A listener on a Japanese podcast was asking the hosts, "I believe traveling overseas is to experience different culture and grow oneself. I cannot understand those who travel for fun."
There's two lessons to this:
(1) do not force your beliefs on others. (I wonder how many times I've mentioned this); and
(2) different people grow differently. Some may grow just by driving to the next city, while others need other types of exposure to grow.
May 31, 2015
May 30, 2015
Quotes 15
A wise man once said that nothing really dies. It just comes back in a new form. Then he died.
- Futurama
- Futurama
May 29, 2015
May 28, 2015
One Way of Overcoming Obstacles
When you are stuck on approaching a problem, why not try adding "anti-" in your questions?
How does a cafe create a unique value proposition? How about anti-cafe?
How does one handle an unhappy customer? Any anti-unhappy strategies to turn them loyal?
How can we market our new product into the saturated market? How about some anti-marketing?
How does a cafe create a unique value proposition? How about anti-cafe?
How does one handle an unhappy customer? Any anti-unhappy strategies to turn them loyal?
How can we market our new product into the saturated market? How about some anti-marketing?
May 27, 2015
Quotes 13
"Aesthetics is a moral obligation."
- Bioshock
It's a frightening thought, and yet this is the direction the world is moving towards.
- Bioshock
It's a frightening thought, and yet this is the direction the world is moving towards.
May 26, 2015
Damned Judgement
Revisiting Susan Cain's book, a phrase stood out this time - "damned judgement".
An introvert was rejected during a job interview for post as a lawyer, stating that she did not have the fitting personality.
"Damned judgement" is so accurate in describing this situation, and her talents was never tapped on.
An introvert was rejected during a job interview for post as a lawyer, stating that she did not have the fitting personality.
"Damned judgement" is so accurate in describing this situation, and her talents was never tapped on.
May 25, 2015
Quotes 12
Patronising others is the last refuge scoundrels escape to.
- Proops, The Smartest Man in the World
- Proops, The Smartest Man in the World
May 24, 2015
Love and Hate For Work
I have friend who posted once, "We hate it when we're at work, but eager to work when we have no work."
I answered, we want to work because we all want to be productive, to contribute. But we usually hate work because it is not the work we want to do.
Similarly, for you schooling youths out there, there are some adults who want to go back to school, because it's a step towards our dreams. However, students do not enjoy studying because students do not understand why education is important.
Find a mentor who can help you understand, and you will find your potential to excel.
I answered, we want to work because we all want to be productive, to contribute. But we usually hate work because it is not the work we want to do.
Similarly, for you schooling youths out there, there are some adults who want to go back to school, because it's a step towards our dreams. However, students do not enjoy studying because students do not understand why education is important.
Find a mentor who can help you understand, and you will find your potential to excel.
May 23, 2015
The Three Things a CEO Needs
Quote from a VC:
"A CEO does only three things. Sets the overall vision and strategy of the company and communicates it to all stakeholders. Recruits, hires, and retains the very best talent for the company. Makes sure there is always enough cash in the bank."
By the way, avc.com has great reads for anyone interested in business.
"A CEO does only three things. Sets the overall vision and strategy of the company and communicates it to all stakeholders. Recruits, hires, and retains the very best talent for the company. Makes sure there is always enough cash in the bank."
By the way, avc.com has great reads for anyone interested in business.
May 22, 2015
What Content Marketing Means
In my previous post, I defined content marketing as the creation of owned media that provides values to target audience to build and nurture long-term relationships.
Yet, it has no mention of things such as the company or profits. C-class executives who do not really treasure customers are not going to understand the importance of content marketing.
Yet, it has no mention of things such as the company or profits. C-class executives who do not really treasure customers are not going to understand the importance of content marketing.
May 21, 2015
Content Marketing is So Important
Content marketing is, by this blogger's definition, the creation of owned media that provides values to target audience to build and nurture long-term relationships.
It's really important that businesses start to take content marketing seriously, because (1) it's really the best way to create value for your customers, (2) it creates assets that your business owns, and (3) it's one of the oldest form of marketing, ie it had been proven to work.
It's inevitable that businesses will eventually be involved in the media business. It fact, it has already gripped every industry. One must realise that being in the media business also puts one competing with others outside their own industry.
It's really important that businesses start to take content marketing seriously, because (1) it's really the best way to create value for your customers, (2) it creates assets that your business owns, and (3) it's one of the oldest form of marketing, ie it had been proven to work.
It's inevitable that businesses will eventually be involved in the media business. It fact, it has already gripped every industry. One must realise that being in the media business also puts one competing with others outside their own industry.
May 20, 2015
Reality is Broken
The Internet world an utopia, and reality is broken in comparison.
Time is eternal in the Internet, someone is always using and contributing to this world. There can be no race or religion, and the lack of differentiation allows one to approach issues equally with others. Everyone has a voice, and anyone can get opportunities from this world.
The reality sets standards, where people are used, and only people are limited in ways they can contribute. Race and religion is the first filter for many to decide to listen to others. Only the voice of the rich is heard, and governments seek to restrict the Internet for their own interests (not the people's).
Time is eternal in the Internet, someone is always using and contributing to this world. There can be no race or religion, and the lack of differentiation allows one to approach issues equally with others. Everyone has a voice, and anyone can get opportunities from this world.
The reality sets standards, where people are used, and only people are limited in ways they can contribute. Race and religion is the first filter for many to decide to listen to others. Only the voice of the rich is heard, and governments seek to restrict the Internet for their own interests (not the people's).
May 19, 2015
Unimportant Questions in Life
The question "How many holidays have you had this year?" just seems so insignificant.
Is it supposed to be a sign of affluence? Level of experience? Is work so sad for people they need to "cool off"?
Why shouldn't the question be "What have you learnt about the world this year?", or "How many people have you helped this year?"
Is it supposed to be a sign of affluence? Level of experience? Is work so sad for people they need to "cool off"?
Why shouldn't the question be "What have you learnt about the world this year?", or "How many people have you helped this year?"
May 18, 2015
Limit Your Limiting Thoughts
Instead of saying, "Why is this so impossible to achieve?", ask "How do we make this possible?"
Remember, asking the wrong questions will give you the wrong answers.
Remember, asking the wrong questions will give you the wrong answers.
May 17, 2015
The Road Not Traveled
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the road less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
I took the road less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
May 16, 2015
May 15, 2015
The (Sad) Culture of Free
While running my business, whenever my manager do certain things, I often ask my manager, "Doing this will get you a certain type of customers. Are they the type of customers you want?"
In asking that, it was not to deter, but to ensure the right promotional/marketing etc efforts are in alignment with what the business is trying to achieve.
This thought made me recall what the governmental organisations do: the exploitation of "free" to boost their numbers. At events, they will give away free stuff like goodie bags.
While nothing is wrong with that promotion method, when used for years, the type of audience they have attracted are those who want free stuff.
There is a misuse of the "free" strategy. If the result is the attraction of people who have no understanding nor care for what an organisation is trying to achieve, the event, and eventually the organisation itself, has failed in its purpose.
In asking that, it was not to deter, but to ensure the right promotional/marketing etc efforts are in alignment with what the business is trying to achieve.
This thought made me recall what the governmental organisations do: the exploitation of "free" to boost their numbers. At events, they will give away free stuff like goodie bags.
While nothing is wrong with that promotion method, when used for years, the type of audience they have attracted are those who want free stuff.
There is a misuse of the "free" strategy. If the result is the attraction of people who have no understanding nor care for what an organisation is trying to achieve, the event, and eventually the organisation itself, has failed in its purpose.
May 14, 2015
May 13, 2015
The Rise of Invective Marketing
Note: this is NOT a type of marketing that organisations should use!
Yet, there is a rise in this trend among common folks seeking fame, especially in social networks.
These trolls (as I call them) get a certain number of following, then they say something controversial that gets people to comment/share. And these trolls get the attention they want.
Like This Old Marketing podcast says, please don't do this. It's wrong, if not just pathetic.
May 12, 2015
Are You Sure You Should Use Facebook?
Hmm... is it so hard to understand that not facebook page for a business is part of an organisation's plan?
Having a facebook page does not mean doing social media.
Having, or not having, a facebook page pages boils down to what the marketing plan of the organisation is. Or more importantly, what the content marketing plan is.
Is your facebook where your audience is? Can you provide a consistent stream of content that is of value to the audience? How does facebook factor into the overall marketing plan?
May 11, 2015
May 10, 2015
Passing Lives
There have been people I have not gotten to know till it was too late.
When I got to know Princess Diana, I found out what she had been doing in Cambodia. But her accident came one week after I did.
Roger Ebert was a force in the movie industry, and I found his website to know more about movies. One month later, he passed on.
After seeing various movies, I realised Phillips Seymour Hoffman's roles were so well delivered. Too soon after, he too left this world.
May 9, 2015
Experience Over Product
I am one to go for service. Of course, food quality has to be of a good standard, and I will choose a restaurant with average food and smiling waiters, than a restaurant with excellent (and probably exorbitantly expensive) food but a waiter with the terrible i-hate-life face.
The underestimation of the value of the smile is an indication of lack of care for customers, no matter how the company writes how it values customer relationships.
May 8, 2015
May 7, 2015
I Love Brad Pitt, But...!
"Top Brad Pitt performances in a supporting role"? I was stunned by never having considered such a question before. My history of film doesn't run deep enough.
May 6, 2015
Believe in the Power of Digital Content for Social Good
I am penning this down as a personal reminder, for I am about to take steps into the Dark Side.
This Dark Side has no interest in the social good. Being numbers driven, it is the commercial worth of the content that matters to the Dark Side.
Do not forget the beauty of connectiveness, the wonderful people behind their causes, and the people saved by digital content.
May 5, 2015
I Don't Like Woody Allen's Movies
I'm no critic, though I'll credit it to how I watch movies: looking out for fabulous acting that trumps music, cinematography etc
Any movie goer would have watched bad/disappointing movies in their lives. (Yes, even those so bad that would have given you cancer!)
Till now I have no recollection of Woody Allen's movies' plots. Even for the recent Blue Jasmine, I remember the rough plot, the ending, breathtaking performance by Cate Blanchett, but... nothing else.
But the acting of the actors/actresses! Just can't get enough. Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine, Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder, Mifune Toshiro in Seven Samurai, Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Carribean. These are roles that make you think they are real characters.
May 4, 2015
The Fallacy of Rights and Wrongs
I think one of the biggest fallacies as a human being is the belief of right and wrong.
When humans think of a situation being "right", they think of any other situations as "wrong", thus limiting themselves to understanding or appreciating the true situation.
The truth is there is no such thing as right or wrong. There is only the matter of what is.
I am not going to argue that Hitler wasn't wrong. He did kill millions of Jews. However, I _choose_ to apply a moral standard, and condemn him for what he did. He was "wrong" in my eyes.
However, many injustice in our world can be avoided by not assigning what's right or wrong. Religion is the worst offender, dictating themselves as right, and everyone else wrong. Homosexuality is wrong? You haven't even started to consider talking about human rights. Girls should not be allowed to work? They are half the economy for goodness sake.
May 3, 2015
Quotes 8
Fashion trends are strange. When a certain look or hairstyle gets popular, it is already out-of-date.
May 2, 2015
May 1, 2015
Online Collaboration For Newbies (Bonus)
I need to mention something important for the previous three posts: YOU have to take the initiative.
In many cases, you will become the designated leader of the group, as you will be taking initiatives, making sure milestones are met, keeping everyone aligned with the goal, and looking out for the members.
Online collaboration may just be putting infomation online, but you will be the one to bring about collaboration.
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