The Invitation as a Speaker
I received an invitation from Taylor’s University College as a speaker to talk about entrepreneurship last week. The event titled "Cradle Commercialisation Workshop at Taylor’s University College" is jointly organized by Taylor’s University College and Cradle on the May 2010.
The invitation surprised me. It is a very kind offer from Taylor’s. And I really appreciated that. A lot.
For the moment that I received the email, I felt an unknown force of motivation spirit just came into me. I am glad. However, I rejected the offer. First of all, I have never thought of becoming a speaker. Secondly, I had a very broken English. The major factor for me to reject the offer would be my personal intention, the intention of building a more strong and sustainable company this year. I hope to try as a speaker one day, to encourage more entrepreneurs in Malaysia, allowing people to worshiped me on the stage (:P), and I bet it will be fun and entertaining with some stage fear.
When that day comes that I could become a speaker, it would be where I am at my most comfortable level with my career and my company.
The emotional roller-coaster
The ups and down were extreme within the past few months. Things seems great one moment and hopeless the next. One day you may think of being the next Google, and the next, you may be pondering how to let our loved ones know of our utter failure; and on and on. The hard part is the low, at this rough days, how long can I keep myself motivated, and how low is low? and this lows can get you crazy one day.
Almost 2 months back, we thought we had went through the first round of RM100,000 ICON Grant, the next thing you know, they had an internal structure changed, and the announcement had hold back. It was so down for me where our cash flow has been so tight. Finally today, Good news knock into my mailbox, long waited 2 months and finally i get to progress to the next stage of ICON application. So, to keep myself motivated for the past 2 month, I urge for sales contract from broadcasters. However, the broadcaster are the big boys that is not easily contacted, and is not when you want to see them, they will see you immediately. so the down and low emotion is where you need to wait, and wait, and wait and wait. All you wait is for just an opportunity. The waiting process is what torturing for start ups where you know cash flow doesn’t allowed you to wait too long. Once you had the chance to meet up with the big boys, your emotion is back high sky rocket, Yes, this is the moment for us.
I accidentally saw my mum is having tears while i drive her back from her work today. I know that she has been suffering pressure from work and wanted to retired early. I was angry at myself for not being able to support her. And I told myself strongly that I will not fail and quit in any situation comes against me. This is not for me, but for my family. Very soon she will get to retire early. very soon as I promised.
Some memorable moments of being first time in Astro; and the impression for us on Astro working culture is definitely Fun and Entertaining.
The 2 Things in my Mind.
There are 2 things in my mind keeps bothering me these days. First is a SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! SALES CONTRACT~! I WANT A SALES CONTRACT ~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! APPOINTMENTS~! WAIT ~! APPOINTMENTS~! WAIT ~! WAIT ~!WAIT ~!WAIT ~!…. I DON’T WANNA WAITTTTT
2nd one i can’t tell. That is quite personal.
but this 2 things has really get my going crazy these days. Didn’t had a good night sleep ~! and has been sleeping very early ~~~ 5am ~~
Its been a year
Time flies, since the day of being awarded with RM150K from pre-seed, 1 year passes like a blink of an eye. Life of an entrepreneur has never been easy as i have expected, but i didn’t expect it to be that tough. Through out the year, we have been focusing on producing the proposed idea to Mdec, creating prototype and animated cartoons and hoping one day that someone will buy the idea. From the process of preproduction to post production, storyboarding, animating, sound recording, it is fun and exciting. Now, prototype and animation has completed, the funds given to us as almost dried up. We had gotten the interest of potential parties. 40+ kindergartens with 2000+ students have sign the letter of interest, even clients shown interested with our product. The only problem is to cover our cost and to generate revenue that our strategy might not be able to cope with it, and we try not to sell it investors that will consume our control over the company. So we have to put things on hold for the moment, and change our strategy to target at broadcasters in order to survive. However, broadcasters doesn’t work in the way we expected, and government has put most funds on hold. and I feel of throwing out with the pressure that the challenges I had to faced in an unknown future.
I got lots of things wanted to do. Get a girlfriend, buy a luxury car, invest in stocks, buy a house,and etc. but my cash flow is so tight for me that prevented me to do other things. Looking at your friends with high salaries, thinking of yourself just having RM1500/month, if i have not venture into the business, my salary will be around RM5-6k a month or more, and why do i put myself in this shit. A friend from a big corporate ask me about entrepreneurship which he feels like venturing it, lack of satisfaction in work where things he achieved successfully in the corporate doesn’t belongs to him. With a salary of 9-10k, living in a comfort zone, and his commitments has feared him from coming out.
He ask me if he had got funded and start a business on his own, what will be my advice. The problem starts when you got funded, things change, the market demand will change as you go along, you might not know the future what will happen. All can be done is to believe and work for it. My mum did ask me what did I do for the past 1 year, cause she can’t see any achievements from me yet, and I told her that I am not selling nasi lemak or chicken rice by the road side where profits can be seen immediately. There was once a mentor warn me to expect there will be no customers for 1 – 2 year during start-up. I guess that this is the process.
We compared a corporate worker, a family business and entrepreneurship in the chat. Corporate worker has steady income with lack of satisfaction, Entrepreneur a strong believer and a psycho with 0 cash, and how I wish my dad is rich and runs a business that I have not much to concern with only the challenges to expand it. Which will you choose? I grown up in an average family, my dad and my mum is working hard for their bosses, and i pity them for not enjoying their life, and i wish i could do something with it and this becomes one of my motivation to venture into business.
Sometimes i just wish that this post is in private to release my tension and depression. To cheer up myself a bit, at least in my life, I achieve 150k in a year, I achieve MSC Status for my company which my previous employer failed to do it. In the year 2009, I have learnt something which average corporate and schools did not teach. And I only can believe the future will be a brighter one. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas~!
The No Turning Back Point
It’s almost end of our funding period. Prototype has completed, and hence we were struggling to get Letter of Interest from various parties. Had been months meeting various audiences and potential clients and we were given good feedbacks from both sides. However, although feedbacks are good, now the only problem lies on our product price. The price mentioned by the clients didn’t manage to cover our product cost. And this is the most difficult challenges for us that we need to revamped our business model again. The cost of animations could be very high. 1 episode in 1 series can cost around RM40-60k. Given the feedbacks from clients and audiences, we knew that our product works. It just that how we can sell at a reasonable price and cover our cost and on top of that earn some money. So, we were now heading for MOSTI for a larger amount of fund for the upcoming months, however, MOSTI funds are ending this year. We are in progress developing a preview for pitching, and this only could be complete by end of October. and to get Letter of Interest within November, and hopefully submit my application on end of Nov. By then, I do not think that there will be any funding left over for us. I am frustrated now for not being able to help to built the preview but to do nothing until it is completed. Waiting, is mentally torturing me.
Although we were given good feedbacks from clients, but we knew the road in front is tough, we are left out with no more capital to spent, hanging in between. Looking at your friends and ex-colleague getting promoted with income raise, I have wonder why did I put myself in such situation, but I never regretted. I feel glad that I had a team that runs with me until now, and thankful for the support from my family from the beginning. Hence these only made me no choice but to continue to move forward even you knew the road is tough. I love pressure~!
Malaysia - From Pride to Shame. We need more competitive awareness.
Read this article “From Hare Speed to Tortoise Pace“, from theStar Deputy Executive Editor Wong, telling his story in the golden days to the darkest night of Malaysia Broadband services. 10 years ago, Malaysia is proud with its broadband services where we have the most advance technology in the broadband industry compared to some of the countries in Europe, such as France where they have only dial-ups. With that moment, we definitely feel the pride and joy of being a Malaysian. However, with only one decade away, today France had a far more better and faster broadband service than Malaysia. and where we are now? Our broadband services has not improve at all for the past 10 years. I guess is either we fail to learnt the moral from the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare.”, or we are just too satisfied with the current situation. We are the Hare, we are sitting under the Tree, and we are still asleep.
Malaysia needs more competitive awareness, and I personally still feels that Malaysia has not awaken from its comfort zone. The best example that the recent abolishment on implementing English in Maths and Science has raised a critical issue in the region where the authorities are over protecting the inability of rural areas and the insufficient knowledge of the poor educators and has forgotten of who we wanted to be in the global position. In my personal opinion, applying sufficient pressure in the education system is the only way to improve our competitive advantages in the global industry. Stop protecting and stop giving excuses to yourself for not improving. Its only a matter of whether you want to be improved or not. I came from a Chinese independent school, and I remember the horror in learning English, Chinese and BM in both Science and Maths. Get over it, Malaysian~!
Bridging the fear of Cold Calling
To Technopreneurs and Technology geeks, Calling up a stranger and attempting to pursuit them over the phone to be interested with your product or to schedule a meeting is just not what you do. It doesn’t runs in your vein, doesn’t run in mine tooo~~~.
I have delegate most of the responsibility of sales call and meeting schedule with clients to my marketing partner, kc. However, I decide to take up the challenge to learn something which I don’t always do - A cold call to a potential clients. Yes, is my first Cold Call, which I think is a skill that needed to mastered in the path of becoming an entrepreneur.
So, I listed down a list of potential customers and their contacts in a piece of paper. I put the phone in front of me. then…. oppps , of all the sudden, I felt thirsty, so I go make myself a cup of tea. Ok, the tea is ready, I suppose if I talk too much I still get to clear my throats with the tea. Hmmm, I think not enough contacts in my list, so I when google for more contacts, in between, facebook for a while, and listed down extra 10 contacts to my list. Ok, now I should be ready~! I pickup the phone, suddenly, I felt shit right at my ass, and I head to the toilet and make it big~! Ok, I think almost everything should be ready, the list of contact, the tea, my throats are clear, there is no shit in my ass. Oh ya, I forgotten to write a script for my call. So, I spent some time to write the script. Ok, now everything is prepared. Set to go. What the Hell, I am still freaking nervous when the phone is on my hand. And, 2 hours gone~! I have been shouting at myself - Make the Call ~!!! you Fucking Idiot~!
What happen to me, why am I so nervous. I am able to faced the 10 panels from MDeC and now I am so chicken~! So, I told myself, If I don’t make the call now, I will be eating bread for life!!! Hence, I get myself calm within minutes, pick up the phone, and dial the first number on my list. A lady pick up the phone, hence, I read my script.. “Hi, I am Chee Hoong. Calling from Joove Enterprise Sdn Bhd”, then the lady answered~ “WHAT IS THIS REGARDING~!”, oh gosh, the sound on the other sides seems having a period, I felt very uninvited, my brain just got a shock, stunned for a second. And I repeated the script again “Hi, My name is Chee Hoong, calling from Joove Enterprise Sdn Bhd. We are doing bla bla bla. and blablabla. Are you able to spare me some time for a meet up?”. Wow, I read that script in one breath~! and I hope she gets my message. She replied. “SORRY, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED!” slammed the phone. There goes my first call. Oh, is sounds so hurt, is like being dump by your girlfriend. OK, get on with the second call with the better feeling, still tense up, half recovering from the previous rejection. Second call, heart brokening. Third call, Failed. Something is not right some where.
So, I call up my partner, get him to call some clients on my list, and I observe his conversation. The next day, I make my second attempt, imitating the way my partner did, these time without scripts, no tea, and with shit in the ass. I converse in a way like how you talk to a friend, gentle, nice and honest. Finally, One appointment made, YES~! That moment, I felt so over joy. I am happy that I am able to overcome the fear, and successfully getting an appointment via the phone. Then the second call, third call, forth call, is so exciting, and I got it all through and appointments are set. I believe, there are still much to learn from cold calling skills. A lot of practice needed on me. Hence, Geeks, all you need is to overcome the fear. Start calling now or you will be eating bread for life.
Small tips for cold calling. 1st, Prepare a Script but Never read from the Script. 2nd, Identify your objective. 3rd, focus on your objective. 4th, converse in a smooth way. 5th, Just enough information will do. 6th, Ask for appointment. 7th. PICK UP THE PHONE AND DIAL AND KEEP A SMILING FACE~!
Links to share:
- http://sbinfocanada.about.com/cs/marketing/a/coldcall.htm
- http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-10-Tips-For-Cold-Calling-Success&id=80590
- http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/marketing/articles/cold-calling-guide.shtml
- http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/marketing/customer-service-acquisition/7-tips-for-turning-cold-calls-into-hot-leads.aspx#tipsforturningcoldcallsintohotleads
Tough time ahead but an Exciting one for Joove
It has been long since I updated my blog here. Had been busy with work to keep progress on schedule when man power are in short. My company currently in the most critical condition where everything is in concern. It is coming to the last quarter of our fund disbursement from MDeC Technopreseed Fund. I have been missing in most entrepreneurs event organized by MDeC and I have started laying out plans to counter what happen next when the pre-seed project ends on coming August 2009. By then, a tangible product should be ready for demo. The problem now is how do we survived the tough time when we are not supported by the funds. The needed marketing cost, operation cost, continues development cost, expenses and expenses and expenses etc. Our product, , which is not like any products that will be sold for an immediate revenue. So Hell we go again, Fund raising campaign is needed. However, after speaking to a few clients and audiences to gather interest from their side, it is happy and excited that we are in the right directions and right timing, that our product does interested them, but, the only problem from both site is the “Chicken and Egg” issue, the common glitch and headache that most entrepreneur faced. The clients wants a confirm mass market to be ready, and you need the time to build that huge market. Apart from that, small players like us need to strategically plan the time for product launching …. so everything is in concern~~~ Hell we go again~~~ Will I survived ???
A new journey begins
Right after I quit my job, 2 weeks later, I went for an interview. It’s not an job offer interview, however, it’s an interview for the application of Technopreneur Pre-seed Funding programme from MDEC Malaysia. This programme offers up to an Ringgit Malaysia of 150K for start-ups to build their prototype. During my days in the office, i have been quietly writing proposals without my colleagues notice (If they didn’t notice and I assume they didn’t), and I handed up my application the month before i quit my job.
Without knowing if I will be able to get the fund or not, I just quit my job so that I could concentrate to aim for the fund. So, after a risky, shivering, panicking 1st interview with a board of 5 presidents and directors from PIKOM, MIMOS, and MDEC, i can’t really remember all their names and position where my mind is almost at a total blank during the presentation. However, i manage to get through the 1st Interview with 70+ applicants, and which makes me and my team the top 28% that when through the 1st interview. From then, my confidence came back. and I didn’t panic much anymore for the 2nd Interview which was interviewed by a board of 10 members.
Thanks to my partner, K.C as my sales director for being so well presented during the interviews; the Yong brothers, Alan and Nelson for preparing the flash animation files for the presentation; and specially to my uncle and his friend, my father’s friend that has given me such good suggestion and guidance in my presentation skills and slides. Congratulation to us, we manage to secure the fund. So, it’s a start, and a begin of a new journey.
My feelings are so complicated when the news came to me. Besides feeling happy that my proposal has been accepted and i could kick start a dream that will benefits the children, It also means that I have committed to something big, and the responsibility and burden is much more heavier that i never handled before.
Great Powers comes with Great Responsibility, and I will takes whatever to fulfill what has been started. Joove Enterprise Sdn Bhd, is the company that me and my team formed. For the time being, we will be focusing on Animation productions for children. and this marks the start of a new journey…
The start of a jobless life. (Putting myself in Deep Shit)
It has been 4 months being jobless after my last contract. Although there is an attractive offer placed right in front of me, however, i refused to take it, and straight head start to what I have always dream about, which is to become a business owner of my own. I don’t dare to categories myself as an ‘Entrepreneur’, cause I didn’t really prepare for that. However, things that I have done so far makes me feels like one of them.
It took me quite some time to quit my job. My aim is to survive without a job. So…. i quit my job, and get myself into real deep shit situation. Realizing that I have no fix Income, I got an insurance to pay, my parents are retiring, my brother is still studying, and petrol hikes like hell within the past few months, and my savings are draining so fast. So, i have to force myself to work for my own money and to achieve the dreams I wanted.
So, what will I be doing, hmmmm…. yet to know…
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About
Life is interesting, its all about experimenting, trial and errors and self improvments. This blog is all about my personal experience. I am full with ideas, and i will achieve every one of them step by step.