部工具用Python腳本從Confluence頁面讀取各種語言的副本，以生成本地化的JSON文件。開發者然後在應用程序中包含此文件。這種方法常常會創建出比解決的問題更多的問題，我馬上就會解釋。

副本團隊通常使用Confluence頁面來標籤前端設計。這很容易出錯，因為設計截圖往往會過時，而工程師可能使用不一致的鍵來代表同一件事情。在不同頁面上重複使用鍵當值被更新時，會導致意外的副作用。

接下來，考慮下面的螢幕可能會遇到的本地化問題：

這裡有五個主要的陷阱：

1. "country"這個詞可能會有問題。例如，因為國家安全法，列出台灣或香港作為單獨的國家可能是非法的。

2. 沒有本地化搜索欄也是另一個問題。搜索行為和排序算法在語言和地區之間有所不同。

3. 錯誤訊息也需要本地化，而不僅僅是翻譯。最好把錯誤代碼映射成本地化信息，而不是翻譯整個字串。

4. 對於翻譯缺乏版本控制可能是災難性的，尤其是當商業需要經常變化的時候。

5. 忽略訪問性翻譯可能會對使用者體驗有害，尤其是對於視覺障礙的個體。

此外，像Google Translate這樣的機器翻譯是非常不被鼓勵的。為了實現更成功的本地化，與能夠隨時識別潛在問題的本地團隊合作。

對於本地化有任何問題嗎？隨時提問。:)

On Imperfection

Is it difficult to create a book? The answer is debatable. Becoming a best-selling author is challenging if that's your sole aim. The process of writing, practicing, editing, and polishing takes a long time. The harsh truth is, if you're an unknown, few people will read what you've written. However, writing a book becomes simple if you commit to writing 50 words per day or one article per week. If you write consistently for a year, you'll have enough material to compile into a book, or perhaps a series of compilations.

Is it hard to give a speech? The answer is both yes and no. Speaking in front of an audience can be intimidating, especially if you aim to deliver a flawless performance that wows everyone. However, speaking on a topic for just two minutes is far from impossible. Anyone, regardless of their voice, body language, or rhetorical skills, can manage it. If the audience grasps your main point, that's already a success. There's no need to overthink it or let your fear of public speaking overwhelm you.

Is it challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle? At first glance, it seems that committing to daily gym visits, getting out of a comfortable bed, and exerting the sweat and effort required for exercise can be quite demanding. However, running for 20 minutes or doing a few push-ups every day is certainly doable. Taking that first baby step can inspire you to continue and develop a positive habit.

Is dating difficult? No one said it would be easy, but you might be surprised by how challenging it can be. You might feel confident around your friends but freeze up in the presence of an attractive woman. While she's not a threat to you, the fear of embarrassing yourself may hold you back. There could also be other complications like her having a boyfriend or not being interested in men. As a result, she might not be captivated by your awkwardness. However, that's not the crucial point. What matters is enjoying your time and having a meaningful conversation.

While the list of activities could go on, there's a common thread: I set high standards for myself. I obsess over details and am preoccupied with outcomes, public opinion, and self-awareness. While this mindset might propel me to aim high, it also leads me to procrastinate. I didn't start writing until I felt sure of my ideas. I would decline speaking opportunities if I felt unprepared. I'd skip the gym if I could find enough excuses, and I'd hesitate to talk to strangers if I felt the need to impress them. My fear often inhibits me from taking the first step, leading to inaction. Mere thought, without action, leads nowhere.

Taking action, however, encourages further thought and more action. I've realized that things are usually not as bad as I had initially imagined. I've come to accept that my articles may not garner many likes, my speeches may not win international awards, I may not achieve a six-pack, and my partner may not be a supermodel. And that's okay. The outcome is beyond our control and depends on a mix of luck and statistics.

What truly matters is learning to love the process: finding therapy in focused writing, valuing the communication of a message in speaking, feeling energized through exercise, and simply having fun while socializing. Embracing the imperfections in your life can help you overcome imposter syndrome or the feeling of being a fraud who fears making mistakes. Even Albert Einstein, a bona fide genius, suffered from imposter syndrome. Why should ordinary people doubt their achievements?

So, what does it mean to be successful? Success is not defined by the outcome, but by progress: better writing, more practice in speaking, improved health, and enhanced social skills. Every small step toward continuous improvement is a success. It's something both you and I can achieve.

On Imperfection

Welcome to Continuous Improvement, the podcast that explores the journey towards personal growth and success. I'm your host, Victor, and today we'll dive deep into the concept of continuous improvement. How can we overcome our fears and take action towards our goals? Let's find out!

Hello, my wonderful listeners. Today, I want to address something that many of us may struggle with at times: the fear of starting something new, the fear of failure, and the fear of not meeting our own high standards. It could be writing a book, giving a speech, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or even the challenges of dating.

Let's start with writing a book. It's no secret that writing a book can be a daunting task. The process of writing, practicing, editing, and polishing takes time and dedication. But here's the secret to making it simpler: commit to writing just 50 words per day or one article per week. By consistently writing, you'll accumulate enough material over time, which can be compiled into a book or a series of compilations.

Now, let's talk about giving a speech. Speaking in front of an audience can be intimidating, especially if we aim for perfection. However, speaking on a topic for just a couple of minutes is far from impossible. The key is not to overthink it or let the fear of public speaking overwhelm us. As long as the audience grasps our main point, we've already succeeded. So, don't let the fear hold you back!

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may seem challenging at first glance. Committing to daily gym visits or pushing yourself to exercise can be demanding. But here's the catch: running for just 20 minutes or doing a few push-ups every day is definitely doable. Taking that first baby step can inspire you to continue and develop a positive habit.

And let's not forget about dating. It can be quite a challenge, filled with insecurities and uncertainties. But remember, it's not about impressing others or meeting certain expectations. It's about enjoying your time and having a meaningful conversation. Let go of that fear of embarrassment and embrace the opportunity to connect with someone.

Now, let's talk about something that often holds us back: setting high standards for ourselves. While having high standards can push us to aim high, it also leads to procrastination and self-doubt. We hesitate to take action until we feel fully prepared, sometimes missing out on valuable opportunities.

But here's the truth we should embrace: things are usually not as bad as we initially imagine. Our articles may not gain countless likes, our speeches might not win awards, and our partners may not fit the mold of societal expectations. And that's perfectly fine. The outcome is beyond our control. What truly matters is learning to love the process, finding therapy in focused writing, valuing the communication of a message in speaking, feeling energized through exercise, and simply having fun while socializing.

Embracing imperfections and overcoming imposter syndrome allows us to appreciate our progress. Success is not defined by the outcome, but by continuous improvement, by taking those small steps towards growth. And that is something that both you and I can achieve.

Well, my friends, that's all for today's episode. I hope you found inspiration and encouragement in our discussion on continuous improvement. Remember, it's not about achieving perfection, but about embracing the journey towards growth.

Thank you for tuning in to Continuous Improvement. I'm Victor, your host, reminding you to take the first step and keep striving for progress. Until next time!

關於不完美

寫一本書難嗎？答案是有爭議的。如果你的唯一目標是成為暢銷書作家，那肯定是充滿挑戰的。寫作、練習、編輯和潤飾的過程需要很長時間。而令人不安的是，如果你是新手，很少有人會去閱讀你寫的東西。然而，如果你承諾每天寫50個字或每周寫一篇文章，寫作就變得容易了。如果你一年內持續寫作，你就有足夠的素材可以編成一本書，或者是一系列的合集。

演講難嗎？答案既是對的也是錯的。在觀眾面前演講可能會讓人感到恐慌，尤其是當你希望能完美無缺的演出來讓所有人驚訝。然而，只需講一個主題兩分鐘並不困難。任何人，不論他們的聲音、身體語言或說話技巧如何，都能辦得到。如果觀眾能抓到你的主要觀點，那就已經是一次成功的演講了。沒有必要深究，或讓你對公開演講的恐懼壓倒你。

維持健康的生活方式困難嗎？一開始看，每天都需要去健身房，早起離開舒適的床鋪，付出運動所需的汗水與努力，感覺似乎相當困難。但是，每天跑步二十分鐘或是每天做幾下俯臥撐是完全實行得到的。一旦迈出第一步，就有可能激發你繼續前進，發展一種積極的習慣。

交往難嗎？沒有人說過這會很容易，但你可能會對其困難程度感到驚訝。在朋友面前，你可能表現得信心滿滿，但在一個美女面前，你可能會變得膽小如鼠。儘管她對你來說並不構成威脅，但是對於尷尬的恐懼可能會阻止你的行動。還有其他的困難，比如她可能已經有男朋友，或者她對男性沒有興趣。結果，她可能不會被你的尷尬所吸引。但是，這都不是關鍵。最重要的是享受你的時間，並進行有意義的對話。

雖然這些活動的清單可以不斷延伸，但其中有一個共同點：我為自己設定了高標。我沉迷於細節，並對成果、公眾輿論和自我意識持續關注。這種心態可能使我抱負高遠，但也導致我耽誤時間。我在對自己的想法有了確定性之前並未開始寫作。如果我感到準備不足，我會拒絕演講的機會。如果我找到越多的藉口，我就會越容易取消健身的安排。如果我覺得需要給他人留下好印象，我就會對與陌生人搭訕感到猶豫不決。我的恐懼經常阻止我邁出第一步，導致我無法行動。單單思考而不去行動，只會讓我們白白浪費時間。

然而，行動起來后，會鼓舞人們進一步思考並促使他們持續行動。我意識到事情往往並不像我起初想象的那麼糟糕。我已經接受了我的文章可能不會得到太多的點讚，我的演講可能不會贏得國際大獎，我可能達不到六塊肌的目標，我的伴侶可能不會是超模。而這一切都沒關係。結果是我們不能控制的，取決於運氣和各種機會的結合。

真正重要的是學會熱愛過程：寫作中尋找治療效果，講話中的信息傳遞，運動帶來的活力，還有社交中的樂趣。接受生活中的不完美可以幫助你克服冒名者症候群，或者是害怕犯錯，覺得自己是個騙子的感覺。即使是像阿爾伯特·愛因斯坦這樣的天才，也曾深受冒名者症候群的困擾。那麼我們這些普通人有什麼理由去質疑自己的成就呢？

那麼，什麼是成功？成功並不是由結果來定義，而是由進步來定義：寫作能力的提高，講話練習的增加，健康狀況的改善，和社交技巧的提高。每一個朝著持續進步的小步驟都是成功。這是你我都能達到的。

Continuous Improvement

Thank you for taking the time to read my book and journey through my life experiences with me. You likely have your own set of challenges and obstacles. That’s why you sought out my book—to understand how I’ve managed to navigate through mine.

I failed in my first twelve romantic relationships. It's not that I wasn't appealing; in fact, I changed my appearance after the first six failures, opting for a better haircut and more suitable attire. Nevertheless, I continued to struggle. I hoped each new relationship would be an improvement over the last, but marriage remained elusive. I share my experiences to help you avoid making the same mistakes.

So why do relationships fail? It might be because your qualities aren't as compelling as those of other potential partners, making you less attractive or financially desirable. Your partner might simply prefer someone else; after all, there are plenty of fish in the sea.

What can you do about it? My book advises you to focus on two words: continuous improvement. Rather than indulging in jealousy or self-pity, steer clear of negativity.

To improve, engage with life fully, deepen your relationships, and showcase your best qualities. Work on advancing your career, expanding your social circle, and enhancing your physical well-being. This change will not only shift how people perceive you, but also improve your odds if a potential partner is choosing between you and someone else. You’ll be seen as a person who values self-improvement and long-term growth.

You see, current circumstances are not permanent indicators of future success. I may be facing challenges now, but that doesn’t define my future. Before achieving your goals, you must first demonstrate your potential. Self-improvement is crucial; it allows your partner to recognize your latent talents and aspirations.

Your competition might not be as committed to personal growth. Even if they currently surpass you in some qualities, you can bridge that gap through persistent effort. Fashion sense is one example. If you and your girlfriend share a similar style, she’ll likely view you as compatible.

It's not the end of the world if your current relationship doesn't work out. Continuous improvement will expand your opportunities. The key is to avoid pressuring your partner into making a decision about the relationship. No one likes to feel coerced; people prefer to make choices freely. Give your partner the space to decide whether they see a future with you.

Are you the kind of man who embraces this philosophy? That's why you picked up this book—to be inspired to become a better person. Don't worry about making a single mistake. What’s essential is maintaining a positive atmosphere in your relationship. Inject humor, engage in healthy debates, and set challenges just as you would in public speaking. Know when to compliment and flatter; the right words at the right time can elevate the relationship.

Furthermore, it's important to have a sense of purpose in life that extends beyond your own benefit. If you appear selfish, no woman would want to envision a future with you. Understand your responsibilities within the larger society. Strive to be someone who can contribute positively to the world. That's an attractive quality.

In summary, remember the principle of freedom. Let your partner choose you without feeling pressured. Focus less on your competition and more on exuding a positive energy.

I hope you find my book helpful. If so, please recommend it to others who might benefit. Not only will this improve your romantic relationships, but it will also make you a more valuable colleague and friend.

Continuous Improvement

Welcome to Continuous Improvement, the podcast where we explore strategies and insights to help you navigate the challenges and obstacles in life. I'm your host, Victor, and in today's episode, we'll be diving into the topic of relationships and continuous improvement.

Relationships can be complicated, and we've all faced our fair share of failures and disappointments. In fact, I personally struggled through twelve failed romantic relationships before finding success. But it's not about dwelling on those failures; it's about learning from them and continuously improving ourselves.

In my book, I share my experiences and provide guidance on how to avoid making the same mistakes I did. One important concept that I emphasize is continuous improvement. Rather than succumbing to negativity and self-pity, we must embrace personal growth and strive to be the best versions of ourselves.

So why do relationships fail? Well, there could be various factors at play. It could be that our qualities aren't as compelling as those of other potential partners. Or perhaps our partner simply prefers someone else. But what can we do about it?

The answer lies in continuous improvement. We must engage fully with life, deepen our relationships, and showcase our best qualities. By advancing our careers, expanding our social circles, and enhancing our physical well-being, we not only change how others perceive us but also increase our odds of finding a lasting and fulfilling relationship.

Remember, current circumstances do not define our future success. We must demonstrate our potential and constantly work on ourselves. While it may seem daunting, this continuous improvement allows our partners to see our latent talents and aspirations.

The competition out there may appear more polished, but we can bridge that gap through persistent effort. Take fashion sense, for example. If you and your partner share a similar style, it creates a sense of compatibility. It's about finding those areas where you can shine and showcase your uniqueness.

Now, if your current relationship doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world. Continuous improvement expands your opportunities. You must resist the urge to pressure your partner into making a decision. Give them the space to determine whether they see a future with you.

Embracing continuous improvement means maintaining a positive atmosphere in your relationship. Inject humor, engage in healthy debates, and set challenges. Compliment and flatter your partner when appropriate. These actions can elevate the relationship and create a strong foundation built on trust and respect.

But remember, it's not just about focusing on ourselves and our relationships. Having a sense of purpose that goes beyond personal benefit is essential. This demonstrates that we are not only committed to our own growth but also to making a positive impact in the world around us. And that's an attractive quality.

In summary, let your partner choose you freely without feeling pressured. Shift your focus from competing with others to exuding positive energy. Continuous improvement is a lifelong journey, and it applies not only to our romantic relationships but also to every aspect of our lives.

I hope you found today's episode insightful and inspiring. Remember, it's okay to make mistakes along the way. What truly matters is maintaining a positive atmosphere and embracing continuous improvement.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of Continuous Improvement. If you found value in today's discussion, I encourage you to recommend this podcast to others who may benefit from it. Together, let's strive to become better versions of ourselves and make a positive difference in the world.

持續改進

感謝您花時間閱讀我的書，與我一起經歷我生活中的經驗。您可能有自己一套挑戰和障礙。這就是為什麼您找到我的書-瞭解我如何成功導航我的。

我在我最初的十二個戀愛關係中失敗了。這並不是因為我不吸引人; 實際上，我在前六次失敗後改變了我的外表，選擇了更好的髮型和更適合的衣服。然而，我仍然在掙扎。我希望每次新的關係都能比上一個改善，但婚姻仍然遙不可及。我分享我的經驗是希望您能避免犯同樣的錯誤。

那麼，為什麼關係會失敗呢？這可能是因為你的品質不如其他潛在的伴侶吸引人，使你在吸引力或財務上變得不那麼理想。你的伴侶可能僅僅更喜歡其他的人;畢竟，海裡有很多魚。

你能做什麼呢？我的書建議您專注於兩個字：持續改進。避免陷入嫉妒或自憐之中，遠離負面情緒。

為了提升，全力以赴地投入生活，深化你的人際關係，展示你最好的品質。致力於提升你的職業生涯，擴大你的社交圈子，提高你的身體健康。這種改變不僅會改變人們對你的看法，而且如果一個潛在的伴侶在你和其他人之間做選擇，也會提高你的機會。人們會將你視為一個重視自我提升和長期成長的人。

看到了嗎，現在的情況不代表未來的成功指標。我現在可能正在面臨挑戰，但這不能定義我的未來。在實現目標之前，您必須首先展示您的潛能。自我提升至關重要; 它允許您的伴侶識別你的潛在才能和抱負。

你的競爭對手可能並不致力於個人成長。即使他們現在在某些方面超越你，你也可以通過持續的努力來彌補這個差距。時尚感就是一個例子。如果你和你的女朋友擁有相似的風格，她可能認為你們十分相配。

如果你現在的關係並不能工作，這並不是世界的結束。持續的改進將會擴大你的機會。關鍵是避免向你的伴侶施加壓力，讓他們對關係做出決定。沒有人喜歡被強迫;人們更喜歡自由地做出選擇。給你的伴侶空間決定他們是否看到與你的未來。

你是接受這種哲學的那種人嗎？這就是你拿起這本書的原因-獲得靈感，成為一個更好的人。不要擔心犯單一個錯誤。维持關係中積極的氛圍才是重要的。注入幽默，參與健康的辯論，並和公眾演講一樣設定挑戰。知道何時恭維和奉承; 在正確的時候說對的話可以提升關係。

此外，擁有超越自身利益的人生目標也很重要。如果你表現得自私，沒有女人會想和你共享未來。瞭解你在更大的社會中的責任。努力成為一個能對世界作出正面貢獻的人。那是一種吸引人的品質。

總的來說，請記住自由的原則。讓你的伴侶在不感到壓力的情況下選擇你。少關注你的競爭對手，更多地散發出積極的能量。

我希望您會覺得我的書對您有幫助。如果是這樣，請推薦給可能會受益的其他人。這不僅會提升你的戀愛關係，也會使你成為更有價值的同事和朋友。

Don't Be Afraid, My Mentor Is Here

Do you have a phobia of speaking in front of a group? I do. That's why I joined Toastmasters—to practice more and strive to overcome my fears. At a social event, I was fortunate enough to meet Ernest Chen and asked him to be my mentor. Thanks to his generosity in accepting me as a protégé, I am writing about this topic today.

Over time, my fear began to fade. My anxiety lessened, especially when speaking in front of a small group of friends. Then, last month, I met one of my mentor's students—a young girl who is just thirteen. She dreams of becoming a successful diplomat translator. Public speaking is crucial if you wish to succeed in an international setting. Her ambition impressed us all, and my mentor is here to help her realize her dream.

Achieving this dream will take a lot of practice and training. During our class, my mentor instructed her to give a two-minute speech. The topic could be anything—school, the Olympics, or the lesson of the day. Since there were only five of us, it seemed easy enough. But she froze, unable to utter the first sentence, especially under the pressure from her mother who was urging her to speak. The more she hesitated, the more anxious she became.

Finally, she broke down in tears. Ernest, my mentor, comforted her: "Don't be afraid; I'm here to help you. Just start with the first sentence; the rest will come. There's no right or wrong." Taking his advice to heart, she gathered her courage and delivered her speech, regaining her self-assurance in the process.

Will my mentor help her overcome her phobia quickly? Unlikely. Learning not to be afraid won't make your fear disappear overnight. It took my mentor years of practice and effort. The young girl didn't conquer her fear immediately, but she made progress. More importantly, she grows more confident each week.

Now, as someone about twenty years her senior, I too feel the pressure when it's my turn to speak. Yet I manage, especially in a small setting. I continue to apply what I've learned from my mentor. But even with extensive practice, the fear never completely goes away.

Last week, in my role as an engineering manager, I had a critical presentation in front of seventy people, including senior executives from a multinational corporation based in Singapore. Despite rehearsing diligently, my fear of public speaking persisted. My inner voice wavered, filled with doubts, until I recalled my mentor's words: "Don't be afraid; just start with the first sentence."

Although it was stressful, the presentation went well, impressing even the CEO of the client company. My public speaking skills seemed to have stood out among the other six presentations in that hour.

I'd like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ernest Chen, a fantastic public speaking mentor. I know it will take me years to reach his level, but he has already taught me the first steps to overcoming my fear. Whenever I find myself giving a speech without my mentor present, I remember his reassuring words: "Don't be afraid; your mentor is here." This mantra has become my guiding light, boosting my confidence and helping me to communicate more freely.