Dear Members,

Today is 8th of August 2001, 1388's first birthday. Time flies! Do you know that for the past twelve months, very often I felt apprehensive about my career?

It is adventurous and since day one I always felt like heading nowhere but the unknown. We all fear for the unknown, so am I. However, my moods ain't no different from anyone, i.e. with highs and lows, so, when my mood was good, I felt my work intriguing with all those endless obstacles and difficulties. In a sense, I enjoyed solving problems. When my mood was bad, I wondered why there were always so many problems. Hey, someone up there, can't you give me a break?

I said intriguing because I believe I am becoming more affluent in life experiences from tackling all sorts of problems. Hannay More said "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." Hmm... My goal is firm and I seldom took my eyes off it, I always saw money floating in the air. Someone said "Every experience that you have that doesn't kill you can make you stronger." Well, I am still alive... perhaps dying slowing but who doesn't? Charles Buston also said, "Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul." Oh, I am always very devoted to my job except Monday morning... does that disqualify me of being a winner?

So what exactly is lacking? A bit of luck, I guessed.

As you all know Dr. Jonathan Wong had resigned and left 1388. We have no connection with him anymore. Many members had shown their concern and I am really grateful to them. To me, this is just a resolution of a situation that has been dragging on in the background for some time. Jon and I were from different planets. His style of working is too different from ours and during the past twelve months both Jon and I had tried our best to develop greater patience to each other. Unfortunately it just didn't work out. I knew his resignation is just a matter of time.

There is no who is right or who is wrong... I can't be a 100% right. Ranting and raving is hardly a solution. I believe Dr. Wong's final decision is a relief to both parties. Perhaps we are now both freed from certain commitments that had been a burden to each other for a long while. To end this boring topic: "May all creatures, all living things, all beings one and all, experience good fortune only. May they not fall into harm (Anguttara Nikaya II, 72).

I sincerely wish Mr. Wong all the best in his future careers.

I always tried my best to be brave and businesslike in the face of adverse conditions. As one of the members encouraging me in his forum contribution: "Never Say Die!"... I love this kind of messages, running 1388 always reminded me that I am being loved. Talking about our new interactive forum, it started on 1st of August and so far there are already more than 200 postings after just a week or so.

I wish more members can join us, register with us and choose their own ID and post with an avatar. That would make our forum flourish. However, if some of you prefer to be 'Anonymous', I have no objection at all.

Ooop... sorry, I am getting far. What I am trying to tell you in this letter are some boring stuff... today is our birthday and this letter is more or less a report about our projection for the 2nd year. In the next twelve months we expect ourselves to make some wonderful strides forward including:

• The Europe markets for BIT88 is expected to start in September this year with 5 countries, namely France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark, and we predict these markets will boom by December.
   
• We are about to sign a contract with an Australian company who runs one of the biggest MLM companies in this region. They will promote BIT88 through over 30,000 representatives in this region. Just Singapore alone there will be around 2,500 representatives promoting BIT88 via website and words of mouth. We shall announce this good news formally once all details are finalized and contract is signed... should be within this month.
   
• Other than the above direct marketing strategies, various markets for BIT88 are to be explored via appointment of distributorship very soon.

• We have appointed an engineering firm 'Cyber Audio Lab' located in Shenzhen, headed by my old pal Andy Chan, to work on the design of BIT88 Car, BIT88 multi-channels and BIT88 audiophile version. We have already contacted some parties and they are interested in representing these products in their countries. I know Andy for years and we've been working together during 89/90 and had developed a few models, he is very efficient.
   
• 1388 may enter into a joint venture with an American engineering group to develop a range of high-end amplifiers. The first prototype of a power amplifier has been built.
   
• 1388 shall develop a range of purifying devices for interconnect, AC and speakers. There are a few US companies whom have shown their interest in this idea and we believe upon successful launch, our first market will be USA.
   
• As there is no more Power Governor after Mr. Wong's resignation unless you want to purchase the parts to build one for yourself with no circuitry provided, we are considering marketing Audience's High Resolution Master Power Center and High Resolution Power Distribution Module (with Power Factor Correction and Noise Filter) at US$2,598 before GST. That is closed to S$5,000 per set. Hmm… at this price, I wonder, I really wonder... Well, as Audience claimed: “The proof is in the listening.” Perhaps we will bring in a sample set soon.

1388 is a Singaporean company and we hope one day all Singaporeans shall be proud of us. Although I am always a bit nervous in setting such a goal for myself, my energy level is forever high and I am terribly confident. With limited manpower, my workload is intense and there are always interruptions, but I must tell you that, I really, really enjoy my career to the utmost.

Everyday I spare a little time for self-reflection to make sure that I am on track, to reinforce my belief that our development is positive, and hoping that I can do better. The only difficult part that I am facing at the moment... may be is that we have burned out almost all our seed capital in the 1st year of operation and for the past few months we are seeking for investment desperately. Luckily by today we have a few parties interested in our business model. My intuition told me that our financial problem will be eased, it won't be far...

May God bless us all… Give me a good cheer?