Dr. Roland Xavier - make it simple and easy!

in the name of Allah Most Gracious and the Most Merciful..

"how are you today?" usually we will reply, "I'm fine" but now, change it..please answer " I feel brand new". and when they ask, "are you ready?" answer, " I am born ready". words and intonation play roles in boosting your spirit early in the morning. And SMILE! =)

last Friday, 7th Jan we were discussing a case study about "Nothing unique to Offer". It is all about George Vasquez who wants to open a pizzeria near the local university. The problem is the area has 3 pizza enterprises already and each of them has their strong point and uniqueness. So our job was to consult him and give him some advises. Each group came out with some solutions. And some of them were good and some must be improved.

In the way to build a business, we must know the market tread, customer need and serendipity.

There are several ideas of sources for business idea such as:

1. You have to examine your own skill set for business idea. Don't discount yourself.

2. keep up with current issue and be ready to take advantage of business opportunities.

3. invent a new product or services

4. add value to an existing product

5. investigate other markets outside of Malaysia

6. improve an existing product or service

7. get on the bandwagon

beside this, Dr Roland also taught us about NABC

N- NEED ( the important customer and market need)

A- APPROACH (a unique,compelling approach)

B- BENEFITS (the customer value)

C- COMPETITION or alternative

before starting up your business, these are the aspects must be considered.

So,good luck! see ya!

doodling.. =)

Alhamdullilah, we meet again and have the chance to repent.. Allahuakbar... today post about doodling.. I miss my childhood.. we used to be very expressive and creative..But when we are getting older, we become too secretive and passive..

On 4th Jan, Prof asked us to doodling,just draw what ever in our mind. let your hand drive you.. And, THIS is my drawing.. I'm not sure why I drew it but all what I know is, this is myself. It represent my heart and attitude.

Actually, Prof said, this is one of the method of idea getting. some of them are using word association,career excursion, direct analogy and others.

and we also can solve the problem through your drawing by eliminating some of the elements in your drawing such as black colour or block.

so, try it.. maybe it will help you in your way. see ya!

cooking times with creativity!!

Thanks to Allah, with His blessing and guidance, we are able to live our life happily and cheerfully.

4 days with Prof Barjoyai, it was awesome!! What the best thing about Prof, you don't condemn and encourage us to think creative. Even some of the ideas are not relevant, but he always trust us..This is the Principle.. "all wrong ideas are creative ideas and good ideas". He planted it into our mind and now, we feel free to think about something that maybe out of the norm. BUT, as Muslim, we know what is allow and what is forbidden for us right? It is okay to be creative but please be creative in the way of ISLAM. These are the activities that we have done with our beloved trainer.. =)

After mix up all the ingredients, ready to put in the microwave..ikkezo!!( let's go)

we were excited preparing "nasi beriani" in the Beriani Rice Cooker.. It is small container, but you can have instant "nasi Beriani" in less than 30 mins!!! wow, most of us will try it Prof. And it taste not bad.. =) smile friends!

This is the bread factory@ maker..We made basic bread with this and it took about almost 4 Hours! And the best thing about thing device is we can choose type of bread that we want.. Most of us never seen it and its great!

negotiation and you...

On 22^nd and 23^rd of December 2010, we met Mr. Hisham again on The Art of Negotiation session. We were taught about the skills to negotiate with other and it was awesome. Thumbs up!

According to the notes that given to us, first step before you want to negotiate, please get know the REAL you. Know your personality (extrovert or introvert), family background, and view towards challenges, failures and success. And also get know the parties that you want to negotiate. Gather the information about their culture and background. In real world, actually everybody negotiates. Before we further on, what is NEGOTIATION? Negotiation is "to discuss with the goal of finding terms of agreement." Unfortunately, nowadays, many people interpret negotiation as being the skill of persuading other people to accept their point of view. Is it? Answer it to yourself.

There are 2 primary types of negotiation. First is DISTRIBUTIVE NEGOTIATION. It is known as fixed pie. Parties will compete over distribution of a fixed sum of value. In the real world of negotiations, two parties face off with the goal of getting as much as possible. For example, the seller wants to go after the best price they can obtain, while the buyer wants to pay the lowest price to achieve the best bargain. It's really just good old plain haggling, just like playing a tug of war. In this type of negotiation, information plays an important role.

There are several tips to seal this kind of negotiation which are:

• Start of the right price

• Do not disclose significant information

• Know the information about the other parties

• Exploit what you learn about the other party in setting your first demand

• Don’t overshoot

Second type is INTEGRATIVE NEGOTIATION. Integrative means to join several parts into a whole. Conceptually, this implies some cooperation, or a joining of forces to achieve something together. It is usually involves a higher degree of trust and a forming of a good relationship. Both parties want to achieve something which has value by getting what each wants. Ideally, it is a twofold process and it is often described as the win-win situation. Both parties will gained many advantages when they take a cooperative approach to mutual problem solving by using creative problem solving methods.

For sealing the integrative negotiation deal, you should:

• Provide significant info on their circumstances

• Explain why they want to make a deal

• Talk about the real interest and business constraints

• Reveal in general terms the preferences among issues and options.

• Consider any additional capabilities or resources that might meet other side interest

• Use what learn to find creative options.

Now, come to the fundamental concepts in skilled negotiation.

• Know your BATNA (Best Alternative To Negotiated Agreement)- you have to know what to do if the negotiation fail and able to make best decision.

• Reservation price – it is a least favorable point at which one will accept a deal.

• ZOPA (Zone Of Possible Agreement) - set of agreement that potentially satisfy both parties.

• Value creation through trades – good exchanged had only modest value to their original holders but exceptional value to the new owners.

As a negotiator, play the game well by:

- Getting the other side to the negotiation table

- Making a good start. For example, express respect for the other’s side experience and expertise.

- Establish the right tone

- Do active listening

- Close the deal

- Frequently asked question.

So, play well and keep practicing dear. Be an effective negotiator and win the best deal. But remember this, in Islamic perspective, it is not about winning the deal. It is useless if you win the situation by cheating or tricks. Be honest, and all we want is only “BARAQAH” from Him. He will lead us to right path. I end up my post with this prayer…

“O Allah! Put affection amongst our hearts, set right our matters between ourselves, guide us to the ways of peace, save us from the darknesses towards the light, save us from all kinds of indecency; the apparent as well as the hidden, and give us barakah in our hearing, our seeing, our hearts, our spouses, our children, and turn in mercy upon us. Indeed You are the One who greatly accepts repentance, One who is repeatedly Merciful.” (Al- Hakim)