In this age where anyone can shape the web, we have a shortage of ‘normal people’. Here’s why it matters.

Have you ever seen the words "Subscribe to my RSS" in blogs and such?

You have?

What do you think, hun? Do you really want to subscribe to my RSS? Want to de-neutralize my car’s ABS? Want to hyperbolize the MMS and be my BFF too?

Talk to me, baby.

More often than not, when well informed robot savants who create websites go about, you know, creating websites, they talk like well informed robot savants who, well, create websites. And they want normal people to “get it”.

Sadly, normal people who use their websites don’t get it.

Happily, the best minds in the world see this as an opportunity.

Think: Why do people use one search engine over another? Or use one web application, social network, or email client over another?

Amongst different reasons, “Because it is easy to use” is one big one.

More people are realizing the need to make the web more usable by normal people. Not just in the interface, but in the choice of words. These best minds in the world will help brands communicate in the web, help presidents win elections by organizing the masses, and help any business get the edge in the age of the internet.

So why then are so many websites so difficult to use?

The worldwide shortage of normal people

Yes, my fiends, we have a shortage of normal people. It’s true!

Why? Because they turned into mutant people!

People tend to start off normal. Then, they decided to learn the language of the web, learn marketing, learn programming, and “learn” all this esoteric knowledge which converts them into mutant people.

They forget who they were: Normal people.

Or worse, normal people pay mutant people loads of money to do stuff they don’t understand. I see this all the time. Big brand pays ad agency who pays interactive agency who pays IT mutant graduate to ‘make a website’ and you end up with a 20MB Flash game which requires you to have a degree in aeronautics to meander. “WHOA THIS IS USER ENGAGEMENT HOLLA!” they holler.

Do we holla back, girl?

Don’t. Don’t feed the web with unusable junk. It’s cluttered as it is.

We expect marketers to know this, but they have not forcefully applied their consumer-centric thinking to web environments. This is still evident today, as new web applications, social networks, ‘websites’ and tools flood the market.

Will normal people return to save us from the de-humanization of web communication?

The ‘easy to use’ revolution

More interactive agencies, web designers, and programmers are getting on the human language, user experience design, and usability patterns bandwagon. Programmers, designers, and copywriters are getting in the loop. It’s been a hot trend for a few years now, I know, but it has not hit mainstream.

But it will.

Soon, companies will only want to hire these hybrid-mutant-normal-people, not super-mutants. Businesses which use hybrid-mutant-normal-workforce will get more customers consuming their stuff because it is ‘the most easy to use’.

What can normal people and mutants do about it?

• Become a usability expert on top of your current profession. Whether you’re a marketer, copywriter, programmer, or designer, learn it, and shout about it for instant career-differentiation. It isn’t hard to learn, just go on Delicious or Diigo or Google and look for ‘usability’ and ‘ux’.
• Use “Hallway Usability Testing”: Not just for websites, but ad campaigns too. Just get any random person from the hallway to use your web application, blog theme, Flash game, TVC etc and watch them fumble to grasp it. Experts say you avert 95% of usability problems with this alone.
• Buy a copy of “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug for starters. The philosophies behind the book will change you back to normal again.
• The next time you say ‘I need a website’: Remember, you want something normal people can use. And if you insist on being unique in how you want your audience to use your website, you might as well sell cars which forces people to use their hips to steer the wheel.

Being unique and new in your ideas and communication is powerful.

But forcing people to adopt new and unique ways of engaging with you costs normal people time and attention, which they might not have enough of.

Afterthoughts on RSS

Let’s wrap this up with a simple, practical example. The answer to my initial question which started it all. What is a more humanized way to get you to ‘Subscribe to my RSS’?

If you want to know what RSS is and what use it has, get this: RSS describes a way your blog posts (or any information) is output so other devices can read it. Like, say, when you want to know when someone’s new blog post is out, you can subscribe to their RSS with a RSS reader…OK Forget what I said. It’s mutant talk.

See this instead. (Can’t wait to get this in my upcoming re-design of my 3 year old blog) It’s one of the better examples of I’ve seen so far…

It’s taken from this original article from “Website magazine”.

So forget “Subscribe to my RSS”, just speak like a human! It’s a small step to getting more users to listen, and big step at humanizing the web, one experience at a time.

Cute “Don’t feed the dog” photo by jakobinac

Last year in early May, I gave up everything I knew to embark on a new adventure. The blog post I made about it kind of set the scene.

One year later…

1. Youths and their communities across Malaysia helped our team make YouthSays a real vehicle of influence: 150,000+ members voicing out on thoughts, issues, and helping brands with market research.
2. The same youths got together to make YOUTH’09 the largest youth festival in history with 3 day, 36,730 youths and 100+ activities.
3. We’re now profitable, well funded, have the right business partnerships to invest in long-term growth.

And most of all, we are equipped to focus on what we do best…
Build youth communities.

Now, what’s next?

1. We’re rebranding our company to Youth Asia to better reflect our business direction.
2. We start work on Monday a new office space to cope with upcoming growth, and work closer with strategic partners.
3. Immediately, we’re investing in building and enhancing 3 more youth communities in Malaysia.

As you can guess I want to get moving NOW. And I’m not going to wait for the new corporate identity, website, or blabla to come up, all we know is we need to get the right people on board, and make it happen together, so I’m just gonna type some stuff out right here while the world turns:

(If you’re curious about the roles, for yourself or friends, read on and spread the word. Leave a comment on this blog post if you want updates on upcoming job opportunities, or just to keep updated.)

Community Managers

Your primary role is to grow membership, activity, and happiness of online communities, being the face of these communities, bring them on-ground, then online, hearing them out, being with them, and working with them. If you’re passionate about a particular youth community, now get paid to do what you love, and become damn good at it.

We need a few different people for

• YouthSays: Malay-speaking female preferred
• A Young Women’s community: A female who feels for issues facing young women
• A High-School focused community: SPM leavers, If you think you don’t need to go college to get full-time pay, here’s the 1 year internship of your dreams
• A College/ University focused community: Fresh grads who were active in extra-curricular activities preferred
• If you already have visions of building and growing a specific community in Malaysia, talk to us as well!

You must have experience in moderating online forums, blogs, managing social networks, online groups, mailing lists, or online customers. And you LOVE it!

Even better if you currently own/ run online communities of your own, or have organized communities for different project online / on-ground.

Market Research – Analyst

• Your primary role involves servicing existing brands on their market research needs, carrying out research projects and delivering powerful insights and reports.
• You must have at least 1-2 years of research experience with any of the big research companies.
• Even better if you particularly enjoy youth research, analysis, and becoming an EXPERT in youth research.

Market Research – Client Services Manager

• Your primary role involves spearheading our entire online research business. You’ll be given an active, proven youth online panel of over 150,000+ youths, and community managers to support any youth-related research project you can bring in. Take it as spearheading your own youth research arm, powered by a support team and panel of your dreams.
• You must have proven track record in selling research projects for any of the big research companies
• Even better if you see the potential to carve a space for us in the research industry, and take it regionally.

Web Designer – XHTML/CSS

• Your primary role is making us look good. You ensure all our online communities, client project, youth projects and brand properties look great, feels great, is a pleasure to use, and validates with clean and tight XHTML/CSS.
• You must have a portfolio of work which demonstrates an eye for design and table-less XHTML/CSS work.
• Even better if you work well with Drupal or Wordpress

Ruby on Rails Programmer

• You primary role is building and expanding on YouthSays and other community platforms. Ensuring our entire business rests on code which works, scales, and makes you proud.
• You must have an advanced handle on Ruby on Rails
• Even better if you have additional web developer superpowers, and experience in managing development teams.

Interns / Community assistants

• You primary role is assisting any of the roles above.
• You must have a ‘work-horse’, ‘get-things-done’, work ethic, and 3 months of free time.
• Even better if you have some superpowers or exceptional skills to boot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I need to travel to?

Kelana Square, in Kelana Jaya. Google it for directions.

How much will I be paid?

For questions on salary, work arrangement and details details details, let’s just say, for the right candidate, we’re open minded to find the work arrangement which WORKS.

Who is behind Youth Asia? What’s the company background?

I’ve uploaded the not-yet-updated company background here. But it’ll show you who are the founders, what the projects are etc. Download it now and know more. Will release the Youth Asia one soon.

I have more questions for you!

I’ve experienced being attacked by hundreds of resumes and hiring related emails, and believe me, things get difficult.

If you want have more questions, include them with

1. Your professional CV
2. Links to your blog, twitter, social network profile if any
3. In your cover letter, tell us why you how and why you fit the primary role, and what else rocks about you which may be relevant to us.

Email them to careers@youthsays.com only ;p

Only eligible candidates will receive a reply.

How to apply?

You guessed it! Give careers@youthsays.com the following:

1. Your professional CV
2. Links to your blog, twitter, social network profile if any
3. In your cover letter, tell us why you how and why you fit the primary role, and what else rocks about you which may be relevant to us.

Only eligible candidates will receive a reply.

If you feel some of these positions suit a friend, email this to them as well.

Or want to work with us but not sure how? Leave a comment on this blog post if you want updates on upcoming job opportunities, or just to keep updated.

I’ll be writing more soon. Keep in touch yea.

My impulsive Saturday morning digression produced a photoshoot with Jules the party animal. Some of you may recognize him from the infamous Cat Got Your Tongue parties, or thegreydelay comic strip.

Yeah I know, he runs wild. So here I attempt to capture him: His emotions, running through his fur as he lounges on my Doof.

I’m not paid to blog about the Doof btw.

It’s just that my friends behind Doof created a product I have been wetting myself about as a kid: A huge, invincible, comfortable beanbag! Way to go Kelvin for a solid satisfying product, and such a witty tagline like “Plush Booty, No Cooty”.

I am a huge fan of the bag. And so is Jules…

Jules the party animal says:

“Captivity isn’t easy for a wild cat like myself.”

“The urban jungle can really wear you down.”

“Even cultured tigers like myself need a safe place to rest the weight of the world on.”

“Yeah. I use a Doof.”

“I spend hours on my Doof. Sometimes, I spend minutes.”

“Yeah. That’s me. Just sitting there growling to myself, re-asserting my dominance over the food chain. Without hurting anyone, of course.”

“Oh, and I do most of my reading on a Doof, too. I read, and read, and let it sink it in… Being the sensitive animal I am, sometimes I cry on it. My Doof tells me it’s OK to cry. It says it’s tear-proof. So I cry. And I feel like, like, everything’s gonna be OK…”

Khailee says:

Um, yeah. OK. OK Jules, that’s OK for now. Just stop.

Right. Where were we?

Oh we’re about done, actually. I supposed to get real work done today.

So if you want to continue this conversation, leave Jules out of it and get in touch with them via their Facebook group or email doof.industries@gmail.com, ask em what colors and sizes they have. They also do beanbag rental for events.

Updated: With excerpt of email replies I got.

Photo by Justin Mott

I sent an email to 100 people that night.

It was a twilight experiment with kindness. And dying for animals. I’m republishing it here just to see… what would you have done, if I wrote this email to you?

Heya,

I was going through my contact list on Gmail and picked out your name.

Slightly random, maybe, but not really….
I chose to write to you, for a reason.

There were hundreds of other names, but nah, I wouldn’t send this email to them. I chose to send this email to you.

Why?

Read on »

Add Comment

This time, the CD ain’t blank. It’s got mp3s from my playlist ‘lostandfound’, ‘listeningroom’ and a whole bunch of Philosopher’s Notes.

I’d prefer if my white marker tip wasn’t super fat though. The previous black dinosaur doodle was drawn with my trusty dual tip Sharpie. I could be more elaborate.

Any quick dinosaur doodle is always good fun nonetheless, especially if you have the mind and drawing ability of a 5 year old chimpanzee.

I leapt out of bed at 7am this morning, wondering what had just happened.

My body, surprisingly, is fine. Blistered, marathoned feet, aching trapezius muscles aside, my mutant healing powers must have took care of the rest.

My mind, on the other hand, was suspicious.

For the past 10 days I’ve survived on 4 to 6 hours of sleep a day, 1 to 2 very irregular meals a day, and called upon more mental and emotional energy than I knew I had.

Felt like I returned from scout camp. Or nazi camp. Ok maybe not nazi camp. I’m guessing people don’t actually return from nazi camp to blog. So yes, a really long and multi-tasking kind of scout camp.

But It wasn’t scout camp, either. It was delivering Malaysia’s Largest Youth Lifestyle Festival, YOUTH’09.

And my mind is still suspicious.

After all the punishing I put myself through, instead of ‘crashing’, I leapt out of bed at 7am, lay around thinking for an hour, did a bunch of chin-ups, and here I am, the only one in the office, blogging like you’re listening.

I know there’s a huge mess to clean up. And loads of post event work with clients, press, partners, volunteers, youths etc to follow up with. The road ahead is long.

Yet, I feel fine.

YOUTH’09 has re-affirmed that everything can be resolved if you’re looking for solutions. It has also re-affirmed to me that the practice of patience, kindness, and compassion always wins.

There’s also so much good stuff to reflect upon, soak in, and tie up in my head. And of course, the business direction for 2009 will be a real adventure.

So why is my mind is suspicious?

I admit, there is a part of me which wonders when I will give up, burn out, or get really beaten. Because really, the journey has just begun.

But I also know that it is this self-doubt, suspicious inner skeptic, which is the real challenge, not anything else. I know it’s this suspicion which prevents people from pushing through to achieve what they intend to. And I know, if I keep moving forward in spite of suspicion, nothing can stop me.

Thank you, friends, youths, volunteers, partners, and team for believing. Couldn’t have done it without you. Will write a proper thank you soon. Will clean up the office now.

Update: Part of this post was featured here in The Malay Mail, thanks Sheila!

If I knew my brief encounter with the Prosperity Burger at McDonalds would haunt me forever, I would’ve never made that order. But you know how it can be difficult to predict the future right? It’s much easier to blog about the past, and act like you knew it all along.

However, this story plays itself out quite differently.

Some men say that a woman can tear even the strongest man apart.

But with a prosperity burger?

Well, let’s start this story at almost midnight, on a recent Thursday. A very hungry Thursday. My gut suggested grabbing a prosperity burger from McDonalds (yeah I know, I usually avoid McDonalds, but I was in the mood for beef, and there wasn’t many beefy options at the time).

Little did I know what a horrible choice it would be.

Because it led me to “her”. Yes, her. She was standing right there, behind the McDonald’s counter in her clean white headscarf. Innocent. Her pleasant demeanor invited me to approach her, and initiate the conversation that would change everything.

Read on »

A few days ago, I danced alongside reps from IDEO, Google, Microsoft, IBM, Cisco, at MSC Innotech 2008.

Perhaps its not fair to call it a dance, although that would have been neat. Imagination aside, it was more like a series of talks.

Mine was a concise 9 minute session, directed at entrepreneurs who just got their pre-seed grants:

• Made a case against common perceptions of ‘innovation’.
• Examples and experience from managing a fast-growing startup Joel and I have recently put together.
• Definitely not one of my best speeches, considering the ANIMAL IN ME didn’t emerge. But I was still accused of being energetic, and there may be some useful ideas in there, especially for those from a tech background, moving into business.

(My full speech transcript is at the end of this blog post)

You can also download slides of other speakers’ presentations.

Speech aside, I met so many cool people at the event!

For example, you would never expect a Venture Capitalist (VC) to be like Chok Bee Wee, Managing Director of Teak Capital.

Chok, who invested in Jobstreet and helped groom them to be the hundred million dollar company it is today, is not your typical VC. She is straightforward and caring, LIKE A MOTHER. Feels like someone who will look out for you, and won’t hesitate to tell you to your room is a complete mess.

Then there’s Pamir, a VC from investment group Newtonmore Advisors in the UK. He gave us plenty of good advice.

We also bumped into successful young entrepreneurs like Bob Chua of Pulse Group. One of the more bobular dudes who spoke that day, his journey from bedroom entrepreneur to and IPO in AIMS in 33 months, has MOMENTUM written all over him, pushing the future of market research as we know it. At the rate he is going, he will easily be one of Malaysia’s most globally successful entrepreneurs in the next 3 years.

Got a pic with Ashroff, too, a familiar face in these circles! Another dude who makes you feel like family.

We also met two silly looking zombies who look eerily familiar.

And Ganesh Kumar, a real success story. Read “Going for broke” (Published by TeAM, in bookstores now) to hear his full story.

It’s worth the read.

Many early stage startups were also at Innotech. Like Socialwalk, with Tham King Yiew, who was ranting about bad experiences with web developers.

And how can I not forget… The MDeC Crew!

Life has been full of surprises ever since I set out to sail on my own. And along the way, friends have strangers have been very kind to me.

I don’t catch up with Roslan and MDeC team often, but in the background they’ve been opening up many doors to local technologists and entrepreneurs. I have personally benefited a lot from the efforts of the MDeC crew, including the invitation to speak here at Innotech 2008.

Lets have a look at a few of them!

“Good Vibes” Syafinaz.

Jamie “Rock Steady” Haniff

And Roslan, um, “Bakri” Zakaria

Thanks everyone!

Overall it was a great day with great food, great conversations, and we left Innotech having added validation of our business model, and added excitement to follow through with the journey we set out on.

For those of you who are curious about my presentation, here it is:

Read on »

After analyzing 30-years worth of national data from time-use studies and a continuing series of social attitude surveys, the Maryland researchers report:

• Spending time watching television may contribute to viewers’ happiness in the moment, with less positive effects in the long run.
• By contrast, unhappy people watched significantly more television in their spare time.
• The short, temporary pleasure of television is similar to addiction: “Addictive activities produce momentary pleasure but long-term misery and regret,”

So should you stop watching TV forever? How about movies?

Look. I don’t know dude. Go read up on the original article.

Personally, I don’t endorse watching TV. Or smoking. Or juggling hand grenades. They just don’t seem like useful habits. Unless useful = avoid tuning into your own ongoing drama a.k.a your life, your personal growth, and real issues.

Think about it. What if someone you knew spent the next month replacing the time they use to watch TV to tune into their own life instead?

How would their life change?

And our parents. We have to stop them! It’s scary how many hours our parents spend on the TV each day! Even more as they age. And they used to tell us to stay off the telly.

How times have changed.

I guess some people might actually learn stuff from TV. In the same way you might learn stuff from real life.

But what do I know. I haven’t watched TV intentionally since I was 16. And that doesn’t imply I did anything useful either ;P

In the end, the big issue isn’t just about TV. It’s up to how we choose to use/ waste our time.

Most people get ahead during the time that others waste. ~ Henry Ford

For example: We can find so many other things to use/ waste time. Who knows, maybe science will also show you that watching YouTube makes you unhappy! Or fat? Or cancerous? Or fat cancerous and unhappy?

I hope not. I spent 20 minutes watching this on replay:

And I spent an hour making this blog post. What a complete waste of time ;P

Photo credits: TV pic by joguldi Cat pic by cloudzilla

How many promises have you made in your lifetime?

Promises to yourself. Promises to your boss. Your mother. Your friends.

What if you have kept them all? How would your world be today?

How many promises do we make, both knowingly, and unknowingly. Because when you think about it… you’re not the one making promises… promises are made when people believe you.

A promise becomes a genuine promise if there is genuine BELIEF in it… for example:

A promise to yourself

You say to yourself, “I’ll go to the gym 3 times a week”. Do you believe yourself? If you don’t fully believe yourself, it’s not w very good promise is it. No belief, no promise.

It’s probably like a goal. And it’s like OK if you didn’t hit a goal, but its NOT OK to break a promise.

Promises are very different from ’setting goals’, voicing out your intent, and ‘trying your best’. Promises have a different weight and effect on those who make them, and those who believe them.

A promise to others

As a brand owner / marketer, let’s say your product says “Gives you radiant skin”. If the customer believes you, your product had better damn well live up to it, or you’ll be breaking a promise, and losing repeat customers, and failing in business.

When you look at a brand, what do you expect from it, what do you believe about a brand? The moment your product is out there, people may buy into it, and suddenly, you’re making a promise whether you like it or not.

Marketers talk about a BRAND PROMISE - and they should keep it.

Khailee’s Promise

I previously “mentioned” that I would show you my latest Halloween costume, right? And if you believe me, that’s as good as a promise.

And I will stay true to it:

So here you go. I was dressed as SERENA WILLIAMS.

World number #1 baby!

Here I am trying to be a tennis player, hitting on girls:

It was fun at first, then it got uncomfortable (for onlookers, too), as my wallet, handphone, carkeys and such was in this waist pouch underneath the front of my skirt. So I had to like, play pennis whenever I answered the phone.

Anyways, where was I. Oh, promises.

Big Promises

Just a closing thought.

There’s a lot of power in keeping our promises. Shared promises can unite nations. And shared promises kept, will be completely worth the effort put into keeping them. (Hint hint Anwar or Obama)

The last 6 months of my life has been the most intense, mostly because I’ve been focusing every working hour on keeping my promises, to my clients, to my team, and to myself. And because so many young Malaysians and brand owners believe in YOUTH’09 and YouthSays, it creates very big, shared promises, which once kept, I know will completely be worth the effort put into keeping them.

//

Promises VS Goals idea, thanks to MindValley and Bill Bartmann

The tennis skirt and racket thanks to Xinch