The greatest story never told

As I can hear the roar of bloody jet planes swooping low over Beach Road, wowing the crowds celebrating Singapore's 42nd National Day, it seems a good time to reflect on the birthday of Alphabet Media, which falls in the same week. All the more so since I'm in the office working, in advance of next week's Digital Inclusion Forum in Kuala Lumpur - so mulling over where we've come from, and where we're headed is an excuse to break away from preparing talking points and the like.

I remember walking around the empty office the day I legally registered the business in Singapore. It all seemed so straight forward then - I'll interview some senior government officials, write some articles, speak to key enterprise technology vendors, and launch a magazine. I knew that the idea behind PSTM was hot to trot, naturally everyone else I was going to speak to would share my enthusiasm.

Er ... well it wasn't quite so easy. Fortunately the time I'd spent managing other publications for Terrapinn/AiC Worldwide had enabled me to build up a (small) reputation which helped lend credibility to the exercise. And then I got lucky with a few solid interviews with government officials in the region who turned the heads of PR execs and IT marketers - proving that it was possible for us to get access to decision-makers and news-breakers.

But to be honest - if you'd ask me what the key lesson of that first year was, at the time I'd have told you: "Don't set up a magazine." But I got lucky, at least in my work life. And so we survived.

We got considerable buy-in early on from a few names - Kodak, Aspect, SurfControl and then crucially Oracle - and that gave a small operation the momentum it needed to get ahead and start experimenting. And we've been experimenting ever since in one form or another, and having increasing amounts of fun along the way. One of the nicest things has been how we've been able to progressively recruit 'Alphabet people' - girls and boys who are open to new thinking, have a sense of humour, and feel good about creating ideas.

In a sense, if you ask me what lessons I've learned now - it would run along the lines of: "Try not to set up a magazine, but if you really feel the need to do so, make sure you recruit the best people you can, as soon as you can. Oh, and hire an accountant."

Alphabet has been the cause of much heartache for me, but it has brought the best of times too - being the catalyst for bringing together a great group of people. In that time it went from being this idea that belonged to me - to being an idea shared by all of us here at 43-45c Beach Road.

Yes, I'm sure there will be tears before bedtime. There'll be bumps on the road ahead, there always are. But now, touch wood, I can say we're fast-growing and successful. We can compete with any of our competitors for talent in the marketplace, and we're prepared to invest in good people, good ideas, and Friday doughnuts.

So as the business races forward with plans for new and bigger events, as well as expanded editorial coverage, and office expansion, I'm really hoping that this time next year I won't have to be alone in the office working on National Day. But every cloud has a silver lining. As I sit here looking out of the window, I can see the most amazing fireworks. Life's pretty good, and I believe in the future.