pepperconn?s Groupware Manages Your Social Media From End-To-End

Posted by Daniel on 6/08/10 ? Categorized as Feature Story

Pepperconn enables marketers, publicists and agencies and to manage social content, jobs and measure return-on-investment of their social media campaigns from a single dashboard.

Founded by Adrian Teo, Singapore-based pepperconn provides enterprise-class social media solutions ? ranging from consultancy, project management, a unique software-as-a-service (SaaS) that enables marketers, PR folks and agencies to self manage their social media campaign from a single dashboard, as well as access a quality talent pool of talents ? writers, bloggers, photographers, video producers, models, web developers, etc.

Adrian was involved in creating social networks back when he was working for SingTel and Samsung Asia back in the days when there was only Friendster. While managing those campaigns, he was frustrated that there wasn?t a common platform where he could have real-time visibility to manage campaigns. ?Strangely enough, social media campaigns weren?t very social for the enterprise user,? Adrian recalls. ?It was all still very old school – these issues plagued not only corporate marketers but the agencies that managed (these) social media campaigns.?

It was against this backdrop and the increasing adoption of social media adoption by enterprises that Adrian decided to take a leap of faith to start pepperconn. ?My goal is to create tools, resources and methodologies to address the challenges faced by businesses in their social media marketing, PR, branding and customer engagement activities,? says Adrian.

What is pepperconn?

pepperconn?s Groupware enables marketers, publicists and agencies and to manage social content, jobs and measure return-on-investment of their social media campaigns from a single dashboard. Content can be created, managed and published to multiple websites or social networks, and conversations and conversions measured. Projects can be outsourced to pepperconn?s talent database as well. Interesting, there?s a collaborative function where users can add and collaborate with stakeholders in the project management process as well. The solution was unique enough that pepperconn has successfully filed for a patent with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) for Groupware – a significant achievement for a company that is entirely self-funded.

Its targeted at enterprise users who are leveraging on social media for marketing or publicity today. Enterprise users pay a monthly subscription of S$488, or a discounted annual rate of S$4,880. No additional investment in hardware or software is required.

Adrian says one of his biggest challenges is trying to explain the proposition of pepperconn?s Groupware solution. This is simply because there is no reference point ? according to him, it?s the first and only enterprise social media software that combines publishing, measurement and the outsourcing and management of jobs and talents. ?Many mistakenly assume that it is just another social monitoring tool or a PR/influencer platform,? he gripes. ?But once we get the opportunity to explain in detail and demonstrate, everyone we have presented to have been bowled over by its uniqueness and proposition.? To help overcome that, pepperconn has been aggressive in its marketing efforts, such as participation in trade and industry exhibitions, this year. One such exhibition was at the recent Echelon 2010 held just last week, where he showcased his solution to hundreds of web and technology professionals from around the region.

Social Media ? Hype?

So is social media currently over-hyped? ?The truth is ? all media will eventually become social,? Adrian surmises. ?Social being a methodology of customer engagement even that traditional advertising and corporate communications will need to adopt in the light of changes to personal communications. In my view, social media will also evolve to be less an Internet phenomenon to an inter-media or convergent media deployment.? He says that as it is with all pioneer industries, low entry barriers and the lack of knowledge among clients will give rise to many players ? and charlatans – in social media?s formative years, but ?it will hit a point of saturation and consolidation will take place?.

?The posers and charlatans will drop out and only (those) with proven track records and genuine know-how will survive. Clients will also become more savvy and become thought-leaders in their own right.?

?Most of us in marketing, public relations and media have long been held ransom by the ?one-message-for-all approach? and its limitations,? Adrian says. Just as how Brian Solis advocates ?putting the public back in public relations?, Adrian?s view of social media should be is to ?put the audience back into media?. He foresee that the production, management and distribution of corporate content will increasingly be shifting in-house for businesses, in the same fashion how social media democratizes content production and distribution through web 2.0 tools and social networks today.

When that happens, Adrian says, the audience will be part of the content production ecosystem, closing the gaps in the value chain and causing some players to seize to exist. ?The tipping point will come when the critical mass of the audience constitutes of the next digital generation who are globally connected in more ways than one, and coupled with an education that focuses on critical thinking and creative expression.?

?(It is) the beginning of the end for mass media.?

Adrian doesn?t believe that social media spells the end of traditional media; just that social methodologies will be adopted and that we?ll see a convergence of traditional and new media platforms. He thinks that the long tail phenomenon will result in corporate content distribution across multiple channels, with messages becoming more customized and personalized for each target segment.

?So whichever way one looks at it, social media will not be a fad. Its definition will certainly not be restricted to social network platforms, user-generated content and the Internet, but what is certainly is ? the beginning of the end for mass media.?

The 70-percent Solution

Adrian Teo, founder of pepperconn.

Adrian says he never thought he?d ever walk down the entrepreneurial path and says, in many ways, it chose him instead. ?I remember telling my previous supervisor at SingTel that I would never in a million years come out on my own,? Adrian recalls. ?I (was) a corporate survivor and (had) too much at stake personally to ever be an entrepreneur.?

?I guess we can never tell.?

He advises those who gripe about being in the corporate world and filled with envy about entrepreneurs being their own bosses, to see the difficulties and challenges thrown at them at work as training. ?Being one?s own boss isn?t any easier, in fact, it?s a lot more pressuring and unsettling. And the impact of our decisions is multi-fold as it not only affects ourselves but the staff, investors and partners.?

As much it that might sound clich?d, Adrian says it?s critical to listen to the market and customers. ?many start-ups are (often too) caught up being in love with their products or services. (While) it is only natural, ensure that you apply the worst case scenario your business plans and projections.?

?Before you take the plunge, ensure that you have sufficient funds or cash flow through those scenarios, because it is when the rubber meets the road that plans are guaranteed to go awry.? pepperconn is entirely self-funded. Adrian declines to reveal the amount except to say that it is ?significant? and has ample reserves to see them through worst-case scenarios.

?I?ve learnt something from a book about the US Marines in their decision making processes in combat ? always go for a 70% solution, hope for the best and prepare for the worst.?




Original interview by Daniel of YoungUpstarts

Content From pepperconn.com

Curious, she went in for a closer look. He was in the midst of a night shower and had stopped to cup his hands against the shower glass wall, as though trying to shield something from the pelting water droplets.

He: ?Ant. Big one.?

With that, he slowly inched the tiny insect onto his hand before angling its path onto a new life. Well, starting from the wood-paneled window ledge anyway.

She: ?Isn?t this the ant that tried to take a dip in your ginger tea? It?s a menace.?

He had been coughing for the past 2 months and each night, large ants like our little friend here would attack the rim of the sweetly-stained thermos flask. Not wanting to wake his partner up, he often sipped in the dark, swallowing a few tiny casualties in the process. Once, a feisty one fought to the end, nearly biting him on the lip before the startled man spit it out in alarm.

He: ?No, no, these big ones are very harmless. They are really gentle giants. Never been bitten yet.?

She: ?Ya, you said it. Not YET?

She smiled and heaved a deep sigh. This man has a heart so pure and full of kindness?nowadays she doesn?t even know how to react when faced with pesky insects that unwittingly stumble within her sight. In the past, she wouldn?t have thought twice about swatting the occasional spider off the roof of the car. But after witnessing how he gently eased the little intruder onto the nearest branch while she did a little crazy panic dance, she now does likewise.

Not with her hand, of course. She was not going to start a love affair with insects. Not in this life time. But she did surprise herself the other day when her hand instinctively dived into the pail of murky water (courtesy of the terrapins) to scoop out a struggling ant.

And what do you know? It actually felt really good.

Content From pepperconn.com

Chances are, yes it does look pretty bad through your shades … but there will alway be others without the gift of sight in the first place. So how the hell do they cope? Perhaps this little story might just shift your paradigm a tad.

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Courtesy of sodahead.com

We tried to reason the fact that perhaps, there were guests around. Or maybe the gate had to be left wide open for delivery of some sort. But each time we went past that unit, it was there, either staring wistfully over the metal fence or howling its heart out to Kaylee, our Golden Retriever.

” This is not the way. Huskies are meant to run freely on vast snowcapped horizons, not stuck within a humid car pouch, woefully watching the hours go by.” Adrian was indignant.

” Ya, if they want it merely to keep watch, at least give it space to stretch those legs.” My remark worked only to add fuel to fire.

We contemplated calling the SPCA. Surely, the rescue team could march up to the house and demand a more humane way of housing the poor dog? Then again, what if this triggers a backlash? What if the owner, whom we assume to not like the husky in the first place, decides that it was inviting too much trouble after all? Wouldn’t we worsen the situation?

As much as it bothered us, we decided to leave things untouched and continue to monitor the situation. Though obviously confined in too small an area, the husky has not displayed signs of distress.

That said, when we went for an impromptu run yesterday, thanks to overriding guilt from way too many pineapple tarts and abalone treats during Chinese New Year, I couldn’t help but toss a glance over to the house again.

The gate was left wide open as usual. In the garden was the lady owner, a medium-built lady in her late forties.

Husky was just sitting there, its sad blue eyes following every movement she made. Something came over me and I said to Adrian,”I’m going to ask her. Can’t take it anymore.”

With that mental momentum, I marched up to the lady and asked as tactfully as I could manage. Before I knew it, a whole string of questions came forth.

Has the dog been naughty? Could it be possible that a larger area was allocated for it? Has it been ever walked? Why is it not released even when the main gate was closed?

As it turned out, Husky’s name is Vino ( strange name for a female, hmmm) and has a personal grudge against the lady owner ( oops, forgot to ask her name. In fact, we seem to know more doggy names in the neighbourhood than the owners,ha) ever since Vino was punished for ‘killing’ her slipper. Thus, the only time Vino could be out running in the nearby field is when the head of the household comes back from work.

” Sure, the leash is here, “? she said when we asked to bring Vino for a little run. With that, she was out like a mad husky, marking every spot she could find, even though I swear she could squeeze out merely half a drop.

I wish we had done this earlier. But still, it’s not too late. Knowing that Vino is not in dire living conditions as previously thought lifted a huge worry off our minds. And now that she has found new running mates in us, I say it’s a win-win situation after all.

There’s absolutely no excuse not to run on weekends then.

Content From pepperconn.com

?I?ll bring drinks. Can?t cook, sorry,? said another. ?Sure, and I?ll bake the fruit cake!? I chipped in. I have the recipe for an incredibly irresistible rum fruit cake and now?s the time to show it off.

The thought of festive goodies distracted us for a while. While everyone started to get excited over the party planning, I surfed for lamb recipes.? Turkey has never been a favourite of mine, it being dry and tough most of the times. In fact, most people I know eat turkey as a celebratory gesture more than the fact that they really enjoy the taste.

Most traditional Chinese families do not take to lamb. My family is no exception. My recollection of having the best lamb dishes was that of first class, after the meal service of course.? The generous and succulent slabs still leave its lingering aftertaste in my memory.

The sprig of rosemary (in the photo) reminds of the time when the crew were rushing during the service and the elusive rosemary could not be found. Plating (airline term for arranging food on large dinner plates in premium class) is an art. The various herb garnishes adds the visual ?height? to the main course and final touches.

When an artist loses the final stroke, it?s panic time! It?s just a garnish, you might think but to the airline, this visual effect that rounds up the overall aesthetic appearance is but a must.

The thought of Christmas goodies has obviously gotten many drooling.? So where will you be during Christmas?? Many of my friends have reserved seats to pig out at the buffets.? Honey baked ham with honey sauce, rack of lamb, Christmas pudding; roast turkey stuffed to the max, eggnog, apple cider ? major slurp at the smorgasbord!

Eating out is a major obstacle for all healthy eaters because it?s so easy to go overboard in the calorie department. ?When party invitations start flooding in, parties mean alcohol and with the best will in the world you will want to enter the party spirit and enjoy a drink.

The dampener is that we all know that alcohol is high in calories (1g = 7kcal).? Of course, some choose to ignore it, especially after one too many.

Know any of the tips below? Do practise them!

* Try alternating alcoholic drinks with low calorie non-alcoholic drinks or water

* Use low calorie/diet mixers – it can make a big difference

* Make wine into a spritzer (adding a low-calorie soft drink) – a longer drink means you will drink less

*Don’t Skip Meals to Allow for Drinks

*Don’t be tempted to skip meals to allow for drinks ? you?ll feel the effects of alcohol much faster

In fact, eating a proper meal before you go out will line your stomach and slow the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream. This will keep you in control of how much you eat and drink.

My personal method is to suck on a really sour preserved plum as it works well for me. Do you have any to add to the list?

From time to time, we see young people drunk to the world and being dragged out parties and clubs by their friends ? not a pretty sight at all. Surely, the pretty girl I witnessed, who left with a trail of pee as a grand exit would not be visiting the same club for a long time to come.

What every you do, watch your intake and don?t get carried away by the festive mood and end up doing something you might regret thereafter. Yes, we are not talking about calorie-counting here. Have sensible fun and you?ll wake up post celebration morning with wonderful memories and zero hangovers!

Have a great time everyone!

Previous years in the airline meant that festive seasons were often spent without my family. Majority of the crew, especially junior ones would be last on the ballot list for choice annual leave slots. Christmas was always spent either serving passengers up in the air or holed up in some hotel room, merry-making with the rest.

If you?re lucky enough to be rostered for a States flight (or any other country that celebrates Christmas in a big way), post Christmas sales would render the crew members delirious with joy. Most of us would spend at least a couple of hundred dollars at Macys and A&F alone. If there?s any country that truly understands retail therapy and the effects of a wondrous sale, it?s got to be the States.

I remember overlooking the bay at Hong Kong Island a few years ago. The beautiful nightlights were accentuated by Christmas decorations and as one look far across, it seems as though the dressed up buildings were staking a silent contest to outbid one another. Drafts of cold breeze swept across everyone?s faces as we took in the mesmerizing horizon, completely absorbed in the beauty of the Christmas atmosphere.

As the sense of calm swept over me, my thoughts went out to my family at home. I would have given anything to share this magical moment with them?

I?m glad that festive moments can now be spent with my loved ones, now that I?m fully ?grounded? on terra firma.? Is a Christmas tree, turkey and party on the cards this year? My little one has already been promised his favourite pizza on the eve. ?A heavenly rum-infused fruit cake is on the way. Wanna bake your very first this year? For a drool-worthy recipe, look no further ?

* 2 cups unsalted butter

* 4 cups confectioners’ sugar

* 8 eggs, separated

* 2 ounces candied citron peel

* 2 ounces candied orange peel

* 1 cup dried currants

* 1 1/2 cups candied pineapple chunks

* 3 cups golden raisins

* 1 1/2 cups candied cherries

* 4 cups macadamia nuts, chopped

* 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

* 1/2 cup orange juice

* rum

Directions

1. Chop pineapple, raisins, and cherries. Combine chopped fruit with currants, peel, and citron; soak in orange juice overnight.

2. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Place a small pan of water in the oven. Line one 5 x 9 inch loaf pan and two 3 x 8 inch loaf pans with parchment or doubled waxed paper.

3. Mix cream butter and confectioner’s sugar. Stir in beaten egg yolks. Stir in fruit, juice, and nuts. Mix in sifted flour.

4. Beat the egg whites to peaks in a clean bowl. Fold into batter. Fill pans 2/3 full.

5. Bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until golden brown, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.

6. Cool, pour rum over, slice and devour!

Religion shouldn?t be the only reason why we celebrate Christmas. It being the season when the year draws to an end, it?s time for some self reflection. When was the last time we showed our love? Or even flashed a genuine smile at our friends and family – People whom we have neglected for the past months, buried nose deep in work and studies.? They don?t want big fancy pressies or parties. What truly warms their heart is the mere comfort of your companionship and meaningful conversation.

This Christmas, do just that. Merry Christmas everyone!

?One killer heels? 2 killer heels, 3?4? 12 !?

An occasional walk along Shenton Way is a great session to people-watch. Observing fashionable office threads was essential to do my wardrobe revamp. Ever since I stepped into the corporate workforce, office attire has taken over my existing wardrobe of sundresses and jeans.

One noticeable commonality was that most bear the same tummy bulge, regardless of age. The size differs and is often referred to the number of pregnancy months. Never let a woman know that she?s tagged to such a number, no however how small.

It?s no wonder, considering the amount of time spent seated behind the office desk. Many women lament the fact that at the end of a hard day?s work, it is indeed most disheartening to acknowledge the fact that their tummy wasn?t getting any smaller. Due to lack of exercise (where is the time for that?!), even the thighs and butt have surrendered to the effects of gravity.

I, like many others, can attest to that. Though the weighing scales states status quo, my jeans certainly disagree. Office lunches of char siew rice and mee goreng have exacted their revenge. It didn?t help that routine morning jogs have dwindled to a minimal.

Now that explains why soup dishes are extremely popular with ladies. Many turn to lighter lunches. Curry and buttery sauces are out.? Did you know that the calorie intake for a bowl of dry wanton mee is double that of wanton soup noodles? I had no idea that sauces pack a fat deal of calories. In the past, an extra spoonful of sauce seemed insignificant and I used to drench my rice with loads of that. If only I knew?

Worry not. Yong tau foo and fish slice soup are excellent choices to lower the guilt. Note: fried fish slice version does not count. Healthy sandwiches with mayo lite from Subway are a great option too. Otherwise, you can always fall back on packed low fat soba noodles and salad with non-fat dressing. (A generous squeeze of lemon juice and dash of salt, pepper and balsamic vinaigrette serves as a delicious dressing)

Dessert? Forget it. And if all else fails, perhaps we could go the Qi Yu Wu way ? the MediaCorp hunk rids his meat guilt by filtering with warm water for oil removal!

Look what I found out from a long time corporate lady. She calls this The Office Tummy Squeeze:

These tummy exercises tenses your abs, which firms and strengthens them, and because you’re just tensing and relaxing muscles, these tummy exercises can be done at your desk at work, zoning off in the passenger seat, waiting in line at the grocery store?practically anytime. No one can tell and it?s as simple as breathing! Here?s how:

1.??? Exhale.

2.??? Suck in your stomach to the max.

3.??? Hold for about 15 seconds, then relax and breathe in.

4.??? Repeat as often as you can.

5.??? Actually do the above steps!

Here comes the dreaded S word – Stress is a factor! This is a big one. When you are under stress, your body releases the hormone cortisol. In turn, this hormone causes your liver to make excess sugar that your body doesn?t really need. As a result, you begin to feel hungrier and begin to eat more. And guess what?a lot of those calories go straight to your waistline and thighs!

Now we all know that not being able to see your toes while looking down is an aesthetically worrying sign. But it?s the health concerns that should be ringing the alarms bells. Four inches of fat on waistline increases risk of heart problems!

Does this look scarily familiar to you in the mirror?

Do you have any tips for the desk-bound? Do share !

Pepper is the name of the grey kitten that walked into our lives late last year. Both of us have a weakness for animals- strays in particular. It is a routine feed every morning and night, plus a fair amount of coaxing to get her accustomed to our presence.? Despite her slight fear of humans, we love Pepper. In fact, we were only too glad that she knew how to keep her distance. You never know if the next human she crosses path with could be pro-feline.

I guess it was only natural that the name we call out on a daily basis came into our mind when the naming of our company was brought up.

?Conn? was coined from the simple fact that our company was about pure connections between people and how they connect, collaborate and converse to achieve a common goal. ?PepperConn! I like it! ?, I went over and over the name. It had a nice ring to it, it played on punning with pepper corn, and best of all; PepperConn holds special meaning to us.

?But it?s about communications too. Perhaps we should name it PepperComms instead,? he suggested. ?Conn sounds like ?con?, and that?s the last thing we wanna do.?? We spent the next half hour verbalizing Pepperconn and PepperComms repeatedly before finally tossing the coin towards the former.

With that settled, it was a mad scramble to chope the domain name.? And for a good 5 years.? Adrian found Exabytes, an excellent hosting company in Malaysia who provided reliable and quick customer support.

When the official business registration letter came in the mail, I stared at the name in half disbelief. Chew Ai Kia- partner of PepperConn LLP. That?s me! That?s me! For a moment there, I was wondering if I knew what I was in for.

Does Adrian know what HE is in for?

Having been a stewardess for the last 13 years and completely computer illiterate (yes, email sending doesn?t count, not in this era), being part of this company is like teaching an old dog new tricks! While it?s doable with patience and perseverance, do I really want to get myself into unchartered waters? Would I end up being a hindrance to my new partner?

Only time will tell. ?Remember my quote at the end of? The Mile Hi! Club?

?A woman is like a tea bag ? you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water?

Eleanor Roosevelt

I was busy putting mailers into each mail box in the neighbouring estate in hope of finding Manja?s owner. ?Last week, posters carefully placed in water proofed covers were hung within 400 km radius, only to be yanked down one by one by some unknown character. What I do know is that he or she probably knows nothing about loss, hunger and fear.

Many residents were up and watching TV in their living rooms when I intruded into their privacy with a ?excuse me, sorry to trouble you. Do you know of anyone who might have lost a cat that looks like this? ?

Some were very kind, directing me to possible units with animals. Others were amused to see a woman with messy, bunched up ponytail and a stack of mailers in one hand, a torch in the other.

I approached the elderly security guard of the nearby condominium and he waved my request off agitatedly. ?No cannot. ?I?m knocking off already, the management? ?I turned and left, not waiting for him to end the sentence. I?m done with heartless people like him. Of what trouble is it to you to post a small poster on the resident?s wall? Had you been senile and wandered off to some god forsaken place, would you want your children?s appeal for a poster to be waved off, just as you did mine?

Oh, please allow me to introduce Manja. She is the sweetest cat we?ve ever came across for a long time. When Adrian found her at the cross junction off Upper payer lebar road, she was wearing a blue and red collar around her slender neck and a stricken look across her face. Obviously lost and disoriented, Manja didn?t know where to proceed from there.

We have been feeding the neighbourhood felines and knew right away that Manja was from out of town.? Still, that didn?t stop Manja from sliding her skinny frame to and fro our legs, while putting on her greatest charms. Indeed, her purrs came on strong and deep, as if resonating from within a deep vessel.

The next thing we knew, Manja decided to call our car park area home. She settled herself nicely in one of the newly fitted drain hole and never fails to pop out for a warm greeting whenever she hears us coming.

What she didn?t see coming was the hostility of Kitty, the young resident female we have been feeding ever since her baby eyes opened. Kitty welcomes no newcomer and she wasn?t shy to display that in the way she stared hard at Manja. Well, she?ll just have to deal with it.

Kitty?s mummy Pepper was neutral.? It was a case of ?hey, there?s enough food around for us 3, and so as long as you know where you stand, I?m cool.?

The problem started when Manja began to help herself to the door. Apparently, she knows which unit to go to. That didn?t go well with mum at all. The woman has never had a soft spot for things with fur. In fact, the only thing that goes soft in the presence of animals is her knees. She is that terrified.

I had to step up on the search for Manja?s owner. 70 posters and mailers later, I was richly rewarded. Right on that cool November night.

Frustrated with the security guard, I turned and left the guard house in a huff. Seconds later, I looked towards the direction of a distinctive sound of nails meet road. At first glance, my heart nearly leapt into my mouth.? The small figure racing towards me seemed familiar.

?Oh no, ?Maggie! How did you get out?? I voiced my thought aloud. ?Maggie is my Bison. As the figure got closer and leapt right at my knees, I scooped it up and stood there for a few minutes, completely stunned. This was no Maggie.

It isn?t everyday that a puppy comes running straight into my arms. Especially not when I?m out on a mission to help a lost cat.

Instinctively, I retraced its steps in an attempt to find an open gate or perhaps a frantic owner with an empty leash. None.? For half an hour, it went from door to door with me, keeping very still as I did my job. I looked towards the neighbouring blocks. No way. This little thing couldn?t have come so far.

Man, what is Adrian going to react to this? Adrian was akin to Superman when it comes to rescuing stray animals but practical when emotions and responsibilities are concerned. The moment I stepped through the door, my 5 year old boy asked ?Mummy, you brought Maggie out for a walk?? I nodded my head weakly, a tad guilty of my white lie.

True enough. Adrian stared. Blinked hard. And stared again. I shrugged my shoulders in resignation. ?It came running towards me and I couldn?t find the owner anywhere! I couldn?t leave it out on the road ??

?Is it a she or he?? Adrian asked after stroking its fur. ?I lifted its little bony frame and outraged its modesty by exclaiming, ?Tits, plenty of tits!? Great, she?s one of the girls. That makes 4 female dogs we have in total.

After we watched her wolf down canned chicken with oats, Adrian gave a warm bath to rid the road marks off her beige coloured fur. The little one was extremely well behaved and seemed to know that we meant no harm. Nicely bathed and blow dried, she sprung right onto our bed and settled in, right on my pillow.

?She didn?t ask for permission. Didn?t even leave a space for me,? I complained in mock exasperation. With that,Adrian and I kissed each other goodnight after planting a big smacker on her forehead. It felt strange and fuzzy, having a little stranger sleeping right next to my face. Fatigue took over and we soon fell asleep. Well I did anyway, though Adrian was woken up each time she leapt up and down the bed in the middle of the night.

The next morning, we decided to bring her to the office. The little one was following us where ever we went and we foresee the incessant barking that was to follow should we leave her at home. The guys in the team took turns having her bark up into their knees (yes, she is very small in size), amused that the feisty girl was serious about her guard dog duties.

She slept nary a wink that entire day. Each time someone went to the pantry/bathroom, she would spring from sleepy mode into action mode, piercing the air with her loud and sharp barks. That night, she slept like a puppy should. Completely drained.

We didn?t want to name her for fear of a growing attachment to this sweet little animal. ?Once you start giving her a name, that?s it,? I told Adrian. ?We are going to find her owner, aren?t we? ?

Before he could reply, I went on, ?Say if we fail to find her owner, do you think we could keep her?? I kept my tone measured.? There are already 3 dogs in our place and can we honestly give enough love and attention to another one?

Sunday came and went and not a moment passed without her by our side. She followed wherever we went, even to the bathroom. I was kind of shy, doing what I needed to do with those adoring eyes of hers staring right at me.

?Scratch! Mummy, let?s call her Scratch. ?That?s a good name. The little one had jumped onto my boy that night and inadvertently left a scratch mark on his cheek.? ? Scratchy, Scratchy,? I sounded out the name.

?How about Sticky? She really is very sticky to us,? Adrian suggested. I loved the name. It fits Sticky to a tee.

Whatever happened to not naming her?

That night, Sticky tucked herself between us and snuggled under a large towel. The breaths on my face came in calm succession and I was lulled to dreamland soon enough.

Monday morning- the third day after Sticky ran into our lives.? Once we arrived at the office,I called the SPCA and almost instantly, there was a possible match.? My mobile rang and the lady caller on the other end was quizzed.

?What colour is your dog? What are the distinguishing marks? Where did you last lose it? Do you have a photo?? Adrian whispered a question and I added that in immediately, ?What name does it respond to?? As she matched each question with seemingly right answers, the hope in our hearts soared. Lindy could very well be the owner!

As I clicked to see the photo sent via the email, I knew Sticky had found her owner. This was Sticky alright. ?This is the same look in her eyes when I attempt to talk her into modeling for photos.

My heart sank. As much as I was happy that Sticky was going home to her real owner, I was full of reluctance. The phone rang again after 5 minutes.

?Hi Janet, have you seen the photos? ? Lindy asked.

?Yes, please give me a moment, let me open the email?? I stalled for time to compose myself.

I thought to myself. What are you doing? Just say yes, congratulations, you?ve found your dog!

Instead, I choked on my next sentence and went ?hey Lindy, I wish that I could say no, you?ve got the wrong dog but ? ?I paused for long while as she waited with bated breath. ?Yes, I have your dog! ?I finally blurted out.

With that, Lindy started crying and I found myself sobbing uncontrollably. There we were, 2 women crying into their mobile phones, crying tears of joy, relief and great reluctance.

We arranged to have Sticky picked up at 2.30pm. During the last 2 precious hours with her, Adrian and I took turns to cuddle and kiss her nose, taking some candid shots that will bear memories of the little dog that brought us immense joy for the past 3 days.

When Lindy came with her relatives, I knew for sure that these are good people who love Sticky. She had spent 2 sleepless nights worrying about Sticky, exhausting all means to search for her.

Sticky was found 2 weeks ago, shaggy haired and covered with ticks, shivering under a car. Apparently, some irresponsible bastard had abandoned her after the cute factor was neutralized by tick infestation. Lindy was the one who brought her to the vet for a thorough de-ticking and gave her a new lease of life. Little wonder that Sticky exhibited sign of separation anxiety around us.

She had a great fear of abandonment. God knows what she sent through before lindy found her and subsequently, me.? ?Do you think that it?s fate that Sticky came to us,? I remembered asking Adrian on the first night.

Now that I look back, yes it is indeed fate at work here. Fate brought Lindy into Sticky?s life so that she never has to suffer again. Adrian and I? Well, we just help facilitate that.

Good bye Sticky, we love you very, very much?

“What if nobody wants to buy my book? Our investment will go down the drain, along with months of writing!?? The pessimistic side of me took over.

He on the other hand, had things worked out. ?True to his nature of planning few steps ahead.

We took the plunge after seeking the right designer for the book cover, layout, printing company and distributor among many other unseen factors that could make or break our labour of love and determination.

I was busy for the next few months, writing feverishly. ?Tantrums were thrown on the odd occasion when the going got tough.

I never really sat down to think about how Adrian was handling it, juggling his day job with Nokia (Head of Regional Mobile content aggregation)and slugging it though the late nights doing the conceptualising and editing of my work.

Adrian on the other hand, had other things on his mind already.

“Niche, we have a niche,? he stated.? What these people need is a platform to be spotted, selected and appreciated for their talents.? Not just blogging, we have to cater to a much wider scale and range of those who are actively seeking ways to make some income out of their skills!”

One idea led to another. ?When the MHC came out of the printer, page 208 spelt our core business. ?We were to realise the goal of PepperConn.

I was trembling with delight.

Fast forward a year later, The Mile Hi! Club turned out to be a success beyond my wildest dreams. ?It further affirmed Adrian’s belief in my story and ability to write.

Never had I imagine that writing could earn us a name, decent paycheque and most importantly, the credibility as a voice for the cabin crew in general.

I was over the moon when the MHC scaled the bestseller’s list in every major book stores.? After the book hit the local market, we were swarmed with requests to help market and drive book concepts to fruition. ?What struck us was that many talented people out there lack the one opportunity that we had to realise their writing dream.

“Do we want to go into book publishing?? I wondered aloud.

He shook his head, despite getting quite a few offers from authors to publish. ?The book publishing market is saturated and dominated by the stalwarts. ?Besides, it would defeat the very purpose of promoting self-publishing.? Instead, we published a how-to list for those seeking advice on self-publishing on our blog.

He wanted us to concentrate on providing a new social media solution for businesses. ?Years in MediaCorp, SingTel, Samsung and Nokia had opened his eyes to a gaping hole in the market today – enterprises need help in carving out effective online marketing programs and social media is the way to go.

The problem is how?

Most are aware of social networking sites but few can confidently make full use of such tools to engage their customers.? Some set up a Facebook account and declare themselves social media friendly, only to have the account cob-webbed after half-baked attempts.

Call it a fear of transparency and the effects that come with it, or simply blissful ignorance of the social conversation that is going on right as I type this. ?Whatever the case, it?s a case of being the proverbial frog in the well, the ostrich with its head firmly stuck in the ground- oblivious to all progress, susceptible to all dangers.