Interview with Smith Leong, Ideas Guy @ Waddup

My first impression of Smith was that he’s a friendly chap. Later on, I realized he’s someone who embraces Life, follows his passions and can always be relied upon to give an honest opinion.

We first met when I accepted his invite to visit The Studio Cocktail Bar and interview the 23-year-old lady boss. And apart from running his events and marketing company, Waddup, Smith is also a sex blogger (I specifically told him not to mention this, but he went ahead to do so anyway in his email reply to my questions). And so I present to you… Smith…

1) Why did you start an events management company and did the previous part-time/temp jobs you held lead you to the point when you decided to start your own company? 

Events planning has always been my passion and moreover, I have a very short attention span so my events company allows me to work on different projects – from consumer products to oil and gas, cosmetics and even lingerie! This way it is always new and it keeps me “entertained”.

I’ve worked as an administrator, tutor, waiter, sales assistant selling toys, clothes, software engineer (yes, it’s true), marketing person, mascot, board game teacher (that’s what I called myself while I was working at a boardgame café) and maybe some other things that I’ve forgotten but nothing beats doing what I do now.

2) Share with us what you did, and what you are currently doing, with regard to Personal Branding. How has successful Personal Branding aided you in your business?

Branding has always been important for my business and I have to believe in it myself because that’s what I am “selling” to my clients too, right? Many of my clients and referrals came to me because of who I am and the services my company provides.

[Grace adds: Smith shared with me that in the previous company he worked for as a junior executive, his 'seniors' tended not to introduce the new hires to their clients. So he decided to subtly 'stand out' from the rest of his colleagues by wearing Superman tees every day. It paid off as clients came to remember him as that Superman guy even if they forgot his name. Smart!]

Clients remember us as being youthful and vibrant while new prospects are intrigued by us.

Where blogging is concerned, being known as the “sex blogger” has always been an interesting form of branding for me when meeting other bloggers. Although it’s something of the past and I haven’t really been talking a lot about it, the “branding” still sticks.

3) You’ve mentioned the initially counter-intuitive concept of “Helping others doesn’t mean I’m kind. Helping others is about being selfish too”. Share with us what you mean by this.

Often, people think that I am helpful because I go around helping everyone but I am just building my own personal karma. Although I do not need the individual to repay me immediately, I believe in “paying it forward.” You help others and you will get help from others in some form someday. So in a way it’s still selfish and for personal gain too right? By the way, go watch that movie ‘Pay It Forward’ if you haven’t – it’s a real good watch!

4) You’re a blogger too and you’ve mentioned how some “professional bloggers” have become “professional beggars”. What improvements would you like to see where the Blogosphere is concerned?

I think blogging has been a big thing for the longest time and I see a lot of new bloggers day in and day out but I do not see any innovation these days. Things are a little dry and everyone seems to be writing and managing the sponsors’ and clients’ expectations rather than writing what they want. Many are writing that way just to get popular or to get more freebies from the clients. Worst still, I have encountered bloggers who emailed my client for free meals in exchange for their 200 unique clicks per day.

What really makes me cringe are blogs that end up looking like an advertisement listing because the 10 latest posts are all advertorials and sponsored events. Do they really have nothing interesting to share on top of all these? I am not saying that it is wrong, just that in my personal opinion that’s not how I want a personal blog to be.

5) Your guy friends turn to you for advice on women and dating. What, in your opinion, do women really want? And your advice to guys who just can’t seem to find the right girl or the right relationship?

Every woman has different expectations and needs so we don’t have a one-size-fits- all solution here. What I am saying here is that we have to find the right “solution” for the right woman. Some may want love or attention or respect or even money. And in this evolving world of ours, you shouldn’t be surprised that some women have the pride and ego of a man and that is what you need to feed as well.

No woman is out of anyone’s league but there are women who are “out of fit”.

You may be able to attract any woman’s attention initially but if you cannot sustain it in the long run, it won’t make a lot of sense.

Before you can give, you need to know what to give. 3 words to sum it up: Observe, listen and give.

Grace says: Even I have no idea what Smith’s cryptic response to question 5 is all about. But there are a couple of takeaways from this interview:

1) Be unafraid to explore when you are young. Try out various jobs in various industries and you’ll eventually find your ‘calling’. As the late Steve Jobs said, “don’t settle”. Also, the experience you gain from one job could very well aid you in another job.

2) Put some thought into your personal branding and make it stick! People may forget your name, but they’ll remember what you are known for if it’s something memorable and out of the ordinary.

3) Being helpful can be rewarding… some day. Plus, it’s better to make a friend than a foe.

My own ‘two cents worth’ take on the professional-bloggers-turned-professional-beggars situation is that:

1) All bloggers have the right to choose the sponsors they prefer to work with. So, for instance, if Company A wants me to do an advertorial for them but I turn them down because I know I clearly prefer Company B more, then nothing should stop me from approaching Company B to ask if they’d like me to do an advertorial for them, even if my blog has only 200, or even 20 unique hits per day. Rather than just focus on quantity, I think companies need to focus on quality too – what sort of audience does a particular blog attract, and is that what the company wants?

2) Freebies are usually great to have. What irks me is when bloggers complain about the freebies. At the Lush (cosmetics) event I attended recently, we were each given one recyclable bag, period. I was later told that one blogger went on Twitter to complain about the perceived stinginess of the company. Honestly, I was expecting maybe a travel-size sample of their new mascara or eyeshadow which I could take home and test out myself. I saw no need, however, to complain about the freebie.

So yes, now you know that blogging is also about business, dollars and cents, and politics. It’s what makes blogging so intriguing for me too!

And finally some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Smith’s irreverence & funnyman antics knows no bounds…

All photos courtesy of Smith Leong

Subscribe to this blog by submitting your email address in the Subscription field on your right. All new interviews will be delivered free-of-charge to your email inbox. Hurray!

[4-in-1 Blogpost] iN988 Interviews + Customized Cupcakes + Fantastic Fish + Extraordinary Bloggers’ Events

This blogpost is about my interview experiences at the Internet Broadcasting Station iN988.com (and how you can learn from my mistakes), my first order of yummy customized cupcakes from the famous Twelve Cupcakes, an extraordinary dining experience at Eighteen Chefs, and a Bloggers’ Event that gave me cold feet while another promised me great skin! Read on…

[iN988 Interviews]

Getting interviewed on in988.com is quite the ‘in’ thing now. But it is a decidedly different ball game from the usual interviews on 938LIVE or MediaCorp TV.

This is my experience…

My first interview was with 3 VJs – Roger, Abigail and Sharifah:

I must say I was totally at a loss when interviewed by 3 very eloquent and very quick-witted hosts. It was a bit difficult for me to be in control of the conversation or convey what was on my mind. At one point, it even appeared that I was interviewing Roger instead of being interviewed by him (because he was asking me to demonstrate what I’d do or say when interviewing people). *Note to self: learn how to steer conversation back on track (>_<)

Having said that, they are really nice folks. I couldn’t help but give Abigail a hug just before I left the station, as she very kindly escorted me to the front door.

The second interview was with VJ Nick Sim (in the checkered shirt):

Nick’s more blunt with his words so I really should have pointed out right from the start that I don’t usually conduct interviews in Mandarin so the VJ and audience will be more forgiving. XD Note to self: Always state upfront that you don’t speak very well then astound people after that.

So that’s the interview bit… and on to the yummy cupcakes…

[Customized Cupcakes]

I ordered these cupcakes to thank some of the people who have been voting for me to win the Best Individual Blog award at the Singapore Blog Awards 2012. Voting closes soon (end of this month, in fact), so please go vote if you haven’t already done so!

The cupcakes state “THX 4 VOTING” (I know it’s not immediately obvious to some).

The Red Velvet ones look a little out of shape because of a sudden e-brake while driving (hehe!) but they still tasted really yummy. (The other 2 flavors are Chocolate Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chocolate)

If you’ve been voting for me but didn’t get to eat these cupcakes, no worries, I will place another order should I actually win the blog award!

[Eighteen Chefs]

I invited Chef Benny to my BBQ at Tagline Prawning and the boss of Tagline caught a patin fish for Benny, who had never cooked patin before.

Here’s the boss, Dennis, with Chef Benny

Chef in the kitchen

The sambal and Thai green curry patin dishes tasted really DELICIOUS!

I never knew the patin fish could taste so good! Apparently I used to cook it the wrong way. Or rather, I used to slice it the wrong way! Apparently the fish is supposed to be cut the way a long sushi roll is cut into smaller pieces. I used to just steam a huge chunk of the fish and it didn’t always turn out yummy.

Also learnt something new from the Chef: do not wash the fish you are going to cook. Use a clean towel to ‘pat’ the fish if you’re concerned about cleanliness but do not rinse the fish under tap water which contains fluoride.

[Bloggers' Event 1]

Amanda invited me to the Lush founder-meets-bloggers event.

Making fun of her rainbow socks while waiting for the event to commence:

And the highlight of the Lush event gave us cold feet:

Apparently, their latest range of cosmetics (priced from $25-$30) come in various colors tagged with characteristics like “Bubbly”, “Confident”, “Glamorous” and more. So choose 3 colors out of those you see on the wheel and 3 products will surface, pouring some water onto the hidden dry ice creates the magical smoky feel and you get a reading about what the colors and their accompanying characteristics tell us about how you are feeling.

I’m not too sure if buying a “Bubbly” eyeshadow will make an introverted person suddenly bubbly, but I guess it’s worth a try. Also, if you don’t want to spend thousands on a Charisma course, you can buy “Charisma” which comes in a convenient little pot you can stick into your purse.

[Bloggers' Event 2]

Another Bloggers’ Event I attended brought me onto a yacht (finally! an item struck off my to-do list, i.e. sail on a yacht)

The Bloggers’ Event was organized to let us know about the launch of Skinbiotics, which is endorsed by local celebrity, Fann Wong:

Each blogger took home 2 boxes of Reactiv 01 and 1 box of Reactiv 02 (for our mothers). You can view the pricing below and make your purchases at shopatwatsons.com.sg.

I’ve started taking the Reactiv 01 today and will blog about any visible improvements at the end of the week. You can wait for my review before deciding to buy anything.

So there you go. The above are some snippets of my life from the past 10 days or so. Did a couple more fun things which I’ll blog about a little later. So come back again soon!

Interview with Sylvia Tjandra from Her Adornings Jewellery www.heradornings.com

1) Your business is still pretty young, but you are already thinking of ways to give back to society. Tell us about your involvement with Life Community Services Society (LCSS) and Love in Revolt.

Love in Revolt was held in August 2011 and used art, creativity and engaging activities to create awareness among Singaporean youths about the plight of the poor in Singapore and in our surrounding countries. A friend of mine, Harris Gozali, spearheaded this event. When he told me about his ideas and the ‘heart’ behind it, I knew it was something that I wanted to be involved in.

An idea came to me: “Hey, why don’t I create a product collection inspired by the plight of the poor & display them?” That certainly got me excited! So there I was, having my products displayed and giving free jewelry-making sessions. The participants commented that I should do more of these sessions since I’m quite good at teaching them.

As for LCSS, I was first connected to LCSS through my church involvement with the youth in LCSS as we have frequent gatherings. A friend gave me the idea that since my jewelry-making sessions were a hit, I could probably do the same thing again. LCSS welcomed the idea, as this will be a great way to equip the youth with skills that can be useful for their future. Therefore, we will be starting our first jewelry-making session soon.

When I started this business, I knew that this business has to be more than just about profit-making and passions. My vision for Her Adornings is to equip women and bless more people. You see, I don’t believe that I will only be able to contribute to society after I have made it big. In my own small way, I will start to help others even in this early stage of building this business.

2) You were previously a banker but left to start Her Adornings. What prompted you to make this career switch and looking back, do you have any regrets?

I’ve been in the banking sector for 4 years and after being a banker for about 2 to 3 years, I discovered my passion for jewelry making. I enrolled myself in courses, trying to find out whether this would be another hobby that simply died off with time. The more I learnt, the more I was intrigued by jewelry making. There is a certain satisfaction you get when you are able to complete a piece that looks really good!

Hence, I decided to devote all my attention to building this business. When I made the big decision to leave my job, a friend’s advice was that I should probably wait until I get married and settle down before I venture into this business, making this venture less risky. I’ve thought about it, but I know I have to give my dream a push in the right direction and start pursuing my vision as early as possible.

Sure, there will be risks involved, but hey, it will be worth fighting for! Hence, no looking back and no regrets for me.

3) How did you get the inspiration for hosting tea parties for your business and what was your experience with manning a pushcart in shopping malls like?

The idea came because I wanted to showcase my products to close friends and acquaintances so they may enjoy browsing and trying on Her Adornings’ collections at a leisurely pace while chatting and enjoying afternoon tea. Throwing tea parties is quite challenging because I need to pay attention to every single detail -from room decorations, food, invitations to the event itinerary itself. Simultaneously, I still need to design and hand-craft all the items. So, you can imagine the work that is involved!

Fortunately, I’m surrounded by a group of close friends who are very supportive and talented at the same time. I have an in-house interior cum floral designer, musicians, and emcee! Awesome, isn’t it?

Likewise, manning a pushcart is a huge challenge that requires dedication and effort. I manned the pushcart myself for two whole months and I worked from 10am to 9pm every single day, attending to buyers while continuously designing and producing new items (don’t ask me how I did that, I am amazed too!) It is really exhausting. However, I will not trade that experience for anything. I’ve learnt so much more than I ever could, met up with many precious customers and became more efficient with my “production line”.

4) How would you define Beauty?

To me, beauty is something that lives inside of us and needs to be projected through the way we dress, our attitudes and our behaviors. I don’t believe in talking about outer beauty without mentioning inner beauty and vice versa. What is important is what we have inside AND our ability to express it outwardly as well.

I’ve seen women who look amazing. But that’s not the only thing that caught my attention. It is how you feel when you are with them. There’s nothing about them that feels ‘stereotypical’. They are friendly, genuinely concerned about others, sincere and laugh a lot. These women are ordinary women, but they become my inspirations!

5) Share with us some tips on how we can match our jewelry to our personality/ style of dressing. 

I’m one of the people who strongly believe that your accessories can change the ‘feel’ of your outfit. For example, if you happen to be wearing a simple black tee and pants, you could either look feminine by wearing dainty, ‘unfussy’ accessories, OR you could go for bold statement accessories with say, a bright coral hue, that will make your look sensational. The possibilities are endless.

Having said that however, I would like to emphasize that you really need to choose accessories that you love. Don’t force yourself to wear something that you don’t like. If you don’t like it, trust me, nobody else will. Also, go for something that can highlight your personality. If you are a fun and cheerful person, try wearing bright accessories.

An important tip is to keep your accessories in one family tone. You don’t want to wear a clashing combination of a green necklace, orange earrings and a yellow bracelet! Most importantly, have fun trying different styles and colors! You’ll never know what will end up looking good on you!

Grace says: Sylvia is one lady whose guts I admire. She wrote to me asking me if I’d be keen to feature her on this blog and if we could meet up for a chat even though I didn’t know her at all. During our lunch meetup, I also found out she had brought samples of her designs with her, so that she could approach business owners within the mall to ask if they’d like to place her accessories in their shops on a consignment basis. I don’t know about her, but it’ll surely take a lot of courage on my part to walk into stores, asking for these opportunities to work with them and face a (very high) possibility of being rejected. I believe this pint-sized young lady certainly has the gumption to make her business succeed. Let’s wish her all the very best!

- $5 E-voucher Giveaway -

I’m picking 2 lucky winners and giving them each a $5 e-voucher to spend as they wish on http://www.heradornings.com.

Want to win one?

Comment here or Email me (gracewwg@gmail.com) with your name & email address and you may be a lucky winner!

*Subscribe to this blog and get all interviews delivered to you free of charge! Simply leave your email address in the subscription field on your right!

Interview with Joshua Luke aka Coach Luke, Master Makeup Expert

Ever wondered which beauty products bloggers REALLY use, instead of those they claim to use in their blog advertorials? In this blogpost, I share with you which products I use, and my interview with a Master Makeup Expert, Coach Luke!

I’ve met a number of female bloggers who have crazily thick makeup, such that I imagine they use a chisel and hammer to remove their geisha mask every night! What I have in my makeup kit will probably scare those bloggers ‘cos it’s all so basic:

 That’s it.

I’ll start with either Face Shop’s Raspberry Roots Essence or Bio-essence’s Day Cream as a makeup base, cover blemishes with i-nuovi’s Perfector, then go on to Za’s two-way foundation, Maybelline blush, Cyber Colors eyebrow pen, and finally my Shu Uemura lashes. And I’m good to go.

Psst…Watch the first video and find out what I have missed out. You will learn about how to choose the right foundation to suit your skin’s undertone, and what colors you should pick for your blush and lips.

 

Upon Coach Luke’s recommendation, I actually went to purchase an orange-colored top. The verdict: I still prefer pink. I’m biased.

And this next video is about SMILES. What sort of smile tells people that you aren’t ready to initiate a conversation? And how should you smile to let people know you are approachable and very friendly? Answers and more here:

And finally, discover what constitutes a good handshake. Plus, find out what Coach Luke’s initial ‘dream job’ was, before he became a makeup expert. You’ll never guess!

*Limited Autographed Copies* GIVEAWAY of ‘Fast Forward Your Makeup: 10 Steps to Create the Winning Look at Work and at Play’

- 5 COPIES ONLY -

 This is a full-color book bursting with makeup tips and there are even bonus segments to teach you how to select false lashes (imagine that!) and determine your face shape and do a color analysis!

How to win a copy: Email me at gracewwg@gmail.com and share one makeup tip (anything at all- from a product you use, to application technique, etc). I’ll compile all the makeup tips received for an upcoming blogpost.

Lots of thanks to: Joshua Luke – Signature Image Academy, Lim Jiahe – Hearted Moments Photography

[Behind The Scenes]

I-don’t-remember-what-was-said-at-this-point:

Signature Image’s lashes:

I got an autographed copy of Joshua’s book too!

With Joshua and his wife, Marianne:

 Stay Beautiful!

[3-in-1 Blogpost!] The Truth About Bone Marrow Donation, My Experience At A Boutique Spa, & Free Burgers On Meat-Free Monday!

When you do what I do, you’ll realize that your knowledge about various things increases exponentially by the week! This blogpost explains why I nearly stormed out of a meeting with people I’d only just met, what I’ve learnt about the spa and beauty industry, and why I may one day quit Prawning altogether!

First up, what people are not telling you about Bone Marrow Donation…

I was invited by an executive of a PR company to meet up with the President of the Bone Marrow Donor Programme and (upon my request) one of the donors for a “chat”.

I walked into a meeting room where video-recording equipment had been set up, apparently to film us when it was supposed to be a “chat”. I let the guy know I was inappropriately dressed for a “video interview” and so there was no video-shooting.

Later, as the “talk” progressed, he started taking photographs. I was very irritated by the distraction. Despite my discomfort, here’s what I learnt about Bone Marrow Donation:

Fact #1: The donor had signed up because of a booth at his school’s campus. He had not expected to be called up anytime soon but “a few months” later, he got the call and he did feel “scared”. The President requested that I state on this blog that the call came in “the first quarter” of this year, instead of “a few months”. Truth is, The Call Can Come Sooner Than You Expect!

Fact #2: The Doctor Decides The Method Of Donation Based On The Patient’s Medical Condition. Yes, there are two ways to donate. The Bone Marrow Harvest done under general anesthesia takes less time but is more painful. The Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation is less painful – the donor shared that short needles were used on his abdominal area and he could walk to Maxwell Food Centre for some chicken rice after the donation!). However, your commitment for 5 days is required. You can expect muscle aches and flu-like symptoms thereafter.

From the BMDP website:

Fact #3: It May Not Be A One-time Donation. Upon my probing, the President said that there is a chance the patient may require “a quick top-up” or you may be asked to donate again for another patient.

Dear all at BMDP, help us save lives. Educate us in a fashion that lays bare all the facts and let potential donors make an informed decision. If we decide to back out at the last minute because of something we weren’t told of earlier, the patients will have been given false hope which will likely add to their suffering. And, if possible, inform me in advance if you want a video-recording so I can look my best. It’s only polite this way.

[My Boutique Spa Experience @ My Cozy Room]

I was treated to a Hotstone Massage, Rose Quartz Facial, and a Gelish Manicure at My Cozy Room which is a great venue for private spa parties because of its “doll’s house” interior.

The Hotstone Massage was really good for getting rid of the knots in my shoulders and back [typing this makes me want to go for a massage now. LOL!]. Interestingly enough, the facial was relaxing but I didn’t fall asleep. Simply because the therapist didn’t leave the room! At most facial places, the therapist will say in a sweet voice “You have a rest first. I’ll be back soon” and she goes off to attend to other customers. At My Cozy Room, she won’t. You’ll get a head, neck & shoulder massage as the mask does its work on your face.

It was my first time getting a Gelish Manicure. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time for cuticle-shaping as the next customer was heading over. Hence, it was just some quick color & sparkles:

I had fun chatting with Celine, who left her corporate job at age 30 to start this spa.

First up, here’s a quick tip for ladies who buy ampoules: The concentration determines the price. If it’s inexpensive, you likely won’t know the content. It’s better to choose products which are “Made In Germany” over those “Formulated In Germany”/”Germany Technology”:

Before starting My Cozy Room, Celine spoke with beauticians about the business and they generally were unsupportive of this non-beautician who wanted to enter the industry, thinking her business was unlikely to survive. Hence, Celine sought to prove them wrong.

I found it interesting that her co-founder and business partner is one Kenji Lim, instead of another female. Celine says this ensures there’s an yin-yang balance. For instance, Kenji ensured Celine didn’t overdo the floral aspect of My Cozy Room, which is likely a good thing!

One USP of My Cozy Room has to be the BABOR Skincare range, which is used to  serve “1st class travellers of Air Emirates, Lufthansa Airlines, Ritz Carlton Hotels & Four Seasons Hotels worldwide”.

Check out My Cozy Room at:

56A Cairnhill Road, Singapore 229667 (Tel: 67320030) *Within walking distance of Paragon, Orchard*

 [Guilt-free Fast Food @ VeganBurg]

On the first Monday of each month, enjoy a Meat Free Monday combo at VeganBurg. You get an additional FREE burger with every combo you order.

Here’s what I ordered last Monday to share with my vegan friend, Amanda:

Amanda blogs at http://sgvegan.wordpress.com/ and she has been introducing me to the healthiest food places in Singapore.

Hanging out with her more often will mean I eat healthily and (likely) lose some weight. And maybe (just, maybe) I’ll be convinced to quit Prawning (and anything else that could possibly constitute ‘cruelty to animals’) forever. Hmm…  ;)

Interview with Alvin Lim, Marketer by day, Blogger by night

Alvin Lim

Online Marketing Manager, omy.sg

Blogger, alvinology.com

1) You’re a marketer and a blogger. Is this your dream job (combination, if I may put it that way)? Do you see yourself doing the same things 5 years from now?

I love what I am doing currently, but I would stop short of calling it my dream job as I still have to work very hard, clocking in crazy hours. The Internet media landscape changes very quickly and 5 years is like 50 years in another business. I am very certain I will still be working in the online media industry five years from now, but I am pretty sure I would be doing something different as the Internet business is constantly evolving. Change is the only constant. If I am still doing the same thing five years from now, very likely I am not performing in my job.

2) You’ve spoken about Commercial Blogging before… As a marketer, what sort of blogs grab your attention and what do you usually look out for in blogs?

Blogs with clean, reader-friendly layout grabs my attention. Good writing, complemented with decent photography and videos help too. Basically, the basics of Journalism 101 applies to good blog writing too.

3) You’ve done a 2005 paper on Ethics in Blogging. What do you think has changed since then and what still remains?

OMG! You really did your research well! Things have changed a lot since. Facebook was still small then and people were still using Friendster. I would think people are more aware of online etiquette now than in 2005, but yet at the same time, are more willing to share very private thoughts and material online, with scant regards for potential consequences. It’s an oxymoron. People recognise the wide reach of the Internet and the long tentacles of the laws pertaining to online discourse, yet at the same time, they are more flippant than ever with regards to what they share and post online via blogs and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.

4) How has Blogging/the Blogosphere evolved since you started your blog and where do you think it’s heading?

Singapore has an interesting blogging scene where you see many aspiring pretty girl bloggers who want to be the next Xiaxue. Yet there can be only one Xiaxue.

In the US, there are professionally managed content blogs like the Huffington Post, BoingBoing.Net, TechCrunch and many others that are focused on journalism content instead of personality-driven content like it currently is in Singapore. I hope to see a shift more towards quality content versus personality and controversy-driven blogs.

5) You share quite a bit on your blog, even your self-professed geek-ness. Tell us something about you that many don’t know yet. 

Hmm…. I am born with holes in my ears that causes a slight hearing deficiency in both my ears. They do not impact me vastly in my daily life, but they can cause me much pain when there is a sharp change in atmospheric pressure. That’s why I always have to bring a pair of army-issued ear plugs when I travel via airplanes. They help ease the pain during take-off and landing.

Grace says: Alvin’s job does seem like a dream job to me! He recently flew off with Scoot on their inaugural flight from Singapore to Sydney. Chua Enlai and Michelle Chong were also onboard and entertained all. How cool is that? You can read about Alvin’s experience on his blog alvinology.com.

And, if not for Alvin’s reminder about the Blog Awards’ nomination deadline when I was picking up a prize from a previous blogging contest, I would certainly have missed the excitement of being in the running for Best Individual Blog! Have you voted today?

Subscribe to this blog and get more interviews delivered to you FREE! [Subscription field on your right]

Enter the magical world of ‘Harry Potter: The Exhibition’ at Marina Bay Sands!

Note: Muggle cameras cannot capture the images of magical artifacts and hence, photography is not allowed within the exhibition! Step in for a magical experience and take away memories at the shop.

Photo credit: © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

I walked into the exhibition not knowing what to expect and walked out starry-eyed.

Right at the start, visitors get to experience what it is like to sit on a stool and be sorted into the various Hogwarts houses with the help of the often-hilarious Sorting Hat.

Also, I got to show off my Quaffle-throwing abilities (one goal is never enough!) and pull a Mandrake up to hear its ear-splitting wail:

I loved walking into Hagrid’s Hut and sitting in his ginormous chair (since, apparently, he wasn’t at home). There was a little sign which, funnily enough, said “Please Sit”…

And I guess all fans will love the boys dormitory room and go ooh-ing and aah-ing at all the attention paid to the details. The sheets also look like they have only just been vacated by Ron and Harry, and guards will probably have to be stationed there to stop fans from jumping onto the beds!

You’ll also get to see all the uniforms, costumes (even of the profs!) and their wands and all.

What was mind-blowing was finding out that all the Horcruxes are now under one roof at Marina Bay Sands! It was a spectacular sight to behold!

At the preview, I got to meet the Weasley twins. Both are pretty cute, don’t you think?

Thank you, Marina Bay Sands, for making me feel like a Very Important Muggle indeed!

To purchase tickets to the Exhibition: https://entertainment.marinabaysands.com/EventSynopsis.aspx?ID=4344

(Magical Tip: Book your tickets online as they are selling out fast and you’ll also avoid the long queues when you arrive for the Exhibition!)

Here’s something else that’s magical about Marina Bay Sands…

My blogger friend, Dawn, shared with me about a special booth at MBS (just in front of the meat-lover’s paradise that is Carnivore). It’s called ‘The Social Pavilion’ and you can snap a photo of yourself (or with your family) and it gets instantly uploaded to a specific photo album on the MBS Facebook page. You can also get the photos printed on the spot for FREE!

Here’s Dawn…

And the two photos I got printed…

With greenscreen technology, you choose any background you want, even that of the Infinity Pool! Though you’d probably have to be wearing a bikini for people to make sense of that photo. LOL!

Now, if they’ll just include a background with Harry and his friends…

Interview with Welson Ang, CEO of Expressprint

Welson Ang

CEO, Expressprint

Blogger, www.welsonang.com

1) Besides being a successful entrepreneur, you are also a blogger! Share with us what made you start blogging, and what you love about blogging.

Firstly, regarding the word “successful”, I don’t really see myself as being successful. I am still learning in business and am very humbled by some of the more established and well-known entrepreneurs.

Being an entrepreneur often involves networking. On multiple occasions, people have said to me “So you run a printing company… It is a very competitive market, isn’t it?” These questions led to even more questions - ”Why the printing business?”, “How did you get started?”, “You must have a wealth of experience, that’s why you decided on printing right?”

Very often, I couldn’t elaborate due to the lack of time. I took the advice of my friends and associates and started a blog to document my life, beginning from a chosen point 20 years ago. As I blog, I also reveal interesting “facts” about my life that even my beloved wife may not know about.

I fell in love with blogging as it is an informal way of expressing myself truthfully. Blogging about my past makes me feel very nostalgic. Sometimes, I can’t believe that I actually did certain things in my younger days. My past thus serves as a reminder for me to not take things for granted.

I enjoy blogging about my life and hope that my life experiences can also encourage other people.

2) You’ve mentioned a turning point in your life which not only impacted the way you live, but also the way in which you run your companies. Tell us about that. 

Expressprint grew steadily since her ‘birth’ in 2005. The rapid expansion of the business into multiple outlets won me the Merit Award in the Biennial Shell LiveWIRE Awards 2007, which gives recognition to both aspiring and successful young entrepreneurs.

At that time, I was a very proud person. I always thought I was the best. I actually had no respect for people, especially those in the same trade. I was so prideful that I threatened my competitors by telling them “If you are not for me, then, I will open a printing shop beside yours and start a price war with you. I am not going to give you a chance to retaliate at all!”

My marriage and family life went on a downhill spiral. I was under tremendous pressure all the time. My temper would flare up and my wife and I often got into heated arguments over the smallest matter. When our young sons took their cue from us and started spouting vulgarities, I knew we needed help in disciplining our children the right way.

By 2007, I had 5 Expressprint outlets (with another 3 scheduled to open in 2008)  in the best locations possible. I was at the highest peak of my career but also the lowest pit in my life.

It suddenly struck me that I should not continue with the way I handled my life. I was already a bad person and I did not want my children to follow suit. Action had to be taken.

I spoke to my wife. I held a very high regard for Christianity and decided to bring our children to church where they can have some positive influence from the right people.

The turning point, however, came when I found myself on the wrong side of the law. I was in the midst of suing several competitors and suppliers regarding copyright issues as well as delays in project completion, when greed got the better of me and I created false evidence in order to increase the amount of damages. I was very frightened, and with nowhere to turn to, pleaded with God, “If You see me through this situation and the defendant pays me the rightful damages, I will surrender to You”.

That Friday, my lawyer called to say that he received a letter from the defendant asking for an out-of-court settlement. They will pay me what I asked for and close the episode. God did His part. It was my turn then to fulfill my promise to God. That very Sunday, my wife and I responded to the altar call and committed our lives to Jesus.

Through God’s grace, I also managed to quit smoking completely. I have not smoked since January 2008. It was also in church where I learned the principles of good stewardship and subsequently gave up gambling. My marriage also improved tremendously after we applied the teachings learned in church.

In 2008, when the global financial crisis struck, my company was badly hit. To add insult to injury, one of my staff embezzled the company’s funds, and yet another, the company’s longest serving employee, left and set up shop right above us, bringing with her all our business contacts.

It was a low point in my life, but I persevered. The good business practices I cultivated earlier, like investing into company branding and maintaining good credit rating with my suppliers paid off, and I was able to prevent the company from caving in.

In early 2009, my company achieved record sales, and even today, I see frequent queues snaking out from the shop – not bad at all for a printing shop!

3) What are some of the most important business lessons you have learnt, especially in the competitive printing business?

I learned the value and importance of “having a friend is better than having an enemy”. When we are competing in business, both sides will suffer. The truth is, together, we have strength.

The most humiliating part of my business journey was betrayal from my trusted staff. Having said that, the betrayal may not have taken place if I had not been so complacent about business management.

In summary, do unto others what you want others to do unto you.

4) I noticed that Expressprint is giving out little cardboard boxes for business cards, instead of plastic cases. What other earth-friendly initiatives has your company implemented?

Our green initiative started in 2008. We are also one of the first to have our paper and cards “Green Labelled” by SEC. Our shops are also decorated with environmental messages and images. All of our shop fronts display the reality about the state of destruction the Earth is facing. We even came up with a logo, slogan and theme.

Slogan : Expressprint, ExpressGreen

Theme: Paper can be recycled, nature cannot. Make a choice, choose recycled paper.

In addition, we are constantly introducing new efforts to do our part for the environment. For example, we print using Eco-ink and soy-ink. The latest effort will be the introduction of Card boxes (made of recycled paper) to replace the plastic boxes for containing business cards.

5) What would you say to your teenage self, if you could give him some advice about Life?

If you have read my blog (www.welsonang.com), you will find that my teenage life was quite interesting. Given the opportunity, I will advise “him” to always be humble and accepting. Do not be so motive minded and spare a thought for others. Do not live a life alone.

Grace says: Read Welson’s blog and you will find that he has a “colorful” past, hence it is always interesting to hear him share about what he has gone through previously.

I’ve found Welson to be someone who is constantly brimming with business ideas. And it is no wonder that Expressprint is doing so well. You can check out the business cards that Welson helped design for me here: http://workingwithgrace.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/whats-in-a-namecard/

Know someone I should interview? Drop me an email at gracewwg@gmail.com!

Come back again soon for the next inspiring interview.