A Student of Entrepreneurship

11 Days Left. ($0 earned)

2007-06-20T02:09:00.000+08:00

The day started busy with me committing myself in front of my computer for the early part of morning.

Then, I was off to deal with the Visa Applications and that took some time.

Had an appointment with one of the professors. He gave me some much needed cashflow which I used to pay my outsources. Why outsource? Here's why.

I must build my support team. I can't do everything alone. However, at this stage I do not have the cashflow to hire other people. Thus, I outsource without using any of my money. I get deals from other people and outsource that work to new talents, sometimes without receiving a single cent. This allowed me to test new talents and identify them to be absorbed into my support team. The best part is, it didn't cost me a single cent.

I have worked out a cold-calling instruction list to split myself in 3 to do all the work while I attend to different things. Apparently, it was quite successful and my German friend was blown away with the actual content. The actual procedures and protocols fitted nicely with the company and we get more appointments. I'm considering making this an infoproduct to be used as a front end.

The ministry of Manpower called and got my email. Pushed forward for an appointment as they are low on manpower. (Pun intended). Frankly, we don't have anybody available for this meeting as well so I took personal responsibility for this and agreed for the meeting. Looks like the next day will be busy with sponsorship as well. I trust myself to do a good job.

Went for the Toastmasters meeting and ended up escorting a friend who had severe gastric.
Spent most of my time waiting in the hospital. That gave me a good few hours in reading some books and making phone calls.

P.S. If you want to have the cold-calling report I written in one afternoon, leave a comment to receive the FREE blueprint. I promise you it will save you lots of pain especially if you start from scratch.

12 Days Left !

2007-06-20T00:33:00.000+08:00

I can't believe that 2 weeks is automatically gone from this 30 day challenge.

Peer reminded me that I have only 12 days to go since I'm playing handicap. Nevertheless, I'm up to the challenge. If there is something I learn is that I can learn from everybody. I'm learning to model the good habits and traits of other people. You have gifts to offer to the world that even you don't realised. For this, I 'm modelling off Peer. His mornings are early and he kickstarts the day with a good swim in the pool for an hour. Well, learn from your challenger and exercise their competitive advantages.

I had to perform my duties as secretary for the india business trip and cold-called 5 companies and receive rejection one after the other.

Let me paint the picture for you, I had to approach Singapore Airlines through their Seat Reservation Number to get to the decision makers and even then they kept me on hold for too long. I tried again.

In the end, I got one for an appointment.

After that, I had to act translator to purchase the business formal wear for each of the delegates.

My luck with the eBay listings wasn't good. It kept giving me an internal error everytime I tried to register my credit card as a seller of eBay. The customer support didn't help either. I'm at my wits end for this. I was told to contact the credit card company. Just one of those setbacks that will be overcomed. Onwards..

Performed some quick change to my strategies and contacted a bunch of email to internet marketers with questions. It's funny how one question asking about a specific terminology can come up with different interpretations and definitions. Ask me again why beginners don't get confused.

The day turned out to be pretty unproductive to say the least.
I plan to take a more strategic approach and delegate my work well to perform better at this challenge. To call it a challenge is a bit misleading at this point. I haven't challenged myself enough to produce results. At least I realized this.

10K in 30 Days Challenge.

2007-06-18T01:15:00.001+08:00

I met him at an internet marketing conference one particular day. We got off to a rocky start, (I'm to blame for this) but things quickly turned out well. We were friends and possibly even future JV partners. I never thought it would have come to this.....

Peer made a challenge to earn 10K in 30 days online. And I'm his opponent.

Just like "Survivor" except that no one gets voted out. It's a head-to-head combat.
It's more like "The Amazing Race" and we can be anywhere in the world.
The prize? 10K USD.

...And he had a headstart.

I believe this game of ours has all the right elements in it. A direction, motivation and healthy competition. After all, what is a big goal if you have no strong opponent to play against? Well, in this case, I don't have Peer to play against with. I have myself. I'm my real opponent here and I recognize that.

It's about going all out to winning the prize. There's no excuses here. And for once, all the obstacles, fear and mental challenges in me just melted. I'm not afraid, or tired anymore. I'm going to use my full creativity and take as much action as I can to make this happen. There's no excuse. And there's no better time to do this.

That's right, I'm going to challenge myself to make 10K (and we are talking USD in Net Profit here) through my online ventures. Now, please, understand that I have never done anything close to this before. I have never been profitable online up till now. All I have, is lots of theoretical knowledge accumulated that could have made me positively different than what I am today, if I had translated it into action and results. I have no regrets with my current position, but I know that I could have achieved more.

"I could have been...."
"I could have done...."
"I could have saved myself from...."

It sounds all too familiar. But there's no excuses at this point. And there's no better time than now.

If I fall sick, I'll recuperate quickly to compete again.
If life interrupts me once more, I'll commit to it quickly and get back into the game.
If there's no electricity, I'll write my salescopy on paper under a flashlight.
If my computer's dead, I'll borrow another and start from scratch.
If another earthquake erupts and the internet is down. By golly, I'll get a satelite connection !

So here's the deal. There's only 1 out of 2 outcome here. The first option, I make USD10K in Net Profit with the money to show in the bank, morally and ethically, with everything I have at my disposal in 30 days starting from now until the 17th of July. Peer will have to buy me a cup of "teh" to admit defeat if I win. I will do this without neglecting my personal responsibilities, ruining my health or hurting anyone else emotionally or physically.

The second option, I don't even want to talk about it. Seriously, it's not an option. It's too humiliating to even think about.

I'm off ! Wish me luck.

Enjoying The Team.

2007-03-15T00:56:00.001+08:00

Just last night I had a few rounds of drinks with my team.

Nothing very special about that, except that it's the very first time I ever set foot into a bar, club or pub. More special yet is the fact that I'm enjoying this experience with the passionate people I work with and that we are a wildly diverse group of talents.

The best thing of all is that while enjoying this occassion, I'm not alone.

Here's the thing:

I can choose anytime to patron any popular venue and get myself immersed in a big crowd feeling good about myself in the midst of pretense. At the same time, I would have been the loneliest person on the planet.

I discovered more about my fellow colleagues after having dropped my judgement of them and teared off my mask which I usually hid myself behind. After giving myself the permission to let them into my life, I gain so much more without feeling burdened in any way.

And here's more lessons I have derived from the process:

My ego have prevented me from enjoying and appreciating my team and all the people around me. When I spend time being present to other people, I spend time knowing more about myself. Just by stopping myself from trying to be a hero and being a good advisor to all their problems, I allow myself to benefit from the process naturally and with ease. Also, by being true to myself and sensitive to my team-mates, I become more grateful for who they are and how they become part of my life.

They bring the very best out of every person in the group.
That's what a team stands for.

Being Who I Am.

2007-03-12T23:49:00.000+08:00

I am going to achieve my goals daringly.
And I'm going to do so for myself, as a way of defining who I am.
It's no longer for other people's respect, acceptance or approval.

It's for me.

And because of this, I'm not afraid of being criticised for wanting to achieve such dreams that may seem unrealistic or foolish to many. Let the hits come and I shall absorb each blow willingly, and move forward.

This is who I am, and I want to do this for me.
I will not apologize. I will not second guess. I will not sell myself short.
I give myself full permission to claim my dreams and to deserve every part of it.

*I will graduate with honours in Computer Engineering (2011) . I will not give up half way through.

*I will earn my MBA in Harvard, Stanford or Wharton. I will not lose heart.

*I will be financially free before graduation from university (2011) so that I can CHOOSE FREELY to commit myself to whatever I want to do and pursue .

*I will earn my first million before graduation (2011) so that I can DONATE that amount to save lives .

*I will bring my family travelling around New Zealand for a month, sponsored fully by myself, shortly after my mother's retirement (2010-2011). I want to give this to them as much as I want to give this to myself.

*I will publish my first bestseller this year (2007) so that I can inspire others to give themselves permission to do the same.

*I will set the World Record for The Most Books Read In A Week so that I create a meaning and a purpose (2009). I will train two years for this.

*I will establish and launch the business with my entrepreneurial marketing team this year so that no one is deprived of the look they want (2007). We call ourselves, IMItouch. www.imitouch.com

*I will build and run 15 profitable websites this year (2007). It shall improve the lives of everyone who visits it.

*I will establish and launch my online business together with my partner this year successfully (2007). It shall make the world a better place.

*This year (2007) I will become an independant adult, completely responsible for myself and totally capable of providing for myself and solving my own problems. I will live my life in my own hands.

*I choose , now, to be an entrepreneur and I deserve to call myself one without apologies (2007). I want to push purpose-driven entrepreneurship to the world and contribute back to society.

*I will become the best online entrepreneur on the internet. I will always stay in the game and when it's being played, I play it hard.

*I will let new people into my life without letting my judgement stop me from understanding and accepting them. I will no longer walk alone.

*I will find and attract that special someone and I will not let myself get in my own way. I deserve her just as much as she deserves me.

It shall manifest. One way or another.
And this time, it shall be realized because of me being who I am.

The Purpose Of Building A Business In Learning

2006-10-04T20:54:00.000+08:00

The population of students starting their own businesses after graduation and even while studying is showing an increasing trend. I can't prove this fact with statistics and studies conducted, but it seems to be pretty prevalent in our culture today. With stories of more and more young millionaires born every minute, I dare say more and more people are in their golden years during their roaring twenties.

To start with, the idea of attaining financial freedom early in life is indeed romantic, which explains why it is easily embraced. Also, the fact that one has lots of opportunities in their early years to make mistakes and explore new ground and to pick themselves up again after failure is an encouraging situation for budding entrepreneurs.

My senior coursemate who spent a year in Silicon Valley on a special internship-study programme shared with me the culture there. He said something with the following effect: "Young enterprising graduates/students there are excited and are ready to use the opportunities to grow themselves. A team of friends doing a start-up and running a business are driven by elements beyound profits. What more, they are not afraid of failure and loss. Venture capitalists are more willing to invest in someone who have done a start-up and have failed than to invest in someone who has a successful and smooth-sailing business. They are not afraid to go bankrupt, because they go through bankruptcy and start again from the beginning with the new found lessons and experiences."

They grow themselves through their business. A business as a vehicle for income, and a vehicle of learning. "Learn to build your business and build a business for your learning".

The Quickest Way To Be Rich Now

2006-10-01T23:15:00.000+08:00

Earn $1057.50 of Residual Income. Guaranteed Results!
Get Rich With No Work.
FastTrack To Financially Freedom!
Be A Millionaire In Minutes!

When I was in my teens, it seems as if I attract a lot of these attractive offers.
I can find them in many places. Newspapers, flyers, brochures, websites .....
Everywhere.

Anyone with some common sense will practice caution when dealing with these claims.
However, common sense like this is never common practice.
It is easy for one to detect the superficial lies and falsehood behind these beautiful dreams. They don't know how they know it, they just know, they can feel it.
However, they don't act on it.

To make matters worse, the very same kind of traps are less obvious to detect and thus harder to protect ourselves from. It can be a title of a book from a bestselling author, a teaching by a motivational speaker, or a lesson by a local millionaire who went from rags-to-riches. And more often than not, we turn into their easy preys.

Books make wealth accumulation so easy and simple.
Why? It is easy and simple to read the book.

Seminar speakers make you believe you can do it too in a very short time through some financial vehicle.
Why? It is easy to believe people.

Many authors use cliches like this in their books :"Don't work hard for money, let money work hard for you." Actually, these author say much more than that. After reading such books, I always believe being rich is as easy as making a decision to be a millionaire. I am ready to defend the author's credibility and reputation anytime if tested by other people. I thought it would be great if I could have him/her to be my mentor. After one book, I read another, and another, and another. Since these books are expensive, I borrow them from libraries and friends. I even insist on making copies of the book even though I could have easily taken notes. I wanted to attend seminars, get their boardgames, become their protege, consult their expertise.......

Now, have you ever thought how these people got rich in the first place?
(*Hint: Read the paragraph above)
Did these people get rich by selling shovels to the miners during the gold rush?
Or did they mine first before selling good shovels?
Everybody already knows that in their gut.
But for some reason, to protect the romantic dreamy illusion painted for us, we believe them.
We believe them READILY.

Now, I don't mean to attack any author's reputation and credibility. I'm just testing it.
Read this article by John Reed to understand what I'm trying to put across.
http://www.johntreed.com/Kiyosaki.html
It is a good illustration how bestselling authors on wealth can be feeding us wrong information which are can be dangerously expensive later.

Conclusion: Take everything you see, hear and learn with a pinch of salt until it still makes complete sense after much thought and debate.
Never take teachings to be the holy grail and render oneself into slaves of the media.
We have the ability to think individually. Don't let others do the thinking for us.
Sometimes, the hardest way to wealth is "the quickest way to be rich now".
Shortcuts are the quickest way to be broke.

5 Essential Tools To Succeed Into An Entrepreneur.

2006-09-19T22:31:00.000+08:00

Don't let the title fool you.
These tools do more than just let you become a successful entrepreneur.
It also allows you to "succeed" into the kind of person you want to be.

Whether it is being a successful marketer, sharp negotiator, accommodating conversationalist and on and on and on.
The good news is all of us have the tools we need.
The bad news is we have to learn to use it.
And it is the learning part that needs practice.

These tools are so powerful it can be used in learning any skill or art.
They transcend all boundaries dictated by man: race, language, gender, upbringing, age and so forth.

The 5 essential tools we need to use to succeed into an entrepreneur are:

-The "Burning" Desire To Learn
-The Willingness To Invest Time And Effort
-Unshakable Determination
-Pure Discipline
-And Optimism

Exercise them, you shall !

Invisible Entrepreneurs

2006-09-17T18:04:00.000+08:00

Walking by the campus sidewalk, I made my way to the lecture theater for my class.
Around me were hundreds of other students walking in various directions.
From different faculties and field of study, the whole picture gives one a sense of diversity.
I was like a fly within a swarm of many others.
However, people overlook the fact that out of this community of students, many are true practicing entrepreneurs.

Of course, it is never obvious just by judging from appearance or background.
From the exterior, they are just medical students, computer programmers, life science researchers, potential engineers, promising lawyers, musicians and business students.
They don't carry labels advertising: "I'm an entrepreneur."
They don't go around telling everyone about their past business adventures with a “I'm better than you” tone.
They don't appear to have a part-time job, what more an enterprise.
They wear the same clothes all other geeks and punks wear.
But looks can be deceiving.

In the interior, there is an entrepreneur at work.
There is a creator-of-opportunities being brought out silently.
They study during the day and invest in US options during the night
They make so much from sales that they are on their way to wealth before graduation.
They busy themselves studying negotiation and marketing from various sources available to them and practice their learnings religiously.
They make products and render services related to their passion and interests.
They play leadership roles in various organizations and societies, both commercial and non-profit.

They are “invisible” enterprising people.

It's surprising how many people are enterprising in nature but we don't see them.
It is another case of "Don't judge the book by its cover."
Another way to put it is "Don't judge the book by its authors."
In any case, the content of the book which determines the value is independent of the cover, title, author, publisher and sales.
It is easy for us to look down at someone thinking that they have wasted their life doing what they do, but in reality, these "little guys" spend their time productively and leverage every opportunity they get.

Just the other day, I bumped into my room cluster mate in the library.
While waiting for the bus, we engage ourselves in a friendly chat.
Turns out that he is a seasoned online auctioneer, a regular on Yahoo auctions.
He has made many profitable transactions despite the fact that he has not reached the level where he can support his own living, yet.
Fact is, I have been struggling with online auctions and haven't made a single sale yet.
Later in the day, we had a sharing session and he showed me how he pulled of some of the transactions that stuffed cash into his pocket.
There were of course "success stories" and "lessons of failure".
He even has a business set up with a few friends on event management.
I would never have known that judging by his age.

A friend of mine invested in the local stock market and made a killing for himself.
The good news is he payed for his education and living cost without taking a single cent from his parents.
Curious about his education in investing, I did a candid interview with him.
I was expecting him to give credit to many mentors and seminars he attended in acquiring his stock-savviness.
To my surprise, all he did was read books by Peter Lynch and Warren Buffett and applied them to the stock market.
He learned from the school of hard knocks and made many losses before he won his prize.
Professionally, he is an engineer in training.
Who could tell he was an experienced stock trader as well?

A course mate of mine in the School of Computing is a good demonstrator of the entrepreneur spirit.
She did an internship with an advertising company for months before committing to her studies.
Now, she is a sought after part-time web developer working on various projects outsourced to her by societies and individuals.
This is all in addition to her existing projects in events of her own.
The contacts she established with tech people from previous meetings puts her in many functions and opportunities with key decision-makers in the corporate world and the government.
One would never be able to guess that just by judging her cheerful personality.

Conclusion:

One can never guess the presence of an entrepreneur hidden in their peers.
For all you know, it might be the person closest to you.

Are you missing good opportunities because you underestimate the ability of strangers and friends?

Birth Of The Digital Movement

2006-09-15T10:24:00.000+08:00

Singapore is an ambitious country.
She aspires to be the hub of many things throughtout the region and the world.

Examples?

Global hub for digital media and entertainment, global hub for water and environmental technology, regional hub for IT and telecommunications….

It goes on and on.

But pay attention.

Repeat the last example:
“Regional Hub For IT And Telecommunications”

Now.

Go To www.TheDigitalMovement.org .
Look at the 4th line of the 2nd paragraph in the blog “Birth of The Digital Movement”.
What does it say?
“Hub For Innovation And Technology”

Now, everybody with enough common sense would say to build a hub of anything you have to start from SOMEWHERE…..

Big Question: WHERE ?

Ever thought of that?

Now read the 6th sentence of the 3rd paragraph.
Go ahead, read it!

Found the answer?
“There is an emerging community of highly passionate…”
Answer: Start from a community.

I believe The Digital Movement has an idea and aim which time has come. And for that matter, probably overdue!
Isn’t it about time that a strong, tightly-knitted community is founded so that the work and contributions of technology people gets appreciated?
So that the local technology heroes earn their well-deserved respect?
So that we are not alone and have a place to draw our resources, support and strength?

I think this is something we all can look forward to.

--The Digital Movement was started by 4 enterprising students who have completed internship at technology start-ups abroad. Starting with a phone-call and an idea, they formed TDM which will change the local technology scene in the name of progressiveness and development.--

--To enquire more information, leave a comment at TheDigitalMovement.org .--

Weakness

2006-09-14T01:12:00.000+08:00

My weakness: Failure to take action.

It is important to identify and work on our weaknesses. Just as how important it is to identify and work on our strengths. But understand that our weakness is not our limitation. We can acknowledge our limitation, to say that there are things we can't do, in order to do more and do better in the things we can. But we must never acknowledge our weaknesses as our limitation.

"We can act on our weakness. "

But do we?

I don't take necessary actions to get what I intend for. I enjoy talking and presenting my ideas, rather than busy myself with the mundane tasks. I do not act to undertake the roles and responsibilities I am uncertain of, for fear that I would not perform up to mark or burn myself in the process.

I now know the two things contributing to my failure in taking action.

1. I worry too much about the outcome.
2. I lack the discipline to act.

Knowing the reasons opens new opportunities for improvement.

But will I act on them?
Or continue to be inactive with my new found ideas?

Foreword

2006-09-11T00:24:00.000+08:00

Hello.

My name is Ty Teh.
(Handshake)
What's yours?

I am currently a University Freshman and Entrepreneur.
I am an expert in my own field of learning and I specialize in my own field of interests.
I am a leading authority of my own philosophy.

This is my business card.
(Exchange cards)
As you can see, it is just a blank card with my name on it.
There is no designation and company.
I give out these cards to all my contacts.

I fill in the details myself according to your business and philosophy.
I don't believe in static skills.
I don't believe in labels.
I am an entrepreneur.

It is nice to meet you.
We will keep in touch.
I believe we will put a dent on the world.
To our success.

(Handshake)

-Ty Teh.