"The world is ONE FAMILY; God has disasters too in this world. Man made disasters are not tolerated. " - A.R. Rahman

"Be the change you want to see in this world" - Mahatma Ghandi 

With 350 million users, the content that you post, could end up in the wrong hands. I'm amazed how much privacy is taken seriously by Facebook with its new privacy model. Not only it encourages safety but some sort of openness with it as well. Allowing friends of friends to add a friend request by default or everyone else having to see your publicly seen information kind of give a clue on where Facebook's heading. 

                     

The man, you can never stop to admire. The guru of Apple.

Its not easy to start a business. Any business. Furthermore, if you are into venture capitalizing, keep your heads high up, as you are in for a wild ride. You got to be always making the right decision. Sometimes you have to break the standard rules and face the consequences. Its complicated.

Last Thursday, we hit down the streets to grab some shots of the streets in Bangsar. Due to time constrain, was able to just capture a few. Therefore, I was able to only edit into a 1 min short film. Kind of a newbie to this field. Learnt a lot from the shoot. Mistakes that are not to be repeated again. I would like to redo this movie, again soon. Hope its at least nice to watch.

Malaysia is a land of opportunities. The ranges of markets we have today is simply astonishing. If you have a new niche or market to introduce, fear less as things spread quickly in this region. Malaysia could be called the "wildfire change agent". Anything that is unique, popular elsewhere, is easily adapted by the Malaysian Culture. That's something that is unique in this country. The New Malaysian Identity is all about adapting better lifestyles. If practiced properly, you could spread any nominal brands in this region.

But there are 4 basic considerations that exist in this region that you could make use of effectively.

Language Is Reach

Malaysia has people who speak various languages. Make use of it. For instance, if you develop advertisement strategies, do make sure every main language is catered. Your reach would be vast. Although people generally understand English, but its an effect thing. Slightly phycological. But it works. It would penetrate more people. Similarly, if you an artist, make use of languages. Don't just stop with English. Explore in different languages. Vise Versa. Your brand equity goes even further. Again, penetration is the key. Malaysians do listen to music of other languages, provided you have penetrated a particular clan with their respective language. As I said, language is phycological.

Culture Is Sensitive

You got to be careful. Chances are that you may spoil your entire brand in this aspect. Many fail due to the ignorance of being sensitive to cultures. You have to understand the believe and reactions of each community that exist here. This could be a winning plus point of your brand. For instance, when you run advertising campaigns, make sure there's no discriminations or so, as you might fall into an unwanted controversy.

The Opportunity Of Diversity 

With the range of cultures and communities around, its only a gold mine for any brand to explore its possibilities. People's expectations and preferences over this cultures are unimaginably huge and different. It gives you opportunities to cater each and every clan and yet make profits out of it.

New Malaysian Identity

Although there are diversified cultures, Malaysians tend to share many things in common. There are traits from various cultures surrounding the region that has created a unique lifestyle of every Malaysian today. But there is more to it. The new Malaysian Identity is about change. If it's for the good, we adore it. Sometimes the bad too, but that's for another day. For instance, currently few aspects of life are being adapted by the region, such as Environmental Sensitivity, Health Consciousness, & Scandinavian Lifestyles. We love it and it comfortably blends with the already existing Malaysian Identity. Keep your solutions open to all this aspects, and the outcome would blossom.

What ever said and done, new business models such as online advertisements from visual medium or even contextual advertisement revenues are still vague to many people in the world. Generally speaking it only applies to be understood in certain geographical regions such as the Silicon Valley. Come on, bit.ly gets funded for URL shortening.

But over here, they think you are weird. Why? Why is this side of the world so ignorant about the change that is happening. If you don't know, why is it so difficult to learn and adapt as other parts of the world. I'm not speaking about investors only, but about advertisers/traditional brands. Most of them over here have an attitude of just being happy with what they have now. They have a perception that, the internet is not a profitable medium and main stream still gives them their rice bowl therefore, I'm not going to invest in your invest business.

Well you are wrong. It is here, "the internet" where, we have new things that are hitting the mass, such as new media production, social media applications and what not!? This is tomorrow we are talking about here! Your ROI's are going to be awesome if you actually believe in growing communities around brands. Over years and years of meeting people, the internet industry in countries such as Malaysia, has still a long way to go. I really have a vibe that things would change soon. But it needs a whole lot of guts and firmness to make it through.

Which is why I am saying, To exist here, To prove your business models right, To show that communities over brands is the most important traction, You need to STAND over it & have the GUTS to do so. And may success be yours! Though its sad that it's not being accepted as a norm here.

Ever questioned your self or others on what is life all about? Of course as any ordinary person, we receive tons of advice and predecessor guidelines in living the proper life. The ultimate goal for any human being would be about living happily by knowing what is right or wrong. All those advise were said and written by life or religious philosophers based on experience. You know what? Forget that crap.

• Everyone's life is entirely different from another. You are your experience. You create your own experience. Everything is in your hands.
• There is something more superior than experience. It is Instinct. Your heart's silent desires.
• There is nothing unachievable if you work for it. (taking into count you know what you are doing)
• Living away from the world (silence) or creating noise (trouble) is not going to create happiness.
• Your life is in your hands. Do not live in predictions. Life is unpredictable but just listen to your instincts. If you are clear of fearful corruptions, then your instincts are right.

Creating Happiness Within One & Another People from the past till present have come a long way in trying to obtain what is called optimum happiness in life. Many philosophers and great minds, have come up with so many verbal advises, literatures, and theories that seems to have some sort of connection with optimum happiness of life. Many are as such by isolating one's self from family life and public activities in the name of religious believes. Some go in the path of becoming social activist while isolating family and closed one's. Are this great paths to be followed? I feel, people in the past were as confused as people are today. Trying things as such would have possibly created a better feeling for the respective predecessors, but it would not be applicable for all. The probabilities of such are impossible to attain if you in any way neglect your family or become too concern on your faith. I don't write or speak with experience. But I believe strongly in my instincts. From what I conclude, my instinct in optimum living would never create another question in its acceptance.

1. Your Wife & Kids. The most valuable assets to your life after your own self. Learn to be sincere to this circle. Never ever think of any form of betrayal to this circle. If you can keep this primary circle of people happy, You have no more worries in life. You will even be happy, if you have nothing to leisure on. But, it will drive you to get your basic necessities and will not leave one's life in idle. You will know if your desires are worth or not, if you reach optimum living within this circle. For married people: Be sincere. For youth/unmarried: Don't screw around and be sincere to the only one who you wish to live with. Start living a family life as soon as you can. But be mature in your thinking first.
2. Family. Your parents and siblings. Take care of them in what ever ways you can. Probably an unconditional support. Never neglect any, even if they do. Keep them happy if you could afford it. Don't be stingy with your excess. But be cautious, If you can't keep your primary circle happy or don't think you are capable of  living up to your family's expectations, then don't even attempt to move to the second circle. The reason, you will never find happiness. Your unfinished desires in your primary circle will stop you. But never the less, don't neglect anybody in your family.
3. Public. First thing first, never attempt to keep the world happy or change the world if you have not completed your optimum living in the first two circles. You will dig your own grave if you do not have the proper base support(first 2 circles) to do anything regarding the public. Proper example, would be people getting themselves involved in politics. If you desire to serve the people, make sure you have served your first two circles in the first place.

Never ever doubt or question your life, if you have not fulfilled your circles. End of of the day, the world's happiness is you. If you are happy, and if you can keep your primary circle happy. It goes on and on....