How much is the value of track record and reputation?

This is something tickling my mind. How much value do you put on track record and reputation?

Yes, this is part and parcel of the intangible asset but how do you deal with multiple parties with different take on the intangible worth.

For instance, if A has done work in country 1 and B has done work in country 1 and 2, then who has more reputation? Again its hard to qualify because if 2 has done little work (but still some) in country 1, then would A have more leeway in determining leadership role compared to B? Or what happens when the collective (A and B) want to go into country 2?

Now I understand why the concept of intangible asset and brand value is so hard to understand. Makes it even tougher when each have their own definition of it.

A spot of sunshine amidst the gloom

Reading the papers this past days and weeks is an exercise in futility and gloom. Everywhere there's bad news. Even if one is not personally affected by the market and the economy, just reading it makes one depressed.

I saw something this morning that was quite nice and really is a spot of sunshine.

Enjoy.. Best you can.
Thks and brgrds, ken

--
Kenneth Low
M: +65 9088 5988
E: kenneth.tk.low@gmail.com

Does this make America Great or What

Only in America do politicians take a time out and look at themselves in a less serious manner.

Why can't we all lighten up a bit.

Will there ever be an Obama-like person to be PM in Malaysia

I was looking at Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama on Meet the Press. I saw the video and was really moved by the eloquence that Powell showed on why he will be voting for Obama. But the thing that got me most was on the issue that Obama has been mislabelled as a Muslim, and indirectly as a terrorist.

Powell said something to this effect, the right answer that McCain gave was that no, Obama is Christian but Powell said even that was not the right answer. The right answer to him should have been, why does it matter if he's Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or event a Free thinker? What matters more is that he is an American.

He ended that spot with a touching recall of a photo-essay he saw about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, which he was most touched by this last picture showing a mum crying over her son's headstone at Arlington National Cemetary. The son was killed in action, and had a purple heart and a bronze star. Powell also mentioned that the deceased was 14 when 9/11 occured, and waited until he could enlist to fight in the war. But the part he emphasized most was that at the top of the headstone, there was no cross or star of david, but a cresent moon and star, symbolizing that he was a Muslim.

So his point was that if a Muslim can give his life for America, then why can't a Muslim be President of the United States.

It is with the exact same concept that I reflect on why is it that it is so difficult for Malaysians to allow a non-Bumiputera to be PM? If everyone contributes to nation building, then why can anyone have a shot at being the top guy in the country? Why is that?

And also there is another trait that I see in Obama that I see in someone else in Malaysia today. That trait is inclusiveness, bringing people together instead of singling a class out (the rich and the poor etc) that McCain so fondly likes to do. In Malaysia that person today is Anwar Ibrahim and his concept of Ketuanan Rakyat. It's a pity that the minority of rakyat does not share his vision of inclusiveness.

Lunch or dessert art

had a typical mediterranean lunch, and now wishing for the siesta that comes after lunch, but have errands to run.

The kids decided to be a bit more creative with their dessert, tiramisu laced wit liquor. That ought to put them to sleep soon!

Kids having fun

It's nice to see the kids going out and living out their childhood, although it beats me why they are playing school, when they actually on a short holiday.

Whatever, as long as they get away from the idiot box called television and actually interact with kids in the rough same age group.

I guess this is something that I did not get to enjoy growing up as I was the only kid close to where I lived.

I recently spoke with a friend who lives in a landed property and he too rues the lack of friends the same age as his kids in the neighborhood. For me, I'm just glad that my kids get to enjoy a childhood I did not have.

And I have to run interference and order the kids out as they're equally stuck on the chinese serial that has way too much adult themes for the kids to be exposed to at this age.

Channel 8 listen up. I think your programming needs to be tweaked such that serial being show during the 5 - 7 pm time band needs to be more kid friendly.

Sometimes I am at a loss on how to explain the back stabbing and the adultery to the kids. I think they should have more time to maintain the innocence in this day and age.

Down sick

Have been down sick since yesterday. Imagine the coincidence, falling sick 2 wednesdays in a row. 

And last night, I discovered that one of my lymph node is swollen and I think that freaked the wife a bit, so she did a couple of test on me and threatened to take me to the hospital for a blood test, and reinforcing that I shouldn't have gone golfing over the weekend.

I guess lesson learnt!

Anyways, the missus will check the swolleness again on Sunday and make an assessment if I need to head to the hospital for a blood test.

Today, still a bit woozy, but feeling much better.

Had a very interesting discussion, and I believe a few of us will join forces to see if we can create a small niche for ourselves in this trying times. Unfortunately, the problem in getting numerous parties involved is that you can never satisfy everyone. So one of the people I was hoping to bring on board has decided to opt out because of concerns that there would be a lack of profit to be shared amongst the various parties.

Anyway, will have to try to bring this partner on board into a win-win situation. That is the only way to work. It will not work if one party feels that they're losing out because of the joint cooperation. 

Life is never easy, much less life in business... amidst trying times.. makes it even tougher.

Economic woes

Boy has the market taken a beating this last 2 day, and in general for the past 2 weeks!

Things are definitely not well, and I can sense a lot of anxiety, especially from me.

Have I chosen the wrong time to try to work on my own? Or will this be the best time ever for me?

On one hand, I do enjoy being my own boss, and not having to play office politics; but at the same time, I am feeling a bit pressured to come through with some of my projects. Don't get me wrong, good projects are there, but having to work with funders (whose own funds may be drying up) will be difficult. And also I'm trying to do some consultancy work, and now I am unsure how much these people will pay for such services.

It is almost like deja-vu from 6 years back when I joined a start-up trying sell consultancy services to companies at the time when they're more interested in staying alive. Hopefully, I have learnt from that episode, plus I am paying myself nothing until the first orders come in may help in prolonging my staying power, instead of sucking it all up on HR costs and expensive office costs.

However, it would be nice to enjoy a steady paycheck from an employer, and I know of people hiring. 

Ah.. decisions, decisions. The best for me would be to find something in between, but in these times, it's an employers' market and not the other way around. So unless I can quickly establish my niche, I'd better close one of my projects successfully. That one project will be able to last me for 2 years at my current spending level! So I can either slog forever, or try to hit it once and then slow down for the next 2 years before hitting the pedal again.

No one ever said that living life successfully was easy! I just hope with hard work and a bit of luck (and a prayer), I might just make it!

So I guess my decision has been made hasn't it?

Initial impressions of the nokia e71

I just recently switched over to the e71 as the main working phone, and at the same time engineered a coup d'etat on the wifey's phone number.

anyways, after the fubar with singtel and all my subscriptions related to me switching over to the mio plan, i can safely say that i have been using the phone for the past 5 days.

initial impressions? It's a damm good phone. So far the only snafu i've had to deal with is on the email where i've had to reset the phone in order for the email to start syncing again.

the qwerty keyboard is tons better than the e61i i used, even though it's much closer together in order to shrink the form factor. The key improvement is that the keys have a "click" feel as opposed to the flubbish feel the e61i has, so when i'm banging out an email, i know when i've hit the keys. The only downside to the keyboard is that they switched the "?" Keys and some of ! the other keys to another location.

the phone is fast, and even starting up time is loads improved compared to the e61i. And starting up a program is faster compared to my old phone.

the T9 intuitive dictionary needs some getting used to but nothing that cannot be overcomed.

however email is still a problem with no real push capability apart from microsoft exchange. As most watchers have said, the lack of html support for email is also a key weakness. Nokia has come out with a beta for their push mail, but currentl i cannot use my company email (though sitting on a google server) to push my email, now am i able to push from 2 separate emails. I've decided to live with the installed email client until nokia sorts itself out wherfe push email is concerned.

the battery life is fantastic - so far, as i keep it connected to 3G plus download my emails every 15 mins, plus do about 30 minutes of calls per day, and i still get more tha! n 3 bars of battery life left (this is approximately 40% left). And wo rst come to worst, i can still swap my e61i battery for the e71 as backup.

i have not used the on board gps as yet, so more to come.


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