Singapore Entrepreneur

How time really flies. As the Chinese saying goes, "With the blink of an eye, it's already passed ten years".

Well in my context, it's more than 6 months since my last posting. Much has change since my last blog entry.

Let's recap a little on 2006 for the company.

Shifted office to Duxton Road.
Staff Strength reach a total of 12.
Renovated the new office here and there.
Have a relax corner in the office.
Identified our market and company strength.

Personally wise,
Learned to manage my time more efficiently.
Bought my first dream car.
Spend more time with my family.
Balance work with proper lifestyle.

Hope for 2006?
Achieve revenue of 1.2 million for company.
Improve relationship with brother for 2006.
To save enough to buy my own home within the next 2 years.
A better partnership.
More welfare and perks for staffs.
More time spend with my other half and learn to appreciate her even more than I ever did.

I wonder when will be the next time I can update this blog.

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments

It's been a really really busy week.

I gotta thanks my new staff who's here to help me out. He's been a really great help. Now that things are in place, more staff are still needed. Gosh, what the hell is wrong.. endless need of hands.

We're having more and more work and more and more projects. Sounds good but it's really tough to handle with the lack of manpower given the fact that we're recruiting the best within our resources.

Morale within the office has been good despite the amount of work we're having.

And to add, today I have been certified further with a professional cert. Weeeeee! Indeed, there's full of good things happening ahead albeit, there's also tougher challenges ahead.

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

Just came across this from another business associate's blog.

Motivation to Move
http://www.motivationtomove.com/m2m/

It has a 60 seconds podcast talking about motivating oneself and moving oneself in life.
It'll really be good for a morning wake up message.

"Nothing happens until you move!"

Today, my business, my partners moved another step. Had a showdown with a client whom we decided to terminated their contract due to the forever changing requirements with zero commitment to their requirements.

I went into the meeting with enough words to express our difficulties for at least half an hour however, when I asked for the agenda, my forever so strong partner took the step up and explained the situation with firmness in less than 2 mins.

I was awed by his firmness, steel resolve in our stand in the matter. The client took it as it was albeit grudgingly and left in another minute.

I do not know what lies ahead, it looks like war. Can't we all make peace? I guess we can't at times when life just create that environment.

Lots of good projects ahead, lots of prospects ahead, lots of awards ahead.

Holy shit, I am smiling inside my heart.... the feeling is so sweet....

Moving ahead......

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

Many good things happen lately and one bad thing happen lately.

Good things are

• New Account Executive into the company to help my department
• New Projects
• I am being nominated for an award which I shall keep mum for now.
• Company is expanding aggresively.

Bad thing

• I have a fucking customer who thinks her money is like 100 times the value it actually is.

I hate it when customers refuse to commit to their ideas and specifications and expect us to change it from time to time. Using past experience of theirs, just simply because they were in the industry previously doesn't mean my company should bow to their values and belief.

I have given in, so has my other directors. Time and again, they used our time like it isn't worth a single cents.

Enough is enough, the show down this week, we will terminate their contract. Oh ya, did I forget that they are lousy pay master too? They have not paid us for the second phase of the project and expect us to work hard?

FFS, get real. Just cause we are young entrepreneur doesn't mean we are stupid people.

Be nice to your vendor, don't slavedrive them like they aint just as human like you are.

And, damn.. I need to learn how to sleep. I have sleeping problem from time to time. Darn it!

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments

More staff into my company this week. Gosh, more tables, more terminals, more $$$.

It's a matter of reinvesting into people but the cost is definitely never cheaper. Infact, human reinvestment got to be one of the tougher decision to make.

As a small organization grow, I guess it's always a common problem. How to grow? How to grow strategically and grow in a manner that is structured?

I been pondering over this question for some time since the organization is growing. It is really a tough decision to make for an entrepreneur. Especially for someone who had never work in the business executive department of big organizations, making such decisions based on my understanding is really tough.

Damn, life is tough as one grows up and learn.

At one point, I asked myself, why am I working so hard to see to this idea of mine becoming a fact. Why?

I pondered and I guess

1. I am an idealist
2. I dream a lot
3. I like freedom
4. I like to create
5. I defy all rules and regulation set forth upon me(I do respect the law though)

I guess a person's nature and character do lead one to become what there is?
While when I was young, I had the above character but I was much like a raw diamond(Yes, I think I am a diamond). So raw and unpolished that I committed much error, bumping the wall and coming back around.

I begin to see how a raw diamond could be polished and over time become one of the glittering priceless diamond one would like to have.

As also over time, I realised I am being wanted by other organizations for my skill set, my thought process, my network and well, whatever value I have to them. It is indeed a good feeling, it's sort of an achievement.

Coming to today, there were times I felt tired but I really like to thank the people who stood by me, support me(especially my parents and close friends), I am glad I am here today.

There's still a huge whirlstorm ahead that I must guide this ship safely across but I believe I can.

Before that, I would need some guidance from some experienced captains of established ships. (there, I am dreaming again.) I guess I will see if a uncle of mine, a great entrepreneur, made in Singapore, if he could shed some light as to how to guide this ship.

(I swear doing business from nutz is really becoming so daunting that I am becoming quite clueless. I thought as a business expand, things will get easier and well, it seems the opposite) The bigger your business grow, the more responsibility you have, the more you have to do, the lesser free time you have, the burden becomes heavier, the challenge becomes more daunting. It really is not easy.

When I was young, I always think being a boss is such a cool and glamorous thing. I cannot believe that in fact, being a boss is such a terrible job. Challenging it may be, there is so much to be done being a boss.

Those who keep telling me I am lucky to have the opportunity to run my own business, aye indeed I am luck and glad I am running mine but somehow I do wonder how is it on the other side of the grass. Is it greener? (typical human nature huh?)

Darn me.

See me on times magazine in 60 months time!!!!

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments

Is there really such a thing as stupid customers or is it that my management is not good enough to manage customers do cannot intepret the situation?

I have a client who expect things to be done in impossible time frame and yet every meeting with them, they come up with new ideas and expect the new ideas to be incorporated and every new meeting, they cannot make a decision.

Darn, I am so sick of this customer that I feel like stretching out my hand and strangle them. Please wake up.....

Too fed up to think of how to handle their situation though I am sure every challenge or problem that arises comes up a solution if one so chooses to think of one.

Work has been so busy that I don't know which day is which day or even when is weekend. It's good for one in business but definitely crazy.

To add that, having a partner who do not understand what you are trying to do and just want to make his point instead of objectively trying to achieve better heights for the company, simply piss me off so much that I can't be fuck bothered to work for at least 2 hours.

Damn, take that fucking ego of yours down and think objectively instead of looking at problems only.

What the fuck?

.... ok.... talking about this makes my blood boil...

Nevertheless, back to work and back to make things happen once again....

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 7:57 AM | Permalink | Comments

Met up with an old friend today during my NS time. Really glad that we can still talk like old times despite not meeting for almost a year.

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

Came back from my business trip and learned a lot more about branding. It's such a big word with so many things under its umbrella.

Executing and completing a branding campaign for a small company isn't easy to start with, what more to brand a company with more than 10 subsidiaries. That is super hard and a long journey ahead.

Maldives was more than interesting. I dealt with CEO, CFO, MDs of companies... and the culture there is entirely different.

It has opened up my perspective to a lot of different things. Seeing the rich beyond rich, seeing the exclusive things in life... darn... sometimes I wish money drop from sky just for the fun of it for one damn day.

Nevertheless, I shall be there, I will be there by my hard work, by my ideals and I will just be.

After learning so much about branding, I realised that I too need to brand myself being a face for the company, wearing suits and everything I realise, I shouldn't just give me client a plastic pen to sign the contract, something more worthy maybe?

So justifying to myself that this is part of my own branding process, (besides all along, I have took a liking to that pen.), I went ahead and bought a Mont Blanc pen. I like it, but somehow paying 500 bucks for a pen seems stupid to me....but hey, I am more motivated to work now with all these retail therapy

So, monday here it comes, I am going to charge all the way to the hill. 1 million revenue for the company this year!! woo yeah!

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments

Since the leaving of my previous partners(for the better), business has seems to grow and grow yet it leaves me trying to catch a breathe in life.

I haven't had any time for chill or relax much or anything. I am unfortunately the only person who seems to know each and every aspect of the business yet I am not able to pass on the other aspects of the businesses.

Tomorrow, I am flying to Maldives for a project.(weeee, always wanted to go to the Maldives, now I achieve that thru business, how funny.) Every time there is an overseas project, it is always exciting yet it does scares me.

First time was to Thailand, all alone. That really taught me indepedence a lot because I have no one else to turn to as I am the one in charge.

Maldives, at least I have 2 other colleagues. Further and further it seems my project goes in the world. Hopefully one day, with everyone's help, my company could one day grow to be a global company.

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments

It's been again some time since I post. Been really busy with the business.

Sales has been really good, close a US listed company's job lately, close a local listed company's project too and more to come....

It has been intensive and while there are more high profile projects upcoming, business has been really tight. Now even though I have a good management team behind me, it seems I am the person who live and breathe with this business.

It seems I am the only person who knows this business so thoroughly, if I am not around for more than a week, things would be pretty chaotic....

What Cobalt said is extremely right, being bosses, we're having lesser free time, just more flexibility with our time...

Business seems like an endless list of problems and solutions. All through my years in business, since my first business at 17, it's always endless problem solving. The cycle always comes back and again and again.

I solve my sales problem, comes my human resource problem, I solve my human resource problem, comes the cashflow problem, I solve the cashflow problem, comes the business development problem, I solve the business development problem.

It's endless!!!

But then again, I realise I enjoy solving all these problems though I must say, it indeed is extremely heart grieving at times, scary at times, fearful at times and then again now talking about it, I realise, it's all these fear, scary feeling that makes me want to go through it all.

I do not enjoy something secure, I do not enjoy living a normal life, I do not enjoy a boring day, I thrive on adventurous moments, champion my ship to explore and find more unexplored land.

It is weird but then again, that's just me....

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 12:18 PM | Permalink | Comments

Just went through a tiring and breathe-taking week. Sales had been extremely good this month and last month but being the only person who can do sales most effectively in the company for now is taking its toil on me. I do like 2 proposals a day and meet like average one prospect a day.

Just had a talked with a business associate cum client today over dinner. While this business associate cum client of mine is doing well in his business, he also shares with me how difficult is it to deal with humans. Having a good staff is indeed hard. While he is a human resource professional, even he finds it hard to manage his own HR issues. Some staff while do are profficient in their task but unfortunately just cannot be promoted to be a management due to the way they work and their character. I start to see certain light about humans. It takes a lot to be in a higher management position.

Same thing for me, I am struggling to let me new partner see some light in certain things but yet to strike that kind of common understanding. Its frustrating for me. Not that I been in business longer means I am better but I have not been able to communicate certain points across. It takes so much understanding for a partnership to strike out effectively for a long term result.

Now I am working out my new site's contents and also three proposals for prospect. Damn, life is soooo tough. Whether you are rich or poor, it just sucks. (But still, having no money problem means one problem lesser in life.)

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments

It's been some time since I last up date..

In fact a long long time. So much has happened during this time that I have been gone.(from this blog)

Business has a new meaning to it, company has been restructured, I learned that people can be really fucking assholes when it comes to protecting their own interest.

What really happened?
Lesson has it that when business is not going strong, people just run away without fighting. People are also afraid to own up to their own mistakes and just run away from it too. People scheme and bear grudges for a long time.

Boy, was I surprised. Never did I once thought someone who acted, stood neutral all the time in business could be so scheming. Never did I thought rumours, stories could be so effective.

If I think about it, if I could kill him, I would. But fact is Singapore is bounded by law, thus not that I wouldn't, it's just that I can't. That's how bad it is.

Acting neutral, being a "xiao ren" is not something I think one should be. I believe in honourable battles. Being sneaky, acting like a "MrIamsoNice" is utter bullshit.

Then again, I told myself. Why bother with these people? Now that the restructuring of the company seems to be so much better. We hit our sales target, has a even better crew than previously. I now have a almost "famous designer" in my team, a MBA gonna be partner in my team, a hardworking yet knowledgable technical support staff.

Compared to my previous team, this makeshift crew has become heavenly.

Anyway, business I realised has tonnes of scheming, deceptive people but I shall and will not stoop to the level of this people. I shall go by my principle of integrity, hard work and intelligent to carry on. I don't think there is only one way of success in business and I definitely do not believe it is necessary to be like those people.

You can be shrewd, but not cunning.
You can plan but not scheme.

I see it all as being different.

Anyway, new team, new vision. The gone shall be forgotten. (though in many ways, I could not hope but these fucking people die.)

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 9:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

Thanks Cobalt for reminding me of identity crisis. Haha, so lost in work totally forgotten about that part.

Now it brings me to the question of, working on personal for fun project,

• Should I be open about it?
• Will a personal blog hurt me?
• What will happen?

Basically, if possible, during my free time, I would like to share advise with other Singapore entrepreneurs but should I do it quietly? It did come across my mind that I should not allow my current business to have any conflict with whatever personal interest I am doing.

Like Google, wanted to try setting up a fair and so call "good" resource environment for entrepreneurs in Singapore doing their business.... but its hard....

1. With so little time on my hand
2. So many headaches in managing business itself
3. So little help

I just never seems to muster the energy to do it... How How How?

Hmmmmmm......

lots to ponder....

lots to think about......

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 1:04 PM | Permalink | Comments

Been sick the whole last week, not feeling well but still working. Finally, with so much work completed, now I am recuperating yet still going to office on a Sunday afternoon, live of an entrepreneur sucks har?

As of late, its been a hell low ride for me it seems, it seems to be like a roller coaster, one week I was so high on energy, the next I was so much a spent force. Been thinking, how to keep up the consistency, how to keep being motivated.

I get motivated by books, by people, by movies. I do that whatever I need energy and motivation to move on, to preservers. What are your way of moving?

Recently, I bought the domain, sgentrepreneur.com. Been thinking of gathering resources for Singapore entrepreneur. Perhaps a forum included too. Haven't have the time to do it yet though. I got the content management system setup though. It's still going to be quite far from completing though. Anyone interest? Leave me a message here ya?

I did a search on google, looking for "Singapore Entrepreneur" however most of these resources are purely commercial. It seems that I cannot find any forums for fellow entrepreneur to share their experience and advise.

The closest I found is perhaps meetup.com a group for Singapore Entrepreneurs. I joined up but this looks like a very pure networking session. I'll just go and see their next session and how it goes... but business instinct tends to be more right than wrong most of the time.....

Now off to office and work.. work work.... hehehe

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments

I just sack one of my staff yesterday.

Reason being, he makes no contribution to the company. While I appreciate his good nature character, he ultra devotion to his religion is taking too much time even while at work. SMSing, MSNing (I give the liberty for staff to use MSN to communicate, with client or friend is fine by me as long as it is not abused). While these are mini factors attributing to me firing him, the main thing is, he is too slow in his job, unable to fit into my company's culture.

It does saddens me to fire anyone, as that would mean adding one more person to the unemployment pool, however if I have to fire him to ensure other people still have their job, I guess it's for the better.

In a small company, every staff's contribution to the company is significant, I cannot afford to pay someone 1600 and he only does 800 dollars worth of work. This is like putting the company 2 steps backward for every step that we take.

Life goes on I guess.....

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 10:23 PM | Permalink | Comments

Oprah Winfrey : Talk show host and business woman.

"What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come."

My sales department has been having so much sales lately that I am worrying our capacity cannot fulfill. We been getting good projects to work on and then I was thinking how important it is to get good vendors who can support your operation.

Firstly, I'm in the internet marketing solutions industry. While our capacity fulfil, consultation, technical ability and creative ability, we do not have the infrastructure on web hosting and server hosting. Our tied up with a company that is able to give a great level of support had enhance our operation so much.

"Even our clients are important to us, so are our vendors."

Find a good vendor to support your operation is essentially important to most business. Our suppliers are the one who can help us grow if they are able to give us the support at the price. I have had so many bad experience with vendors until I started to question a lot everytime I need a new vendor in certain directions.

For all budding entrepreneur, do not go for the cheapest price vendor as always, take some time to evaluate. Cost effective does not mean it must be the cheapest.

If someone is able to deliver the requirements for your business in 10 hours at 10 dollars, while someone takes 20 hours to deliver at 8 dollars. Go for the one at 10 dollars, you pay more but you save 10 hours and

"In Business, Time is Money!"

Those additional time you save could make you back the 2 dollars or more.

I had the stupidity of going for the cheapest vendors in the past, and 99.99% the cheapest vendors gives me more problem than actually solving my problem....

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments

Maybe it's thoughts, maybe it's dreams, maybe it's not.

Since I started my advertising campaign, I have had sooooooo many sales call until we have to reject some potential clients. 1 week, at least 10 concept proposals to be done, there's so much of late to be done.

I guess its a reflection of my marketing and channel management done right. Working with the right partners, working with the most cost effective marketing. Now, I guess it's time to work on my sales department and operation department.

Even marketing is functioning 85%, I feel sales is at 30% and operation at 50% maximum potential. There's so much more we could make it better for now.

Thoughts for the week. It's been some time since I last update.

Positive Energy for Management.
I think many a times, we do let personal emotions take over us in the course of our work. I have experienced that so many times in my work, as worker, as a manager, as a boss.

What exactly is positive energy?
I see it as reacting to all situation positively.
When an employee made a lost for the company in deal, how can we instead of just reprimanding that employee to vent our anger(Negative), this could be used as a case study for all employees so as not to repeat the mistake.

I always try to make the best out of every situation by reacting positively, by thinking positively, but sometimes its hard, sometimes emotion just control us. Sometimes, it's ego, sometimes, it's what else? I do wonder.

I'll probably be only able to update more once I get a little more free time. Proposals are so mentally exhausting.......

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 1:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

As of late, one of my company's designer's work has been really lousy and we're questionning if we should keep him.

As a staff, he usually is a 9-6 kind and does not automatically stays back unless something happens. Personally, I prefer the type who will stay back without us having to ask especially they know there's a lot to cover.

It makes me ponder, does it mean the more designer I have, the easier for our work? The more staff you have, the easier it becomes?

Actually, not. I have been in business where all staffs are owners and been in business, where I and another are owner and been in business whereby I have staffs to help me out.

Somehow, I do feel, I prefer if a business is sustainable and expandable, I would just want to do it alone, ALAS, but it seems that it is not very possible to grow a sustainable, expandable business alone. I would need help in that.

At the end of the day, I realised that, it is not more people that helps but good people that helps. It is not easy to find people who work hard, work smart and is able to fit into my organisation. It is really a step by step brick building process... really tough yet I got to admit it is challenging. Taking a company who is in the reds into positive cashflow, making it grow.

Man, it really is like teaching my very own kid, to learn and to grow up. In my organisation, I am the youngest but I have one of the highest authority, it definitely feels weird. For the fact, I am able to plan well, think far, an all rounded in business management, I guess that's why I am sitting in my position. It really is not easy to let everyone respect you yet at the same time do what you want them to. Unfortunately, I do realised that age, does plays a part, especially in Asia.

Thought of the day? Find quality staff, not increase in quantity. One man who can generate 100 grand of profit for your company is better than 10 man who generate 100 grand. Take your time to find the man if you have and can afford to, cause, ITS WORTHWHILE!

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today, had a quarrel with my elder brother. I just don't understand why is he so free to bicker with me on little things, such as how I arrange my room, where I put my stuffs, what I do, why am I in business and such and such.

I think he has forgotten the fact that I am 11 years younger than him, I saved him from bankruptcy one year back, I paid for half his car's deposit, I gave him so much, monetary and helped him so much in effort yet he is always taking advantage of me and as if I owe him...

Fucking idiot. So what exactly is gratitude when even your own brother don't appreciate it?
Nah, forget it, my brother is just a idiot whom never uses his brain anyway, assuming that with the help of my parents, he got a platinum card and more material items when he only earns a mere 2500 SGD a month, splurging and splurging and when he needs help, comes asking me....

Good luck, I am shifting out and don't ever ask me for help again. I have enough.

Now, gratitude, does it happens in business?
It's a strange word. Some clients appreciate it, some clients don't but I think eventually by going all out to service all your clients, whether they appreciate it or not, makes a difference to other business. As long as no lost is made, they remember you and you set a standard against all other businesses, this is the way to go.

This stupid brother of mine so spoils my mood. Tell me what I deserve to have such a loser brother..

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 1:41 AM | Permalink | Comments

As of late, a lot of things has been happening to my businesses. Positive ones, negative ones.

You can say while my new business is going thru a lot of positivity, while the old one is going thru big negativity. I put both my strength in them but in businesses, it just doesn't take me to make everything and everyone clap, especially I am not the only director.

While my new partner is someone hardworking, has integrity and often keeps me on my morale up, my old partner is someone who disappoints me, demoralise my whole team, someone with no integrity and in fact is entirely a big fucking liar.

Having seen thru so much, in business, you can be scheming, cunning however end of the day, please back your words up. Integrity is what I call it. You say it, honour it. You may be a fucked up person but if you have integrity in business, I will still do business with you. Cause I blame you not as you are forced to be scheming, forced to be cunning but you are never forced to lie and cheat.

Cheaters and liars can only last that long..... bullshits will not bring you to a further level. (Maybe I may be wrong but not so far in the way I have done my business here.)

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 3:45 AM | Permalink | Comments

Hardwork

Entrepreneurism often entails hardwork. From my course of work as I often implement technologies which results in me being able to see how business models work in many different companies.

Most successful entrepreneurial company has one very common characteristic, the main leading CEO/MD/Boss are mostly people who are able to work late into the night, sleep 3-5 hours a day and only rest a little more on weekend and continue to work during the weekend.

They work with all their strength to improve their business in any means they find possible.

Even you may not be naturally talented, being able to work hard and while working hard, the more you learn, you will stand to benefit as long as you put your theoretical and practical knowledge into action, it is likely you will find success along the way.

I am real tired today, that's about it for now... So much so much work for me too......

Posted by Singapore Entrepreneur at 1:02 AM | Permalink | Comments