Blue Ocean Strategy November 11, 2012 bizadmin In blue ocean, there are plenty of fishes and there is no competition, unlike red ocean where competition is very fierce. So, when we do business, we have to pick a niche where there is plenty for everyone and hardly any competition around as in the blue ocean. However, in any prospering business, competition may come from your own workers who have learnt the tricks of the trade, come out and compete directly with you, sometimes even taking along your former clients and contacts. It happens everywhere. However, this can be prevented with discerning boss who knows how to take precaution and keep secrets away from workers. You cannot trust them completely! Sooner or later, they will still come out and join venture with other workers to compete with your business. To maintain the blue ocean strategy, it would be wise to hire a separate worker to handle all the imports and contacts from suppliers and keep this a top secret from your installers who are the biggest threat. If you are in the supplier material business, it would be advisable to remove the source contacts and emails of the labels on the products. At times, competitors may pose as a potential client to check out your products and ask for samples. This is where a wise boss will try to remove all information of the source of material from the samples so that your competitor or whoever contacted you will not be able to contact your source directly and compete fiercely with you. It happens every where, and you cannot presume that the email origin is from a genuine client, but could potentially be from your competitor, out to check and try to benchmark you.
At Mandarin Oriental November 10, 2012 bizadmin I am now at Mandarin Oriental for 1 night. Will meet up with a client later this morning and also took some pictures of scenic kolam, since Deepavali is just around the corner. Business is fine so far but it can still be improved with more drivers in our team of workers. Right now, we are short of drivers to bring the workers all over Kuala Lumpur for the different projects. A night at Mandarin Oriental is $1,200, but with the Elite membership with discount vouchers, we pay $696 net with taxes total. It is just next door to KLCC where I had dinner and lunch. KLCC is the premier shopping centre right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur that carries branded labels like Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci, Tods, Prada, and so much more. What I like about Mandarin Oriental is its exclusivity and prestige. It also has very cosy bed and furnishings. You will be given complimentary cookies, plain milk and a bar of chocolate sprinkled with dried fruits like peaches, raisin, orange peels, nuts, cherries and such. There is also the welcome basket of fruits to whet your appetite for main course dinner downstairs on the second floor, at a Chinese restaurant. The japanese restaurant is located on the basement, beside the car park. As members of the Elite club, you get complimentary meal for 2 at Wasabi Restaurant, the only Japanese restaurant in Mandarin Oriental. I think, I shall renew the membership for next year.