Backlogs

I feel really bad for not updating this blog lately. In fact, this is my 1st post in 2010 (yes, i know it's going to be March next week).

But, I guess it is still not too late for me to briefly post some of my backlog thoughts, stories and experience since my last post.

1. Books - Thanks to my family, relatives and friends, I've received quite a number of them for my birthday in Dec (Ford County, Playing for Pizza, Paths of Glory, Weird Ideas That Work) The list of books I plan to reading, currently am reading and have read are shared in Shelfari here
   
   
2. Birthday - Celebrated 3 times with 3 different cakes. Had a blast with the indispensables (you know who you are) or should I call you guys my lynchpins? (to borrow the title of Seth Godin's latest book). Pictures are shared in my wife's fb album here
   
   
3. Businesses & Projects - Completed a SharePoint project in one of the GLCs and few other freelanced stuffs. Alhamdulillah, collecting payments have not been a problem so far. Planning to go bigger in 2010.
   
   
4. 2009 - What a year it has been for me and my wife. Never thought of doing impossible things and tasks throughout the year. Quitting my 'stable' job was the most challenging decision I've made this year (Thanks nOami for your continuous and full support through my ups and downs so far, love you dear).
   
   
5. Y Us? Evenesis? - A new company to be formed in 2010 to carry a product called Evenesis. which is planned to be launched by 3rd quarter of 2010. This was the result of the approval of our Technopreneur Pre-Seed Fund Application on the eve of my birthday.
   
   
6. 2010 Resolution - Plenty to write here but will sum it up in my next post.

I can't get enough of .....books

I can't help but I'm so into sci-fi/thriller books by these authors

1. Michael Crichton
2. David Baldacci
3. Jeffrey Archer
4. John Grisham

And recently they've come out with the following books:

I wish I could make time to read them all.

Technopreneur

I cherish the past couple of months beginning my journey as a technopreneur. Strange as it sounds, I have never dreamed of starting my own business this early. I'm glad the opportunity arose at the right time for me to take calculated risks with feasible plans in hand.

I am not against those who work for others (being employed by small or big corporations), but I am against those who work without realizing the need to improve themselves (financially, emotionally, mentally and spiritually).

Recently, in a workshop I attended, we were constantly reminded that entrepreneurs and technopreneurs never fail, only businesses do.

So, what does it mean for me to be a technopreneur?

• Live out an entrepreneur life
• Look out for opportunities (more focus given on the technology/ICT area)
• Think big and act
  - Commercial viability of an idea is far more important than the idea itself
• Hungry for knowledge and able to self-motivate
• Work anytime rather than full time or part time
• Appreciate and value past, existing and potential contacts

A friend of mine recently told me that the success of a business is based on the RICE concept

• R - Resources
• I - Ideas
• C - Contacts
• E - Expertise

I couldn't agree more. How do you define a technopreneur or an entrepreneur?

Web Solutions Specialist

I promised in my earlier post to write something about this - Web Solutions Specialist. So here is my description of the term.

You may ask, what the heck is this guy talking about? The truth is, it is nothing more than just a title or a jargon for some to show that you are an expert (specialist) in developing/designing applications (solutions) on the Internet (web).

A search of Web Solutions Specialist on Google would give your about 18 million search results. And there are many definitions for it. To put it simply, these are the people who have experience developing web applications/systems on top of multiple platforms, languages and browsers. They are the people you turn to when you want to:

• build simple (static) and advanced (dynamic) web sites
• develop software and applications such as e-Commerce, Content Management System, social networking sites, etc (you name it)
• architect and design blueprint for corporate and enterprise solutions
• provide advise and guidance on the ins and outs of Internet (web)

Those are the things that I've been doing and would love to do for many years to come.

A unique affiliate model

There's a new Ebook I have just come across which I predict will become very popular.

It presents a strategy for selling any type of product using methods which will never become obsolete. Plus an ingenious twist which will send your traffic rocketing.

The Ultimate SuperTip, written by Harvey Segal (Mr SuperTips) is neatly set out, easy to follow, written without hype and not littered with annoying links.

And the cost of this book ?

It's free !

And it ends with an amazing idea for making you money from the book itself. I'd rush to get this book now if I were you at http://bit.ly/14wFyd

Snatch Theft Signage

This morning, as I was driving in Bangsar, I saw this new signage and managed to take a snap of it. The visual is not appealing and professional at all.

think big, plan big and ACT

Ramadhan or the month of fasting for muslims had been a wonderful and challenging time for me personally. It wasn't the fasting but rather the life changing events that happened during that blessed month. Here are some of the things that took place in Ramadhan:-

• Parted with Trax after 22 months (few contractual complications but managed to sort them out)
• Started on my own as a Web Solutions Specialist (I'll explain the term later)
• Cut down unnecessary monthly expenses
• Switched phone lines and broadband to Digi
• Attended Cradle Investment Program and Pre-Seed Fund talks
• Prepared a business plan (1st draft)
• Was given a small contract job at a utility company, alhamdulillah
• Proposed an SMS solution to a utility company
• Gathered requirements to propose a product estimation system to a factory in Shah Alam
• Approached by a headhunter and later was interviewed by a broadcasting company (not sure whether I'm ready to get back to employment)
• Received my final paycheck from Trax on the last day before raya (my duit raya)

I thank god for giving me the strength and courage to go through everything with the support of my wife, parents and family.

I couldn't agree more with the saying that you would not know how good your thoughts and plans are until you act on them. It's the ACTION that counts.