foreword
ぜんかい -- ゼンカイ
no longer yearning. what have we not done before?
"the world is really but the stage - create the most fulfilling play"
If you're a thief, master the art of thievery.
A psychotic mind leaves no room for regrets.
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Zheng Kai
01.11.1989
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© Copyrights:
Original layout
Content & Images
Chok Zheng Kai, 2008
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Monday, June 23, 2008
My Basic Technician Course specialising in Small Arms has officially started today. But interestingly, what I took away from the first day of my course was not the information my instructors passed down, nor is it the new friends and course mates I might have made, but what a seemingly unassuming character, a publications salesman, said.
What does "R&D" stands for? Yes, we all know that...it stands for Research and Development. But in business? It apparently takes on a whole new meaning. It stands for "Rip & Duplicate". Well..in terms of business ideas at least. Sounds cliche eh? I tossed it aside initially thinking it is something typical of what a speaker encouraging and simplifying entrepreneurship might say. But upon further thought, I realised there's a lot of truth in that line.
We all read rag-to-riches success stories everywhere, and how many times have we thought - I could have came up with that idea too! Or at least - I thought that idea existed somewhere before? Yes, indeed, many times, it is the marketing strategies and business processes that distinguishes the successful ones and those with just plain ideas. Just think of Facebook. It is worth billions and it dubbed the next big thing taking over the internet along the ranks of giants like Google and Microsoft. But the basic idea and concept of Facebook - isn't it just another Friendster, MySpace? And even now there are new kids on the block called Yuwie, Twitter or sorts, but none are close to the extent of success of Facebook. To think Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook originally with the intention of bringing college students closer into a online community. And if you think Facebook's golden age is over, think again. Top engineers are defecting from rival giants to work in this 'coolest' firm - obviously something big is on their sleeves. Other examples, like Hyflux's Olivia Lum, made herself millionaire by selling her water filtration systems and gradually expanded. Obviously, ideas such as a water filter was long present before she made it into such a lucrative business. Everywhere else across the world, people travel and bring ideas, small to big, from place to place, market them and make good money out of it.
And before you fret into despair thinking ideas are simply not enough for you to set up a business and make money, here's another piece of good news. Firms are now sprouting everywhere to 'buy ideas' from people. You think of something, you present and send it to them. They like it, they will buy it (for US$20,000) and even give you a fraction of the profits when they market it. Big firms and brands run out of ideas too, and they can easily tap on their easiest resource - their loyal fan base. You know it - you've heard of the countless "Design your own _____ and we will make and sell" campaigns everywhere.
And guess what, this whole fusion of ideas and marketing and business strategies is going to come very useful and relevant in the near future. The economy can't be running at its tip top condition for too long and its already beginning to show signs of slowdown in terms of local exports and investment. In a period of an economic bear, entrepreneurship is sure to rise again and those who could fuse both will rise to success.
Well, come to think of it, this unknown publications salesman did his job well, more than his job in fact. He made me think, and I have a thing for people who make me think further into things. So here am I - $275 poorer with The Economist added to my belt of weekly magazines to keep me sane through NS.
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