Clarification/Follow-up by rhonacristyl on 10/13/03 11:39 am:
Before I forget, Conchan, let me again emphasize how enjoyable it has been for me to exercise my knowledge about the market research field as I help you get better acquainted with it for your work :)

I do have to tell you though that I will be getting very busy again w/ my work here in California soon, so if ever you need to ask me anything again, I just wanted to let you know that I might be too busy or be away from my computer for long stretches, so pardon me if I cannot answer stuff immediately after this point.

Also, now that there is a growing possibility that you might need to work w/ professional consultants in your area , please allow me to share with you some possibly uncomfortable-sounding advice.

I would like to make you aware of the fact that professional consultants of any kind (especially those into intellectual property such as market research, such as myself) throughout the world tend to be very wary of freely volunteering their expertise/hard-earned insights/educated advice w/o some clear arrangement w/ regards to compensation or recognition.

For consultants, their ideas are their bread and butter, something to be protected from piracy or plagiarism. Also, consultants view their time as being precious resources also, so they might not appreciate using too much time to answering questions w/o again some proper arrangements regarding compensation & credit.

Other consultants (w/ whom you may not have clear arrangements w/ yet, at least) may view your line of questioning here at Answerway about the development of your market research project as being the equivalent of having them do what is essentially your graded homework or your paying job for you.

To be quite honest, Conchan, as I was going through your questions, the professional consultant in me could not help but think that you are making me do your graded homework or paying job, and that you seem to not be investing enough quality time & thought into your own growing research & understanding of market research.

Of course, these are not fair or healthy feelings for either of us to have, right?

I know you are an intelligent & well-meaning person, Conchan, and you sound like you are relatively new to the work place and the field of market research.

That's why at first I did not mind schooling you on the basics of market research, but at this point, after all the tools have already been given to you, I think it is best and appropriate that you now concentrate on doing your own research (strategically using the Web, the library, resource persons in your area, etc.) making your own strategic local contacts, and taking responsibility for your own decisions & judgment to really form a responsive marketing plan for your firm.

Not all research materials are in English alone, Conchan; I am fairly sure that if you look hard enough there are more than enough resources where you are written out in Japanese, so these can be helpful & efficient for you as you develop your project and long-term grounding in the market research discipline.

Again, in a way you were lucky that I personally actually was a holiday these past few days and did not mind helping out a newcomer to the work force, since of course once upon a time I was a newcomer myself.

However, I will have you know that my original mentors/bosses/senior co-workers also always drilled it in me that, just as in school, in real life everybody will have to grown into doing their own homework & research, especially in this day and age when the Internet and other tools make it so much easier for any of us to learn something new.

Even the kindest of mentors will be hesitant to spoon-feed a young professional too long. Mentors need to work too on their own priorities, and again chances are they were like the rest of the planet in having to have learned things on their own rather than having everything spoon-fed to them.

The danger of being too reliant or dependent on others for insights & decisions that should be your own is that you might end up never thinking for yourself. Not being able to think for oneself can only deter anyone from rising higher in the corporate ladder, Conchan.

I've given you a lot of leads & insights, Conchan - now it is your responsibility as a thinking & working adult to build upon them.

I thought I just wanted to let you know, Conchan, since I'd hate for you to start your professional life on the wrong foot.

Good luck again on your project, Conchan!***