Four Tools to Improve Productivity

March 7, 2013 • Business and Management • 3 comments

You need the right tool for the job (Swiss Army knife courtesy of Victorinox)

Productivity is one of the main prerogatives for Singapore’s service-based and export-driven economy.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the toughest challenges to surmount.

As I’ve blogged previously, addressing our productivity challenge entails understanding what it means. This involves studying how man, method, machine, material and other means are combined to generate wealth for the enterprise in the most effective and efficient manner. Through the careful analysis and diagnosis of problem areas, organisational productivity issues can be resolved.

The E-Myth Revisited – Book Review

March 5, 2013 • Business and Management • no comments

Are you a struggling entrepreneur trying to juggle it all, but find it a tremendous challenge?

Well, perhaps it’s time for you to stop, take a step back, critically evaluate where your business is going, and read The E-Myth Revisited.

Join Elmo in Singapore’s First Sesame Street Ride

March 3, 2013 • Blog • no comments

I’ve loved Sesame Street ever since I was a kid. Watching it week after week on Saturday mornings, I was transfixed by its lovable muppets, while learning a thing or two. The award winning children’s television show has since spun off numerous franchised products featuring characters like Cookie Monster, Oscar, Bert and Ernie, Big Bird, Grover and Elmo.

Thanks to a partnership between Resorts World Sentosa and Sesame Street, you can now experience these charming muppets “in the flesh” with a whimsical theme park ride. Launched by Universal Studios Singapore’s Vice President of Park Operations John Hallenbeck, Sesame Street Spaghetti Space Chase is the newest attraction in Universal Studios Singapore.

Whither Productivity?

March 1, 2013 • Blog, Business and Management • 1 comment

Din Tai Fung is a paragon of productivity (courtesy of Aroma Cookery)

Business as usual can no longer work in Singapore. We desperately need to change.

While we’ve enjoyed modest economic growth of 1.3% in 2012, and are estimated to experience 1% to 3% GDP growth this year, labour productivity declined by 2.6% last year. This wiped out productivity gains of 1.3% the year before, with the impact felt across manufacturing, construction and services sectors. Only the Info Comm sector experienced growth.

7 Management Lessons from Shackleton

February 26, 2013 • Business and Management • no comments

Shackleton’s ship Endurance (source of image)

Imagine being stranded on ice for 19 months in the world’s harshest climate, often without light for months on end.

Imagine being cut off from the outside world without any forms of communication. No smartphones, tablets, laptops, telephones or faxes. Heck, not even a telegraph machine or carrier pigeon!

February 24, 2013 • Content Marketing • 2 comments

Image courtesy of Lesgo LEGO Movie

Who are the rulers in the digital and social media age?

By now, you’ve probably heard that content is king. In the age of omnipresent 24/7 media served through ubiquitous smart devices, it is the currency which wins hearts, minds and wallets.

Explore Singapore on Two Wheels with Druthers

February 22, 2013 • Blog • no comments

Courtesy of Druthers Bicycle Rental

Cycling is fast becoming a popular way to tour a city.

I remembered how enjoyable it was cycling around Whistler back when my family visited Canada. There is something magical about the sensation of wind rushing through your body and blood coursing through your muscles as you soak in the sights, sounds and scents of your surroundings. Moreover, you can choose to stop anytime to take photo if you so fancy.

Leadership Lessons from Ah Boys to Men 2

February 20, 2013 • Blog, Business and Management • 1 comment

Following the box office success of Ah Boys to Men, local filmmaker Jack Neo’s Ah Boys to Men 2 has scaled new heights as the top grossing local film of all time. Based on the exploits of Recruit Ken Chow (Joshua Tan) and his platoon mates Wayang King (Maxi Lim), Lobang (Wang Weiliang) and I P Man (Noah Yap), the movie is filled with laugh-a-minute moments infused with patriotic messages about what it means to defend our country.

Transforming the Movies in Your Life

February 18, 2013 • Blog, Personal Branding • no comments

Are you a superhero in the movie of your life? (courtesy of Man of Steel movie)

Do you know that you play between 12,000 to 60,000 movies in your head in a single day?

Or that your subconscious occupies 90% of your mind?

Eat Play Shop at Johor Bahru

February 16, 2013 • Blog • 2 comments

What are Johor Bahru’s (JB) malls like? Do they really offer great value for shoppers?

Recently, my wife and I decided to revisit JB’s shopping malls after hearing positive things (mainly how cheap it was to buy books from Popular) about our closest neighbouring city from friends. As we’re pretty time-starved, we chose to focus on two malls – City Square and KSL City.