Can my ideas/business model work? From time to time I may feel doubtful on the ideas that I am working with. I believe every startups may have the same question as I do. Not to mention, for those who has an idea and are still afraid to make the move to face the challenges, maybe the following tips that I used to self hypnotize myself may ease you in making your decision.

If Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb or if Graham Bell fails to create a telephone. Do you think you still could still see in the dark without wood and fire, or do you think you could communicate with your loves one over a far distance. How many times do you think they have failed?

If you said you wish to fly in the sky today, no one will annoys you, because the teasing has been ended since the The Wright Brothers invented the first airplane.

Thomas Edison started today’s world famous General Electric and Graham Bell owns a Bell Telephone Company that has evolved into today’s AT&T (American Telephone & Telegraph Company). Hence, there must be something in common that these inventors/entrepreneur possess to make them what they are today. There are 3 things that I always keep in mind, which I am still learning to master it.

1. Thick Face - Prepare to be called an Idiot. Are you ready to face the laughter, annoys, teasing, and harassment from your loves one and friends.
2. Passionate and Determination - Are you able to accept failures! Fail and Restart all over again? Do whatever it takes to make things happen?
3. Believes - Do you believe in what you are doing? do you believe in your idea? Do you believe everyday is a great day?

When someone pointing at you saying that your ideas won’t work. Are they really saying that the ideas will not work? or are they saying that they themselves are not able to do it? or is there a flaws in your ideas like for example, the targeted market, competitive advantages, the niche in your product that you have miss out? So, you should be glad that some one is telling you that your ideas don’t work, because opportunities still lies ahead of you.

The above mentioned items is generally known by everyone, however, how many did manage to master it? Saying is easy, Mastering is hard. Starting is always the hardest part, to really kick start an idea, first must master the above mentioned items. Next you should look at your approach, strategy, marketing, product niche and etc that will determine and strengthen the success to your ideas.

• MSC Malaysia Technopreneur Pre-Seed Fund Briefing
• Saturday Nov 15, 2008
• Level 6, Wisma MCA, No. 163, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur (next to Citibank)
• FREE ADMISSION!
• For more information please contact:
  • Eddie Lau, Tel: 03-2161 1618, Email: waifoong@incubator.com.my
  • Ivan Tan, Tel: 03-2161 1618, Email: ivantan@incubator.com.my
  • For registration, please contact:
    Mr. Teh, Tel: 03-2161 1618, Email: registration@mirc.org.my

For more events, please visit MIRC site for more details.

总裁的昨天
一个城里男孩移居到乡下，从一个农民那里花了100元买了一头驴，这个农民同意了第二天把驴带来给他。第二天，农民来找男孩说：“对不起，我有一个坏消息要告诉你——那头驴死了。”男孩回答说：“好吧，你把钱还给我就行了！”可农民告诉他钱花掉了，男孩想了想，就让这位农民把那头死驴给他。
几个月后，那农民又遇到了男孩，农民问他后来如何处置死驴的，男孩说：“我举办了一次幸运抽奖，并把那头驴作为奖品，我卖出了500张彩票，每张2元。”
农民好奇的问：“难道没有人不满吗？”
男孩说只有那个中奖的人表示不满，所以我把他买彩票的钱还他，这样我就赚了998元。
许多年后，长大了的男孩，成为了一家大公司的总裁。
经营需要智慧

The Past Story of a CEO
A city boy moved to the countryside, he bought a donkey from a farmer at the price of 100 yuan, the farmers agreed that the next day to bring him a donkey.

The next day, farmers came to the boy and said: “I am sorry, I had a bad news for you- the donkey is dead.” Boy replied: “Well, you just need to return me the money will do!”. However, The farmer told the boy that he has spent all his money, the boy thought for a while, and ask the farmers to give him the dead donkey.

A few months later, the farmers met the boy and asked him what did he do with the dead donkey, the boy said: “I held a lucky draw, and I put the donkey as the grand prizes, I sold 500 tickets, each ticket at 2 yuan. Farmers curiously ask: “Will there be anyone satisfied with a dead donkey?”

Boys said that there will be only one person that will feel dissatisfied with the prize, so I repay back his ticket, and in total I earned 898 yuan.

Many years later, the boys grown up to become a big company’s CEO.

Business Managements needs Wisdom

Translated with Google Translate, and refine by CheeHoong:

There are various of incentives, grants and soft loans provided by SMIDEC and their agencies to assists and promote Malaysia’s SME and SMI. Imagine at the interest rate of 2% for a soft loans with range from RM 50k to RM 3 Million, as compared with the banks, you can earn more even if you save it in a fixed deposit. (of course, there are terms and condition applies, please do check out their sites for more information). Apart from that, there are schemes for Franchise Developments, Marketing, Office Rental Subsidized, Office Equipments and etc. So, why wait. Hurry up, make your call.

Money always the first priority, I will leave the other supports and services provided by SMIDEC for you to explore, I will mainly focus to provides links that are Money related.

• Small & Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC) - for Business Start Ups, Product Process Improvements, Packaging, Certification and Soft loans
• Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) - Marketing and Brand promotional fund
• Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) - List of Management programmes, such as Quality management, productivity management and etc.
• Malaysia Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) - Incentives for various industry range from Manufacturing, High-Tech to Small scale companies.
• Ministry of Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development (MECD) - Schemes for entrepreneurs, including of franchise development, seed capital, Graduate Entrepreneur and etc.
• Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry (MOA) - Food Food Food, and agriculture based funding scheme.
• Ministry of Rural Regional Development (MRD) - For the Bumiputras to rebuild and developed their kampungs….
• Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) - Acquiring new Technologies from abroad? or Research a new high tech gadget to bring down iPod?
• Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP) - Cradle Investment Programmes and Venture Capital Financing, as mentioned on previous blog entry.

Lots of people will tend to put their business ideas as secretive as possible, because they are afraid that their ideas will be stolen. Yes! That may eventually happen, and that is the risky part you need to manage, and sometime when it needs to take the risk, take it! As earlier mention, I have shared my ideas with friends and family, even CEOs and Business Man. I am not afraid that the idea will be stolen by others, because I always asked and tell myself…..

1. First of all, My Ideas are still in the Idea Stage, it’s not even proven that is profitable.
2. Even your Idea is proven profitable, how many hassles, time and risk do you need to take to execute an idea, to change an idea into a profitable one?
3. Execution and Strategies are more important than your ideas! One may have great ideas, but bad executions and strategies may bring down the whole business.
4. How many of your friends are real entrepreneur? How many will really sacrifice their day jobs, commitments and luxuries life to start a business on their own?
5. How many could really sees the potential of your ideas? I will say, 10 out of 9 will turn you down, and they will make you feels like an idiot. And the only 1 that sees the potential of your idea will definitely become your business partner.
6. Throwing an idea to a business man is most risky? Yes, business man may sees the potential of your business. Seeing the potential doesn’t means he will steal your idea. First of all, business man is already very busy with his own business. He/She will need time and extra effort to start a new one, and to really start an idea, it needs approximately 3 - 6 months of hard effort, 1 - 2 years to really secure the business.
7. Business Man thinks differently. Your idea may be a rubbish to him. Feedbacks from business man are the most valuable information you could get.
8. Business man can be a potential investors to your idea. Successful business man will try to reduce hassles to start a new ideas on his own, because he has gone through the difficult stage. He/she will most rather invest in a potential business and guide you as a mentor in order to secure his investment.
9. Carefully selecting business man to throw your ideas with is important. Try to avoid proposing to a direct competitor. Try to look for a potential investor to guide you along.

Last but not least, Don’t ask me what my ideas are. Cause I am in the Execution Stage, which my idea has been recognized, it’s time for me to prove my idea to be profitable and to reduce competitors. Kekeke…..

Penang is also known colloquially as “The Pearl of the Orient”, one of the most liveable city in Asia. Among all street foods in Malaysia, Penang offers the best variety of delicious street cuisine. Penang Asam Laksa, Penang Prawn Me (虾面), Penang Fried Kuay Teo (炒粿条), food name started with the word ‘Penang’ can be found in other states around Malaysia, however, Penang still serves the best Asam Laksa, Prawn Mee, and Fried Kuay Teo.

Being at Penang, the only thing you can’t miss to enjoy, must always be the all time favorite asam laksa. The dish is a mixture of noodle cooked with red hot chilies, asam, rich sardine meat, mint leaves, lettuce, cucumber slices and pineapple slices. You could find this dish all around the hawkers in penang, however, there are only a few place that is famous for this. One is located near the Kek Lok Si Buddist Temple and The other is in Penang Road. On this trip, we tried the one in Penang Road.

Apparently, when you have asam laksa, you will not miss out the famous Penang Cendol as desert. In almost every famous Asam Laksa stall, there is a Cendol Stall beside. Cendol is a kind of deserts that contains cendol jelly, santan, brown sugar and kidney beans and mixed with crushed ice. On such a hot climate in Penang, cendol is always the best cooling desert. Since we are in Penang Road for the Asam Laksa, hence, we had cendol to cool us off after the spicy meal. I always wonder who makes the business hot first? the cendol stall, or the Asam laksa stall?

Ipoh, apart from being famous for mass production of pretty and gorgeous Ipoh girls, the town is also famous for its food. Majority of the populations in ipoh were chinese, where most are originated from Canton or GuangZhou. There is a saying that “Eat at GuangZhou”, “吃在广州”, where the cantonese are very particular about food. Famous chinese food in Malaysia such as Ipoh Beansprout with steam chicken (”怡保芽菜鸡”), Pork Satay, Dim Sum, Ipoh Old Town white cofee and etc, originates from Ipoh.

26 Jul 2008, 09:15 a.m, reaching ipoh Restaurant Foh San Sdn Bhd. Located in Ipoh New Town, Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar (used to be known as the Ozbourne Street). Foh San Restaurant is famous for its Dim Sum (”点心”). The place will be packed with early risers in the morning, having the wide variety of light dishes and enjoying a nice pot of chinese tea. There are a few varieties of dishes which I can’t find it anywhere in Kuala Lumpur, specially the garlic chilly source, that makes the food sooo tasty and it’s very different from KL. It is not surprise that you are unable to get a place to sit. Don’t forget to check on the old lady boss in the counter while paying your bills, she is able calculate faster than you using the calculator.

27 Jul 2008, 17:30 p.m, reaching ipoh for Ipoh Beansprout with steam chicken (”怡保芽菜鸡”). Restaurant Lou Wong is the one which is famous for the dish. However, my friends prefers the one opposite corner of the restaurant where both are almost the same. You could get a few shops selling the same dishes, however Lou Wong will be the one which is the most packed. The place is located the same area as Restaurant Foh San. You will definitely feel enjoyable with the tender juicy chicken meat and the crunchy beansprout with a hot bowl of Hor Fun noodle or Rice. Check out this place around late evening, where business starts to get hot.

Some other blogs/sites that recommends Ipoh food:

1. http://www.bestfoodnetwork.com/tags/ipoh
2. http://www.journeymalaysia.com/MC_ipohfood.htm
3. http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/2762
4. http://www.heritage.com.my/ipoh/tour_guide/
5. http://www.pbase.com/ilikemnms/what_to_eat_in_ipoh
6. http://www.explore-ipoh.com/ipoh-food.html
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipoh_cuisine

• 26 Jul 2008, 06:30 a.m. - Departure
• 26 Jul 2008, 09:00 a.m. - Arrived Ipoh
• 26 Jul 2008, 09:15 a.m. - Dim Sum in Ipoh (Restaurant Foh San Sdn Bhd)
• 26 Jul 2008, 10:30 a.m. - Departure to Penang
• 26 Jul 2008, 12:30 p.m. - Check in to G-Hotel
• 26 Jul 2008, 01:30 p.m. - Penang Road Cendol and Asam Laksa
• 26 Jul 2008, 03:00 p.m. - ordered Goreng Pisang
• 26 Jul 2008, 03:30 p.m. - Sneak into a hotel near Batu Ferringgi, enjoy Goreng Pisang along the beach
• 26 Jul 2008, 04:00 p.m. - Beer! and head back to hotel
• 26 Jul 2008, 04:30 p.m. - Had Gurney drive famous “Ma Zhi / Mua Chi“
• 26 Jul 2008, 05:00 p.m. - Lepak in Starbucks. (I took a nap back in the room)
• 26 Jul 2008, 06:00 p.m. - Rest in hotel.
• 26 Jul 2008, 08:30 p.m. - Dinner: Mixed Swine Porridge, Satay, Fried Chicken Skin, Ikan Bakar, Fried egg with Oyster (”hou jian” 蚝煎)
• 26 Jul 2008, 10:30 p.m. - Had 2 Jugs of Beer in QE 2

• 27 Jul 2008, 12:30 a.m. - Plan to have supper for Nasi Kandar, however, the queue is tooooo long… what the heck, its 12 a.m.! we quit~!
• 27 Jul 2008, 01:00 a.m. - Supper in Gurney Drive, Sotong Kangkung
• 27 Jul 2008, 01:30 a.m. - Watch Penang Stuntman Drive in Reverse direction in Gurney Roundabout.
• 27 Jul 2008, 10:00 a.m. - Breakfast in G-hotel
• 27 Jul 2008, 11:30 a.m. - Check out
• 27 Jul 2008, 12:30 a.m. - Bought some penang Tau Sar Pneah in Ghee Hiang
• 27 Jul 2008, 12:30 a.m. - Penang Sister Char Kuey Teoh
• 27 Jul 2008, 13:30 p.m. - Leaving Penang with Ferry
• 27 Jul 2008, 14:30 p.m. - Tambun for Seafood: Sotong, Roasted Crab, Fried LALA, Fried Mee, Vege, Beer,
• 27 Jul 2008, 17:30 p.m. - Famous Ipoh Sprout Chicken
• 27 Jul 2008, 20:30 p.m. - Back to K.L.

Watch out for my other entries on the follow up of this penang makan trip. Anyway, anyone got anymore good recommendation of food in penang, drop me a comment here. So that we could visit some other days.