On Passion

As I entered transjakarta on my way home from work, I heard a familiar voice: "Be careful if you're leaving the transjak, double check your belonging, and make sure you're not losing any of it!" At the next station, I heard the same phrases. And then again, it makes me wonder who. . .

When I looked around, it was the transjak's conductor who announce it. And I recalled correctly that day was not the first time I saw the conductor and heard his voice. It is the same conductor who always remind everyone to be careful, make sure that everyone is safe, and not losing their belongings.

Then I thought, "Man, this guy really takes his job seriously."

As a conductor, he does not have to do it. So many other conductors do not even bother to remind everyone to be careful, moreover repeating that same phrases over and over again on every station. And he does not stop there, when he was asked questions by commuter, he answered it with smile. His job is not the fanciest job, he does not get any credits by taking the extra mile. Yet, he really does it with passion because he wants to.

Not a fancy job, no credit, maybe not many people even care about what he is doing. Then it stroke me: "If I were in his position would I do the extra mile? In everything that I do, have I done it with that much passion?"

Luke 16:10a - “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much"

Bluebird - Classic Story of an Outdated Business

 
Earlier today a total of 500 bluebird taxi (largest taxi in Indonesia) did a strike in Jakarta, their complain: taxi drivers' income decreased by whole lot because of tough competition from Uber and Grab Taxi. There is no surprise that their income is decreased but they demand to ban Uber and Grab from streets in Indonesia.Not just for living things, the concept survival of the fittest applies as well to business.

We have witnessed plenty of similar stories before, one of the most recent story is Nokia and Blackberry. Their failure to adapt and innovate to follow the business trend causing them to lose their market share, income, and most likely to fail.

Here is the problem with Bluebird taxi: Even though they are not the only taxi provider in Indonesia, they monopolized the market for a long time due to lack of competition. There are two issues I would like to point out here:

1. Competition is good for consumer. I am a believer of free market, I believe that government at this point should not intervene by banning online taxis from operating. These online taxis are healthy for the taxi market as consumer now have more competing business to serve the market. With the competition so far, we can see the trend that if regular taxi does not innovate or have changing strategy, it will be hard for them to survive. Only the one preferred by customers going to survive, just like iPhone and Samsung over Nokia and Blackberry.
2. Innovation is required for regular taxi especially Bluebird to survive. There are several ways for them to adapt, and one of the way is redefining their pricing scheme. Price war might not be inevitable to survive in the market. 

My only suggestion for government is not to intervene so that regular taxi and online taxi is going to adapt to better serve customers. For regular taxi especially Bluebird, there are two options: to adapt or to suffer.



photo credit:
http://mobilinanews.com/post/blue-bird-vs-uber-taxi-mana-yang-menguntungkan/ 

Faith in Uncertainty

Hello readers,

Again, for lack of personal motivation I have been missing so much. Here I have a tid-bit about my most recent experience in looking for job. I hope this could be a motivation for you.

So here how it goes.

When most people you know keep saying: "You're a US graduate with a good grades, job offer should come easy for you!" Those words made me came back to Indonesia with a high expectation that I was going to interview with many companies.

I just graduated on December 12th - and made my way back to Indonesia on December 20th. I got settled in Jakarta early on January, having self-confidence that there will be many interview opportunities for me. Within a month, I had one interview with a company and nothing else.
As someone who was used to a busy life, I could not fathom the urge to do something - yet there was no offer yet.

Getting into February, I had one big interview - yet the company expected to hire an experienced instead of a fresh-graduate. So within two months of my graduation, I had two interviews. I could say that as time goes on, I started to grow impatient. And the worst part is: I started to doubt myself.

As I became frustrated to the condition and myself I met with my mentor and he said, "Timmy, your life has been a great journey so far, you always blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime. So, never doubt yourself and be patience."

That moment of self-reflect and mentorship boost my confidence back. As time goes on, I became more patient and sure that the right opportunity will come along.

I could not ask for a better turnaround.

After those moments, one day I received an interview offer from a big-growing company. I did my best during my interview but made sure that I manage my expectation level. After four rounds of intensive interviews. . .

I received another call that I am offered a full-time position at the company. And I will be start working as soon as next week. I could not imagine that I will be offered such a prestigious position. And I could not ask for a better start of my career.

Lesson: Be patience and have faith in uncertainty. And never ever doubt yourself.