On the 21st November 2012, TGIF Malaysia celebrated its 50th anniversary. All the restaurant chain that falls under the company umbrella are offering 50% discount off the menu price.
The beauty stroke about this promotion was that it was only advertized on their facebook fan page and their corporate site. In fact, restaurants did not even put up any form of banner or printed materials regarding the promotion. Some might think that why not promote the occasion through main stream media? This no doubt would attract more customers.
What the company did was that they have made the fans who followed TGIF feel special and exclusive. This only cements customer loyalty and attracts more followers so that they will not miss out for any future events. Furthermore, good deals such as this one would no doubt travel far through word and mouth.
I visited TGIF at 6pm and I was told that I have to wait for 10 minutes for a table. Yes! The night was that busy. By 7 pm, the waiting line has swelled to at least 30 people. I dare to say, that night was a roaring success for TGIF with minimal marketing expenditure.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
A Thought on The Apprentice Asia
Just found out that there is a casting call for The Apprentice Asia. This is a reality show where candidates would get together in an office environment to achieve weekly tasks. Each week someone would be fired from the show. The last person standing will get to win an opportunity to work for the show's CEO organization for one year. For the Asia version, the CEO is none other than Tony Fernandes the owner of AirAsia, Tune Hotels and Caterham F1 team.
I started watching the American version where Donald Trump was the show's CEO. I was a huge fan and would never miss a single episode. I followed the show for at least four seasons. Many times, I would try to find inspirations from the show and tried to put myself into the situation to see how I would respond.
As I gain more life's experience. I realized that this is really just a show and I should not take it too seriously. In fact, some of the behavior demonstrated on the show seems questionable and short sighted.
Each of the task last for about a week, the results will be judged and someone will have to leave the show. As such, to win each tasks contestants are just there to think short term and get quick results. A good business leader should have a vision and a long term goals. Sadly these qualities are not assessed.
Contestant would get fired each week. We tend to see a lot more on-screen argument and bickering as everyone are fighting for their position in the show. As the show progress, we tend to see a lot more poison hurled between contestants. In a real office environment, no matter how bad is the personality clash, each person have to perform and work together to achieve common goals for long period of time. I doubt such on-screen behavior is acceptable in any office. At least, I would not hire such individuals to work in my team.
This show promotes zero tolerance for failure. Individuals are not given the second chance to bounce back. Many of us needs mistakes to grow. The Newsweek magazine dedicate a section celebrity or businessman's favorite mistakes. I just hope candidates and viewers would see beyond the show that mistakes is indeed acceptable. Playing it too safe is no fun in both life and business. Please take some risks and make some mistakes! This is part of life!
Will I still watch the show? I think I will but I will not make an effort to chase after it. I am just curious about the show's production quality, candidates quality as well as seeing Tony Fernandes in action. Of course, I would also like to proof myself wrong about the show. For now, instead busy watching other people building their success, I should be spending time building my own.
I started watching the American version where Donald Trump was the show's CEO. I was a huge fan and would never miss a single episode. I followed the show for at least four seasons. Many times, I would try to find inspirations from the show and tried to put myself into the situation to see how I would respond.
As I gain more life's experience. I realized that this is really just a show and I should not take it too seriously. In fact, some of the behavior demonstrated on the show seems questionable and short sighted.
Each of the task last for about a week, the results will be judged and someone will have to leave the show. As such, to win each tasks contestants are just there to think short term and get quick results. A good business leader should have a vision and a long term goals. Sadly these qualities are not assessed.
Contestant would get fired each week. We tend to see a lot more on-screen argument and bickering as everyone are fighting for their position in the show. As the show progress, we tend to see a lot more poison hurled between contestants. In a real office environment, no matter how bad is the personality clash, each person have to perform and work together to achieve common goals for long period of time. I doubt such on-screen behavior is acceptable in any office. At least, I would not hire such individuals to work in my team.
This show promotes zero tolerance for failure. Individuals are not given the second chance to bounce back. Many of us needs mistakes to grow. The Newsweek magazine dedicate a section celebrity or businessman's favorite mistakes. I just hope candidates and viewers would see beyond the show that mistakes is indeed acceptable. Playing it too safe is no fun in both life and business. Please take some risks and make some mistakes! This is part of life!
Will I still watch the show? I think I will but I will not make an effort to chase after it. I am just curious about the show's production quality, candidates quality as well as seeing Tony Fernandes in action. Of course, I would also like to proof myself wrong about the show. For now, instead busy watching other people building their success, I should be spending time building my own.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Call or Meet Face to Face
With the popularity of social media, we are a lot more connected than ten years ago. Many business and professionals have relied on social media and the internet to connect with friends and clients. I confess that I am a Facebook addict where I have to check my accounts at least once a day.
Relying on Facebook and Linkedin, I thought I am well connected and I have made sure I stayed in touch with my fellow friends and potential clients. Oh, was I wrong. I have neglected the ever importance of phone calls and face to face meetings.
I have a friend of 12 years and we would exchange e-mails and update each other through Facebook. Over the weekend, we have finally caught up for a quick dinner. Despite the e-mails and Facebook updates, I noticed that I really do not know much about this person. During the dinner, he shared his aspirations and ideas. It was only dawn to us that we may be able to strike something up and work on some opportunities. Without the dinner, nothing would have happened.
Many of us have fallen to the false sense of security that we are well connected and networked through social media. In a way, these tools has allowed us to stay in touch. To make our network works, we would still need to spent effort on it.
Here is what I am going to do, and maybe you too can draw some ideas from it.
If you can keep it up for two weeks, you would have gained fourteen more friends! Besides just calling, other forms of communication may work too. Just use your imagination.
Relying on Facebook and Linkedin, I thought I am well connected and I have made sure I stayed in touch with my fellow friends and potential clients. Oh, was I wrong. I have neglected the ever importance of phone calls and face to face meetings.
I have a friend of 12 years and we would exchange e-mails and update each other through Facebook. Over the weekend, we have finally caught up for a quick dinner. Despite the e-mails and Facebook updates, I noticed that I really do not know much about this person. During the dinner, he shared his aspirations and ideas. It was only dawn to us that we may be able to strike something up and work on some opportunities. Without the dinner, nothing would have happened.
Many of us have fallen to the false sense of security that we are well connected and networked through social media. In a way, these tools has allowed us to stay in touch. To make our network works, we would still need to spent effort on it.
Here is what I am going to do, and maybe you too can draw some ideas from it.
- Go through your friend list, look for the ones whom you have not talked to for more than three months.
- Compile those names into a list.
- Dedicate five minutes a day, by calling someone on that list. You just need to call one person a day.
If you can keep it up for two weeks, you would have gained fourteen more friends! Besides just calling, other forms of communication may work too. Just use your imagination.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Return the Call!
Many times, I have heard people telling me their business is bad, not achieving the desire sales target, not getting invited for events etc. The complains of misery and missed opportunities seems go on and on.
Sometimes, these people can only fault themselves for all their miseries. Two weeks ago, I wrote an e-mail to make an inquiry for a product. Waited for two days. No reply. I call the shop, the shop person promised me that their sales person will call me back in two days time. That call was six days ago and no one has called me. Now, I have decided not to buy the item that I wanted anymore.
Whether is in business, in a office or a social circle, if you bother to return a miss call or make a call back, I am sure there are a lot of opportunities that can you explore. Furthermore, you are also sending a message to the other party that you are a reliable and responsible person.
Whenever I receive e-mails, I would open it and decide what I can do with it. If I can respond within five minutes, I would reply immediately. If it takes longer time to respond, I either put it away for later or reply back and promise the person when they can expect a full reply from me.
If I receive a miss calls on my mobile phone, I will either call back immediately if possible. Otherwise, I would schedule a later time to call. The mobile apps that I used is called Astrid, it reminds me when I need to return a call.
Returning a call or replying an e-mail will not take you too much time, but opportunity could be on the other side of the line or e-mail.
Sometimes, these people can only fault themselves for all their miseries. Two weeks ago, I wrote an e-mail to make an inquiry for a product. Waited for two days. No reply. I call the shop, the shop person promised me that their sales person will call me back in two days time. That call was six days ago and no one has called me. Now, I have decided not to buy the item that I wanted anymore.
Whether is in business, in a office or a social circle, if you bother to return a miss call or make a call back, I am sure there are a lot of opportunities that can you explore. Furthermore, you are also sending a message to the other party that you are a reliable and responsible person.
Whenever I receive e-mails, I would open it and decide what I can do with it. If I can respond within five minutes, I would reply immediately. If it takes longer time to respond, I either put it away for later or reply back and promise the person when they can expect a full reply from me.
If I receive a miss calls on my mobile phone, I will either call back immediately if possible. Otherwise, I would schedule a later time to call. The mobile apps that I used is called Astrid, it reminds me when I need to return a call.
Returning a call or replying an e-mail will not take you too much time, but opportunity could be on the other side of the line or e-mail.
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