21st century shopping? Friend or Foe?

At the risk of sounding completely random, I'm here to share my "sorrows" on being a 21st century shopper. Drama queen much? Anyway, gone are the days when we absolutely have to get our butts off the couch when we need to buy a certain something, may they be clothes, accessories, make-up or shoes! The internet has opened doors to many things, including empty wallets. ugh. Anyway, here is my side of the story. I love to shop! Clothes are okay for me, I dont buy much bags but oh my god shoes. I love shoes. Ok I'm side-tracking. Saturdays would be my day of shopping, after a long week of campus and studying. Towards the end of the month, when I simply cannot afford to go more shopping, I spend my day watching TV at home, or go to a friend's house to chill, or head to the cinema for a "friendly-for-the-wallet" entertainment :p :p. It's literally that simple. But lo and behold, my fellow shopaholics. welcome to the 21st century, where the digital gap is closing down and we are, in a way, to say the least, screwed. If we do not head to the malls, the malls are literally coming to us in the comfort of our houses. And they are so comfortable. Choose, pay and wait for it to come in a few days. We dont have to go to the ATM to conduct payments. Say "Ola" to mobile banking! Aduh ribet deh! There is no such thing as not shopping anymore now, isn't it? If not the mall, its shopping sites. If we avoid shopping sites, our buddies in Facebook are also turning to salespeople. And the are so convenient, we can't help but to try it. So now what? Do we thank Bill Gates-esque individuals who have made the world so much easier? Or do we curse the fact that our shopping budgets are getting thinner and thinner as the technology advances? I'm off, lads, I think I like that pair of shoes on my friend's Sale album. Ciao!

Are You in Charge of Your Own Happiness?

English Vinglish is by far one of the best movies made this year and coming out from the cinema, it got me thinking...a lot...Have you ever realized how incompetent you are in a certain field? Have you ever felt so flawed that you shy away from yourself? Have you looked in a mirror and wished for a better version of yourself? You'd by lying if you said you haven't. Looking back at the past years, I realized I grew up with a lot of insecurities. Better looking friends, skinnier relatives, lesser grades compared to my classmates and so on. I was miserable, up to a certain extent. But you know whose fault was it? It was my very own. I was so busy looking up at others and forgot to take charge of my own happiness. I'm way past all that now and have learnt to be a happier person and for those of you who are still there, read on! :) Happiness is only defined by you and you alone. Remember, you are good at heart and your flaws, no matter what they may be, make you an even more wonderful individual. Be sincere and hold on tight to what you believe in, because like it or not, you are in charge of your own happiness. The world is sometimes a cruel place and what you do may not be pleased by everyone out there, but it does not mean that they can make you feel inferior. Live your life at ease and cherish the small things in life. When you learn to do that, the old life you are living now will feel unbelievable strange, in a good way, because the world as you see it, is from a whole new perspective. I know, I know, some of you may be thinking, "easier said than done!". Oh I agree, but we certainly must try. Remember, no body can make you feel inferior without your consent. Take charge and BE HAPPY!!! You are loved. For at least one person, you are their world.

The Power of Marketing

Let’s retrospect for a bit, shall we? How many of us have seen an ad, and instantly thought, “I gotta have one of those!” I can proudly announce I am a proud victim of marketing forces. You name it, I’ve tried it. From haircare products, skincare products, supplements to the quite recent iTouch.
Let’s face it. We rarely (not never, just rarely) buy items because they have excellent features. We buy the items because we have been INFLUENCED. It could be by an ad, by a neighbor, by social pressure or even the awesome specifications sheet because you liked the grain of the paper.

Mac product owners, lets high five! You and I are both proud victims of the marketing forces pulled by the famous Apple. Most of you have an iPad now, claiming that you purchased it due to “the need to stay in touch”, “its excellent features”, “convenience” and so on and so forth. I’m not denying it has awesome features but hey, Bill Gates talked about the invention of tablet PC’s in 2001. Did anyone give a damn? I don’t think so. And did you know there is an excellent tablet PC found by a friend of mine in China, which has features, quite close to iPads? Granted, when you hear “China” you mostly think “fake” but it all comes down to marketing, doesn’t it?

I admire the late Steve Jobs and his tactical marketing strategies and he has definitely brought Apple to its position today. Salute to u,Mr!
The power of marketing has such powerful forces that when you don’t think quite clearly, you get stuck in its prophecies and it almost feels degrading to leave. Be careful, we’re talking about non-vital stuffs. Of course owning it is not necessary. Of course it will not dramatically change your life. But when you eat an ice cream, do you think of the proteins that will enhance your body? You don't, it just feels nice eating it at that specific moment in your life!

So, a good suggestion from me, as a marketing graduate, to all of you is that, think smart and shop smart. Moreover, do your research! Good ads don’t necessarily come with good products. The other way around works too. Rely on advertising for information, not decision. Cheers

How to Excel at Small Talks

Imagine this. You’re walking in a mall alone, shopping. You meet a really old friend and go “HIII ITS BEEN SO LONG!” and she says “I KNOW RIGHT! HOW ARE YOU?” and you go “GOOD AND YOU?” and she says “GOOD TOO, THANKS!” and then ……………………….. *awkward*
Small talks are never easy. I am a proud victim of super awkward moments and have learnt to cope up with weird situations as such. Well, not completely, but much better than the dorky kid staring at her toes. Here are what you can do to save socially-awkward moments:
1. Ask them how have they been, and mean it! Ask where have they studied, where are they working, how are their relatives, and so on. Don’t ask overly personal questions such as “are you single?” unless you want to known as a creepy nosy-body all your life.
2. Talk about yourself. Share about your education, working life, pretty much similar as the above. Be considerate, don’t go on and on about yourself. You may sound like a self-centered person.
3. Find something in common to talk about. For example, if she happens to mention similar interest as you, dig deeper. You never know, you might find out a common interest to talk about ;)
4. If you are with company, introduce that person to your old friend. They might save you a teensy bit from the awkwardness 
5. Be genuine. You don’t have to give them a huge tight hug if you aren’t up for it. You don’t have to compliment her bag if you don’t like it.
6. Compliment them! Say something nice about the person’s weight loss, newly done hair, new family or anything you can find. Remember, be genuine!
7. Still awkward? Time to move on! Tell them it was a pleasure to have met them, exchange contact numbers and respectfully leave. Guess what? You still have your self-respect! ;)

Try them out and you will see how easy and pleasant it is to meet old acquaintances!

How To Make Your Customers Happy

So, as newly-employed individual, I have realized that keeping our customers happy and satisfied with the service we provide is a crucial determinant to ensure you stay on the job for more than a couple months! Where we work will differ from one person to another, but wherever it is, we are bound to make em happy, aren't we? For example, if you work in a travel agent, your customers should be satisfied. I work in a school in the English department and event coordinator, so parents need to see that I am doing my best. Anyway, here are some tips from my personal hands-on experience with the "customers"

1. When handling a complaint, ensure you understand the problem and handle it with meticulousness. Be diplomatic and sure. Always make the customers aware that we are on their side and want to work things out according to their desires.

2. SMILE. This is so simple yet easily forgettable. Try not to panic, keep calm and look cheery while listening to them. No one can ever shout to an amicable person. Trust me on this :p

3.Be patient. If you lose your temper, imagine your customers! If you cannot understand what they want, slowly muster the courage to ask what can you do to make sure they have what they need.

4. Don't be afraid to consult your boss/employer. They will have more experience in this and providing they are as nice as my bosses, they will be more than happy to help you!

5. Never promise something you feel is not possible. There is nothing worst than having promised your customer something and not being able to fulfill them.


I'll end here to keep it simple, but follow the above tips and you are sure to plaster smiles on your customers' faces! Good luck!