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My 15 Minutes Of Fame

June 22, 2006 by cobaltpaladin  
Filed under Contributors Corner

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andywarhol

Andy Warhol had famously said,”…everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Cobalt Paladin, our resident contributor, will be telling us the story of his entrepreneurial pursuit based on this famous phrase.

Contributed by Cobalt Paladin

For me, I’ve been:

    1. Interviewed by the papers. Checked.
    2. Interviewed by the radio. Checked.
    3. Interviewed by a tv programme. Checked.
    4. Won an award for my company’s product. Checked.
    5. Nominated for an entrepreneur award (but didn’t win). Checked.
    6. On the cover of Fortune or Times magazine. Nope. Heh.

In the beginning, when I started my venture, I hoped for the media to interview me, report on my product, mention my venture…. anything that will garner publicity. I didn’t do any press releases. I just hope that my product would be recognised by the media of its own accord. I would feel stress when the media reported about my competitors’ instead of my company. I would loose sleep over it. I would cry foul that my competitor, through connection (at least that was what I wanted to believe :p) from the media industry, asked for a favour and get mentioned in the media. I would lament on the unfair treatment by the media as I felt that my product was obviously the better one. I would ask Why Not Me?!

Years gone by and I quietly continued to work on my product, making it better, slowly growing my number of supporters and clients (of course, at the same time attracting more competition).

Gradually, my product was mentioned in the papers, albeit very rarely, but it was better than before. Then I was invited to feature and talk about my product on a tv programme. I was later also invited to give some comments over the phone for a radio programme.

Funny thing is, once my product has matured and a steady stream of clients, I actually become more private. In fact, now I prefer to be left alone to do my own thing. The less people know about me, the better.

Have you ever wondered why we don’t see prominent figures like Sim Wong Hoo (Creative), Ron Sim (Osim) etc walking down Orchard Road?

I am terrified by the idea of being recognised publicly. I want to be able to continue to take the public transport (BMW – Buses, MRT and Walking), I want to continue to go to MacDonalds with my kids, visit hawker centres for simple meals, have a drink with my friends without worrying about being recognised. I WANT my privacy.

Actually, I am nowhere near achieving that level of fame… yet. Sometimes I wonder, is it also because I’ve not done enough to attract the attention of the public media? Is this my failure since I’m actually a private person?

I’ve been able to grow my company without the publicity from the media. The media only recognised my company and knew of my product’s existence when I already have achieved a certain level of success in the industry. Sometimes I wonder, I’ve come so far without the help of the media, do I need their help if I want to go further? But should I sacrifice my privacy for the sake of my company? What do you think?

Is fame worth pursuing? Do you want to be famous?

Editor’s Note: This article is published in Cobalt Paladin’s blog with the same title.

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Comments

  • darius
    cobalt - great post, thanks.

    the things we learn along the way.
  • Claris
    By having more fame, you also generate jealousy among friends and college. Then you can start complaining that a lot of people backstab you or that.

    To be successful, one have to mature in thought and understand the psychology of the people around you.
    If you realize in your company, most wise manager downpay their wealth and salary rather than show his
    surbordinate how rich they were, otherwise, a lot of
    conflict will occur.
  • Claris
    Just be known that every fame has a price to pay.
    Frankly speaking, the trend nowsaday is to keep low profile even for CEO. Too many times, the CEO promised too much to the press, and end up disappointing. The dotcom bubble has taught that action speak louder than words. If company could not sustain the competitive advantage, the amount of publicity will only backfire.

    Observe what happened to HP and Sun. Those new appointed CEO for these companies keep low profile and let their action speak louder than words. They doesn't seek publicity or say the "wrong thing" just to spite competitors. If they not happy, they push the company to work harder and better than competitors. These is unlike previous generation of CEO with "big mouth" and "promise-maker".

    It always good to have fame. I like that too and most like it too. But I realized that even a moment of fame can disrupt your's live for a long time.

    Even see Singapore idol ?? The judge even told them whether they can handle the pressure of fame and that there are price to be pay for fame. You no longer can live the life as in the past and what you say and do will be judge. There is basically no excuse for saying to the press that "leve my live alone". I actually consider these irresponsible thought because "you already been told and still want to be the start".
  • Anonymous
    From my personal opinion, there are some opportunity cost involving in making any decision. If you want your products to be widely known. Advertising via media is important especially for marketing of your product.

    Imagine the busy life of people nowadays? You have to consider how people/public can be attracted to your products. (Long Term)

    I had been interview on TV on my first summer job. Though I was working overseas but the media gain my company consent and my company actually send me to represent the company to talk to the media cuz later it will be broadcast on news nationwide as well as it will be broadcast overseas via China TV. This is due to promoting summer job. Media actually want to interview students about their summer job lifestyle. And also interview me whether it's good having a summer job.

    I think having fame or not is the same. Sometimes it's true you want to have the privacy. But people just saw you on the road and shouted I seen you on TV. You just became suddenly popular for a moment. But sometimes I think hey.."I am not some hotshot"

    But still most importantly I think it's good to have your own privacy at some stage. So sometimes I think if you have a low profile not bad too..

    I think media advertising is very important, look at big companies. They uses media as part of their intermediatary. The CEO doesn't often come out and speak to people but only thru the media. That's where your information and public way of communicating if you become some hotshot. Your character will be reviewed intensely. And your ways of handling problems will also be reviewed by the public. Unless you don't want to make it big.

    Though people already know about your product but still..You need to market your product especially if you have competitors. If you don't, and someone's did..Your company will be at huge loss..

    It's just like the rabbit and the tortoise race. The rabbit is speedy very speedy but then to forget there is still a tortoise who is still inside the race.

    Unless, you don't want to become some hotshot and just led a happy life with your family.

    If me, I think fame is just for a while. If someday I ever become famous. I don't think of being too ambitious. If I really have enough...I will step down and move away to a quiet and peaceful place with someone I love and settle down..That's all I have to do..Money and fame no longer is important..

    Seriously, I seen so many wise CEO...This is what they actually did..There is a balance between family and work. You can lose all your inheritance within a day and it's ok but if you lose someone you love.You will stay regret for the rest of your life.. And money of course makes people happy..But happiness sometimes do not come from money alone. But from people beside you who actually love you.

    However, people can make different choices...At the moment if you are young. You have to work hard because you haven't passed the golden years. ;)
  • Claris
    Example of ppl seeking high profile but now
    repent in low profile:

    Scott McNealy, sun ex's CEO
    Bill Gates,
    Xie Ting Feng, the young singer.

    If you are noble and generate publicity because of good deed like charity or stuff like these, any wrong-doing will be forgiven and forget. If you do it out of self-ness or on behalf of company or whatever it, then u have to prepare for criticism or bad press review. It might affect your career and even jeopardise your position in company since your past dig up might affect your integrity.

    So why let those "shit" happen to you ??
    I rather "shit" myself then let the press "shit" you. The press has no mercy afterall interesting news is mostly when uncover someone's wrongdoing/deed rather than someone'goodness.
  • Claris
    Just look at the pretty famous blogger Dawn Yang. She generate a lot of personality and at same time, a lot of her "past" has been digged out. Some ppl even post picture of her while she look "average" and try to dig evidence of plastic surgery.

    Ask yourself, do you want to land up that state ??
    Remember any minor mistake will be ampified by the press or your adversity sometimes, can you stand the pressure ??

    Sometimes staying in spotlight must has a reason but most often it better to lurk behind and keep low profile. Moreover, too high profile on yourself indicate your success, and introduce more competitors and product commodity. So do you want to have restless night ??

    Before you do anything take a read at book
    Judo Strategy: Turning Your Competitors' Strength to Your Advantage (Hardcover)
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578512530/103...

    And then you understand why in business world, it is better to keep low profile. Too much success attract competition and face retaliation from bigger firm.

    So stay low and enjoy your wealth and success rather than reveal it. Don't be like Mike Tyson saying how successful he is and end up been borrow tons of money to his friends which never return.

    That's the art of living. When rich, pretend to be poor, when poor pretend to be rich.
  • Claris
    I guess been famous for sake of publicity is short-termism. Most popular ppl actually regret the publicity because you become some kind of model for ppl. Good or bad. Unless you want to make your life personal, it no point becomes popular. Do remember, that there is always a price to pay to be popular in company. When things go wrong, the popular guys with publicity will be first to blame, whereas other executive with wrong-doing actually get away since media know them. Sometimes, it is unbelieveable but some executive do intentionally groom people to be popular with press to shift blame and responsiblity. Now, you know why it is better to sit in background.

    Don't believe me ? Just look at HP. Read the book on Carly Fionrina, and you know that the management actually support her in decision to merge with compaq but yet most executive get away with it while Carly Fiorina is fired. Why ? Mainly because Carly is the CEO and only the publicity figure in the press. Is it nature to have her blame ? Just like at other successful company like cisco where the CEO is quite low profile.
  • Claris
    I guess to be sure that there is future in your product, ask yourself if you actually use your product regularly and actually get attracted and addicted to your own product. That's the benchmark first, if not, other probably won't. If it doesn't solve your need, why do you think it will solve other's need.

    Only when it solved your need effectively, it hard to convey and persuade people to use your product.

    Don't invent a product for the market, invent for yourself first.

    My two piece of experience :
  • Claris
    Hi,
    sometimes great product do get notice. First of all, it must solved user's specific's needs. In order to innovate, one must understand the user group very well. You can say psychology play a part.

    I guess the trick is have something to be better than existing product or something user could only dream of, and then convey and peak your product
    s advantage. If the product doesn't excite most user at first round, it probably won't in the future.

    Think of Instant messaging. How the feeling of getting connected and talk to friend by words for the first time!!! Thrill and excitement. That's the feeling I got. Unless user feel this way, all I could comment is that it will end up nowhere.

    If you are creating something wonderful. Even the first person who see it will be thrill by it and follow by the next.

    Otherwise, i just find it no point to continue to pursue it unless you dealing with very niche user segment.

    Never try to be first-mover advantage in technological innovation but be so in innovation concept. Most innovation is actually a combination of existing innovation wrap it up.
  • BL
    Hi Cobalt,

    Out of fun, I just do your checklist:

    Interviewed by the papers. Checked.
    Interviewed by the radio. Not done.
    Interviewed by a tv programme. Not done.
    Won an award for my company's product. Checked.
    Nominated for an entrepreneur award: Checked and won the award.
    On the cover of Fortune or Times magazine. Nope. Will want to reach there someday.

    Well, vanity is a sin, and I guess that like you, as I grow older, I realize that I want to be more private in a way, but I know that it's not going to happen anytime soon.

    One of the big companies in the world which is unknown is ARM, and among their powerful clients are Apple, HP, IBM, Intel, Samsung, Nokia, and Motorola. Yet, they are unknown unless you are in the industry.
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