Hey there,
The time now is 0200 AM, our local Malaysian time.
If you asked me why I'm still up at this late, I'm going to tell you this:
First. I usually sleep at 0400 AM. That's another 2 more hours to go :)
Second. Today is Eidul Adha! There's only two big Eid we celebrate throughout the year - Eidul Fitri (right after the fasting month of Ramadhan), and Eidul Adha (at the same time millions perform Hajj in Mecca and they are at their peak days now).
I can't help but feeling blessed and grateful. While thousands still holding up in Pekan, with only their houses' roof visible from afar, and sharing room with hundreds of others at relief centers all across the district, my heart sank.
My in-laws are in there, and prayer is the only thing I can send them now...
But I wish your Eid is the best Eid you have ever had. Pray for us too.
Hi!
Speedy updates...
As I'm typing this, I noticed dozens of cars parked outside the secondary school compound near my house. Since I post a few days back about the monsoon season, and how it rains almost non stop over here, the roads that lead to those poor car owners house subsided.
And it happened yesterday for Sungai Isap Damai area, just a stone-throw away from here.
6 years ago, the same area and my area, suffered one of the biggest flood ever, in modern time. Hundreds of houses, cars, household items, were among the victims. Luckily, fast action from the authority saved the day.
One of my customers, a Surgeon, lost his shiny, one-week old Alfa Romeo back then. Terrible thing is, there's no such insurance coverage for that. Not then anyway.
But today, compared to last year, the volume of rain is still much lower. And personally, I gather that the duration of rainy days were also shorter BUT not the damages it causes!
Rompin (area North of Pahang), where you need to go before going to Pulau Tioman, was the worst flooded area. Last year it was not.
The LPT (East Coat Highway), was cut off for a few hours yesterday before they open an alternative road...
And if you think that's already bad, one of my friends had heard his worst news still: His Boss is coming to work with him!
Hah!
Remember a few tips I shared with you in the last post... I closed with a tag line,"Don't DIE for the company!"
If your Boss want to work with you during this 'wonderful' rainy season, here's my extra tips:
* Ask her to tune to your local radio frequency. At least she knows when to put on her swimming suit.
* Ask her to double her number of clothes she bring along or simply brings extra luggage.
* Don't bother carrying umbrella. It's no fun!
* Book the most decent hotel in town (don't worry, it will be fully book due to school holiday, and you end up in the 'most decent ' hotel eventually)
* Plan for extra road trips. I got the feeling somehow that your Boss will appreciate that
* For hospital reps, bring your Boss straight to the Purchasing Pharmacist (she'll tell you there's no budget or budget freeze, most probably for next year's General Election and Emergency fund). For GP reps, bring to the busiest clinic where they are doing circumcision. Enjoy the sight!
...And feel free to add your own itinerary or item here. Make your Boss feels that it was a 'wise' decision to work with you during monsoon, than to be in the office, sipping coffee, analyzing sales figure.
...And ask her not to thank you for anything. You're just doing your job, aren't ya? ;-)
Hi!
As I'm writing this post, it's been 3 consecutive days of raining (starting from Thursday night).
Yup! It's here. It's already arrived, and it's a bit late I might add because usually, it comes around mid November. Ohh... excuse me. I'm talking about the Monsoon.
If you've been covering East Coast, monsoon is one the most challenging time (apart from 'not hitting budget' time :) It rains daily. Sometimes with no pause, heavy downpour throughout the day.
The rain possess many challenges: mentally and physically.
How does the rain causes mental challenge?
Whenever a Pharma rep wakes up to a brand new day, he's looking forward to a bright sun shiny day that allows him to comfortably go out and meet customers. More so if the rep were home-based.
Imagine a rep wakes up to the gloomy day, no sunshine, and the rains send chills to the bones while they're still protected in 'sacred' bed, naturally, they want to stay protected. For those home-based bums, all they need to do was to make sure they switch on the hand phone - in case the office or customer call.
And imagine this scenario continues for 2 or 3 or 4 days, heck... maybe for the whole month!
This will surely compromise sales performance and since some big American Pharma companies started their new fiscal year from December e.g. Pfizer, it is desirable to minimize the effect and tackle this problem wisely.
So here's some suggestion...
1. Plan. Plan. And Plan some more.
It's a known fact (but goes unrecorded) that Pahang is the biggest area of coverage for some reps. Biggest area doesn't mean biggest customer base ;) Anyway, Pahang is also one of those prone flood area for East Coast.
I remember 5 years ago, I was in Kuantan at that time. News on the radio had it that a stretch of road in Paya Lebar just before Maran was submerged. Even heavy vehicles were not allowed to pass through. At the same time, another stretch in Kemaman was also having the same situation. In other words, Kuantan had turn into an island.
No transport coming in. No transport going out.
But I was at an advantage. Since I had bigger user base in Pahang compared to Trengganu and Kelantan, I still meet my budget for that month. It might sound coincidental but I always make it a point to make longer trips to Pahang by year end due to my customer base.
I recommend you do the same.
2. Use other communication channel.
If you want to polish your tele-marketing skills, this might be your best opportunity. I know some of you reps do this on consistent basis come sunshine or rain, but tele-marketing becomes more significant during this time because your travelling is limited.
Make sure you plan your call to your top 20 percenters who gives you 80 percents of the sales first. If you can take care 80% of the numbers, the other 20% is just a bonus.
Plus, you can do business conveniently from your bedroom ;)
3. Remember... 'Don't die for the company'.
If the authority said that it's not safe to travel, don't! No matter what your boss said, your life comes first. Company, second.
I'll keep you posted on the latest development, huarrggghhhh... Now, where's my blanket...
