personal development

Here is a food for thought just for you - have you ever wondered why people don’t want to listen to you?

Well, some people just don’t listen to you:

• Your family members
• Your friends
• Your colleagues
• Your employees

You see, the problem with the last two in the list - colleagues and employees is, that even if you are an influential person in your family and your circle of friends, you can’t always be an influential person in business world.

You might not want to agree with me, but in my opinion, the business world and the personal world are two different world. Yes, you can mix them - but most of the times it won’t work. And being influential in both worlds take practice and experience.

My own experience

In the past, I’ve been ‘bullied’ by my colleagues for being a passive person. I loved to wait and see. I didn’t have the guts to break the corporate culture and do what I think is right. Not much people dare enough to do so.

But, I learn from a relative that breaking the corporate culture might just be the right thing to do - she climbed the corporate ladder fast and left others in the dust - she was known as an influential person.

From others experience and mentorship, I finally on the right track to be an influential person. And being an introvert and a socio-phobia person, to be influential is a big milestone in my life.

How to be an influential person

Here’s a practical tip on how to be an influential person in both worlds:

• You have to initiate things - don’t sit in the corner and keep quiet.
• You have to be involved in social activities - busy in your own world just doesn’t help at all.
• You have to comment and communicate your opinion - people love to hear opinions; that’s why talk shows work.
• You have to be controversial - at least once in a while; controversies turn people’s head to you.
• You have to help others - genuinely.
• You have to lead by example - people just love doers.
• You have to be outspoken occasionally - don’t keep your opinion to yourself; by keeping it to yourself, others won’t know what values you have.
• You have to choose a side - you can’t stay in the middle of the road; it’s too dangerous.

Ivan Widjaya
Being influential

People easily irritated. Especially in big city living, patience is divine. Patience usually relates to being nice. In any part of the world, small city or sub-urban people always beat big city or metropolitan people in therm of patience and being nice.

I remember when I was living in Wolverhampton, West Midlands region, United Kingdom - being a big city person myself, living in Wolverhampton is a great experience. People move at a slower pace. People have more time just to say, “hello” or “how are you?” or, my best phrase, “you’re alright?” - people are so nice and patience.

When I went to London, 4 hours train ride from Wolverhampton, it’s totally different - like other big cities around the world, people move at lightning pace. No more chit-chat (unless you are in a pub). People STOP being nice and patience. Feels and sounds familiar, but I prefer living in Wolverhampton. :)

In business, there are some similarities to what I experienced living in a small city and a big city - there are people that are aggressive, cold and an image that more resembles a Man In Black or Matrix than a businessman. Then, there are people that are nice, easy to work with, and negotiable.

Relationship building is crucial - as you might know, the number one asset in business is network. No matter how much money you have, you can’t simply do well in business unless you network. When you network, you deal with many kind of personalities.

Do you know what is the number one ‘weapon’ in networking and getting a ‘vote’ from fellow network member? Being nice. Being nice, patience and helpful.

Just to clarify, being nice is not a sign of weakness - being nice means knowing how to achieve a result YOU WANT by helping others get what THEY WANT.

Here’s the benefit of being nice to people, including to your prospects, colleagues, and even your competitors:

1. Being nice equals pleasant personality. Pleasant personality equals more people liking you. More people liking you mean more edge, more leads, and more supporters for you. More supporters mean you can achieve your goal easier.
2. Being nice and positive, even when you are under heavy pressure and critics will increase your credibility - people will see you as a mature and dependable businessman - a good person to work with.
3. Yes, people might use you due to your pacifist approach, but coupled with strong sense of knowing your limit, those people will actually ‘forget’ to do so, and forced to play honest to you.
4. Don’t expect any return from your act of being nice and helpful - but believe me, being nice will eventually bring positive things in your life - sometimes, in an unexpected way.
5. Being nice makes you feel good about yourself - this is beneficial in growing yourself as a person and bringing positive energy into your business.

The business world needs a lot of, and more of, good and nice people - badly need them. Being a part of this elite group of people will help you and others to achieve their goals.

Ivan Widjaya
Being nice

Economy today causes most of us headaches - not only in the US but all over the world.

In my country, the economy condition is quite severe - prices soars, essentials scarce, inflation rate rises, and many more.

However, recession does bring good things in life. Here is 10 reasons why recession is good for you.

1. For you investing in precious metal, recession soars your investment value. For you that haven’t do so, will start thinking about investing in a more stable and inflation-free investment options, which is a good move. And, oh, buy dollar now.
2. Recession push you to work smarter - You will use more creativity juices to tackle the recession, which leads to better productivity and more breakthroughs.
3. Recession is good for your personal finance and money management. Recession will push you to re-manage your personal finance - you will count every penny spent more vigorously than ever.
4. You will live a healthier and greener life - You will start thinking to change your light bulbs to LEDs, reducing non-essential household power consumption, walking the pavement or riding a bicycle instead of driving a car, less eating out and more home cooking, less meat eating and more vegetable eating, and many other benefits.
5. Retail businesses will usually, by nature, offering you more discounts and perks at a longer period to attract and retain customers and visitors, which is good for you.
6. You will live a more religious life - you will think of God more and seek for spiritual guidances more.
7. Energy saving and alternative energy companies will reach record high in sales. New energy-related business will be established and gain better success rate.
8. What comes down must comes up - nothing better than a rebounding economy - be sure you ready to ride the wave to reap the reward.
9. Recession will make family members think more of their family - Stronger bond, stronger will to survive the recession - definitely a good thing!
10. Be strong and take courage - Recession will test and form your character and willpower. When the recession has passed, you are becoming a new and better man.

Ivan Widjaya
Recession is good

The world’s number one business killer is delaying things.

I’ve used to have plenty of ideas - I still am. But, no matter hard I work, I weren’t simply go beyond the startup phase.

I started tens of business, and fail nine of them. This is caused by one thing only - delaying things.

I’ve spent lots of resources, especially time, to build businesses. But I can’t get even one to the next level beyond the startup phase. Do you know what was my only surviving business? a franchise unit - which is, as long as you have found a great location, a great franchise, a large sum of money and great management skills, you can get yours rolling due to a set system to follow.

I want more than just owning a franchise unit. I want to build something. I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but my habit failed me.

Many of the business and personal development courses I attended focus around one, single, issue - If you want to be successful, stop delaying things, and start getting busy!

I decided that it’s time to change my habit, otherwise I can only achieve nothing.

How to stop delaying things

From my past, bitter, experience, I can suggest you the following tips to stop delaying things:

1. Set this in your mind - If you don’t do what you have to do today, you’ll probably loss an opportunity of a lifetime tomorrow.
2. Break your daily activities into small, 15 minutes tasks, and stick to it. You’ll be amazed how many things you can achieve in a day.
3. If yo have an ‘eureka’ moment, write it down immediately in a log book, or better yet, a blog. Then, act on it ASAP.
4. Develop a habit - Like it or not, human being is a creature of habit - If you feel making 10 follow up phone calls a day to 10 of your more important clients is crucial in surviving your business, then make it a daily target that has to be achieved whatsoever. The more you do this, the easier it becomes.
5. Prioritise your activities - do the more important ones first. Consider the 80/20 rule.
6. Don’t feel sorry for your self - it’s a strong excuse to delay things! i.e. “I am really don’t feel well today - I’ll do this tomorrow when I feel better” - as long as you are not hospitalised, this is actually a lame excuse we make to ourselves.
7. Work hard, play hard - reward yourself for not delaying things.
8. Remember this: You can delay things, but your business can’t wait on your laziness! When you delay, your business moves on with or without your guidance.
9. Worrying usually causes you to delay things - so, stop worrying and start meeting up deadline!
10. Last but not least - Fact: There are stiff competitions out there - Would you delay if your and your business survival are dependent on how well you respond to issues? There are lots of ‘delayers’ out there - act now might put you ahead of the competition.

Ivan Widjaya
Just do it - now!

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