Think differently. Think unexpectedly. Think strategically.
Act confidently. Act respectfully. Act constructively.
Think, Act
Category: Blog
“Professional” in American Culture
In America, I have repeatedly noticed how the word “professional” is perceived. First, it is used very broadly, encompassing an entire class of occupations such as doctors, lawyers, business consultants, teachers, professors, and other white-collar workers. Of course, you might hear phrases like “professional boxer” or “professional dancer,” but in most cases, the term “professional” refers to people engaged in intellectual activities and working within certain standards.
Second, professionalism is closely linked to specific behavior and appearance. To “look and act professionally” means dressing neatly, conservatively, and formally, as well as demonstrating politeness, attentiveness, and proper speech while avoiding slang or informal expressions. Writing professionally is also an important aspect, particularly in emails, where clarity, proper formatting, and polite, concise language are expected norms.
Third, telling someone that they look or act professionally is indeed high praise. Such a remark pertains not only to appearance but also to the overall impression a person makes: neatness, reliability, respect for others, and adherence to expectations—all these are associated with professionalism in American culture.
This approach to professionalism stands out when compared to other cultures, where the emphasis might be more on experience or expertise rather than appearance or behavioral aspects. In the U.S., professionalism is not only about skills but also about the ability to meet high standards of self-presentation.
Variety of diplomacies
When people talk about diplomacy, I always want to ask: what #diplomacy are you talking about? For me, diplomacy is not limited to #interstate diplomacy. There are many other types of diplomacy, including between entities such as individuals, organizations, families, groups, etc.
Diplomacy at Critical Junctures – A New Video on “Diplomatic Nexus” Channel
New video on my “Diplomatic Nexus” YouTube channel: A conversation with a young but already known scholar in the field of international relations and diplomacy Seanon Wong. Dr. Wong is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Undergraduate Program in Government and Public Administration, and the Director of the International Affairs Research Centre, the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is also an Executive Editor of the International Relations of the Asia-Pacific journal, Area Editor of the Oxford Bibliographies (International Relations), and a Member of the International Editorial Board of The Hague Journal of Diplomacy.
In the conversation, Professor Wong and I discussed the features of modern diplomacy and diplomatic studies, the role of individuals, body language, intentions and intercultural differences in diplomacy, relations between IR and diplomatic studies, as well as other issues related to understanding diplomatic theory and practice.
From Letters to Likes: A Life in Transit
While I lived, life around me lived its own, completely unpredictable life.
I was born in one country and woke up in another – without even getting out of bed! The state collapsed faster than my plans to buy a new refrigerator. So, I outlived the country I was born in, though it was much more expansive than I was.
And then, from an invisible corner, the Internet leaped out. I remember when letters used to walk through the mail – now they fly at the speed of light through wires! In the past, only fish swam in nets, but now we all swim there (and keep diving deeper). Social networks appeared – and it turned out I had more friends than I thought, and it is even harder to count enemies!
Then artificial intelligence came along – now even computers pretend to be smarter than me. Though I suspect they’re not pretending at all. That’s evolution for you: from “Do you have anything to eat?” to “Do you have anything to comment on?”
And what about tomorrow? Even the day after tomorrow doesn’t know that.
A-Rules (5): How to Manage Your Time? Start with Priorities
A great deal has been written about time management. It’s a crucial topic for people in various professions — from executives and entrepreneurs to students and homemakers. There are countless methods for managing time: creating to-do lists, maintaining calendars, delegating tasks, setting short-, medium-, and long-term goals, and overcoming procrastination. Yet, in the flood of advice and techniques, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
In my opinion, time management is not as complex as it seems. Its essence boils down to one thing: understanding and adhering to your priorities. When you clearly know what truly matters to you and have a solid understanding of your key life goals and tasks, the entire system of time management becomes clear, logical, and straightforward.
For instance, imagine a manager juggling multiple projects, attending strategic meetings, and being responsible for team development. If they recognize that their top priority at the moment is completing a major project that determines the company’s future, they can redirect their efforts and time to that specific task. They may need to temporarily delegate other responsibilities to colleagues or opt out of less critical meetings. A clear understanding of priorities allows the manager not only to manage their time effectively but also to maintain focus on the most important tasks.
Defining priorities may not be an easy task, but it is the cornerstone of effective time management. Once priorities are clear, the system of time management begins to work effortlessly.
A-Rules (4): Both Internal and External Motivation are Important
Motivation for a person is like a car’s engine: a motivated and purposeful person is obviously capable of achieving much more than someone who is disinterested and indifferent. Without great motivation, there would be no great achievements.
There are two types of motivation: internal and external. Internal motivation comes from deep within a person, their nature, inclinations, and interests. Some people have very strong and stable internal motivation. Such people try to engage in activities they find interesting no matter what. However, there aren’t many such people, and many of them, despite their enthusiasm, sometimes experience doubts and difficulties in maintaining their motivation. In short, even such motivated people sometimes need external motivation. For ordinary people, that is, most of us, both internal and external motivation are regularly needed.
External motivation is the driving force of our behavior, the source of which is external. This could be a kind word, a gentle touch, an enthusiastic look, an interesting book, recognition, money, etc. Of course, not all people react the same way to various external factors, such as material incentives or moral encouragement. Therefore, everyone may have their own system of external motivation, which is somehow connected to their system of internal motivation. It’s important to understand what truly motivates you.
Undoubtedly, internal motivation is the main thing. But we shouldn’t forget that even internally motivated people sometimes need external motivation. I, for example, receive great motivational support from books about interesting people. I know people who were greatly helped by popular books on psychology, leadership, and management when they began to doubt themselves and their internal motivation was weakened.
So, motivate yourself! Even if you have strong internal motivation, find meaningful sources of external motivation that are important to you: situations may arise when they become your support.
A-Rules (3): Do Good Without Expecting Reciprocity
Reciprocity is one of the key principles of human relationships. When we receive a gift, we often feel the urge to give something in return. If someone invites us to their home, it seems natural to invite them back. Gratitude frequently follows kind words and deeds.
However, a literal interpretation of reciprocity can lead us astray. It’s not necessary to respond to every smile with another smile or to every compliment with a compliment. This is especially true for acts of kindness: true kindness is selfless and does not seek gratitude or reward. People often say that good deeds eventually come back to us, but that’s not the point. By doing good, we make the world a better place, and our reward is living in a slightly kinder world.
When we expect something in return for our good deeds, we risk disappointment because not everyone notices or appreciates kindness. And that’s okay. True goodness comes from the heart, is unselfish, and brings joy to the giver. It is one of life’s simple yet profound pleasures.
Do good for the sake of doing good – and enjoy the process without expecting anything in return.
Conversation with Dr. Timur Dadabaev
On my YouTube channel “AF Studio”: Conversation with Dr. Prof. Timur Dadabaev of Tsukuba University, Japan:
Honesty and Deception
In my classes I often talk about good and evil, honesty and cunning, truth and lies in relations between people, organizations and states. Alas, the most interesting questions are those related to manipulation, deception and cunning. I wonder why?
Alisher Faizullaev 