And then there were 3...

OK, I must admit I have succumbed to popular demand...I am updating my blog!

Yes, it has been some time since I wrote my last entry. Was it writer's block or something else? I dunno. It could have been attributed to pregnancy...of my wife, silly!

Anyways, on the fateful day of Sept 11th, I became a dad! There is now absolutely no excuse for me to forget my dear son's birthday.

I am sure you all want the lowdown on the birth of this beautiful creature, so here are the statistics of my son's birth:

No. of hrs wife in labour: 10 hours

Administration of Epidural (pain relief): At first, no. Wife very brave. Then we had to give it to her

Time from start of pushing to delivery: 29mins

No. of days spent in hospital post delivery: 2 nights (check out time 12pm...like hotel like that)

Number of times poo-ed in 1st day: Lost count

Weight after Hospital checkout: 2.4kg (normal for baby to lose weight after delivery)

Weight after 3 days from hospital checkout: 2.7kg (100g weight gain per day!)

Cost of hospital stay: S$2,000+

Cost of seeing your baby burp at you: Priceless

Looking at the picture above, I must assure you I am not trying to kill my kid through strangulation. Rather, I am trying to burp him. But one thing though, check out his really big bright eyes and his really Lao Been (old looking face). Picture above was taken when he was 3 days old!

I am so blessed.

Branding...more than just stamping on a cow

Branding.

Definitely one of the most misunderstood words in the English language.

Ask almost anyone about the definition of Branding, and most will refer in some way to a logo; a typeface (font); an advertising campaign; or a packaging design.

Key in 'Definition of Branding' into Google and what you get is a slew of definitions that (believe it or not) differ one from the other as if it were night and day.

One definition I pulled out from the web is this:

"The process by which both a brand and brand identity are developed"

Another states:

"...the process of building a favorable image for a product or company that differentiates it, in the minds of prospects and end users, from other competitors"

Another guru proposes:

"...is the assignment of value to products through naming, packaging, marketing, and advertising"

My favourite is this:

"The use of a hot metal object to scar the body. Sometimes seen as the "ultimate" act of submission"

Indeed, the shrewd brand owner knows how to make consumers yield themselves towards a certain brand, 'submitting' to the brand's perceived value and associations!

May I then propose the definition of Branding, in my humble opinion?

"The building and protection of a Branded product or service, towards achieving the aim of financial profits"

There we go!

Wasn't too difficult to swallow, was it?

I can almost recall a friend of mine saying this when I lamented to her on the lack of true marketers, "Stop being such a bl***y purist!"

(swear word sensored to protect young readers out there. Honestly, I truly think that the expletive vocabulary of my 12 year old friends truly surpass me in every aspect. I am just being civil for appearance sake)

But yeah, back to branding.

A study was done by the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health where 63 preschoolers were asked to sample two meals, each consisting of a chicken nugget, a quarter of a hamburger, french fries, two baby carrots and a small cup of milk.

Although both meals came from a local McDonalds, only one of them appeared in its original packaging. Researchers presented items from the other meal in plain wrappers, which lacked the company's distinctive logo.

In most cases children said they tasted a difference between the two meals, and they overwhelmingly preferred the McDonalds-branded foods. (New Scientist.com News Service, Roxanne Khamsi, Fast Food branding makes children prefer happy meals, 6th August 2007)

It was a pretty amazing study. The children actually preferred carrots wrapped in 'McDonalds' branded packaging ---- even though it does not exist on McDonald's menu!

Yes, the art of branding is that of attracting people to buy your brand so that you can earn profits. Not just recognizing your brand only, but converting that recognition into a sale...hopefully many times over.

In the case of Budweiser and the talking frogs campaign is a great example of people recognizing the Budweiser Beer brand and campaign, but resulted in lower sales. And while the brand recall was high, it only fulfilled the first part of my definition, it did not fulfill the latter part sufficiently.

http://www.mycustomer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=133055&d=2043 ("Frog in the Throat" section)

As a Brand Manager, I can only say that I am still learning and have much more to learn.

And so, if you ever hear of anyone claiming that Branding is easy peasy, please excuse him for he is not of a sound mind. Otherwise, please refer him to me --- I can put him in touch with a farmer who requires farm help to stamp marks on his cows.

The Little Red Dot

It is interesting how something initially seen as deragatory can be turned around and used as something positive.

The term "red dot", was first used in 1998 by the former president of Indonesia, B.J. Habibie, when he made this quote, pointing at a map on a wall to the interviewer, "It’s OK with me, but there are 211 million people (in Indonesia). Look at that map. All the green (area) is Indonesia. And that red dot is Singapore. Look at that.”

Reaction to that term was swift and furious from all corners of ASEAN. Interestingly, our country's leaders picked up on this term and used it to their advantage. Rather than associating the "Little Red Dot" term negatively, they used it to reiterate how vulnerable Singapore is. Similarly, while we are small, we are also 'Red' ---- a fiery chilli padi that can make things happen.

Thank God for wise leaders.

This same term has been immortalised in a title of a book about Singapore's foreign service --- 'The Little Red Dot. Reflections by Singapore's Diplomats'.

I am currently reading this compilation of short essay pieces from Singapore's diplomatic corp, relating the tough times they faced protecting and lobbying for Singapore's interests in the nasty world of global politics. Indeed, all Singaporeans owe a debt to these men and women who worked most of their lives overseas so that we can have a better life.

If you are into current affairs, politics, international relations and economics, this book would interest you. Otherwise, I would just simply direct you to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Wife has been hogging the Harry Potter book for the past week now.

And then there are the more learned ones...

Keeping it Simple

The article above is written by Phillip Kotler, a renown marketing guru of our age.
I feel that he wisely narrows down the requirements to be a great marketer at the top of your game:

1) Differentiate - Always have a selling point
2) Creative - Think outside the box
3) Leadership - All marketers should be leaders, not administrators

I wonder then, why the degree is known as Master of Business Administration (MBA). On saying that, I do agree with Kotler. We sometimes just cannot let go and tend to micromanage.

Agree?

Of course, the slackers among us are giving me back slaps.

Balance, folks...that's what I am aiming to get.

But of course, if you happen to be selling courses on 'teaching' you to be a great marketer or chief executive, you would have to say that the position requires you to be the following (as what a management school advertised in the media):

A Visionary

A Motivator

A Negotiator

An Architect of Organisation Structure and Systems

A Sensor of Market Opportunities

A Creator of Shareholder Value

A Strategist and Policy Maker

A Strategist for Acquisition

An Agent of Change

So complicated...I'd rather go work on a farm.

Anyone hiring farm hands? Will work for food!

My own church

Yes, many people do want to be pastors of their own church.

Me? Nah. I'll pass.

And there will be others who will pounce upon the very opportunity to pastor a church. Some, will resort to underhand tactics and manoeuvres that will put seasoned corporate man to shame. I know. I have seen it happen.

But why?

Short lesson #2156: People desire to have Money and Power.

And the age old question is put forward to you: Would you rather have Money or Power?

Some prefer power, for they rationalise that they can control the rich.

Others say they prefer riches, for they can buy power.

So what better way than to have both --- money and power ---- by being a pastor, or let's broaden it, a religious leader.

"Oh come on now (as you naysayers and hypocrites declare), these people are always honest and after all, they are 'God's people'."

That is exactly the point, NOT!

In the real world, head honchos are constantly being constantly bombarded internally and externally, for the decisions and non-decisions that they make. Your political rival is doing his or her job well, when he or she manages to dig some dirt onto you and cause you to fumble and 'lose face'. Sometimes, it can be so bad, you will have to leave office without a pair of pants to your name --- just like that Bill Clinton guy (except that I think he deliberately left office without his pants).

Back to my point.

Would you ever dare 'question' your religious leader on the decisions that he makes? Some of us would. Most of us wouldn't.

Why?

'cos he will get god to strike you down with a lightning rod! And the more dominant and charismatic you are as a religious leader, it is very likely that your job is a relatively cushy one. After all, if someone comes and creates trouble, you could immediately choose to go into a trance and declare that the trouble maker is possessed by an evil spirit causing disharmony in the organization. That will be enough to have your faithful followers pick the trouble maker by his collar and drag him into the nearest dump.

Not to mention the gratitude your followers will have after you have 'positively' identified and cleansed the 'holy place' of the trouble maker, thereby maintaining harmony in the religious body. They will show their gratitude by heaping their riches onto you --- all in the name of giving to god, of course. And you being the godly person, would not reject riches for 'your god'...except that you happen to be spending all of god's money on yourself.

Of course, I am sweeping in my statements. But we do not have to look far for such examples.

In fact, our local Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWO) are currently seeing some of their top guys scoot off with donors' monies, some quietly, others in broad daylight.

I am thankful for our country's leaders and for my church leaders, who are human nonetheless, but are focused on where they stand...

....'cos if they're not, I will be one of the first to drag them by the collar and throw them into the nearest dump.

The taxi driver with 6 fingers

Fresh from my recently consumed Big Mac meal grabbed on the run, I made my way to meet my business associate, T, at the hotel lobby. We were supposed to catch a cab to the Coach pick up point together half an hour later but the KL traffic was so bad, that we decided to leave immediately.

Dragging my briefcase/luggage, I made my way to the hotel lobby, looking every bit the professional who had come into KL for business and had hit 18 holes and was now making my way to catch a flight.

Looks are terribly deceiving.

After meeting up with T, we stepped outside into the humid PJ air. The air today was less smoggy than it usually was. The rains in the morning had cleared the smog away. It did not matter to me anyway --- I was cooped up in our Office HQ, receiving my Battle Orders to increase sales, increase the pressure, increase distribution, increase brand awareness....in a shorter amount of time.

We stood in line behind a couple who wanted to catch a cab to Bukit Bintang. We waited as the doorman approached an incoming taxi.

"How much to Bukit Bintang?"

The doorman hailed at the couple, " $20 to Bukit Bintang, ok?"

The woman remarked to the man, " Crazy! $20 to Bukit Bintang?"

The doorman took that as a no and waved the taxi on.

The roads in and around KL and PJ were so jammed on a saturday afternoon, that no cab driver wanted to pick any passengers running on the meter. They figured that they were better off quoting a flat fee. For that afternoon, it was the cabbies who were king.

The doorman came back to the queue and approached us.

"Where you going, Sir?"

"Menara Axis."

"OK, you wait here, Sir. Wait for this couple to go first."

I nodded in acknowledgement.

Couple in front of us finally gets a cab that brings them to Bukit Bintang for $10.

We were next in line.

The next cab pulls up to us and the efficient doorman is already briefing him on our destination.

"Sir," said the doorman, facing us, "Will you be able to direct the cabbie to Menara Axis? He is not too familiar with the location."

"Cannot lah, 'bang! Driver should know what! Close to PJ Hilton. If he knows where that is, I can show him."

"Ok, ok, PJ Hilton he knows. It will be $15," replied the doorman.

"Sure or not? He knows ah?" I asked suspiciously.

"No problem, Sir. He says OK. Have a good day!"

I walked towards the trunk to keep our luggage. T stands behind me and squeals, " Eh? Sure or not? He can make it or not? Otherwise we get lost then how?"

"No worries, T. Should be ok."

I crossed both fingers and toes.

We entered the cab. An Indian cabbie is at the wheel.

"Boss, Menara Axis, you tau? Boleh ah? Bagus."

Honestly, it did not do much to assure me. You know, when your cabbie starts shaking his head from side to side in a rocking motion and answers you that he is sure of the destination when initially, he wasn't sure, you start having doubts. But then again, I had to do it to reassure T. After all, what were the chances of finding another cab in this rush hour traffic, to take us to our destination on time?

As soon as we drove out of the hotel driveway, we were immediately faced with the snarling jam. The cabbie remarked," The government bodoh! If we want to go north, should make a road to the right. If we want to travel south, should make a road to the left. What the government do? They make 1 road to the left and both those going north and south use the same road. Stupid dah!"

His dashboard was filled with Hindu inscriptions and mini idols. Cab drivers the world over seem to have this in common --- the reliance on their gods to protect them at their cab driving jobs. The muslims, the buddhists, the taoists, the catholics....they're all the same.

That was when I noticed our cabbies 6 fingers. Left hand was intact with 5 but the right hand was made up of only 1 thumb. Where the rest of the fingers should have been, they were all missing from the knuckles onwards.

"You're a brave man," I remarked.

He looked at me quizzically.

"Your hand," I pointed, "But you still drive."

He looked at me through the mirror and smiled a toothy grin.

"Got to live. Must survive. No problem!"

And he proved it by driving with his right hand only....I mean, his right thumb only.

"So, what happened?" I cautiously prodded.

"I was 18 years old when it happened. Accident."

He went on to describe how he had to be kept in the hospital for 2 months and after that, at home for the next 7 months for the wounds to heal.

"After that 7 months, I told myself that I cannot feel sorry for myself. I must live."

And so he headed to the capital, KL, to find work.

His first job was a petrol pump attendant. The Kiosk attendant took pity on him and allowed him to sleep at the back of the kiosk at night. His salary was $20 ringgit a day.

Then, he came to know the truckers who came to the kiosk to refuel their trucks and soon found that they earned much more than what he had. He plucked the courage to ask one of them for a job and one of them agreed to make him his assistant.

"I sat beside in the truck and helped in everything. When raining, I run back to cover the truck."

It was on one of these rides that his trucker partner asked him to give a go at driving the truck. And as they say, the rest is history.

To get a license to drive a truck, he had to apply at the motor vehicles department. Upon seeing his right hand, they referred him to a doctor to certify that he was able. The doctor took him on a test drive in a car and he passed with flying colours.

"It was easy lah! I sit in the car only and no problem. They give me license to drive car and truck. But no motorcycle. But it's ok."

He and his new trucker friend got along so well for the next 23 years, that he was offered his trucker friend's daughters into marriage. But he declined. It was after driving trucks that he decided to finally go into be a cabbie for the past 3 years. He has a wife and 2 children.

"God give to us healthy body, we must use it to work, to survive. Those who have perfect bodies, do not work, but stick out their hands to ask for money, even god cannot help them."

"I no right hand, never mind. I am already 60+. But you must have the feeling," he points to his head," the feeling to work hard and to live."

I love the lessons gleaned from people, like this Indian cabbie. Professors at top universities have laws, theories and hypotheses. Corporate honchos have their track records and political fights. But people like this cabby, are the real heroes and survivors in our society.

But you must have the feeling...

To blow or not to blow...

*ahem*

ok, now that I've got your attention, let's talk about the whistle blowing of 2Lt Li Hongyi.

A quick background:

This PSC government overseas scholar bound for MIT in the USA, was serving out his National Service as a Platoon Commander when he came across an alleged situation of favouritism in the military. Officer Commanding covering for another Platoon Commander in an alleged case of AWOL (basically, disappearing without anyone knowing where you are or when you will be back).

Usually, such offences are quite servere in the military and are punishable with a decent stay at the Hilton hotel (and you believed me?). Actually, it's the Detention Barracks or the military prison.

2Lt Li got peeved (perhaps this was not the first time he had observed such incidents) and decided to take matters into his own hands. After allegedly going through the proper channels, he decided to air his grievances in an email to the Defence Minister, cc Chief of Defence Forces. Chief of Army, etc.

Oh yes, one more thing -- 2Lt Li is the son of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

This debate has been flying through cyberspace faster than a speeding bullet. Was 2Lt Li right in blowing the whistle? Was this approach appropriate? Was he trying to abuse his position? Or was he just doing the right thing?

You decide for yourself. Read the email found at the link below:

http://tomorrow.sg/comment/view/6468283