Everyone is a source of inspiration and empowerment.
And I believe in that even more especially after having a busy week of catching up with old friends and meeting new people this week.
You are inspiring, is a lesson I once again re-learn while having coffee with an old friend from elementary school. We’ve known each other for 20 years and I cannot believe my ears when he says, “If I didn’t know you since elementary school, I’m probably very intimidated to be hanging out with you.” What??? Me? Why? I am not a successful business woman. I don’t have a prestigious job or position. I am not a millionaire (yet). I am not… the list goes on. But from what he says is, someone doesn’t have to be inspiring just because of the things they do or have but just from being who they ARE and they way they make someone feel. It is as easy as being a joyful, positive, energetic person. So, thank you D!
A movement starts with YOU moving! As simple as that is what I learn from my friend Irwan Ahmett from his passion and projects as he searches for his own happiness. He tells me, he is not happy, so to search for his own happiness, he starts all of this projects such as The Urban Play and The Happiness Project funded from his own pocket. Wow! Before you know it, poeple start to hear about his mission to find happiness and participate in the projects. Now he receives funding for them projects. He was even a speaker at TEDxJakarta. Soon, he shall travel around the world spreading this ‘movement’ funded by other people. And you know what? That was his dream: to be a nomad traveling around the world for a year. I am so proud of him. I thank him for reminding me that if I want to start a movement, I better start with me.. am I already moving? What have I invested? Do I believe in it? What’s my mission?
Do not settle, dreams do come true. It takes her 7 (seven) years to finally have her own Dance Studio since she first started United Dance Works. Her dancers now are the highest paid dancers in Jakarta, with a very unique style who focus on quality, getting treatments just like other artists on stage and they can even make a GREAT living in Jakarta. Her competition are dancers with half the fee that she offers, yet she believes so much in the talent and quality of her dancers that now.. every major TV Stations and Artists look for her. She breaks all stigmas that dancers cannot make a living, that dancers are only erotic dancing, that being a dancer is a professional, proud, prominent job. Yes, it takes her 7 years to get here now – to break these stigmas. Keyword? Persistence.
No such things as coincidence. Jen is an interior designer with affiliations and projects all over the world. Which is perfect because she LOVES traveling. When asked why she became an interior designer, her answer was simple.. “well, I was going to take fashion design, but my best friend took interior design. So that we can go home with a bus together, I switched.” Is it really that simple? What I learn, no plan can be a GREAT plan, because you have no idea where it can take you. Don’t think too much. Just do it!
The art of ‘kepepet‘, is how people rise when they are faced with great adversity. This is what we talked about over dinner with my Oliver and Jen. And when people are still in their comfort zone, they probably wouldn’t do anything. But put them in extreme conditions, then they will rise to the occasion. In some ways, could this be what I am doing to myself at this moment? With no definite job opportunities, no fixed income, no fixed plans… what can come out of this? I have put myself in ‘kepepet’, let’s see where this takes me.
You always have something to offer, is what I realize when mas Al, the prominent Indonesian Life Coach calls me. He wants my help. what? A life coach wants my help? Doing what? As he explains what he wants to do and how I can help him, in my head I was like “Wow, I do have something to offer. People do listen to my opinions and advise. I actually have great ideas.” Lol. What do people go to you for? That’s usually your talent.
