Keeping The Dream Alive

I'm grateful that by 25, I am already able to pull together some resources - which by convention would actually take quite some time to accumulate. Had I stayed on the conventional path, it would have turned out differently for me. I've always wanted to make deals. As many as possible. In fact, I am already making a lot of deals. In the Bs. In my head.

‎"Seluruh dunia termasuk Malaysia sedang bergelut dengan arus deras globalisasi. Memang tidak dinafikan globalisasi membawa peluang yang lebih terbuka yang perlu direbut untuk kepentingan negara kita. Pada masa yang sama, globalisasi juga membawa cabaran dan bahaya, lebih-lebih lagi bagi negara kecil dan sederhana seperti Malaysia. Kita perlu merebut peluang khususnya daripada proses integrasi ekonomi dan pasaran yang terbuka. Kita perlu memanfaatkan pengaliran modal, barangan, perkhidmatan, maklumat, pengetahuan dan teknologi yang berlaku dengan pantas dan berterusan untuk meningkatkan kelebihan bandingan atau 'comparative advantage' kita" 

- Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

My first deal of substance should come by 2014. Or early 2015. I haven't identified anything specific as yet. But I would like to stay in the construction business. The timing to launch something then is actually quite perfect. By 2015, ASEAN is going to form the Asean Economic Community. It is going to open up an economy of 600 million people. Many people haven't seen this coming. But it is what it is - a huge potential for those within and without.

I love to live large. That's why the next couple of months is going to be something exciting. As an update, it is highly likely that it won't be necessary for me to move to Vienna although the company which I'm working with - M*ndi AG - is actually located there. So I will still be visiting the city every now and then throughout this period. No rules shall be broken and I can be quite open about it from now on. And I'm expecting a truly international experience. Because this particular project I'm working on will require me to make travel(s) to the Czech Republic as well - in order to study a system developed by another company. I am grateful that my professor - whom I truly admire - has given me this great opportunity to grow.

While I was on my way back to Germany last September, I had a long transit in Dubai. I met a Cypriot businessman and since we both didn't know what to do, had a long nocturnal chat over Burger King. He imports poultry from Nigeria to Cyprus. Among other things. He actually advised me to work in Germany for a couple of years in order to gather capital and experience. It's a nice idea which is worth considering. What I found great was the nature of his business. It takes foresight and a view beyond the borders of your own country to be able to do that. In the ASEAN context, my eyes are set on Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia (of course), and Indonesia.

Keep on dreaming and taking actions!

Transcendence of Comfort Zone

Risk-taking is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it poses an array of possibilities which may encompass loss, the undoing of efforts, and at its most extreme, being detrimental to the whole existence of an entity. On the other hand, it offers you the chance to progress beyond your current capacities.

To remain within a familiar territory is without doubt the path with the least resistance. It is after all, something that used to be foreign - and like every other uncharted territory, was easily not the easiest to adapt to. And because the world is a big place, eternally remaining under the proverbial 'tempurung' should never be an option. There is just too much that we might miss out on.

Competitiveness is when you know you are up to the challenges that the world has to offer. But before that, the challenges themselves have to be recognized. There is no better way to recognize them than through the gift of experience.

So when my professor offered for me to write my thesis at a specific company located in a great European city last November, my imaginations ran wild. Despite of the hurdles. Which include having to keep it a highly discreet move for an avoidance of conflicts with certain parties. All because I was given an offer I couldn't refuse.

P/S: My thesis, by the way, would revolve on the topic of risk management.