A great example of how a brand can grow using social media, creating a simple story and making sure a quality product is constantly delivered.

It is wonderful to read how others have experienced the act of being and entrepreneur. Here are Anita Roddicks’ words borrowed from “Business as Unusual”

As the founder of The Body Shop, I often get asked to talk about entrepreneurship – even by hallowed institutions like Harvard and Stanford. It makes me smile that the Ivy League is so keen to ‘learn’ how to be an entrepreneur, because I’m not at all convinced it is a subject you can teach. How do you teach obsession, because more often that not it’s obsession that drives an entrepreneur’s vision? How do you learn to be an outsider, if you are not one already? Why would you march to a different drumbeat if you are instinctively part of the crowd?

I never set out to be an entrepreneur, I’d never heard of the word and I was not interested in its definition. But since those early days I have had plenty of experience of the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and I’ve met many other entreprenuers I have liked and admired, so I fell I can discuss the subject with a little authority. After a quarter of a century trying to reinvent business, I’ve come to the conclusion that the qualities you need to be a natural entrepreneur include a combination-at least-of the following;

• The vision of something new and a belief in it that’s so strong that it becomes a reality. Vision-making is also obsessive, a type of psychopathology. It is inherently crazy. If you see something new, your vision usually isn’t shared by others.

• A touch of craziness. There is a fine line between an entrepreneur and a crazy person. Crazy people see and feel things that others don’t. An entrepreneur’s dream is often a kind of madness and it is almost as isolating.

• The ability to stand out from the crowd because entrepreneurs act instinctively on what they see, think and feel. And remember these is always truth in reactions.

• The ability to have ideas constantly bubbling and pushing up inside until they are forced out, like genies from the bottle, by the pressure of creative tension. But all these ideas are nothing, of course, unless someone can expedite them, which is where you thank God, or the gods, or both, for the people who have that skill.

• Pathological optimism. Everything is possible for an entrepreneur. This extraordinary level of optimism bears no relationship to any degree of planning.

• A covert understanding that you don’t have to know how to do something. Skill or money isn’t the answer for the entrepreneur, it is knowledge; from books, observing or asking.

• Streetwise Skills. Most of the entreprenuers I’ve met have had an innate desire for social change. They understand that business isn’t just financial science, where profit is the sole arbitrator, it is just as much about taking part in political and social activism, using products as conduits for social change. That gives entrepreneurs enormous freedom to experiment with that they want, but it also makes then dysfunctional in hierarchies and inert structures.

• Creativity. Of course it’s easy to talk about creativity, but in essence it remains a mystery to me. I have never heard or read anything that explains how people behave creatively, despite the fact that we constantly glory in human creativity. Einstein said ‘Imagination is more important than knowledge.’ Dali claimed: ‘You have to systematically create confusion, it sets creativity free.’ Maybe creativity is magic, maybe it is bestowed by the gods, maybe it is just polished opportunism. I just don’t know and I’ll probably go to my grave not knowing.

• The ability to mix all these together effectively. For me, becoming an entrepreneur was a consequence of simply trying to blend the skills I possessed into creating a livelihood. I learned by experience. So I don’t believe you have to go to college and study at the feet of some nutty professor of entrepreneurship. I think you have to ask questions of everyone, and never stop asking questions, and knock on doors to seek as many different opinions as exist. Then you have to make up your own mind and plough and furrow. I have never read a book on economic theory or business theory and I don’t intend to. It’s not theories that interest and excite me – it’s the doing that keeps me going.

• And finally, every entrepreneur is a great storyteller. It is story telling that defines your differences.

Always a pleasure to support X’Ho as he shares his unique point of view with the rest of us .

click here for more information

We are looking for PR freelancer or agency that has relevant experience in the Art world that can liaise and co-ordinate the press in International Art Media as well and local online and offline press in China / Taiwan and HK. We are looking for a innovative person(s) who can maximize resources to create unique initiatives that will capture media interest to get a major share of voice. They need to be skilled at pitching to the media.

Ideally the candidate would have worked in both an agency as well as on the client side [hopefully art related] in China and have a firm understanding of how to deal with government organizations. Spoken and written Mandarin and English is a must with Cantonese being a optional bonus… Initial period starts in April 2011 for 12 months with an option to extend for a further 12 months.

For further information about the foundation please visit our website.

Localization was the key message from the MTV team. They are looking at developing new formats as well as taking existing MTV IP and localizing for the SEA market. My last project with the channel was over 10 years ago when Ericsson partnered with them on the Virtual VJ Lili.

As this is a call for proposal I am looking forward to developing some ideas with James @ HURRAH! to pitch to them and see if we can get another production up and running after the successful completion of our last collaboration project, Mad Science Manual, which is current screening on OKTO.

The following is borrowed from “business as unusual” by Anita Roddick. I am currently reading this book again and her words are a gift to us all…….

So here is my advice to entrepreneurs. The first things is: BE OPPORTUNISTIC. Successful entrepreneurs don’t work within systems, they hate hierarchies and structures and try to destroy them. They have an inherent creativity and wildness that is very difficult to capture. But they have antennae in their heads. I can walk down the street anywhere in the world and I have always got my antennae out, evaluating how what I am seeing can relate back the BODY SHOP, whether it be packaging, a word, a poem, even something in a completely different business. I find myself saying: ‘How could this relate to us, how could it work for us?’

When I was in a market in India, I saw all these stainless steel cans carrying water. I looked at the volume of shapes all in the same material and thought what a wonderful packaging they would make. San Francisco is famous for its sour dough bread. When I was last there I began wondering what it would be like if you made a raw sour dough mixture and washed your body with it. Then I began experimenting with balsamic vinegar. I knew it was good for hair but I wanted to see whether it could be similarly good on the skin. I am always thinking of things that might go on the hair and body, looking for different textures, different ideas. So, tap the energy of the opportunist.

The second piece of advice is this: BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IDEAS. Entrepreneurs wan to creat a livelihood from a idea that has obsessed them. Not necessarily a business, but a livelihood. Money will grease the wheels, but becoming a millionaire is not the aim of an entrepreneur. In fact, most entrepreneurs I know don’t give a damn about the accumulation of money. They are totally indifferent to it – they don’t know what they earn and they don’t care. They don’t care about the nameplate culture. What gets their juices going is seeing how far an idea can go.

To read Anita’s favorite entrepreneurs click here

Hey, I’m Amber Rae, the Domino Project’s chief evangelist. Lovely to meet you.

Exciting news! The Domino Project is creating a worldwide street team. We’re on a mission to create a domino effect around the world, spreading ideas to people who care. We’re reinventing publishing, and that means we need a bunch of smart, vocal, passionate and connected people to help us do so.

How do you know if you’re a good fit? You are: a digital native who blogs, tweets and instagrams like nobody’s business. You take risks, challenge conventions, and care about reinventing outdated systems. You’re inspired by great thinkers like Seth Godin and organizations like TED, and you love spreading ideas that matter. When you read a great book, you immediately want to share it with others. It changed your life and you want it to change other people’s lives too. If that sounds like you, this is your opportunity.

In exchange for spreading the word, you’ll get a first look at new books, a platform for hosting fun events and other exclusive offers.

We’ll pick 50 or so people and the mission will last around six months, with the potential to go longer. We’ve never done this before, and though we certainly might fail, we’ll definitely create impact.

Apply here by this Friday, January 28 at Noon ET. While we can’t respond to everyone’s submission, we’ll connect with those who make the team by February 1. Good luck.

Amber Rae is The Domino Project’s chief evangelist. You can find more of Amber at heyamberrae.com or on Twitter @heyamberrae.

A great way to spend an afternoon wondering around the Marina Sands Exhibition center at the inaugural Art Stage Singapore. Thanks to CHRISTIE’S for the VIP ticket as appreciated being able to have a look without the crowds.

Was great to see such a diverse range of art from around the world. Enjoyed the PHUNK studio stand and looking forward to more work from them this year.

Below is a collection of the works I enjoyed.

And my show favorite would have to be this simple little piece that is a get take on some old school technology.

John Elkington provided a captive hour dialogue, sharing his learning, experiences and opinions on how we need a Radical paradigm shift if we and the planet we live on can survive the global population growth.

His personal positive view of the changes that the corporate sector are making to enable this was very refreshing…

Check out his website for further inspiration…

With james from hurrah productions at a event hosted by Media Development Authority and South West screen.

The range of speakers and collaboration partners were refreshing and the MDA boardroom teleconference facilities allowed for a great virtual meeting…

Were looking forward to the call for proposals…..