Right. So.

This would be my first mark on the Text 100 Malaysia blog. Hence, I shall write a first first.

I committed PR sin today. My first. Granted, it happens. We're humans. Heck, even machines and robots are prone to failuer.

Evidently, I can't spell failure -_- EPIC FAIL.

In any case, I'm technically forgiven. Right? But still? This was bad as it was the one thing I've constantly reminded myself NEVER EVER to do.

EVER.

Because I laugh at those who do. Karma. Whatever. For the record though, I never ever did commit such bad, bad sin till now.

I've been on the job for...one year, eight months, five days. A little less than two years, but more than enough media alerts, press releases, briefing books, speeches, contact reports to go by.

I blame the weather. And my yellow rubber ducky that sits and mocks me everyday with its grin. Don't believe me?

Do not be fooled by its adorableness.

So what did I do today? Text 100 newbies, take note.

NEVER, EVER. EVER send anything to media without bcc-ing the recipient list. EVER (repeated again for good measure). Not only will your seniors hound you, media folks will talk, seniors and media folks will talk to each other. And laugh.

Oh, suffer my shame. Woe is me. Let this be a lesson learned.

Picnic Pix! :D

Since our lovely Mei Ling has done so well in making her inaugural post on our blog, must be supportive and add some photos to the list too! :) I must say, Bukit Jalil Park was really quite something (barring the suspect navigational skills of SOME of the Texties!) and it made for a really good time, so on with the pictures!!

As if we needed more reminders of which country we were in…


Lee, we’ll have something to eat later lah! I’m sure wood isn’t quite a healthy snack – even if it has a lot of fiber!


This curious water feature was right next to the little Malay hut ML mentioned…the water was pretty gross though!


ML’s looking all relaxed…the afternoon out in the sun really did do us a lot of good (not to mention boosted our Vitamin D levels considerably!)


The resident “Dai Kar Jeh” and “Cili Padi”…


“Oh Noo!!” Libs (check out the cute hat!) and “Myyyee Bayyybeeeee” Corina (internal joke!)


As always, the first order of the day wherever we go…FOOD! (or drinks, in this case)


Mr Lian as usual…cannot live without his phone, even when he’s napping!! He even brought his EeePC along! Seriously David, we HAVE to do something about this gadget addiction of yours…

Could there be a more perfect combination with Taboo and food? Texties may work hard, but hey, we know how to enjoy ourselves too!

Out for a picnic in sunny KL...are we all crazy?

I was asking myself this very question sitting in a faux malay kampung house in the middle of Bukit Jalil park. The sun was blinding and it was bugs galore. As usual I was waiting for eveyone else to get there. And lo and behold, who do I see?... the second person to arrive was none other than David Lian. He actually beat everyone to the park. But slowly and surely eveyone else turns up despite some wrong turns and landings at a different park (consequences of listening to Corina and not following my map!)

To cut to the chase, the food was quickly scoffed up and we got into Taboo. No one wanted to keep score so the very competitive people slowly lost interest in the game and it got down to just anybody guessing the words. Before you know it, the questions popped up - when are going to dinner? can we leave now? and it was only 5.45pm.... Hai Peng where got open so early wan?

But with people distracted - david playing games on his e-pc, Vicky tucked into her book and some others just groaning on the mats, I made the executive decision to head over to my house so people could freshen up before dinner.

Enroute to my place, we lost Sashi. We all speculated that he had gone to see his latest lady love, but he insisted he had gone to visit his brother. Who visits their brother at 6pm on a Friday evening??

Anyway, dinner was at our favourite seafood place but I'll let someone else post about that. All in all, I thought it was a good outing as we got everyone off their computers and out for some sunshine. Thanks Eevon! We missed you especially during dinner :-) And here's a big welcome to our new Chief Entertainment Office - Radiance Leong!

We're going for a picnic!

Friday brings a CEO outing! Eevon is handing over her crown as Chief Entertainment Officer to Radiance and as her last hurrah, organised a picnic in the park. Sadly she won't be joining us for dinner as she has family obligations to attend to. But I'm sure all us Texties appreciate her efforts. You have to love a girl who actually drafts an FAQ just for the event. Snippet of said FAQ:

Will I be required to run?
One of the policies of CEO Outings is to never force or cajole you to do anything beyond your own free will. So if you don’t feel like running, we won’t make you run. We’ll just encourage you by means of splashing water at your direction or hanging you on the windmill if you choose not to cooperate.

Not that we need any excuse to dress casually in the first place, but David is taking it a step further by displaying his rugged Friday Fashion Sense.

Behold, his footwear.

Corina exclaimed in shock and horror. "OMG he's wearing the (insert Client name) t-shirt! And crocs! Ewwww!"

Lee just refused to look.

David of course didn't see what all the fuss was about. "Never seen crocs before, meh?"

Hopefully the weather is good to us with plenty of sun and the clouds will not descend upon our merry outing. Our clients have been duly notified that we'll be unavailable from 3pm onwards.

A picnic we shall have! And hopefully Libby will take lots of incriminating photos. *packs beer*

Now we know why the blog's so sporadically updated

Second week at Text 100. Beginning to see my in-tray slowly pile up with things. Now I see why no one updates this. Lack of time!

ML's been very firm with us, reminding us that we can't afford to be complacent in the current climate. Overall, clients are pretty enthused with what we're doing but there is still room for improvement.

We've had good news which has somewhat dispersed some gloom. At the same time, we have to be prepared for change. Recently I heard a big brand has dropped both of its PR agencies locally and opting to sign up with the big agency servicing the brand elsewhere. It was a global decision so it doesn't really reflect on the agencies. It could (and has) happened to us.

When things like that happen, you just have to shrug and wish your clients well. But losing clients because of disatisfaction/poor performance/being reactive instead of proactive? Word does get out about poorly performing agencies. It doesn't help media's a gossipy bunch who will actively spread PR nightmares around. I should know because I've been one of those 'smart mouths'.

It isn't enough to be the 'cool' agency who understands peer media. We also have to be good at the basics, getting the fundamentals right. It terrifies me sometimes because in some ways I may be ahead of the curve, while in others I'm practically a newborn. But so far, the Texties have been patient, gentle and a lot of fun.

They also work so hard I feel guilty leaving the office too early. But I console myself by taking work home. Some minor edits to a presso, formatting new media list, I should be good for tomorrow. First (real) client meeting so we'll see how that goes.

In the name of research, I bring you the funneh

The problem with being the most 'cutting-edge' agency where New Media is concerned: always having to come up with some new-fangled hip idea.

So I was fooling around with Pixton.com, an online comic strip generator and immortalised two of the most cartoony people in the office. That's David Lian and Eevon who both provide me free entertainment online and off.

Their conversation is a bit of an in-joke which really won't be funny unless you were actually there.

Jokes aside, Pixton.com's actually won an award for its quality spin on education tools. Think of the scenario - equip kids with computers, give them a storyline and have them craft their own little toons. No drawing, no hassle and a lot of fun. My little strip took me less than 10 minutes to craft. It's given me a few ideas for upcoming campaigns though whether they turn out half-baked or usable, we'll just have to see.

Worst case scenario, David Lian shooting down my ideas by saying: "For what, I tell you? For what!"

Attack of the Penguin Snatchers

Har, har, very funny, folks. My second day coming into work and what do I find?

My stuffed penguin, Tux, is missing and instead a picture with the words "Tux has been kidnapped! >.<" written on it.

A bunch of practical jokers, these. Wait till I bring my entire arsenal of action figures and stuffed animals! Let's see them hide them all over the office.

Wait a minute...

In other news, work is progressing swimmingly. Currently putting the long hibernating braincells to work with plenty of projects underway. Also helping out here and there, where needed.

One of the things I love about working in Text is that helping each other out feels like the natural, best thing to do. It's just a given everyone to pitch in and contribute ideas or manpower where needed. I guess that's why it feels 'safe' at work, knowing that someone will have my back as opposed to making holes in it.

Oh and Tux is safe and sound where he should be - guarding my desk from perpetrators of penguin crime!

New blood, new posts

*coughing at the dust*
Well, this blog hasn't been updated for a while, I see. BUT THAT WILL SOON CHANGE.
Text 100 now has 13 consultants, one of them our new AE, Ninie. Say Hi, Ninie!

Next to her is your writer, aka me. In a past life I was the dragon lady who ate PR noobs for breakfast. But here I am writing releases, calling up editors crankier than I am and putting up with the nefarious plans by the evil, anonymous penguinnapper.

Will save the tales for later, the Texties are all going off to celebrate Vicky's promotion to Account manager. Congratulations, Vicky! Well-deserved indeed.

Off to get as plastered as I can in one hour. Muaahha.