Thanks to my voters!

Now that the wildcard voting is over, I have a chance to dream about the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Last week my dad shared with me that someone told him that the Great Barrier Reef is “a place you must go before you die.”

I even had the chance to ask a few friends who have been there and the look on their faces is the kind of look I want to have when I tell people about my holiday. It’s that painfully dissatisfying look of contented speechlessness, the kind I simply have to go to find out why myself.

Thanks to everyone who has voted for me over the past couple of weeks. Though the wildcard position went to someone else, your dedication and fighting spirit has been a source of comfort since I was not able to be in my home country to rally for support in person. You did great, and though this is not a bribe, I’m likely going to throw a party if I get the job.

Everyone from the media to everyday Malaysians who took time out of their busy lives to cover my story and cast in their votes, as well fans from Hong Kong, the U.S., U.K., Italy, Philippines, Turkey, Spain and elsewhere who left notes for me… your votes meant the world to me!

To think that I made the Top 25 in the wildcard voting through social media, radio, newsprint and word-of-mouth viral activity on Facebook, Twitter and email has pleased me on two fronts. Firstly, as a web strategist it is deeply satisfying to witness the power of social media tools at work from a first-hand experience… the effect is a bit like catnip!

Secondly, because my campaign was so well received by traditional media in spite of my physical absence in Asia, I am certain that it would have been exponentially better if I had been there.

I would also have had a support system and would have been able to spread my campaign on the Internet faster and wider, but the reality was that my resources were limited the past two weeks. I was in the middle of arranging a relocation from the U.K. back to Malaysia after my trip to Spain, and as much as 200 influencers who could have been a compelling force in my London campaign headed to Canada to ski the same week I found out I got into the Top 50.

THE POWER OF SOCIAL NETWORKING
In spite of that, my social networks have kept me in the running with candidates from countries with populations 3-15 times the size of  Malaysia! To think that my “digitally-focused” strategy could compete on this playing field is validation enough. At 25th place, I have a final tally of 2,815 votes, a total of 828 members in my Best Job in the World Facebook group, 748 twitter followers (150 new) and a new fan base from all over the world.

Although I have not had a chance to reply to everyone yet, I’ve read your notes and most of them have made me smile. You guys rock and don’t be shy… keep them coming! (I love fanmail)

THE SITTING BULL IS ACTUALLY BUSY AS A BEE
There will be a 9-day wait to see whether or not I make it to the Top 11. Although it may seem like the madness is over, it is far from over! I am actually busy behind the scenes in preparation for the next stage and I bet when the other 10 finalists are announced, the game will step up significantly. For now, I get to put my background, experience and a decade-long career in web marketing to work. Hopefully I’ll be chosen to present my grand plan to Tourism Queensland. *fingers-crossed*

Do check out my portfolio, and feel free to talk to me on Twitter.