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Recommended read: Buyology- Truth & Lies About Why We Buy

Posted by Mel | Posted in From Coconect's Blog, Marketing | Posted on 11-06-2010

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OK, so I’ve come to a realization. My mental state is not super sunny today. Can’t even focus on the treadmill, so went and punch+kick the lights out of the sandbag in the gym. Not in the mood to work on any plans, any strats, any…anything. Thank God it’s a Saturday, and it’s the perfect excuse to rot the brain. Lol

Big thanks to Suet for proactively lending me this book. Thought it will be very interesting- neuromarketing. Then, of course I did the Google thing, and google it up. Lo & behold- do we have someone very, very interesting here!

Martin Lindstorm & his book

Here’s excerpts from his press release to whet your marketing appetite:

For decades, advertisers, marketers, and consumers alike have held a set of common assumptions about what drives us to buy. Turns out, most of these were dead wrong. His startling results will shatter much of what we have long believed.

Does sex sell? What do religion and ritual have in common with successful advertising? Can subliminal advertising really influence our behavior? What effect, if any do health warnings on cigarette packs have on the consumer? We now know the answers thanks to a major scientific study whose surprising findings are revealed in BUYOLOGY: Truth and Lies About Why We Buy…

To find out how our unconscious minds influence how we buy, Martin Lindstrom, one of today’s foremost marketing experts, partnered with researchers from Oxford University and launched the single largest neuro-marketing study ever conducted – 25 times larger than any such study to date. In a three-year effort costing more than seven million dollars and using two of the most advanced, cutting-edge neuro-imaging technologies available today, the fMRI and SST scientists scanned the brains of over 2,000 people from all over the world as they were exposed to various marketing and advertising strategies including product placements, subliminal messaging, iconic brand logos, health and safety warnings, and provocative product packaging.

Now, excuse me while I go and prop up my feet & devour the book cover to cover. Have a great weekend folks, and happy kick off to World Cup 2010!

Eat Sleep Breathe…Coconect

Posted by Mel | Posted in Living Life, Random jottings | Posted on 09-05-2010

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I am utterly in love!

With my work, that is. What a difference from those long gone employed-and doing something that I don’t love days many, many moons ago.

Where being able to take a medical cert was a joy! (those days were gone during my last days in advertising where if I’m not dead, I better drag by sorry ass to work).

Now, sensing a wicked flu is sneaking up on me on a Sunday night, I’m more filled with dread than yay! Whipped up all theVit C I can get from the kitchen, loads of water…and yes, sleep sleep sleep!  Coz I’m looking forward to some kick-ass work week and lots of fun!

Flu begone! Shooo!!!!

Joke of the day = No Joke!

Posted by Mel | Posted in Business Management, Living Life, Random jottings | Posted on 29-04-2010

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Still searching for a tech solution to our backend.

Spent a few good hours compiling data to be sent for printing- it’s No Joke.

And I’m very detailed (ya ya, anal- I have to admit), so I will help my customers to make sure everything is in tip top order, which is another No Joke area, tedious like hell. My left arm all the way up to my eyes are kinda numb now, I wonder if I will have a stroke soon?

Got a bit cheesed off by team today, some adjustment gotta be done. It’s a delicate balance being assertive, motivating yet not be too harsh- it’s No Joke.

Few hours in the morning gone as I had to compile my docs to be submitted to the bank to get car loan for my new ‘downgraded’ car.

Glad to be having my independence back in 2 weeks time. Msia + no car of your own? = No Joke!

Took a end of day break (before the 2nd half of the day begins at 6pm) by collapsing on the kitchen floor, Tim Tam at hand, listening to my old skool radio player which can only play radio and nothing else.

Sunday uplifting reads

Posted by Mel | Posted in Living Life | Posted on 04-04-2010

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I love Sundays and the go-with-the-flow easiness of it. Waking up early with the 1st thought- Hmmm…what to eat for breakfast-ar always makes me pop right of bed!

I love Sundays coz it promises many hours of reading- from Sunday Star for the travel articles (the only time we bought newspaper are Sat & Sun) to my greedily bought books from BookXcess lying on my table.

Hubby bought The Edge, and as usual I flipped through scanning headlines for interesting read. This week’s Edge covers 3 short & sweet articles- one on my fav bus company Aeroline’s-CEO (I think it’s not deserving to even call them a bus company, haha!), another of a yet-to-meet Facebook friend- CEO of Exabytes.

As a fellow (albeit, newbie) entrepreneur, it’s uplifting to read success stories and journey’s of other companies’s founder & CEO. It sometimes makes me feel less alone. (:P)

Few key words derived from the various articles on what it takes to be an entrepreneur- Persistence, passion, ambition. I scanned the list- check, check, check! And if I may add my own- hunger. The hunger for the sense of achievement (that $ can’t buy*), thirst & curiosity to learn, to unlearn, the hunger that will fuel you thru downtimes, that gets you up in the morning so god-damn eager to get to work.

These are some of the things that keeps my heart pumping, and eyes sparkling. What a lovely day to spend a Sunday, looking forward to yet another fun ride next week!

To those who are celebrating, have a lovely Easter!

*But money is a good thing too, lol

Emotion tussles of Cry baby/Mf sh*t/Impossible is Nothing!

Posted by Mel | Posted in Business Management, Living Life | Posted on 06-03-2010

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Completely broke down & cried.

Our Version 1 was almost completed, just final touches to improve the user interface. Dunno why, now it’s screwed up.

Had an online disagreement with business partner over her complaints of my ‘never-ending’ list on the completion of Version 1, that was already a great start to my Saturday working day.

Now, staring at the site, with all the carts f*cked up; when last night, I was beaming & excited and eagerly awaiting it to be completed.
Even got a customer who’s waiting to go online and order his one year cards from us tonight.

At this point, I dunno whether to continue pushing on to work on my today’s priority- Plan & action steps for next phase. (Great, since the site is f up, we are back to phase 1)
Or shall I continue to get beaten down and cry.

Cross between feeling like a victim/cry/curse/angry/fight/standing firm.

Slave or employee?

Posted by Mel | Posted in Business Management, Living Life | Posted on 25-11-2009

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I am preparing our team members’ appointment letters, contracts, etc. And I am reading samples of actual appointment letters as a reference for me to draft them (boo hoo, where’s my HR manager?)…No wonder loads of people hate their work. Look at the appointment letters…are the management hiring a robot or slave??!!! JEEZ!!!!!

It all started out nice & polite:

‘We have pleasure in offering….

Then, it spiral downwards…

The Company may at its discretion extend the probationary period by another three (3) months.

You are advised that as a condition of your employment with the Company, you are liable to be transferred to work in any location, section, department, division, subsidiary, country or Line of Business at the absolute discretion of the Company. (If hell has a valid address, you bet we have the absolute discretion to send you there too!)

Should you be found to be medically unfit, your service shall be liable to be terminated. (translated- if you are dying, please don’t bother us)

Followed by MORE discretion..

An employee at the discretion of the Company….

But, they do end the slave contract with an encouraging ending though:

We take this opportunity to welcome you aboard and wish you a successful career with the Company. (Evil smile)

120px-Face-devil-grin.svg

I am offended to read this letter, don’t see traces of humanity here…but ahh…you say, ‘Mel, just you wait till you deal with eeeeevvvvvil employees, then you will see why you need Evil Appointment Letter Writing Skill 101′…

Sigh…I mean, c’mon, is this it? Resorting to cold, technical jargons so that you can whip people into submission?!!

Kick ass hiring process

Posted by Mel | Posted in Business Management | Posted on 21-10-2009

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Adam, Ayesha Frances’s Application Answer
Multimedia Designer (Adobe Rockstar)
Why do you want to work in our company?
I would love to find out more about this company and it’s very refreshing to find a group of individuals who are serious about succeeding but can still have a sense of humor about it. Your advert really made my day and must be the funniest job advert i’ve seen ever. I definitely want to be an Adobe Rockstar, for sure. Besides finding your company interesting, i feel that i can definitely bring something new to the table. Plus i love greeting cards.

(Name) Application Answer

Position applied: Multimedia Designer (Adobe Rockstar)

Why do you want to work in our company?

I would love to find out more about this company and it’s very refreshing to find a group of individuals who are serious about succeeding but can still have a sense of humor about it. Your advert really made my day and must be the funniest job advert i’ve seen ever. I definitely want to be an Adobe Rockstar, for sure. Besides finding your company interesting, i feel that i can definitely bring something new to the table. Plus i love greeting cards.

What an kick ass answer! This makes our tedious interview process such fun. (We are replacing current temporary staffs with what we hope will be our #1 important people in the company- our team members)

Very refreshing to see people like this. Hope she will meet our expectation when we meet her proper for her final interview! (Yes, we haven’t meet any candidates face to face, rather our interviews are unconventional, very much like our Company)

It’s task based elimination filtering process to weed out those puffed up resumes with no actual substance in the person’s soul, attitude nor fire. Only the cutest, wittiest, fun-nest, kick-assest, yet with grounded seriousness + burn -baby -burn fire will survive…and have the best fun on board with us!

Woo-hooo!!!

P/S: Thanks to Job Street for the great response to our hiring advert, you guys rock!

Marketing blues

Posted by Mel | Posted in Marketing | Posted on 23-09-2009

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Gahhhh….am cracking my thick skull on Coconect’s opening promo. And how to deliver the message in a fun fun fun fun fun way.

Turns out to b fun needs a hell lot of planning & braincell.

Now, I turned copywriter/creative director/marketing director/admin all in one.

Gotta…get…moving….

Posted by Mel | Posted in Living Life, Random jottings | Posted on 23-09-2009

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Back from my 1st holiday ever in 2009, woohooo! Phuket, Kantary Bay, I love ya!

Worked for 2 days, then Hari Raya holidays, sheesh. Not that I don’t wanna work, but loads of kids around to entertain (myself included, LOL!)

Today, forced myself to wake up at a decent hour, gosh, and resume routine.

Only routine was heavily interrupted by mundane household chores, SHITES!

So, as of now, I am not in the best gung-ho mood, rather panicky. Man, this Coconect Version 1 Beta gotta get moving fast.

Back to work!

I dislike multi-tasking, especially on a Sunday!

Posted by Mel | Posted in Living Life, Random jottings | Posted on 23-08-2009

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This is insane.

In between working on my site since 10.30am, (Yes, it’s a 7 days working-week this 2 weeks) waiting for it to take more than 10 minutes to load PER minute changes…I had:

  • Updated my blog TWICE
  • Approve comments & replied
  • Prepared lunch
  • Had lunch
  • Facebooked
  • Sykped
  • Drank coffee
  • Did my budgeting
  • Written my Will!!

I hereby grant myself the power to choose to STOP this insanity here and now. And give a call to my hairdresser or manicurist, focus on a single task- pampering myself, totally.

Happy Sunday, everyone!