Holy Seat in Universities

Cheers to Rachel, Design Team and the rest of the team for a strong start in our Holy Seat School Tour!

And I thought I said, whatever materials are available hehe GO!

Rachel striking a pose

Go buy Holy Seat at your favorite stores. PEE IN PEACE!

Corruption Index

Check out the Corruption Perceptions Index 2009. Click HERE for the interactive map.

Tells you whether you bring change for tips, or something else...

Use Me and Pee in Peace

Rachel found this review online:

I started working in a rather large corporation where there are about 5,000 employees. Assuming that half of them are women (I think more judging by what I saw), you can just imagine the number of people that use the common bathroom. I am a bit obsessive-compulsive about toilet hygiene and so I usually have an alcohol spray that I bring with me when I use a public restroom. While lining in the counter of my favorite grocery, I saw this Holy seat Handy Spray Toilet Seat Sanitizer. It looked so easy to carry and use, and so I bought one.

I have often read that toilet bowls are one of the dirtiest place in the world. So I usually sprayed public toilet seats with alcohol. I substituted this Holy Seat. I sprayed it on the toilet seat before sitting, squatting or standing on it and I felt safer and cleaner knowing that the toilet seat was disinfected. It comes in a spray bottle which is can be easily hidden in your purse. I like that it gives off a strong lemon smell which makes the toilet smell better. The blurb said that after using the toilet seat sanitizer, I could pee in peace. And I did.

Rating: 8

I wonder what else we can do to make our 8 a 10? Shall we make our strong lemon smell less? Shall we tweak the size? JustCurious we are hear you. Appreciate the review!

Look for Holy Seat in Boracay

The next time you're in Boracay do check out Holy Seat in your favorite hotels. We partnered with some of your favorite like Sur, The Panoly, White House and many others.

Check out also the first Holy Seat sand art!

Holy Seat so you can Pee in Peace!

A fan poses

The first Holy Seat Sand Art

Holy Seat at White House

The Panoly is ready

Holy Seat welcoming you at Sur

What businesses can learn from Michael Jackson

Turn off your computer after reading this post. Go watch This Is It. I guarantee it will change you.

I am not a fan of Michael Jackson. At most I find him amusing and nothing more. That is, until I watched his movie. Now, I understand why he is one of the greatest persons that ever walked (or shall I say moon walked) this earth.

While watching I couldn't help but feel sorry for myself for my idea of being passionate about something is nothing... NOTHING compared to what he has for his craft. And if what you do everyday at work is not your craft, then I feel more sorry for you. Michael taught me tonight to put everything you have in whatever it is you do. To really put in your whole self, your whole heart, your soul in what you do. He did it in how he sang, in how he danced. Why couldn't it be the same for business meetings, for reviews, for interactions with customers, with associates.

I also noticed something unique when Michael was improving on the music of his team, he described it using words outside of music. He told his team, play it like "waking up in the morning," or "let it simmer," or "put more love into it." Could you imagine telling your accountant or your merchandiser to PUT MORE LOVE INTO IT? I think business should be that way.

I sometimes would get surprised when the camera pans to the audience and I see two dozen people jumping with excitement instead of a coliseum full of people... oh yeah it was a practice session. BUT how Michael performed is at the level of real performance. Businesses should run the same way whether they serve two or two million customers. It's always Show Time!

Towards the end, he mentioned that what they're doing is an adventure. I totally agree. If you want to play it safe, then go work for the big boys and be the defenders of the status quo, otherwise go and make change happen now.

Wana Join Us?

Dragon Edge Group is expanding and we are looking for amazing people to fill in the following posts:

• Asst. Vice President Sales
• Sr. Manager Supply Chain
• Brand Maverick - with a lot of science units (this is for Genesis Office)
• Brand Maverick - for a new project

If you want to take part in building one of the best run Asian organization email me at dennis@dragonedgegroup.com or forward this post to someone who might is.

PROMAP Slides

Thank you to the organizers of PROMAP (Production Management Association of the Philippines) for inviting me to speak earlier today. Here are my slides as promised:

How to Create The KILLER Product

View more presentations from Dennis Balajadia.

Will it work here?

I'm currently in Kuala Lumpur. It's a wonderful place with beautiful and friendly people. I've just finished a successful trip with partners and friends. Very soon Dragon Edge will be in her shelves.

If you've been here or somewhere close you've probably seen toilets that looks like these:

It's very common and you can find them everywhere even in modern locations. I guess it's what some people are used to.

Then the question is... will Holy Seat sell here? Or in countries such as Singapore where such toilets exist?

The correct answer is... I don't know. And anyone who says otherwise is a fool. You have to test it. Find a way to do it cheaply, or freely. You are never wiser than the market. It is similar to when Starbucks first hit the stores in Manila. The specialize in coffee... a lot of it HOT. And I was VERY SURE at that time that it will not survive. How can you drink hot coffee in a hot and humid place like the Philippines?

And after 164 locations of Starbucks in the Philippines (not to mention copycats)... I guess it works.

A Reminder on What's REALLY Important

I almost lost my dad last Tuesday. He had an accident. A big one.

There are a few things that hit you like a baseball bat in the head, and I can say that this was one of them. My dad is ok now. He's back at home, resting... recovering. He broke a few bones in his ribs, aside from a few cuts and bruises. It could have been worse. He is very lucky. I am very grateful.

When I heard the news at the end of my day in the office last week, I felt a scare I've never ever felt before. I was told he had an accident in SCTEX driving his S500 with my uncle at 4pm. The formula: SCTEX + S500 + 4pm told me that the accident is not your usual city traffic accidents.

True enough, the road accident was a major one. While at very high speeds his front right tire burst, virtually locking the steering wheel to the right and brought the car to crash to the right railings (or should I say flew over it) and did several flips before stopping several meters away from the road.

I ended up trying to get updates from medical choppers, driving to a hospital in Angeles, stayed with him until the next morning after all the tests were made.

I almost lost my dad last Tuesday. He is ok now. He is very lucky. I am very grateful.

I've lost a lot of things already in my line of work. I've lost great people, I've lost friends. I've lost businesses. I've lost money. I've lost sales. I've lost deals. But nothing, I repeat NOTHING can compare to almost losing someone you love. Suddenly, I had better perspective of things.

I do not have a perfect relationship with my dad, in fact it's a bit on the bumpy side. I've always been quite rebellious and this was always in conflict with my conservative dad. Suddenly, it didn't matter. As I took the rainy 2-hour drive to Angeles last Tuesday, my mind wondered the many things he did for me and my brothers all these years, and the wisdom embedded in them.

He used to bring me to his trips to Hong Kong when I was in grade school - an early exposure to International Business I'd say. He made me watch, maybe observe how he worked the typewriter to fulfill the orders my mom closed as they started their business - an early exposure to work ethic. He made sure he brought me and my brothers to school in the morning every single day - he knew his priorities early on, he could have easily gotten a driver for us.

As you work your calendar this week, as you fill your schedules with meetings and meetings... and more meetings. I hope you take time out to ask why you do it. Where does your family fit in?

My dad was given another chance at life. I was given a lesson on what's important. I am lucky that I am given the opportunity in the next days and years to thank him more, to love him more. To show my kids who their father's father is. To continue his work and be instrumental in helping more people.

What was left of the car after flipping several times.

How far the car was from the road

What's your excuse?

The best thing that ever happened to John T. Unger was when a crazy cab driver brought him into a backroom of a diner and held a gun at his head.

He says the event was life changing.

The second best thing was when his career as a freelance print designer crashed together with the dot com crash of 2000.

A LOT of challenges, a lot of starting over, and now a successful career.

He shares with us a very important lesson:

The only way you can tell the difference between disaster and opportunity is to decide to make an opportunity out of every event.

Read his story HERE.

On Becoming Great

I'm totally absorbed by The Talent Code. I couldn't put the book down. Dan Coyle talks about how to reach world class and the truth about talent. And it's not what most people think.

Watch the video.

The Eat All You Can Trap

Stare at this ad.

I saw this earlier in Megamall.

I try as much as I can to avoid posting criticisms, however, being a fan of Haagen-Dazs ice cream (who isn't?) I think their current promo is simply wrong.

I know they've got to hit their numbers but Haagen-Dazs is sex in a scoop of ice cream. It is about indulgence, only the premium ingredients, the very best in consistency, taste and appeal. Premium Premium Premium. Not Smorgasbord. Going for ice cream buffet is one step away from having a live band, and then the grave.

My suggestion would be to come up with premium ice cream plates. Mixing flavors here and there, adding a brownie, or maybe fresh strawberries arriving at the same buffet price or even more.

Last week I saw Shanghai people ordering Haagen-Dazs "teriyaki plate" for P1,100+ Everything of course were made of ice cream.

WTH Matthew!

I think we need more people actively engaged with world-class blogs and authors such as the example HERE.

I'm proud coming from the same school, the same course.

The key I think is to be active online. To seek out the very best content in your narrow field of interest and interact daily with the experts.

I'll be speaking LIVE! at Promap's 22nd Convention

Just said YES to friends to share my knowledge on marketing.

This time around I won't be surrounded by lying marketers but by more technical manufacturing people. This is my 2nd time to speak at PROMAP (Production Management Association of the Philippines) and I look forward to the success of their event.

The officers were kind enough to allow me to change the title of my talk to

Innovation: How to create the "KILLER PRODUCT"

I'm not yet sure how I'll approach the topic, but I know it'll be fun.

If you're a member of Promap, in manufacturing or just want to see how the guys in the factory hit it, call Jeenel Canillo, Secretariat at 533-5720, 0928-3757875

Follow the money

Read two articles today both on luxury brands. Both talks about the global recession HOWEVER one talks about an upswing - and to no surprise it's China! And the other about a downswing - in the previous luxury-haven Japan.

Click HERE for the Downswing

Click HERE for the Upswing

Attend if you're free

If you're reading this blog from the Philippines I highly suggest you go to EntrepSummit '09.

Three of the speakers have personally influenced me in my career.

1. MR. RUDY ANG taught me Finance in Ateneo. I still use his siopao example everytime I go back to the basics of cash flow.
2. MR. EDWARD LEE was my first boss. Everything I do in consumer goods, I've learned from him - from the stock market.
3. MR. MARK RUIZ - at first I thought what they're doing was a joke. I went to Hapinoy office and BOOM! They really can do sustainable social entrepreneurship. BRAVO!

I think the seminar is worth every Peso!

Something new

Get ready for something new. Mockup approved! Looking to WOW more of our dear customers!

If I ever get stuck in an airport... let it be Singapore Changi

I'm not stuck. I'm just waiting for my connecting flight for several hours. Thou going around Changi I don't get bored. Watch the movie The Terminal to have an idea.

The things I did today: did plenty of email, went for a bit of shopping, finished a book, watched a movie in a theater, watched Discovery HD, played xbox 360, ate chinese food, ate continental food, drank coffee of 2 types, slept flat on a bed.

A few things that caught my attention:

Finally! A solution to the confusing recycling bin - now I know where to put what where

If you have the gear & time you can hit the gym while waiting for your plane

They even have a beautiful garden at the 2nd floor. Yes it's a plane taking off in the background

Starbucks Instant Coffee

The title itself is ridiculous.

Starbucks for me used to be nice chairs, good decor, great coffee, predictable third place. After another supermarket item. .. I'm not sure I know what it means anymore.

Read more at CNNMoney.

Cycles and Cradle Billboards!

Went around earlier today to take photos of our baby billboards. These are for our dear brands Cycles and Cradle. It is a season for giving birth now in the Philippines, these are babes made last Christmas.

I wouldn't be surprised because December is VERY fertile ground for baby-making. Don't believe me? You have these working for babies every December: 13th month pay & other bonuses, vacation, gifts, happy people, festive season, good food, cold weather, and putukan.