Alternative therapy, a new thought in old-fashioned mind, it occurred to people of age and people who giving up hope in scientific treatment, or who have too much money, too much time and too afraid of dying in pain; to sum it up. Alternative therapy is an alternative to body and soul.
I went for an alternative treatment yesterday, it's an interesting experience, one of my friend -- Vincent , a business and training consultant who told me he met a unique person who use his special power to heal people's ill and pain, Vincent asked if I am free for lunch with him and willing to introduce us; I am OK to everything under one condition which is there's no drug or operation involved, we get together as Vincent's office and heading for lunch appointment ; the person we met is Mr. Chang, who perform his unique power without practice or training, he learnt how to use his Chi -- an intangible power healing people all by accident, the story he told is like a fairy tale, seems like year ago, he found himself understand almost all the difficult to learn Buddha’s bible and publishing, after review those saint books, he gradually developed the power to heal people, but he didn't take any money for that and didn't ask for and return favor; Vincent met him via one of his friend who's in the insurance industry, then the snow ball rolling, every Thursday, there will be a lunch and healing gathering in Lion Restaurant.
the process he take is simple, you were asked to sit one a chair, closing your eyes and relax, then he will waive the winds ( air ) from his bare hand and push the Chi into your body, when performing this task, his hands didn't touch your skin, from head to leg, the cycle goes like 3 times, you may fall asleep because of closing your eyes after meal, the entire treatment will take about 20 minutes. when it come my turn, I act exactly as other did, I am not quite sure if I falling asleep, I am not sure if Chi floating in my body or it's palm wind blows, when open my eyes, Mr. Cheng wasn't there, the prior treaties sit still, but I woke up and leave.
I can't really tell the difference, what he knows is I have an nose allergy problem by heritage, and it goes with me since I was born, I am not expecting to be cured so easily, but I don't know how to measure the development as well. this is the first time I take alternative therapy, hard to explain, it's a brand new experience for me.
Winds record President brought 4 of his planning head to visit our office yesterday, Ken is a very interesting person in the music industry in Taiwan, back to 10 years ago when he launch this record level, he focus on the niche market concentrate, instrumental music, religion music and music related to environmental are what they focus, to expend the sales channel, they developed channels other than traditional record shop, to expend the catalogue, he even sign artist from overseas and release the album in the global market. niche become his strength, loyal fan and adult customers believe Winds record is a earth-friendly brand and follow the steps Ken gradually developed -- the music for your heart and soul, to examine the secret for his success against the down trend of current music industry, I found :
1. Ken is passion about the music and message he wish to deliver, instead of put his heart on the figure-driven commercial market.
2. Alternative sales channels represent 75% of his total sales, it reduce the risk of the downturn impact for traditional music distribution.
3. Demographic of Winds record's consumer, the age group is higher then normal pop music consumer, these people will buy then copy the music.
4. The product they provided tend to be collectable instead of fashion goods, you want to keep a physical copy instead of storage it somewhere in you MP3 or computer.
5. Product uniqueness is another key, aboriginal / Chinese traditional / Pop religion / World instrumental is not anyone can easily copied business model, this is like the Hedge and Fox, you better know everything about one thing instead of knowing one thing for everything.
6. The team -- with passion for music heritage and believe they are doing culture, promote positive value, this motive drive people in the positive way.
So, any small thing can grow big if you focus and concentrate. Even in the down turn music business.
To be asked for introducing someone's friend or relative to your company or the companies you familiar with is a social issue instead a business issue; today, I handled 2 of these case; one public list company's general manager ask me a favor to introduce her daughter -- who just return from the States to internet related company, I met her father 3 weeks ago and contact her for the first conversation; I need to know what she really want and what's her career map before placing her to any company I know, what surprise me is when we first met, she told me in a very frank way, she don't like my company, so, it's good, the Burdon released, then I asked her good at and found that she followed a designer’s road map and learnt the design in a developing form, for instant, she study architecture first, then move to interior design , after graduating, she pick up the Computer Graphic design; after our conversation, I suggest her to visit one flash animation site and see if she love to be a producer in the company; one week later, she called me with excitement and asked if I can introduce her the flash animation company and would like to know more about this company; today, we met the second time, I invited her to the small studio where 8 peoples crowded themselves in a tiny space, as I am a very good friend of the founder and owner of the company, they explained to her the overall concept and operation about this company; I am not quite sure if this is the idea job, idea place for her to develop in Taiwan, but I think to present the truth is much important then they found that the true won’t there; this is the first case I dealt with today, the other one is apply for our company via my friend , for me, it's not so difficult to open door for anyone who's interested in our company, to me, this is not a pressure. but since I have to talk to HR first. I don't know if they treated as this is a fair game or not, the second thing I can do is to arrange the first interview even if the resume screening shows that he may not reach our standard, but to offer her / he a chance to be interviewed, at least, I did sometime for my friend and I open a door for them; before I do any job introduction, I don't feel like take friendship as pressure and I don't want people who worked with me treated like another pressure; if they are good, then recruit them, if they didn't meet our standard, then honestly tell them. this is what I spend time for in these couple of days.
That's a great idea to think deeply about the MMS function, too many devices, too different format and to rigid mobile operator make the MMS world complicate, think about how to make internet to phone a viable business model will kill lots of cells, but the distribution concept need to overcome tons of difficulty such as the cross - operator's protocol, customization of varies devices, and you will never know the content or application you provide will suit customers' need , this is a long road and can't prove to be success. but if we change the vendor / customer concept ( As Corbett mentioned ), phone to email ( or any URL ), then the situation will change 180%, no matter what device / what operators you use, send it to your email or somewhere in the internet storage , you can link indoor / outdoor / mobile a true seamless world, because you can capture any picture / video in real time, on the move and send it over to the certain email address, it extended the mobile flexibility, if we divided our life into move / home /' office / others, mobile is a very narrow spectrum, mobile will not become a true business, but if the function of link with web can happen and the interface is very friendly, then , there's a chance for everyone to record their view / content / history, and building the community with it's own, this is something we shared in the morning.
Browsing the EZtravel site and feel like taking a trip, enjoy beach, sun, vacation, I closely watch the Cebe information and found a new hotel which suit my need, private and relax, the feel and touch let me dream of the days in Cebu, a paradise where I visit 3 times, I remember when staying at Mactan Shangri-La Hotel, there's a seafood restaurant located in the beach side, next to the port and close to riff rocks, when the sun goes down, you can bring the one you love and enjoy the BBQ dinner accompany with sea gull, sea breeze and greater seafood , the open space restaurant capture the greatest location in town and keep the privacy for hotel guest, my memories still fresh as I remember when dinning there, 3 Philippine singer will sing around the table with the melody you familiar with, the restaurant provide a " Eat all you can " buffet style, you can choice what you want , they also serve flesh fruit, the tropic fruit is so sweet, this is a paradise, I guarantee to return soon.
The Energy project go vanishing last night, it was not a big surprise , but it's kind of frustration, being in the world of entertainment for decade, but hit this rock wasn’t something I expected, it was not anybody's fault , but it's an situation of out of control; dealing with people in entertainment is something I know quite well, the manger is too young to handle complicate case and have no real power to exercise his will when taking this initiative.
I am not quite sure how many of our people will challenge my confidence or decision, but I do allocate some of company resource to this direction, and they do shift the priority to accommodate our new business initiative, so, I have no complain if some of my staff really think bad about my initiative. I do hope this is one of the good learning process for all of us. It's bad to re-invited the entertainment world into my current life, people in the entertainment tend not to response to what they don't want to encounter, so , time become the remedy for most of the unsolved cases, but I am not use to it anymore, in the management table, in the telecom, in the world of change, action, find the answer, prompt to any change is the attitude for survive, so I call, I left message until I found the person and having they tell me the answer, no matter how hard this will be; I don't want to escape from reality, escape from my responsibility and escape from what I shall take -- Good or bad.
That was not a good idea to exchange another boy group to Energy, this is not Apple vs. Orange, but to deliver another complicate case for me to digest or handle. I am not appreciate about this trade-off, so, I won't take it , Jason seeking help from Da-Sun might not be a great resolution. but I do wish him good luck, in the world of complicate entertainment.
I send the termination message to all the managers involve in this project, say it nice and easy, the answer will not satisfy everybody, but I am not planning to please everyone, I am telling the truth, maybe looks ugly, but no make up, no dressing, this is by far I can do.
This morning, when chair the routine managers' meeting, COO make a strong statement about the operation rule and discipline and urge our mangers to follow the rule and conduct proper administration role gilding our employee to obey the " arrive at the office on time " and " do not use massager / ICQ " policy; when he mentioned his will to carry out this policy, I notice a few mangers feel uncomfortable; personally, I support this decision and have his prior consultancy already.
too many young people in the market place, arrive office on time is not a big deal, they might think management take it too serious, I can even feel some managers didn't stand on our shoes and didn't follow this policy throughout, that's why the fair treatment human behavior surrounded in the office; I am not a big fan about working discipline, but a believer about working ethic, I know some of our employee will say, if the management asking us to be in the office on time, then we will check out on time as well, no more over time, I got a chance to discuss this topic with one of the hard working staff, I asked her : if you leave the office on time without handling you job properly, who suffer the most ? You or company ? if you work until midnight and stay up for the business, won't your superior report it to the director and approve your late coming in ? There always be exception when it comes to rules , remember " Rule is made to be broken ". No one will challenge you coming late, but accuse you late without a cause;
I would like to say, this is a state of mind, when you think this is the right thing to do, you will obey it with all your heart, when the company believe the same thing, then the value and culture established, the mission being fulfilled and the challenge will be overcome.
I support the decision done by COO and wrote him a short message , sometimes a decision maker feel lonely if no one raise their hand or raise their voice, just like punching in the air, lonely because there's no response, lonely because there's no echo, I am echoing to him and provide my support firmly. maybe we speak too much, but this is a very young company and we are working with lot of young talent, we shall lead them to the right direction; if some of them didn't fit what we ask for, then it's not our obligation to change the company culture for them.
when first note coming from Rasi's guitar, I knew that the good old memory will hit me; last weekend, I brought 3 old friend to a little pub " Riverside " where a band call themselves " R.A.Y Band " performing 70s' and 80s' rock tunes, the scene brought me back like 20 something years ago; when I was still a college student. I was heavily influenced by western pop music, I study Billboard chart every week and listening to all kind of Pop music; at that time, teenagers don't have much choice for entertainment, there's no games ( PC game or Arcade game ), no mobile phone and no MP3; the things we do in the weekend is saving our disposal and go for a " PARCO " night, PARCO is a restaurant located in Chung Hwa Road, the heart of Shimengting; on the basement of a small hotel - Peace Hotel; there's are couple of local band cover top 40 and some rock anthems , among those band, we love " 2001 " the most, especially crazy about the guitarist Rasi, on weekend, after 2001 performing comes another student band call " Starry Eyes " in which Yang is the band leader.
RAY band consist 2 of the old PARCO days member -- Yan and Rasi and another great drummer Alan, we enjoy the music so much that night and recalled all the good old memories then; there's always a niche for certain people, look over audience on Saturday night, I guess one third of them is over 40, only a few of people over 40 will go out and enjoy music in the Pub and only a few of them listen to music any more; the song which push us back is " Catch the Rainbow ", one of the soft number by Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, yes. our classmate Richie names his English also name after this guitarist -- Richie Blackmore.
Willam join us after dinner, he brought one woman and one teenage with him, without introduction, my and Tom aware that this is his new family, We lost contact for years, and I forgot he is one of the shareholder when we establishing the music production company " Hot Rythem " Yan is one of our partner...
Ken resign from P and G , join us for the session and discuss about his future plan, my advise to him is pick the industry where we see better future, entertainment will not be a good option now since digital and internet will graduate taking all the entertainment to a new playground, physical product may no long sustain as a goods; I am planning to introduce him another executive recruiter and hopefully he can access more opportunity when making the final decision.
Sunday morning, Sound / me and my wife were did some offering to a local temple -- Sheng-Tien Kuang, after the short visit, we brought Sound to the astrological museum and watch new 3D film in the theater, the film " Journey of Man " touch me, not because it were perform by Circle De Solie, but it simply illustrative how a man perceive his life value through a discovery of life and how a little boy grow up and embraces the world with different perception, Finally, the film inspired us, there are 3 basic element accompany us when grow up, first is " Imagination " second is " Believe " third is " True Love ", a short film run about 40 minutes but carry the message so vivid, we shall never stop searching for the meaning of life, searching for the meaning of being a human.
