You can because you think you can
Just earlier this week, I wrote about my venture into the business realm. Not that I have never done it before. I was a cashier/shopkeeper/coconut grater operator while I was in my teenage years, working off my free time, after school. But this time, I went through the whole process of starting a small food business; raw materials, energy and most important, some money to start with.
My first $7.20 was followed by another $8.00 (I sold 10 packets out of 20). It seemed that I sold 50% of my products on both occasions. I did not consider strategic locations, as I was told although my time improved from 9.30 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. which basically was not early enough if you want to catch customers on their way to work. In Islam, we were advised to start early morning... you shouldn't sleep after Subuh prayer because morning is the time Allah distributed Rizqi. Rizqi would come in many forms; health, knowledge, wealth etc. This is the time when we hope for mercy from Allah, pray that Allah will always provide us with unending flow of sustenance. Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful.
On the first business day, I went to bed quite late. I was watching a Japanese drama series! A set of VCD that Sarah (my niece who was staying with us for the PMB holidays) brought with her, along with what looked like a travel luggage of a person planning to spend months abroad! I have never watched a Japanese drama before. The drama is crazy, funny and very touching. Although the translations were quite jerky; words were not properly organized (mind you, this is an original VCD), the messages were quite vivid. Even though none of the characters were crying, their words were so touching that I either ended up crying or misty eyed. I remembered meeting three individuals in Osaka a few years back; a University professor, a businessman and a software engineer. I actually observed how they work. They are a hard working group with fresh, creative and sometimes unusual ideas. But I am not here to talk about them. The VCDs cost me my morning... I woke up quite late. My cousin and brother unfortunately discovered nothing served on the kitchen table!
I am probably not continuing my business (after two days' experience) because I simply do not have the motivation and drive. I am not saying that its not good business, if one persevere, it can actually be a successful venture. I remembered reading a paper about a guy who complained that he is jobless while having to care for a family and pay house rent. Reporting that he could not get any job because he lack the skills. That was actually pathetic. If he just look beyond himself and go out of his comfort zone... he can go into the forest and gather banana leaves and sell it in the market. Even 'daun irik' (Phacelophrynium maximum) is marketable. You know, the leaves that people use to make 'kelupis' (rice half-cooked in coconut milk, wrapped with the leave before steaming). You don't just sit around and wait for a rescue team.
I also wanted to tell you about my nephew's fever yesterday. He woke up from sleep and was crying furiously. His temperature went up and he was drenched in sweat. I was at a lost. I am not trained to handle this kind of situation... His parents were not back from work yet. I tried calling but I couldn't get through. I panicked because I had no one to turn to. I also got their maid to panic with me. Then I realized that I am not alone... the Best of Helpers is there all along. I recite surah Al-Fatihah over and over again. I tried to recall Selawat Syifaa... but in panic mode, I just couldn't get the words correctly and in the end I recite Al-Fatihah over and over. He was in my arms, sweating profusely... until finally he stopped crying and calmed down.
My first $7.20 was followed by another $8.00 (I sold 10 packets out of 20). It seemed that I sold 50% of my products on both occasions. I did not consider strategic locations, as I was told although my time improved from 9.30 a.m. to 7.00 a.m. which basically was not early enough if you want to catch customers on their way to work. In Islam, we were advised to start early morning... you shouldn't sleep after Subuh prayer because morning is the time Allah distributed Rizqi. Rizqi would come in many forms; health, knowledge, wealth etc. This is the time when we hope for mercy from Allah, pray that Allah will always provide us with unending flow of sustenance. Allah, Most Gracious and Most Merciful.
On the first business day, I went to bed quite late. I was watching a Japanese drama series! A set of VCD that Sarah (my niece who was staying with us for the PMB holidays) brought with her, along with what looked like a travel luggage of a person planning to spend months abroad! I have never watched a Japanese drama before. The drama is crazy, funny and very touching. Although the translations were quite jerky; words were not properly organized (mind you, this is an original VCD), the messages were quite vivid. Even though none of the characters were crying, their words were so touching that I either ended up crying or misty eyed. I remembered meeting three individuals in Osaka a few years back; a University professor, a businessman and a software engineer. I actually observed how they work. They are a hard working group with fresh, creative and sometimes unusual ideas. But I am not here to talk about them. The VCDs cost me my morning... I woke up quite late. My cousin and brother unfortunately discovered nothing served on the kitchen table!
I am probably not continuing my business (after two days' experience) because I simply do not have the motivation and drive. I am not saying that its not good business, if one persevere, it can actually be a successful venture. I remembered reading a paper about a guy who complained that he is jobless while having to care for a family and pay house rent. Reporting that he could not get any job because he lack the skills. That was actually pathetic. If he just look beyond himself and go out of his comfort zone... he can go into the forest and gather banana leaves and sell it in the market. Even 'daun irik' (Phacelophrynium maximum) is marketable. You know, the leaves that people use to make 'kelupis' (rice half-cooked in coconut milk, wrapped with the leave before steaming). You don't just sit around and wait for a rescue team.
I also wanted to tell you about my nephew's fever yesterday. He woke up from sleep and was crying furiously. His temperature went up and he was drenched in sweat. I was at a lost. I am not trained to handle this kind of situation... His parents were not back from work yet. I tried calling but I couldn't get through. I panicked because I had no one to turn to. I also got their maid to panic with me. Then I realized that I am not alone... the Best of Helpers is there all along. I recite surah Al-Fatihah over and over again. I tried to recall Selawat Syifaa... but in panic mode, I just couldn't get the words correctly and in the end I recite Al-Fatihah over and over. He was in my arms, sweating profusely... until finally he stopped crying and calmed down.
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