Thursday, March 6, 2014
Life in Silicon Valley
Life in the Valley: The Digital Gold Rush
Episode 1
The technology startup ecosystem is so strong that on a daily basis, there will be new individuals arriving in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, either from within the United States or from a foreign nation, to work on their startup project.
It is a techies haven. It is a place where people sees highly of execution, experimentation while celebrates risk and failure. If you fail, you start again.
Follow Cherish Leow as she uncovers the life in Silicon Valley during her 14 day trip.
Life in the Valley: The Digital Gold Rush
Episode 2
Starting up a business in Silicon Valley takes determination, courage and the willing to take risk. Cherish Leow, a reporter, producer from Astro AWANI speaks to several young entrepreneurs, founders and programmers to learn about their passion and interest in technology startup ventures. Featuring Wednesday Night's co-founders Teng Siong and Jared Tame; Bloc.io's co-founders, Dave Paola and Roshan Choxi.
Life in the Valley: The Digital Gold Rush
Episode 3
In this episode, Cherish Leow further explores San Francisco's role as a technology startup hub, while bringing the story of a software engineer who started his technology career at Napster in early 2001. This episode also explores the importance of building relationships and trust while maintaining your network in the "pay it forward" startup culture, as Cherish speaks to the COO of NerdWallet, CEO of Agility and the Co-Founder of Playdom.
Life in the Valley: The Digital Gold Rush
Episode 4
The episode started off by exploring the role of Stanford University in nurturing talents with entrepreneurial traits, who most often contributes to the growth of the startup ecosystem in Silicon Valley (and more recently San Francisco). This episode explores the transition from classroom teaching to online education, via the interview with Professor Daphne Koller, the co-founder of Coursera.
This episode also follows Cherish Leow as she witnessed both male and female talents pitched their startup ideas at Disrupt SF Hackathon 2013 and Startup Weekend San Francisco Women's Edition.
It also features an interview with the team at Google Developer Relations who are working on Google Developers Live and YouTube API; and finally a walkthrough at Hacker Dojo in Mountain View, California.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and/or startup stories!
Warmest Regards,
Cherish
From thought to action
I haven't been blogging for a while now. I am keen to kick start my OLD blog and revamp it bit by bit.
In the mean time as I refresh the look and feel, feel free to explore these write-ups of mine in the past year, published on Astro AWANI news site.
Free Voice Calls vs. Telcos
From thought to action: A serial entrepreneur's dream
On attitude and gratitude, inspired by Nick Vujicic
Do you know how to code?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
i wouldn't mind being alone...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
only when there is love
when there is love, everything appears to be wonderful.
when there is love between two entities,
the sparkle and the bond shall be strengthen by a seal of kiss...
photography by Spencer Finnley
Sunday, September 13, 2009
there you are again...
playing in its soundless way
every single colour are in their places accordingly
everything seemed real.
the emotions are, the senses are.
the appearance of you after so long proves it true that there are still some pieces of you in me.
which, is so not suppose to be still around.
is this a sign to hold me back? a sign that comes from deep within?
the thing i yearn the most, is the thing i can't have. it seems.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
You'll see what appeals to you
a new found territory has make a big influence on my perception.
i wonder how far i would explore? how far i will go?
now that i am meddling with something that goes against what the norm think wise.
this is going to be a great adventure for me.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
day 1 and day 2
i was so glad to be able to emcee again. decided to make emceeing/hosting as a little part of my life ever since i had a taste of how it is like to be in the center of attention, emceeing away, and it all started 3 years ago. it is true fun (informal emceeing).
taken a few pics after day 1. was pretty hyper regardless of my exhaustion. :P
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Quotes on LIFE
-----------------------------------------
Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.
----------------------------------------
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
-Maria Robinson-----------------------------------------
Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.
- Ashley Smith-----------------------------------------
Sunday, August 16, 2009
exploring Tumblr
Dudes and peeps and friends and everyone!
lately i am sooo, very into blogging at tumblr! and MY! am I in love with my blog layout at Tumblr! :D the blog layout colour changes each and everytime the page is refreshed. haha. awesome. suits to my liking. hehe
and no, this is not the plan i blogged abt in the previous post. this is merely the interest i started during my hectic exam. oh yes, i still blog during exam. even the night before exam, coz i find blogging very comforting. xD
so, yeah.. Tumblr.. you have to see it for yourself to know how cool it is. :)
here, link to my blog at Tumblr, Just Thoughts.
i only came into knowing Tumblr in JULY 2009!!! through an official website of an interactive copywriter name Zach Golden. i know right?! i am SOOO outdated! hahaha
i would still use Thoughts. Stories. Me. and You for sure. so don't forget to still come back here often for updates! :D both blogs will have different kinda updates. you'll have to observe then you'll know how they differ! :P hehehe
here's some snapshots of my Tumblr blog- Just Thoughts! :) love all the colours!
there's are more colours! xD but these snapshots already said more than enough. :)
cheers,
love ya!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
totally random
Monday, August 10, 2009
Heroic warrior
the end is here and it as it marks the start of another
the sense of anticipation grows ever stronger.
i am no heroic warrior.
but even the greatest warrior sense fear, the only element that set us apart is that they counter fear and beat it.
therefore in the face of fear i always tell myself
be brave, don't run.
problems would be unresolved if i run.
therefore i make myself face fear and doubts.
because i know what matters most at the end of the day is to get through it all and then and there i shall get my reward.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Norms, Conformity, non Conformity
-(Oliviero Toscani, designer of Benetton commercials)
---------------------------
my interpretation
once or twice in a day, you would hear a tiny little voice in your head telling you what you are doing does not feels right. i believe most of you would have encounter this.
so where does that voice comes from?
you can say that it is your conscience speaking. but don't you think most often than not, our thoughts are highly influenced by what we perceive as norms?
we act like what the society expects us to be.
we walk like how we are supposed to be.
we talk like how we are supposed to be.
and when we come across someone who doesn't, we judge. we gossip. we stab them right at the face saying "you do not belong to us"
but have you ever thought of WHY we react that way? or so to say, why the society in general REACTED that greatly?
it is because the general mob of them feel that they are challenged.
or rather, they are jealous.
JEALOUS? you say?
yes. jealous. these people gossip about the people who dare to go against the norms because the non conformists are doing EXACTLY what the conformists do not dare to do.
conformists might think of going against the norms. but they never make a change and act in that sense.
non conformist on the other hand, act, walk, talk, the way they want without worrying a bit about the norms.
however, non conformist is very hard to come by.
once in a while, you would see a tinge of rebellion from the conformist.
yet peer pressure would tie them back down.
if only the rebellious conformist can hold on a little longer...
-----------------------------------
when a non conformist becomes phenomenal, other conformists would start to move towards copying THE non conformist, so that they feel as if they are being rebellious towards the societal norms.
well, they are self-deceiving really.
even if you can imitate what THE non conformist do, you can never BE the non conformist.
and i'll tell you exactly wHY.
you never got deep and interested enough to grasp the essence of being a non conformist.
Go figure.
------------------------------------
Friday, July 17, 2009
TVC shooting done! xD
OH yeah! it's finally done! the video editing and the final cut is yet to be done however we were very satisfied with the result we get within that two days.
Gloria TVC Behind the Scenes
it's all on Joshua now. hehe looking forward to the final cut! :P *excited*
Sunday, July 12, 2009
shooting tomorrow!
Gloria Gloria~ :P
coffee here we come.........
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A Tribute to Michael Jackson
last night, for the 1st time in my life, i watched MJ's past concert on TV. HE WAS AMAZING on stage! with the kind of stage effects in the 90s, imagine what kind of performance he can have in present days! his stage performance was SUPERB! looking at the fans screaming, crying and yelling for his name, i am pretty sure even for someone like me (who is not a crazy fan or count as a fan of MJ), would sure yell as hell if i were there.
his on-stage persona, his walk, his steps, the way he strut on stage, his dance moves, are all to-die-for. seriously.
some would say, "come on! a freak like him who had so much plastic surgery to get himself look like a white man?!" i would like to say.. HEY! the world would be a better place with less judgemental notes and more positive shed of light please! he's just a man that is greatly misunderstood by most people of the world. put yourself in his shoes, then i am sure you would understand better.
everywhere i go, in this past two days, people are saying "i am not a big fan but... it's just sad". yes, this news greatly affected almost everyone who grew up and grew old knowing him in his best days as a performer.
no matter what, wish MJ will move on with his journey and get to a better place where he can have his talent and soul prevails to the end of time.
Friday, June 26, 2009
RIP Michael Jackson
it was after I watched some of the music videos he made, that i realised.. oh my god! MJ is dead! his songs were one of those i grew up listening to! how can this be happening? he hasn't even started his final world tour... we have lost a sensational artist!
MJ proved to us that Black or White, we are not that much difference after all. Races is something gifted, yet we as human always want to differentiate. The kind of stereotyping runs deep in our veins that even the minorities start believing they are minorities, believing that they are filthy and poor in comparison to those who are "better". it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, because reality is what it is as we constructed it to be.
MJ is born as a black, leaving the world as a white. isn't it well proven that no matter black or white, you are still you? he is still the legendary MJ?
apart from his outstanding works and performances, the numerous plastic surgery that he had undergone, further proves the length that he would go to get himself near to perfection. the whole life of MJ is just like a reflection of mirror for us. showing us what is talent, what is persistence, what is perfection; and at the same time showing us the kind of trouble we should avoid getting into at all cost.
today, i am sure tears spilled all over the globe in the midst of mourning for the lost of MJ. I cried too. I cannot say that I am an official fan of MJ. yet, knowing MJ since I was a kid, I felt as if i lost a distant friend.
a number of his songs are inspiring and i am sure they touch the heart of you and me.
we all know that life is short and we all want to do meaningful things before we die. however sometimes, the reality of it would still come as a shock because there wouldn't be a tell tale signs to tell you who are you going to lose tomorrow.just like what i posted earlier today, self-doubt always comes in between for me. I figured, why should i be bothered by that little self-doubt? what if there's no tomorrow?
RIP MJ, may your talent and persistence prevails at the other end of realm.
i can go far
because i know where my weaknesses are, yet i never do something about it. and my greatest weakness, would be my self-doubt and self-criticism.
i always try to give positive insight into things around me. but not enough to be positive about myself.
whenever i am ready to set foot embarking on the journey in fulfilling my goal, I would start sensing the doubts creeping in, clouding my judgement.
"are you good enough?" "don't be stupid" "you are making a fool of yourself" "you are not born to do this".
What can I say, self-doubt and self-criticism have been with me all along however I wanted to get rid of them.. they already become a part of me. Whenever I feel great at something i am doing, or feeling great with myself, there must be something there threatening to bring me down.
I understand that without me believing in myself, i cannot convince others to do the same. I know what my capabilities are, but how far i can go, how good i am, i am not sure. I guess this is where the doubts come in. and when doubts kicking in, things would go the other way round to my liking.
I understand that without trying, one will never know. I never did. I never try hard enough. Because in the end fear and doubt always take over. I beat myself, and i let myself down. For instance, I am very much interested in emceeing, and would love to make it as my freelance profession. I said it again and again, to my family, and to some of my friends. but apart from getting my namecard printed, i did nothing to promote myself. why? doubt is there coz I am good but not good enough. doubt is there because i CARE of how others would see me. "yeah right, as if you have that LOOK for an emcee". well, I do agree, most emcees are hot and emcee very well, they are born to do it. I, on the other hand, is not hot yet I believe i can emcee well.
and also if you say i am lousy, without exposing to experiences, how in the world will I improve? people grow i know, and i know i can too. it's just that i need to beat that self-doubt of mine that is caused by me who cared so much of how others see me.
i understand that people are people and I am me. but still i always care how others see me. which, makes me lose me in public. which caused me "building" up a "me" that is not "me" in the presence of others. that is why i always hear people saying that i am too serious-looking, proud, or whatever that sort. well, they will never know me until they get to know me. coz that was me in disguise, to make myself appear controlled and poised in public. and yes, I prefer to be in control of my environment. when i don't i tend to get tensed up which leads me becoming... stiff and boring, according to some people.
let me ask u a question here.. have you ever see me danced (swaying to music anywhere i am at), laughed loudly (real loud) and being talkative in your presence? if you did, then yes, i feel comfortable around you, and I believe you and I see you as a friend.
i am me, when i am with my friends, friends i trust and comfortable with.. and of coz, my family, and also when i am alone.
i am me, when i am in public and doing things i enjoy doing (in this case, presentations, emceeing). because i know i am good and i enjoy being on stage with all eyes on me; because i am there and i know i can impress the people i am presenting to.
but getting off stage, it is a different story.
"believe in yourself"
i can go far.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Plus-sized matters?
When we think of plus-sized models, more often than not we have this stereotyped mindset that they are fat, way fat. With layers of fat and bums here and there. But what is the definition of fat, really? For me, "fat" is a term that refers to people who doesn't eat a balanced diet, hardly exercise, and are fat without curves. Some, they are genetically fat yet I've seen some very successful examples of genetically-driven fat people eventually gain a more healthy image.
So what kind of healthy image that I am talking about here? That's the kind of image plus-sized models portray. Plus-sized models are not totally fat, because that wouldn't be a healthy image to portray to the mass audience. Plus-sized models have bigger bones, fuller figure, without losing their curves. That is what many if not most the smaller size models all yearn for but cannot achieve, the curves that plus-sized models possessed.
We all know that the definition of beauty lies in the hands of the trendsetters, namely the people who have their say in the fasion industry. It's really a bold thing to do, to answer the calling to stand against the still so typecasted views people have on plus-sized models. I believe some people still hold the thinking that plus-sized models shouldn't be on the runway. How awefully wrong they are.
For me, what's important in fashion is that as long as the models can bring out the essence and the kind of flair the designer clothing has, then being a plus-sized model or not, shouldn't be a problem. At the end of the day, as long as the "face", the "look" and the curvy body works the runway, the kind of impact that plus-sized models bring about is just the same as the impact any small size model can bring.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
self reliance by ralph waldo emerson- Originality
At some point everyone realizes that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that like it or not, we are who we are; that despite the infinite abundance in the universe, nothing good can come to us except by working that little plot of land that we are given to farm.
Each of us is a brand-new power in nature.
No one else knows what we can do.
We ourselves don't even know until we've tried.
It's not for nothing that a face, a personality, a fact will strike a note with you but make no impression at all on me. Your mind is sculpted that way for a purpose. Your eye was placed in the path of a particular ray of light so that it could testify about that ray.
But what do we do? We don't halfway express ourselves before we become ashamed of that divine idea each of us represents. There's no reason to distrust that idea. It grew out of goodness and harmony, given to us in good faith. But God won't have his work done by cowards.
We turn out happy and refreshed when we put our heart into our work and do our best. Anything else gives us no peace; it's a shortcut that short-circuits. And when we try the shortcut we lose our inspiration, our muse, our creativity, our hope.
Monday, June 15, 2009
self reliance by ralph waldo emerson- Speak for Yourself
As brilliant as they were, the true contribution of Moses, Plato, Jesus, and the like is that they sidestepped history and tradition and spoke their own mind, not a rehash of what the experts agreed on.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
self reliance by ralph waldo emerson- Genius
written by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The other day I read some unusual poems. The poet wasn't famous for his poetry; in fact, he is a well-known artist, a painter. But the verses were so original and unconventional that they struck me, as I'm struck by any art that refuses to conform to convention, regardless of the subject or medium. It feels like the ghost of an old schoolteacher shaking a disapproving finger at my soul, scolding me for not remembering a lesson I should have learned by now. The frame of mind this kind of art puts me into is worth more to me than its content or message.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Fighting 2009
no one would ever guess i would watch a movie like "Fighting". and yes, it is about fighting, underground fighting. this movie was not even on the top of my "to-watch-list" because i knew what kind of movie it will turn out to be- simple story, predictable plot and ending. having an urge to watch just about any movie after class today, i found out that there is limited choices for the 2 pm screening slot. Not planning to wait for extra two hours for 17 Again, i made an impulse decision at the counter (it was exactly 2pm that time), and chose Fighting over Drag me to Hell and a Hindu movie.
for the past few weeks, i watched X-men Wolverine, Star Trek, Angels and Demons, Terminator Salvation, almost all summer blockbusters. xD thus my choice for movie of the week is down to a few not so well received movies.
It turned out that, I liked "Fighting" afterall. not because of the actors, but because it is so simple that i liked it. The movie totally reflects the majority of the people living a hand to mouth existence. "I NEED MONEY" was what the main character Channing Tatum always had in mind. "I NEED MONEY" is what they all yearn for, not to be really wealthy, but at least, a secure income that can feed their young, and in the case of Channing Tatum, to prove that he has IT (as an inborn street fighter).
It not only portrays the realistic life of New Yorkers (not the white collars or blue collars, but those who live a life similar to the pirated CD peddlers/ Toy peddlers/ Gadget peddlers we have in our country).
unsurprisingly, this movie were granted the smallest theatre (cinema 5), and there were barely 15 audience at the 2pm slot (in comparison with Hannah Montana, Monster vs Alien, Night in the Museum 2 which was FULL). it is understandable, because people look for something that can take them away from the realistic side of the world, even for just a few hours. movies like Fighting, that portrays almost REAL life situations, won't get a second look at this movie.
from a rating of ten, i would give this movie a 5/10. it's a good try.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
preferably...
the obvious answer stood out.
at this stage of life...
preferably... no strings attached would be the best option of all.
i am not the type that understand what a relationship is.
i guess.
Friday, June 5, 2009
copywriting rocks!
indeed. life has been busy for me and my coursemates.
Copywriting. IMC. Advertising. all excitingly challenging subjects for me which gets my blood pumping! (LOL, exaggerated) but well, they are really what that i am looking for at the least. hehe
all three courses need us to think out of the world. okay, out of the box. (that's so cliche).
anyways, it was a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun!
we get inspirations from the tiniest things around us and what comes out, is more than just an ordinary result. and that, is the best part about copywriting/ advertising.
our classes had been real challenging yet very satisfactory because we get to express our ideas freely! no limitations! (maybe there is limitations, but i don't think we know what it is yet, haha)
anyways, with a fictional Ad campaign coming up, and fictional IMC campaign coming up (all fictional, coz just applies within the boundaries of the university walls), my semester will be so much more fun! and jam-packed of course. xD
but i don't mind being busy. hehe
too much slacking will coz brain malfunction.
too preoccupied will also caused brain freeze i know, but no worries, coz i am the type of person, who knows how to balance up my schedule.
i'll relax when i feel like it, and increase my momentum in working as deem necessary. xD
so......... yeah. lastly, would like to say THANK YOU to those blog supporters out there (i wish i know who my supporters are, so i give credits to them here, one by one). Thanks for still being with me while i am showing tendency of neglecting my blog. NO, no, no. i am not going to. I love blogging. I'll try to make time to fit blogging into my schedule as often as possible so that you all out there know a thing or two about what's currently happening in my life. xD
and also, whatever happens remember "persist" and "believe". im signing out now.
cheers and love,
Cherish
Saturday, May 30, 2009
on... blogging
Ideas never dried out. Never. It’s just that whether the ideas generated in our mind are merely cliché, that has been said and said like a scratchy old song.
However, it is quite hard to do something original.
You can say your idea is fresh, and many will say so too. your fresh idea, isn’t it a combination of something out of everything you read, you listen, you encountered in life?
The greatest copywriters all have said not once but a few times in their interview, that they do not have a certain ritual when it comes to generating ideas. Ideas come best when they do not try to force them out of their brain. And most importantly, they READ. They read all kinds of books. They experienced. And that is where all their great ideas come from.
So what makes these great minds so GREAT? It’s their point of view. Many if not most of us, rather prefer to look at things from one plane, at most of the time.
This happens because this one plane/ perspective is the one that MOST people would look at. It has been walked on for far so many times that we have got used to it, comfortable with it, and for us, it is just the way things are. But not for those great thinkers.
You and I and the great thinkers of the century all shared the SAME resources. Can you say what you encounter in life is the one and only, no one has ever been through what you been through? Yes, you can put it that way. But no, in reality, it doesn’t work this way. The only difference between you and the other person, who encountered the same experience, is how you take the experience, and make it yours. One may interpret it differently from another. Some will be greatly affected, some might just been through it and feels as if they had merely suffered a scratch by the mosquitoes.
Thus, this is the line that draws between us and the great thinkers. Great thinkers are who they are because they look at life a little more differently. They are more open to experiences and they, are always ready to take risks. I couldn’t make it even clearer. You all must have heard of or read of this before but it is not easy to execute in life isn’t it? You can say that they are born smart. But I do not hold the opinion that born as a smart kid is going to achieve more than those who don’t. It’s mere pretext. You know, making excuses for oneself, is one of the greatest obstacle that is bound to take you down. Real down. The greatest of the achievers never got to the place they are today in an instant. They worked their way up, from one point to another. Nothing comes easily, and nothing comes FREE in this world. Ok, what you get from your parents may be unconditional, but apart from that, nothing is free. Period. Want something? You have to earn it. (not necessarily in a tangible form)
If you want to generate great ideas, you have to expose, expose, expose. Don’t forget, knowledge is food.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Chosen Quotes to share with
Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.
- John F. Kennedy
------------------
i remember the first time i was given the opportunity to be a leader.
gosh, i didn't know where to start!
thankfully along the way, advices are given by those i respect so much, that i learned.
i was bummed out for countless times, but in the end, everything turned out okay.
i learned, i have grown.
nowadays, after all that, i just feel it's easier to lead, than to follow.
---------------
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Quote of the Day
the more he wants to show you how good he is, or to others, it reflects just how shallow he is inside, how insecure. pity, pity. his need for recognition by others to "feed" his ego, proves just that.
just as the quote from this 1 satire (movie) puts it..
"he dances to seduce;
he seduces in order to conquer;
he has to conquer because he is a man."
(men with EGO are that weak aren't they)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
happy mother's day
------------------------------
on this day, I would give my mom a really tight embrace and hug.
a WARM HUG is what we all need to feel loved.
though I never hesitate to hug my mom whenever I feel like showing my love for her, I know she would still love it if I show her my love on MAMA day.
because she knows so well that a hug from me is enough to show and tell her: I LOVE MAMA! :)
nothing material, nothing out of the ordinary, it all comes from a HUG.
i am grateful that i am still be able to blessed with my mom's motherly love.
grateful that the brain tumour's comeback for the third time hasn't really affected my mom emotionally, so is ours.
the last time we checked with the doctors, the tumour is under control.
please bless my mom for the many years to come.
i love you. mama. xD
--------------------------------
Happy MAMA's Day! hehe
Sunday, May 3, 2009
law of attraction
we are surrounded by lots of energy field which exist at different levels of intensity, thus everything is co-related. the more we believe in a thing, the more energy being transmitted into it. and as it goes on and on, it becomes realistic. just as when you think positively, more positive things will fill up your life. likewise, the more you dread something to come crashing and ruin your life, the more likely it will happen. because as you dread for it to happen, you are focusing your energy on making it happen. therefore, it is vital for us to focus on what we WANT, rather than what we don't want in our lives.
after experiencing the power of the law of universal attraction, i now do believe in this theory. positive thinking brings more good than negative ones, and what i wished for, do come true. so i will definitely continue practicing and focusing on sending out positive vibes and make a bigger request this time.
Note:
if you are familiar with the book "The Secret" and Bestellungen beim Universum, you will know what this is all about.