EXITO 9 IS ONLINE...

Just created my company today Exito Nine Enterprise. Just click below to give comments.

A Risk Self-Assessment

Before you reach that point, it’s helpful to get a sense of your overall risk tolerance. No matter what you do in your financial life, there is always the possibility of losing some money. How comfortable are you with this possibility? The following questions are meant to get you thinking about your general attitude toward risk:

• Do you get bored easily? Are you usually looking for a new challenge, or do you like to stick with what you know?
• Do you feel confident that you can handle whatever comes your way, or do you tend to worry?
• When you lose something valuable, do you get anxious and obsess about it, or are you able to accept the loss and move on?
• How easily can you turn important matters over to others? Do you trust experts to act on your behalf, or do you prefer to handle everything yourself?

Overcome Your fear...

Knowing how to manage risk is one of the prerequisites of financial literacy. Once you’ve fulfilled all the prerequisites and become fully literate, does financial freedom follow? Not necessarily. Certain personal obstacles can prevent even the most financially literate from developing abundant wealth. Despite all their knowledge, they’ll continue working full time just to pay the bills instead of living the life they dream. By learning to recognize these personal obstacles, you can overcome them. What are they?

1. Fear
2. Cynicism
3. Laziness
4. Bad habits
5. Arrogance
6. Disappointment

Next article will be on how to overcome each one of this fear. Remember this is not just for me but also for all of us... Hope you guys like it.

Vision statement:
"Our objective as a BUMIPUTERA company is to stand out as a market leader providing a one stop solution to the government's precision equipment requirements and supplies"

Mission Statement:
Alirantek strives to provide its clientele base with superior product lines, excellent customer services, a knowledgeable group of staff, as well as offer practical support in the business of precision equipments.
At Alirantek, we believe that satisfaction is contagious. We take pride in knowing that we leave every customer happy, and confident that they have selected equipments having long durability and also meet their needs.

http://www.alirantek.com.my/Aboutus.html

Corporate Vision
To be the leading provider of ICT products and value-added services. We strive for sustainable growth to achieve optimum returns to shareholders.

Mission Statements
To be the preferred supplier of choice for ICT products and value-added services by building stronger customer relationships.
To sustain our entrepreneurial growth by expanding our business regionally.
To bring the best-of-breed ICT products and services to enhance the competitiveness of our customers' businesses.

http://www.ecsm.com.my/PVM_Main.html

http://www.primametals.com/vision.htm

Vision & Mission Statement
Axis Commerce aspires to be the leading Geo-ICT company in Malaysia providing cutting-edge solutions that transform and make a difference in the way people and organization work. This mission is achieved through our commitment and expertise in integration of organizational knowledge with technology that creates business value and generates competitive advantages.

http://www.acsb.com.my/v1/?q=node/13

THE MISSION
.. is to build partnerships for health to motivate and facilitate the people to:
attain fully their potential in health
appreciate health as a valuable asset
take positive actions to improve further and sustain their health status to enjoy quality of life.
The three corporate values of Ministry of Health:
Caring Service
Teamwork
Professionalism
VISION STATEMENT OF HKL
HKL shall be an institution of excellence in health care education and research, driven by a dedicated team providing professional client-centered service.

http://www.hkl.gov.my/content/vision1.htm

http://malaysia.kurnia.com/Media/Documents/Pdf/AnnualReport2002.pdf

Vision Statements

Vision & Mission Statements
Vision
To provide the highest quality of Palliative Care so as to provide relief from, and prevent pain and suffering associated with progressive and life-limiting illnesses.

Mission
Provide the best possible Palliative Care services to our community based on their needs, and the human and financial resources available to us.
Assist in training and education of health professionals in the necessary skills of Palliative Care to provide relief of suffering that affects patients and their families. Increase awareness of the needs of those with progressive and life threatening illnesses.Value life and promote quality of life for all our patients regardless of illness or stage through advocacy, education and research.

http://www.hospismalaysia.org/index.php?mid=316

Mission and Vision Statement
Mission Statement
To foster closer relationship between KDU and graduates of KDU by means of social interaction, mutual co-operation, assistance and networking.

Vision Statement
To provide support to new and current students as well as fresh graduates e.g. mentoring and role model
Point of contact for career opportunities
To provide updated directory of the alumni community for members' contacts
To be a platform to facilitate social/recreational activities
To create awareness of KDU Alumni amongst current and past students

http://alumni.kdu.edu.my/profile/mission-and-vision-statement.html


Vision & Mission Statement
Vision
To become an exemplary university of internationally acknowledged stature and a scholarly institution of choice for both students and academics through the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship
Mission
To generate, disseminate and apply knowledge strategically and innovatively to enhance the quality of the nation's culture and prosperity of its people.

http://www.unimas.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=69

VisionTo establish stem cell therapy as one of the three pillars of Healthcare Management in Malaysia and the Region and to achieve global recognition as leading stem cell company in Regenerative Medicine.
Mission StatementTo promote Regenerative Medicine using Stem Cell Technology and offer end-to-end stem cell product and services of the highest standard and quality through cutting edge technology.

http://www.stemlife.com/malaysia/corporate_information/vision.html

Mission Statements

Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF)Nonprofit Finance Fund 70 West 36th Street Eleventh Floor New York, NY 10018
DescriptionThe Nonprofit Finance Fund is a community development financial institution that offers financing, loans, as well as technical and planning assistance to nonprofit subsectors. Working together with other financial institutions, the Nonprofit Finance Fund services nonprofits in Washington, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, New Jersey, New England, etc.
Mission StatementNFF's mission is to serve as a development finance institution for nonprofit organizations, working to fill their overall need for capital through financing and advisory services. NFF supports its nonprofit clients' multi-faceted contributions to communities, advances community and economic development goals, and works to fill the overall need for capitalization of organizations in this sector.

PANPHA1100 Bent Creek Boulevard Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Slogan / Mottoan association of nonprofit senior services
DescriptionEstablished in 1963, PANPHA is an organization that represents nursing homes, retirement communities, as well as personal care and independent housing facilities and community service providers. Their outreach plans include home health care, hospice care, counseling, adult day care, respite care, meals-on-wheels, etc.
Mission StatementPANPHA represents over 320 nonprofit providers of long-term care and housing services for 65,000 elderly residents across Pennsylvania. The Association is committed to helping its members provide quality care efficiently and effectively for the individuals and families they serve. In an age of impersonal care, PANPHA members put people before profits.

Springboard
Slogan / MottoDebt Relief is a phone call away.
DescriptionA non-profit consumer credit management organization, SPRINGBOARD offers services related to credit education, credit and debt counseling, housing counseling, credit correction and education services, income tax preparation, and bankruptcy pre-petition counseling.
Mission StatementOur mission is simple: To offer education on the wise use of credit.

Mt. HolidayMt. Holiday, Inc. 3011 Holiday Road Traverse City, MI 49686
Slogan / MottoPreserving 53 Years of Family Fun
DescriptionComprised mainly of local ski enthusiasts, Mt. Holiday, Inc. is a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation of Mt. Holiday. Their programs offer lift tickets, rental equipment, as well as food and lessons for children.
Mission Statement"Provide affordable, educational, and outdoor recreational activities in a safe, clean, and inviting environment for people of all ages through sound business and management practices"

Blandin FoundationBlandin Foundation 100 North Pokegama Avenue Grand Rapids, MN 55744
DescriptionThe Blandin Foundation is an organization focused on the economic viability of rural Minnesota communities. They do so through leadership development programs, public policy programs to inform people on issues affecting the economics of the community, and grants to support community-generated economic strategies.
Mission StatementTo strengthen communities in rural Minnesota, especially the Grand Rapids.

http://www.missionstatements.com/nonprofit_mission_statements.html

One of my hit list...

How to start an online business in Malaysia?

If you want to know how to start an online business in Malaysia, look no further than the internet! Starting an online business in Malaysia is just like starting an online business anywhere else, because the internet has few geographical boundaries. Check on such websites as eonet.com, 1.com.my, and internetmarketingcoaching.com. An alternative to trying to start an online business in Malaysia is to join the team at WSI, where you can help other companies expand their online trade in Malaysia and other countries.

The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

The “My Inspirations” series is my opportunity to highlight specific people, books, or resources that have helped lead me to where I am today and inspired me to take on the challenge of starting a computer business. No journey is ever taken alone.

If you stay abreast of the latest trends in personal development, or read a fair number of blogs, you’ve probably heard of The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. This book skyrocketed to the top of the New York Times Best Seller List out of nowhere about two years ago, thanks to the viral nature of Tim’s marketing campaign, which concentrated heavily on word of mouth and the Internet.

Normally I don’t pay too much attention to books with titles like this, promising something for nothing or a quick and easy “plan” to make millions of dollars. However I was intrigued not by the book itself, but the man behind the phenomenon.

How I Got Hooked

I was actually introduced to Tim Ferriss through his blog before I had ever heard of his book. On his blog, he writes about “experiments in lifestyle design”. In other words, he takes things in life that are commonly thought of as difficult or time consuming and breaks them down into their simplest and most effective components. Through extensive research and experimentation he shows how to minimize time and effort spent to achieve these seemingly challenging tasks.

The beauty of Tim’s blog, as well as his book, is that he provides actionable plans, not theoretical rhetoric, as the basis for his philosophies. Talk is cheap, but everything Tim writes about is backed by case studies and personal trial and error on his part. In a few words, the mantra of 4HWW is to work smart so that you can work less. That’s the major reason why I’m such a fan of Tim’s blog and book.

Time is on my Side

I site this book as an influence of mine because it played a major role in building the motivation that was necessary for me to commit to starting my own business. Tim, through his book, gave me insights into the what is possible when you can create your own destiny by managing time on your terms. Many topics are covered in this book, but the big revelation that I found is that time, not money, is the true currency upon which to build your life and dreams. It’s great to have lots of money, but if you’re constantly working to earn that money, then it’s really not doing you any good. Sure, you can save it up for retirement, but as we’ve seen with the current economic situation, even retirement money isn’t guaranteed to be there when you need it. Most people end up working after retirement anyway. Instead, Tim recommends finding more automated ways of making money by using pre-defined processes and experimenting with established societal constraints. These practices allow you to free up time to enjoy your life, spend time with family, and pursue your passions now, tomorrow, and as you enter your sunset years.

Actions Speak Louder

I’ve already started to apply some of the lessons that 4HWW taught me. As I stated in one of my first posts, I am running my computer business part time, while still working my corporate “day job”. I do this with the intention of saving 6 months worth of salary so that I can eventually start my business full-time without the stress of worrying about how I’m going to keep my bills paid. During this 5 year “incubation” period, I will be developing processes around my business. The, when I do start running it full time, I will be able to outsource much of the routine “business” work and, if needed, hire someone (another local tech) to take my place temporarily incase I need to take some time off. That’s the plan, at least. We’ll see if I have what it takes to make it work.

Furthermore, when I have finally reached my savings goals, I’m planning on taking a month off to experience my first “mini-retirement”. This is a concept Mr. Ferriss champions in his book. Of course, his mini-retirements last months or years, not simply 30 days. But I’m not quite as ambitious or fearless as he is, so I think a one month traveling sabbatical will be just the right speed for me to start off with. I am a big fan of traveling and I look forward to having the freedom to take random extended vacations, thanks to some of the concepts introduced to me in the 4HWW.

Final Thoughts

Above all else, the 4HWW has taught me a valuable lesson that I’ve been applying to all aspects of my life: don’t be afraid to try things that are uncomfortable or uncertain. This is the single concept that got me moving off my butt and into pursuing the things that I want out of life, to not make the safe choices, but the best choices. This blog, my computer business, my savings goals…they all are made possible by a determination to make my life my own. And the 4HWW gave me the kick in the pants necessary to take the first steps on that journey.

What books motivate you? If you’ve read the 4HWW, have you tried to apply any of the concepts from the book in your life?

4 Frugal Tips For Growing Your Computer (or other) Business

I was inspired by a recent article over at Small Business Trends about small business bootstrapping. In the article, the author tells the story of how he has successfully grown his business into a multimillion dollar enterprise with no debt and using no outside investors.

This is the approach I’m taking with my business and it’s great to hear about success stories of others who have gone this route.

One thing I realized after reading that post is that computer consulting fits perfectly into the bootstrapping philosphy. In fact, other than online businesses, I can’t think of a more frugal business to start than that of computer consulting.

As I’ve been working to establish my business, I’ve learned some things about how to keep expenses low and avoid the burden of credit. Although tailored for computer consultants, these strategies can apply to most any business start-up.

Keep A Healthy Savings Cushion - Why borrow from banks and other lenders when you can borrow from yourself? Before you jump into running your own business full time, build up a savings account with 3 to 6 months worth of your normal take-home salary. That way, during the rough and uncertain few months of your start-up, you’ll be able to “borrow” from your own savings account to make up for your sudden drop in income. Don’t forget to put money back into the account when times are good, because you’ll certainly need that money again later on down the road.

I’m still working on this and I’m not going to quit my day job and start running my business full time until I have this cushion established. Which brings me to my next item…

Be Patient - It may take you a while to get your cushion account established. It may also take time for you to build a steady list of clients, especially if you’re bootstrapping it. Don’t jump into high priced advertising methods or expensive equipment right out of the gate, it’s not necessary and may back-fire, leaving you in a mountain of debt with no way to pay it back. Once you get going, you’ll be able to pay for these things when you can afford them, but don’t force it.

It may be a few more years before I’m ready to run my business full-time. I’m trying to pay of credit cards, build a cushion account, and grow my client list in the mean time. Some may not need as much time, or some may need more time. My point is, don’t feel like you have to have EVERYTHING that the Geek Squad has right out of the gate.

Leverage Word-of-mouth - In order to save money on advertising, try to do as much as you can with the cheapest and most effective advertising method available for small bussiness: OTHER PEOPLE.

First off, tell EVERYONE you can about your business. When people ask me “What do you do for a living?” or “What have you been up to?” I immediately mention my business, give them a few business cards, and ask them to keep me in mind anytime they or anyone they know have a computer problem.

Secondly, when you service someone, leave them with no choice but to recommend you to their friends. Leave business cards, offer them a discount for referrals, and most importantly, BLOW THEM AWAY with your excellent service and attitude.

There are other things, like Craigslist and the old flyer-in-the-windshield stuff, but nothing beats the loyalty and targeted advertising that comes from word-of-mouth.

Buy Stuff As You Need It - I was really tempted to load up on goodies before I even serviced my first client. I wanted pens, t-shirts, and mouse pads with my logo on it. I wanted a bag full of computer tools, spare parts, and software. I wanted to be ready for anything! The truth is, you’ll never be ready for everything. Plus, all that stuff costs money, and most of it isn’t necessary early on.

What I’ve done instead is focus on purchasing things only as the need for them arises. I have a basic computer tool kit and some diagnostic software on a CD and USB stick. When a client calls, I make sure I have the tools I think will be necessary for the job, buying anything that I don’t have. If I arrive at the customers house and find that I’m missing something for the job, I’ll politely inform the customer that I need to run back to the shop to get something that I hadn’t anticipated needing and take that opportunity to purchase it somewhere nearby. So far this has worked wonderfully. The money I make from the job usually will cover the expense of the tool I just purchased.

When I’m ready to take my business full-time, I will have built up an impressive inventory of tools and software that I KNOW I will need, because I’ve used them in the past.

What tactics do you use to save money in your business?

Startup Alert: Knowem.com

I’m always on the lookout for cool startups. Partly because I’m addicted to new Web properties, but also because I think there’s a lot to be learned from their stories. One startup that’s grabbed my attention over the past few months has been Knowem.com, a site designed by Michael Streko and Barry Wise to thwart social media identify theft.

More and more I’ve been stumbling across stores like this one from StartupNation that shows just how important a tool like knowem can be to a small business owner in protecting their online brand.

How did knowem.com come to be and why is it important?

KnowEm.com was a spin off of a site that I owned called CheckUsernames.com. Late February [2009] a similar site closed its doors, Barry Wise saw it as an opportunity to open a similar service. We made some improvements on the original concept and launched. The idea was simple, giving people a way to see if their brand, user name or company name was available across 120 popular social media sites. Almost instantly, we started to get requests for a service that would actually register your name on all of the sites. So the idea for KnowEm was born.

Despite the economy, you left your day job to focus on knowem.com. How did you know it was time to do that? How did you prepare for the transition?

It was a classic Hail Mary play and launched totally out of pocket. I already had established Web properties that were bringing me in enough revenue that I was still able to support my family, but I had a feeling inside that this would be a hit. So, I just went for it.

Is it true 24/7 is the new 9/5? How many people are associated with knowem today?

Yes. With running a .com startup in this economy, that’s how you have to treat it. We started off as a team of three: Myself, Barry & a friend of ours; Rick. Since then we have grown to employ an additional six people and are currently in the process of hiring two more.

There is no customer support group and we don’t have a sales team, so we needed to be sure to handle every situation with care. When we get a phone call about customer support people still find it funny that they are speaking to one of the owners. Its things like that that keep our customers happy and make them return customers. I have been known to answer support emails at 2:30 am on a Tuesday.

Let’s talk a bit about how the Web has changed the game for small business owners. How have you used the Internet and social media to get the word out about your startup? It seems like I’m constantly hearing about knowem.

We started off with a press release from PRWeb that was picked up by Fox News, The Washington Post, CNET and some other mainstream news sites. From there, we basically pushed hard onto Twitter with @knowem. We looked for people on Twitter that we thought would benefit from a service like knowem and we reached out to them. Once they saw the service, they were impressed and retweeted the site URL to their friends. It snowballed from there. Twitter seems to be the largest way to get your business to the masses right now. Don’t be afraid to communicate with people on the site.

We also heavily used LinkedIn to find businesses that would be interested in our services.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a SMB owner?

The biggest lesson I have learned is that you’ll get back from your business what you put into it. You’re tired and don’t feel like working – you might miss a deal or opportunity. Don’t feel like putting in that extra hour at night because your favorite TV show is on? Get TiVo

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a new SMB owner?

Definitely managing employees. I have always been employed by others and never had to sit on the other side of the table and actually manage people myself. We had some kinks in our team at the very beginning, but we were able to work them all out. To be fair, I was probably partially to blame for them. This was all new to me, but things are running smooth now.

What’s the most satisfying thing about running your own business?

The fact that I am home when my son wakes up and here when he goes to bed – I used to spend four hours a day (two each way) commuting into NYC. My family has always been my top priority and everything I have done in my career I have had them in mind and wanted to give them the best life possible.

How can other small business owners benefit from what knowem.com offers?

Security and branding. We will make sure that your name is not misrepresented on a large list of social media sites and also introduce you to social media and Web 2.0 related sites that you might not have known existed. It’s about creating a consistent brand and then managing it across the Web.

Any advice to aspiring SMB owners who may be hesitant to jump? What type of businesses should people be focusing on right now?

I won’t lie – jumping was tough and made me nervous as hell. But I had a hustle in me that would not let me fail. The cushy paycheck and health insurance kept me from doing so for a while. But I wanted more – no one gets rich working for someone else.

As for a type of business someone should be focusing on, it depends. What are you trying to reach and is there a need for it? Use your judgment and run with it.

Facebook and Word of Mouth

Any type of word of mouth promotion demands action -- it rarely just happens.

The same holds true when using social media as a vehicle for word of mouth.

The USA Today has a great example of how a night club is actively using Facebook to get the word out:

Bartender Beau Dieda does more than mix and serve drinks every night at popular nightspot Baja Sharkeez: He is also instructed to sign up friends and fans for his company's Facebook page, as well as his own. Before he leaves the restaurant, he sends bulletins to his collective fan base inviting them back in for specials, discounts or events.

Just setting your business up in a social media site is not enough. It does not work like a more passive media like web pages or craigslist. You need to find ways to continuously reach out when using Facebook and Twitter.

FREE ICT SKILL TRANSFER WORKSHOP #1 FOR SMEs

School of Computer Technology (SCT), Sunway University College offers ICT business

solutions and innovative new developments that maximize efficiency and effectiveness of

day-to-day business operations. SCT is working closely and actively with many companies

from various industries on customized project developments, skill transfer, internship

placement, and other collaborations.

Date : 15 August 2009 (Saturday)

Time : 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue : Audi 2, Sunway University College

Programme of the workshop comprised of:

1. Collaboration Opportunities

2. Industrial Speakers

3. Open Source Technology

4. Showcase of ICT Solutions

5. Tour of Research Facilities

The Friendly Business Card

By: Idham Bin A.Rahman

No advertising or networking method is more powerful and cost effective for the burgeoning small business owner than the business card.

It’s a great ice breaker and conduit for face-to-face conversations about your business to potential customers. It’s an extremely portable advertisement for your business that people can take with them and keep in their wallets/purses. Nothing is more basic than the business card, providing the most important information about your business and nothing more. Finally, there’s no denying that it’s much cheaper than an ad in your local paper or phone book, saving you money in those critically cash-strapped first years of business.

So it goes without saying that the first thing any new small business owner should do is get some business cards made. And that’s exactly what I’ve done.

However, before I could send my order to the printers, I needed to completed a few start-up steps so I’d have something to adorn the face of my card. Namely a business name, website url, logo, and phone number. Now that those things are complete, I can proudly display all of that on my business card. After all, this will be my primary advertising method for the next year or so as I try to build a small, part-time client list.

I’d like to share with you some of the things I took into consideration when designing my business card. The most important thing to take from all this is that your card will be an extension of your business philosophy and image, so make sure to do them justice.

Information

First and foremost, you need to figure out what information to put on your business card. This is a balancing act. Although you want to tell your potential customers as much as you can about your business, you also don’t want to clutter the card with too much information.

First and foremost you should list all the ways that customers can contact you. I think it’s a mistake to list only your phone number or only your email address, list both. I personally don’t understand why people still list their fax number. Does anyone fax anymore? Finally, it’s probably a good idea to throw in your website URL, that’s where people can go if they’re interested in finding out more information than the card provides.

Next, you want to include your name. This personalizes the card and gives the card that human element. It makes the receiver feel “special”, like they are receiving a personal invitation from you to contact your business. This is what separates the business card from traditional ads.

Of course, don’t forget your business name and logo. These keep your company brand in the minds of your potential customers, helping them remember your business.

So far all of these things are pretty obvious. What about extra information like a run-down of your services, the area you service, your motto, your specials, etc? Well, this is all purely optional and it’s up to you if you feel you’ll need to include any of this stuff. My advice, and this is what I tried to follow with my own card, is to keep things short and simple. Give just enough information so people know what you’re about and then they can refer to your website for specifics. Nothing is worse than a cluttered business card.

Layout

By layout, I’m not only thinking about on what part of the card you put certain information, but also what colors and font you use. This is a matter of personal preference and there are an infinite number of possible ways to lay out your card. But here are some personal guidelines I tried to follow:

1. White Space is OK- Don’t feel like you have to fill every square inch of the card with info. Cluttered cards not only look bad, but it’s hard for your customer to find the information they need.

2. Keep Things Consistent - Try to stick to two or three colors and fonts on the card. If everything is the same color, that’s boring. The opposite is if you make every line of text a different color and font which will begin to look unorganized and chaotic.

3. Consolidate Similar Info- It’s probably a good idea to keep all your contact info together on the card. If your website is in one corner, email in a another, and phone in yet another, your customer might miss the info they’re looking for and move on to the next card in their stack.

Appearance

Finally, there’s the overall appearance. These are some questions you’ll probably want to ask yourself before ordering your cards.

Glossy or matte?- This is a matter of preference, but I personally prefer matte finish for two reasons: 1) I like being able to write extra info on a business card if I need to and it’s much easier to write on a matte finished card. 2) Glossy finish just looks less professional to me for some reason. But you may find you like glossy finish better. It certainly makes the colors pop out a little more if that’s your goal. Take a look at some business cards that you’ve received in the past and see which finish you prefer.

White Background? - My personal preference on this one is to keep the card white. Again, I think it’s not only more professional looking, but it allows your logo and text pop out and be the focus of attention.

Flare? - Some printing companies offer options such as foil printing and raised lettering. I think options are nice if you can afford them. But don’t break the bank on such things that probably don’t make a huge difference in the long run. Concentrate more on making the things that cost the least look the best. And keep in mind that even with these fancy features, moderation is important. Unless, of course, you’re promoting a night club in which case the more glitter the better!

Info on the back? - Most printing companies also allow you to have something printed on the back of the card for an extra fee. This is a perfect opportunity to add a little extra something that you couldn’t put on the front face of the card. You can include a complete list of your services, client testimonials and media quotes, or include a coupon or discount for people who present the card to you during service, which is the route I’ve taken.

Traditional or funky? -Lets face it, business cards are boring. Some people choose to take the business card to the next level by breaking the mold and offering alternatives to the rectangular peice of card stock we’ve all come to know. Here are some of the more creative examples I’ve encountered on the web:

http://www.quicksprout.com/2008/09/20/creative-business-cards-that-make-you-look-twice/

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/50-awesome-and-creative-business-cards/

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/01/22/30-memorable-and-creative-business-cards/

Now, while these business cards may be awesome to look at, and no doubt memorable, I wouldn’t use them for my business. First of all, I normally put business cards in my wallet when I receive them. If the card is oddly shaped or too bulky, it may end up in my pocket and eventually lost. Secondly, the cost to benefit ratio for these cards is very questionable. Yeah, you may gain the attention of a few more people, but are they going to translate into new customers? And are those new customers going to make up the difference in the amount of money you spent to have these custom cards created? Maybe. But I’d rather rely on my good service and personable approach to gain new customers at first…both are free.

Show us the Money!

So with all that said, here is the design I’ve chosen to go with for my first batch of cards:

Proton Exora in Pyrite Brown spotted in Tg Malim

The Exora will be built at Proton’s plant in Shah Alam but I suppose these test units went up for Tanjung Malim for some purpose or another.

There are a few shots after the jump with one that is particularly interesting - while it was hard to snap photos of the interior because of the window’s reflections, there is one clear shot of the automatic transmission gear shifter area. Looks like there’s a gate-shift but no manual override function, which isn’t really important as it’s mostly a novelty on such a car. There are actually 2 Exoras there, and according to H+Z the one with the B461A has a manual transmission while the B462A was automatic.

Brawn GP: Ross Brawn buys Honda Racing F1

After much speculation, Honda has finally sold their F1 team to someone quite close to home - Ross Brawn. Brawn has been in F1 for quite some time now, having worked in various F1 teams including Benetton and Ferrari.

After a 1 year break in 2007 he returned as the Team Principal of the Honda F1 team for the 2008 race year, and now owns the team, which has been renamed Brawn GP. From milling machine operator in 1976 to F1 team owner in 2009, that’s really quite a long way to have gone. The new Brawn GP team will use Mercedes-Benz engines and will be piloted by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The team’s new colours are white, fluorescent yellow and black, and its BGP 001 conducted its first test at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona recently.

The car was pretty fast, in fact piloted by Button it was one of the fastest cars in the pre-season group test, despite being what Ed Gorman called “a Honda chassis and suspension bolted together with a Mercedes-Benz engine it was not designed for.”

So I guess we’ll see Brawn GP here in Malaysia then!