I could have asked Google.

But I chose to ask ChatGPT instead.

I read the following sentence on Twitter: “you’ve been subbed for X days now, congrats”.

“Congrats” is short for “Congratulations”.

But I had never heard the term “subbed” before.

So I asked ChatGPT.

Within seconds, the response appeared: “You’ve been subscribed for x days.“

Ah, now all was clear.

Insiders* often use special words and abbreviations because they are familiar with the subject.

These terms are part of their everyday language.

Why am I telling you this?

By using simple and straightforward language, we can make it easier for everyone to understand.

It’s the best way to avoid confusion or misunderstandings.

I used to think Sehnsucht was just a feeling of longing.

But it’s so much more than that.

It’s a feeling that aches deep within you. A longing or yearning for something you can’t quite put your finger on.

How would you best describe this German word that doesn’t have a direct translation in English?

It’s difficult, isn’t it?

Let me try

Sehnsucht refers to a deep and complex feeling of homesickness, nostalgia and desire for something that is missing in one’s life.

It can also refer to a desire for something that may not even exist, such as an ideal or utopian state.

It’s often associated with feelings of longing, wistfulness, and sadness.

It’s such a beautiful word, don’t you think?

Take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.

To take responsibility for your life is to take responsibility for your powers of thinking, feeling, speaking and acting, because this is the structure of all human experience. You create your life with your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions.

You take responsibility when you accept that the thoughts you have, are your thoughts coming from your mind. How you feel happens in your body and is a result of your thoughts. The words you speak come from your mouth and voice. The actions you take, are taken by you.

What this means is that nobody can make you think, feel, say or do anything. Nobody can push your buttons, because you are the button maker! In the same way, you don’t have control over how other people respond as they respond from their mindset.

Dina Marais

We sometimes need to be reminded.

Because two heads are better than one!

Last year, I had the honour of being asked to mentor a budding Business English coach.

And let me tell you, having a mentor is like having a secret weapon in your arsenal.

Of course, you can go it alone. But why not have a partner in crime to accelerate your progress and make the journey way more enjoyable?

My job was to give guidance, advice and feedback to help my mentee reach her goals and aspirations.

I shared my knowledge and expertise to teach her new skills and give her a deeper understanding of the world of language teaching.

And, I provided examples of good practice and encouraged her to adopt these behaviors and attitudes.

My discovery

I found out that mentoring isn’t just about giving advice. It’s also about receiving it.

My mentee taught me just as much as I taught her.

This year, I switched roles and am now working with a mentor myself.

My recommendation

If you’re looking for knowledge, wisdom, experience, advice, and/or support, consider working with a mentor.

Or offer your services as a mentor.

It’s a win-win situation.

Mentoring is a learning curve for both parties involved.

Has a mentor or mentee relationship had a positive impact on your business? 

I’d love to know!

Use 10 Minute Mail to keep your personal email address private.

How often have you given out your email address to access websites or sign up for services and then received  a lot of unwanted emails or spam?

10minutemail lets us create temporary email addresses to use instead, so our main one stays safe.

Tell me if it works for you.

When I was young, I remember spending hours huddled around the kitchen table with my father, working on jigsaw puzzles. 

At first, we would carefully sort through the pieces and separate them by colour and shape.

We would start with the edges to build the frame. And then we would work our way in, trying to find the pieces that fit together.

With patience, persistence and skill, we would eventually complete the puzzle and admire the beautiful image that we had created.

Isn’t learning a language a lot like working on a puzzle?

It feels a little overwhelming in the beginning.

But with each new word or grammar point we learn, we move closer to understanding the bigger picture. 

And if we seriously want to improve, there are two things I feel are crucial:

1. Whatever we choose to do, it must be enjoyable. If not, we’re more likely to become frustrated and give up.
2. We need to practise regularly. Consistency is key.

As a regular reader of my Sparks, you are already doing something consistently.

Congratulations.