Getting Married is a CHOICE!

come 2010 February 14, a day for chinese to rememeber as Double Happiness 喜喜

chinese used this symbol to represent a newly wed couple for 2 person to be happy and share the joy

however, to my surprise if you were to view it sideway in this particular symbol, another word appears. - CHOICE!

i guess for a couple to put their life together is really a choice made a lifetime. :)

fantastic way of analyzing a market and identifying opportunity - Steve Jobs, Apple

Even though the way Steve presents this analysis is simple, it is not easy. You will need to have as much information as you can gather about your primary competitors and your potential customers. As a summary here are the basic steps.

Step 1: Product & Markets

The first step in segmentation and targeting is to identify the product classes in your marketplace, meaning solutions that solve similar problems for your potential customer. As an example, in the vacuum market you might have: standard home vacuum cleaners, shop vacuums, portable vacuums… you get the idea.

Step 2: Competition

Create a diagram with the product segments of your target market listed on the header. Now visualize the top two competitors in each product segment. Steve did this as a bubble roughly relating their size to their percentage market cap in that market. This helps you recognize the competitive pressure within a given customer segment.

Step 3: The Emerging Market

The best way to approach a market is to target the emerging opportunity within a sector. Think about where the market is going to be in a 5 year time frame. Where your market will be five years from now is typically where the emerging market is today. Create your products accordingly.

do you remember?

see the similarities to the below King of Pop's Michael Jackson's songs?

Remember the time? That time?



the way you make me feel...

D&G Fragrances

A new movie to look out for in 2010!

CLASH OF THE TITANS

for the fantasy war strategy games fanatics!

Scandalous Maybach Campaign by David LaChapelle

“Jets, Cribs and Rides.” by Gene Kiegel

V is for Victory ad campaign by NIKE

10 Ways to Manage Bosses - Hint: Treat them like TOTdlers!

Do you ever think your boss behaves like a child going through the "terrible twos," throwing tantrums or reverting to a little lost lamb when in over his or her head?

I call this regression "Terrible Office Tyrant" (TOT) behavior. TOTs can act like schoolyard bullies afraid to reveal the slightest incompetence, or like helpless children. They can be fickle, stubborn or needy or have irrational fears. And they can consume your workday, not to mention wreak havoc on productivity and profits.

A bad economy, workplace pressures and stress can trigger the many striking similarities between bad bosses and terrible tykes. We're all human, and behind a boss's professional facade is often a grown kid who can't handle his or her power.

When your boss slips into any of the 10 classic TOT behaviors, including the "bratty" type (overly demanding, stubborn, self-centered or tantrum-throwing) or the "little lost lamb" variety (fickle or overly fearful), you can use proven parental techniques and actually thrive in your job. By seeing the childlike motives behind a boss's (or co-worker's) actions, you can better manage even the most difficult situations.

Use C.A.L.M.
The top four tips to keeping your office from being a corporate playpen are best described by the acronym C.A.L.M.: communicate, anticipate, laugh and manage up:

1. Communicate
Communicate frequently, openly and honestly. Savvy TOT-tamers take the initiative to establish an open dialogue. At work, stay aligned with your boss's objectives rather than focusing on your pet projects, so that your work remains consistent with what's most critical to management.

By bravely opening the dialogue, you'll also avoid misunderstandings with co-workers; other factors may be contributing to an ignored e-mail or seemingly unfriendly response, such as a tight deadline or pressure from the boss.

2. Anticipate
Be alert for problems and prepared with solutions. Offer answers to emerging issues; don't add to the pile of problems if you want to avoid triggering bad behavior. Your boss wants to delegate as much as possible -- as long as you make the process worry-free. Know when to stay away if you expect a tantrum is coming down the hall.

3. Laugh
Use humor, or what I call "the great diffuser" of tension, to break down interpersonal logjams. Laughter helps create bonds and reminds us of our larger purpose: to work together with upbeat, constructive energy. We can and should be able to accomplish great things as a team at work, while having some fun. Take the initiative to do this and watch the seething subside.

4. Manage up
Let yourself shine by being a problem-solver and collaborator. You can be a beacon of positive energy for your boss, co-workers and team. Part of managing up also means setting limits to bad behavior. Oftentimes TOTs are unaware of the effect of their actions. You can influence these actions, and your skills will be transferable to any job.

Advanced TOT-taming tips
Here are some specifics on how to tame your TOT and humanize your workplace. Try these time-honored "parenting" techniques:

5. Don't fight fire with fire
If your TOT is tantrum- or bully-prone, mirroring his childish behavior is a downward spiral. Avoid the temptation to win the battle and lose the war. Instead, calmly and concisely tell your boss how his or her actions affected you. Keep a matter-of-fact tone and be factual. Use "I" statements rather than "you" to avoid an accusatory demeanor.

6. Use positive and negative reinforcement
When bosses set aside their worst TOT traits, respond with gratitude and comment on how it inspires you to do your best. Praising positive actions is a powerful way to foster better behavior. Over time, your boss will link the better management style with positive employee morale and results. Remember, if there's something in it for your boss, you can effect change.

7. Know your timing
Timing can be everything, with a child or an office tyrant. Learn the best times of day to approach your boss. Study his or her patterns, mood swings and hot buttons and plan your interactions accordingly. It can make the difference between a pleasant "yes" and an irrevocable "no!" If you anticipate problems with solutions, you become indispensable.

8. Be a role model
Project the highest ethical standards and radiate positive energy. Maintain a balanced demeanor and approach each crisis (real or imagined) with a rational style. Your boss often needs a sounding board and you can be a valued voice of reason and calm when issues emerge.

9. Package your information well
Some TOTs can be frustrating when they're inattentive or unavailable. It can seem like a form of corporate ADD, or as I call it, BADD (boss attention deficit disorder). BADD bosses can't focus on important tasks and allow e-mails, text messages, phones and people to interrupt their (and your) flow.

Make sure you understand your boss's ideal communication method, package your work in an appealing way and make your presentations engaging and interactive. Make it irresistible for your boss to find out about your projects.

10. Set boundaries
Let bosses know privately when they've gone over the line, but do so diplomatically. Keep the conversation focused on your work product. If your manager is intentionally malicious, that's another matter that requires more serious action. If, after repeated efforts for cooperation (such as with a bully boss and unsupportive management), you may be best off looking elsewhere. You have to determine how much strife you can handle.

By Lynn Taylor, author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant"

Creativity - The Genius

To the Divine Genius in my life - Ole! to you

After watching this clip, i have this sort of weird emotional feeling that came to me all of a sudden, i sorta ask myself this 'what have i achieved in the first quarter of my life?' i tried listing all my achievements and pen them down... and i concluded one thing...- most of the achievements i have done in the past are done so for others... and not solely to myself...

is this the path that i want to take? to make people happy so that i will be happy? or should i just be selfish and just make myself happy first so that others can be happy for me?

i think i really need to relook in my goals... try to re-analyse the path laid out for me... or hasn't it been laid? i should really give a thought about it...

Christmas Candy 'Shit'?

would you eat this?... this is farking hilarious when i first saw it... haha does it look yummy to you? wuahha... should try eating them if you dare...

this is to me called "shit bread" or eat you can buy this and play prank on you friends and get them to eat shit... force them to eat this ugly delicious shit bread

i seriously dunno how the QC dept for this company survive.. they even let this product be out selling on the shelf...

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this 'shit bread' is available at bread society @ ION Orchard... they are presented very nicely in the picture but they are not on the shelf for consumers...or as what they called it.. this is actually called sugar candy cane bread. wonder how it taste though... would you buy as a gift?

setting goals - be objective!!

The week that just past was kinda like slower than that of a usual week... how do i put it? too many things going thru in and out of my work, too many things to plan and think of... and worse i am starting to feel sick. probably it is the year end ba... working in the retail field gotta earn as much as possible during the festive period.

I guess, age is also catching up with me.. well not saying i am very old.. but i can start to feel lethargic as the days add on.

Remember the last entry i wrote? about finding a job and going to study? yeah i am really determined... i think in order for me to move on i really need to push myself harder to achieve what i set for my life.. as the chinese saying goes "suffer first and enjoy later". I have been working very hard since the day i started out... work starts immediately after i ORD from army..
been having late nights and brain frying stress since then.

I had a few holidays and break here and there though, hoping that i can catch up with my sleep but somethings i just cant get over it would be wasting the day staying at home doing practically nothing... really... that is when i will add on to my tiredness... force myself to go out and spend time with my friends no matter how tired i am.. what to do? when i only have 1 day in a week to practically have to squeeze everything into my already packed schedule... worse thing to happen would be me sleeping and still think about work.

My many friends do give me comments like, 'ben u look older/tired' 'ben is busy' but what can i say... i will always reply with a smile...

Recently, i have also been thinking alot about myself, my life etc... what have i achieved so far working at my current company? to be frank, sometimes i also find it hard to list them down too.. probably i have been jack of all trades and master of non... i really need to be focus and set a goal and be objective about it...

Finally it is Saturday... to many it is a full day where they can run their own errands and to clear it up so that they can have a nice Sunday to spend time with their family... As for me... i still have to work... i need to rush some project prep for some organizer.. all these are last minute request.. ended up it is another full day at work for a nice Saturday wasted... how i long yearn for a alternate Saturday or a NO Saturday work week... sighz... started work at 9am and suppose to end work at 3pm... ended up finished at 6pm... so sian.. guess i have to reschedule all my appt AGAIN so as to accomodate to the ppl in my life...

i am suppose to spend my Saturday in a well organised manner, to go shop around immediately after my work.. spend some quiet time.... before meeting F & J for steamboat dinner buffet at Holland V, but never did i expect my work to drag so long till 6pm... there goes my quiet shopping moment... ended up so rush that i reached the restaurant only at 630pm... it is all the rushing that gets onto my nerves.. ARGH!!!

After the dinner, F,J and I decided to go and find a nice cosy place to sit down and talk on some serious matter... we drove from Holland V to Vivo to Harbourfront, and we ended up hanging out at Changi Airport thinking that that place should be very quiet since everybody is in town...BUT! we were all wrong... Changi Airport is alomost packed with family and their screaming kids running around the Arrival and Departure halls.. took us quite a while before we settled down at T2 coffeebean, i ordered a ginseng peppermint tea... as i am falling sick and feeling abit nasal.. decided to go with something hot to soothe my throat and clear my windpipe...

our chatting session started off by us sharing our week, like what interesting happened and so on and so forth... we even talked about love life on when are we settling down etc.. then it just happened! the conversation just fits in nicely to talk about my work... and stress ... my tiredness etc.. hah.. kinda sick of how the whole chatting session can end up talking about work.

well, F is more experience in the work force... so i am very glad to know him as a personal friend.. he has been very good to us.. me and J who are still below 30s and still have many opportunities ahead of us.. F shared his experiences and how he is so determined to achieve what he wants ... he forcefully highlighted that no matter what circumstances, we should set a goal and be objective about it... must always plan well ahead in life and not let it go to waste...
we can be much more optimistic about our plans... not necessary do a long term goal if you are unclear... and we should set a short term goal and achieve them before setting our long term... and by the time you look back, there is always a sense of satisfaction for all that you have achieved... this method is a very good way for confused and lost ppl like us... to set a direction and achieve it... i must admit, i have not been doing that for a long time... it came to realise suddenly that i will ask myself this. "Ben, what is it that you want?, what you want to achieve in life? and what have you done that is worth looking back?" again i cant answer them truthfully... i am lost in my mess of thoughts.

F, got a little more serious this time and he said," Ben, if you cant do long term... try to set shorter term goals... they come handy when you are still unsure of what you want, but it is always the case that you must make yourself take the first step and be determined about it!", he added," even a daily goal like to hit the gym, or to go watch a movie is also a good objective driven goal""once, you can acheive that, all else will fall nicely in place"

afterwhich, he gave me a few pointer and i have set a few scopes to look at it..

• to lose weight and hit 70kg before chinese new year.
• to go and study and get a degree
• to seek higher grounds

and there i have it ... my short term goals which i have to acheive in order for me to move on to do bigger things... J is also very supportive in these goals set and he strongly volunteered himself to help me achieve them... :)

we ended at about 130am, on a good note overall, I had a very good Saturday spent with my BFF... F & J.


Mood: satisfied

Marit Larsen - If A Song Could Get Me You

My current Fave :)

I could try it with a Waltz
I could try you rock and roll
I could try you with the blues
If a song would do

I could sing it high or low
When I let you go you know
I thought it was for the best
Now it is so obvious

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

I could run for miles and miles
I'd take off and I'd start flying
I could cross land and sea
If you just believe me

I should not have hurt you so
This old house is not a home
Without you here, there's no use
I've got no time left to lose

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

If a song could get me through
I'd sing my way, right back to you
Tell me how, to make it right
Tell me now, I'll start tonight
I know I could make it last

I swear to you that if I knew
What I was getting myself into
I wouldn't answer to my fears
I'd never leave you standing there

Just look at me

If you'd only see me
I would prove my love for you
I could swallow half the moon
Just tell me where, tell me when
I will have you back again

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you

So here it is, here it goes
I could try rock and roll
I would change your life forever too
If a song could get me you
I could make it high or low
Sing it on the radio
If that is what I need to do
If a song could get me you