Regular visitors to Hodu.com know that we have a wide selection of top-rate tutorials designed to help you sharpen your conversation skills in all kinds of situations, whether routine or unusual. The time you take in reading them will be well repaid.

But if you’re really in a hurry, here’s an excellent ten-point summary that will give you the basics of enjoying productive, tension-free discussions while standing on one leg. ( I mean, you can read this list while standing on one leg, not conduct a good conversation in that time – unless you’re exceptionally fit! I purposely constructed that sentence that way to make a point. Ambiguity is another enemy og good communication.)

I found this list at several places, without attribution. If you happen to know its author, please let me know so I can give due credit. Here goes…

1. Begin with something positive to create a friendly atmosphere.

2. Appreciate the human being you are talking with. S/he is not the enemy.

3. Respect the other person’s desire to do the right thing. When possible, give positive feedback.

4. Desire peace. If the other person makes offensive mistakes, don’t retaliate, rather help him/her recover.

5. Be open-minded. If the other person makes a good objection, admit to it (and enjoy your new clarity).

6. Don’t interrupt. Treat others as you would like to be treated. In the long term, you will save time.

7. Don’t provoke the other person by hitting his/her hot buttons.

8. “Show me, don’t shout at me.” Keep the discussion intellectual. Don’t force your opinion by shouting.

9. Lead by example. Don’t expect the other person to keep these rules. Teach them by example.

10. End by summarizing what you have in common with the other person, a good start for next time.

So that’s it in a nutshell. Here’s wishing you a lifetime of fruitful, really enjoyable conversations, free of any hint of stress, rancor or one-upmanship.

An estimated 100,000 people have already perished, and millions made homeless, owing to the devastating cyclone that hit Myanmar, the largest country by geographical area in Southeast Asia. The sheer magnitude of the destruction is more than mind-boggling, and equally so is the enormity of the need for relief.

Several million people are in dire need of support. Things each of us often take for granted – food, fresh water, a roof over our heads – are available to only a small minority . International relief organizations are struggling to provide much needed assistance.

Two socially responsible Internet entrepreneurs have risen to the call of community support by launching the Myanmar Challenge website. The objective of the site is to increase awareness of the situation in which millions are finding themselves without so many things we take for granted. As the name indicates, the intention is to challenge you to play your part also.

And don’t think that you’re too insignificant, or you just don’t have the means, to help. You can! Here’s how you can do it:

As a private individual, you can contribute to the cause in one of three ways:

Firstly, you can make a monetary contribution, of even the smallest amount, to one of the humanitarian organizations now actively involved in the relief effort. The site provides an extensive list of organizations you can contribute to directly. And if you know of an appropriate organization that’s not on the list, that’s fine too! (The campaign is to raise awareness and support for the plight of the victims, not to focus on any specific institution.)

Secondly, you can make a purchase from one of the growing list of companies who themselves have taken the Myanmar Challenge! A continuously updated list is found on the site. (Perhaps you’ll find a product or service you’ll be spending money on anyhow.) When you buy something from them or take whatever other action required, the merchant has undertaken to make a specific donation towards the relief effort.

The third way you can help is very simple: spread the word! Phone or email your friends, many of whom may not even be aware how serious the situation is in the crisis zone, and tell them about the Myanmar Challenge. If you have a blog, a personal web page, a page on Facebook or whatever, your job will be so much easier!

This is not the kind of post I normally make on this blog, but I thought it important to bring to your attention. Whatever way you can help, please do it now!