Lia Golledge's Blog, page 11

Set Writing Goals for 2013

For the latest Nulis Buku Club meetup, we picked ‘Set Writing Goals for 2013‘ as the topic of the meetup. We invite one of the most productive writers, @IfaAvianty, writers of 70 books, to share her tips on setting writing goals.

Mbak Ifa explained that we have to check our time availibility, physical health, emotional state and other activities to measure before we set our writing goals because mbak Ifa believe we have to be rational in making effective goals.

Mbak Ifa can finish up to 2 books in a month, doing it in the same time, be able to switch easily between topics, in between juggling with her 3 children and housewive works. How she can do that? It’s practice, practice and practice. She said, write with your brain and heart. Because if you write with heart, your readers will read with their heart as well.

Personally, I also believe in setting goals, because goals will give us guidance and also motivation and energy to be productive. For this year, I divide my goals into 2 sections. One is finishing my pending books in progress, and the other one is planning new books.

This year I plan to finished new books:

3 novels based on my personal experience with life (of course with a lot of fictional ‘spices’ in it)
Travel book (because it’s time to write one with a deep philosophical content in it)
Poetry book (because when you’re in love and in hurts, it’s natural thing to write poetry :D)
3 motivational books (based on problems that I found or constantly asked to me)
Biography book (a long time plan that I never execute)

On my conversation with @NirEyal after his speaking session, he asked me how I can finished 25 books? I said, with a deadline.

I always use the ‘social push’ technique as well, just like this post, where I put my goals for the world to see, and they can either help me with resources, or give me a ‘gentle reminder’ from time to time. Yes, it’s a bit uncomfortable to make ourselves writing under pressure. But for me, readers are my priority. The ‘behind the creative process’ story is what create bond between writers and readers. And that’s actually the fun part of writing a book.

So, what’s your writing goals in 2013? Share me your plan!
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Hooked! – Designing Growth & Creating User Habit for Startup Success

Last week I attend 2 days workshop by 2 brilliant guy, Nir Eyal @NirEyal and Sangeet Paul @Sanguit by @atamerica– it was JP @JPEllis, the co-founder of award winning app Harpoen, who notify and remind us about this event.

Nir Eyal is a lecturer from Stanford Graduate School of Business and has been writing for Forbes, Techcrunch and Psychology Today. The last one actually what makes me very interested to know more about Nir’s insights. Because the theories in psychology are important and applicable to understand our users.

Nir offered Hooked! Concept on how to make customer get ‘hooked’ to your startup product by understanding 4 elements: What internal and external triggers user might experience, What action you expect user will do after the trigger, What reward would you give your users after they did the action, and what kind of investment you expect they will make with your product.

Both Nir and Sangeet said that success must be planned and built from the beginning. Nir said we must create the user habit, user should use our product as often as possible, once a day habit at least. Our product should be on top of user’s mind when a trigger (inside or outside users) happens. Like Facebook and Twitter successfully built habit of updating status whenever we felt the ‘trigger’ from inside: being lonely or uneasy, or Instagram make us post our food pictures more often than before, or Google make us having a habit of Googling whenever we felt unsure about something.

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Sangeet said we need to design our growth, the growth of our startup need to be repeatable, have user generated growth, scalable, and sustainable. The repeatable growth pattern: we need user to send out content to external network. To be able to do that, of course we must understand what motivate user to spread the word.

Sangeet making a Growth Canvas that basically ask us to define:

- Why users spread the word?
- What mechanism will they use, what are they send out?
- Where will they spread the word?
- Why recepient will interested in that?
- How will you manage the whole process?

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They’ve been explaining more details on their talks, you can search their presentation online. Nir is preparing his forthcoming book Hooked and Sangeet with his book Platform Thinking. Wish you both success with your new books!

Quoting Nir:

Don’t plan, do

Control thing you can, and go

Success is the icing, the journey is the cake

All the best for you and your startups!
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Discover Bahrain: The Land of Dreams

Like a soulmate, it’s so easy to fall in love with Bahrain.

I never thought my 12 days trip to Bahrain would left me with, not only high quality networks, but also a lot of insights, true friendship and deep thoughtful memories.

At first, I didn’t know much about Bahrain. The only thing I know, Bahrain is one of Gulf countries. And like most countries in Middle East, I expect Bahrain to be as ‘strict’ in Islamic rules especially for women. This is considered my first visit to Gulf country, and everybody has been telling me, Bahrain is the best introduction to The Gulf.

Amina picked me up at the Bahrain International Airport at 4am. That fact alone already shocked me. Women can go outside at 4am in the morning? When I know that they drive their own car, I become more and more surprised, “You’re allowed to drive??” – she chuckled. Bahrain is not Saudi. Later I know, Bahrain is a country with Islamic values but also very open and especially women were free and even supported to do anything they want in life.

Bahrain is a small archipelago country that often called the pearl of Middle East. The country size is even smaller than Singapore. I asked my hotel receptionist where am I exactly, and he said that I’m in Juffair. Then I said, “I thought I’m in Manama, the capital of Bahrain?”. He said, “You’re not, Madame. Manama is 10 minutes from here.” :D Being myself commuting for 2 hours from my home in Depok to office in Jakarta but still constantly said I live in Jakarta, I can say that I’m not in Juffair, I’m exactly in Manama. 10 minutes is not a distance, it’s a microwave timer for my noodle -_-; Anyway.

Bahrain is a country of 1,2 million people who speak good English (sometimes among themselves, Bahraini will still speak English). Half of them are expats from all over the world. It’s a melting pot and the hub of Middle East. When half of the country are foreigners, then you can guess how Bahrainis are. Yup, they’re happy religious people, constantly cracking jokes, very friendly, and have an amazing kindness and hospitality that I usually can only find in my own country, Indonesia.

The Land of Eternity

The name ‘Bahrain’ is mentioned in Quran, I notice it in Surah Ar-Rahman, it means: the meeting of two seas, salty and sweet water. There are some ‘samples’ of the ‘meeting of two seas’ near Bahrain Fort. The uniqueness of the land has made a lot of people coming to the ‘paradise’, where people trust that this is the land of eternity.

The rich history of Bahrain is really preserved in area called Muharraq. It’s the old city area of Bahrain, where we can find traditional Bahraini houses in pastel colors combined with wooden architecture with a lot of Islamic touch in it.

I found a glimpse of my dream in Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa center for culture and research in Muharraq. The center was build as a forum for dialogue between people in philosophy, literature, poetry, culture and the arts.

The coolest thing was, the center has at least 10 traditional Bahraini houses around Muharraq to be used as creative center specific for the needs. For example they have The Ibrahim Al Arrayed House for Poetry, the Abdullah Al Zayed House for Press Heritage, The Mohammed bin Faris Sut Music House, there’s Iqra Children library, also Kurar house that usually used to host speakers that invited to speak from around the world. Mostly within walking distance, offer the experience of ‘old’ Bahrain for the visitors.

While walking at the narrow streets of Muharraq, my mind keep spinning enthusiastly. What I just witness in Muharraq is exactly what I want to build in Indonesia, some sort of knowledge center related books, writings, and everything in between. Now I have pictures in my head on how it’d look like, insha Allah I’ll be able to make it come true, soon!

Startup Business

I’ve been visiting incubators in several countries around the world but nothing prepare me for what I see in Bahrain Business Incubation Center (BBIC). The place was huge! Usually an incubation was, at most, in a size of one whole building. But in Bahrain, it’s like one whole city :|

Bahrain has vision for the future: making private sector as the catalyst of economy rather than oil and now they’re strengthening the private sector with several effort. One of them, building BBIC, incubation to accelerate businesses and setup Tamkeen to provide support in fund and many other things to support entrepreneur like training and mentoring. So far Tamkeen has injecting a whopping BD 166 million or USD 440 million for startups.

On our visit to BBIC, they also introduce a very interesting 4 phases of Bahrain Model to start a business: orientation, training, pre-incubation and incubation. And they also introduce the founder of Air Taxi. The company is one of the success stories of the incubation. By the way, Air Taxi started with $15 million fund. Excuse me while I’m crying.

If you’re interested to open a business in Bahrain, Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce already make a very neat document for you to read.

Women Empowerment

Bahrain believe that empowerment in woman is a social and political empowerment. That’s why a new business incubation for women is prepared to launched this year. And they also has a Supreme Council for Women that helps Bahraini ladies in almost all aspects of their life. The national plan of Supreme Council for Women is including family stability, equal opportunities, life long learning, quality of life and knowledge hub. They created a women’s support center with website and call centre to help women. The Supreme Council for Women in Bahrain work so good that some men said they need Supreme Council for Men too :))

Like I said earlier, Bahrain as one of countries in Middle East that has been very supportive to their women. Women are free to do what they want to do in life, but also still stick to the Islamic values & principles. That’s why it’s very common to see ladies with black abaya and niqab plus shades, driving a big trucks or jeep, hang out in art gallery around the coolest block 338 with male friends talking about their next projects, or simply gather with girls talking eating salads while planning where to take their Master degree this time.

Social Media

It was fortunate to me to be able to meet some of Bahrain’s prominent social media people from Social Media Club Bahrain @SMCBahrain like @AliSabkar, @AliSabbagh, and Manal Assaad @TheManalyst. They’ve been doing routine social media meetup, annually, quarterly and monthly and now expanding their events to MENA region. The number of Facebook user in Bahrain is 390,000 users and twitter 80,000 users. Small but very active one!

Also, lucky for me to meet Shaikha Lulwa Al Khalifa @lulwaalkhalifa1 , a famous Bahraini poet. We really enjoy our conversation about writing, poetry and life in general. And we tweet while we talk

High Quality Life

Before I came to Bahrain I read a lot of misleading news about the condition of the country, especially after what’s happened in 2011. International media say things that mostly not true, and make people afraid to come to Bahrain.

For 12 days, I feel safe, people are genuinely happy to see me, ladies kiss me 3 times every time we met, children playing with their parents at the beautiful park overlooking the sea and Bahrain’s skyline, eventhough all people seem to understand and talk about politics but everybody’s loving their King and Government, everybody’s enjoying their life, men love dancing to the Arab music, ladies at all age happily dance in any opportunity of only-women gathering (I love it!), free education, free health services, sport cars, big houses, handsomes and beauties, free-flow coffee (ok maybe it’s not free), high quality life… no reason to be unhappy in Bahrain.

I saw some of the protests that they’ve been talking about in media and it’s only in a form of 4 burning tires on the street with no people around. Police come to clean all the mess. I was like: a campus protest in Indonesia could be more energetic than this.

The only danger is coming from Bahraini’s food: you can get fat, fast. So many delicious food served for you. Even in our group, because breakfast can happen more than 2 times, there’s always announcement to warn us not to eat too much: “Everybody, this is not lunch!” :))

I look at Bahrain’s skyline once again before I check out from my hotel. Constructions are everywhere, the city keep on building and realizing dreams.

It’s a mixed feeling to leave this place, part of me is already staying. I remember my 10 minutes of tranquility gazing across the magical view of Hunanaiya valley from Riffa Fort, sipping my warm Gahwa (Arabic Coffee). I know when I’m back to Jakarta, this moment is the one I’m going to missed the most.

Ma’assalama, ’til we meet again.

Thank you notes

I would like to express gratitude to Good Word Society @GWSociety  that has inviting us from more than 20 countries to Discover Bahrain. To Ahmed & Hassan  Buhazza and their amazing mother Um Hassan, Amina Leelo, Dr. Hala, Dr. Amal, Ebrahim Ebz Akbari, Yousif Al-Meamari, Mohamed Alkayat, Shaikha Showaiter, Zahwa, Marwa, and many more volunteers that I can’t mention one by one. Thank you for your dedication to the program. And my fellow delegates, you know who you are, you’re my precious friends! Also to my lovely apartment-mates: Kubra, Elsa, Sara, love you girls, keep in touch! Disclosure: I’m invited by Good Word Society for Discover Bahrain program, all opinions are strictly my own.

Ps: Thank you Um Hassan, for this beautiful Bahraini traditional dress

Discover Islam team, Amina, Eman, Verida, Fatima, and many more that I can’t mention. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak in front of Bahraini ladies, thank you for your kindness. I truly enjoy my first 2 days in Bahrain because of you girls.

Indonesian Embassy in Bahrain, Ambassador Chilman & Ibu Ratna, Mbak Sukma, Aisha, Mbak Ratna, Julie, Rina and everyone that I can’t mention one by one, thank you very much for all the help and the opportunity to speak in the embassy and making my last day in Bahrain unforgettable.

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What I’ve Learned from Henry Ford

There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible -Henry Ford

I have the priviledge to travel 10,000 miles away from Jakarta to Detroit, Michigan, to attend North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), courtesy of Ford. I went there with 3 of my friends from Indonesia (and the only team from SouthEast Asia) @dondihananto @rezaprabowo @amirK and more than 100 bloggers from all over the world. It was a fabulous event, and my first visit to USA. So, you can imagine my excitement!

 

Before I go to NAIAS, I thought I’m only going to see Ford’s latest cars. But Ford is more than just car. Ford, revolutionize manufacturing industry with moving assembly line and cut production time to just 90 minutes from 700 minutes on 1908, that cut production cost as well and make the car price lower. Ford has make a used to be luxury item cars, into cars that everyone can afford.

It was Henry Ford the brain behind the launch and the success of Ford Motor Company. I saw the first Model T they market in 1908 in Henry Ford’s museum. I said to Dondi, where were we back on 1908 when American make cars? He said, we were on war. Oh, right

In 1914, Henry Ford made what was called one of the best business decisions ever: he doubled the wages to $5 a day and cut working hour from 9 to 8 hours a day. He also reduced the car price from $800 to $350. With more money and cheaper cars, many of his workers now able to afford the car they built. Henry Ford aim to bring a high quality, affordable car to the masses in order to improve their standards of living and he believed that by contributing to the wealth of society in general, business would prosper and worthwhile. He said, “A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”

Based on his great grand father’s valuable business philosophies, Bill Ford now leading a highly environmental friendly factory and cars with several Ford’s green initiatives:

Ford use sustainable seating fabric produced from recycled post-industrial waste
Ford use EcoBoost in their cars that designed to deliver power with better fuel efficiency and less greenhouse emissions while still keeping the price affordable
When we visit Ford Rouge Factory, we witness the world’s Largest Green Roof. My first question was: what does Ford make green roof for? Later the guide explain to us that the roof can absorb up to 4 million gallons of rainwater annually and is part of a broader storm-water management system installed at the Rouge. The roof also produces oxygen and provides natural overhead insulation for the final assembly building, thereby reducing energy costs. It also is expected to last twice as long as a traditionally constructed roof.
I saw Ford office in Dearborn on my way to The Islamic Center of America. It was surrounded by a big green environment meant to preserving natural resources, providing wildlife habitat, absorbing rainwater and reducing erosion. I just wish more and more companies think that way in Jakarta.

Best part from my trip to Ford NAIAS is that now I know how to assembly a car from watching it for an hour in Ford’s Assembly Plant Walking Tour. It looks pretty easy hehe. And best thing is, I got to be able to sit and try on Ford trucks and sport cars without being self-conscious about it because that’s what I’m there for. To touch Ford’s! And I must conclude that if the rain keep coming and no fundamental change happen in Jakarta, I might need one of those trucks (the new Ford Atlas concept to be exact). Yeah, I’m talking about Jakarta floods that was welcoming me home

I admire Ford’s innovation in technology and being aware of social media positive impact in today’s world. Ford create apps special for NAIAS and they also open their APIs for developer to build in-vehicle app for Ford cars, more info check here https://developer.ford.com/

And of course, Ford invite us! Bloggers who blog about various topics from technology bloggers, mom-bloggers, crafts and DIY bloggers, to storm chaser blogger Ford will have a lot of different perspective from their event for sure. Check out #FordNAIAS hashtag on twitter and instagram to see more pictures of the event. Check out my own #FordNAIAS photos in my Flickr.

Thank you @Ford & @FordIndonesia for the wonderful experiences, thank you blogger friends I met in NAIAS please keep in touch, thank you Henry Ford for all the insprations!

Disclosure: I was a guest of the Ford Motor Company for their Digital Summit at NAIAS. All opinions are strictly my own.
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What The Plus! – Tips on Optimizing Your Google+ Account

I never do nothing too serious with my Google+ account but more than 10,000 people have me in their circles. I’m not sure, maybe because I got verified by Google Indonesia or they highlight me somewhere or I have a nice looking profile pic.

Or all of the above.

Seeing the potential, I decide to dedicate a whole new year day reading a book by Guy Kawasaki ‘What The Plus!‘ on how to optimizing your Google+ account. Guy is one evangelist for Google+ that this book is spread for free in a form of ebook by courtesy of Google. You can download What The Plus! here.

I took some notes on some eureka moments when I read this ebook:

What I confused the most about Google+ is about finding the right people to add to our circle. There’s a good tips to find a shared circle and add it like it yours. Search with this format > “shared a circle with you” “writer” > that means, I’m looking for circle of writers that I can add to my own Google+. You can change the ‘writer’ to any circle you wish to join. I join startup, technology, women, journalist, blogger circles.
What to share on Google+? Here are some ideas: Information, analysis, assistance, amusement, amazement, studies, food & recipes, everyday frustration, everyday satisfaction, titillation, celebs, and travel story.
On StartupLokal, Vishnu said to me, why I didn’t use Google Hangout to broadcast the event, live, and after it finished, it automatically uploaded to YouTube. I was like, we can do that?? Yes we can with Hang out on air option. Read the guide about Hangout on air here.
This is a very useful post about using Google Hangout to promote a book – inspire me to do the same for my books.
Guy Kawasaki also share several Chrome extensions for Google+ and this is one of them, extension for cross posting to twitter and facebook.

So, hope you have an awesome New Year!

 
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New Dreams in 2013

So, I assumed we all survived the Mayan Apocalypse :P Let’s continue living.

It’s the time of the year to review my 2012 life. The highlight of 2012 was when I open my hijab fashion boutique SalsabeelaShop.com – learn a lot in the process about fashion business and having fun cultivating my creative fashion side.

I got Inspiring Woman Award from tabloid Nova with other inspiring women and I’m very honored to sit in the same place with the wonderful inpsiring girls from all over Indonesia.

My solo-travel to Europe (Paris, London, Amsterdam) in Summer, must be one of life altering moments of my life. Here in these beautiful places, I experience the most rich culture, warm company of friends, and feeling love flowing all over me. I can’t pay the experience with any money in the world. It’s priceless.

I wrote several books this year, finishing my novella Harmoni, publish Creative Blog Writing and launch one of my favorite books, Yes, You Can! – from the feedback that I get, the book has been an inspiration for many and I’m very grateful. I believe, if we want it hard enough, we can be whatever we want to be, we can get whatever we want.

Visited Brunei and speak at Think Big Innovate 2012 really gave me a new experience to speak to English speaking audience, also gave me new perspective about life.

The year sealed nicely with Tulis Nusantara 2012, a writing competition held by Kemenparekraf supported by NulisBuku.com and Plot Point. We went to 12 cities all over Indonesia to infect more people to write. More than 3400 entries submitted and we’re more than happy to know all the new seed of writers come as the winners.

Now for 2013.

From my conversation with my bestfriend slash soul sister Citra Prima, she suggest me to start the year with a lot of positivity. Don’t let any spark of negativity coming to interrupt. And I’m going to do just that. (Citra do Feng Shui analysis on my house, yay! Thanks sis… going to begin 2013 with fresh start)

Traveling is (always) in order. I have made some great traveling plans abroad this year (I believe in scheduling holidays). One of them is backpacking in Egypt in March 2013. US, Bahrain, Turkey, Morocco, Russia insha Allah will also be in the plan.

I will write and launch some of the ‘unfinished business’ of writing in 2012. Got a lot of ideas in my head. Yes, I will write another fiction this year, insha Allah.

I will look more closer to education side and will have a plan to build something on that.

I want to stay in love. Especially with my life.

Last but not least, find investors to support my existing businesses so we can expand to a new level.

Happy New Year!

What’s your plan for 2013?

 
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Yes, You Can! Moment

When I was in studying in University, I usually go to Book Fair to get cheaper books, and attending talkshow by my favorite authors. One of them was Fira Basuki talkshow just outside Istora Senayan. After the event, I can’t manage to talk to her, so I chase her when she was walking inside, and asked for her autograph.

Fast forward, several years later, I stand in front of my readers (even after many years, I still can’t believe I actually have readers LOL), in the main stage of Indonesia Book Fair 2012, talking about my book, ‘Yes, You Can!‘ – people are actually coming to see me and it’s surely one of my Yes, You Can! Moments.

I share the stage with #YesUCanMoment winners on twitter. They share about their own Yes, You Can! Moments. Like Bona who’s trying to be, not only a teacher, but also educator to inspire his students to be creative and writer more. He proves that he’s succeeded in doing that, more of his students love writing now and already get some valuable achievements thru writing. There’s also Dina sharing her Yes, You Can Moment in her blog, Gita and Naya. Thank you very much for sharing your positive moments with us.

We also have in stage, Chapter band, singing my poetry. Chapter band’s vocalist, Gery, is actually my staff at the office, that has passion in singing. He agreed to make songs out of my 4 poetry just in 4 days. It’s his ‘Yes, You Can! Moment’ to be able to perform in the same place where Maroon 5 perform Watch Chapter Band sing one of my poetry: Let It Flow.

It’s amazing how things will go, when you can trust yourself and say, “Yes, I Can!”

If you have your own ‘Yes, You Can! Moment’ please write in Indonesian, minimum 5 pages A4, Times New Roman, 11, and send it to auliah5@gmail.com with subject: My Yes, You Can! Moment – if you’re selected, you’ll be in the same book with me for the next Yes, You Can! Series.

Have fun!

If you like my book ‘Yes, You Can!’ – Please write a review on your blog, on GoodReads and mention me on twitter @salsabeela.

Check more pictures of ‘Yes, You Can!’ talkshow on Indonesia Book Fair 2012
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You can Make a Difference

Tidak ada nyamuk yang terlalu kecil untuk membuat kita gatal kalau tergigit. Suara dan tindakan kita, sekecil apapun, matters.

Beberapa minggu yang lalu, wanita yang saya kagumi, Ny. Kardinah Soepardjo Roestam, yang biasa saya panggil Tante Dien, meninggal dunia. Saya merasa sangat kehilangan. Beliau adalah wanita yang sangat inspiring bagi saya.

Ibu Kardinah dikenal sebagai penggerak PKK (Pembinaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga) yang dimulai saat beliau mendampingi suaminya Pak Soepardjo Roestam saat bertugas di Jawa Tengah sebagai Gubernur.

PKK berisi 10 program yang meliputi semua aspek kehidupan keluarga termasuk kebutuhan fisik, mental dan sosial. Cek 10 Program Pokok PKK di sini.

Dimulai pada tahun 1967, program PKK dianggap berhasil di Jawa Tengah dan kemudian diaplikasikan ke seluruh Indonesia. PKK telah memberi pencerahan pada wanita-wanita di seluruh pelosok Indonesia untuk turut serta berperan membangun bangsa, mewujudkan keluarga sejahtera dan membina generasi muda yang berkualitas.

Ibu Kardinah pernah berbicara di forum UNESCO PBB tentang PKK dan akhirnya UNESCO mereplikasi program PKK untuk diterapkan di negara-negara berkembang. Bayangkan, program yang dimulai dari sebuah kota di Jawa Tengah, akhirnya bisa mendunia!

Secara pribadi saya memperhatikan perilaku tante saya. Beliau selalu rapi di setiap kesempatan, bahkan di rumah. Selalu punya kepedulian pada berbagai hal di Indonesia. Contohnya, saya pernah diberikan sejumlah data tentang rokok di Indonesia dan tante mengemukakan concern-nya tentang betapa banyak orang di Indonesia memilih membeli rokok daripada membeli makanan bergizi atau menabung untuk pendidikan anaknya. Dari data yang ia beri akhirnya saya berjanji membuatkan blog post tentang hal itu. Beliau bersemangat setelah tau saya sudah posting blog tentang rokok, beliau mencetak blog saya lengkap dengan comment-nya untuk dibaca. Saat itu usia tante 78 tahun.

Malu lah kita yang jauh lebih muda kalau kita tidak punya kepedulian yang lebih untuk sesama.

Ps: I don’t know how this could happen but I don’t have a single photo with her after all these years

Tulisan ini dikutip dari buku terbaruku ‘Yes, You Can!‘ sekaligus untuk memperingati hari Pahlawan. Tulis versi-mu sendiri tentang Pahlawan untuk Indonesia dan share di twitter dengan hashtag #Pahlawan
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3 Questions You Must Answer to Finish Your Book

I was interviewed in a talk show in MNCtv News yesterday about my book ‘Yes, You Can!‘ with Bella Fawzi and Adjat. After the show, I sat down for a while in their couch to eat some delicious cookies :)) – then one of the crew come to me.

He said, “Miss… I really want to write a book about my life story, I’ve been writing it but seems like, I could never finish it.”

Now this is sounds like a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) to me. So, this is what I asked him to answer that question:

Have you make your outline?

An outline is a guide for your writing. You must know where you start and how you end your book. It’s like a map. Whenever we felt ‘lost’ in the middle of writing process, we can always check back our ‘map’.

Have you set your deadline?

You must know when you want to finish the book. For example 60 days. Then make plan on how you write to fulfill the deadline. If you don’t have a deadline, you will never finish it. After you reach your deadline time and you finish your book, just wrap it and send it to your friends to read or help edit. Don’t hold it just because you want it to be ‘perfect’. Perfection is a journey.

Have you ‘lock’ the backspace button?

Write first, edit later (after your finished your first draft). Nuff said.

I have finished my cookies, and I have to go. Before I leave, in the corner of my eyes, I saw the cameraman read my book. He said, “You must write more about positive thinking.” I said, “Finish it first, all 190 pages about positive thinking!”

Anyway, happy writing all!
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Indonesia Berkibar Movement for a Better Indonesia

Indonesia is the home to world’s fourth largest population of young people, according to the World Bank. I think at least 40% of Indonesia population is under 30 years old (by Indonesian law, ‘young’ means under 30 years old, by the way, that could be different in other countries, for example in Brunei, young people means under 40 years old). So, in short, there are almost 100 million active, energetic, young people in Indonesia. They are Indonesia’s biggest assets. Along with Indonesia economic growth of more than 6% and its recent 1 trillion dollar GDP, we must have a very bright future, right?

Maybe yes, maybe no. If that much young people, don’t have a basic formal education, or they have formal education but is not prepared for the ‘real world’ thus causing unemployment rising, then we’re in trouble.

I recently visit Brunei for speaking at Think Big Innovate 2012, and I also managed to speak in 2 Brunei big Universities, Institute Technology Brunei (ITB) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

Brunei students are getting free education even ’til university level. And one of the students even look shocked when I said in Indonesia people pay for their college education :)) To be fair, I’m not going to compare us to 400,000++ population rich oil country Brunei for sure, but from my trip and pondering a little bit about our education system, I got some insights.

Basic education is a must. Make sure it’s affordable and accessible all over Indonesia. I spoke to some street children or children in slum area in Jakarta of why they don’t go to school because it supposed to be free, they said they can’t afford the entrance fee, the uniform and the books. Which is make sense considering how much their parents make daily. I’m thinking rich family can subsidized those need for the poor, and hopefully school can help to organize the fund for the right use.

Quality of teachers. More than 50 million Indonesian are on Facebook. So, I believe at least half of it are young people and they are aware of technology and got a decent access to information. Teachers nowadays are not expected to just passing the information to students, but also inspired them to learn, to be creative, to collaborate. The problem now is, being a teacher is not the ‘most wanted job’ in the country because of the uninteresting salary. And the one who already teachers might not ‘motivated’ to change the ‘traditional way’ of teaching. By rising the life quality of teachers, setting up new mindsets, giving a self-development training, will help enhancing the quality of education in our country.

Entrepreneurship and writing culture in schools. I strongly believe that we need to be more entrepreneurial. With the mindset of creating jobs and more opportunities. Right now we need to have at least another 1% of population to be entrepreneurs for our country to prosper. The entrepreneurial culture must be started from school. Doing projects, collaborate with business communities, to make a good impact to society. Writing skill for me is a must. Almost everything is written nowadays (from business plans, emails to Facebook status). Writing trained students logic to think, observe, analyze, pick best angle and point of view, also articulate their opinion better. Students must be encouraged to write more, even from simple daily routine as journaling.

I’m not going to talk about infrastructure right now *clears throat*

Now, question is, how we can contribute to make our education system better?

Today, 28 October 2012, the same day of Sumpah Pemuda day and also in National Education month, Putera Sampoerna Foundation (PSF) is officially launched Indonesia Berkibar movement to help provide support to reduce the number of school drops out in Indonesia and helping youths advance to higher education.

Check their mind opening video about education in Indonesia here. There are some shocking facts about education in Indonesia that we might never heard of. Also check out some stories from teachers after they get useful training of how to manage their classes.

What we can do right now is to help raise the awareness with spreading the content of Indonesia Berkibar on Twitter @IDBerkibar and on Facebook Indonesia Berkibar. If you want to share your experience with your teacher, you can participate in Indonesia Berkibar blog competition here.

Indonesia Berkibar has 4 programs that totally in-synch with what I have in mind on how to help improving education in Indonesia and with the support from government and organizations, I have nothing but optimistic spirit for Indonesia’s future.

 
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