It's really sad that the world has to lose a philanthropist like him.. He took advantage of his talent and fame to change the world to be a better place. He donated so much that he broke the Guiness Record for the 39 charities he supported like alcohol and drug abuse, famine, hospitals, underpriviliged children and many more. I like this idea of giving back to the community. Like a legitimate Robin Hood :)
During the funeral, the reverend said to the his kids, "Your father is not strange, it was the things he had to deal with that was strange". He will always be remembered for the many lifes he touched and the positive influence he gave. RIP Michael!
My fave MJ song: Will you be there
Sabtu, 11 Juli 2009
Jumat, 10 Juli 2009
PRJ 2009
Few days ago I went to PRJ, to be exact the day before Pemilihan Capres. Actually that was the first time I went to PRJ.. Actually I heard a lot of negative reviews about PRJ like it's hot in there, too crowded bla bla.. But the experience was far from what those reviews.. It wasn't hot (well i got there around 6 just about the time when sun set) and it wasn't too crowded too. I think they did a pretty good filtering by charging Rp.15.000 for the entry fee (for weekdays and Rp.20.000 for weekends). I thought it wasnt cheap, since most expos/trade shows in Jakarta usually cost about Rp.10.000 or cheaper to get in.
I quite enjoyed the experience, although it was a bit different from what I had expected since I thought it would be more like local arts and crafts products. It was more like a big promotion of Indonesian products, by big Indonesian manufacturers. The brands were creative in presenting their products and the product identities. The brand that was pretty good at doing this was Gudang Garam International. If the brand wanted to portray a manly, rugged and adventurous image, they did a good job. At the booth (and what I meant by booth is like a maxi booth, most big brands booths are at least 5mx5m i think) visitors can get tattoo imitation, chill at the lounge on the second floor, get a personal embroidery (the manly kind though!) for hats and jackets, and for a minimum purchase of 2 packs of cigarettes, visitors can play a offroad/race simulation on a large screen or wall climbing. Very tempting!
Other brands use this opportunity for sampling or introducing new products like this brand of sandals that were giving away make your own personalized flip flops. Look at the lines! We wanted to check out the booth because of the lines. And I think people enjoy making the sandals as well.
Esia's booth was one of my favorite, I don't know. The giant wheel is just so hard to miss. But Esia has always created attractive booths though. I also like their booth at the festival komputer last month. Their objectives I think mostly were sales.
Futami's booth was pretty fun as well.. I like the huge puzzle.. They also use their to booth to educate the consumers about the 17 beneficial ingredients in their signature drink.
Well going to PRJ opened my eyes.. (haha kasian yah). The point of me going there was to see if Urbanesia will benefit from participating and how Urbanesia should participate next year. Or maybe (hopefully!) collaborate with the organizers.
I quite enjoyed the experience, although it was a bit different from what I had expected since I thought it would be more like local arts and crafts products. It was more like a big promotion of Indonesian products, by big Indonesian manufacturers. The brands were creative in presenting their products and the product identities. The brand that was pretty good at doing this was Gudang Garam International. If the brand wanted to portray a manly, rugged and adventurous image, they did a good job. At the booth (and what I meant by booth is like a maxi booth, most big brands booths are at least 5mx5m i think) visitors can get tattoo imitation, chill at the lounge on the second floor, get a personal embroidery (the manly kind though!) for hats and jackets, and for a minimum purchase of 2 packs of cigarettes, visitors can play a offroad/race simulation on a large screen or wall climbing. Very tempting!
Other brands use this opportunity for sampling or introducing new products like this brand of sandals that were giving away make your own personalized flip flops. Look at the lines! We wanted to check out the booth because of the lines. And I think people enjoy making the sandals as well.
Esia's booth was one of my favorite, I don't know. The giant wheel is just so hard to miss. But Esia has always created attractive booths though. I also like their booth at the festival komputer last month. Their objectives I think mostly were sales.
Futami's booth was pretty fun as well.. I like the huge puzzle.. They also use their to booth to educate the consumers about the 17 beneficial ingredients in their signature drink.
Well going to PRJ opened my eyes.. (haha kasian yah). The point of me going there was to see if Urbanesia will benefit from participating and how Urbanesia should participate next year. Or maybe (hopefully!) collaborate with the organizers.
Senin, 06 Juli 2009
Dataprint Academy 2009
On the 5th of July I was lucky enough to attend Malam penobatan DataPrint Academy 2009, a week long learning camp for high school students to promote their communities. In order to be these community engines they were fed with workshops to flourish their entrepreneurship skills, creativity, leadership, information technology knowledge, digital graphic, photography and journalism. For more info click here.
On the last night of the 6 days workshop, the 30 students who were involved in the gave a performance to the DataPrint Board of Directors and managements executive and other sponsors of the event. These kids not only are very active (you should see the list of awards they've won) but talented and creative. They gave a spectacular performance only in a few days preparation. At the end of the night 3 of them was awarded money prize for their participation. Overall they really enjoyed the workshops, the experience and the making friends.
I'm glad companies like DataPrint are creating this kind of events to give back to the community. I kind of gave the suggestion that it should be narrow and focus on promoting the community using blogs (inspired by the theme of 2008 Pesta Blogger). I wish Urbanesia someday will be at a place to do something like this.
Here's the youtube link if you want to watch the summary of the event on a TV show broadcasted by TVone:
DataPrint Academy Part 1
DataPrint Academy Part 2
DataPrint Academy Part 3
DataPrint Academy Part 4
On the last night of the 6 days workshop, the 30 students who were involved in the gave a performance to the DataPrint Board of Directors and managements executive and other sponsors of the event. These kids not only are very active (you should see the list of awards they've won) but talented and creative. They gave a spectacular performance only in a few days preparation. At the end of the night 3 of them was awarded money prize for their participation. Overall they really enjoyed the workshops, the experience and the making friends.
I'm glad companies like DataPrint are creating this kind of events to give back to the community. I kind of gave the suggestion that it should be narrow and focus on promoting the community using blogs (inspired by the theme of 2008 Pesta Blogger). I wish Urbanesia someday will be at a place to do something like this.
Here's the youtube link if you want to watch the summary of the event on a TV show broadcasted by TVone:
DataPrint Academy Part 1
DataPrint Academy Part 2
DataPrint Academy Part 3
DataPrint Academy Part 4
Selasa, 16 Juni 2009
Business opportunity
Sometime in May my friend, Wulan bbm me in the middle of the night offering me a business opportunity. Being the opportunist that I am I couldn't resist but to follow through. Although she wouldn't give me any hint about the business until our meeting the next day. But being the positive person that I am, I was thinking what the hell, I might learn something new or better, might get something to improve www.urbanesia.com!
When we met the next day, it turns out she was trying to recruit me to join Faithnet Global which is the support company for Winalite International in Indonesia. Winalite is the company that produces lovemoon, a pricey feminine pads with anion strip that gives out free ion. Its famous pitch is the ion reduces the development of cyst or cervical cancer. I have been offered to market the product 3 times, first time in 2007. Although I never join, I was interested with the product because of several things:
1. I'm scared of cancer, and I think my lifestyle is not exactly cancer preventing
2. It's an eco-friendly product
3. It might reduce this crazy period cramp I get every month
4. The amount of money we can get from selling the product (or actually recruiting members, yes it has an MLM structure)
But I never join them because of money (the product itself is expensive and startup cost is quite a lot for an MLM) and bad timing, like I thought I would never got the time, I was going away on holiday, or I just simple forgot about it..
But Wulan got me to join in less than 24 hours! How?? This is what I would like to share... I'll continue on the next entry! Gotta get ready for work now!
When we met the next day, it turns out she was trying to recruit me to join Faithnet Global which is the support company for Winalite International in Indonesia. Winalite is the company that produces lovemoon, a pricey feminine pads with anion strip that gives out free ion. Its famous pitch is the ion reduces the development of cyst or cervical cancer. I have been offered to market the product 3 times, first time in 2007. Although I never join, I was interested with the product because of several things:
1. I'm scared of cancer, and I think my lifestyle is not exactly cancer preventing
2. It's an eco-friendly product
3. It might reduce this crazy period cramp I get every month
4. The amount of money we can get from selling the product (or actually recruiting members, yes it has an MLM structure)
But I never join them because of money (the product itself is expensive and startup cost is quite a lot for an MLM) and bad timing, like I thought I would never got the time, I was going away on holiday, or I just simple forgot about it..
But Wulan got me to join in less than 24 hours! How?? This is what I would like to share... I'll continue on the next entry! Gotta get ready for work now!
Kamis, 02 April 2009
A Shop Owner Dilemma
Besides doing Jakarta people a big favor by creating a make-all-of-our-lives-easier city directory, I’m a just merely an ordinary boutique owner in this boutique-packed city. All this started when my best friend from Los Angeles, Intan along with her big sister Dewi (she’s a superwoman who is directing a big MLM company and somehow managed to write 3 books, 2 are published and 1 is on the way but still found more time to own a boutique. Oh did I mention she’s a mother of 2 kids?) and Michelle, Dewi’s best friend since probably 15 years ago, asked me and my sister to join their start-up boutique. Well I like to dress up and shop for clothes, but I didn’t know a thing about starting up a boutique let alone managing one. Actually they didn’t need me, they need my sister because she was still living in LA and she could be the buyer for the boutique. I joined so that I know what’s going on in the boutique, being the connector to my sister. Well the money was coming out of the same pocket anyway... So there was I, being a silent partner for the newly formed Secret Wardrobe boutique (I was still working full time back then, so I couldn’t afford to be an active partner)
The boutique is tucked in a small ruko complex on Jl. Margaguna Raya (the road between Radio Dalem and Metro Pondok Indah). They presented me with a concept that our boutique is an active boutique meaning that we don’t rely on traffic like other boutiques in the malls, but we do proactive marketing such as events, newsletters, direct selling, and other relationship-based marketing. In addition we are trying to bring in Californian Chic and Hollywood Glamour style at a more affordable price. Trying to be different here, we are buying clothes from up and rising designers who have good workmanship but unknown enough to have a nice-to-look-at price tag. Well I keen on the concept because I thought it was something different and who needs a good location if we have great clothes with great price anyway right??
Well turns out I was wrong :p. There is a reason why the rent in the mall is much higher, because they generate more traffic. More traffic = More sales. But to be honest, I don’t think our boutique can afford a place in an A-class mall. The margin and the volume just don’t make sense. This is I what I call as the shop owner dilemma, especially owners of shops with niche products. I see many shops located as a standalone store sometimes in a busy road side, sometimes in a very quiet neighborhood. There were many times I was very tempted to stop-by, but chances are I was already late on my way to meet someone, in a mall! I believe many shops will get repeat transaction regardless their location or at least from the surrounding neighborhood, but do they get traffic at all?
I want to give shop owners the chance of first traffic. The rest is up to them, if they have good products and great service, I believe it’s easy for them to get repeat traffic and more sales from word of mouth recommendation. That’s why I started Urbanesia.com.
The boutique is tucked in a small ruko complex on Jl. Margaguna Raya (the road between Radio Dalem and Metro Pondok Indah). They presented me with a concept that our boutique is an active boutique meaning that we don’t rely on traffic like other boutiques in the malls, but we do proactive marketing such as events, newsletters, direct selling, and other relationship-based marketing. In addition we are trying to bring in Californian Chic and Hollywood Glamour style at a more affordable price. Trying to be different here, we are buying clothes from up and rising designers who have good workmanship but unknown enough to have a nice-to-look-at price tag. Well I keen on the concept because I thought it was something different and who needs a good location if we have great clothes with great price anyway right??
Well turns out I was wrong :p. There is a reason why the rent in the mall is much higher, because they generate more traffic. More traffic = More sales. But to be honest, I don’t think our boutique can afford a place in an A-class mall. The margin and the volume just don’t make sense. This is I what I call as the shop owner dilemma, especially owners of shops with niche products. I see many shops located as a standalone store sometimes in a busy road side, sometimes in a very quiet neighborhood. There were many times I was very tempted to stop-by, but chances are I was already late on my way to meet someone, in a mall! I believe many shops will get repeat transaction regardless their location or at least from the surrounding neighborhood, but do they get traffic at all?
I want to give shop owners the chance of first traffic. The rest is up to them, if they have good products and great service, I believe it’s easy for them to get repeat traffic and more sales from word of mouth recommendation. That’s why I started Urbanesia.com.
Rabu, 10 September 2008
Adwords and Adsense
Sudah lama aku mau menulis posting ini. Tepatnya dari tanggal 14 Agustus, setelah seminarnya Google and Detik.com yang 'Memanfaatkan Internet Untuk Pengembangan Bisnis'. Salah satu bagian dari seminar ini adalah memperkenalkan Google Adwords. Jujur saja.. walaupun aku passionate di online marketing aku tidak pernah memperhatikan Adwords and Adsense, padahal 2 ini adalah Program Advertising Google yang sangat terkenal. Sering sih denger atau baca.. tetapi dari dulu tidak pernah merasa perlu, jadi lewat aja...
Bentuknya sih tahu..
Tetapi karena memang dari dulu sering dengarnya Adsense, aku selalu menganggap semua bentuk iklan seperti ini adalah Adsense.. Padahal bentuk iklan seperti ini mempunyai peranan yang berbeda dari sisi pengiklan (Advertisers), yang membayar untuk beriklan menggunakan Adwords atau sebagai pemilik website yang memilih untuk mengahsilkan uang menjadi pemasang iklan lewat Adsense (Publishers). Selain tersalur sabagai Adsense di website Publishers, Google mendapat pendapatan yang lebih besar lewat Adwords yang tampil di halaman hasil user search di Google atau website partner seperti Ask.com.
Ngomong2 aku ingin berbagi tentang Adwords dan Adsense karena pada seminar itu, saya mengalami kejadian yang memalukan. Pada saat saya bertanya kepada pembicara dari Google Asia, Derek Callow (di depan peserta yang lainnya...) saya menyebut Adwords sebagai Adsense terus sehingga membuat bingung si Derek. Seusai seminar tersebut saya malu sekali ketika mengaku pada Derek kalau saya sedang membuat web portal.. Sebetulnya saya mengerti kedua produk tersebut, cuma memang tidak pernah tahu kalau ternyata namanya berbeda karena mempunyai dual function.. Dan Derek menambahkan.. memang dalam soal branding Adsense lebih terkenal karena dampak positifnya yang membantu menghasilkan uang.. Dan saya langsung Ahaa.. berarti arahan portal web directory kami yang selama ini bertujuan untuk membantu orang meningkatkan penghasilan lebih confirmed! :)
Bentuknya sih tahu..
Tetapi karena memang dari dulu sering dengarnya Adsense, aku selalu menganggap semua bentuk iklan seperti ini adalah Adsense.. Padahal bentuk iklan seperti ini mempunyai peranan yang berbeda dari sisi pengiklan (Advertisers), yang membayar untuk beriklan menggunakan Adwords atau sebagai pemilik website yang memilih untuk mengahsilkan uang menjadi pemasang iklan lewat Adsense (Publishers). Selain tersalur sabagai Adsense di website Publishers, Google mendapat pendapatan yang lebih besar lewat Adwords yang tampil di halaman hasil user search di Google atau website partner seperti Ask.com.
Ngomong2 aku ingin berbagi tentang Adwords dan Adsense karena pada seminar itu, saya mengalami kejadian yang memalukan. Pada saat saya bertanya kepada pembicara dari Google Asia, Derek Callow (di depan peserta yang lainnya...) saya menyebut Adwords sebagai Adsense terus sehingga membuat bingung si Derek. Seusai seminar tersebut saya malu sekali ketika mengaku pada Derek kalau saya sedang membuat web portal.. Sebetulnya saya mengerti kedua produk tersebut, cuma memang tidak pernah tahu kalau ternyata namanya berbeda karena mempunyai dual function.. Dan Derek menambahkan.. memang dalam soal branding Adsense lebih terkenal karena dampak positifnya yang membantu menghasilkan uang.. Dan saya langsung Ahaa.. berarti arahan portal web directory kami yang selama ini bertujuan untuk membantu orang meningkatkan penghasilan lebih confirmed! :)
Taking Action
Duuh malu nih.. Sebetulnya waktu mulai blog ini aku sudah menentukan target kalau harus buat post setiap 2 hari... hehe
Tetapi ada alasan yang reasonable kenapa bisa nggak ikut target loh... Karena aku sudah aktif menjalankan perusahaan yang akan membangun portal web directory ini. Jadi pas awal Agustus aku sudah mulai aktif merecruit orang. Kebetulan waktu ikut seminarnya Pak Nukman Luthfie yang Sharpening Your Online Strategy, ketemu teman lama yang ternyata mau resign dari tempat kerjanya. Jadi aku bisa lebih bebas consult dengan dia.. Karena walaupun memang aku passionate dengan online world... Kalau soal technical agak2 terbelakang... Jadi aku yang selama ini merasa terhambat dari sisi technical, lebih bisa banyak melakukan action dalam merealisasikan concept yang selama ini hanya diatas kertas (dan dalam kepala).
Pertengahan Agustus kebetulan aku menemukan ruko yang bisa dijadikan kantor sementara dan aku sudah cocok dengan seorang programmer yang dibantu interview oleh temanku itu. So feels like everything falls into place.
Jadi singkat kata.. I'm proud to say that I have started driving this web portal (although I still need a map! :p)
Ada pepatah yang selalu aku ingat yaitu:
Words can inspire, Thoughts may provoke, but only Action can bring you closer to your dreams. - Brad Sugar
Aku merasa kalau aku sudah satu langkah lebih dekat ke mimpiku untuk membantu warga Jakarta (dan nanti Indonesia) lewat portal web directory ini. Tanggung jawa memang besar. But I'm excited!
Tetapi ada alasan yang reasonable kenapa bisa nggak ikut target loh... Karena aku sudah aktif menjalankan perusahaan yang akan membangun portal web directory ini. Jadi pas awal Agustus aku sudah mulai aktif merecruit orang. Kebetulan waktu ikut seminarnya Pak Nukman Luthfie yang Sharpening Your Online Strategy, ketemu teman lama yang ternyata mau resign dari tempat kerjanya. Jadi aku bisa lebih bebas consult dengan dia.. Karena walaupun memang aku passionate dengan online world... Kalau soal technical agak2 terbelakang... Jadi aku yang selama ini merasa terhambat dari sisi technical, lebih bisa banyak melakukan action dalam merealisasikan concept yang selama ini hanya diatas kertas (dan dalam kepala).
Pertengahan Agustus kebetulan aku menemukan ruko yang bisa dijadikan kantor sementara dan aku sudah cocok dengan seorang programmer yang dibantu interview oleh temanku itu. So feels like everything falls into place.
Jadi singkat kata.. I'm proud to say that I have started driving this web portal (although I still need a map! :p)
Ada pepatah yang selalu aku ingat yaitu:
Words can inspire, Thoughts may provoke, but only Action can bring you closer to your dreams. - Brad Sugar
Aku merasa kalau aku sudah satu langkah lebih dekat ke mimpiku untuk membantu warga Jakarta (dan nanti Indonesia) lewat portal web directory ini. Tanggung jawa memang besar. But I'm excited!
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