Nov 23 2008
A Brief History of My Business
I often receive question on how my business came about and what I’m doing now. Perhaps I’ll answer here once and for all 
This is a very brief history of my business. If you have further query, please feel free to contact me here.
In 1999, I started BizPartner with 2 other partners when we were university students. We provided all kinds of IT services we knew such as selling and repairing computer, computer training, computer networking, web design, and so on. There was no focus at all. Naturally the business was not good and soon my partners left me.
I carried on and narrowed down to three major services – computer training, web development and SMS marketing. Before long, I became the top reseller of a hosting company as I managed to get quite a number of customers to host their web sites with me.
In 2001, I registered the domain name bizpartner.com.my (so late!) and started to focus on web hosting services only. Since then I’ve been providing domain name registration, web and email hosting services until today.
In 2002, I launched NextLevel Tutor Network, a home tuition portal for Malaysia and Singapore. The business model was quite different from other players in the tuition industry, and it did shake the industry a bit at that time. The web site went on until today, although many similar sites have emerged.
In the same year, I also launched RichQuote.com, an affiliate web site selling products on personal finance. For a while, it was quite successful as I became the number 1 affiliate around the world earning US Dollar everyday. However, the business model was quite controversial. To avoid any trouble, I later decided to sacrifice the money and turn it into a very normal web site. The site has since disappeared into oblivion, though still earning a little of income every month.
In these few years, I also launched a few other online businesses, some mine, some joint ventures with others. These include an online photo album about Malaysia, a web hosting service using single-level marketing, and so on. I also helped form a company which sells an IT outsource solution. Unfortunately these ventures didn’t work out. But at least I tried
So started in 1999 as a general IT service provider, I changed to become a developer of online businesses as years went by. I no longer wanted to provide IT services (except web hosting), but to build automated (or nearly automated) Internet businesses so that I have free time to do other things.
But starting from 2004, although my little business still went on, I started to get involved in certain non-business activities. As a result, I spent too little time working on business that it has remained stagnant until this year (2008).
This year in 2008, I decided to give up many good activities to refocus on business (often “good” is the enemy of “best” use of my time). The relaunch of RickySoo.com as a business blog this year was a milestone as I decided to devote time working on the business again (not just in the business). I’m trying to learn up everything as I did in my early years, and I believe I can catch up.
As a start, I’m now working first to transform my existing sites, and will later work on some business ideas I have kept for years. If you have good ideas and need a technical partner to team up, you are welcome to contact me here.
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You’ve most certainly inspired me to re-iterate how I started as well.
And, age is always an issue in Malaysia. Unless what you present is top-notch which empowers you to have knowledge of an aged person.
Thanks Danny for sharing
Are you sure age is an issue? If Colonel Sanders could start KFC at the age of 65, why not the rest of us?
As an aged person as you said, technically I may not able to produce myself the kind of work younger people can. But I don’t have to compete the same way as they do, or in terms of product quality. We should all aspire for our own way based on our uniqueness. Doesn’t this apply also to those in the same age group, regardless of age?
How about you? I heard or read somewhere that you are one of the top web designers around. Can I enlist you as a partner designer? See http://bizpartner.com.my/partners
When will you share the inspiration down about your business in your blog? Or are you interested to guest blog here? You are much welcome. Check out http://www.rickysoo.com/2008/08/11/guest-blog-your-internet-business-experience/
Nice Summary. I like it. Share with me your long kept business ideas with us on the coming BarCamp
For a start, I’ll be glad to first share my idea for MDeC pre-seed fund. Check it out at http://www.rickysoo.com/2008/08/04/barcamp-the-ideal-learning-platform/#comment-1764
i need a business plan on how to start up a cyber cafe