Re:thinking Marketing

Can America Think?

Kishore Mabubani is an ex ambassador of Singapore to the U.S. He's also the current Dean of Lee Kuan Yew School of Government at NUS Singapore.

At the forum today, he said that he's getting worried with the world's economic situation. In the past 60 years were alter the world war II ended. Whether you like or or not,  U.S. has been powerful stabize the word.  But now, the situation is different!

At the Goldman Sachs meeting in New York, that he attended, Mabubani understood that the market analysts are worry with two main issues: The huge deficit of US budget and the Oil & Gas price. The additional problem for US is for sure neverending war in Iraq. So if US is not strong anymore, all of us would be in the dangerous position. We would be lost because we are not familiar with the new landscape. Now, every country must be selft reliant. especially Asia. Can Asia think? or can America Think?

Service a la Ritz

Andy Lim is my Singaporean partner. Together we coorganize the monthly event "Globe" in Singapore. Yesterday, we met at the opening dinner of ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum 2005 at Ritz Carlton, Singapore.

While waiting for PM Lee to come, we were wining and mingling with other guests. When the MC was announcing the arrival of the Singapore's PM, everyone had to go back to their seats. And you know what happened? I was pushed by somebody and accidentaly pushed Andy also. Red wine was poured all over Andy's suit and made it dirty.

Feeling guilty, I was then finding tissues for him. But he was trying to look for soda because he worried that his shirt would be permanently reddish. So, one guy from Ritz approached him and offered a new Shirt as temporary placement. And, he promised to directly put Andy's shirt in the laundry.

This morning at the forum, I met Andy again and guess what? He got his shirt back. and he didn't need to return the borrowed shirt back.

Ritz simply means service.

ASEAN, ASEAN, ASEAN!

I just attended the opening ceremony of ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum, organised by Asia Inc. Forum, held in Ritz Carlton Singapore.

Tomorrow will be the full day session with prominent speakers from various countries. The event itself is called ASEAN 100, because only 100 people from the region are invited. Tickets are not for sale, but by invitation only. I saw John prasetyo and Chris Kanter from Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, Dino Patti jalal (SBY spokeperson),   Ltn Agus (SBY's son who is studying at Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore).

PM Lee Shien Long was the keynote speaker tonight.

Designed in Italy, Made elsewhere

I was traveling this afternoon to Singapore. While waiting for GA 828 flight to Changi,  I read a special Style & Design edition of Time which share how designers create their brands. The magazine mentioned Ralph Lauren of Polo, Christian Dior and Giorgio Armani as power brokers in the branded goods industry.

Similar interesting story i got from AWSJ today. I was a bit suprise to know that:

Valentiono is now made in Egypt.

Armani: made in Eastern Europe.

Celine and Hugo Boss: made in China.

Gucci: made in Serbia

Prada: made in Turkey

So what is the lesson here? Making stuff is easy, always. It is a low value-added activity, a commodity.  I remember one professor  at MIT who once said, "making stuff? well that is easy, Supply Chain? now that's really hard!" Designing (including designing your supply chains) is high value added activity.It is about creativity process. it is about imagination. Yet, designing is also about the effectiveness in touching the heart and soul of customers. It is about 'How to Wow' and 'How to make AHA'. It is about customer insight.

Countries with skilled labors will get the 'MAKING' accountabilities, while countries with creative people will get the 'DESIGNING' responsibilities.

The 'fair' job description in the flat world.

Australia: Neighbour or Stranger?

I just got back from Metro TV, for a recording of a special TV program which is due to be broadcasted in Australia.

Re:inventing POLRI

Sespim Polri (National Police School of Leadership) just organized National Seminar on "Indonesian Police Professionalism: Between Expectation and Reality" at its Lembang, Bandung Campus today. I had the honour to speak in the first session with Indonesia's Mr Reformation, Amien Rais. 

it's QCD, stupid!

I just got back from "Corporate Travel Management Forum" held in Shangrila Hotel Jakarta.  The forum was organized by OAG and travel management consultant with global network => BTI. They basically want to encourage corporations to "mind your corporate travel expenses" . In this forum, i told everyone that it is again about QCD. Travel expenses is quite often overlooked by many companies.

Interfaith

Happy monday to everyone.

This morning I stopped by at Mr Hasyim Mudzadi's office (those who don't know who Mr Hasyim is, i suggest to go Google) for a coffee, discussing so many issues. Interestingly, tomorrow he's heading to Vatican to meet the Pope and attend the International Interfaith meeting.

Sanjay Kao and EazyPay

Last weekend, I invited Mr Sanjay Kao ( Card Business Director of Citibank Indonesia)  to speak at my executive education workshop on “Rethinking Channel Management” held at Le Meridien Hotel, Jakarta.

Before he joined Citibank in 1995, Sanjay had previously worked for Unilever in India (Hindulever). As we know, Unilever is not only good in brand Management, famous for its brand portfolio, but also in its channel management.

Energy: Where do we go from here?

Perhaps not many people know that Indonesia has 40% of the world's geothermal reserves, one of the unexplored conventional energy. The problem is that, these reserves are covered on the Ring of Fire or the so called Plate around Indonesia archipelago,  which can produce magnificent Tsunami, deadly quakes, etc. But by looking through different perspective, THANK GOD they are here!!!

That's just one of the issues discussed last night by Mr Kusmayanto Kadiman at Jakarta Asian Globe meeting which I'd hosted. A good friend of mine, Mr Kusmayanto is  the Minister of Research, Science and Technology of Indonesia. He covered a special topic on "Energy: Where Do We Go From Here?"

Hope to update to you all again soon.

cheers!!