THE 4 STAGES OF BRAND DEVELOPMENT

All brands stand out for one reason or another. Some stand out more than others, but every brand is known for something, and have become the generic term in their respective market. The process of Brand Development gets overlooked at times, and is often times replaced with the marketing and sales processes. Whether we realize it or not, every entrepreneur and business owner is building a Brand. It’s always best if the brand development process is intentional and not done on the fly. Brands have four stages of growth. Each stage more distinct, recognizable, and profitable than the one below, and they fall into one of these four categories, which apply to Brands across every industry or niche. THE ITEM -- An item in this sense of the word would describe something straight out of a factory. This is a brand in its most basic form. In fact, it’s not even really considered a brand yet at this point. THE LABEL -- If you want to take an item to the next level, you give it a label. This label is just a tag on the item, so that people can identify what they’re buying. Nothing fancy. Think “Private Label”. THE BRAND -- At this stage, your “label” is distinct and recognizable. Brands are akin to people, they have a very distinct look and design and they have delivered on the consistency of their product over the years. THE LIFESTYLE -- A lifestyle brand is made when it creates a deeply rooted emotional connection which alters the way people go about their everyday lives. This is the ultimate status of branding -- the “Top Floor” of the brand development hierarchy which not every brand gets get to reach. For example, Nike is the epitome of a lifestyle brand, not only in terms of sneakers, but to inspire people to be physically fit, and become the best athlete they can be. Nike embodies greatness in terms of wellness and athletics. Their consumers don’t just buy Nike, they LIVE Nike. If you want to benefit from having loyal customers who are willing to pay more for your products and keep coming back for more, you’ll need to get serious about building a brand that matters to your target audience.

DRKK SUCCESS QUOTES

 “Make this World a beautiful place for a better future. Better days are coming, the best is yet to come.” --  DRKKJOHAN

THE Only Way is Up!

You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life!

Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. 

The best is yet to come!

4 SECRETS TO CREATING A BRAND EXPERIENCE THROUGH YOUR CONTENT

Building better brand experiences mean modernizing how you manage content. When you streamline content operations, you make every piece of content work harder for your brand.

In addition, members of your content and marketing team will spend less time managing assets and more time building memorable digital experiences that convert customers.

Here are four secrets to creating a unified, bold brand experience:

1.   Relevance - Deliver content by device, location and user preferences to create effective personalized experiences.

2.   Consistency - Provide every customer at every touchpoint with a unified voice that conveys a clear brand identity.

3.   Creativity - Create unique and unexpected customer experiences by freeing up resources to focus on new ideas.

4.   Speed to market - Launch campaigns that capitalize on new trends quickly with efficient workflows and content tools.

Having an agile content platform will allow your content to flow seamlessly from creation to delivery, without limitations.

CONDOLENCES: Dr.Toh Yan Peng, Founder of Faber-Castell Malaysia

THE BrandLaureate wishes our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Dr. Toh Yan Peng, the Founder and Former Managing Director of Faber-Castell Malaysia who passed away on September 10, 2021.

Dr.Toh received the BrandLaureate Premier Brand Award on behalf of Faber-Castell Malaysia on March 15, 2018, for Brand Excellence in Writing & Drawing Instruments -- in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Faber-Castell Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

Also present during the event was the late Count's wife, Countess Mary von Faber-Castell, a member of Faber-Castell AG executive board, as well as Daniel Rogger, the current CEO of Faber-Castell AG.

During the ceremony, Countess Mary told the press conference that "the reason we are celebrating is due to the good judgment of both The Count and Dr.Toh to form Faber-Castell Malaysia".

ABOUT FABER-CASTELL

Driven by the motto "Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily well" Faber-Castell was founded by the late Count Anton von Faber-Castell in 1761 in Germany.

The company expanded to Malaysia in 1978 and continues to innovate quality writing, coloring, and drawing products around the world. Currently, it produces 180 million ballpoint pens and gel pens as well as over 200 million pieces of erasers for local and export markets annually, making it the world’s largest eraser manufacturer.

Today Faber-Castell Malaysia also has a 90,000 sq ft distribution center located at Subang Jaya, equipped with digitalized operations and smart delivery system, with multiple loading bays and warehouse management system 

– thanks to the Brand leadership and legacy of the late Dr. Toh Yan Peng. May his soul R.I.P.

 

3 GOLD AND 2 SILVER MEDALS: Making Malaysia proud at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

 3 Gold and 2 Silver Medals:  Making Malaysia proud at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

2021  saw the most amount of medals by the Malaysian Paralympians with three golds and two silvers since they first participated in the 1972 Paralympics in Heidelberg, West Germany.

LONG JUMP

National paralympic long jump athlete Abdul Latif Romly won Malaysia's third and final gold in the T20 long jump with 7.45 meters (m) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Defending champion Abdul Latif Romly rocked the athletics arena at the Olympic Stadium here today when he bagged his second Paralympic gold medal in the men's long jump T20 (intellectual impairment) category at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Abdul Latif, holds the world record of 7.64m that he set at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia.

The athlete, who hails from Perlis and who also won gold at the 2016 Rio edition, was in a class of his own to confirm Malaysia's third gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics with his very first jump - leaping to a distance of 7.26-metre (m).

BADMINTON

Badminton made its debut at the Tokyo Paralympics. Six-time world champion Cheah Liek Hou grabbed the second gold for Malaysia in the first Paralympic badminton men’s singles.

The 33-year-old was in amazing form when he crushed the favourite Dheva Anrimusthi of Indonesia 21-17, 21-15 in the men’s singles SU5 (physical impairment) final at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan  on Saturday (September 4, 2021)

Besides the world titles and Paralympics gold, 33-year-old Cheah is also a multiple medal winner of the Asian Para Games and Asean Para Games.

POWERLIFTING

The first Gold was won by powerlifter Bonnie Bunyau Gustin. The powerlifting champion pulled off an amazing feat when he won the first gold medal for Malaysia on the fourth day of the Tokyo Paralympic Games,  in the men's 72kg category on August 27, 2021.

What’s more impressive was the Sarawakian also broke the Paralympics record of 227kg set by Rasool Mohsin from Iraq at Rio in 2016.

Malaysia also won silvers through powerlifter Jong Yee Khie in the men's 107kg, and Chew Wei Lun who became the first Malaysian athlete to win a medal in the Boccia (BC1) individual category.

The Malaysian Olympic team consisted 22 athletes competing in the categories of Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Cycling, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Wheelchair Tennis.

Read more:

https://www.thesundaily.my/sport/malaysia-end-tokyo-paralympic-campaign-in-style-thanks-to-extraordinary-athletes-EH8292521

 

TESTIMONIALS: Why we are The BRAND

 TESTIMONIALS: Why we are The BRAND

By DrKKJohan

“I have received thousands of compliments from so many people over the years,

“Here, I just want to pick a few very recent ones to share out and inspire you -- That you too can do what I do, and can be what I am with passion,

“You will be able to excel and succeed for sure. Love what you do and do what you love. That's the beauty and pleasure of life. Live the moment, living to the fullest,

“That’s what makes The BrandLaureate special!

“We have character, we have talent -- We ACT! Keeping up to our Branding and Living Up to Our Brand. We Walk the Talk for Our Brand Success,

“We are very stable, strong, and sound. The BrandLaureate says it all, does it all and has it all -- The Epitome of Brand Success,

“All these testimonials are very powerful, and they will certainly get a lot of support and lift up The BrandLaureate as champion of Brands, Branding and Re-Branding.”

“Yes, that is what Branding is all about. Thank you for all your support!”

-- DRKKJOHAN, The World President of The BrandLaureate.

(www.thebrandlaureate.com)

8 Effective Branding Tips

 8 Effective Branding Tips

 

Branding is equally important for both small and large businesses. Many business owners perceive branding as just a logo and therefore believe it is not an essential component for their marketing success.

Little do they realise that many successful brands have effective branding, as it provides businesses with numerous benefits such as having a strong identity, personality and a point of difference, which are crucial factors to help you stand out from the crowd.

Here are eight effective branding tips on how to build a strong brand for your business.

1. Think analytically

Branding is not as simple as having a catch phrase or a logo. A brand that stands out from the crowd is one which is associated with the product's competitive advantage.

2. Maintain your brand

Repeat the same message on all your marketing material, in your emails and when you are face-to-face with your customers. For example, think of Nike, who has used "Just Do It" as a logo across all their marketing campaigns.

3. Target your market

Don’t aim to be the ‘one glove fits all’ type brand. The best results are achieved when you focus on your target market, creating a brand that is relevant and an 'image' that speaks to them. This also allows you to build strong relationships with your customers and improves your brand value.

4. Commit yourself to a brand

One rule of thumb is that when you have become tired of your logo, tagline and branding efforts, that's when they begin to sink in with customers. So, stick with it.

5. Create a unique value proposition

A unique value proposition is what makes you different from your competitors. The FAB Technique (Features, Advantages, Benefits) is the best way to start to design your value proposition so it really communicates to customers.

 

6. Speak with ‘One Voice’

Speaking with one voice simply means that your marketing communications and messages must be consistent across all mediums so your customers can identify and understand your product or service.

7. Having a dedicated marketing plan

Many companies come up with ideas to market themselves and establish a brand identity but have neither the resources nor a plan as to how they will reach their audience. You must have a well-thought out marketing plan in place before your branding strategy will work.

8. Aim to build a strong online presence

Every business of any size or industry must have a well-designed website. A website also forms a crucial component of your marketing strategy and establishes credibility of your brand. You can then start to use effective lead generation tools to build your brand awareness and drive more visitors to your site.

 

What does it mean to be a CHAMPION?

 What does it mean to be a CHAMPION? 

• Champions never give up

• Champions have courage and risk failure

• Champions have self-mastery

• Champions strive for life-balance

• Champions have vision

• Champions say, “I can, and I will"

• Champions surround themselves with great people

• Champions demonstrate courage, determination, persistence, and perseverance

• Champions embrace adversity as opportunities

“Champions will Always be Champions.” -- DRKKJOHAN

Former chief of Defence Force Mohd Ghazali passes away at 92

The BrandLaureate extends our deepest condolences to the family of Malaysia’s former chief of Defence Force Gen (R) Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth who died on Tuesday (Aug 24) at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He was 92.

“We share your grief at this difficult time with deep sympathy and condolences,” said DrKKJohan, the World President of The BrandLaureate Awards.

Ghazali was the 7th Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia. He was also the recipient of The BrandLaureate Most Eminent Brand Icon Leadership Award in 2014.

Born on 4 February 1929 in Johor Bahru, Ghazali had undergone military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1952. He had served as Army chief (1977–1981) prior to his appointment as the 7th Chief of the Malaysian Defence Forces (1981–1985).

Earlier, Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang and the entire armed forces personnel also expressed their sadness and condolences to Mohd Ghazali’s family along with their prayers

He was laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Islamic cemetery later the same day.

Read more:

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/08/24/former-chief-of-defence-force-mohd-ghazali-passes-away-at-92

Burger seller owner of 70 hotels under the Zamburger chain

 Many hotel businesses are shutting down due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the country early last year.

However, one person managed to profit from it.

Burger seller Norizam Tukiman, 40, is now the owner of 70 hotels under the Zamburger chain.

He expanded his hotel chain by taking over 67 three-star boutique hotel including three in Indonesia, within a span of 15 months.

Norizam said he was able to buy over the hotels at a low price, as the owners could not cover the operating costs and pay the staff salaries.

Norizam started with only three hotels, two in Senai, Johor and one in Kota Warisan, Sepang, Selangor before expanding his business empire.

When questioned how he could take over a large number of hotels within a short time, Norizam said he used three business strategies,

“First is to buy the hotel, second is to buy the hotel 'business' with the hotel still owned by the original owner, and the third is through lease,” he said.

So, how did a burger seller become a mega-property owner? Read more:

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/burger-seller-now-owner-70-hotels-under-zamburger-chain

Top 10 Growing Brands in Japan 2021

 Top 10 Growing Brands in Japan 2021

 

Interbrand Japan, Japan’s biggest branding company based in Shibuya, Tokyo has announced the Best Japan Brands 2021 -- using its unique Brand Valuation method to convert brand value into monetary value.

This is the 13th year these rankings have been announced.

Here are the Top 10 Japanese growing brands, as announced by Interbrand earlier this year:

 

1.WORKMAN

With “high function, low price workwear for professionals” as its brand DNA, WORKMAN has established a new and unique brand position for itself by expanding its target audience to those who enjoy the outdoors and athleisure fashion.

 

2.Nitori

Nitori has built brand appeal with its slogan “More than just the price” in the international market by  offering  a convenient, seamless shopping experience both online and off with its Nitori App, which analyses customer data and strengthens the points of contact with customers.

 

3.Nintendo

Nintendo ‘s new game Animal Crossing: New Horizons enables players to interact with others in a pleasant world despite the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

4.Fujifilm

Fujifilm continues to transform its business structure using technologies developed in its film business, by expanding into the fields of healthcare, media recording, optical and electronic video, and imaging.

 

5.Rakuten

Rakuten has built a unique ecosystem that organically links members to over 70 services  in its  virtual network, a partnership with Shopify that brings new potential to e-commerce, the online Earth Mall With Rakuten which contributes to SDGs, and Rakuten Medical, which has commercialized the world’s first photoimmunotherapy for cancer.

 

6.BANDAI NAMCO

BANDAI NAMCO has also focused on experience-based entertainment centres, such as Gundam Cafés which opened across Japan to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise with the  slogan “More fun for everyone at home.”

 

7.Ajinomoto

Ajinomoto has concentrated its management resources on increasing corporate brand value, employee engagement, and market capitalization in its efforts to achieve its 2030 vision of becoming “a company solving food and health issues.”

 

 

8.Daikin

During the pandemic, Daikin has become the go-to company for ventilation and has experienced enormous business growth, and now aims to be a “global company that creates new value for the environment.”

 

9.Lion

As a leader in next-generation healthcare, Lion strives to improve mental and physical healthcare by creating new customer experiences and value in terms of health, comfort, cleanliness, and hygiene, with its mission of “redesigning habits to make them more fun, positive, and effortless.” the Japanese people.

 

10. Rinnai

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Rinnai redesigned its logo in 2020. The company has also promoted the ideas of “Global, Generation, and Governance a brand chosen by customers

 

Ref: https://www.interbrand.com/newsroom/interbrand-best-japan-brands-2021-announcing-the-top-100-japanese-brands/

The 4 Stages of Brand Value Creation

 The 4 Stages of Brand Value Creation

WELL-managed brand systems are not just for decoration. They are value drivers that allow for companies to grow their brands even in saturated markets.

The secret of success in brand management lies in brand perception and value creation. As we live in a world of overabundance, consumers often find it difficult to properly assess the value of a  brand and what they have to offer.

A perfectly managed brand allows customers to join the dots and discover the brand value beyond just the price point, which develops into brand awareness and appreciation.

How does your brand measure up? Here are the four stages of Brand Management to gauge if you have the qualities to be a great brand.

1.      VALUE CREATION -- Building a brand starts with value creation. This is the prerequisite for effective brands and branding. Companies must offer compelling benefits to consumers beyond what the competitors have to offer – consistently and verifiably – to become a value-added brand.

2.      PERCEPTION -- Only what is perceived creates value. Such values can only have an effect if customers perceive them. Some companies are not even aware of their strengths and benefits, and therefore are not able to position their brand effectively – thus missing out on the benefits and advantages that comes with it.

3.      APPRECIATION – This a prerequisite for selling. As soon as the customers size up the brand, they must have a sense of its value vs price. What is it worth? How much am I willing to pay? And if the perceived value is higher than the asking price, then a potential sale can be made.

4.      VALUE ADD -- Finally, when the customer receive more than they spend,  a bond of relationship trust is built between buyer and seller.  This value surplus which usually goes beyond the price point, is the hallmark of well-managed brands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Superstars at Tokyo Olympics 2021

With more than 11,000 athletes competing across 339 events at the Tokyo Olympics, keeping track of each and every one can be a challenge for fans. Now that the Games have started, here is a list of 10 Olympians considered to be the best of the best in their field who you simply must know about. 1.Simone Biles Showing unparalleled dominance at the 2016 Rio Olympics with four gold and one bronze medal, Simone Biles returns to the sport’s biggest stage to defend her all-around, vault, floor and team event titles. The living gymnastic legend has won a record number of 25 world championships medals, including 19 golds. 2.Zhu Ting China’s “Queen of Volleyball” will captain the national women’s team in Tokyo and hopes to replicate the success from Rio 2016, where she scooped gold and the MVP title. She is also set to become the first Chinese woman to carry the national flag at the Olympics at the opening ceremony. 3.Kevin Durant History has shown that the US basketball team are guaranteed a medal in the Olympics –Although this year’s roster is missing many big names like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Love, it features Brooklyn Nets star Durant, the two-time Olympic, NBA and MVP winner, who is considered one of the best players in NBA history. 4.Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce As one of the world’s most celebrated track athletes, Fraser-Pryce has six Olympic medals and nine world championship titles under her belt – a testament to her timelessly explosive starts and textbook form. This 34-year-old Jamaican sprinter will settle for nothing but gold ahead of her 100m and 200m events, as well as the women’s 4×100m relay. 5.Chen Aisen This Guangzhou native returns to defend his Rio Olympics gold in the individual and synchronised 10m platform events. Aisen maintained his success by capturing the world titles in 2017 and 2019 and winning a World Cup gold in Wuhan in between. This time around, the 25-year-old will only be competing in the 10m synchronised event with Cao Yuan. 6.Allyson Felix Tokyo will be the fifth Olympics for the 35-year-old US athlete who won her 12th gold medal at the 2019 IAAF World Championships, surpassing the legendary Usain Bolt‘s record for the most track-and-field world championship titles. 7.Naomi Osaka This 23-year-old Japanese tennis star makes her Olympic debut in Tokyo in women’s singles. The world No 2 started the year with a formidable win at the Australian Open in February – her fourth grand slam victory. She won her first at the 2018 US Open against her idol Serena Williams! 8. Caeleb Dressel After Michael Phelps bade farewell to his record-breaking career after the 2016 Rio Games, Dressel led the way for the US men’s swimming team. This freestyle and butterfly specialist won two golds at Rio 2016, before clocking a remarkable 49.50 to break predecessor Phelps’ 10-year 100m butterfly record – twice – at the 2019 World Championships. 9.Karsten Warholm All eyes are on Karsten Warholm for the men’s 400m hurdles after he broke the world record in July, and the 300m edition a month before. The 25-year-old Norwegian is in tip-top shape and has held the No 1 title for men’s 400m hurdles for 106 weeks and counting. 10. Katie Ledecky The 24-year-old American swimmer boasts a stellar record of five Olympic golds and 15 world championships, making her one of the most decorated women’s swimmers in history. As the youngest athlete on the US Olympic swimming team in 2012, she surprised the world by taking gold in the 800-metre freestyle. She swept four more golds and one silver medal in Rio. Ledecky will compete in four individual events including the 4×200m freestyle relay.

‘Jungle Cruise’ Navigates turning the ride into a highly enjoyable trip

DISNEY studio’s latest feature film, “Jungle Cruise,” docked with some good results at the box office this weekend. Overall, the film, which is based on the beloved Disney theme park — rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon, notched more than US$90 million thanks to theatre showings and streaming.

The film stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff, and Emily Blunt as intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton on an adventure of a lifetime on Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” downriver the Amazon on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat.

Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s services to guide Lily to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine.

Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film opened which opened on July 28, 2021 in France, garnered an estimated US$61.8 million at the worldwide box office, which includes a better than expected US$34.2 million at domestic theatres.

The film was also released simultaneously on streaming via Disney+’s Premier Access for an additional charge of US$29.99 — which brought in an additional US$30 million globally on the digital platform.

In a pre-Covid world, a US$61 million global theatrical opening for a film with a hefty production budget of US$200 million, which would have been nothing to write home about.

But we aren’t living in a pre-Covid world. Movie theatres are still trying to reach normalcy, box office numbers have been hit and miss — and “Jungle Cruise” is in the middle of growing concerns regarding the spreading Delta variant.

Adding streaming numbers to the mix complicates things even further in terms of the film’s success.

One can conclude that those watching on Disney+ ate into the film’s theatre ticket sales. You could also laud Disney for being able to bring in US$30 million more, thanks to the video streaming channel — and both would be correct.

All in, bringing in more US$30 million on streaming is a welcome boost. Now, Disney and theatres will wait to see how the film does in the weeks to come.

 

All 10 Fast & Furious Movies Ranked

VROOM! Bwoosh! Flex! At long last, Fast and Furious 9 (formerly known as F9) is out now.

As of July 31, 2021, it has grossed $167.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $458.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $626.2 million.

From bursting out the nose of an exploding plane, to skipping skyscraper to skyscraper, to gently guiding a bank safe across public roads and additional civil engineering, the Fast & Furious franchise has made its mission delivering more outrageous action than the previous movies could ever muster.

And as the stunts got crazier for Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and the whole F&F-in’ family, critics were just as willing to go along for the ride.

Since the 5th Furious film that earned the franchise’s first Fresh, it has since been on a skyward trajectory, like a souped-up Karmann Ghia ramping off an Arrakis sandworm and barrel rolling between a fleet of nuclear dirigibles.

Furious 7 reached a high emotional crescendo in the wake of Walker’s death, while follow-up F8 saw a dip, though stayed in the Fresh lane.

The latest include spin-off Hobbs & Shaw and the long-delayed F9. Now that the whole family’s here, see all Fast & Furious movies ranked

 

#10. Fast & Furious (2009)

While Fast and Furious features the requisite action and stunts, the filmmakers have failed to provide a competent story or compelling characters.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker return to the film franchise that helped to launch each of their respective careers.

 

#9. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

Beautiful people and beautiful cars in a movie that won't tax the brain cells.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel opted to not appear in the sequel to the film the shot him to stardom in the first.

This sequel focuses on ex-police officer Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), who relocates from Los Angeles to Miami to start over. Becoming involved in the street-racing scene in his new city, Brian befriends car-savvy Tej (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) and Suki (Devon Aoki), but his competitive streak ends when federal agents apprehend him and he must enter into a deal with the FBI. Working with new partner Roman Pearce (Tyrese), Brian begins a dangerous mission to take down a powerful drug dealer.

 

#8. The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift

Eye-popping driving sequences coupled with a limp story and flat performances make this Drift a disappointing follow-up to previous Fast and Furious installments.

Synopsis: Better Luck Tomorrow director Justin Lin picks up where John Singleton left off to offer a high-octane look at the franchise.

Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) always feels like an outsider, but he defines himself through his victories as a street racer.

His hobby makes him unpopular with the authorities, so he goes to live with his father in Japan.

Once there and even more alienated, he learns about an exciting, but dangerous, new style of the sport. The stakes are high when Sean takes on the local champion and falls for the man's girlfriend.

 

#7. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Sleek and shiny on the surface, The Fast and the Furious recalls those cheesy teenage exploitation flicks of the 1950s.

Synopsis: A magazine article about real-life car racing gangs for Vibe becomes this fast-paced automotive thriller from director Rob Cohen.

When a crime brings them back to the mean streets of Los Angeles, fugitive ex-convict Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) reignite their high-octane feud. However, when a common enemy rears his head, Dom and Brian must learn how to work together and trust one another in order to defeat him.

 

#6. F9 (2021)

F9 sends the franchise hurtling further over the top than ever, but director Justin Lin's knack for preposterous set pieces keeps the action humming.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon.

This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he's going to save those he loves most.

His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and the high-performance driver they've ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom's forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena, the upcoming The Suicide Squad).

 

#5. Hobbs & Shaw 

This film doesn't rev as high as the franchise's best installments but gets decent mileage out of its well-matched stars and over-the-top action sequences.

Synopsis: Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a loyal agent of America's Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham).

Brixton Lorr is a cybernetically enhanced soldier who possesses superhuman strength, a brilliant mind, and a lethal pathogen that could wipe out half of the world's population.

It's now up to hulking lawman Luke Hobbs and lawless operative Deckard Shaw to put aside their past differences and work together to prevent the seemingly indestructible Lorr from destroying humanity.

 

#4.  The Fate of the Furious (2017)

The Fate of the Furious opens a new chapter in the franchise, fuelled by the same infectious cast chemistry and over-the-top action fans have come to expect.

Synopsis: The latest installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise welcomes Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron. With Dom and Letty married, Brian and Mia retired and the rest of the crew exonerated, the globe-trotting team has found some semblance of a normal life. They soon face an unexpected challenge when a mysterious woman named Cipher forces Dom to betray them all. Now, they must unite to bring home the man who made them a family and stop Cipher from unleashing chaos.

 

#3 Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

With high-octane humor and terrific action scenes, Fast & Furious 6 builds upon the winning blockbuster formula that made Fast 5 a critical and commercial success.

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the a global blockbuster franchise built on Fast Cars and steroids.

Since Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian's (Paul Walker) heist in Rio left them and their crew very rich people, they've scattered across the globe; however, they must still live as fugitives, unable to return home to their families. Meanwhile, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) has been tracking a gang of lethally skilled mercenary drivers whose second-in-command is someone Dom knows.

Unable to take them down himself, Hobbs asks Dom and his crew for help in exchange for full pardons for everyone.

 

#2 Fast Five (2011)

Sleek, loud, and Over The Top, Fast Five proudly embraces its brainless action thrills and injects new life into the franchise.

Synopsis: Former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law.

Ever since ex-cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia Torretto (Jordana Brewster) broke her brother Dom (Vin Diesel) out of custody, they've traveled border to border to evade authorities.

In Rio de Janeiro, they must do one final job before they can gain their freedom for good. Assembling their elite team of car racers, Brian and Dom know they must confront the corrupt businessman who wants them dead, before the federal agent (Dwayne Johnson) on their trail finds them.

 

#1  Furious 7 (2015)

Serving up a fresh round of over-the-top thrills while adding unexpected dramatic heft, Furious 7 keeps the franchise moving in more ways than one.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson continue the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed.

After defeating international terrorist Owen Shaw, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), and the rest of the crew have separated to return to more normal lives.

However, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), Owen's older brother, is thirsty for revenge. A slick government agent offers to help Dom and the company take care of Shaw in exchange for their help in rescuing a kidnapped computer hacker who has developed a powerful surveillance program.

 

Reference:

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-fast-and-furious-movies-ranked/

Syrian swimmer Yusra Mardini provides a message of hope at the Tokyo Olympics 2021

Mardini is the most prominent of them all. At her first Olympic appearance five years ago in Brazil, she made headlines around the world as a teenager with her moving refugee story: an odyssey through eight countries, along with her sister during which the two of them, among other things, dragged an overcrowded and then broken, rubber dinghy behind them for three and a half hours before arriving in Lesbos.

However, for the Syrian-born Mardini, who has lived in Germany since fleeing in 2015 and is competing for the international refugee team for the second time since 2016, it is very much a special moment. "For me, Tokyo is even more emotional than Rio de Janeiro," she said upon being nominated.

She is now an ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and was once received by the Pope. While a book on her life has already been published, a film is currently being made about her, which will be available on Netflix next year.

According to People magazine in the United States, she is currently one of the "25 Women Changing the World."

Read more:

https://www.eurosport.com/swimming/tokyo-2020/2021/olympics-my-biggest-dream-yusri-mardini-s-journey-from-being-a-syria-refugee-to-swimming-at-tokyo-20_sto8425926/story.shtml

Top 10 Greatest Olympic Moments

THE 2020 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad is here.

Branded as Tokyo 2020 (東京2020), it is an ongoing international multi-sport event that is currently held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events beginning on 21 July.

Tokyo was selected as the host city during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 7 September 2013.

Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the event was postponed in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is held largely behind closed doors with no public spectators permitted under the state of emergency.

Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Tokyo 2020 name for marketing and branding purposes

Let’s take a look back to some of the greatest Olympic moments of all time

1) 1936 Berlin – Jesse Owens defies Hitler: Hitler wanted the 1936 Games in Berlin to showcase the superiority of the “new Aryan man”. Owen’s 4 gold medals shattered that myth, though ironically Owens faced significant discrimination when he returned to a racially divided USA.

2) 1968 Mexico – Beamon’s impossible leap: Before American Bob Beamon’s amazing jump in the high altitude of Mexico City, no one had jumped further than 27 feet, 10 inches. Beamon’s leap of 29 feet 2.5 inches was so long that the organizers had to bring in a long tape to measure it. His incredible record stood for 23 years.

3) 1976 Montreal – Nadia Comaneci scores the perfect 10: At 4ft 11 and weighing just 6st 2lbs, the 14-year-old Romanian gymnast took to the asymmetric bars in Montreal and achieved what experts said was impossible – the perfect 10.00. So unexpected was the result that the digital scoreboard couldn’t actually display 4 digits.

4) 1980 Moscow – Coe v Ovett: The 1980 Olympics, played out under the cloud of the US boycott, was the event of reckoning for Britain’s great middle-distance runners, Seb Coe and Steve Ovett. They’d only met once on the track before the Games and the media hyped up their rivalry in the lead-up to the Games. In the end, honors were even. Ovett won 800m, but Coe took gold in the 1,500m.

5) 1988 Seoul – Ben Johnson tests positive: Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson broke the 100m world record in taking gold at the Seoul Olympics. But within 48 hours, triumph turned to disgrace as Johnson’s urine sample was shown to have tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol. Johnson was stripped of his medal and world record. 6 of the 8 100m finalists in Seoul were tainted by positive tests or rumors of doping.

6) 1992 Barcelona – heroic Redmond crosses the line with his Dad: British 400m runner Derek Redmond was a genuine medal prospect but halfway into the semi-final his hamstring gave way and he collapsed to the track in agony. Instead of being stretchered off, Redmond bravely hauled himself up and began limping around the track, eventually crossing the line supported by his father who had rushed onto the track to support his son.

7) 2000 Sydney – Redgrave makes it 5 in a row: Some athletes have won more titles than rower Steve Redgrave’s haul of 5 gold medals. But what makes Redgrave arguably the greatest Olympian of all time is that his medals spanned 16 years, and 5 Olympic Games, culminating in a narrow victory, aged 38, in the men’s coxless 4s.

 8) 2008 Beijing – Phelps wins 8 golds: Mark Spitz had won 7 golds in Munich, but American swimmer Michael Phelps went one better in the pool at Beijing in 2008. Over the course of 8 days, he won all 8 events he entered (in World Record times) and secured the greatest single haul of gold medals the Games has ever seen. Including the Athens and London games, Phelps won an incredible 18 Olympic golds.

9) 2008 Beijing – Bolt astonishes the world: The 100m had long been mired in controversy and drug-cheating when Usain Bolt suddenly re-ignited the world’s love affair with sprinting. The popular and charismatic Jamaican sprinter smashed the world record in both the 100m and 200m finals. He was so far ahead of the field he was even able to slow down as he approached the winning tape.

10) 2012 London – Super Saturday’s British gold rush: A joyous London Games reached its pinnacle for the host nation on the middle Saturday. Earlier gold medals in rowing (x 2) and cycling set the scene for an unforgettable night of athletics in the Olympic stadium. First Jess Ennis won the heptathlon gold, Greg Rutherford then surprisingly leaped to victory in the long jump, and then in a thrilling finale Mo Farah was victorious in the 10,000m.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wX8J-karv7do2DlLJ2sFqMWh6zgaTSjFDvzAsGddGug/edit?usp=sharing

GOOD LUCK TO THE MALAYSIAN TEAM AT TOKYO OLYMPICS 2020

 LET the games begin!

The 2020 Summer Olympics is scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan from 23 July to 8 August 2021.

A total of 30 Malaysian athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics so far. 

On behalf of The BrandLaureate, we would like to congratulate the Malaysian team and wish them good luck on their participation at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Here is the list of their names and the 10 sport categories.

1. SHOOTING - Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi (Women's individual 50m rifle three-position).

2. GOLF - Gavin Kyle Green (Men's golf); Kelly Tan (Women's golf).

3. ARCHERY - Khairul Anuar Mohamad (Men's individual recurve). Syaqiera Mashayikh, (Women's individual recurve).

4. GYMNASTICS - Farah Ann Abdul Hadi (Women's individual all-around artistic, and Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing (Men's individual all-around artistic).

5. TRACK CYCLING - Azizulhasni Awang (Men's sprint and Men's Keirin) and Shah Firdaus Sahrom (Men's sprint and Men's Keirin).

6. ATHLETICS - Lee Hup Wei (Men's high jump) and Azreen Nabila Alias (Women's 100m sprint).

7. SWIMMING - Welson Sim Wee Shieng (Women's 200m and 400m Freestyle) and Phee Jinq En, (Women's 100m and 200m Breaststroke).

8. SAILING - Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy (Men's Laser), Nur Shazrin Mohd Latif (Women's Laser Radial), Nuraisyah Jamil and Juni Noor Jamali (Women's 470).

9. DIVING - Nur Dhabitah Sabri (Women's individual 3m Springboard), Ng Yan Yee, (Women's individual 3m Springboard), Cheong Jun Hoong (Women's individual 10m platform), Pandalela Rinong (Women's individual 10m platform and Women's synchronised 10m platform) and Leong Mun Yee (Women's synchronised 10m platform)

10. BADMINTON - Chan Peng Soon, Goh Liu Ying, Chow Mei Kuan, Lee Meng Yean, Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, Soniia Cheah Su Ya & Lee Zii Jia.

Ever since the first modern Olympics was held in 1896 in Athens, it has only been disrupted three times before. 

The first time it happened was in 1916 due to the First World War, and then during the Second World War in 1940 and 1944, when they were cancelled altogether.

Despite this postponement, the upcoming games will still be referred to by their original name for marketing purposes, and will show "Tokyo 2020" on all of the winning medals.

Since the nation's official debut in 1956 under the name Malaya, Malaysian athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of the United States-led boycott.

“Make the country proud! May your success be an inspiration to us all!” said DrKKJohan on behalf of The BrandLaureate.

TOP 10 Timeless Branding Terms

DO YOU know what are the Branding terms that inspire your employees, your customers, and your fans? What about your brand personality and brand promise to your customers and fans?

Consider these questions: What does your brand stand for? What values are synonymous with your Brand? What are the compelling benefits? And is there consistency each time you interact with your target audience?

Here is the Top 10 list of timeless branding terms that may help you and your team answer these important branding questions.

1.      BRAND AMBASSADOR: In the simplest form, all employees are brand ambassadors representing the community's brand.

2.      BRAND ARCHITECTURE: is the structure and names of brands within a portfolio, like a “family tree” of brands and sub-brands.

3.      BRAND AUDIT: This is a comprehensive exam to determine the health of a brand.

4.      BRAND EXPERIENCE: influences how customers feel about your brand through a simple but meaningful encounter which builds consumer trust and awareness.

5.      BRAND EXTENSION: brings the brand into a new category, sub-category, or industry (for example, when Coca-Cola sells Dasani water)

6.      BRAND PERSONALITY: is the brand image and identity expressed in terms of human characteristics (for example, the Energizer Bunny)

7.      BRAND POSITIONING: This is how a company positions itself within the industry to reach out to its target audience in terms of benefits, and differentiation.

8.      BRAND PROMISE: is the experience brand consumers and fans can expect to receive every single time they interact with a brand – the more an organization can deliver on that promise, the stronger the brand value in the mind of employees and customers

9.      BRAND STANDARDS/BRAND GUIDE is the standard by which a brand is communicated at all consumer touchpoints: from the logo usage specifications, color palettes, fonts, writing & design style, and other company-wide details.

10.   BRAND VOICE: This is how a brand is communicated to its audiences – whether written on a corporate website, social media or spoken over the phone. Once determined, this must be done invariably.

 

CONGRATULATIONS to Lionel Messi for winning the first Copa America 2021 (Argentina -1 vs Brazil - 0)

 CONGRATULATIONS to Lionel Messi, recipient of The BrandLaureate Legendary Award (Nov 2017), for winning the first Copa America with Argentina at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

Argentina won their first trophy since 1993 after defeating eternal rival Brazil 1-0 on Saturday in the 22nd minute, to win the Copa America title. It was Argentina’s first major tournament with Brazil, the two most powerful national teams in South America in the final of Copa America in Rio. 

The 2021 Copa America is Messi’s 10th major tournament with Argentina - comprised four World Cups and six editions of the competition to determine the champions of South America.

Lionel Andrés Messi, 34, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains the Argentina national team. He holds the record for over 500 senior career goals for club and country. He also won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues during a trophy-laden career at Barcelona.

EARLY DAYS

Born in June 24, 1987, Messi made his competitive debut at age 17 in 2004, and became the youngest Argentine to play and score in the 2005 FIFA World Cup Youth Championship -- finishing the tournament with the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

As the squad's captain from August 2011, Messi led Argentina to three consecutive finals -- the 2014 World Cup, for which he won the Golden Ball, and 2015, and 2016 Copas América. 

Considered one of the greatest footballers of all times, Messi is the only player in history to win five FIFA Ballon d'Or awards and the first to win three European Golden Shoes. 

As of 2017, Lionel Messi is worth an estimated $80 million, according to Forbes.com, and is well-deserving of The BrandLaureate Legendary award as a multi-faceted sportsman and one of the best soccer players in history

Read more: https://www.business-standard.com/article/sports/copa-america-2021-brazil-vs-argentina-final-live-match-time-and-telecast-details-in-india-today-121071000182_1.html

BLOGAZINE: http://thebrandlaureate.net/2017/11/23/argentine-footballer-lionel-messi-wins-thebrandlaureate-legendary-award-2017

DRKK'S SUCCESS QUOTE: “Take Charge, Take Control and Take Care of Your Brand.”

 “Take Charge, Take Control and Take Care of Your Brand.”  – DRKKJOHAN

When becoming an entrepreneur, one is literally taking charge of their own future. 

It means grabbing the wheel and growing something based on your beliefs. 

And the only way to do so is by being a front runner. 

As a leader, the buck stops with you. You must be willing to do what it takes to make it work.

Your decisions not only impact yourself, but those on this journey with you.

Being so, learning how to Take Control of your finances and business is extremely important. 

Taking Charge also means care and attention, as a wrong decision could result in losing money and time, so you must know where your priorities are. 

Take Charge and Take Care of Your Brand, to Take Control of Your Destiny.

Microsoft Unveils Windows 11 Operating System

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 11, its "Next Generation" operating system, at a virtual event recently. The new software will let Android apps run on the Windows desktop.

Product manager Panos Panay promised smaller, faster security updates --  and said they would happen in the background. Windows 11 will also let users configure multiple desktops for work, home, and gaming, like on a Mac.

Microsoft says there are currently about 1.3 billion devices running Windows 10. An early preview version of the new system was  released for app developers earlier this month.

Windows 11 will be available as a free update to existing Windows 10 users - although some devices will not have the right specifications. These include a minimum of 64 gigabytes of storage and 4 gigabytes of RAM.

One cosmetic change is putting the "Start" button at the bottom-centre of the screen rather than left-hand side.

In addition, Windows 11 will feature tighter integration with Microsoft's communications platform Teams. Xbox Games Pass, a subscription service offering access to hundreds of games, will also be pre-installed.

The tech giant said it would share more profits from its app store with creators and developers - as rival Apple continues to face challenges over its business model.

When Windows 10 launched in 2015, Microsoft said it would be the final version of the operating system. It has since announced Windows 10 will be retired in 2025.

Read more:

https://www.techradar.com/sg/news/windows-11-home-and-pro