"He actually read my mind!"
- host Richard Lo ofRTM2's "Moving On", after Shaun had read his mind live on the programme

IN THE BEGINNING

Well, it was no coincidence that I ended up being a Mentalist. I'm a very curious person, by nature. I couldn't stand to be outside the goldfish bowl looking in. I must be the goldfish, swimming and feeling the surroundings around me. I had to find out how certain things work and why they work. This is a both a good and bad thing. I remember the number of times I got into trouble with my parents for being too adventurous in my quest to satisfy my curiosity. I remember the time when I took my dad's car keys and got into the car to start it, and I was only 4 years old! I could remember those punishments I had to endure when I did untold damage to things around the house. I simply HAD to know. I would be able to remember what I had found out, and forget the pain I had to endure both before and after I had found out.

I, too, became an information junkie. I needed information constantly, or I would become restless. I would read everything in sight, and my dad, who was a journalist before he retired, would provide me with all the reading materials he could find. I guess I got this information-sponge trait from him. The Internet should have arrived earlier. But I guess I should be thankful that it's actually here now.

I became myopic very quickly. My optician was one of the happiest people around as I would be increasing my degree of short-sightedness steadily every year. I've tried every type of lenses you can imagine - normal glass lenses, normal plastic lenses, photo-gray lenses (it was quite cool then, believe it or not), high-index glass lenses, normal contact lenses, hyper-thin contact lenses, ultra-thin contact lenses, extended wear contact lenses, prolonged wear contact lenses, disposable contact lenses. I've finally settled on polycarbonate lenses, and two-weekly disposable lenses. My polycarbonate lenses rest on a titanium frame. All these years of being short-sighted and I am never more comfortable with my glasses than right now. It's the lightest I could make it. I understand now that there is a newer type of lenses that are even lighter than polycarbonate lenses (something called "Pentax" lenses, I think). That would be my next stop, as soon as I've worn out this pair. Those contact lenses are for those times when I'm involved in sports or when I'm performing.

Anyway, one day I was reading a book in my school library when I chanced upon a book detailing this supposed "psychic" with "paranormal powers" who could read people's minds and bend spoons without using physical force. Once again, I was outside the goldfish bowl, looking in. I wanted to become the goldfish so badly that I spent the next few years of my life trying to do the same. I practised, and I practised. And I practised. And I am now the goldfish swimming in my very own bowl. I found out that it was more an "ability" than a "paranormal" occurrence. To a certain extent, you can develop an "ablility". It may take time, and how far you go depends on your natural talent and your commitment. But it is possible to raise your standard a little higher than when you started, with practice.

Unfortunately, raising your standard a little higher for a particular purpose is usually not good enough. I know that even with coaching from the best singing teachers, I can never attain the standards of professional singers, to reach the standards that others will want to pay to listen to me. I've gladly resigned to this fact (not that I wanted to become a singer anyway). But I know I have the ability to further improve my perception of people's thoughts, and the ability to influence metal, to a high enough standard that people would gladly want to see me perform. I then demonstrated my skills in 1996 and 1997 in the media, when I was ready. See Mind to Minds for the details.

The point I'm making is this. Whoever said that knowledge is power couldn't be more right. However, it is only one-half of the equation. The other half is what you make of it. For all the knowledge in the world is useless if we don't use them for some benefit. There are pros and cons to every premise, however, and we do have people abusing what they know for selfish and illegal purposes. But used and shared wisely, what we know will generally benefit us all.

How do I succeed in business? How do I get the word out on what I have to market? How do I protect my invention? Where do I get the most reasonable price for my product? How do I cope with my studies? Questions like these arise everyday, and if you know where to look, there is no shortage of solutions.

Which brings us to my collection of links on the Internet that will not only open up your eyes to all the incredible things in this world of ours, but enrich your other senses as well. They have been specially selected based on a few criteria, not least their impact in terms of usefulness if you're looking for answers and entertainment value if you're looking for leisure. They are all clean and decent sites, so everybody's safe! I've rated them myself, with some comments where necessary. So indulge yourself. You have everything to gain!

Enjoy your stay...

Shaun Tan


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