Archive for the 'Events' Category

Nov 15 2012

BookPeckers Events – November 2012

Published by under BookPeckers,Books,Events

Welcome to join any BookPeckers (formerly Business Book Club) meetup in November 2012 below. Book sharing is not compulsory. You can just come and listen to sharing of others, and participate in discussion. But if you choose to present a book, welcome to bring the book and talk about it for 10 to 15 minutes. Please contact me for any enquiry.

Group: BookPeckers @ Petaling Jaya #9
Date/Time: 22th November 2012 (Thursday) 1:30pm
Host: Joshua Tan
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/443483669046107/

Group: BookPeckers @ Bangsar South #3
Date/Time: 24th November 2012 (Saturday) 3:30pm
Host: Ricky Soo
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/125502664267693/

To know more about BookPeckers, please join our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/business.book.club/

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Oct 30 2011

Random Posts on Personal Branding

FB post #1 – Have you been saying you want to do something, but your action just doesn’t show you are doing it? Perhaps you need a little more motivation? Perhaps many things in life keep distracting you that you can’t focus? Perhaps you are over ambitious that your goal is just not practical? Or perhaps what?

FB post #2 - Have you been working diligently but other people just don’t see your hard work? Perhaps your performance is not yet good enough to attract their attention? Perhaps you need some “selling skills” to make them notice you? Or perhaps you are not exposed enough that they don’t even know your existence?

FB post #3 - Sometimes what we want to do conflicts with what other important people in our life expect us to do. Maybe we haven’t learned enough of their needs. Maybe we don’t know enough of our own ability. Or maybe we haven’t communicated enough with them on what we can do for them.

How do you respond to these posts and questions? I’m in brainstorming stage to prepare for an upcoming talk on personal branding. Your comments are welcome.

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Dec 02 2008

Application For MDeC’s Pre-Seed Funding

Published by under Events,Ideas

Today I attended the “Ideas Generation Workshop” organized in the MIRC KL SME ICT Summit 2008.  All participants should agree that we have been so blessed by the sharing of the speaker David Lo from sixbrands.com, who has a wealth of experience in business, branding and marketing.

I was in the workshop to learn about how to generate and evaluates new business ideas.  Actually I already have some ideas myself,  some even few years old!  I want to know how to choose the best idea to work on, or as the speaker said, which idea to sell my house on!

At the end of session, we were told to submit a one-page summary of our business idea by next week in order to apply to MDeC’s (the organization behind MSC Malaysia) pre-seed fund for up to RM150,000 in order to further develop.  Never did I notice that the workshop was aimed for the fund applicants.

But now I’m seriously considering applying for the fund.  It’s a grant, free money!  The money will help in bootstrapping the new business and shorten the time to market.  Also, I will go through some process and learn things that I never learned.  In fact, I will be paid to learn!

Perhaps most importantly, this will instill discipline in me to act on my business idea now, rather than letting it collect dust for another few years.  Since it is a conditional grant, I must achieve certain project milestones and develop a prototype within certain time period, failing which I will need to pay back!

So now, which idea should I submit?  Well, this is not play play and I think I will submit the best one.  Wish me luck :-)

16 responses so far

Nov 19 2008

Exabytes – From Good To Great

Published by under BOS,Events,Hosting,Strategy

Last Saturday I got an escape to Africa with the likable Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippopotamus, Melman the Giraffe…

Thanks to Exabytes who treated business partners, suppliers and customers to watch Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa in Cathay Cineplex, free of charge!

As we could see, the cinema hall was packed with people.  As we walked around the cineplex and The Curve shopping mall nearby, many people were carrying the free bags given by Exabytes.

From a humble beginning of a few staff members just a few years ago, Exabytes have grown into the most successful, interesting, admirable, enviable and happening hosting provider in Malaysia!

Not to mention many awards they have  won over the years, including the prestigious Golden Bull Award given to the best SMEs in Malaysia, not one time, but two years in a row – last year and this year again!

Years ago I already thought of using their services, but was bogged down by my hesitation to switch provider.  I also considered their lack of their own data centre, and lack of 24-hour phone support as their down sides when compared to another I was using.

But as their boss Chan told me, even if they had the money for a data centre, why use it for a data centre while it could be used for other better purposes?

We know the web hosting industry in Malaysia is a typical red ocean.  But Exabytes seem to have adopted the four action framework (Eliminate, Reduce, Raise, Create) in the blue ocean strategy, among other things they have done.

Unlike some other providers, they eliminated the need for their own data centre.  They reduced their phone support to the minimum.  These two alone are very costly yet not very productive for a hosting provider.

But they raised the quality, variety and innovation of their products by catering to the niche markets such as students, bloggers and resellers.  And most importantly, (to the customers :) ) they created the FUN in hosting with them with their regular freebies, prizes, giveaways, PR events such as this movie day.  Hosting service is very much a functional product, but Exabytes are not just providing the functionality, but appealing to our emotions as well.  I believe they are also among the most interesting companies to work in!

The thrust of a blue ocean strategy lies in the value innovation, the innovation of values offered to customers yet at a lower cost.  They save much money and do away many headaches by eliminating and reducing unproductive things, but use it to raise and create something very interesting and impactful.  Money well spent!

So Exabytes, congratulations on your success.  I believe you will not sit on your laurels, but grow from strength to strength to become not just a good company but a great one!  Syabas!

2 responses so far

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