I must admit that I am still very raw in running a business and learning from others could be the shortest way for me to catch up with many more experienced players out there. However I would like to share this true story about what we can get from sharing and exchange our thoughts and opinions with others especially with people from the same industry.
The idea to share this story came after few days I visited the 5th IGEM at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre which were held from 16 to 19 October 2014.
One lady businesswoman called me after I left the gov about 2 years back.I knew this lady from my days in Energy Commission when she had some works at our office in Kuala Lumpur and she has been regularly attending events EE event too such as seminars held by the government.
We she called be again, she asked me whether her company become an ESCO or not if they are just supplying lamps and lighting controls system with sensor and etc. Initially I was a little bit reluctant to answer and told her that I might not be the right person to ask since I personally was still very new and just about to start to learn on how to run a business in energy services.
However, she insisted to get my opinion based on my experiences before and after I joined the gov.So, we had some telephone conversations and what I shared with her were purely based my logical thoughts where any company can become an ESCO but finally the market will notice us on what we are really good at or specialized in. I told her that since supplying lamp has so many players from the whole value chain and her company must have something that really unique for the market to differentiate.
Then we had few more conversations to exchange more thoughts and information related to her business and mine which I shared more on what I was about to start...management consultancy on energy services.Then I heard nothing from her except she did sent me a Hari Raya wish every year via sms.
On 17 Oct 2014, I bumped into her at her company's booth at IGEM 2014.She looked very excited when she saw me and called my name while I was walking passing her booth.
She invited me into her booth and eagerly showed me items that were displayed.She also shared with me that they have taken my advice into their business strategy soon after she had those conversations with me.They are now specializing only on lighting controls and managed to tie up with several developers to supply total solutions for lighting.
She added initially they just secured few small projects but after a few successful projects, they are now more known for that which is as a lighting control solutions provider and involved in more big scale projects.They are now no longer supplying lamps at all.In general, she and her partner now agree with me by specializing on something, we can make so impact in business although we may start as a small player.
Before I left the booth, I told her that I am happy to see her doing better and wished them her the best in the way forward in that business.
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| All the best to you Wendy!With your commitment and dedication, I am confident you will reach greater heights and you will have all my supports as as an industry player and a friend.. |
Honestly I don't know how much impacts of what I shared with the lady but I am also happy to them doing well too.The lady also told me that they owe my partly for what they are doing now.This kind of real life experience really taught me something in this industry.
Among them are...
- Focus on our true strengths or what we can do best is important.
- We have to differentiate ourselves in the market based on that strengths.
- Alone we may be able to survive but to grow we need to have others to complement each other because clients expect everything from one single point and finally.
- All of us have our own strenghts or trade secrets but exchanging general ideas and thoughts about what we feel or believe about industry may open us into new ideas and perspective too.
IGEM is an annual event that I normally will try make my time to attend every year which I haven't miss it so far. At IGEM I will have opportunities to see some new applications and technologies related to energy efficiency and green in general.It also may open new opportunities when I meet with existing and new contacts from the industry by exchanging ideas,information and updates about each other.
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| With the President of Malaysia Photovoltaic Installers Association, En. Shazli |
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| With a potentially new client, someone form Proton who is looking for strategic energy efficiency solutions for Proton's manufacturing facilities |
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| Met an old friend Mr. Asrul Sany from the Energy Department of Brunei |
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| With Dato' I. Guntor from Gading Kenchana which one of the recognized solar PV players in the market |
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| My young and energetic friend who is championing green issues using his own networking targeting his and future generation, Gene Harn. |
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| En. Razali, a good friend who was on duty at KeTTHA's booth. |
One more special thing about this year's IGEM is they opened the exhibition halls to students on the last day where I have managed to bring my two teenage children to visit IGEM too.
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| Education outside the class...my children were very excited experiencing and seeing green technology applications at IGEM this year. |
