#32 / In Uncertain Times, Focus Inward
Hello my friend! 👋
Today is the last day of 2023, and I'm sending out this Newsletter as a farewell to the year.
2023 was a year filled with uncertainty and change for the whole world. Personally, the changes weren't as drastic. It was more about guarding and maintaining the changes I made in 2022. For 2024, the focus should perhaps shift more inward, considering the world's ongoing turbulence and AI's continued disruption in various career fields. In such times, turning attention to oneself, focusing on the fundamentals like health and those truly essential elements of one's career, seems more valuable.
I took some time this year to reflect and list my achievements, highlights, and experiences in various aspects. It's something I do every December - review the entire year and plan for the next. If you're interested, you can check it out (link below).
I hope everyone can achieve what they wish for and have a better life in 2024. See you next year! 🙂
Here're a few things I'd like to share with you today 🙂
Observations on Life: The Gap in Communication Between Chinese Immigrants and Their Kids
I used to be a loyal Evernote user, and then I quit
My 2024 Mantra: Keeping the Right Distance
Reflecting On Speed Watching
Transform Videos into Blogs with ChatGPT, Step By Step!
18 Highlights of my 2023(in Chinese)
Observations on Life: The Gap in Communication Between Chinese Immigrants and Their Kids
It was Sunday and the swimming pool was packed. Everyone had to wait in line, including me and my daughter.
Right behind me stood a Chinese mother with her son and daughter. She kept talking non-stop, fussing about the Chinese videos she sent her kids that they wouldn't watch properly. She must have said the same thing a dozen times. But what she was really worried about was deeper--it was about not having that common language with her kids, hanging onto Chinese as something familiar in a strange new country.
The kids didn't get their mom's worry. To them, she was just going on and on. They even said sorry, but they didn't really get why their mom was upset. As someone listening in, and an immigrant myself, I totally got it, even if she didn't say it straight out.
Every generation has this thing where they feel like they can't talk to their parents. It was the same with us and our folks, and now it's the same with us and our kids. In my view, each generation goes through this and somehow finds a way through.
For parents, the deal is this: first, you've got to talk about stuff your kids want to hear, not just what you want to say. Second, it's normal not to get each other sometimes. Like, my family still doesn't really get what my job is all about, but as long as we care for each other and can chat about day-to-day stuff, that's what really matters. And third, you have to let go a little. You've got to grow yourself before you can help anyone else grow, even your own family.
I used to be a loyal Evernote user, and then I quit
I used to be a loyal Evernote user, pretty much since it was available on the market. I even hosted Evernote's first official event in China back in 2014 alongside with the founder, Phil Libin.
However, a few years later, I left Evernote without regrets. The product had changed from what I was familiar with, and better alternatives had emerged in the market. As Steve Jobs once said, when a new option provides a better experience, consumers will switch without hesitation. They don't look back, feel regret, or miss the old option.
I can relate to this deeply. If a product no longer delivers the value I need, I will leave it behind without a second thought.
The speed at which Evernote declined was astonishing. An app once known for its elegance and simplicity now got a horrible banner-over-banner pattern for selling. It seems they've stopped prioritizing user experience, focusing instead on making more money as the ship sinks.
My 2024 Mantra: Keeping the Right Distance
Heading into 2024, I've got this big personal goal: staying in my lane but keeping my eyes on the road. You know how it is these days, right? Everything's moving super fast, and there's always something shiny and new popping up, especially with all this AI buzz and, well, the world being a bit upside down lately. My plan? Focus on what truly matters -- my health, the fam, the core stuff of my career. I'm thinking about treating new stuff like I do with hot soup -- close enough to taste, but not so close I get burned. Just trying to find that sweet spot. #StayBalanced
Reflecting On Speed Watching
I've developed a habit I'm not particularly proud of: watching videos and listening to audio content at 1.25x or 1.5x speed, and sometimes even 2x speed for certain Chinese content. This high-speed consumption has become the norm for me, but it's not without its drawbacks. For movies and TV shows, this approach can diminish the impact of pacing and tension as the editing feels rushed. It seems my appetite for information has become insatiable, a change that I think relates to age and the perception of time.
Transform Videos into Blogs with ChatGPT, Step By Step!
Unlock the potential of your video and podcast content! In this quick guide, I demonstrate how to transform multimedia into engaging blog articles. Learn to make your content more shareable, improve clarity of thought, and enhance speaking skills with effective repurposing techniques.
In this video, I discuss the benefits of transforming video or podcast content into blog articles. I explain how this process can make content more shareable and searchable, help clarify thoughts, and improve speaking skills. I also demonstrate the tools and steps involved in converting video content into written articles. Watch this video to learn how to repurpose your video or podcast content into blog articles and enhance your content creation strategy.
18 Highlights of 2023
Following my end-of-year tradition, I've taken time to reflect on the highlights of this year. Though 2023 felt somewhat more subdued compared to 2022, there were still moments worth cherishing.
Have a great one and see you soon!
**Bear Academy Newsletter@2023**
Bear Academy Newsletter
Non-crap tips and thoughts on design, product and technology ✨
🐻 Bear Who?
Hi there 👋, I'm Bear, a seasoned Product Designer with 15 years of overall design experience and six years in product design, transforming the user experiences for millions 📝
As an Apple Award-Winning Podcast Host at BearTalk and a Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry, I apply my self-taught design skills and science background to solve complicated problems and mentor budding designers 😃
In my downtime, you'll find me reading, drawing, podcasting, and making videos about everything from tech to design and productivity 👨🎨
🤓 Work
💼 What I do:Product Designer at Xero
🌃 I also do:Design Mentor at Springboard and CareerFoundry / Founder at Bear Academy
🎤 Side hustle:Podcast host at Award-winning podcast BearTalk
💡 Goodies
Bear Academy - my courses around UX Design, AI, etc
Bear Academy Newsletter - my free newsletter, which you are reading now
Beartalking.com - all my posts, English and Chinese
Youtube.com/@Bearliu - A video is worth a thousand words
💬 Contact
https://twitter.com/bearbig](https://twitter.com/bearbig) - Majorly I post in Chinese
bear@beartalking.com - The old fashion email way
LinkedIn.com/in/bearliu - My professional life