Previously in this section, the blog mentioned on the Family Database which is a great tool for our family unity. It is now fully utilized for businesses. The database is fundamental in our capital accumulation and business growth. We don’t borrow money from the banks. As far as bankers are concerned, we consider them as the devils among the highest level.
In so many ways, wars and trading have a lot in common. Acehnese had fought against Raja-Raja of Beneres (India), the pirates particularly of India and China, Srivijaya, Singhasari, Langkasuka, Ayuddiya, Majapahit, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Japanese and Indonesia. Acehnese had built kingdoms like Perlak, Rokan, Pasai, Kedah, Inderapuri and two empires Malacca and Aceh. Historically, these kingdoms and empires were built and had lot to do with wars and trading.
So what makes us Acehnese have the willingness to fight (in wars) and to compete (in trading) which led to kingdoms and empires built?
Wars and trading have a lot in common BUT the MOST IMPORTANT COMMON us Acehnese have between the two is OUR HEARTS.
Fundamentally, Acehnese are very concern about their hearts. Between the hearts and the minds, Acehnese give more priority to the hearts because the hearts are a lot more alive. The hearts are where FAITH is. When the faith demands us to fight, the hearts don’t calculate how big or how strong our enemies are so we fight nevertheless. When the faith demands us to compete, the hearts don’t calculate how big or how strong our competitors are so we compete nevertheless.
Many years ago, people advised us not to open shops in places like Penang Road, Macallister Road, Campbell Street, Burmah Road, Chow Kit Road etc because these are Chinese dominated areas. They said to open shops in these areas will be business suicides. Unfortunately, our hearts never bother because the hearts have faith. We run our shops in these places nevertheless. Guess what? The Chinese in those areas are indeed very cooperative and helpful and we are doing okay.
With Faith, our hearts are brave. That’s why historically Acehnese have never done research finding rational reasons not to go to wars and not to trade. Our hearts never tell us something like … oh we might get killed or we might lose money so we better stay behind or find stable jobs with fixed salaries so we can live longer or accomplish more things with less risk.
Months ago, I sent some selected shop keepers to be upgraded as supervisors for training. They were trained by this government agency. At the end of the training session, I was shocked that the trainers told the keepers that running sundry shops are not prospective.
I was like … WHAT??? Back in January 2005 we started with 15 shops and today we have more than 800 and these trainers told my people running sundry shops are not prospective? So I contacted my friend who is actually their boss and complaint and funnily I found out that those trainers are sure paper qualified … they can talk marketing, branding, financing etc but none of them ever run own businesses their entire lives. What a bunch of jokers.
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Sangkar Duka
I’ll be off blogging for a week or two starting Wednesday night. I’m taking my family for vacation and later traveling for business trips.
I have posted this song before and lately I had no time to write a new song. So I converted this song into music video featuring Inderawangsa.
‘Sangkar Duka’ means Cage of Sadness.
Song and Music by Azer Mantessa
