Hi, I’m Visakan Veerasamy (call me Visa!). This is my blog about everything and nothing. I have a wide range of interests, but they’re really all the same thing.
I’m deductively rational and deeply emotional. I’m passionate about systems thinking, communication, narratives, philosophy, social dynamics and decision-making, just to name a few. I love identifying patterns, refining and synthesizing disparate ideas. I live for moments of epiphany and insight. I want to make a dent in the universe.
I’m currently on a Heroic Quest of Self-Actualization! I call it The 90 Week Project.
I’ve always been very comfortable with words. I read widely and I love to write, too. I’m a musician- I play the bass, sing and play the guitar a little. I’m a video game geek.
I spent the first 20 years of my life as a chronic underachiever. My mantra was “Do as little as you can possibly get away with.” When I turned 20, I gradually realised that I had wasted most of life’s opportunities being distracted by superficial things.
I did not want my grave to read, “Here lies Visa, an arrogant, lazy and unlikable slob who accomplished nothing worth mentioning.”
I decided that I was going to stop drifting aimlessly and transform into a heat-seeking missile, locked onto my vision of myself growing into a highly accomplished individual who is happy, fulfilled and an asset to humanity.
New to my blog, and not sure where to begin?
I’m a Singaporean, so I often write about my thoughts on Singaporean issues. Here are some of them- If you gotta catch ‘em all, head over to the Singapore category.
- Does racial harmony justify xenophobia in Singapore?
- Evidence of Straits Times’ manipulation of forum letters
- Criticisms of MM Lee Pt 1
- Criticisms of MM Lee Pt 2
- The incentive fallacy, and the problem with ministerial pay
- Why Singaporeans don’t feel that they belong
- Why nobody gives up their seats, and how we can fix that
- Is Singapore a gaze-averse nation?
- The Singaporean Education System
- JC students deserve priority over Poly students?
- Junior college censors valedictorian’s speech
- How neediness and insecurity influences our foreign policy
- The politics underlying the mandatory death penalty
LifeHacks: Thoughts and ideas I’ve stumbled upon, stolen and haphazardly put together that I feel might be of relevance to improving your quality of life.
- Knowing but not knowing.
- 7 Lessons smokers can teach us about getting shit done
- The Art of Disagreement: 5 steps to emerge unscathed from every battle
- Why self-help books don’t work, and why it’s your fault
- Harnessing and managing the rocket fuel of Emotion
- 7 steps to unlocking superhuman clarity of mind
- Managing complex change: 5 things that stop you from accomplishing greatness
- How Marginal Differences will change your life
- Why you should keep track of every day
- The Smile Experiment
Personal Development:
- Work hard? Me? But I’m Gifted!
- dealing with that familiar empty feeling
- How to deal with an existential crisis.
- A candid and brutal assessment of my own weaknesses.
- On binging, and moderation.
- Love lives, and to love is to live.
- Soulmates: why reality is actually more wondrous and beautiful than fantasy.
- The 90 Week Challenge
- Why weeks and months are more valuable than days and years.
- Transcending Domain Specificity
- The cigarette-smoking model of action.
- Embrace the detours.
Heroism:
- The Hero Hypothesis
- Self-mastery and the journey of the hero
- Personal development and symbolism of the hero
You may be interested in my series on how to be awesome titled “Hacking The 7 Deadly Sins“, including Vanity, Lust, Greed.
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook!
where’s the part where you say ‘I’m from TPJC?’
I thought you said it had a great impact on you too?
I said that? Perhaps I meant that retaining had a big impact on me, but it wouldn’t have mattered where I did the retaining at… most of what was interesting in my life during my JC years were directly related to what I did when I wasn’t in school
Hello Visakan,
From your profile photo, I gather you are a young man. I wish you opportunities and safety in traveling to see the world.
I am a senior citizen at 70 coming July. Like you, I am Singapore born and bred. And I agree with your essay “Incentive Fallacy”. It is money and more money. That is what the government can think of. But the problem is it does not trickle down.
Best wishes
Thank you, Peter!
Hi Visakan,
I am Rachel from The Thought Collective. A student from our learning centre recommended your blog, and I think what we do may interest you. Would you be able to spare some time and visit our company websites? If there is something that stands out for you, we could set something up.
Our websites are:
School of Thought Learning Centre: http://www.schoolofthought.com.sg
Food For Thought: http://www.foodforthought.com.sg
Thinkscape: http://www.thinkscape.com.sg
Thanks, I look forward to your reply!
Best Regards,
rachel chng I copy editor
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school of thought
112 middle road #02-01 midland house
singapore 188970
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demand a broader perspective
“I am proud of my country despite its shortcomings” should read “I am proud of my country” coz it don’t make no sense otherwise.
Hi Visa..
Middle aged, Singaporean born and bred Eurasian lady here.. love your wit and humour!! Your views are shared by many across the age and racial demographics of Singapore.. Keep up the good stuff!!
Hi Tina! Thank you so much for that! It means a lot to me <3
Awesome to read a local blog with real perpectives while entertaining. Keep your passion alive and work smart to make your dreams become reality!