True Story: Never Give Up

As a matter of fact, Indonesia is one of the poor countries in the world.
Although I was born there and now still living there, I have no regret to what situation of my country have.

This absolutely makes me strong facing the entire situation. Just for an instance, in the year 1998, when I was 18, my country have a lot of conflicts related to government reformation and revolution, I force my self to go college.

Actually I have no much choice at that time. There is actually no budget for earn my study. Since there was a chaos everyday in 1998, I then think how to have money to earn my study. Just for an intention, I, at that time should involve on the reformation too since all students did that. This would be a dilemma for me. Sometimes I felt that I wanted to get out from the movement and looking for the side job in order to get the money. Yet sometimes I should take the responsibility on student’s movement.

I was standing on the dilemma for a couple of weeks. After Soeharto, which was my president downed, I then had a time to take a rest from the reformation movement. Unfortunately, the economic condition in my country was stagnant and sometime become worst than ever. Seeing to all those situations, I had no chance again. I have said before, I should keep earn my study in order to have a better future. After days of thinking, finally I moved to one of my friend, telling him about my problem. One thing I always remember from him is his words about facing the life. He said that life is unpredictable so that we should be strong, creative and be wise facing it. Based on his words, I then tried practicing my little skill to make money. My little skill is related to computer software and hardware reparation.

Although it’s very ashamed, but I should tell you that in 1998, most of Indonesian knows nothing about computer hardware and software. On the first try, I made a proposal from one office to another office to have a computer maintenance contract. Since I haven’t yet graduated from the college, it is not easy to find that kind of contract. However, I was not giving up. I tried that again until next three weeks and finally I still had nothing. I was so desperate, it seemed that I could not continue my study anymore. Yet in my deepest heart, I should able facing this worst situation. Remembered to what my friend said, I then slowly looked for a new chance. What I did then was proposing computer maintenance door to door including hardware and software. That was finally have a better result.

On the first job, that I always remember on my life, was repairing an analog CRT 14” monitor. Even this was so risky, I confidently took the monitor and brought it to my home to be repaired. It was not easy. The monitor could not operate at all. One thing I should done was open the case and see what the problem inside. After open the case, I clean the dust inside then checking the component one by one. Almost a day I did that, finally I saw what’s the problem. Yes, that was just a transistor that dead of overheat so that if I replaced it with a new one, the monitor would be ok. Since I had no the component needed, I finally went to the component shop which is not too far from my home. I bought the same transistor with only IDR 3000 then came home again. At home, I carefully install the transistor.

After it was done, there was nothing to worries. The monitor is on and I could bring it back to the owner. Since I did not give a certain price to the owner, the owner had a little confused about the payment. However it was only a moment. He then gave me IDR 50000 for my work with the terms a month guarantee.

After that first job, I only studied at the college and stayed at home without job anymore. Luckily, some friends of my first client now give their broken monitor to me in order to be repaired. From that time, I became a busy boy. 7 am to 1 pm, I studied at the university then 2 pm till 10 pm I repaired monitors. Although it was taking my energy lots, I was so happy. Finally I can continue my study. From this self reparation, I can make IDR 50000 per monitors. In a week, I used to finish 4 until 6 monitors. It means that I would have at least IDR 800000 per month. It was less than enough if I were living in US or Europe. Since I live here, that was enough. This monitor reparation has a good chance till 1999, but after that, I stuck again.

Considering to the condition where repairing monitors take much energy, then I thought how to have money with less energy. Days by days I thought it always. I still had no idea. While thinking to what should I do for the next, my money was almost over. Considering to what I have done to my study, I then thinking hardly. As a matter of fact, the next 1 month, I would be graduated if can pay my study.

Luckily, I met my friends who had an own business related to computer software maintenance. He had a little office in Glodok Building, Jakarta. After talking about the income offers, I then got involved. On the first day, there was nothing to do. There was no client need our help. And it happened until a couple of weeks. Seeing this condition, I almost gave up. I had run out of money. I had a willingness to get out from this business, yet, I could not. I still had sympathy to my friend who had tried to help me. Finally I and he made a serious talk. What I have done in 1998 now would be use here. Yes, door to door are the solutions. Although it was not so easy as my own business before, but it was seemingly works. I could find one client per day and so he was. What I did were only installing or reinstalling the operating system or installing some supporting software such winamp, office and Photoshop. Although it was still take lots of energy, it worked perfectly. I could have money more than money from monitor’s reparation. I used to have twice than before.

This situation was working only for a year, after that, no much to do. Most people are already know how to repaired monitors, install and reinstall their software. Luckily, in the beginning of 2001, I have already graduated from the university. Just for an intention, I was graduated from Indonesian Literature Department. Of course I was so happy at that time. Considering that a college degree will have a better chance to get a job, I then made as many as application letters I can wrote. Unfortunately, the result is far from my dream. Looking for a job in Indonesia is not easy. I was too depressed at that time. I felt that what I have done so far is nothing. In daily life I could only daydreaming to what happen in my life. Yes, I have no hope anymore. And sometimes I regret why I was born in Indonesia. This confusing moment was continuing till year of 2002. From the year of my graduation to 2002, I rely my daily needs on my parents.

That was so ashamed. I then think backward. I was able to stand alone without relying on my parents when I was still studying, but, why now I can not. Finally I positively think that I should not find a job, but I should make a job my self.
Starting from trial and error, I then try to mix what I have done long time ago. That was repairing a monitors and install and reinstalling software. Now the differences are only on the object. Digital monitor and LCD monitor are become popular right now, and some of the users know nothing about how to repair if it’s broken. It means that I have a new working field in my own. So that I don’t need to depend on any institutions to have my own money. That’s great.

My ex client long time ago now back again to me. Although it is very nice, but I still have a problem. The monitors and LCD in my home are over load. The deadlines given by the user are also things that should be resolved. Based on that situation, finally I looked for two new workers for my own business. Now I can be more happy. I can have at least IDR 3million per month. Thus my two workers can have IDR 800.000. all of deadline can be resolved. Besides reparation business, now I also concentrate on software business, especially on Linux operating system. As a matter of fact, most Indonesians are unable to use Linux for their daily works. It means that this will be my next working field. What I do is start making a Linux course from an adult, boys and children. The results are also extraordinary. Now I can have more than IDR 10million per month.

All of those are not a day process. It needs a seriousness, patience and support from your closest people. And once again, dream is not always same what in real life, so that we do not need to have a right working field to keep our dream.