Forward yearning

"The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore."

–Dale Carnegie

"Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand."

–– Bruce Barton

“There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning.”
- Christopher Morley

"What you do off the job is determining factor In how far you will go on the job."
- Zig Ziglar

As i embark on my latest business venture, i cant help but look back at my life and how this has come about. In the last 2 years or so i personally feel i've matured a lot more than i have in the last 10 years or more. My take on life, especially work and the financial aspect of living differs a lot from 2 years ago. I used to dabble in a whole lot of things, every now and then drifting in and out of the advertising industry, owning a mobile phone stall, selling print solutions, and spending a year traveling with the Porsche Carrrera Cup Asia, always without a proper direction in life. It is quite amazing sometimes, if you take the time to sit down, light up and just ponder on the way things have turned out. Working beyond the stipulated hours, sacrificing quality time with the missus for work, giving up most weekends, canceling on friends at the very last minute when a client calls, driving from north to south of the peninsula in a day, paying ridiculous amounts of insurance premiums, are all part of the routine for me. 2 years ago i would've easily opted for coffee with friends than to drive 30mins to show a small sticker sample to a client. How things have changed.

The change in perception & attitude towards life could be due to a few things. I'd say 1 would be suddenly realizing that i am of age. 2 Opening my eyes and noticing everyone around me at my age are now rolling in sweet rides. 3 The lifestyles of my friends have changed, and i cant afford to join them anymore! Guess all 3 are inter-related. Shell shock!!

It was then that i guess i wanted more than what i had, and wanted more than what the average person has! Material wealth wise i mean and not the pot belly or 3 kids... a swift 180-degree turn, and today after a little more over 2-years i'm proud of where i am (*pats my own back). Besides the self-built drive and change in work attitude, some of it probably has to do with my close knit circle of friends. The quotes above best describe our group of friends. My friends are willing to dabble in any investment opportunity, are on a continuous learning path, yearn for greater wealth, seize any opportunity presented, and even on our Sunday coffee meet ups, talk about wealth creation. They are all successful in their respective fields, ranging from banking to tyreshops to a paper merchant. What keeps this circle of friends together really is the common understanding; "its no fun if you make it on your own, and your friends cant afford to play together with you", "make money, lets all make money together." That's why we're all in business together, and this new venture marks business #3 that we're all apart of.

As we move forward, new friends are made and networks grow from our relationships with new business partners. Opening doors for other friends to venture into various industries and more opportunities being presented.
Its been a fantastic journey and like most things in life..."its not the destination, but the journey." And i hope this trip is a smooth and long one...

enough ramblings about me. Have a fab-tastic weekend everyone!

"It Has Been Done..."

Initiation

For the past couple of months Team Three Sixty had its hands full with the acquisition of new accounts resulting in events running non-stop back-to-back. And this month we welcome aboard our two new activation team members, with plans to expand the servicing and creative team before mid this year. Three Sixty aside...

2010 for us, marks the birth of new venture. Initiated by an old friend's decision to leave a leading ad agency. As we talked over coffee discussing the options available, it was decided that with her experience and clientele coupled with our financing and back-end support a new venture would be formed. Inspired by the images below we intend to take the industry to new heights, to walk the path less traveled, and to develop & execute awe and inspiring ideas. Come to think of it, the main inspiration behind the name and direction of our new venture was my friend, who's gonna be running the new business... as anyone who knows her would attest, she's a true gangster! Albeit my tag line, "we help our clients kill their competitors" was duly rejected.

We're "young & dangerous"

With a capable pool of talent & network that stretches across multiple bordersRendering our services in the utmost professional manner

"IT HAS BEEN DONE..."

coming soon

Three Sixty Tech Team

After months of R&D, planning and countless meetings, i am proud to announce that Three Sixty Sdn Bhd's Tech Division is now fully operational!! Providing a range of technology based services including Projection Mapping & unique digital installations. As we progress and learn, we'll be able to offer our clients a wider range of event based & permanent digital installations.

Here's some quick vids of our first projection mapping project...





Given the opportunity, we'd love to be able to do something like this!

On going.

Coincidence: Today we're attending a dialogue session with PUSPAL and i stumble upon this article in The Star today.

I feel The government's clamp down on Alcohol & Ciggie companies sponsoring foreign acts is going to be detrimental to the industry. As it is, with our restrictions big name acts are already heading to neighboring countries. Without the big dollar sponsorship from the Alco & Cig boys, we Malaysians will see even less big name stars performing here in Malaysia. Updates from the PUSPAL dialogue session resulted in even more confusion as to the regulations, whats clear is "No sponsorship of foreign acts" and "No public dispensing of Alco & Cigs". With one of my biggest clients being a cig company, i guess we've got our work cut out for us as we try to work around the Grey areas in the regulations. Lets hope the authorities are able to see the economic and financial gains from allowing the Alco & Cig boys to spend more.

A Quick snippet from the article in The Star.
“Unfortunately, wine and beer have become a victim of the so-called sin tax here. It is important to see beyond this issue and look at the implications of higher taxes and look at ways to be competitive, especially when our neighbors have much to offer under this category,” said newly appointed Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Dr Victor Wee Eng Lye.

MIA

Sorry, i've been uber busy with moving office and without internet... telco is en route to hook us up and we should be back online tomorrow. Here's some pics of our new office! If you like the designer knock off furnitures, drop me an email. We'll soon be retailing designer type funiture.

View of the outside parking area, our front wall and gates and the road in front. Above 2 pics: Part of reception area. Discussion roomPics above: Work area

Teh botol!! Jakarta!!

Taking Shape

My apologies for the delay. Progress has been relatively slow as we've been swamped with work and no one has had the time to sort out or even check up on the progress of the new office. Here are some updated pics of Three Sixty's new home.

The walls and both gates are up, painted, and lights wired up. Double gates

More coloursDoor to pantry"Think Tank" Office space - Remember this wall

Driven

For reasons unbeknown to me, the year of the Bull spurred an unstoppable desire for business growth. Driven by an unknown force to seek not only material wealth but to charge head on into challenges and obstacles, then bask in the glory of success! From winning pitches, successfully executing events, to forging new ventures, i'm engulfed with motivation and energy. A drastic difference from this time last year, where i spent most of my time trying to avoid excessive workload. I suspect that my 30th birthday looming ahead could be a sub-conscious reason for my sudden drive, maybe, i don't know really. Or it could be my high spending habits requiring extra maintenance. More likely its purely "a body in motion tends to stay in motion, a body at rest tends to stay at rest". I pray my business partners & staff share the same sentiments, for it will lead to some major conflicts if they become complacent or are not on the same upward spiralling wavelength. I've yet to take some time or more correctly, i haven't had the time to relax and fully comprehend what the driving force is and what it is that i'm actually getting myself involved in. Growing and expanding at too quick a rate can lead to drastic consequences. I feel i need to take a step back and absorb this before its too late...

Some random updates on Three Sixty's new abode taking shape.

Dual gates and wall being erectedAdding a dash of colourIts gonna be a bright colourful facade.
hacking and smashing!

Brick partition

W.I.P.

360's new home is taking shape, with work having begun on the 1st of April 2009. We've had the front fencing/wall and a row of palm tress and hedge removed to allow more natural light in. All you could see of the house was the front gate as the rest of the house was hidden from view by the overgrown and unkept front bushes and palm trees. We've built a wide driveway that covers the entire width of the house (allows easy parking!) and will be building a new wall with twin gates... watch this space for updates...

2009 <> A new home

Teaser #1: A quick glimpse of a new beginning for Three Sixty Sdn Bhd in 2009.

Keys

The facade feat. gavin

Malaysian Hip-Hop

I've always been a supporter of the local hip-hop scene. Together with my homeboy Azree Izuan, we used to rock the stage at I.U Nites and Installations towards the end of our high school life and early college years. Now, in a position of influence and resource, i try as much as possible to spur the growth of the Malaysian hip-hop scene by incorporating hip-hip elements into our events. Most recently THREE SIXTY had local hip-hop hero Point Blanc perform during two shows for one of our clients. F.A.M.E in Penang & HOUZ in Ipoh played host to events which saw enthusiastic responses from the crowd when Point hit the stage and belted out his hit song "Ipohmali". Especially the home town crowd. FYI, "Ipohmali" was rated as the top local-English song to hit the airwaves and almost everyone has heard it at least once before. Point made the performance a little more interesting by showing off some of his beat-boxing skills accompanied by back-up singer (and point's GF) Ms.Mandy. With such showmanship, professionalism and crowd response, it looks like we'll be working with Point a whole lot more from now on... We're also looking at bigger hip-hop events in the near future.

The 2 plus hour drive home provided some good conversations with Point, giving me a good insight into the local music scene and a greater understanding of his passion for hip-hop. Plus it helps that we're both born in the same year (yes! we're old!!) so we could relate and reminisce about 80's cartoons (JEM & The Holograms!), skateboarding, and a time before Internet & super consoles...those were the glory days. PASSION is what drives greatness, and anything done outta passion provides much greater rewards, rewards that are more satisfying than material wealth. I personally enjoy working with people who are out there doing what they do simply because they love what they're doing. Screw what other people think, they go to bed with a satisfied smile and wake up with a spring in their step, looking forward to going to work... just loving it. I envy them. Having said that, we're looking into more ways to work with Point and his affiliates to try and give Malaysian Hip-Hop its well deserved dues. Watch this space. Support your local artistes.

Spare us your ears for a moment.

Ipohmali


One-Day by Point Blanc Feat. JIN.

Life Worth Living

You only LIVE LIFE ONCE. When was the last time you took a risk?

If you have dreams and a passion for something, you best execute it when you're young or before other lives depend on your handouts. There's always two sides of a story, but here's how i view it. If you're going to venture into business then you, like all successful people know that success, like everything else in this world only belongs to the brave. If you're going to venture into a business or start something that you have a passion for, i truly believe you best do it before your commitments and comfort compel you not to (i.e. kids, mortgage, wife, etc). Its best at times to execute your own venture early in your life, before you become too comfortable chasing your pay cheque every month. Which sadly, is what most people do. Most people i speak to don't exactly enjoy what they do, and speak of interesting ideas which could be profitable but fail to act simply because they yearn for that pay cheque at the end of the month, and the ensuing potential bonus. FEAR is what stops good ideas from becoming great - FEAR of stepping out of your comfort zone. Our lives have been shaped by the "old-school" line of thought, by our parents & teachers - go to school, get a good degree, land a job in a big firm, find a nice girlfriend/boyfriend/partner, get a mortgage, settle down, etc etc. I'm blessed in a sense to have parents who's only wish was to see their children happy. A vast majority are complacent with this arrangement but if you want to live life, to feel what it's like to accomplish something that's all yours, to taste freedom, to have that "zing" in your life, then take that risk and walk the road less traveled. Truth be told, running a business opens a tough and cruel world, and it isn't for everyone. The thoughts and advice penned here today are purely my personal take on working life.

"People have a fear of failure, and while this is perfectly reasonable, its also very odd. Because it seems to me that it's through making mistakes that we learn how to do things. Watch a musician practice, watch a baby figure out how to walk, listen to a toddler speak. Skills like walking, talking and making music emerge gradually, steadily from a blizzard of mistakes."
- Sir Richard Branson

Starting early in life has its pros and cons, i stopped looking at the cons awhile ago because i'm engulfed with the pros. What i lack in experience and networking, i make up for with creativity, go-getter attitude, passion and enthusiasm. Before starting a family, i have nothing to lose other than time and maybe a car or two. Which really is NOTHING cause it does not directly affect the stomachs of other lives. I can honestly say that if i had joined the corporate world, started a family and mortgage, collect a pay cheque every moth, i wouldn't have the guts to step out on my own. sad really. Cause i currently reap the rewards of running my own business - i may not (yet!) be personally earning a million bucks, but for the hours i put in, i'd say i'm earning above average and the number of friends i've made, experiences learned, the fun i have during work, camaraderie forged, coupled with the amount of personal time i have is well justification for running my own business.
You must be prepared to jump off a building without a parachute if you choose the path i took. Cause every business isn't without risk, and not every venture is a success. In business you must be prepared to fall flat into the ground, and mistakes do happen. I don't call it mistakes anymore, i call it LEARNING. And by god, i've learnt a whole damn lot!! You just pick yourself up, dust off the dirt and grime, and start again.

"If you want to be an entrepreneur and you don't make a few errors along the way, you certainly aren't going to learn anything or achieve very much."
- Sir Richard Branson.

In the past 5-years i've gone into debt from a failed venture that took me a year to repay, i've gone without the ability to pay my car and credit card installments, and i've had one credit card canceled on me. But putting yourself in a situation that's out of your comfort zone, drives your mind into overtime and amazing things can be achieved when the situation necessitates it (with a little luck!). A small risk worth taking, whats there to lose? And when one door closes, another opens. My latest venture is a product that materialized from the previous failed business - and i'm proud to say that in under 6-months we achieved outstanding profit figures and doubled our staff count, and in 12-months or so we're expanding to a bigger premise. By the 18-month mark, we would've again expanded our team's size. During this economic downturn, we're embarking on an expansion plan and launching an aggressive marketing campaign. Screw the pessimists! The way i see it, IF this venture fails (by god i won't let it!), i can still pick myself up and try again or go back into the corporate world cause it's stil not too late, and have some wonderful experiences and memories to take with me to my golden age.

Wondering why this post? well, a friend of mine has just out-of-the-blue resigned from his very very comfortable job in one of the world's most profitable MNC's (they don't flinch even during the economic downturn!) to pursue a dream. Sacrificing his secure pay cheque, annual bonus and a myriad of benefits (incl. a neat company car) to venture out on his own. And we're backing him with everything we can to help him see his dream come through... To me, anyone willing to step out of their comfort zone and take a risk is already a success in his own right, be it if he makes big bucks or not. As the quote below holds true:-

"nothing happens unless first a dream"
- carl sandburg

Irregardless of what you do in life or how you choose to live it, always remember, "Life is not the amount of breaths you take, it's the moments that take your breath away." (Hitch).

of sunsets and overworked souls...

To me, sunsets create a surreal sense of calm and serenity. Watching the perfect sunset invokes a feeling of pure tranquility and composure, soothing the soul and massaging the emotional glands. Troubles mystically fade into the cool glow of the sun's rays and for that few minutes... life is just perfect, nothing else matters. Occasionally a cool warm purple and orange-ish hue emanates through the clouds during sunset, creating the ultimate postcard picture. The sun setting between two mountains coupled with the reflection off a watery surface, grassy meadow or wide open padi field accolades the most tranquil atmosphere... the perfect sunset. I wish i could bottle up the feelings garnered whilst watching the sunset and open the bottle for a whiff of tranquility as when needed. Or maybe mass produce it and drop it over a war zone ala crop dusting to stop all the killing... wishful thinking.

Anyway, yeah yeah... Three Sixty's event brigade is back on the road for the 2nd time. Touring entire Malaysia once again, from the South to the North of the Peninsula, and end to end of Borneo (Sabah & Sarawak). For the first time, the boys will be thinly spread out across all corners of Malaysia, doing what we always do... pulling off miracles.
By the time this post hits print, i'd probably be touring Malaysia for the 2nd time in 2-weeks, this time executing the event itself.

It was during my 4-day recce of Peninsula Malaysia (Ipoh - Butterworth - Penang - Sg.Petani - Alor Star - Kangar - JB - Batu Pahat - Muar - Melaka - Seremban - KL) that i discovered some amazing sunsets north of Malaysia.
Uluwatu-who? Try Alor Star and Kangar. I was impressed even after having experienced some amazing sunsets in Australia and Bali. So impressed was i that i'm hoping to influence enough of my mates to go on a road trip through the coastal and trunk roads of Peninsula Malaysia (again!), to check out sceneries and sights off the beaten path.

Here are some pictures taken during my long and arduous road trip across the peninsula.

Somewhere up north of the Peninsula
Empty CrossroadI love this "Reflection on Reflection" shot.Public cooked food market?I took a random pic of an old building, and this very eerie shot came out... grainy and green, took a 2nd pic and it was perfectly fine.
notice something in window? This is a real creepy picture. The lighting, old stuffs, and relfections in the old mirrors give it a real eerie feel. As if frozen in time.
Old skool barber shop still in operation... check out the barber chairs, mirrors, tools, and old school silver coloured cassette boom box in the reflection in the mirror!

reINVENTed

INVENTING is the new word. Cancer stick manufacturer KENT has embarked on an all new rebranding campaign with the launch of its new range of KENT cigarettes. MINTEK & 3TEK now replace the previous KENT 961 and menthol range. The all new MINTEK is claimed to be the "coolest" ciggie in the market, with the a "mint-thread" running along the filter providing maximum menthol effect. I'm no menthol smoker, but one puff of the mintek infina ciggie and my mouth went icy cold! Don't take my word it, go smoke a pack and then send me some reviews..
The new launch campaign saw a series of events held throughout Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor, that included special performances by MC Vandal, J1, an acrobatic electric violinist, and mind boggling break dance moves by the Gila Battle Crew. Here are some pictures and blatant advertising for Three-Sixty from the grand event at MUNCHAUS KL, and parties at Maison KL and QE2 Penang... get reINVENTed.

MUNCHAUS reINVENTed!

The Oscars.. jockey service, red carpet, glam wall, and super tall ushers!

some of the guests

The awesome MOSAIC band

ultra cool "INVENTING" lighted unit - proudly designed and built by THREESIXTY

MINTEK & 3TEK zone - custom display & ambiance illumination by ThreeSixty

J1 wows the crowd at Maison KL

Member of the GILA BATTLE CREW warming up the stage

2 of the many KENT T&C promoters at QE2 Penang

Customers checking out THREESIXTY designed KENT interactive product console

Guests at QE2 with KENT rotating sphere for illumination

Guests at Maison KL

MC VANDAL & DJ Reggie on the decks