#i expanded my brain on types of IFs | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

actualbird · 1 year ago

Note

Hi Zak!! This is a pretty random ask but i was just wondering if you have any tips for starting a fanfic/story? I just keep getting stuck on how to start one (I really love your work/blog 🙏 feeds my tot brain rot fr!!)

hi anon, im glad you like the stuff i make ;w; !!! and ohhh, sure i got tons of tips for that!.....so many that i actually wish i cld get u back here to ask what specifically about starting a story u'd want tips on but for now, i'll go for a general overview :D!!

cuz....to me (i.e. based on my writing process, which i'll be drawing heavily from for these tips), the act of Starting comes in three distinct steps, one after the other:

Idea Generation (what is the story gonna be about and how do i get ideas for that?)

Concept Organization/Outlining (how is the story going to be about this idea and how will i be executing it?)

Creation (GAH, HOW PUT WORDS ON PAGE!?!?!?)

so i'll give general tips for all three!!!

Idea Generation Tips

(this is the step that i personally have the least trouble with because my brain makes 5 new ideas every day. it's kinda a curse now because it leads to me having too many wips and concepts and only 1% of them gets to the Creation period jhvjhVJKSHFVHJS BUT ANYHOO, TIPS-)

Check Out Prompt Lists (super fun and easy way to get an idea! theres tons of story and fic prompts out there that you can search up here on tumblr, some of them being lists of lines of dialog or lists of AUs or scenarios. even if you dont follow a prompt exactly, they can be great at kickstarting ur brain into thinking of something related that you Do wanna pursue)

Open/Ask For Prompt Requests (if ur brain doesnt have any ideas, u can ask around and see if anyone ELSE has ideas theyre alright with you writing! my tot fics "reviews for Time's Antiquities, South Stellis | Average Rating: 4.8 Stars" and "but little do we know, the stars welcome him with open arms" were both inspired by anon asks i got!! to those anons who sent those asks, i owe u my life....but yea, maybe other people can give ideas to you! or, again, give Something that can inspire another thing in ur brain to take shape)

Just Ramble With A Friend (SO MANY OF MY FIC IDEAS started because i was just goofing off and playing idea volleyball with fandom buddies in our DMs (shoutout to sam samsspambox, z lukevonhagen, and beck beckthebeetle for being the main culprits of this). like, what started out as a joke conversation eventually makes go "oh no wait i actually wanna see that as a fic" and then boom, Idea Has Been Acquired. but fr, talking with another person makes your brain create things u never thought about before. it's both tons of fun to chat with a buddy as a sounding board, and it yields awesome concepts for stories!)

For Fanfic Specifically, Think About What You Want To See In Canon But Hasn't Happened And You Want It So Bad It's Driving You NUTS (this can be anything from missing scenes you wish were expanded on, scenes you wish went a different way, character relationships you wish you could see more of in canon, go nuts! the fun thing with fanfic is that it's a fertile playground for all the what-ifs, and a lot of my fics' ideas were simply found because i thought "man i know tears of themis is never gonna show me deep found fam moments/artem ptsd consequences after main story 6.2/mariluke, so imma make it myself" JHVSJDHF. ideas are hard to make sometimes, but brains are so good at desiring things. and all those desires? those can also be Ideas for a fic!)

Concept Organization/Outlining

(very much skippable if your writing style/personality is more receptive to free-wheeling!! im just the type of writer who always needs an outline to begin something. it helps me structure a raw idea with no shape into something clearer that i can envision a story for)

Outline A Rough Chain Of Events Chronologically (this can be as simple as three bullet points, what happens at the Start of the story, the Middle, and the End. or maybe you can go list down the portions of your fic according to the Freytag's Pyramid Plot Structure: Exposition, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, etc etc.)

Outline A Rough List Of Stuff You Just Want To Happen In The Fic (if your brain is like mine and isnt too great at chronological thinking, make a list of just all the plot points and events or even dialog exchanges u Want to see in the fic. you can organize it in the order u want later once uve put everything down)

Outline The Themes (moving away from plot, many stories are more focused on feelings or characterization or themes. so make a list of the Concepts you want to tackle. this is something i do for my fics that are more introspective, so i outline shit like "EVENT THAT MAKES LUKE INTERNALIZE SELF-LOATHING followed by EVENT THAT MAKES LUKE'S VIEW BE NOTICED BY ANOTHER CHARACTER")

Creation

(the worst part of writing....is the writing JAVFJVSDKHFDJHJ but nah fr this is the part i have the hardest time with, so here are tips that help me kickstart the word engine)

You Dont Have To Start Writing The Fic From The Beginning Of Its Story, Start Writing Wherever (confession: a good 75% of my fics are ones where the first scene i actually wrote down was not the start. instead, i just wrote the scene i was most excited to write. and usually thats somewhere in the middle! i do this cuz it makes my brain happy, and a happy brain is much easier to pull words from than a sad brain. plus, when i see the scene I Like Best already written, it gives me motivation to do the rest of the fic because oh my god i want everybody to sEE THIS ONE DANG SCENE!!! start writing the fic at whatever point you want, in whatever order comes most naturally to you, is my point. you can fill the rest in later, but hey, starting to write where you Want has gotten you Started. now you just gotta finish, and finishing when you already have something down is much easier than starting from 0)

Set Tiny Wordcount Goals. And When I Say Tiny, I MEAN TINY!!! (writing is intimidating but if you set a goal of say, 100 words written for a wip per day, at the end of one week, you'll have 700 words. at the end of two, you'll have 1400 words. at the end of a month, 3000. small goals help since it makes you do Something, and that Something will inevitably compound, no matter what goal uve set. and let urself be proud of the goals uve achieved!!! writer brain gets happy when you tell it it's done a good job at reaching a wordcount goal, and like i said earlier, happy brain is much easier to work with than sad brain)

Give Yourself All The Time You Need (i know this sounds counterproductive but sometimes....the best thing you can do for the part of your brain that wants to start creating....is waiting til it's ready. dont pressure yourself, cuz brain will get sad. dont be too hard on yourself, cuz brain will get sad. start when you want to start in the way that works best with your brain and see where things go, but be patient with yourself. sometims Starting is actually the longest part of writing a story and thats fine. it will happen. trust)

thats all the tips ive got! and of course, what will work for me wont always work for other people, so please feel free to take what you think applies to you and discard what doesnt resonate.

i hope some part of this can help! happy writing :D

#asks #anon #.....man i forgot if i had a tag for writing tips. i know ive answered a writing tips asks but i cannot rmr for the life of me the tag..jsd #also yes im testing out changing text color to help break up my blocktext rambling jhvjkVKJ

40 notes · View notes

dainty-fingertips · 2 years ago

Note

Hey can I request a raimi! Otto octavius x abused female reader. I also completely understand if you are not comfortable with this

this became personal to me, I'm so sorry if this isn't what you wanted but it means a lot to me. thank you for requesting <:) reader has PTSD, my first hurt/comfort

How the World Works ||doc ock x fem. reader

word count: 1308

summary: Doctor Octopus has a talk with his hostage that leaves them both a bit misty-eyed.

trigger warnings: vague talk of abuse (type unspecified), PTSD, crying

“Tell me,” He said, turning to face her fully. He sat in a rolling chair across from her in his dilapidated laboratory by the river. “Why do you look so lost?” He asked her, clasping his gloved hands together. “Every time I spare you a glance, you… You’re staring off into nothing, wide-eyed.” She couldn’t help but shake her head dismissively and smile at him. “Didn’t I tell you I could see ghosts, Doc?” She said, doing her best to dissolve some of the tension in the poor doctor’s voice; but he didn’t laugh. In fact, he looked sadder. She paused and followed with a sigh. “It’s nothing important, really. I just tend to space out.” She smiled at him, sitting back in her seat. “My fear, however,” He began, leaning forward. “Is that there is more to it than you’re letting on.” He insisted lowly. “Please, be honest with me,” he continued, rolling the chair closer to her. “What’s going on?”

And here, she realized, there was a reason he had a doctorate and she did not. Her smile faltered and her expression became stoic, cold. “Why?” She asked. The doctor paused for a moment himself, unsure. Why was this important to him? She was a hostage. This girl was only here so he could lure Spider-Man to his death. Something intrigued the doctor about her. Maybe this was why. The actuators sure had a lot to say about her, enough for Otto to verbally command them to shut up; followed by a swift reassurance that it wasn’t meant for her. “Doctor, it isn’t something I like to talk about. Surely you understand.” Otto sighed. “I do, but don’t call me Shirley.” and her smile came back in the smallest of fragments. The sight relieved Otto some; maybe this would make her more comfortable to talk.

“Listen.” She began, holding her hand out to him. “If you want to know? I’ll tell you.” He took note of the newfound wavering in her voice. “Very well.” She took a deep breath in, her lungs expanding in a sort of nervousness she didn’t often get the luxury of feeling. Where to begin…

“Things happened to me that I don’t typically like to think about.” She murmured, motioning lightly with her hands for emphasis. “But sometimes… sometimes my brain makes me think about them. And I can’t stop my brain from making me think about them, because my body just… it shuts down when I do.” She cups her hands together as she speaks, staring down at her fingers instead of at the doctor. “It’s been a while, don’t worry. Some years since it happened, actually.” Letting out a shaky sigh, she trudged on. “But when I space out, and I start to remember, I get just as scared and…a- and just as sad, and just as angry as I was back then. It isn’t diluted by passing time as it should be. It’s… like I’m still there.” Otto couldn’t bring himself to press for details. Not right now, they’d come with time. But, he began to think, whoever hurt her… they’d be given a visit.

“And you feel as isolated at that moment as you did back then?” He inquired carefully. She nodded slowly in response. “Even though I’ve never really been so alone since then, I can’t help but… fear the worst, you know? What if it happens again? What if I can’t see the signs this time?” Otto put a hand over her own. “You simply cannot.” He said quietly. “W-What?”

“Yn, if you live your life amidst a sea of ‘What-ifs’, you will drown. It is a battle you will simply lose each time you try to fight. Though it isn’t completely hopeless, you see; wounds will always heal. Look at me, for example. Most would see these actuators as a nuisance, a reason for bother; but I do not! I have been able to take control of them, and I have been able to do all of this!” He turned and made a sweeping motion to the large four-pronged reactor he’d built from scraps. “Any poor situation can be solved with a bit of sweat, some patience, and a line of poetry.” He squeezed her hand softly between his own two. “Are you a fan of literature, Yn?” He asked her. “W-” “Don’t bother answering. Come here.”

He led her to the base of the machine across the old warehouse, smiling fondly. “Look upon this fusion reactor. I lost my lab, my funding, and even my wife. I was given these mechanical appendages for what, at first, I believed to be a curse. But they were the reason I was able to bring this machine back to life!” He exclaimed, clearly proud of himself. “I was able to find a way to work through what had happened to me. I’m still not where I deserve to be, but look what I’ve done for myself using these. I believe you can do the same, Yn.” He turned to see a stray tear falling from her eye as she gazed upon the machine. “Yn,” He said, carefully approaching her and wiping her cheek. “You will be great, too. I can see it in your eyes.”

Her eyes were puffy and red and crying more than they had been moments ago, but that didn’t matter to either of them. She rubbed her face and choked down the sobs that were crawling up her strained throat. “Th-” She sniffed, wiping her nose. “They really mislabeled you, Doctor.” She choked out beneath the tears. “Don’t make this about me, you little minx.” He allowed a warm smile to cross his lips, placing his hands softly on her shoulders. She laughed a sort of amalgamation. A Frankenstein of sobs and laughter, of thanks and apologies. Who would have thought the one person to give her the time of day would be a man she’d never met before?

She covered her face in her shaking hands and allowed herself to cry. To really, actually cry. Otto came close to her and rested his chin on her head, wrapping his arms around her. His coat was warm and his skin was soft. He smelled like a mixture of cigars and leather and river water. It was a peculiar scent, wasn’t it? She didn’t move, she only sobbed. Years and years of memories and feelings, fights and loneliness, fear and sadness; it all came crashing down from a feigning mask of humor. To Otto, the question he had posed to himself earlier grew to show its own answer. She was a puzzle, an equation. One he wanted - no, needed - to solve. She felt like fireflies on a summer evening in Central Park, like fresh snow on the ground outside of his lab in the winter.

And Otto began to cry, too. He clutched her in his arms and he realized how much this girl had grown to mean to him. In only a few short days, he realized he would fight tooth and nail to keep her safe and healthy and alive with him. He thought about their banter, their jokes, her words of kindness and affirmation and he wept. He placed a hand on the back of her head and the two of them cried together. “T-Thank you, doctor.” She whispered breathily into him. Otto didn’t give a response verbally, but he held her a bit tighter in his arms.

When it was over, and they’d both exhausted their tears, they looked at each other and began to smile. Their smiles began soft, broken laughter, and they hugged each other again; but it wasn’t a hug for them to cry into this time. They laughed and they wiped their eyes and noses and they began to realize that the world had a strange way of working.

#doctor octopus x reader #doctor octopus #doc ock #doc ock x reader #otto octavius #otto octavius x reader #raimi spider man #alfred molina #alfred molina x reader #spiderman x reader #marvel x reader #mcu x reader

151 notes · View notes

rangerslayer-97 · 4 years ago

Note

Questions for the fanfic questions thing if you are up for it? Don't have to. I chose numbers 30, 39, 40 and a bonus question of your choice if you want! Have fun. XD

Ha ha ha. Game on then. I feel like you're psychoanalysing me XD

Be prepared, I will fire back with questions of my own and I hope my answers suffice XD

******

30. What inspires you to write?

Ans: My inspiration to write? Sometimes after watching a TV series or film, then when I finish it, sometimes my brain fires into overdrive on the What-ifs or what could be done to improve something. Otherwise, I get inspired after reading other people's works ororiginating across fan art. Take my Galaxy-1 series for example, it was inspired after I stumbled across an artwork on DeviantArt if Ahsoka Tano led Operation Knightfall instead of Anakin. G38, you can pretty guess XD

39. What is you greatest strength as a writer?

Ans: Not something I talk about much and prefer to keep lowkey. I'm not one to brag or talk about strengths. I guess it's developing characters further, exploring their other personalities. Taking them away from the midst of combat and getting to know them during downtime, the "filler" moments that some may find boring, but I find critical in the type of stories I write. In fact, combat in my fics is getting more and more minimal, more emphasis in trying to encourage my readers to learn about the characters I expand upon. Realistically, just like us, fictional characters need downtime too.

40. What do you struggle the most with in your writing?

Ans: That's a hard question honestly. Probably making my plot flow. With new niche with interconnecting one-shots that are puzzles of a larger story, getting each one-shot to flow can be difficult. I often have to reference back to an old story to make sure if I'm referencing it, my info is correct or if I'm taking dialogue from it for a flashback which I've done several times. Some moments I completely forget stuff then I'm in a situation I have to painful fix or have to retcon something because it doesn't flow. Writing one-shots à la Dave Filoni is a pain, it's a new challenge, I like my new niche, but it can be the biggest pain at best of times since my memory can go styrofoam XD

Bonus Question:

47. Archive Of Our Own, Fanfiction.net or Tumblr - where do you prefer to post and why?

Ans: I used to be part of FFN.net, but after I joined AO3, I found it much better. AO3 has a freedom I can appropriately tag and censor my fics, leave appropriate warnings. In terms of interacting with my commenters, being able to reply to them it's great. There's better aspects than on FFN.net.

Tumblr is there for me to nerd out, but also a back up of someone wants to contact me if they're worried about a character in my fic due to my infamous kill count, hence the warnings and disclaimers in my recent series Crisis on Infinite Galaxies (COIG). It's also great to post my drabbles too if ideas are too short for a full one-shot. Also a place to leave prompts or requests I am willing to take on, granted I'm not busy.

So... Tumblr and AO3! XD

#rangerslayer 97 answers

5 notes · View notes

unrequited-words · 5 years ago

Text

Update

Six plus hours with you. You told me you loved me. You told me, you're the first person who I think of when I don't think of my kids, and that is fucking terrifying. We went into detail of how many attempts i've made and as I cried you held me, and kept reassuring that it's okay because you've been there.

I love how you call me Heffalump, and how we can just talk about anything. You take all my walls down and maybe... Let's just go with it. When D told me to stop talking to you, I grieved. Not because of the potential of sex, or kissing, or hand holding... But, losing you... My good friend.

I know you're sleeping but I can't stop thinking about you. I've NEVER been this honest with not even myself, and when I think of it all ... I'm not nervous, I'm calm. I've NEVER had that before. When I think of the possibilities of the what ifs when my brain goes all retarded and it doesn't cause me to spiral down.

Being served papers, not telling him about the miscarriage, and not having babies is just too much and I think it finally all crashing down. I know I'm too passive ... you know how when you meet the one person you're supposed to be with almost like a soul mate if you do believe in soulmates and you're afraid to lose that person that's how he feels I know it's new and everything but it's like I would have never imagined a year ago two years ago that I would be facing divorce and I would be... I wouldn't say in love but really strong feelings for a guy I've known less than two weeks

it makes me sound like I'm some fucking whore and I know marriages don't work all the time but life's too short to be fucking and happy life's too short to just settle I mean for fucksake of anyone I would know life is way too short and the span of seven years I've lost my father, my brother, and now my mother and now I'm realizing I got it just obtain that happiness because there's nothing like regrets

There's a lot of shit that we've said to each other as husband and wife. But I mean if your mom died and you were in the middle of grieving because you watched her die right in front of you and you had your spouse a your grief it's too much because you had a shity work week and it was too much for you to handle... I'm slowly realizing that if someone says you are too much to handle they are not your people they're not your tribe they're not for you and what is this preparing me for? To be single? This is so...

Unreal. So... foreign to me. I'm not saying my husband beat the shit out of me... he's never laid a hand on me but there are other types of abuse like verbal or even emotional maybe even mental I'm saying he is a good guy or just saying I deserve to be happy and I'm realizing truly truly realizing that once it ends he can have everything it's too painful to be fighting over petty shit it's too painful to be fighting over whatever and I even told him about it and he is like you sound like a dude and I said I know I do but at the end of the day life is too short to be miserable

I mean we spent hours on the phone last night and I told you how many suicide attempts at cried and I cried because you got it I may have have two attempts and you may have had three but I get suicide now I get what how people get so low that it's the only way out at the time and when I said I was teetering on the disaster of wanting to self harm I almost started to cut again but I stopped

And it doesn't even matter that he's 10 years older and it doesn't even matter that he has two kids I don't even see his children as I don't even know how to finish the sentence I see them if we do work out as my own they would make a fantastic addition to my life and if I have children with him it's exactly what I wanted and he's like how am I the only one seeing how desperately how fiercely want to become a mother and your husband doesn't and then went to a whole conversation about it and he asked me why I haven't had kids yet and I told him about my medical history and he's like not pushing it but he's trying to get me to see that

Maybe there's a reason I never have had kids yet he's trying to deal with his situation with as minimal pain as possible and he's like you are in a very similar situation except you don't have children and we went into the discussion of I don't know what's more painful what is more painful wanting desperately wanting children and not being able to have them or having children and not wanting them not wanting them in the sense that I wish I met you 10 years ago and we wouldn't be here

Text nothing as I can tell him anything and everything that pops into my brain like what was the weirdest animals you ever had? What's your favorite dinosaur? and we will expand that conversation yet when I did the same thing to my husband this morning it was very very short and there was no conversation. Just ended because he was too busy on his fucking phone and there's that

I've never had someone stop me ICE COLD in my tracks the way that he does. is gotten to the point where he will ask me something and I can't even respond because you take my breath away... and I'm just asking myself what the fuck are you doing being so miserable!? because no matter what you do you're going to hurt someone and it's not even me that will hurt, it's my "husband".

2 days ago I was tagged for a selfie and I had taken about 10 and my husband was asking who I was taking pictures for and I told him my blog and he's so insecure that he thinks I'm sending dirty pictures to random dudes that he apparently does not fucking trust me anymore I just....

I will not deal with ultimatums. I will not deal with having to explain why I'm taking selfies. I was actually feeling good about myself and then to be questioned in the sense of who were those photos for? I mean I know a lot of shit has gone down in the last 7 years but for a spouse to tell you straight up that they have resented you for the last 10 years it's just so asinine to me...

I know I deserve better. I know I deserve and I was happy I could ever possibly be it's just I'm scared of the unknown I'm scared of if I don't have a plan que because I'm essentially on my own I have cut off I made boundaries with my oldest brother's and now it's just me... this is just so insane because over the last five months I have said when my mom died I felt absolutely no connection to mother Earth. It felt like I was just floating in space and I know it was part of the grieving...

I NEVER thought in a million years that I would have lost my mother, I would have lost the baby... And I would have been served with divorce papers... All because I've been accused that I am a whore by going to the park with you. I think the final straw for me was he wants a DNA test if I'm pregnant because he thinks I am having sex with another married man at the park where there were families everywhere and it just like if I'm not I just dodged the biggest fucking bullet up my life and maybe that's the reason why I don't have children yet?

I'm not saying he's a bad guy I'm saying after I stood by you like a good woman does and turn the other cheek and said oh these girls then nothing because he loves me and he goes to bed with me these girls mean nothing and I should have never saddled to feel that way I should have never back down I should have confronted him and then like why the fuck are you dirty texting these girls when you're clearly married to me I have this hope that he would change and that things aren't so bad and maybe I'm stupid for having a belief that maybe one day I will be enough for him to have that heartbreak and to find those dirty texts fucking kills me

I just want to be honest and look back and realize maybe I do deserve better. I deserve to come home and kiss you and hold you and ask you about your day I deserve to pick up the babies from daycare and just be so happy we're home. I've had you say multiple times you wish you met me 10 years ago and none of this would have been a problem and I feel the same way too just maybe this is what I need to do to find courage ?

#personal #mine #s #nlo #divorce #nas #i want you #he told me he needs me #that is terrifying #my geeky giant

6 notes · View notes

defiancerpg-blog · 7 years ago

Photo

Congratulations VAL, you have been accepted as VULPECULA with the faceclaim of NAOMI SCOTT and the DOPPELGANGER MORPHING ability!

Notes from the Admins: Ellie and Tasha:

We had some really hard decisions for multiple skeletons during this acceptance, but this one was certainly the hardest. Both were very much in line with how we envisioned Riaan. But ultimately it was yours that we felt fit the most. I (Ellie) just fell in love with the little details of who Riaan was to you. Your headcanons really stuck with me, the emphasis on her pronouns and the little line of freckles and then I really love their answer to the power question (the shapeshifting one especially), but it their answer to the final question that sold me on your app. I (Tasha) have to agree with Ellie, the little details are what really pulled me in. As much as I wanted to hear your version of how the family was, I really loved that i didn’t get to. To me, I felt like that pulled me in and I am a fan of your writing.

You have 48 hours to send in your blog. If you haven’t already joined the group discord then you may do so now (if that’s your wish) [x]. Once you have turned in your blog, you will be given a role that will allow you access to the private channels regarding plots/characters. Please remember to do everything on the checklist, and also we just want to thank you for joining this roleplay. We hope your time with us will be a fun and memorable one!

OOC INFORMATION

ALIAS & PRONOUNS: Val, She/her

AGE: 25

TIMEZONE, ACTIVITY LEVEL, & RP EXPERIENCE: TZ: EST Activity: I have a full time job on first shift, but since i’m not involved in other rps atm I have plenty of time to be active, and should easily be able to meet and excede activity requirements. I typically do my writing early in the morning before work, or after dinner. My one concern is the opening date, because I’m going on a pre-planned vacation from April 5th to April 9th (WALKERSTALKER CON CHICAGO!). I’ll have limited access to a computer, but I will have my phone so I’ll at least be available for plotting and getting to know people via the discord server during that period. If you’d rather wait to review my application until the 9th or 10th I understand that as well. RP experience: I’ve been roleplaying since 2012 in several fandoms: HP, the 100, TW, TWD, etc. I delved into indie for awhile, but definitely prefer rpgs. A couple of my past blogs are: http://nickbeckett.tumblr.com/, https://seakept.tumblr.com/, http://auroragood.tumblr.com/, https://kylexbennett.tumblr.com/

BASIC IC INFORMATION

SKELETON: Riann Foster (Vulpecula- The Little Fox)

FACECLAIM: Naomi Scott, Liza Koshy (Though she’s known for youtube, she does have an acting career including series regular for two seasons of the hulu series Freakish), Alia Bhatt

AGE: 24

ORIENTATION: Demisexual.

ORIGIN: New York, New York (Queens)

NOVA TYPE: Corpus

ABILITY: Intangibility- The ability to pass through physical matter, though difficulty increases as the density of an object increases. If the whole body or part of a body becomes tangible within another object, the object would have to expand outwards at a detriment to its own form (explode, etc) but could potentially cause extreme physical harm to the user, depending on the property of the material. Shapeshifting (Doppleganger Morphing)- The ability to change one’s personal appearance to identically mimic that of another human being that they have seen before. This user cannot create a completely new form, nor mimic any superpowers should they morph into a nova. The longer they stay in the altered form, the harder it is to return to one’s true self. (I don’t actually have a preference for either, I love both abilities as possible for them)

THE INTERVIEW:

So, tell me a little bit about growing up. What was your childhood like?

“I moved around a lot, I guess…” Riann’s arms crossed lightly over their chest, anchoring their hands in place rather than allowing them to fidget nervously. Memories, both fond and disheartening, flashed through their mind, but they couldn’t help but wonder how much their verbal answers even mattered. Could this AI detect a lie? Could it determine the truth by analyzing their brains waves, their temperature, or other physiological responses? Did it matter? “I don’t know, I, uh… I was never bored, that’s for sure. Had plenty of extracurricular activities. Learned a lot. Didn’t starve or anything. That’s all you can ask for, right?” It’d be remiss to say they weren’t hesitant to give this AI personal information, particularly to ensure the safety of their makeshift family. A career criminal couldn’t afford to admit all faults. Despite them living in a world of uncertainty- where they’d sleep the next night, what they’d eat, when they’d eat, if they’d all make it home safely- Riann had grown numb to the anxiety stemming from the unknown. What they remembered most about their childhood was the laughter, the hugs, and the beautiful night skylines. Their teen years were a bit more rambunctious, especially as the NPA loomed closer and closer, but the way they saw it, their life was their life and they’d learned not to live with regrets and what-ifs. “I mean, like anyone, I had a bit of a rebellious streak but… It all worked out.”

What about your relationship with your family?

A small smile spread across their lips as Riann let out a warm chuckle, leaning back more casually against the wall as they relaxed. “I have three older siblings and they, uh, well they made sure I knew I was the youngest. Didn’t get much alone time, but I didn’t want it either.” How many times had they been delegated ‘look out’ or done surveillance checks on a mark for their siblings before anything actually went down? They were a cute child, slight in stature and innocent looking, and lying had become second nature to them, ingrained in them from their earliest memories. Fictional stories became so real to them that it occasionally took an extra moment for them to slip out of a character, but that’s what made them good at it, and kept them from having to actively participate in thefts they found morally wrong. Plus, it allowed them a bit of alone time to explore their own Robin Hood type interests. “But I mean, we got along fine, I guess.” They loved them. Their siblings and “adoptive” mother were their home, at least, they had been. The seeds of resentment and abandonment from being left by their biological mother so young were mostly trodden underfoot by the loyalty and love they learned from their family, but sometimes they couldn’t help but wonder, couldn’t help but indulge in anger when they thought about the sperm and egg donors that actually created them. Maybe their family wasn’t perfect, maybe they didn’t function the way others thought was healthy or stable, but for a long time it was consistent, and without that, who knew where Riann would be. “They… still think I ran away with some boyfriend, headed for Miami. And that’s for the best.”

Are you the only Nova in your family? Or were your parents Novas too? What about any siblings?

“They’re human.” And as far as Riann was concerned, that was the end of the question. As far as they knew, they were all as human possible, and they’d continue to believe that so long as it kept them safer. But were their biological parents novas? Did they have any biological siblings? They couldn’t know. Didn’t want to. They shrugded their shoulders, mounting nonchalance on their features. “”It’s just me.”

What’s your ability like? Is it easy to control or harder? Do you even like it?

A heavy silence fell, weighing down Riann’s pause as they tried to sort out what exactly they wanted to say. “It’s, uhm… It’s sort of… instinctual? Like once I make the decision, it just happens and I can’t- I can’t stop it halfway or control it. But… it’s not hard.” Every morph was like a milestone as they wore others’ bodies. In a way, it solidified their comfort in their own skin, as this body felt like home. Like them. Their appearance could change on a whim to that of an existing person, and they were the wolf in sheep’s clothing. They didn’t belong there. The freckles on their arm were the only thing that stayed in tact in their new form, and they often used them as a focal point for changing back to who they were. What was worse- the longer they stayed in a different form, the harder it was to get back. The freckles disappeared one by one as time went on, and Riann had only ever stayed in one body for up for 16 hours before getting so scared of losing themself they had to change back for a few hours for fear of being lost totally to this stranger forever. It was a dark time, a long con at the beginning of their journey to the Sanctuary, and they could distinctly remember the loss of foreignness in the new skin, the comfort and familiarity settling in, hoping to cement them there forever. Riann shook their head to clear the intruding thoughts before finishing their sentence. “It’s, uhm… it’s a cool party trick, that’s for sure. Always win charades.” And that was true; amongst the novas it was easy to get sucked into the game and posture about their ability, flirting with the danger just ever so slightly, but Riann preferred to err on the side of caution. The ability was extremely useful for concealing their identity, or protecting themself, and it made them quite good at the former job, but they’d never admit how each passing hour felt as though they were inching closer and closer to their own identity’s death.

How would you describe your personality?

"I look out for myself,” they concluded. “I have to. I think I’m….” A light chuckle escaped their lips, grin growing across their face, “Wow, I almost said nice. I’m not nice. It’s such a stupid word. But… I care, and I think that kinda comes through. Maybe I’m… I don’t know, a bit too blunt, but I think you have to figure out what’s going to push people away, and what they’re willing to deal with, you know? Does that make sense? I don’t like wasting time or energy, and you gotta go with your gut about what or who is worth it.”

What do you think your greatest strengths and weaknesses are?

“Wow, I guess both my greatest strength AND my greatest weakness is my selfishness. I look out for me, and the people I care about, and I dunno… my own moral compass? But I’m not trying to be a hero.” They paused for a moment, realizing the error they’d made: admitting to caring about others, like they could be used against them, and pointing out their usually self-servitude. This new “home” was still unexplored, and they couldn’t be certain how long they’d be staying. “Also I can’t take a joke.” It was a half-truth. People within their circle had miles of slack, but anyone they didn’t trust couldn’t expect the same wiggle room. There was a certain amount of satisfaction associated with pointing out flaws in logic, even when it meant not accepting a “joke” as something funny.

Where and what were you doing the day the Nova Protection Act was enacted?

“God, I don’t know…” They shifted nervously then, rearranging their arms in front of them. Honestly, they couldn’t quite remember- bigotry and disdain from others had always been a part of their life, whether it be because they were poor and on the streets, or a person of color, or just plain female-passing, they were more than used to the ugliness of society to take note of the “important” day the world gained yet another reason to turn against them. “I was… probably eating ice cream in Staten Island or something. Wasn’t a big deal.”

Did you immediately run? Or did you try to obey the law and report to the Anti-Nova Force?

At the question, the couldn’t help but actually laugh. It was a dry, cynical laugh, one that rang hollowly in their chest, but a laugh all the same. “Yeah, like I’d turn myself in to the same people who’d “randomly” search me at an airport. I didn’t have to do anything. Nothing changed.” Other than the fact their existence officially put their family at risk for more than just being black market thieves. It was one thing to face prison time, and quite another to put their family in danger of detainment just or being associated with them. Looking back, that was exactly the day the left, but they made sure not to leave any indication it was because of the NPA. Instead, that fateful day, they’d announced to their family they and their boyfriend were headed for the warm weather of Miami.

How have you survived this last year and a half or so? Did you have any help or were you all alone? How did you find Yalena’s Sanctuary?

"When you have the skills I have, it’s not too hard.” They pushed off from the wall then, choosing instead to pace a bit. This interview was getting tedious, and they were beginning to feel closed in. Uncomfortable. The nervous energy was coursing through their veins and they needed some way to work it out. “I knew people who knew people, and when I wanted in, I found a way. That’s how transactions work.” They weren’t about to disclose the favors they exchanged for information, or the people involved. The truth was that though their family had a reputation amongst the black market, they had one with its own standing as well. A few skeptical questions, and a bit of calculated risk in admitting to some stranger what they were had gotten them the key to sanctuary, and that’s what mattered.

It’d taken a long time getting from New York to the Sanctuary. Hitchhiking, mostly, plus a few long bus rides, and a train or two, but the passing days just brought them closer and closer to “safety.” Eventually they found a scout (or was found, it was hard to tell), and the rest, was, as they say, history.

What were you doing when the raid happened? How did you respond to the flood of Wardens? How quickly did you go through Yalena’s portal?

"I was… uhm…” Riann paused a moment, concentrating. What had the been doing? Something inconsequential. Something benign. Something completely disrupted by the ruin of the safety they’d imagined they had. Was it playing cards? Riann enjoyed counting cards, and loved to use the skill when given the chance. That was probably it. Something lazy. They couldn’t remember exactly, because the trauma of it all being ripped out from under them was something they didn’t want to acknowledge. “I know I was with other people- I don’t do that a lot, just hanging out, so I remember that. And then this guy, he… slumped over. I saw the dart. Or maybe… it wasn’t a dart. Maybe it was a bullet wound.” They couldn’t remember clearly; perhaps in the nights spent afterwards they’d justified a bullet wound as being a dart to ease their conscience. They couldn’t be certain whether the figure had slumped over in sleep or in something far more permanent. Despite being focused on themself, a great deal of guilt followed them for not doing more that day. “And then there were wardens everywhere. I ran. I heard… screaming.” Panic. Pure panic. “I saw Marisol go through the portal, and I heard someone yell for help. I… watched them fall to the ground. And then, I ran. I…” They knew they could’ve brought more people through. Could’ve at least tried. “I did what I had to do.”

What has living in The Imperium been like for you? Do you feel safer than before? Is it better or worse than on the run, or Yalena’s Sanctuary?

There was an audible pause, silence reverberating with the thoughts collecting in Riann’s mind. Their weight echoed with such strength it was a wonder the AI hadn’t already read each passing thought as it grew. Finally, they let out a defeated sigh and rolled their eyes, settling on indifference and sarcasm for their response. It was too poignant, to real, to say what they really felt. “There’s no wardens yet, so obviously it’s a 10 out of 10…” False flattery was a go-to of theirs when they didn’t want to be honest. In the back of their mind, they wondered whether or not their satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with their new home could get them booted and back on the streets. Alone. Truthfully? They felt caged. Locked in. Imprisoned with a group of people they mostly didn’t trust, and half they didn’t like. Perhaps it’d be easier to be back on the streets, but at least here their wrist wasn’t going to get scanned at any given moment. They couldn’t tell which they missed more- the safety of being surrounded by similar individuals in the sanctuary, where at least they could be themselves, or the rose-tinted memories of being at home with people that, whether they truly knew Riann or not, they knew they were loved.

“So long as you don’t turn into the terminator, I guess I’m good here.”

The last question. If war broke out between Novas and the humans, which side will you be on?

"I’d be on the side that keeps me safe.” Their answer was pointed and clear, but it didn’t quite explain. Riann’s ties to the human world were something they wouldn’t want to ever speak of, but they’d also made at least one friend within the group of novas, and maybe that was enough. Maybe the idea of coexistence was so long gone that they’d have to side with the novas, knowing that they could never truly belong in the human world. When push came to shove, Riann would choose their kind, but they didn’t want to admit that, even to themself. The idea of belonging to something bigger than them was both incredibly enticing and terrifying.

CONNECTIONS:

Tell us your feelings on their provided connections/relationships and also any other connections you’d be interested in exploring outside of those already provided.

The Hare- I LOVE their friendship. The idea that someone somehow, pushed past the walls Riann has built up and has become important to them is so special. I don’t think Riann would be capable of functioning if they were truly alone for a long time, so this connection is in a way vital to their survival. It’s important enough that I don’t think even Riann understands the gravity of what their feelings for the Hare means, or what they’d do to protect that connection. Since I interpret Riann as demisexual, this is the type of relationship I’d see a possible romantic future in (be it unrequited or not), so I’m definitely excited to see where it leads, but it could also definitely be entirely platonic, familial even, depending on the chemistry and what going on with Marisol, so I’ll just say I’m excited either way.

The Raven- With the personality traits prescribed to Riann, and their history, I can see this being a super interesting connection. Depending on the plot development, I could see the raven bringing out Riann’s more cut-throat nature, but the way I see it, the Raven is one of Riann’s enemies. They trust their gut too much, and will never really be able to trust the Raven. That being said I wanna throw them together as much as possible because who doesn’t love bringing out the worst in their character?

Other connections- I would like to see someone become almost mentor-like to Riann, or vice-versa. They really do havea great capacity to love, it just takes a lot of time to get there, and I want Riann to CARE about others. Preferably several others. In a variety of capacities. I also want someone to just dislike them- with Riann’s personality, it’s completely plausible. They’d definitely question and distrust anyone with authority over them (they even did with Yalena, to an extent, but there was a level of respect with her not afforded to many).

HEADCANONS:

Riann has a series of 6 freckles down their inner forearm that form a nearly perfect line, and traces them subconsciously if they’re really overwhelmed as a sort of grounding mechanism.

Most of the time, they use they pronouns, but occasionally will identify as especially female. As such, I’d write them mostly as they/them, with the occasional she/her thread, but maintain whichever pronouns I start with through the duration of that thread.

They LOVE spice. Curry especially, but they’ve been known to chow down on hot asian and latin foods as well. Not only do they have a taste for it and enjoy the adrenaline rush that comes with the scovilles, but growing up, the spicier their food was, the smaller the chance anyone else would try to eat it. Their affinity was born of necessity, but they’ve grown to truly enjoy a good hot sauce.

CHANGES:

n/a

DETAILED IC INFORMATION

(OPTIONAL STUFF; THIS IS ALL MERELY SUGGESTIONS, NONE OF IT IS REQUIRED)

Character tropes and archetypes related to this character: Bunker Woman, Affectionate Pick Pocket, The Artful Dodger, Friend in the Black Market, Karmic Thief, Little Miss Con Artist Other: Defrosting the Ice Queen/The Power of Friendship, Hidden Heart of Gold, Anti-Villain,

Goals: I’d love to see Riann swing towards an extreme- their self-interest keeps them rather neutral politically and such, but the right plotting could make them go Good™ or Bad™ and I’m so ready for EITHER. I want them to make someone mad and get their ass kicked, to show them they’re not quite as independent and strong as they think they are. I want their morality to be put to the test, and have to choose between saving a life and killing, or the consequences of doing nothing in a situation where they can do something. I want them to deal with authority figures and get to a point where they accept that authority figure. I don’t see Riann as a leader, per say, but they’d make a great sidekick eventually, and then, depending on the long run, it’d be interesting to make them step up as leader as well, but that’s not what I see in the immediate future.

I made a mockblog for them (sideblog to this one to reblog inspo and such): https://vulpeculamockblog.tumblr.com/

ANYTHING ELSE?

I also answered the ability question for the doppleganger morphing because I also think it’s really cool, and would love to play with either!

#defianceacceptance

2 notes · View notes

funkymbtifiction · 7 years ago

Text

Mistyping and Inferior Fe?

I have quite some history with mistyping myself. When I started getting into MBTI I did what everyone else did and just did a load of tests to see what I generally got. I still remember my first test result being INTP and I remember reading about that type briefly, going “yeah it’s me but not close enough so let’s keep digging” and doing more tests. This would be the start of a long journey of mistyping myself. Being a person with very weak/underdeveloped social skills I also did not have a clear idea of how I generally am as a person. Now, some of you probably understand this problem and how it’s a bit on the not-so-good-idea side of doing more personality tests. I did a lot of tests, found out how to get the results I wanted from letter-typing tests (not very difficult), and just completely lost the point. I typed myself as an INTJ my first year after doing that first MBTI test, asked my mum about what type of person I am since I knew I had absolutely no idea about how I am, and tried to read more about the topic. But, since my brain loses interest in things it can’t understand quickly I kept reading about cognitive functions (and enneagram on the side) little by little, and in the process tried typing people around me to further understand. I was way off, and so where they when I sent them test after test after test, asking about how and why when they got their results. It kept going, and I kept doing tests myself, asked for help with typing (here I think?), and got into ISTJ after a while. (Note: I mistyped myself as INTJ for about a year and then ISTJ for about a year.) The ISTJ online profiles somehow actually fit me, with the poor social understanding of others, off-beat humor, good memory of how things are/have been, and all the threatening what ifs in stressful situations. It was me, but a twisted portrait of me, and one I’ve come to understand doesn’t really fit most actual ISTJs.

As a person who really has turned themselves inside-out to find out what the truth actually is, about me and about how my brain works, I must say it’s been a wild ride. Actually just typing this I was analysing how this explanation works into the Ti-Ne frame of thought.

What I really wanted to write about though, is the weird way someone with inferior Fe is often portrayed as quite careless about what others think of them and tertiary Fe still cares a lot about what others think. I’ve discussed quickly with a friend with tertiary Fe about how we use the function, because she’s generally good with people and often stays outwardly neutral, knows how to deal with them but generally doesn’t care what they think of her. Her wish has been for people to actually dislike her so they don’t need/want anything from her. My wishes has almost always been the exact opposite. I wouldn’t say I’m good with people, especially those I don’t like, and it’s often visible on me that I don’t like them. Especially if you contrast with people I do vibe with. I can’t fake an interest too much, and usually won’t unless I know I will need something from these people in the future, and I know it’s easier to get if they like me. But I still want people to like me, so that I can get what I want from them (validation?) and still stay important to them. I want people to like me, but I don’t want to like them. My friend wants to like/stay indifferent to people, and wanted for them to not like her.

The friend mentioned above of course does the same as me sometimes (who doesn’t), but our motives and thoughts about people differ quite a lot. I’m not saying all IxTP/ExTP work with their Fe the way we do, but I do find the contrast funny since it’s often portrayed the other way around.

Inferior functions pull at us, because we’re aware of an imbalance.

A Ne-dom has a sneaking suspicion they ought to be better about details; a Se-dom feels the same about needing a personal vision for their future; a Fe-dom knows they should be less defensive and more analytical; an inferior Fi senses they should have a better connection to their emotional center and values; inferior Ne’s think they should be more creative / think outside the box more; inferior Se’s believe they need to ‘get out’ more and be more proactive; inferior Te’s know they should figure out how to make what they want happen; and inferior Fe knows they have a ‘relationship’ handicap and want to be liked.

There’s two kinds of people for each type, in that sense: those who ignore their inferior function altogether and do not bother to develop it (since it’s hard) and those who realize it’s a weak spot and work on it (often with success). That is why you will find one IXTP who is good natured, cares about others’ feelings, and has a “soft” approach to others, mindful of what they think of them; and another IXTP who is an obnoxious asshole who doesn’t care how people feel.

Or... an ENXJ who knows their logic could be better and reads more to strength it / engages in logical discussions vs the one who throws tantrums if you prod at their weak logic; or the EXTJ who tries to center themselves in projects that matter most to them and consider their relationships with others, vs the one who controls everyone without caring for their feelings; or the ESXP who works on framing a long-term ideal for their life while enjoying the present / thinks about the consequences of their decisions, vs the reckless ESXP who leaves people in the dust as they chase every new possibility; or the ENXP who makes an effort to keep track of details / ground themselves in choosing which ideas are most achievable in the short term vs the one who never finishes anything, or leaps in before they consider the amount of detail involved, and is a flake.

Or the ISXJ who expands their knowledge base and openness to new / different ideas through experiences and research / reading / seeking out Ne people, vs the one who shuts down anything that remotely threatens their small world; or the INXJ who learns to balance their lower sensory impulses with regular sensory stimulus vs the one who either becomes a monk who hates and preaches against anything to do with the sensory world (Gandhi?) or someone who routinely indulges in self-destructive ways; or the IXFP who starts to engage their logical centers and uses them to break down tasks into which order will lead to completion, vs the one who never strives toward any goals.

Tertiary functions often go to war with our auxiliary function.

Your EXTP friend feels being likable is a pain in the butt, because it gets in the way of logical detachment. As an ENFP, I feel like having strong emotional responses / being sensitive is a pain in my butt, because it gets in the way of efficiency (Te). Follow the logic further: as each tertiary function develops (often in your late teen years / 20′s / 30′s) it threatens the function above it; for awhile, people do not instinctively know how to integrate it and cause it to work together with the higher function.

People can shift into an “extreme” and choose a preferred function / use the other one badly (hating Fi so much, I’d rather use Te even if it’s worse... or hating Fe so much, let’s stick with Ti, because it’s better...) which will not help their functions work properly (each function needs its counterpart) or they can struggle for awhile to bring them into harmony, and eventually succeed.

Ti and Fe: you need people to like you, to get things done, and you need logic to back up your ethical judgments in order to remain objective / factual.

Fi and Te: you need the capacity to bring your passions into reality, through logical application and planning, but you also need to be in touch with what you are doing / care deeply about it, or you will not succeed.

Ni and Se: you need to be ready to jump on an opportunity when it arises, even if you have not much time to plan ahead, so that you can bring your vision into reality, and the objectivity to decide if your vision is possible, but you also need to have a vision.

Si and Ne: you need to open yourself up to new ideas and possibilities, in order to gain a better perspective on reality and see the truth of things; but most success relies on one’s ability to attend to necessary details.

- ENFP Mod

#mbti #questions #tertiary function #inferior function #entp #intp #estp #istp #esfp #isfp #enfp #infp #esfj #isfj #estj #istj #entj #intj #enfj #infj #submission

361 notes · View notes

whittlebaggett8 · 6 years ago

Text

‘Why wouldn’t everyone in the world have a wearable?’: Fitbit’s CEO on its new products, fixing the way we sleep, and taking on Apple, Business Insider

See original article here ‘Why wouldn’t everyone in the world have a wearable?’: Fitbit’s CEO on its new products, fixing the way we sleep, and taking on Apple, Business Insider

caption

Fitbit CEO James Park.

source

Flickr/frf_kmeron

Fitbit announced the Fitbit Versa Lite on Wednesday, a less-expensive version of its popular smartwatch.

Fitbit CEO James Park says his company’s focus on affordability is part of what separates Fitbit from Apple, the current leader in the smartwatch space.

Park sat down with Business Insider to discuss Fitbit’s new products, its goal to tackle larger health issues, and more.

James Park doesn’t get enough sleep.

“My Sleep Score has been terrible,” the Fitbit CEO and cofounder said as he showed me a graph depicting his recent sleeping patterns. A Sleep Score of around 90 and above is considered good; Park’s appears to linger in the high 60s.

Sleep Score is exactly as its name implies: a feature that takes the various sleep metrics Fitbit gathers and provides users with a general assessment that illustrates what those data points actually mean. The feature has been in beta since December, and Park has been testing it himself more recently.

Park is far from being alone; more than a third of American adults do not get enough sleep on a regular basis, according to a survey published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016. The effects of sleep deprivation have been well-documented. Researchers have found, for example, that getting the right amount of sleep is critical for reducing the risk of cardiovascular issues, as the European Society of Cardiology found in a study published last August.

It’s no surprise, then, that Fitbit is continuing to devote resources to improving the way people sleep. That will be part of the paid service Fitbit plans to launch in the second half of 2019.

caption

The new Fitbit Versa Lite, which costs $160 and will be available mid-March.

source

Fitbit

Read more: Fitbit is launching a cheaper version of its popular Versa smartwatch – and it costs less than half as much as the latest Apple Watch

Taken together, features like Sleep Score, Fitbit’s upcoming paid service, and the new products it announced on Wednesday (like the $159.95 Fitbit Versa Lite) are at the heart of Fitbit’s goals: expanding its user base and tackling larger health issues. When it comes to the latter, Fitbit has already said it’s researching ways its products can be used to address conditions such as atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. It also announced Fitbit Care in September, a program for employers and health plan providers.

The success of these initiatives will be critical for Fitbit as Apple becomes a more formidable rival in the smartwatch and health tracking space. Apple maintained its position as the No. 1 wearable device maker worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation. Apple accounted for 27.4% of the global wearable device market, while Fitbit accounted for 9.4%. Fitbit also placed behind Xiaomi and Huawei, which were responsible for 12.% and 9.6% of the market respectively. Following its recent earnings report at the end of February, Fitbit shares plunged after the company forecast lower than expected first quarter revenue and an expected decline in average selling price.

During a recent interview with Business Insider, Park discussed Fitbit’s new products, its long-term goals, and how it plans to compete with Apple.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Lisa Eadicicco: Let’s start with the Fitbit Versa Lite, which you just unveiled on Wednesday. How did Fitbit decide which features to compromise on to get to that lower price point?

James Park: I don’t know [if] we’d call it compromise. Curation is a better [word]. So for us, Versa was a huge success. It really allowed us to leapfrog to No. 2 in the smartwatch category. After Versa, we started to get a lot of feedback from customers, [and] we also saw a lot of actual usage data from the device. And we did additional market research and we saw that there was a clear need for a slightly simpler device at a more affordable price point. There were still a lot of barriers to purchase, especially as people became more aware of the category. They were like, “But I would buy if…” So we started figuring out what those “buts” and “ifs” were, and that resulted in the Versa Lite.

caption

The $200 Fitbit Versa smartwatch.

source

Avery Hartmans/Business Insider

Eadicicco: You mentioned being No. 2 in the smartwatch space. Apple is No. 1. And I know that there was a lot of talk today about Fitbit as a platform, going beyond the hardware to the software and services. What is going to be the thing that propels Fitbit to being that No. 1 player in the space?

Park: For us, our whole strategy is about bringing more people onto Fitbit, and the key theme that you heard in this launch is simplicity and affordability. Again, we’re all about reducing the barriers to purchase and bringing more people on. So we think that strategy should accelerate that. This year we’re actually forecasting a pretty meaningful increase in the number of devices we ship year-over-year.

And then ultimately, it’s not just about giving people a device, but it’s providing them coaching, guidance and content. And we’ll do that in the form of a paid premium offering in the second half of this year. So again it’s all about more accessible affordable devices working in concert with software that knows you and helps guide you and coach you.

Eadicicco: I remember [several] years ago, it seemed like one of the big challenges that the industry was facing was getting these devices smaller and cheaper while still offering really good battery life so that you can wear them to bed and track sleep. [Fitbit] has been doing that for quite a while now. So what’s the next big challenge that [Fitbit] and the industry are tackling to push fitness trackers forward in the next five to 10 years?

Park: You saw us kind of hint at it, which is deepening the types of use cases that people want to buy these products for. So moving from just purely fitness and wellness into more serious health issues, whether its diabetes, hypertension, sleep disorders, mental health issues, etc. I think our devices and software have an important role to play in all of those.

Eadicicco: One thing that came to mind that [Fitbit] does somewhat uniquely is Cardio Fitness Level. It’s a good example of [Fitbit] using the data it gathers to provide this broader, deeper insight about your health. Is Fitbit thinking about other ways to use data to provide new insights in a similar way?

Park: Absolutely, sleep is a big one for us. Right now we’re testing out a feature called Sleep Score, which gives people a quantitative measure of how well they’re sleeping. We’ve always provided the raw data, [like] you’ve spent two hours in deep sleep, REM sleep, etc. Sleep Score is something that people have been responding to pretty well.

Eadicicco: Is [Fitbit] going to be offering more features that provide tips and insights on how to improve your Sleep Score, like bedtime reminders, etc.?

Park: Yeah, a large part of that is going to come in our premium offering, where we give people coaching and guidance. There’s a technique called cognitive behavioral therapy, because a lot of the challenges that people face in going to bed is psychological. So helping people work through those issues through digital therapies is another part of what we’re going to offer.

For instance, with cognitive behavioral therapy, one part is that when people get into bed they just lie there. But that’s not good. Your brain should think that bed is where you sleep, not where you’re just lounging around. So one part of cognitive behavioral therapy is that you should only get into bed when you’re absolutely tired, not when you think you should go to bed.

Eadicicco: [Fitbit] is doing a lot of work in the enterprise health space too. Do you see [Fitbit] as being more of an enterprise company or a consumer company?

Park: I think it’s 50-50, and the two sides work well together. A great analogy I like to use is Johnson & Johnson. They have a lot of consumer-facing products, but they have a huge part of their business which is selling medical supplies and equipment. But people don’t really know about that. But the credibility of their healthcare side is really buttressed by their consumer brand and vice versa. So that’s the similar approach that we’re going to take with our healthcare business and our consumer business as well.

caption

The Apple Watch Series 4, which starts at $399.

source

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Eadicicco: You’ve talked about one day using wearable devices to help detect more serious health conditions. The Apple Watch now has an electrical heart sensor in it. Has your opinion of Apple as a competitor changed now that they’ve introduced the ECG monitoring to the Apple Watch Series 4?

Park: Yeah I think they’re definitely getting more into health and fitness, which overall for everyone is I think a good thing as long as we’re all collectively working to improve people’s health. But I think we’ll always continue to take a differentiated and very focused approach to health and fitness that lends itself to the simplicity of our devices and affordability as well. For us, it’s not just about the latest features at the highest price points. We want to make sure everyone that needs it is able to benefit from what we’re doing.

Eadicicco: You’ve mentioned that a big goal for Fitbit is to keep bringing in new users. Now it seems like [Fitbit] has something for everyone: the Ace is for kids, the Versa Lite is for young adults that don’t want to spend as much money. So who isn’t buying smartwatches at this point? Who’s next?

Park: Surprisingly still a lot of people. It’s a very under-penetrated market. For me, the vision for Fitbit and the whole category is: Given all the use cases that we’re seeing, why wouldn’t everyone in the world have a wearable? The analogy that I draw is similar to the car industry decades ago. At some point seat belts and airbags weren’t standard equipment, but now you wouldn’t think of getting a car without those things. At some point, wearables with these types of sensors and capabilities are going to hit that point as well.

Eadicicco: From observing the industry, it feels like a lot of the innovation [in wearable technology] is happening on the software and data side. It seems like the hardware has gotten to a point where it’s already cheaper [and the] the battery life good. What do you think?

Park: I think there’s still innovation to be had on both. But definitely a lot of the value is now coming in the software because of all the coaching the guidance, the insights, the data, that’s where the ultimate value for the user will be.

Eadicicco: If that’s where the value is growing, is it going to be hard to continue selling as many devices? It makes me think of the shape the smartphone industry is in right now. I know it’s not a direct comparison, but you get to this point where people are buying these devices and keeping them for longer periods of time as the software and services ecosystem gets better. Do you see that as being a challenge [for wearables] moving forward?

Park: If [you] think about the analogy of evolution, people always thought evolution was a linear path – from single-celled organisms to complex beings like people. But there’s this theory of punctuated equilibrium: At some point, there’s a huge explosion of diversity and advancements. I think the tech industry is like that. Even in smartphones, we think the category is matured but there’s probably something out there that we don’t know about that will ignite the next phase of growth. I don’t think smartwatches are even close to that point, but I think the limit is our imagination in terms of what these devices can do.

Eadicicco: Bonus question: What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self today?

Park: Delayed gratification is not a bad thing. It’s good to be patient. As long as you have a strong vision and commitment, things will unfold over time.

The post ‘Why wouldn’t everyone in the world have a wearable?’: Fitbit’s CEO on its new products, fixing the way we sleep, and taking on Apple, Business Insider appeared first on Defence Online.

from WordPress https://defenceonline.com/2019/03/why-wouldnt-everyone-in-the-world-have-a-wearable-fitbits-ceo-on-its-new-products-fixing-the-way-we-sleep-and-taking-on-apple-business-insider/

#Apple #Apple Watch Series 4 #fitbit #Fitbit Versa #fitbit versa lite #Fitness Trackers #James Park

0 notes

phantrash387-blog · 8 years ago

Text

How to Seize Opportunities as a Freelancer

Great! You have decided to be a freelancer. No more alarm clocks at awfully early hours, no boss telling you what to do, breaks whenever you want them, and ending the work day when you feel ready, right? Wrong! Waking up early is how you get the biggest amount of work done. Instead of one boss, you will have many, many temporary bosses. At least, that is what you hope for. After all, having many, many temporary bosses means you are scoring many, many jobs.

Surviving as a freelancer is not easy. You actively have to look for work yourself. If you are single, it is already hard, but if you have other people depending on you, it is even harder. That is why you need all the help seizing opportunities that you can find. I am here to tell you more about spotting and seizing opportunities as a freelancer.

The definition of an opportunity

An opportunity is anything that provides you with a chance to change your circumstances for the better. Opportunities are everywhere, but as Adam Sicinski says, “many of the opportunities we come across are actually disguised as problems or hard work. However, to the untrained eye — unable to see past the present moment — all opportunities are actually insurmountable problems that make life difficult, stressful and hard.” This is precisely the problem: seeing problems as “problems” rather than challenges that test and strengthen your determination. “The moment you shift your perspective and begin seeing your problems as challenges is the moment you begin training your brain to spot opportunities. Problems may very well be insurmountable. However, a challenge is something you can work with to better your current circumstances.” As a freelancer, it is all about your attitude whether there are opportunities for you or not.

What holds you back from seizing opportunities

As you can read in my 2015 blog Seizing Opportunities as an Entrepreneur, the biggest roadblock to accomplishing anything in life and business is not being able to recognize opportunities when they are presented. To be able to be a freelancer who sees opportunities and acts upon them, you need to overcome five main roadblocks, as listed by David Finch:

1. Fear

The biggest roadblock is the fear of the what-ifs. What if this does not work, I fail, or I lose all my money? While there is nothing wrong with wondering about the unknown, the moment you are unable to pull the trigger you have missed an opportunity to move forward.

2. Past failures

No one likes the sting of failure. It produces scars that can last a lifetime. However, if you can get past the sting, you should be able to gather information that will be helpful in your next venture.

3. Lack of awareness

This is discussed in the part about the opportunistic mindset. If you cannot see it, you will never be able to seize it. Most often, a lack of awareness can be boiled down to lack of exposure and lack of knowledge.

4. Lack of self-confidence

Lack of confidence will always keep you in the ‘would have, should have, could have’ mode. Confidence comes by trusting your knowledge and be willing to make a leap of faith.

5. Closed mind

The moment you shut down and are unwilling to look at things from a different perspective or viewpoint, you abort the opportunity of moving forward.

Once you have overcome these roadblocks, the path to freelance opportunities is wide open.

Identify freelance opportunities

Sicinski urges you to identify first what it is you want as a freelancer: “how in the world are you supposed to identify any opportunities that come your way if you are not clear about what it is you want in the first place? Unless you know exactly what it is you are looking for, then how exactly are you supposed to find it?”

He suggests that you identify several things that may hold you back from taking advantage of the opportunities that life throws your way.

Look at your beliefs and identify if there are any unhelpful beliefs that could potentially prevent you from taking advantage of opportunities.

Look at your strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate how they can help or hinder you throughout this process.

Identify your risk tolerance. This is important because the more risk you are willing and able to take, the more chances/opportunities you will be able to take advantage of.

This will help you understand yourself, your motivations, your limitations, and the actions you are willing or unwilling to take when freelance opportunities present themselves. How many hours a day are you willing to work? What rates do you ask? Why would you take this particular job? Why would you not take this particular job? Why are you the perfect person for this job?

3 things to do to spot freelance opportunities

Sicinski suggests there are three things you need to do to spot opportunities:

1. Be in a state of readiness

The single most important thing to consider when looking for opportunities is to be in a state-of-readiness for any opportunities that may come your way. You must be constantly on the lookout for anything that could possibly help you achieve your goals and objectives far more quickly, effectively or cheaply. It also means that you must be open to new perspectives and ideas. The key to this awareness lies within your willingness and ability to ask the right kinds of questions. The more you ask questions, the more curious you will become. As a result, you focus your mind on the right events, people, things or circumstances that can help you move forward in the best possible way.

As a freelancer, you have to get out of the house sometimes to meet other people, visit network events or meet up with (potential) clients. Asking questions is a great way to find out where your help might be needed.

2. Search for clues

Once you are in the habit of asking questions that help spark your curiosity, it is time to filter through the clues leading you to unique opportunities that present themselves. They can come in many forms and will be very specific to the types of opportunities you are looking for. However, certain types of clues can come in the form of trends, problems that people face or things that they complain about, gaps in the market, and unusual patterns, events or circumstances. All of these clues can provide you with an opportunity to do something different, new or unusual. It helps to keep a sketch/notebook of your random thoughts and observations as you go about your day. Do you notice any need that you can fulfill as a freelancer?

3. Expand your reach

In order to improve your ability to spot opportunities further, it is critical that you expand your reach by learning new skills, by regularly networking with people who may be able to support you in your endeavors, and by acquiring new resources that will help expand your life resources list. In addition, you will naturally expose yourself to more opportunities by attempting new things.

Bonus tip for spotting freelance opportunities: feedback from customers

If you have already scored a few freelance jobs, you have made a good start. In fact, these clients are a great way to spot more freelance opportunities. According to Paul Barnes, you need to be in a constant dialogue with them. Ask the right questions at the right time and use more informal and flexible ways than just surveys, such as online communities and face-to-face communications.

3 things to do to seize freelance opportunities

Once you have started asking questions and spotting opportunities, it is time to take action. You want to turn that opportunity into a way to make money as a freelancer. Sicinski says there are three things you need to do in order to capitalize on the opportunities that help you accomplish your freelance goals and objectives:

1. Step outside your comfort zone

Who said seizing opportunities is easy? Seizing opportunities is quite the contrary. Many of the opportunities will stretch and challenge you in a variety of ways. This may mean that you must step into a world of uncertainty and take a few risks that you were not expecting to take. Each of these risks will have their own consequences, which you must weigh against the benefits and decide whether it is a risk worth pursuing.

2. The small opportunities count

Not all opportunities are created equal, but it is not the size of the opportunity that matters. What you do with that opportunity is what makes all the difference in the end. Therefore, you should never underestimate or discount what an opportunity can do for you. Who knows, a small opportunity here could very well lead to bigger opportunities in the future. You just have to be willing and ready to take advantage when the moment arrives.

3. Network with creative people

Focus on networking with the right kinds of people who have the resources, contacts, experience and skills to help you achieve your goals and objectives. Above all, network with creative people — people who think outside the box — who constantly challenge you to think differently about your life, goals, problems and circumstances.

Not every freelance opportunity needs to be seized

As you have read in point two above, there are various sizes of opportunities, and bigger does not always mean better. However, that also does not mean that you should be seizing every opportunity that you spot. It is great that you have mastered the skill of spotting opportunities and that you are enthusiastic about it, but another thing is also important: focus.

As you can read in my 2016 blog How to Be Great at Seizing Opportunities, Warren Buffett has spoken about seizing opportunities a few times, such as during a lecture he gave at the University of Georgia in 2001. His idea of a “20 slot punch card” can be applied to investments, but also to other freelance opportunities you want to seize.

Big opportunities in life have to be seized. We do not do very many things, but when we get the chance to do something that is right and big, we have got to do it. And even to do it on a small scale is just as big of a mistake almost as not doing it at all. I mean, you really got to grab them when they come. Because you are not going to get 500 great opportunities.

You would be better off if you got a punch card with 20 punches on it. And every financial decision you made you used up a punch. You would get very rich because you would think through very hard each one. I mean if you went to a cocktail party and somebody talked about a company and they did not even understand what they did or could not pronounce the name, but they made some money last week in another one like it, you would not buy it if you only had 20 punches on that card. […]

If you had a punch card with only 20 punches, and you were not going to get another one the rest of your life, you would think a long time before every investment decision – and you would make good ones and you would make big ones. And you probably would not even use all 20 punches in your lifetime. But you would not need to.

Freelance opportunities

So, if you spot a freelance opportunity, make sure you weigh the pros and cons and ask yourself whether the opportunity is worth taking the risk and whether not taking the risk poses more problems. If this freelance opportunity was one of your 20 punches, would you spend a punch on it?

#seize #opportunity #freelance #pros #cons #tips

0 notes