Good Bye....

Dear all,

I would be gone by the time you are reading this...

I will be at a far far away land.. Actually not really because I am just going on a holiday with the #OMYSBA2014 Winners and finalist. We will be at Cebu and Bohol! It is just a few hours away!

Actually I might just be in the mid air when you are reading this. LOL.

This will be my Monday - Friday. I will be doing my Ah Beng pose all over the island while you are...

Stuck in the office crying and missing me because there will be no updates on Smithankyou.com. You can always check out my Instagram and Twitter for LIVE! updates!

And BTW, I might not be coming back if...

I bump into any of them and fall in love. Please tell my wife I miss her. maybe. maybe not. ;X

P.S. Do not ask me help you give money to the poor guy who got scammed. I am going Philippines and he is from Vietnam. DIFFERENT COUNTRY LAH!

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What is a lifestyle blog?

I've done many crazy things in my life. Wearing unicorn suit, taking wedding shoot at NTUC but those your already know. What you may not know is that I went till the extent of interviewing myself because I thought I am so cool and somebody should already have done that but didn't. I was just being pro-active.

Smith interviewing Smith

No shame on that.

Lucky for you guys is that besides this lame self-interview, I actually gotten myself a real interview by the press for winning the Singapore Blog Awards 2014 - Best Lifestyle Blog! 

What is a Lifestyle blog to me? You can read the full interview here!

So besides the English version, they actually managed to translate my response into mandarin and got it published onto yesterday's MyPaper! 

My future son or daughter is gonna be so proud of me. #JustSayin #WifeNotPregnant

If you noticed the journalist who did a good job translating it and find her name familiar, it is because she was the "female-lead" for my 1st online series "drama". Watch it here if you don't remember. 

The guys from OMY/SPH are really generous giving me so much attention. If you are into media buying and PR you will know how much media dollars I have earned. Just check these out. 

Omy.sg Facebook Page - 27k Likes

SBA FB Page 1,610 likes

OMY.SG Main Page Rotator. Average Page View - Above 4 Million

Blog.omy - Alexa Ranking top 300 sites in Singapore.

And also MyPaper average daily circulation of 250,000 copies! 

That's not all! I was also featured on GQ Magazine! 

Ok fine, this is fake. It's okay to dream right?

I really don't know how to express my happiness and gratitude besides saying thank you! Also maybe break into a song

Mr.Smith, Started from the bottom now I'm here.  

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Making your own Youtube videos.

We all love to watch funny videos only simply because it's funny, easy to relate and quick to watch. This is how our life style has become. Anything too long and slow is just not our style anymore. (That's what she says)

Erm.. okay.

Years after Ryan Higa we finally have some nice Youtube channels in Singapore like Wahbanana (which was better when it 1st started) TreePotatoes and NOC. That being said I am still looking for a break through in the industry once again. The whole "type of girl friends", "Type of mahjong players" or whatever type of father/mother and the whole click bait with boobs things is really getting into me.

So to ride along with the wave and also a product of satire, along with 1stjournal and Feliza, I've decided to produce our own home video.



To be honest I know this is not the best idea because it's not even something people can relate but it's just something that I had in mind to disturb the trophy and I am very glad that these guys are willing to jump in and have fun with me.

It was done within a super short notice of less than 24 hours and Max from 1stjournal did a pretty good job in the editing it must say. Less the part that he was using comic sans and forgotten to bring mic up thus the volume of our speech is a little soft.

We spent less than 2 hours shooting the scenes and direction, lines, props and all were very quickly done up. So can I say I am a director, producer and actor? #Shameless

I guess if you guys wish to be in such videos and have some interesting ideas, do send them in and let's have some fun together. We might not be famous YouTubers or a million dollar production house but the experience of doing such videos is actually pretty fun!

Send in your request at Smithleong@Gmail.com ! No, I am not kidding. Let's take this as a community project! You can be the director, producer and actor too! With social media platforms like this, anyone can be everything they want! You can have your own youtube channel and be a Youtube Star TOO! (Only selected candidates will be contacted. For anybody based in SG only)

Mr.Smith, ten type of things I could be! - YouTuber lah! Send in TODAY!

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OMY Singapore Blog Awards 2014

TL;DR Version: I won the OMY Singapore Blog Awards 2014 - Best LifeStyle Blog. This is now an award winning blog. KTHXBYE.

First of all.. THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO VOTED!! BECAUSE I FUCKING FINALLY DID IT!! YES! With all your support I WON!

While everyone stood there waiting for other winners, I had to monkey around.

For those who missed my previous post some time ago regarding my last ditch effort in the blog awards - here you go.

The atmosphere was really different for 2014 because like I mentioned I did not see many of the familiar faces but the interesting thing was I actually made a lot of friends and also took a lot of pictures with many many pretty girls. Not too sure if it was the power of the trophy. the costume or the face. :p

Anyway, I actually wanted to do a video to thanks everyone and in fact I did but it was so draggy and boring I put myself to sleep and I thought I would rather put the speech up here for your reading pleasure. Here we go!

-----------------------------------

如有雷同，实属巧合

Any similarity to any persons, living or dead, or to any actual events is coincidental and unintentional.

The Speech

First of all I need to 感谢煮。。饭给我吃的妈妈.. I also wanna thanks OMY for organizing and Lucas for giving me this chance. Not sure who is Lucas but everyone says that on the ceremony I used to know so I thought I should follow.

Me, horsing around for the surprise dance segment.

Anyway, as we all know we were not given any time on stage to give any thank you speech thus I have to make this video blogpost myself as I've to thank some people. There are reason why we are not given any time to do so because 1. We have limited time, 2. Because we are bloggers are not all of us are well spoken, in fact many of us do it better with writing than saying and 3. Because there are people like me, I will simply offend people at any given chance to speak regardless accidentally or purposely. Anyway as you can see from the YouTube time bar below, this is not going to be a short video and if you are impatient you might want to find the written version on my blog, Ctrl F find your name and if you can't find your name I'm sorry. (Sorry no more YouTube version.)

On stage for the 2nd time to collect my awards. Show host Evelyn is my annual friend. I see her once a year at the award. She is also my favourite host when I was younger. "WHO'S THAT POKEMON!"

I'm a blogger and I believe the importance of voice and thus, 沉默是金 is not my style. The road to this award ain't exactly hard and it sure is not 龟兔赛跑. In fact it's a road I've never regretted. Along the way I've met many interesting people. People who are crazy, who are nice, pretty, sexy, boobs no boobs, made me laugh, made me cry and some that made me do both at the same time. I guess this is the beauty of social media because u always expect the unexpected. I've never expected an online space that I started years ago because of trend and later because I wanted to record my activities as well as to improve my writing can evolved into a page where thousands of readers visit. Allows me to get free trip, sponsored items and even earning cash. Truth is none of these benefits were part of the plan and less say about winning an award. I guessing good comes when you do good instead of chasing after the wrong thing. I am saying this for many younger bloggers out there. Do not do it because you are out chasing money. 

Beauty and the beast for Ms Sim Ann

I've nv been good at competition because I'm competitive. Once I dive my head in, I'll want to win and if I can't, I wouldn't feel too good about it. I know I can't handle loses well and thus I've nv really signed myself up for any contest or competition since I was a kid. When I first came to know about blog awards, I wasn't an active blogger like now. I knew nobody and I was a nobody myself. I never dared to step up and try being part of it because I tell myself that it is nothing but a popularity rat race. I know I will never win because I'm a nobody. Fast forward to 4yrs ago and because of a twist of fate I've met many interesting bloggers. I was in fact the events company that powered the event. I werent a finalist. A year later I was lucky to be nominated by some readers but I didn't put my head into it because I was still part of the events team and I didn't want to win because I felt it's not exactly the best thing to do since I'm considered a working com. Last year was the 1st year that I made an effort but I lost. The feeling sucks. The feeling of losing sucks not just because I let myself down but also because I let my readers, friends and everyone who voted for me down. I never understood how people can feel happy for being 2nd or just nominated. I'm competitive and I'm not shy about it. I joined because I want to win and not because I want to be 2nd or 3rd. The opportunity came again to give my shot again this year. I told my friends that I really want it but little believed me. Some said things like with my reputation in the industry this award is not important to me. Some said that because this award is not justifiable as a standard in singapore because bloggers from other companies are not allowed to join and also I'm not playing with big boys like brown or xx and it means nothing. Many of you might not know but many "famous" bloggers also started via OMY blog club. To be honest, I don't feel like those are compliment to me. Who am I to say the award is not worth my time or below me when I've yet to beat it? Who am I to say that this award is not a standard just because we are not in the major league? A champion in division 2 league is still a champion and if you have never won that spot, you can't even consider yourself out of that league. Moreover, winning for me is not about proving that I'm better than the award, it's to prove that I can win it. It's not even about beating the rest, it's just about winning myself, my very huge ego hidden up my ass.

On stage for the 3rd time - best dress. I dress up every year just in case I don't get an award so at least I can still get some "airtime"

I didn't really believe I can do it because my blog is not exactly your typical politically correct blog. I blog things that I feel it's right even when people think it's not. I blog about things that some call it lack of morale but I call it the truth of the world. Life is too short for sugar coating. When I didn't believe myself, people around me believed me. They believed in me even without supporting evidence. That is faith. Faith in me is believing in me because it's me and not because it's perceived truth. People who voted for me daily, I do not know who you guys are besides some of the very vocal people like Mei, Priscilla and of course Melissa. But she's a lil different. Not like she is a fan but because she wanted a meal from me and the deal is only if I win. With friends like this, where got time for enemy? And of course I want to thank my wife and ex office wife Eunice who came down to the event and supported me not knowing if I can win it.

Unicorn and Horse racing beauty.

In fact I really thought I didn't win. The result of the followers choice was out a few days before the rest of the main awards. Knowing that I didn't win the best twitter influencer sucks. I was really moody for that day and the worst part was people didn't believe I was sad because of that. Everyone just thought I was kidding. Nobody expected me to be affected by a blog award. And based on historical evidence, you will know that you are the winner the day before because of certain admin work but nobody from OMY contacted me. And when they had the award before mine to a substitute receiver because the winner didn't attend, my heart sank. I told my wife that if they had time for a substitute, it means they have contacted the winners and thus it's obviously not me as nobody contacted me. So when they were going through the nominees for best lifestyle blog, I was actually switched off and talking to the people around me. I was a lil shocked when I heard my own name being called to receive my prize. I did it. I fucking did it.

I fucking did it with SWAG.

I was already telling everyone that I will not participate in this for 2015 anymore because it's no longer fun that I've so little finalist friends this year as compared to the previous years. I feel like the feeling of home coming is not there anymore. Some bloggers grew out of it, some has won and left, some just believe that they are better than the award while others gave up trying. I was wrong because despite not having many friends present this year, I made many new friends and the feeling was pretty amazing.

Fif whom I met briefly at another OMY event months ago. She is geting cuter btw!

Last but not least, I would like to thank alvinology, not the Elvin Ng fan club but the real alvinology blogger. It was because of him that I got connected to OMY and met all these wonderful people as well as was given a lot of opportunities and 2 because he did not participate because I doubt I can beat him in this.

Thanks once again, I can't say enough how happy I am even until now. 

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On The Press

Just for keepsake - Featured on OMY.sg

On 早报 - 17th August 

On MyPaper - 18th August

Interview - not sure when will the video be up thou.

So they asked me during the media interview " complete this sentence, I love social media because" and I went "I have a lot of opportunities to meet many pretty girls" #NothingIsGonnaChange

What's Next?

I guess nothing would change. This space will still be the same space that allows me to be lame and have fun. It's not like I am some celebrity now because I got an award. I think many advertisers just felt a sense of relief cause that means no price hike for advertorial. HAHA.

My wife would say, 红了 lor! Ya, face quite red really.

P.S.

Epic Selfie is Epic.

Mr.Smith, HUAT LIAO LOR!

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Singapore Blog Awards 2014 is here!

Once again, the longest running blog awards in Singapore is back! It is none other then Singapore Blog Awards itself!

I've been involved with this event for the 4th year now. When it all 1st started I was the design agency and event agency for this yearly event and that was in the year 2011.

In year 2012 I was nominated as one of the finalist for the 1st time and I was lucky to be nominated consecutively in 2013 as well as 2014.

Although some might like to say that this event is not a "major league" event because not ALL bloggers join this event for example our blog God Father - Mr Brown and still the local blog Queen Xiaxue.

No doubt that is the truth but on the other hand, the fact is that they CAN join as well because it is open for all and the main difference here is that they don't. Maybe because they don't find a need or it just ain't their kinda thing and of course for certain bloggers who are kinda popular but yet doesn't join this, is simply as we all know because of "contract issue" I will just simply put it that way.

Why have an awards that doesn't proves that you are "the best"?

Blogging ain't a competitive sport or at least to me it is not. To me blogging has always been just a hobby. With that being said, so why do I still join this contest?

Simply because it feels good that your hobby is being recognised for isn't it? Even when you cook a nice dinner and people say your food is really nice, you feel really good too. I guess it's the same, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It's not about beating the rest but it's about doing your best.

I wouldn't say things like "oh yeah, being nominated is already winning." To me a win is a win and I want that win so will you help me with it if you think I'm worth it?


Vote for Me! 

So this time round, they removed the "What The Hell" blog category and I was nominated for two awards:

Favourite Twitter Influencer - http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2014/vote/followers-choice.html

and

Best Lifestyle Blog - http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2014/vote/editors-judges-choice.html

Very nice tutorial done by my friend Melissa.

And thanks to Yong Wei for trying to make me look like Obama...

For some reason, my face is way too red and it looks like I got smashed into the wall and bleed non-stop. HAHAHA.

Last ditch effort...

This might be my last run for this simply because one of the main reason why I kept joining year after year was because of the event itself. It's always like a big reunion dinner for most of us. We are always busy and although we attend events, other events hardly invite like a good 100-200 bloggers at one go but the SBA does but the sad truth is that looking at this year's finalist, I hardly know them anymore. I guess most of the bloggers from my era has "out grown" it and I guess it's about time for me as well?

Mr.Smith, go big or go home... GO HOME LAHHHHH

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