Most inspiring stories from Singapore Entrepreneurs II

***********18th August 2005 @ 0800 - 0845 Hrs***********
This book showcases entrepreneurs who are willing to do just that and who, in the process of recounting their trepidations and sweet moments while roughing it out, often end up with a chuckle or two. Enjoy!
**************************PART II************************

TEETHING DIFFULTIES

- There is no escaping of the diffculties in the initial start-up period.

- Overcoming the initial hurdles at the beginning stages of businesses may perhaps rank as one of the TOUGHEST period for most businesses.

- Cultivate a strong stomach as it helps you to deal with critisms and rejections better.

- After all, come comments do give you a perspective which you may never have thought about.

Best of all, they come FREE-OF-CHARGE.

- The initial period of starting up the business is the WORST. The amount of rejection from customers are really DEMORALIZING.

- It is better to try out DIFFERENT APPROACHESE TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS rather than just give up and avoid the problem altogether.

- You don't try, you will never know!!!

- These SETBACKS actually SPURRED me to be more FLEXIBLE and adopt other methods to solve problems.

- Adapt your business to the CHANGING envionment.

- Look Sharp and Dress Up!

- Persuasive Power SELLs!

- Recovery Time: -> I always give myself 24 hours. I might fall sometimes, but I'll stand up again 24 hours later!

REBELS WITH A CAUSE

- Customers may not take to your ideas immediately and it may take awhile for them to warm up to your products and services.

- There is a sense of achievement in being able to ADD A VALUE in others' lifestlye by helping & assisting others.

- Instead of us accommodating to the men's way of thinking, we should try to change their way of thinking, eg: Doing facials can be a lifestyle, and not something that they need to be shy about.

- The main CHALLENGE was trying to get the message across...

GETTING INTO NUTS AND BOLTS

- You will need to understand what is the best way you manage a team of diferent personalities, motivations and atitudes.

a) There is more to it than just delegating tasks to your employees

b) Don't be afraid to invest in their training

c) Give them OPPORTUNITY TO GROW

d) Know how to "Polish and make Diamonds out of them".

- Dreaming is not enough, EXECUTE YOUR IDEAS!!!

- It's important to have the DISCIPLINE to carry out actions, 9/10 of the time doing it & 1/10 of the time daydreaming of it.

- When we see gradual progress, we get motivated to shoot for another milestone! That's the motivation!

- Our business works on the EFFORT OF COLLABRATION.

- We don't keep prices high, but we make them AFFORDABLE.

- A good leader si one who brings out the CONFIDENCE and POTENTIAL of every one fo his workers. You not only STRENGTHEN EMPLOYEE LOYALTY, you also laying a foundation of talent your company can grow from in the future.

- Have a CLEAR VISION & you will attract TALENTs

- "My greatest achievement is to see my people grow!"

- Never be afraid to employ someone smarter than yourself.

- Your staff is the wind that moves your boat.

- Treat your staffs as shareholder.

- Alot of business fail, not because their ideas are not good enough but because of weaknesses in the operational aspect.

DREAM TEAM

- Have CHEMISTRY with your partners NOT FIREWORKS!

- Business partnership is learning to work in harmony with another person who has a different set of likes and dislikes from you.

- Iron Sharpens Iron.

- My partner covers my shortfall.

- Good mix of people make things work.

- Different people with different strengths come together to form a greater energy.

BRANDING POWER

- With so many existing products, what can you do to make your business stand out and sell?

- Change of strategy led to better brand awareness.

- WHAT WE ARE PURSING IS A NICHE STRATEGY. We don't try to do too many things, but what we do, we do it very,very well!

- Enter areas your competitor has yet to venture.

- Creating brand awareness is especially important when people don't know about you, don't necessary believe in what you are doing and would question your ability to deliver.

OF CUSTOMERS AND SERVICE

- Service with a HEART.

- Be HOSPITABLE to strangers, lest they be ANGELS IN DISGUISE.

- Treat every customer that walks into the store with equal amount of RESPECT and TREATMENT.

- Always stretch your arm further than anyone.

- He treats his customers with FULL SINCERITY, knowing that this is what will win their hearts and minds.

- Customer Service is UTMOST IMPORTANCE!

- Take note of Feedbacks and Improve on them.

- Your customers are not your money tree.

- Establish good relationships.

- It pays to be truthful.

- CUSTOMISE & COMPROMISE.

- INTEGRITY will take you far!

- GOOD SERVICE goes hand-in-hand with a GOOD PRODUCT.

- A POSITIVE ATTITUDE is CRUCIAL.

- Too many businesses have forgotten to maintain their relationship with customers. In the rush to make $$$, the entire business-customer relationship becomes nothing more than a transaction.

ON BAD DAYS

- SUCCESS is going from Failure to Failure without a loss of ENTHUSIASM.

- PERSEVERANCE with that touch of creativity, will never goes wrong.

- NEVER SAY DIE.

- It is a real opportunity to strategise and get to my feet to understand how best to protect my own interests and gain greater independence.

- There is always a DOWNSIDE.

- If you come into a nusiness expecting that there will be lots of $$$ to be made, it will be a very tough life for you. This is a misconception.

- Alot of business fail because they ONLY LOOK @ POSITIVE SIDE of it and they do not expect any downside from it.

- FAMILY SUPPORT helps me fight business battles better!

- I never think of giving up. I'll feel upset and disappointed, or sometimes even frustraed for the whole day, but in the end, I know that there are other opportunities out there.