On Tuesday.

Hi guys, well work is picking up! Yesterday I had a day of trying to figure out what Im going to do with the marketing plan. To complicate things a little, I had a meeting with the phillips marketing manager for Kazakhstan, as well as some other chick. They were cool, and they emphasized the planning needed for any marketing plan. Its apparent that my company previously wasn't planning things ahead of time. The girls proposed some PR events and promotion for the Winter Asian Games, which I think is essential. They will be the entire central asia region watching this event, and perhaps further abroad as well, so it would be in everyones best interest to make the most of this opportunity.

Its great how the company, and its director, are really introducing me to so many people, and treating me like an equal. I realise I have negligible experience, but im very willing to learn. Its funny with a challenge, your never sure where you are or where you stand. But thats part of the joy of a challenge. Getting of your ass (I notice the hypocrisy of me writing a blog on my ass) and challenging yourself is pretty awesome. Sure they are little pitfalls here and there, but in the end, you learn something. Which is the main thing...

Today I went to work and was not sure what to do. I was trying to do a combination of competitor analysis together with a formation of an marketing plan. Later on though I was introduced to a representive of Abloy, a lock manufacturer (their parent company owns Yale locks, which we should be familiar of in Australia). The rep was pretty awesome, he was from the ukraine. It was good to speak to another english speaker. He was telling me he was considering Australia as a permanent destination, but visa problems stopped him in his tracks. He was a very knowledgable guy. I was trying to get as much information on how we can compete with the largely chinese competition. He said it is very hard, and requires a lot of feature and value added selling. Though I knew this to an extent, it brought a realisation to my head-

I never realised China was such a massive force in the world economy till now. I mean taken locally in kazakhstan, their influence is everywhere, in banking and energy for example. Now consider the chinese influence and investment in American and Australian institutions, like law firms and BHP biliton respectively. Whatever your opinion is of China, I do believe that it wont be a world power in the next 10 or 15 years, but when it is, god it will be strong. With continuing investment outside of China, they will control the US dollar, not the other way round.

We also went to a designer today, I think they are called Nomad designs. They were all female lol. Zhaniya was with me, so she helped translate what I wanted. I should point out this designing is for a calendar, and not a new promotion. The calendar will be a gift to our clients. They showed us alot of designs today, of particular importance was some local art produced by kazak artists. Some of it was really beautiful. I would like to buy some of it myself lol.

Approaching the executive director with our proposal of a calendar with local artists, was difficult. He believed that most businesses would want historical buildings and sights of kazakhstan. I hesistantly agreed, but we will see.

The question in my head was, would local artists paintings invoke a sense of nationalism in our companies product brand, and would that be beneficial? Considering the kazakhs marketplace of buying foreign products, I was wondering if this would be good or not. Its hard to fully explain my position on the topic but to summarize, Im still unclear how to invoke nationalism and patritiosm whilst still portraying a company who sells european products. bah Ill figure something out.

There were some other designs too, of historical figures in kazakhstans history, taken with black and white cameras. The real problem in these photos is that they weren't smiling. I mean im writing this as listening to Britney Spears born to make you happy (shutup critics, britney was good back in the day, before the fed, the baby, the shave and the weight).

Anyway I just realised I have blogged about calendars and designs for far too long, my apologies. You want interesting stuff!

Well I got driven in a Volvo today :P The girl that drove me said she lost her licence on the weekend, but it was cool to drive without a license; its no problem. I was little taken aback, particulary by her driving. She was on the mobile, doing a u-turn, and accelearating a volvo like it was a v8 supercar lol.

Madina and I went shopping tonight. I really found out I looked like a westerner, when I bought pepsi, water and was going to buy chips lol. So I decided to buy eggs and, omg what is the name of it, its a meat thing in dough.

I was also teaching madina about Australia, she is particular taken with the lyrebird from the adelaide zoo lol.

I have to sign off now cos lucas wants the internet to download anti virus for his pc (No comment).

Take it easy guys.

Bryan Harrell. Brie and cracker eater.

PS: On my political leanings, and I know ill get letters or something, they are more strongly reinforced to Center-Right. but no questions about politics in Australia please.