Ben and Keen Journal

Keentutors update

2007-02-06T06:29:00.000-08:00

What has been done for Keentutors since January:

- Updated business plan for potential investments and expansion.
- Timeline of business activities. (email attachments)
- Operation management system. (email attachments)
- Draft website outlook
- Privacy policy & Terms of service draft.
- Potential employees to be tele-coordinatoors and administrators.
- Allocated funds for Web programming
- Coordinated potential advertising avenues with NUS.

Things to address and do:

- Submit executive summary and enquiries to EDTF for analysis and advisory. (by 8/02/07)
- Finalize page by page contents for web programming.
- Draft contract to outsource web programming construction.
- Finalizing Marketing plans. (March)
- Setting a timetable for Future Ben and Keen activities. (March)

Market research data is required to (error-proof) the business plan and thereby obtaining increased trust from potential investors.

Enquiries to EDTF:

- How EDTF can assist besides the funding programme.
- Advise on legal issues (Privacy policy, terms of service, taxation and security or website trustworthiness); what to do and what not.
- Advise on compliance with regulations on company management
- Bank account formation (Failure to meet conditions/requirements)
- Ben and Keen plans to get private investors and hire company directors who may be ineligible for EDTF funding.
- Managing/handling investments for the project

Ben and Keen embarks on multiple projects such as:
- Importing specialized products (flowers, bouquets, spray cans) for occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, New Year, etc.
- As consultants for web design and web programming.
We are looking for web programmers to join our team.

Problems encountered with ACRA / http://www.bizfile.gov.sg/:
- Poor service
- Unfamiliar with the bizfile process.

"Mastering good habits are essentials of self-improvement, which inturn guides you to your riches" - Says Ben...

Do the thing you are afraid to do, and the fear of death is certain. If you say to yourself with perfect confidence and faith, "I'm going to master this fear," you will. - Dr. Joseph Murphy

23rd Jan

2007-01-22T19:02:00.000-08:00

Hi,
Seems like the blog has been inactive for some times. It's already more than half way thru jan '07. Massive actions have to be carried out this year to fullfil the promise we make since we first sat in the coffee shop talking about our aspiration to control our own destiny thru entrepruneurship. Although there's some stagnancy for the past few weeks inevitably tied down by heavy work schedule, tonnes of uni assignments and.......... but nonetheless the burning desire to create something out of benandkeen can still be easily seen in anyone of us.

Let's make an update on my side...

Business
1) A week ago i have approached the jurong point management office to check out on the temporary stalls. I thinking of listing down here so that we can retrieve it from here when we need it next time.
Contact person: Anna, contact:96825828, Rental fee: $150/day min 1 week rental, availability in 1-2 weeks in advance. It's super high traffic flow there.
Bishan temporary stall same contact as above.
For permannent stall in jurong point or some other shopping malls:63837036

1) The biz regarding the promotion of sms2.0 i have turned it down after concluding that it is not feasible.

Currently tried to raise start-up fund for benandkeen. Hope to obtain a few thousands. It's a warlmart concept on importing cheap wholesale from china to sg for this valentine. And maybe to further import other items for other occasion and biz. Have put an ads in newspapers on 19th Jan. Result not as good as expected as too far away from valentine's day. But still manage to get 4 order list from florist and gift shop and some individual orders. Total order 62 bouquet. Below is the item promoting:

Bouquet of nine bears or disney characters for valentine's day ( able to say' I love you' when pressed). It breaks away from the norm of perishable roses.
http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r313/valentine_bears/?start=20

Cost price: $10
Shipping via courier: $7
Retail out @: $39.90 per bouquet
Wholesale @: $23- $28
Delivery islandwide through my friend delivery company: $7/ trip
(but charge clients at $10)
Noel islandwide express: $10/trip
Profit margin : Appprox $20 per bouquet or $10 for wholesale.

Keentutors. About to chiong on it soon.

Personal
Currently heavily study for exams. Undergoing Napoleon hill therapy this few weeks to build up a strong mental power for success. It was the first book that these people have read that they proclaimed has marks their turning point of their lives; adam khoo, steve job, CEO of millions of entreprenuers.

For Ben,
How's the meet-up with Rubuen? And how's the D&D of NUS?

Lastly, for the new year, i wishes for a good health and happiness. And a happening benandkeen 2007!

Merry Christmas Ben and Keen from Ben!!!

2006-12-24T21:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Received lots of season greetings through smses yesterday nite till morning. Really wanted to do that myself too but I've been sending far too many smses this month liao. Anyway, I'm under this self-improvement therapy: 7 habits of highly effective people. I'm still uneffective now but... I will in time to come.

Based on the rule of effective pple, I should be sending greeting cards for christmas cos this is a good reason to reinforce contacts with friends and endeavours. Why? Think deeply, its good for the future. Anyway, I shall be sending cards for Chinese new year, my second chance.

Well, 2007 is a few days away, what are my new year resolutions?

Firstly, I hope Ben and Keen is the key to unlocking success. Since its incorporation, I've learnt and progressed. With more commitment, I know it will happen.

Secondly, I hope the year of the Oink! Boar brings good luck and prosperity to everyone of us. Be it academics, relationships or business, it will be the good year!

Finally, this is for myself, my weight has been soaring new heights recently. I need some kind of desire to lose weight or be more committed to my healthy lifestyle regime. That 'desire' I've just seen it in my friend. He lost alot of weight since getting a gf. Should I? Worth it? Can I nail it? Am I committed to it? err... goodness gracious me... why ask myself this when the answers are given already.

Goodness gracious me... Merry Christmas everyone! Goodness gracious me... Happy new year too! Goodness gracious me... What am I doing???

An apology message

2006-12-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

Hi,

seems like you are getting more active on this blog nowadays. Improvement. Haha. Just Joking. Anyway you didn't read the title wrongly. I wish to make an apology here. Last few days maybe i was a bit harsh on my words. You are right! We should maintian a positive and lively tone of communicating throughout our whole partnership. Pardon me for my impatient and the ugly words. I have put too much blame on the laptop for the failure of last meeting. I should have shift the focus onto myself instead and perhaps reflect on what i can actually do to prevent such things from occuring again instead of complaining. Your mistake is not totally your mistake, we shared the mistake cause we are one partnership. Your failure is my failure. Only if we take sole responsibility of the failure and improve on our individual strength then can we compensate on other shortness and thus taking charge of the end result and eventually in control of the success.

Now lets us forget the past and chiong forward. January is coming. Hope we have a good start for a good year. Thanks for everything!

Chia Keen

Belated quote.

2006-12-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

"In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative original thinker unless you can also sell what you create. Management cannot be expected to recognize a good idea unless it is presented to them by a good salesman."
- David M. Ogilvy

We are and we must stay in line with this principle in our business.

In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.
- Warren Buffett

Getting feedbacks and solidify foundations is nature's way of growing up as a creature on earth. In business, its the same. Nature created business.

We have progress thus far, at least we learnt and progressed while others are still "suckling nipples." We must not let our efforts to waste by distractions.

regards

Ben

P.S. I'm waiting for some replies from you.

Take note

2006-12-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

As part of my education and actual work experience in organisation behaviour, I suggest we do not use 'negative emotions' in work. I reckon it always exist in any organisation for its benefit and also disavantage. Try keep it to a minimal and I work well w/o it.

On the flipside, 'positive emotions' is encouraged and SOP.

Your lifestyle: though its personal, I think you should balance it and take a more healthy direction(more sleep) cos your flu last week passed to me you know. - This is an example of constructive, not negative.

"Your hard work is recognised. But don't keep blaming me on the laptop ah, at least I brought it... if not tonight soccer you see how many goals I score against you ah!!!" - this is an example of soothing the tension if it ever did work.

For the record, get an msn messenger k, better for comm, and I have all our classmates contacts in msn.

Let's set another rule so to improve communication: Let's put an asterick(*) at the end of the paragraphs that you need comments on. Do it when its important and not abuse it.

yours absolutely,

Ben

Send me the gist via email

2006-12-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

Your hard work is recognised. But don't keep blaming me on the laptop ah, at least I brought it... if not tonight soccer you see how many goals I score against you ah!!!

As for viewing the blog, I merely glanced through, I think the site meter reflected that. Anyway, at this point of time, I did read thoroughly what you wrote and commented on it. I have changed.

Are you still frustrated? I hope I have resolved any misunderstanding here. Don't forget, just before I went to Phuket, I spent alot of time planning keentutors and wanted to meet you but you were not free and busy on other commitments. I am very serious in fact and do not accuse me of anything negative(lazy) because I just came back and have lots of stupid laundry and cleaning to do.

Setting good working culture: Setting a monthly flexi-meeting-time-table to meet agenda requirements. Let's work on this.

I want confirmation on whether you have understood any of my points on my 2 previous posts. (see*)

2006-12-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

Continue from last post...

I knew both of us know that the working culture in an organisation is very impt that influences our work subsequently. I hope we will set it right from the start.

Last meeting has been full of frustration along the way. You know it well it all rooted out from the laptop. Before i met u on last meeting, i set the picture that it was rather quite an important meeting. Both our schedule are tight thus this is a good time to update on the progress after you are away for some time. I expect a serious meeting with all resources ready. But was immediately disappointed when called you in the afternoon and, " haR! still must bring laptop ar."a reluctant reply from you to bring your lappie. I believe in any meeting we should be well equipped with any tools essential . We should set the environment right for work. If you are lazy to bring, it's ok, just tell me, i could go down to Bukit Timah, my sis's house, and get it. And your laptop come without power cable. Haiz.. I believe all this of lack of essential tools is the main cause of the frustration. In fact all the gist i have already summarized in sequence to facilitate me from conveying my points to you easier and it's all stored in the thumb drive.

I have answered the first part of your statement,
"However, next time at least summarise what you want to present on paper and let me have a easier time digesting the gist. I shall do my part on my presentation also cos yesterday I din prepare anything to be honest."

On the second statement, do you know i used 6 hrs and slept at 4am the day before to prepare for the last meeting. And the most angried part is that you obviously never read my posts before the meeting. Am i right? It's very easy to tell. Got a site meter down below the page. It tells how long one stays in this blog and how many times a person view this blog. You can click below to try. Actually, i dun even wish to present to you after knowing the desktop had no batt that instant. I knew it only cause a lot frustration on the process of delivering not just 1 or two points but 10 over major points over across to you of my work i have done when you are overseas. This include the need of the web to illustrate ,tables i have generated from excel And not simple point that can be jolted down on the paper and show me.

Quotes of the day:
" what you want to do, do it the best, or else don't do it"
"Impossible is nothing, make the impossible possible"
~Chia Keen

Perseverance: "You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it"
~Margaret Thatcher

Life: " The art of life if to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much"
~William Hazlitt

I listened to you... now you must: "I'm talking details now."

2006-12-11T00:49:00.000-08:00

"Listen me out. First you mention that you do not condone the degration of ourselves offering $800 to companies to do for us. For this i beg to differ. There are not self degration in ourselves."
I was being harsh/sarcastic you know, just to bring the msg across. I agree cost should be as low as possible but not compromising quality and also to get as much out of the $800 we paid for.

"When any companies starts up, money is always the most important resources. Every successful start-up entreprenuers will try the best to save as much as possible by finding the cheapest alternative resources around by putting their heads low and try to bargin, please or even beg the supplier to offer the cheapest price to reduce their start-up cost."

Err... you know I'm mature enough to know that already, assume I know it ok. Let's think of me this way, I can get the best deals from the IT market; cheap and high quality. I am demostrating my experience in dealing with them, dont doubt me, give me the confidence overdued.(*) Anyway, I have planned the website system, cost efficient, effective and yet simple. Show you on tuesday.

My point is we plan this website as flawless as possible and making sure IT programmers understand them before they start building it. In this case, cost and time wasting is reduced. You see if the plan is flawed or the the programmer does sth else other than what we told them to do due to miscommunication, we're going to suffer heavily when we ask them to edit the website. They will charge extra, or give up, delay, or do another shit-job, or lose motivation to perfect the website construction. I'm sure you understand this point.

In web construction, I'm trying to be accurate in our instructions to programmers, perfection is not in context yet. (*) ( In response to this: beautiful storefront/website misunderstanding.)

Ok, let's say now that we already planned properly, getting the cheapest deals out of so many IT companies in SG is STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. You should not be working with me if I fail to understand this logic.

"So that the rest of the money saved by doing so can be put into other use, such as into more marketing and advertising that drives the sale." - Save your breath for this.

"That's why some big companies have employ purchaser.Harvard Business Review,"The activities of successful corporations"Break-even pointBig company: Often at a high level of sales Small business/ entrepreneurial start-up: Need to be kept as low as possibleSpending 'small' sums of moneyBig company: $1,000, $2,000 or even 10k Small business/ entrepreneurial start-up: Spend nothing, if possible; if not spend littlePrestige and appearancesBig Company:Big offices and cars and any necessary stuffs to boost credibility Small business/ entrepreneurial: Get nothing that is not considered deem necessaryFrom here we can see that start-up cost must be keep as low as possible. High start-up cost only draw closer to failure. Entrepruneurs always think that credibility and a very beautiful storefront/website is the key to suceeding in business."
- Yeap agreed totally we need to start up as low as possible.

For the rest, I tell you what I mean: "Essential business credibility is required." We cannot do without it, without it, there is no trust. No trust, no business. What I mean is incorporating a company with the gov, getting basic name cards, logo and maintain professionalist ethics. I have done my part on this. To talk about getting a beautiful storefront/website is out of context. (OUT OF POINT) I mean we have to be accurate in our instructions to the programmers; be sure of what we want and whether its workable. Acting big-shot in my context is demanding them to change this change that when they did all the hard work programming the way they understood already. (*)

What I need from you right now: Understand what I put forth in the constructive and right way just like what I did in commenting your points. I agree with all you have said in your context. Now digest my points in my context and reduce any misunderstanding. I give you all the confidence and support in your ideas, now give me mine. (*)

Ben

PS: I reckon we act big-shot the "right way" or rather, we are already big-shots doing the "right thing."

2006-12-10T07:58:00.000-08:00

Hi Ben,

First of all, it's quite normal for meeting to be became heated up. This is called efficiency man. Haha! No two person views in the world is similar. That's why we always see govenment cabinet always begin with a general issue discusion and end up in legs and hands fight. This is good. It is only through debates that best plan is formed when we put forth our best to make this biz the best with what we think is the best way of actions. What i wanted to stress here is that our views might be different, but our goal is the same. So as reflect to last meeting, or in the future, we will try to understand each other view points, be acceptive to each other objectives ( might not be each other planned actions), and derived a conclusion/ plan based on both parties suggested views as best as we could without compromising both parties objectives. This only applies when we can't come to a common conclusion platform.

So now in your present post it seems like you are still holding on to what you said that day without accepting the majority of the suggestions i put forth. It's fine. Same here, although after reading through your post i still believe my stand are more beneficial to our progress. Listen me out.

First you mention that you do not condone the degration of ourselves offering $800 to companies to do for us. For this i beg to differ. There are not self degration in ourselves. When any companies starts up, money is always the most important resources. Every successful start-up entreprenuers will try the best to save as much as possible by finding the cheapest alternative resources around by putting their heads low and try to bargin, please or even beg the supplier to offer the cheapest price to reduce their start-up cost. So that the rest of the money saved by doing so can be put into other use, such as into more marketing and advertising that drives the sale. That's why some big companies have employ purchaser.

Harvard Business Review,"The activities of successful corporations"

Break-even point
Big company: Often at a high level of sales
Small business/ entrepreneurial start-up: Need to be kept as low as possible

Spending 'small' sums of money
Big company: $1,000, $2,000 or even 10k
Small business/ entrepreneurial start-up: Spend nothing, if possible; if not spend little

Prestige and appearances
Big Company:Big offices and cars and any necessary stuffs to boost credibility
Small business/ entrepreneurial: Get nothing that is not considered deem necessary

From here we can see that start-up cost must be keep as low as possible. High start-up cost only draw closer to failure. Entrepruneurs always think that credibility and a very beautiful storefront/website is the key to suceeding in business. But often on above and what my sis told me that these are rather the hindrance to their success. Start-up biz no need credibility . People do biz with you in the face of money value, no credibility is considered here. Put the effort and large amount of money into creating more credbility onto more value in service and advertising is more appropriate for start-up.

This responsed to your point:
"We are not business mongols yet and cannot act prima-donas infront of IT people. I have seen with my own eyes even business mongols fail in IT. We do not have established office space or recognised products to show our credibility (the bandwagon)"

We do not need credibility. We can act big shot and have to act big-shot while handling our project to them.I have always seen my sis do it infront of big companies eg; OG management or IT companies support. The reason is very simple, we are the customer! No matter how small our project or little money value we contribute to their business from our website construction, we have to act big- shot, strict and even fierce on reprimanding them if satisfaction not met. Only in this way, that you are able to ensure quality from them and to get our project done in time. Maybe you have seen the practise of big boss and companies with high credibility that are often easy on this IT people. Big companies need not be harsh, as the IT companies want to do more biz with them and build rapport with them for more business. BUT we need to be harsh on them or i can assure you get substandard and project not finish for you in time. This might be the reason you get crap last time you do with freelance and companies. In addition, a mix of with freelance and companies, you are not able to do what i said just now cause it's very difficult to control all. Get 1 company. It's simpler.

I will give in on this. The website construction part i will leave the decision to you but combining my view here of reducing the start-up cost. I do have great confidence in this area of you. No worry actually. But i hope you consider what i said earilier and I will like to fix it at 1k, the max. I will try to support as much as possible but would not much interfere with your method on constructing it. If it goes more than 1k, i have to step-in. Hope you understand. I'm thinking in the best for our company future. The more money used here, doesn't relate to greater chance of succeeding but greater restriction and hindrance in success.

I still got something to comment regarding to your post but i will continue tomorrow. Now is 2.30 am , need to wake up at 7.30 for work later.

Yesterday's meeting not very good w/o laptop; hear me out!

2006-12-08T18:13:00.000-08:00

First and formost, yesterday's discussion was all over the place. I'm sure you had a hard time getting your points across to me and the patience we had with each other paid off in the end. I apologise I shouldnt say I can do everything myself and vice versa. Our goal is to dominate the business world beyond this pilot business (keentutors) as a team.

However, next time at least summarise what you want to present on paper and let me have a easier time digesting the gist. I shall do my part on my presentation also cos yesterday I din prepare anything to be honest.

"Time is money" - Donald Trump.

This is one of my guiding principles when dealing with business and situations less emotions. I do not condone investing time and money in a business to put myself in the vicious cycle of committing more time in it and mess up other commitments. Keep mum about the Pareto diagram. (*)

Regarding Keentutors, let me reiterate my message across:

I know Keentutors can and should be automated as much as possible after having researched the potential situations problems might occur when the business is launched. I suggest automating sections which requires lots of manual work and leave the critical parts to us or for coordinators.
Construction of website: I was unprepared to present how web construction works yesterday. Pardon me, I do not condone to such acts of self-degradation if we go around offering $800 and give IT companies sketches of what we want. I did exactly that since last year with both companies and freelancers and they still gave me crap. REASON:

IT people only understand IT lingos and they do not understand business. Even if they have a marketing department, they are just going to translate our blueprint, ideas and workflow into IT lingos for the IT programmers. I can do that! Note, they only give us exactly what we want, nothing more. If you pay them to think, business wise, they will charge more i.e. $3500. (*)

"IT companies slave for you only if you offer them the bandwagon. Don't forget, they are already pissed-off by many clients who offer them shit-rides and claim their car glitters with gold."

We are not business mongols yet and cannot act prima-donas infront of IT people. I have seen with my own eyes even business mongols fail in IT. We do not have established office space or recognised products to show our credibility (the bandwagon). I did my best incorporating Ben and Keen Pte Ltd and necessary stuffs to boost credibility.
We need to plan as much as possible and present our info to programmers in a way they understand and operate best (paving the smooth tarmac floor for them to drive their own cars).
The critical part of web construction is communication with the IT programmers and project planning. Currently we are project planning but not translating the blueprint to IT lingos. I believe that's my job. Embeding highly technical and automated functions do not contribute to much of the project costs. (* I have all the materials required)

Lastly, a quote from law 41 in 57 real-life laws on entrepreneurship:

Credibility has to be earned. You have a 'liability of newness'. - Sahar and Bobby Hashemi

4th Dec updates...

2006-12-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

Today i have just done a very tedious research on 25 different tuition agencies in Sg ( almost all tuition sites i can find) . Wow.. it was indeed very tiring and it took up half of my day but the effort was greatly rewarding. I have compiled it in a report and ready to present to Ben after he's back from Thailand. I knew this step was critical before we take a leap into dis market. This is to ensure a certain amount of assurance. As the proverb we learned from Sun Tze:

知彼知己，百戰不殆；不知彼而知己，一勝一負；不知彼，不知己，每戰必敗

So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.

I have gathered the different styles and ways of different agencies go abt tackling this business. All in all , i could conclude it in 3 points,

1. The market is although saturated but powerful players are rare. Many agencies do not put in much effort in developing and grooming the tuition matching business. Old & traditional ways still prevail. eg; getting clients through a small 3cm by 4cm column in the newspapers every week is the only means of generating 90% of their business after chatting with one of the agencies aunties through the phone. Yesterday, i just went out with my friend and she was mentioning that she has never saw a hometuition matching services appear in mrt train billboard or any where on the streets. If one really do, she believe it's easily another Recruit Express which eat up the whole market share that's floating around, which is also the reason y so many newbies still enter into this market.

2. For the top few agencies, half of it are also the top search while one keyed in "tuition singapore" into google search box. The other half i believe is through real world marketing.

3. our entry can be said to be pretty optimistic.

I look forward to the findings gathered at Thailand.

Updates!

2006-12-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone

we have registered our organisation domain name today,3rd December '06. For the time being www.benandkeen.com will be used as the domain for our blog here.

For Ben,

I have gotten the package of mailbox as well. The email come with several functions such as autorespondant for email & site purchase. Forwarding to another server mailbox and .....when you return from Thailand i will brief you on it and you need to choose your email name.

Quote of the day:

"It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently."
- Warren E. Buffett, world's second richest man

Chia Keen

Reflects on the logo

2006-11-27T07:06:00.000-08:00

The 3rd one looks quite good even though it's in red colour on one side instead of blue. I prefer the forth one or the third one personally. Both fonts are ok. It do protray a professional look and a reflect a tinge of creativity in the organisation when i see the logos.

But you want the organisation to be call BenKeen Or Ben and Keen?

Quote of the day:

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail." -Confucius

Personal thoughts: As we venture out our dreams and dare to be different( being pareto's 20% of people), we will eventually encounter alot of obstacles on the way, this is the time when we hold strongly to the value in the quotation above, what seems as an abstacle now is actually another step to be conquered to moving nearer to our dreams.
-Chia Keen

sample logos

2006-11-26T07:28:00.000-08:00

Colour suppose to be red below

Colour suppose to be blue and black

Worried about website construction?

2006-11-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

Ben's comments and resources

2006-11-24T00:51:00.000-08:00

(great2fly) simple website though their office location is not a virtual one. I have visited the place near grand corpthone offices before. Rent varies from 200 onwards. highly inaccessible. The place is near zouk.

The links below is only valid for a week till 1dec, these are resources to help you with the contents of website construction:

All the contracts/agreements you need for internet advertising, terms of service and policies, everything basically - http://download.yousendit.com/5CB6CE5046D917A8
Limited-Partnership-legal-business-contract

I look forward to the mobile phone line with M1.

The definitive me:

Believe I can succeed and I will…

“Because success means many wonderful, positive things.” – David Joseph Schwartz

How?

Everything begins with a thought
“Life consists of what a man is thinking all day.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think Positive Think Success
“Whatever things are true… noble… just… pure…lovely… are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things.” – Paul The Apostle

Why?

Our thoughts determine our destiny. Our destiny determines our legacy.

“You are today your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” – James Allen

When?

Now of course!

Where?

HERE!

All the best to Ben and Keen!

Analysis of some of the players in the market

2006-11-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

Great2fly.com Breakbown & analysis

Traffic detail
Google, Yahoo indexed
Web Ranking: 5,482,574(average out for 3months)
Web Ranking :896,678 (today latest ranking )
Increases traffic by 611.4% over last 3 months
Per day visitor approximately 30-70

Contact number: they using mobile starting with 8+...... instead of 6....
Office address: Believe to be a virtual office cos of location

Conclusion: They operate as per normal tuition agency with very simple website, total veiwable page around 12.

50% commission
page for enter database into their own mail
Unable to view any tutor data, all kept secret
login for both tutors and students
Traffic ranking increase alot this 3 months (believe to come from adword, mass email and flyers pasted outside universities in sg)
No sponsorship and ads on site

gradtutor.com
Index in both yahoo & google
Traffic ranking: Not viewable ( out of top 10million)
Viewers per day: less than 50

Today quotations:

" There are two parts of courage in a successful entrepruneur. The first is the courage to launch, to begin, to step out in faith with no guarantee of success. The second is the courage to endure, to persist in the face of disappointment and temporary failure."
-Brian Tracy

" if you would become a success, you must resolve to confront your fears. If you do the things you fear, the death of fear is certain."
-Ralph waldo Emerson

WE ARE BORN!

2006-11-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

Dear all( you and me),

Now, we as start-up entrepreneurs of Ben and Keen have to prove ourselves to critics and the world around us. Ben and Keen shall grow to its fullest potential with our targeted 2-million-in-5-years-plan.

Being the small fish in the sea which has opened its gates to globalisation, we have to effectively make use of available resources to barricade against competitors and tap/filter useful resources to benefit our organisation.

This journal signifies our determination and commitment to secure success in the near future and my commitment to this is to make it interesting and most importantly connect our thoughts.

Making the journal alive!

To spur readership (I mean when we do that in future) and our appetite to update this journal, there must be "life" here i.e. character building, occasional subjective humour and interesting debates. As for now, i shall decor this unsightly blogsite and add some appreciative features.

cheers,

Ben

Why set up this blog

2006-11-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

Hey ben,

this blog function as a virtual meeting space for us . The formal meeting weekly willl still continue.
It will help to be a platform for us to convey ideas across faster and more efficient especially on busy scehdule or while you are overseas. It's more flexible. Juz post it here, and i will view it now and then.

It enable us to update the latest anytime. Anything you thought of, done and wanted to inform me regarding the progress of Ben and Keen businesses but difficult to illustrate on the phone. You post it here. I will look at it and reply to you shortly. This could save the hassle and difficulties to explain the ideas thru the phone or emails.
Furthermore it can be recorded and track back here to monitor our progress.

Cheers,
Chia Keen