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This BLOG contains various insightful articles that may help and inspire professionals apply the discipline of management practices.

A transformation moment: all they need is just a little light...

7/31/2017

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Nothing happens by chance. Someone’s success is built on years of learnings and refinement. Some through academic learning coupled with rigorous training; others through years of on-the-job activities. Yet, these alone are not enough, for we live in a world of fast-paced business environment that calls for a better management. To stay ahead, those who are involved in it must equip themselves with sustainable capabilities.

This is the story of 12 young professionals from Indonesia who found their new capabilities in an unexpected way. It all began when Ms. Maria Laurensia Chrysanti (Laura), CEO of PT. Kairos Utama Indonesia, a Microsoft Gold Partner in Indonesia, asked Fourteena of Arc Australia Consulting to give a talk on negotiation skills. 

When Fourteena asked why she wanted this specific subject, she replied: ‘My project team don’t know how to say “no”. Many additional features in some projects for one of my top customers were given free-of-charge – if they continue to do so, our project revenues would not be optimal. I am worried.’

Further Fourteena asked how her team worked – apparently, without knowing, they worked in isolation; almost in seclusion: Projects created – project team assigned; tasks distributed. Her project team, comprises project managers, system analysts, and hundreds of programmers, have no idea the importance of active communication and the commercial impacts of what they’ve done.

They were very project-oriented whose KPIs were to deliver a certain number of man-days every six months. They didn’t see the value of their works; works that worth of revenue generating. 

They don't know something bigger and essential ...
It sounded very simple: ‘they don’t know how to say “no”’ – in truth they don’t know something bigger and very essential: management and project leadership skills which were mistakenly diagnosed as lack of negotiation skills.

“What shall I do, then, to uplift their skills?” She asked. The most effective way to address this is by coaching them; coaching can help them address specific areas where they lacked of. And help them discover new skills to help them perform better.

So the 12 were chosen 
In mid-March 2017, at Fourteena’s suggestion, Ms. Laura nominated 12 of her valued team members to be coached for three (3) months. These 12 consisted of two (2) project managers and six (6) system analysts (dedicated resources for Kairos’ major customer), three (3) junior account managers, and  one (1) solution designer.

A comprehensive six (6) sessions coaching plan was developed. Through the coaching, kicked off on 17 April 2017, Fourteena provided them with practical guidance based on best practices and real-experiences that they can use for immediate impact. The coaching was finally completed on 27 July 2017.

And these are the results, they are transformed ...
PictureToast for success (clockwise): Ms. Laura (Kairos CEO), Steven, Yohanes, Adi, Iwan, Fourteena, Hovis, Winta, Khoirul, Alfian, Mr. Fauzan (Project team's manager)






​



Turning a “graveyard” into a fun place 
Alfian, a project manager with 13 team members (system analysts and programmers), knew his team can achieve more, but he didn’t know how to motivate them. He never had any team meeting – relationship with his team members was merely giving tasks and monitoring their works to ensure their timely completion. His team members worked very quietly – no one talked to one another.

“It was always so quiet throughout the day like a graveyard”, Alfian described. 


The coaching sessions helped him see the importance of building a relationship with his team members and nourishing it through a regular team meeting, and understand what motivates them through friendly dialogues. During the coaching period he was able to put into practice what Fourteena suggested and proudly shared during the lessons learned that he has turned the “graveyard” into a fun place –  his team now became more open to him, they laugh and support each other.

The coaching also helped him see a different point of views in every situation that made him become a more flexible and approachable individual.

“Feels like the walls that divided us have been crumbled,” again, Alfian confessed.


From a self-centered to an understanding individual
Adi, also a project manager with 18 team members of system analysts and programmers, was a self-centered person who only interested in the results. He didn’t realise that every project has the human side that needs to be treated with care. Often he had conflicts with his team members; and he wouldn’t mind to see them go than fix the interpersonal issues between them. 

He knew he needed to change. He didn’t know how. Like Alfian, through the coaching Adi was able to see the human side of the multiple projects under his responsibilities. And he was able to create a pleasant environment for his team to nourish their working relationship – where they can share their ideas, successes and failures. 

He was also able to restore the broken relationship with some of his team members and instil discipline and build a strong working relationship with them. Now they work with fun; they communicate freely but with respect – work becomes more enjoyable. Even with those who happened to leave the company during the coaching period, Adi was able to give them a happy farewell. 

And for the first time at Kairos he initiated a “moment of appreciation” where he acknowledged the “high achievers” and presented them with a token of appreciation. He’s changed!

Improved team-work synergy. Empowered to say "no"
Iwan, a system analyst, has a different story: His working style was command and control and hardly had a meaningful conversation with his team beyond checking their work. He was one of those who cannot say “no” and lacked of self-discipline.

The coaching inspired him to be disciplined and well-organised; he also learned about the human side of a project and started to appreciate his team by encouraging them to share their thoughts and ideas through a regular team meeting and lessons learned. 

He found a sustainable way of improving his team performance by giving opportunities to junior programmers to work with a senior programmer on a complex project. This way, the junior programmers, while assisting the senior ones, have the chance to learn from them. And the senior programmers felt less burdened. 

Seeing his effort in improving the team-work synergy successful, his confidence developed and he was empowered to say “no” or provide the customer with an alternative solution such as charging them more man-days for any additional features requested. 

Still performed. Even with tight deadline …
A recently promoted system analyst, Hovis, had a poor time-management and found it difficult to communicate with his team of programmers and customer.

The coaching taught him not only how to be organised but effective through the creation of an action plan or project plan that he called a “master plan”.  At the beginning of the coaching, Hovis was tasked to deliver a project with a three-month delivery time frame, however the customer insisted to cut it short to one month. 

Hovis put into practice what Fourteena suggested in such a situation; thoroughly, he created a comprehensive master plan, documented every task and its details and shared his master plan with all stakeholders (internal and external) to introduce a collaborative monitoring system and shared responsibility. 

Good news is – Hovis and his team were able to deliver the project in one month!  How did he do it? Like a compass, the master plan helped him and his team to be very highly organised: they anticipated what the next tasks were and strictly adhered the crucial deadlines set.  Indeed, his master plan impressed his external stakeholders (the customer), in fact at the end of the project they adopted Hovis’ masterplan.

Good communication started with respect
Like, Hovis, Indra (not in the picture) is new to his role as system analyst. He had difficulty in communicating his minds to his team. He felt, sometimes, they did not take him seriously and thought it was because he was younger than them or about the same age. At other times, it made him feeling incapable when he can't make a decision promptly.

The coaching helped him understand that if he wanted to be respected, he must show respect first. For example by soliciting inputs, encouraging others to give opinions or solve problems collectively; showing them that their contributions matter. And it is not necessary to do all the thinking and decision making himself.  Indra now feels more comfortable to work with his team and lead them -- he has overcome his low self-esteem for being a junior system analyst and earned his respect. His team's performance also improved.

One happy result he shared was – his team was able to conduct a UAT (User Acceptance Test) once and successful (usually it takes several times). This impressed his customer and boast his and his team’s spirit. 


Being structured helps express the thinking articulately
Yohanes is another system analyst who despite his clever mind lacked of self esteem, and was not able to express his ideas clearly. This caused misunderstandings and often conflicts with his programmers. Fourteena guided him how to arrange his thinking logically or systematically and present it methodically to help others follow his thinking easily.

And always synchronise his thinking with others by documenting all discussions related to information gathering (that could be converted into a project specification) and sharing it with his audience for confirmation purposes to avoid misunderstanding.

Putting it into practice diligently, Yohanes’s communication skills improved: During the coaching period, he demonstrated his ability in solving complex problems in a couple of his projects through better communication. As his communication improved he also became a more enjoyable person to work with.

Creativity leads to efficiency
Steven, previously a programmer, was promoted to a system analyst about a year ago. He had an interesting weakness. He realised that he was not creative enough and didn’t know how to be creative; if one element of his project was missing, Steven was not able to make any progress. He didn’t know the art of isolating a problem or making assumptions.

Through the coaching and real-experience based guidance, Steven is able to see beyond problem and persistently find a solution through active listening and being observant

“While gathering some data from the client, I tend to be more observant than before. I took some notes and then connect the dots to solve the problem and give the best solution,” recalled Steven while sharing his recent achievement in solving a solution problem for one important project he undertook.

Running an effective meeting and leading discussions with confidence
Martinus (not in the picture), a soft-spoken system analyst, found it hard to deal with people: external stakeholders or team members, especially those who were not disciplined and took their commitment lightly. 

It is understandable how difficult it is to get someone’s commitment without a formal process or request – it’s like holding a bottle with many holes in it. No matter how much we try to fill in the bottle with water, it will be wasted. In other words, information will easily get lost and progress interrupted as discussions back to square one. 

Martinus was not familiar in preparing an action plan detailing tasks, person-in-charge, and deadlines that he can use to formalise his request for commitment to his external stakeholders; and taking in-charge in meetings (mainly for information gathering). The coaching introduced him to some best practices how to run an effective meeting; creating an action plan, and leading discussions with confidence. 

Like the rest of his colleagues he also immediately put into action what he learned in the coaching -- He's now more pro-active in leading his team, even takes initiative to have a lessons learned in order to increase their level of engagement.

"MAGNIFICENT" EIGHT
Now, these eight (8) project team realised the importance of being organised and setting thing right from the very beginning through a comprehensive action plan and collaborative leadership and team work. 

And most importantly, with improved communication and project leadership skills, no longer they hesitate to say “no". They know how to apply the principal of “triple constraints”– time, budget, scope. If one of these is altered, accordingly and with confidence, they are able to counter-offer their customers’ request for additional features or reduced timeframe without giving away man-days or resources voluntarily like before. 
Well, then, what about the sales team?

DISCOVERING SOMETHING NEW
Unlike their colleagues from the project team, the junior account team, Winta, Ranly (not in the picture), and Khoirul – who just started their career in selling, often deal with tenders – learned something they’ve never heard or done before: bid management.

They’ve learned how to run the production of a bid or tender response effectively – as Khoirul shared during the lessons learned session: “Before I knew about bid management, I was always in rush, but with bid management I am more organised.”

While for Endrik ​(not in the picture), the only technical solution designer at Kairos, who previously felt bored with his role, learned that coaching helped him broaden his knowledge beyond technical, in fact, in all aspects of a project. He was also inspired to learn more about bid management discipline to enhance his solution design skills. He felt his role is more exciting than ever.

NEW SKILLS. NEW CAPABILITIES.
We wish these 12 Kairos valued team members all the very best for their future. May the new skills they’ve discoverd during the three (3) months coaching period stay with them for a longer time and make them more capable individuals. And may whatever they do flourish.
Picture
Ms. Laura (Kairos' CEO), who was very pleased to hear the exciting lessons learned by her team, in her office with Fourteena discussing the next executive coaching program for the other team members of Kairos (Jakarta on 27 July 2017)
Picture
Introducing the coaching program where the nominated team also did the skill assessment with Fourteena (Jakarta 23 March 2017)
This article is dedicated for 12 of them, and Fourteena would like to sincerely thank Kairos' management: Ms. Laura and Mr. David Satrio (not in the picture).
Note:
PT. Kairos Utama Indonesia is an IT outsourcing company, a Microsoft Gold Partner in Indonesia, specialising in software and application development, IT consulting services and 24/7 support services. Kairos founded in 2005, employed more than 200 employees; most of them are from strong IT and software programming backgrounds. Visit its website on
www.kairos-it.com

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​That talented florist is a bright doctor-in-the-making …

11/25/2016

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It’s inspiring to see someone so young, but excel in most everything she/he does. Somehow, we wonder how it began and what it takes to be successful ...

This time article features Florian Frischa Wibowo (Frischa).

Frischa received her Bachelor of Medicine cum laude (with a GPA of 3.68) from a private university, Universitas Kristen Krida Wacana (known as “UKRIDA”), Jakarta, on 22 April 2016. She is now on her way to be a doctor. Yet, she is also a successful entrepreneur who started a small business in floral arrangements — “Florian Florist” --  in November 2014. And she is only 23!

How did she do it?
Frischa is truly blessed with many gifts. Academically, it’s obvious she is very smart and the fact that she is also very artistic. She can draw and write story based on her drawings when she was eight. She is also skilful as a make-up artist even though as far as just doing it “free of charge” for her close friends and family. She is aware of all the gifts that she has and uses most of them very wisely. The last one that she has recently developed unexpectedly is her artistic gift in flower arrangements. 

It started when her friends often asked her to go with them to a flowers market to choose flowers or bouquet for special occasions. She noticed how much her friends paid for such a flower-arrangement and how much effort the florist spent in doing it. 

Thinking that she could do better with lesser cost to help her friends save money, an idea sprang up: one early morning before dawn, when there were no lectures for that day, she drove her car back to that flowers market. She bought many kinds of flowers. She returned home, sat down and put on her artistic hat and created some flower arrangements. She took their pictures,  posted them on Facebook and Instagram to test the market. With the help of her friends who promoted her first bouquets by sharing her postings, she didn’t have to wait long,  people started to curiously ask if she was selling those bouquets. Of course she said, yes. On that day she even sold some of her flowers!

There you go. Starting from that simple act, from then on she has been receiving orders and declared herself as a florist --  “Florian Florist.”

"The florist" and a business owner. A medical student.
Florian Florist is now one of well known florists among students and their friends and relatives in her university — Frischa is even nicknamed “the Florist”. During festive seasons, Christmas and New Year, and graduation as well as special days such as Valentine's, Mother’s, and Father’s days, Frischa’s home will turn into a secret garden. Flowers everywhere. 

I've fortunately had the privilege to be her mentor, though we don’t regularly meet face to face due to our locations. But at the beginning of her business stage, I’ve given her the basic principle and what the most important thing is to thrive in this kind of business: Connect with her customers (both the receiver of the flowers and the sender) emotionally -- Aristotle called it pathos (in addition to ethos and logos) in his advice for effective communications. Only then customers will become fans and promoters. 

Okay, how to connect with customers emotionally?

Flowers arrangement is a work of art as well as of heart. No one ever sent flowers to make people sad; flowers meant to brighten people’s heart and gladden their soul. Touching their heart and soul is the key success to its business. To be able to touch people’s heart at its core, something about Florian Florist must be well remembered. For this I helped Frischa create a message that is sent along with the flowers: Every flower is arranged by Florian Florist with prayer and love.

Indeed, Frischa who never learned how to arrange flowers do all her works with prayer and love. Prayers and love are the source of her creativity that helps her “on-the-job”. Although without training, but being talented, she can visualise how she wants her flowers arrangement looks like and makes it happen on the spot: from selecting flowers, colour themes, to style and structure them to match the idea that her customer describes. As such, she confessed that she can never teach anyone how to do it. Not that she is selfish. She just cannot express it in words. Because all of this process happens in her head while her hands are diligently translating it into action. See her collections on www.florianflorist.com.
PictureFrischa (23), founder and owner of Florian Florist at work ...
Are you curious how many bouquets Florian Florist has delivered so far?
Every month she regularly receives at least 100 to 120 orders. It’s been 24 months. So, it’s been more than 2400 flower arrangements or bouquets she has created and delivered!

How did she do it in the midst of her hectic medical studies? 
Sounds impossible to do. Where did she find time to study and to attend her business at the sametime, and yet, her studies weren’t affected (she was graduated cum laude) and the business is still going strong?

Behind every effort that flourishes is great support. Frischa’s family members are her great supporters. In fact her father, Felix, is her right hand man. If she’s not around he is the one who’s in charge. Works as a general manager in a hospital, Felix himself has an artistic talent — so, he is also Frischa’s “partner” in the creativity matters.  In addition to her father, her two younger sisters  act as her photographers (each bouquet must be photographed and sent to the ordering customer as a proof before delivery) and assistants (to print cards and wrap the flowers); and also her mother who is always there to help with anything Frischa needs.

The other amazing thing that Frischa does with her Florian Florist is her great idea to create job opportunity for unemployed people around her. She hires at least four men who live in her neighbourhood to be her delivery man. These trusted four people are paid based on the number of bouquets they deliver by their motorbikes everyday. They are all very happy to have this enjoyable job that sustains their family, because everyday, Florian Florist will have a job for them.

Do you think Frischa will abandon her medical profession and become a full-time florist?
“No. I don’t think so”, said Frischa, “I love everything that is beautiful. Soon when I have completed my medical training and become a doctor, I will continue my studies to be a specialist in anti ageing, in addition to continuing Florian Florist”.   

Hearing her determination to pursue her next dream is quite understandable. Not only that she is part of an extended big family of doctors, who one them is also a specialist in anti ageing, but she is also a highly focused and self motivated individual. These two are just the key ingredients for a career success in whatever profession anyone may undertake.

I specially featured Frischa’s story in this article because hers is a remarkable example of how we can recognise our hidden potentials when we respond to an inspriration and dare to realise them freely. Especially now in the era of social media that can help us test our endeavour.

PictureFrischa "the florist", a future doctor, and her mentor, Fourteena of Arc Australia.
Perhaps she was not under any pressure and young, nothing to lose, so why not? Yes, it’s true. But even so, it takes courage, and usually it can be successful when surrounded by a supportive environment. Frischa has both.

Nevertheless, I will encourage anyone to dare to step out and reach his or her potential. Even if it may not be successful, there always be something precious to learn from. If not, how else would we learn and discover our hidden potentials?

All the very best always, Frischa! 

Jakarta, 25 November 2016

​PS. Don’t ever forget to make one special bouquet on every 13th of November for your mentor’s birthday!

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From Psychiatry to Highclass Headpiece

11/21/2016

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Beyond the corporate world, if there were a GPS for a career path, this GPS would be considered as untrustworthy one.

Why is that so?

Well, guiding a career path of a future psychiatrist to become a headpiece designer? 

Never heard of. Unbelievable. A radical career disruption!

But it’s a true story.

This article features a 30-year-old doctor,  a former resident of psychiatry, doctor Melissa Harapanita. 

Melissa wanted to be a fashion designer when she was seven but must bury her dream in order to follow her family’s advice to be a doctor like her father and her other family members who most of them are doctors. 

Studied medical at a private university, University of Tarumanagara (Jakarta), she purposely worked very hard for just one reason: "I wanted to finish as soon as possible so that I can realise my dream," she recalled.  As a result? She was graduated not only as planned but also cum laude in March 2011.

Did she say she wanted to graduate ASAP so that she can go back to her secret dream? 

Well, it wasn’t just like that. Her outstanding result led her smoothly to a position as a physician in three hospitals at the same time in Jakarta. 

Two years Melissa dedicated her life as a doctor to gently treat her patients from various backgrounds and walks of life, young and old. She also had the privilege of working with senior doctor-colleagues ranging from specialists to distinguished professors. Through them she gained more knowledge about illnesses and advanced medical treatment. This included opening a door for her to pursue her studies further: undertaking psychiatry. 

Psychiatry and Colours of Life. With such a reference and bright mind, she was accepted at the Indonesia's best national university in Jakarta, University of Indonesia. She began her journey as a resident of psychiatry in the university's hospital: a central government hospital, known as “RSCM” -- Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta; under the guidance of, again, best psychiatrists. 

It was in this world of psychiatry that she saw life has multi colours: "... like dramas we usually read in novels or watch in movies, unfortunately they are real," explained Melissa. 

As part of the study, Melissa had to be involved in the life of many mentally disordered individuals: boys and girls, men and women — of all ages — as young as eight year old to elderly ones. They became mentally  disturbed for various reasons: from trivial problems of life, such as unrequited puppy love or jealousy; genetic problem, to serious psychology issues that threaten others’ life. 

In order to treat her patients appropriately, Melissa must diagnose each patient assigned to her through tireless conversations. In the process, sometimes, some patients became aggressive and dangerously attacked her that she had to be protected by specially trained nurses for this kind of circumstances. 

On the other hand, it was hilarious when a patient fell in love with her, following her every where she went and called her a queen or a princess.

Awaken Dream. Until one day, a call within a call knocking her heart to revisit her other dream. Two years into her residency, in late May 2015, Melissa decided to leave the world of psychiatry. Not that she shrank from her duty and responsibility — but somewhere, the buried dream was awaken.

Amazingly, there was indeed, a hidden talent inside Melissa’s head that was long overdue to be unleashed. In June 2015, she launched her handmade headpiece business: Highclass Headpiece.
Picturedr. Melissa sets her needle & threads, not to stitch the wound, but to design & craft headpiece.
​Why Headpiece? She was captured by its uniqueness: how when it is so finely designed -- can be small but colourful or glittery, or simply just white with soft feather -- and worn by ladies on their hair or around their head, it can gracefully bring forth their elegance and feminine in ways that cosmetics or make-up beauty can never do. 

“Elegantly designed headpiece is like a crown fits for a princess,” said Melissa.

To be a headpiece designer and business owner -- was it planned? Not exactly. Speaking of work of craft and art, it usually comes uninvited and silently immersed in the midst of hectic life. But when it’s listened to and actioned upon, true art does do marvels.That’s what Melissa did.



​At an unexpected invitation of a friend for a photo-shooting, Melissa quickly set her needle and threads to work, not to stitch the wound of a patient but to craft and design her first five headpieces.

​The photo-shooting and the five headpieces were the beginning of everything.  

Time and Chance Perfectly Met. With those photos and the five headpieces she launched her Highclass Headpiece via Facebook and Instagram. Less than 48-hour she received enquiries and within a week those five pieces were sold out!

Since then she has created more than 500 designs and sold nearly 1000 pieces. 

To date Melissa is still actively creating and designing handmade headpiece that she cleverly linked with interesting histories, stories, fairy tales, and movies  — such as “Great Gatsby” and  “Game of Thrones”, and she explained why such a headpiece was created. Visit her collections at <@highclass_headpiece>.

As her mentor, often I am asked if this radical career disruption is a wasted effort of time, energy, and money. Because apart from a long study process that could take six to seven years or even longer, it's very costly to study medical in Indonesia especially in a private university.

Again, someone’s future, especially in career, is not just determined by what he or she must do based on skills he/she has; or trainings he/she has undertaken; or what his/her parents do, or ancestors did. Something else must be considered.

The business management guru, (late) Peter F. Drucker, concluded that a professional can only perform well out of his or her strengths. Management reviews such as Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review often feature discussions about how to measure job satisfaction that really brings happiness or what makes work meaningful. Many are the suggestions, but one that I think resonates to doctor Melissa’s story, is — if what we do can bring the best in others. 

Melissa’s Highclass Headpiece is aimed at bringing forth a complimentary beauty that most women wouldn’t think of: wearing headpiece. And this not only satisfies Melissa but inspires her to skilfully create more and more beautiful headpiece, affordable for all ladies and even for their babies. For this reason she chose “You smile, I smile” as her marketing spirit.

Other quality and capability. Still, it is undeniably a radical decision but I believe Melissa has come to this direction and was able to see her other quality and capability because of her previous journey in her medical career. She is not alone. One example is Manolo Blahnik. He was on his way to be an international lawyer, but one day when he responded faithfully to the call of his secret passion, he became a famous designer of luxurious shoes, "Manolo Blahnik".

Yet, … you may still argue that Melissa has wasted her promising future by abandoning her profession? 

Picturedr. Melissa and her mentor, Fourteena of Arc Australia.
Let's see: Melissa has taken the Hippocratic oath and been conferred as a doctor. Once a doctor,  forever a doctor she is.

So, trust me -- when you are unwell physically or tired psychologically, go to her, she will still with tender care look after you!

Go ever forward doctor Melissa, there’s no limit to the gifts that God has bestowed upon you. Just multiply them all.

Now, let's smile for the picture,"You smile, I smile".

Jakarta, 22 November 2016

Note: Also read a relevant article about career disruption by Fourteena -- Embrace your true passions. Afraid not disruption. embrace-your-true-passions-afraid-not-disruption.html
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A flicker of hope after 800 job applications and the journey goes ever on ...

6/15/2016

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Thomas Edison, the inventor of electric bulb, had done at least 500 experiments before the 500th one was successful. When he was at last successful, he said “Now, I know there are 499 ways not to do”

Yes, it’s a great example of being persistent.

But how would you counsel someone who had tried applying 800 jobs and still could not see a flicker of hope?


 Tell him or her:
“Please don’t give up?” or “Hanging in there?” or “The good thing only comes to those who wait?”

800 applications? Really? Yes, it’s not an exaggerated number – it was based on a true bitter experience of one job seeker. 

No words no matter how sincere and encouraging could console this person. As if we were telling someone who barely had anything on in the bleak winter night – “keep warm” – when we knew all he or she needed was a piece of blanket or a winter coat.

This is the main reason why the Employability Workshop was created and initiated by Janice and Fourteena in November 2013; not only to accompany the skilled-migrant job seekers in Sydney’s Lower North Shore area but to equip them with employability skills and reach their potential.


Journey goes ever on – 4th time. For the fourth time, the Workshop, sponsored by the Crows Nest Community Centre, was conducted. Unfortunately, this time Fourteena was not able to join Janice due to her overseas job posting. But as it has always been our spirit – the journey goes ever on: This time Janice teamed up with Agnes and Linda, both senior business professionals, to deliver the workshop.

 In the Workshop…

12 skilled migrant-participants from all over the world India, China, Taiwan, Mexico, Africa, Spain, France, UK, Ireland and Iran attended this six-week workshop. Agnes, Janice and Linda took the twelve on a journey to re-discover their skills and strengths and to inspire them to see beyond the present moment – to let them see that their career aspirations were not a hopeless dream.

The workshop was intensive, keeping the participants busy to deep dive into the Australian job search process. After each session, the participants were given assignment to help them practicing the job application skills, from analyzing job advertisement, to writing job resume and cover letter, to taking mock telephone interviews.

The end result of the Workshop, in essence was to instill confidence in them in order to trust themselves once again, and be able to present their best authentic self here in the Australian working place.

It was in the last session that they had to demonstrate their renewed capability and self by taking part in the practice interview.


Tim, a senior executive, generously took the time to join Janice, Agnes and Linda as one of job interviewers. The participants were requested to dress for success -- ready for the job interview session after spending in previous sessions how to present their best authentic professional self forward. It was serious yet fun session, and valuable day for our participants as well as for Agnes, Janice and Linda as they observed the change – what the participants had achieved over the short six weeks of the duration of the workshop.

Regaining their confidence to pursue their dream jobs in Australia

By the end of the workshop, all 12 participants felt that they have re-connected with their strengths and skills and are confident in going out to apply for jobs, and best of all they knew how to  present themselves well to compete for the jobs they pursue. In fact, during the workshop, three of the participants – including the one who applied 800 jobs application! – found their first job in Australia that matched to their field of expertise -- in pharmacy, customer service and IT respectively. Their successes were celebrated and it was also an uplifting spirit to all the other participants.

And in June, three months after the workshop, three more participants have found jobs that matched their career aspirations. By keeping up in their applications, using the job search skills they have learnt from the workshop anchored by the belief in themselves, all the participants will soon have the opportunity to re-establish themselves successfully in the Australian workplace.

From Participants.
The following are quotes from the participants. They shared the positive change they have experienced since participating in the workshop -- it's very encouraging to read. The skills I have learned will forever change the way I approach 

"Just to let you know I have accepted a manager position and will start next week with the opening of a new restaurant in Leichhardt. It looks like a big company with big plans for expansion and I get to work with my passion, food!

Thank you so much for all your support and taking the time to help me with my job search. The skills I have learnt will forever change the way I approach looking for a job and I look forward to utilising them as my career here in Australia progresses"



​"I feel very grateful and fortunate to met you. You reminded me that I am very capable, confident person and that I can also achieve things, even being in a foreign country. You gave me the push that I needed :).

You do a beautiful job by helping others and I won't be able to thank you enough ever for your kindness and support. Please count on me if someday if I can be any of help".

 
Note from the editor:

Janice, Agnes and Linda would like to thank Zaneta Figiel and her manager, Denise Ward, Executive Officer of Crows Nest Centre, who have made this workshop possible and successful.
 
This article was originally prepared on 27 June 2015 after Summer Workshop 2015.

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Comment from one of participants (Summer Class 2015)
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Zaneta, Fourteena, Janice: While Fourteena is overseas, Janice, joined by Agnes and Linda, supported by Zaneta and Denise continued the program.
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12 is company and the intellectual journey goes on

8/14/2014

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How many lives made wonderful by discovering true life-purpose, whose joy is to willingly render self-dedication in bringing this purpose to completion.

And for business professionals, what could be more meaningful than finding a job that they're passionate about, and being given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience, and use their gifts.

Gifts? Yes. The business professionals we’re about to feature here are skilled migrants. Coming from different countries, they are not only equipped with professional skills but also with the gift of language; they speak at least bilingual: English and their mother tongue – either Mandarin, Korean, Malay, Cambodian, Hindi, or Spanish.
Picture12 skilled migrants (2 not in the picture) brought together by one common purpose: To reach their potential



















They migrated to Australia for a number of reasons – due to family reason, for better future, or simply their love for Australia. However, searching for job opportunities haven’t been really easy for them, let alone finding one.

Could it be that they know not how? Or could it be employers who couldn’t recognize their capability? Or could it be they know not how to convince the employers?

In fact, there are some truths in all of the above: these skilled migrants after experiencing some unsuccessful job applications, often they become discouraged as their self-doubt starts to creep in. Especially for some of them, who have been out of work for a while due to employment termination or family reasons.

Losing courage and self-confidence is very daunting.

Frodo, in the Fellowship of the Ring – realising that he was in danger but didn’t know how to face it – also suffered such a discouragement.

“But where shall I find courage?” asked Frodo. “That is what I chiefly need”

“Courage is found in unlikely places,” said Gildor (his companion, an Elf)

Indeed, courage, along with self-confidence, is also what these skilled migrants mostly need. While it’s true that courage or self-confidence can be found in unlikely places, however, it’s not just where to find it, but how to get it.

For the 3rd time, Reach Your Potential – a five-week employability skills workshop, sponsored by Crows Nest Centre and Hornsby Shire Council – was conducted. The workshop is specially designed to help skilled migrants reconnect themselves with their skills and experience in order to find their self-confidence back, and develop their employability skills within the Australian working framework.

It was conducted in Lindfield Library (Lindfield), and attended by 12 skilled migrants – from India, China, Korea, Malaysia, Cambodia, Mexico, Columbia, and Spain – whose academic and professional background and past experiences are quite fascinating.

They shared two main challenges: first, how to find their confidence back; second, how to get a job that fits their skills or passions, therefore establish their presence in the Australian working place.

Finding the authentic career story. It was here in Reach Your Potential where Janice Hui and Fourteena Halim led them on an intellectual journey, a journey to return to themselves in order to discover their “intellectual treasure”:  their skills and experience, and to assess their strengths. And captured all of their findings in a story – their authentic and unique career story.

How is it not authentic and unique when you find in their stories a former successful entrepreneur whose passions are in bookkeeping and accounting and wants to find a job as a bookkeeper while pursuing his studies in business; a young industrial engineer who chose to be a marketer, while a senior marketer who found a new talent in teaching wishes to find a job in education; or a web designer – who holds a master’s degree in computer studies but also is a bachelor in economics – had recently undertaken a role as finance controller; or a senior telecom engineer who also has an accounting skill background, but wishes to remain to be a telecom engineer.

Among the 12, there are four who have been in a technical role – hardware or software expert with strong technical background – who aspire to find a role in the same area; and, there’s also a senior purchasing officer who still passionate about purchasing and an accountant with pure accounting background – both want to return to the work force in the area of their expertise, after a few years of career break. And finally there’s one – a bachelor in science who also holds a diploma in computer programming – whose dream job is to be a laboratory technician.

Through their story, they’ve finally found and saw their core values. Upon finding them, their level of confidence increased: they now believe that they truly have something to contribute to the Australian working place.

Refreshing the communication skills. But the story alone wouldn’t mean much unless they know how communicate it articulately. Indeed, it was in Reach Your Potential that they also had a chance to refresh their communication skills, namely, writing, speaking and listening, and self-presentation.

Again for job seekers, one of the most important tools is resume; therefore apart from refreshing their communication skills, a special session was dedicated to writing resume, carefully reviewing job descriptions and responding to them, as well as preparing cover letter and job interviews.

Five weeks have passed since 17 July 2014:  their story written, resume polished, and their communication skills refreshed – their confidence’s back; nothing more exciting than to be once again dare to set out on a further journey – a job seeking journey – but this time, they hold the right tools in their hands!

Spring time is coming, a season of glad songs will be here again (Song of Songs); may we all soon hear a glad surprise, too, from one and each of them, saying: “I did it, I’ve got a job!”

We wish them all the very best, and let's toast for their success!

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Never forget to toast for success: "May you face tomorrow confidently and courageously and be successful!"
Cai, Belen, Snehal, Zaneta, Janice, Ninive, Fourteena, Sebastian, Pern, Cecilia, Ethan, Lucy, Jane (Steven, Tony, Sunita -- not in the picture)
SPECIAL THANKS: Janice and Fourteena would like to thank Cai Ruggles, Community Settlement Officer at Hornsby Shire Council, and Zaneta Figiel, Settlement Services Coordinator at Crows Nest Centre, for their dedication and valuable support. 

Fourteena is now an executive coach for young professionals; through coaching sessions, Fourteena helps them reach their potentials discover new skills and capabilities. Read their stories  a-transformation-moment-all-they-need-is-just-a-little-light.html
And here the recent work journey-to-change-nothing-is-too-difficult.html

​Stay connected. Join the circle of "A" great team www.facebook.com/Arc-Australia-Consulting-118192751679453/


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Reach Your Potential: The intellectual journey goes on ...

3/27/2014

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The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began,
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,  
(The Lord of the Rings)

This was the rhyme that heavily-burdened Frodo was softly singing to himself as he was walking further and further away from his homeland, the Shire, to undertake the journey to deliver the Ring to where it belongs.

Like the hero of the Lord of the Rings, Frodo, six skilled migrants: Solmaz, Kim, Chris, John, Astrid and Uta  are now far ahead from where they are from.

They are now in Australia. And like Frodo, these six migrants must also follow the Road, if Frodo has to deliver the Ring to where it belongs, these six migrants must find a job.

"if I can ..." some of them ask.

Of course, you can! Yes, the road may go ever on and on -- in other words finding an employment in Australia can be a never ending quest but walk on, that is the only way!

And a long the way, they stopped and attended Reach Your Potential, a five-week employability skills workshop, specially designed for migrants with skills from overseas. 

For the second time, Janice and Fourteena teamed up and conducted the workshop. This time workshop -- organised by Zaneta Figiel, Crows Nest Centre's Settlement Services Coordinator -- was held at Crows Nest Centre (also sponsored by Willoughby City Council and MOSAIC Multicultural Centre).

Solmaz, Kim, Chris, John, Astrid and Uta were the six participants who persevered and, at last, completed the whole five-week program on 27 March 2014.

It is in Reach Your Potential, Janice and Fourteena took them into an intellectual journey to get in touch with their capabilities; to give their self-doubts a rest and to trust more in their passions: hopes and dreams -- these what kept them going. 
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Solmaz, Kim, Astrid, John, Uta, and Chris -- pose for success with Janice and Fourteena
Solmaz from Iran, whose academic background is in architecture, is an artistic and creative interior designer. She dreams to find a job in any architectural firm in Sydney. But she doesn’t have any knowledge of the Australian working culture; she is lost.

Kim from Vietnam, a very bright girl -- fascinated by science -- undertook studies in medical and biomedical science specialising in laboratory technique in pathology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). In fact she was just recently graduated; she needs guidance as she is about entering into the professional world.

Meanwhile, from China, Chris brought with him his vast knowledge and experience in complex IT infrastructure, project management, and IT consulting capabilities -- but he hasn't been successful in securing a job; he is at the point of his frustration.

John from Korea is a talented individual; he is an expert in business intelligence (BI) analytics. While his short-term goal is completing his master's degree in marketing at the University of Sydney, he is aspired to find a job upon completing his studies. However, John has no clue at all how to be part of the Australian working culture. 

From Germany, Astrid has a strong background in human resources and office administration skills, she loves working with people; for a while she worked at one of European consulate offices in Sydney, and then she took a career break due to family reason; now she is ready to return to workforce but she has lost her confidence! 

Similarly, Uta, also from Germany, she was a senior office administrator specialising in law offices in Berlin; working with people -- lawyers and clients alike -- was Uta's enjoyable duties. She was absolutely good at what she was doing -- she demonstrated it while doing a voluntary work at the Australian Red Cross; she was so good, that she was offered a job on a casual basis. Still, she needs a full-time job -- she has so much to offer. But like Astrid, she has also lost her confidence.

In Reach Your Potential, not only Fourteena and Janice worked closely with them: assessed their strengths, helped them set their career goals, trained them in the most important skills needed in the professional world --communications and self presentation -- but also coached them how to be ready in their job seeking endeavour: from building their resume, writing a cover letter, crafting their self pitch, to interview practices.

In five weeks? Can it be done? 

Certainly! Believe it or not, in week 4 -- Chris shared his joy, he received a job screening call from a potential employer concerning one of his job applications. And in the last week -- week 5, Uta shared hers: she was invited to an interview for a job that she applied in the same week -- her dream job!

Five weeks-- since 27 February 2014-- have passed: Along with their career story is their clear understanding of their unique skills and qualities; best of all Chris, Astrid, and Uta found their confidence back; and Solmaz, Kim, and John found some directions on how to apply a job in Australia.  

Yes, the road may go ever on and on --the quest to find an employment may seem never ending and they must walk on, but now they will walk on with confidence.

Well done Solmaz, Kim, Chris, John, Astrid and Uta! Now, let's toast for your success: "May the stars shine upon the end of your road." (The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring)
PictureYes, the road may go ever on and on but never forget to celebrate: Toast for success (March 27, 2014)


Janice and Fourtena  would like to thank Zaneta Figiel and her manager, Denise Ward, Executive Officer of Crows Nest Centre, who have made this workshop possible and successful; Rita Leung of Willoughby City Council and Mosaic Multicultural Centre for her continuous support.
Read the full story of the first Reach Your Potential's participants http://www.14arcaustralia.com/2/post/2013/11/reach1.html
Fourteena is now an executive coach for young professionals; through coaching sessions, Fourteena helps them reach their potentials discover new skills and capabilities. Read their stories  a-transformation-moment-all-they-need-is-just-a-little-light.html
And here the recent work journey-to-change-nothing-is-too-difficult.html

​Stay connected. Join the circle of "A" great team www.facebook.com/Arc-Australia-Consulting-118192751679453/
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A Glimpse of Artful Bid Management: What's this?

2/22/2014

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Picture Bid management is like the hub of a wheel
To what can we compare bid management with?
Think of a symphony orchestra. 

An orchestra of 20 musicians or more but without a conductor, can it produce a magnificent music?

A road. 

A busy road without traffic lights, can someone guarantee no driver blow the horn and vehicles move smoothly?

Or a wheel of many spokes but without the hub, c
an it function as a wheel?

Similarly, can we effectively produce a bid response and potentially win business without applying bid management discipline?

Unlikely!

So, what's bid management, anyway?
 Simply put, bid management is a discipline that provides centralisation and direction of activities to produce high calibre and compelling  response of a bid or a tender. 

To produce or create such responses, it takes collective effort of a team -- a team whose members are drawn from cross-functional roles. Indeed, they are like many spokes of a wheel or a group of musicians who play diverse kinds of instruments. 

Like in an orchestra, each musician must concentrate on his/her parts to beautifully produce music together. Yes, together! Because if we ask one musician to play his/her part alone for half a minute or so, the music is often unrecognisable -- sometimes it sounds odd, too. It is so with each member of a bid team: he/she must concentrate on his/her area of expertise to contribute and produce responses as specified or defined in a bid/tender. But it only makes sense when these responses are put together. 

And like the traffic lights that control vehicles from every direction, bid management provides direction for each member to follow, in fact not only direction but plan and strategy to win as well. One of the main strategies to win is producing winning response. 

Winning response? What is it like? You may ask. Have you ever heard about a "silent" sales person*? 
Well, if the bid/tender response -- thoughtfully produced and put together in a logical and sensible order -- is able to answer not only questions -- technical, commercial, financial, operational, delivery, etc.--but  also address concerns (including emotional ones)  of the reviewers' -- then the response is worthy to be called a "silent" sales person that speaks loudly and clearly, thus worthy of a business.

Bid manager or bid leader, do we need her/him? Absolutely.

Bid/tender process has become so complex these days;  to win business through bidding or tendering, we really need an individual with a dual characteristic. One who can lead and also manage. Not anyone who can cook is a chef. Not anyone who can produce a bid response (by only collating documents) is a bid manager.

Again, imagine the conductor of an orchestra, although some composers may indicate instructions in the music score, but it is the conductor who interprets (Peter F. Drucker, The Practice of Management) and shapes effective ways of communicating instructions to the musicians in order to produce harmonious and melodic whole.

Tacit knowledge. It takes more than just collating documents to win a bid/tender. In fact, it takes knowledge: know "what" and "how" that is relevant to every aspect of the potential project;  and also tacit knowledge -- a special knowledge that is gained through experience, a knowledge that knows "why". 

Furthermore,  it takes the whole heart and mind too. For what, you ask?  To build and shape a winning path: motivate a team, lead its members with confidence through the path and win, of course!

So what is exactly the task of a bid leader and a bid manager? 
First, wear a hat as a leader -- bid Leader. As a leader he/she must have a vision to win. Know the art of going into a deeper unknown: assessing and qualifying the opportunity; investigating what kind of responses that may address and uncover its reviewers'  "hidden" wants and needs technically and emotionally, establishing connections with them in the response -- in the writing, building a team who will be capable to produce such response; and thus, making the unknown becomes known, and communicating it to the team -- this is the ultimate task of a bid leader.

Second, once the complex unknown becomes known, the bid leader switches her/his role to become a bid manager: managing and executing activities, allocating tasks to the members, empowering and encouraging them to produce works as expected, and most importantly, orchestrating and weaving these works into one great piece of art!

One thing, though, the switching of the roles between leading and managing is not permanent, this means that this person, throughout the bid production stages, must be capable of knowing when he/she has to switch back and forth between leading and managing to constantly provide directions in times of confusion or inspire the team members, hence bring the best out of them, in times of doubt.

Is that all?

Theoretically, yes. But in practical, bid management is a constant "battle field". A general in a battle can never rest until the war is over and peace is established. Similarly, a bid manager can never rest until the bid is won and becomes a project that is successfully delivered. 

To conclude, perhaps the following excerpt describes better, the real duty of a bid manager:

... "A wonderful man was this Caesar! You are a writer, and I am a fighter, but here is a fellow who could both write and fight, and in both was equally skilful!" (From "The Courtship of Miles Standish" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

*other suggested reading www.14arcaustralia.com/blog/successful-silent-sales-person-have-you-seen-one

About the author:
Fourteena,  a professional bid manager, acquired her strategic bid management skills through a fully residential tutoring program in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2001. Since 2000, she's led and managed virtual bid teams to successfully win about 45 airport's IT Infrastructure tenders/bids, worth $US80 million, across Australia; New Zealand; the Asian Pacific countries: India, China, Taiwan, Japan; and countries in the South Pacific Islands. View her profile au.linkedin.com/in/fourteena



Photographs by Felix O. Halim for Arc Australia



Picture
Artful Bid Management is about understanding and interpreting all aspects of a potential project and communicating it to the team; it's about leading and managing cross-functional team members in order to bring forth the best in them to produce a winning calibre bid response.
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Confidence: A glowing candle in the dark of corporate world

1/10/2014

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PictureConfidence. Inner confidence is all we need.
2014 is here. Back to work again? Wish you were not?

Understand. Travelling along the roads of the corporate world is not always pleasant. For there aren't many levelled paths, and worst --sometimes they are all dark.

How disheartening it is to feel that everything will be just the same or anything, but for the better -- especially for business professionals who have been slightest by their managers, peers or people around them. 




Returning to work would feel like walking alone in the midst of a dark forest glade. Boy! surely our spirit would be low and fear would seize us like a little worm in the mouth of an eagle. Our only hope would be that we could see even just a tiny little glow somewhere: a flicker of candle to light up our way in the dark.

In a real world, in this new year, in the midst of never ending corporate's political intrigues and fights for success -- what do we need then?

Confidence. That’s what we need.

Confidence that springs from within. Not the kind of confidence because we own the best tools in the whole office or because we know some influential people that will always stand by us -- these are external. They  come and go.

What we need is a string of confidence that springs from within: How to build such confidence?

Well, nothing is too difficult if we know how to appreciate everything around us. In facing any situation, first things first, whether as an individual or a leader of a team, know where we are going and what is expected of us (and our team).

Then prepare. Prepare well: research, study, ask people around or Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), etc -- so that we know how: How to do or deliver the work to the best of our ability --never hesitate to go beyond what have been asked of us.

Worry not the final result. Focus only what we need to do now. Believe we can do it. Season always the work we do -- the opportunity given to us-- with a sense of thankfulness: take it as an opportunity to grow and for this reason we are thankful.

Aim to impress no one. Finally, it is easy to be confident when we don’t need to impress anyone. Start from here -- this is how the inner confidence begins to grow and glow like a candle in the dark. And stay focused on doing the good work -- always, and always!

Image by Venus Shum

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A Christmas Story: "Yes, Verichelle, Christmas prayers are heard and Santa Claus is real*"

12/23/2013

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Picture
Long long time ago, in an ancient place called Valley of Love, a tiny baby girl was born just days before Christmas. An unknown pretty fairy named her Verichelle Viora which means a brave and wise girl who loves praying. 

On the night before Christmas -- Verichelle's first Christmas on earth -- she asked a Christmas angel: "Tell me the truth, here on earth, are Christmas prayers heard, and tell me if a santa claus is real"

"Yes, Verichelle, all Christmas prayers are heard, and Santa Claus is real!" replied the Christmas angel.

"Really, are you sure?"

"Yes, as sure as your tears and laughter!" added the Christmas angel.

"And Santa Claus' real?" asked Verichelle again.


PictureVerichelle confused
"Why, of course, Santa Claus is real. No one has ever seen Santa Claus, but many things you can't see, don't mean they are not real." 

Verichelle confused and puzzled. 

Oh my! How can you explain real things or not real things to a 40-day old baby!

"Well, Verichelle, can you see your mother's love?"

“No” replied Verichelle shaking her milk bottle (she was having her supper -- a bottle of milk).


PictureVerichelle says her first Christmas prayers
"That's right, but you can 'feel' her love -- her tender love-- can't you?" Verichelle smiled a very happy smile in agreement. Then, she closed her eyes, clasped her tiny hands, and started to say her prayers -- her first Christmas prayers.

As Verichelle was praying, the Christmas angel rang the Christmas bell and whispered as it flew to the sky: "Yes, Verichelle, all Christmas prayers are heard and Santa Claus is real, and many many blessings to you and to all on Christmas day!"

Merry Christmas! God bless us every one!

Sydney, Christmas Eve 2013









​Note from the author (20 December 2016)

There was once an eight-year old girl, named Virginia O'Hanlon in 1891 asked The (New York) Sun, if there is a santa claus. The answer was published in an editorial called Is There a Santa Claus?. The editorial appeared in the September 21, 1897.


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Entrepreneurs in the making: where 2 or 3 together, splendid dreams flourish ...

11/15/2013

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PicturePose for success: Fourteena with Rina (L) & Andi (R)
Every Christmas we hear the story of how three wise men from the East travel together to find a child of their dream. With the guidance of one bright star, they did in the end find Him, the little babe lying in a manger.

There are many ways to pursue a dream, but travelling together with people who have the same dream and to have constant support like a guiding light makes the whole effort delightful.

Rina and Andi are two talented housewives who dream to have their own business. 

Rina works wonderfully with her fingers -- she creates arts and crafts, you name it: cushions, table runners, bags, blankets, and so on. Andi, on the other hand, sees business in the pile of pretty dresses and scarves from where she came from, Indonesia. 

Their entrepreneurial spirit persuaded them to undertake a Certificate III in Micro Business Operations course at the Migrant Women's Micro Business Program conducted by the Canterbury City Community Centre in partnership with Sydney Community College. As part of this course, they have to have a 10-hour business mentoring session with a business mentor. 

Slowly but surely. Rina and Andi were indeed two entrepreneurs in the making. It took them six months, from May-November 2013, to complete the 10-hour mentoring program with their appointed mentor, Fourteena of Arc Australia, a business strategy professional.

Having creativity and great ideas are true blessings, but turning them into business takes learning. This is where Fourteena, using her real-business experience and business management practices, inspired Rina and Andi to learn many practical things -- from building expertise (within their business ideas), creating business direction to applying time management technique; from creating their business name to pitching and marketing their products with the right message and pricing strategy.

Sounds exciting? Sure thing! It was indeed an exciting learning journey that has helped Rina and Andi build their professionalism and confidence. 

PictureBlessings to you for 2014 onwards: a gift of 2014 diary from Fourteena
Andi, now the owner of "Pretty with Scarves" online shop, admitted: "Before meeting Fourteena, I was not so sure with my idea. I didn't even dare to talk about it. I kept it myself. But now, I am confident, I can do this business -- in fact, my "Pretty with Scarves" has been selling!"

Rina also felt the same, though sometimes doubt creeps in, but she knows what she produces are unique and special. By now, Rina's "Crafts with Love" has already been receiving orders from customers.


Congratulations to both of you, Rina and Andi. Your dreams have come true!

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