Supposed to work as usual, but had to report to the agency's office for a meeting......and that lasted for more than 4 hours. All that just to discuss about a drop in WP7 sales (more like just 4 phones) compared to the previous week and one of the 'big shots of Microsoft's retail and marketing department is making a huge deal out of it. A plan to cut our pay and draft a new contract was considered. Obviously, the team of promoters, including me, was somewhat demotivated as our task became daunting yet we're paid less in return. The market share for the WP7 OS is negligible, coupled with a lack of advertising (at least in Singapore) isn't a good thing. Hence promoting it is definitely a challenge given that there are 'freer' alternatives out there (ahem ahem.....Android) and its software and hardware restrictions and standards aren't appealing to the mass market. Now I'm waiting for another meeting and on the bright side, work is likely to be cancelled today:)

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4:42 PM

20110223

Most say A Level results will be out on 4 March this year. I've read that such an assumption is made just because the results were released on the 6th and 5th for 2009 and 2010 respectively. If such things can be thought of, the results can possibly be released on the 1st (6-5) or the 11th (6+5) as well.....till I found out on the SEAB site that they will be out tentatively in between the 3rd and 7th. Then the SMU open house invitation came, and the event's happening on the 5th and 6th. It seems like the 4th seems like the real deal. Oh shit, it's next week.

word it the day: headache

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12:27 AM

20110218

It's already Friday and I haven't sold anything yet. Well that can be categorised into two situations: I suck in the retail world, or the Starhub stores I'm posted to are jinxed. Hmmm I choose the latter. From the 5th to the 11th (before my promotion job started), no WP7 phones were sold at Bugis and Marina. Now, even with me around, there's no difference so far. Managed to convince a few to reconsider getting a WP7 phone, but it's just that. But this job isn't really about sales. It introduced me to various kinds of people, both Singaporeans and foreigners. Had to explain a whole lot on how mobile contracts and the Internet work to an old man who already has a phone line, but had no idea on what he had signed up for. The funny (or maybe fulfilling) thing is, he called me his 'tutor'. Well I'm glad to be of help of course. Anyway, I'm tired of slacking around and watching tv during work.

Other than work, today's actually the day I've been looking forward to for the past month. It's the release of Britney's music video for Hold It Against Me. The video's definitely one of the best. Nothing is without its criticisms though. The thing I don't fancy about it is its' choppiness. Too many different shots and angles every few seconds just like the video for '3'. There wasn't a long, continuous shot. And it's also a damn commercial for Sony and PlentyOfFish.com! Just watch the video below and judge:

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5:23 PM

20110212

Just came back from work at the Starhub shop in Bugis......overall it's not even considered a job; more like slacking and watching HBO, Discovery Channel and some Chinese channel displayed across 4 TVs behind where I stood. As expected, majority of the day's sales went to the iPhone 4, the minority consisted of Nokias and Samsungs. Yes, no WP7 phone at all. Apple should seriously setting up their regional headquarters here, given the ubiquitous presence of their phone. It's kinda depressing that you didn't manage to indirectly sell something you're promoting. Well at least sales are calculated by percentage. Microsoft gave the WP7 team (just 7 people) huge motivation which is a 4D3N trip to Japan. Unless my sales pick up, I'll never be able to be in that trip. Oh and it's in May. That means that no matter what, I have to give it a miss if I manage to be the top promoter...... Can't wait for Marina tmr.....

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update (13.2): When I mentioned that I can't wait for Marina, obviously I was being sarcastic. It's almost like a ghost town here but it's expected since the area will only be busy during peak hours every weekday. Marina Bay Link Mall is awesome but built quite ahead of time. Like Citylink Mall, the underground mall is supposed to connect 2 MRT stations, and since MBLM is meant to be connected to the future Downtown MRT station, that explains why it's like a ghost town now. Not many know about its existence, just office workers and those who like to wonder around and stumble into places of interest. Essentially, it's been less of doing my job, and more of watching the Discovery Channel and MTV from the TV beside me. The TV and laptop are my only 'friends' as I'm the lone promoter here:( At least there's Starbucks here, and I end work at 7.30pm!

word of the day: boring

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9:58 PM

20110208

My bus (bus 5 to be exact) just went to the wrong road! That actually made me quite excited because I've been waiting for such a thing to happen to me....Anyway, I just got back from the Microsoft SEA HQ in Raffles Place for my job training. Got to know how to attract customers and sway them away from phones operating systems other than Windows Phone 7. Learned about some secrets too, but it isn't much. And as always, my job got postponed but this time it's only for a few days. Can't wait for my free phone!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

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8:29 PM

20110203

Happy rabbit year! Just staring at the tv watching some random CNY show from China. They had this segment dedicated to foreigners speaking in Mandarin. Globalisation has made this quite common as people learn foreign languages, but seeing a black woman singing in Chinese is so weird!

What's different this time? Come to think of it, it's the first time in 12 years that I don't have homework to worry about, got my first red packet 2 days ago (from my boss, out of many people), and longing over the fact that there's a Chinese family out there celebrating CNY, unaware that they have more relatives to share the festivites with.........

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

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4:26 PM

20110202

Saw a guy with bright red hair at Starbucks yesterday and upped my courage and urge to dye my hair blue. Come on, if Marge Simpson and Milhouse Van Houten can pull it off for more than 20 years, why can't I? Oh yeah, it's because I have short hair hence the 'feat' wouldn't be worth it. Damn.

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2:42 AM

20110201

Just got back from the airport with Pris and Nat. Now I'm waiting for my sister to get off from the computer and strengthen my current computer-related addiction: Sims 2. Yeah, I know that I'm kinda slow as the third instalment is already out there for ages but I'm restricted by my desktop's outdated specifications. Chinese New Year is around the corner (what corner?) and that means the shopping havens around the country will be temporary ghost towns. Next week I'll be giving up my freedom in return for the title of 'full-time Windows Phone 7 promoter'.

Things like these are clear signs that my teenage years are nearing an end and my task as a fully-fledged adult looms. My mother has ended her 18-year stint of being Fikril's allowance-provider since I've began working and NS is in 4 months' time. Well whether I can actually undergo the latter depends in that one thing bobbing in and out of my mind, the A-Level results. I've done my best and I don't wish for anything lower than a B. Urrrggghhh.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.6

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11:24 PM