Confetti and such

You may say I've been on a blogging sabbatical. I know I know, there are those who tell me I have to be consistent to capture followers. That is undeniably very true. Some days I get carried away with the routine of everyday that I forgot how important this is to my future dream. The dream of early retirement and running my own business. What has it got to do with blogging you ask? Apparently, famous people are more successful in business....so I have a few more years to get famous!

I popped confetti in the air today. Me along with about 100 of our business partners. It was fun. Like those shower type fireworks, but of course a lot more tame. By business partners I don't mean the kind whom you co-invest in business with. Business partners here are business owners who work together with us to take our products to market, reach our customers and for many, are the face of our brand. The people who make or break us.

Whether you're working for a company or managing your own business where you depend on others to 'sell' your services, this post is relevant to you. I find this relationship is most fragile in most business. To reach that win win situation, a term so freely used actually takes a lot of hard work and consistency. Trust need to be built and honoured. Like all relationships, it can get personal as at the end of the day we are dealing with people. Loyalty is hard to gain but easy to lose.

And as in life, you cannot please everybody. Nevertheless, the common values (sometimes uncommon!) holds...sincerity, humility and willingness to listen. Ultimately of course, actions speak louder than words. Hence, promises need to be delivered. By both sides.

Choose the right partners but don't forget to also be the right one! Good night.

Thinking Big

Ok I'm on a roll but this will be short and easy.

Think Big! I think at times we need this reminder. It's so easy to get sucked into daily routines, issues, limitations and fire fighting in your job that you forget..to think big.

And we may think it's hard to think big if we only know so much. But, you'd be surprised. 

Mind you, thinking big is not the same as a big idea.

But a friend shared this with me about big ideas. Someone said, to test whether an idea is big enough, tell it to someone else. And if the answer is 'Are you out of your mind?'..that's a sure sign it's big (or cuckoo) enough :P

So, this is a public service announcement. The next task you get, think big and see what you come out with.


Picture courtesy of Google Images

When in doubt go with food

Being Malaysians, we are diverse in our cultural roots and we respect that. However, more so in recent times, as so obviously seen and felt in platforms such as Facebook, there are things that continue to divide us, sadly instigated by many at times, with questionable motives.

But what I have seen unites Malaysians like nothing else is food (yes I hear you, except between Malaysia and Singapore. I even hear they claim Satay is from Singapore now.. Boo!)

We love our food. Doesn't matter which festivity we celebrate (and we do many), the food maketh the season.

And so I find this true in even the toughest business negotiation or conflict. The best way to diffuse a tension is to start a topic on food, and all's forgotten for awhile. The situation gets more relaxed and the understanding of the individuals you are dealing with improves. And things just magically get better even when you come out agreeing to disagree.

Try it when you need to and let me know.

This satay is mine!