William Harjanto

Optimist with an umbrella

[williamharjanto]

The promise that "more is better" is a grand illusion.

[williamharjanto]

We naively expect perfection, which does not exist.

[williamharjanto]

Practice observing your moods, rather than being them.

[williamharjanto]

Aurora Australis.

Nope, just the ship for now.

@ Salamanca Bay, Hobart, Tasmania

[williamharjanto]

Tribute

Why does a founding father who dedicates his whole life to build a successful country only given the tribute and acknowledgement after his passing away? Would it not have been better if he received the praise and tears while he was still alive to see and feel? Yet only when his time of death arrives do the masses show their gratitude—to another lifeless body. This is just one man. Not counting the millions of others who dedicate their lives to their country, whether they are soldiers, doctors, teachers, workers. The tribute is late. Gratitude is given to those who have no way of receiving it in their physical body.

Maybe we should start being thankful for the littlest things, everyday, and for the loved ones who are still alive.

(Goodbye and thank you Lee Kuan Yew, a respectable man who accomplished the unthinkable.)

[williamharjanto]

Counterbalance

Whenever you feel fear, do the opposite and be even more courageous. Whenever you feel anger, focus on a person you love or an object of admiration, and do it with intensity. Fire cancels out water. And so it is that one strong emotion cancels out the other and helps you move ahead.

[williamharjanto]

You tell on yourself

You tell on yourself By the friends you seek, By the manner in which you speak; By the way you employ your leisure time, By the use you make of every dollar or dime.

You tell what you are By the things you wear, By the spirit by which your burdens you bear; By the kind of things at which you laugh, By the records you play on your phonograph.

You can tell what you are By the way you talk, By the manner in which you bear defeat; By so simple a thing as what you eat,

By the books you choose from a well-defined shelf. In these ways and more, you tell on yourself. So there is really not a particle of sense In your efforts to keep up your false pretense.

You tell on yourself.

—Author unknown

[williamharjanto]

Jakarta sudah lebih aman

Setelah pulang ke Jakarta selama beberapa minggu gue bisa menyimpulkan kalo Jakarta sudah lebih aman.

Kenapa? Smartphone.

Kita bicara kalangan bawah. Banyak sekali yang sudah pakai smartphone, mau pembantu, tukang ojek, tukang pijit, tukang kayu, tukang tukang, semua bisa punya smartphone yang bagus dan harga terjangkau. Hal ini merubah mental. Kalo 6 tahun lalu mungkin gue bakalan takut buat keluarin hp Nokia 6600 gue di depan umum karena maklum takut dijambret. Sekarang semua orang sudah punya smartphone, jadi buat apa lagi mereka punya rasa dengki? Buat apa lagi mereka ingin mencuri? Toh, lebih seru tongkrongin Twitter ato chat BBM dan LINE daripada ber iri hati. Sekarang semua kalangan di tempat umum gue lihat oke-oke aja keluarin hp Samsung mereka yang gede bener di tengah jalan. Ditengah jalan pun banyak orang nunduk dengan autis ngeliatin hp nya.

Jaman semakin berubah. Sudah semakin banyak kalangan bawah yang masuk kelas-menengah. Apalagi dengan adanya akses Internet, informasi apapun akan lebih mudah untuk didapati. Wawasan pun jadi luas, pengetahuan pun bertambah, dan bangsa yang pintar adalah bangsa yang maju. Dengan mengecilnya jarak jenjang sosial diantara kalangan atas, bawah, dan tengah, maka taraf hidup pun akan meningkat. Penduduk berkecukupan, bangsa pun akan aman.

Mungkin dampak smartphone atas keamanan bangsa belom banyak berperan, tapi negara ini sudah menuju arah yang lebih baik.

PS: Kalo di daerah yang agak kumuh atau buruk ya jangan bebal keluarin hp sembarangan toh.. Akal sehat.

[williamharjanto]

Breathe

Breathe in. Breathe out. Just watch your breathing. Take a minute or two not to worry about your life or your problems and just breathe in and out. The way the air goes through your nostrils and into your lungs, and how it goes back out seamlessly through your nostrils again. Breathe in again, but try holding your breath for a few seconds and observe your body carefully. Do it once, then twice, then just keep going.

That very moment when you breathe, each moment, is all we have really. We get caught up in all the worries in life: work, family, spouse, friends, health, wealth; it’s endless. Try breathing and look inside. Wherever you go the only constant thing you bring is yourself. Learn to live with you. Breathe.

[williamharjanto]

People get tired

...too easily.

The results you expect are proportionate to the effort you put in. And most people just don't want to put in the work. Discomfort is uncomfortable but necessary.

I've heard people complain about rich people who seem to have everything spooned ever since. No. You don't know the story behind the hard work and effort they put in to reach the amount of wealth or power they have achieved. The sleepless nights and perseverance. The patience. The determination. The focus.

Don't rest. Take a break, but push on. Forward.

[williamharjanto]

Jack of all trades

My mother’s little brother, or uncle as we call it, told me once: “A guy needs to be able to do everything.” He was a handy guy who was able to do everything from cooking, fixing cars, tinkering with sound-systems, painting, swimming, dancing, seducing, and more.

But there’s a problem. He didn’t master any of those. He could do everything but he wasn’t an expert in any one field.

It got me thinking, the greats of this world didn’t arrive there by being a jack-of-all-trades. They all had one thing they had mastered or created, to be remarkable. Above others. Indispensable.

Imagine if Michael Jordan stopped midway and started his career in Baseball or Golf early. He wouldn’t have been the Basketball great we all know today.

Knowing your way around everything, a man should be. But to become an indispensable great, world-class, remarkable, you will have to be master at one thing. Become an expert beyond all means in that one field. And successful you shall be.

[williamharjanto]

Commercial with a conscience

Creatives often have the dilemma between creating commercial work or one that sticks to "true" art and ideals.

I had a chat with @VeHandojo today and I realised that it doesn't matter. It's a never ending argument. It all goes back to what you enjoy most and the willingness to sacrifice either money or your soul (some feel that being commercial is like making a contract with the devil). Ve's production company aims to create in a year either 2-3 commercial movies that is profitable, and 1 idealistic movie that might not sell. And that's okay. Ve makes good money and he doesn't feel like he's sold his soul. He also boils it down to communicating with the market. No use creating an idealistic art but not being able to communicate with the mass. And to be realistic, at least aim for a way to breakeven your work to the production costs. A person's gotta eat.

If you enjoy doing it and don't mind sacrificing more money, then do it. Don't fight against your values. But be realistic. You have to eat, you have to pay the bills.

Be commercial with a conscience.

[williamharjanto]

21

I’m officially a Blackjack. For my 21st birthday, I want to share twenty-one things I’ve learned along the way:

Lead and make decisions. Take initiative in every situation possible.

Talk to everyone and treat everybody the same.

The world does not revolve around you. Don’t be too self-conscious about what others think.

Money is important. Work hard on your career or business so you have the peace of mind for the more important things in life.

Aim to be the person who buys lunch for others, not the other way around.

When you say you’re going to do something, do it.

Success only comes to those who give 110% in everything.

All the troubles and struggles you went through in the past made you the person you are today.

Nothing worth having comes easily.

People who wake up early have more opportunities.

Meditate.

Read books and educate yourself constantly.

Don’t spend too much time on social networks. Get off Facebook.

No more excuses. You’re better off using the time to improve the situation.

Shut up and exercise.

Dress well. Looking stylish says a lot about who you are and how you value yourself to others.

We are all salespeople, whether it’s selling products, services, or our skills and expertise. Learn to do sales, it’s essential.

Don’t be too picky.

Spend more time with your family and friends. As in more, more and more. Keep in touch constantly.

Find a significant other that can support and encourage you towards your goals.

Take it easy and have fun.

[williamharjanto]

Washing Dishes

I used to hate washing dishes. It's tiresome, time-consuming, oily, icky, you-name-it. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all used disposable plates and cutleries?

No.

It struck my mind one day when I was doing the routine dishwashing after a meal. I know that I have to do it, but why? This is a menial task and I have better things to do. Great leaders didn't have to do this. Why should I even have to bother?

I was wrong.

The fact that washing dishes is the most basic task you can do after yourself, is the fact that makes it important. If doing such a quick and easy task bothers you, how will you handle the larger and complex tasks in life? If you don't put your whole attention into cleaning up the most simple task after yourself, how will you challenge the bigger obstacles ahead?

I've met successful people who started at the very bottom and they fostered their growth with the self-discipline and heart into everything they do, including the most smallest, mundane, and easiest task available. No complaints. Just doing it well one thing at a time. That's where they built their character and mental habits to succeed.

That plate better be clean without any stains or leftovers, because if it isn't, it shows how you treat other things in life.

Now go do your dishes without excuses.

[williamharjanto]

Passion

I like Alanda and Ryan's views on passion. “What is the activity that will make you feel like dying if you are forbidden to do it for the rest of your life?” Some people are fortunate (and have put forth the effort) to pursue their passion and dreams. But passion isn't everything. Passion isn't the key to success. If it was, every aspiring musician, actor, filmmaker, or writer would have succeeded. Justin Bieber started from YouTube by posting videos of himself singing; doesn't mean everyone on YouTube will end up like him. It takes a certain blend of skills, smarts, effort, personality, and networking. But if you've been in the business for years and years, you better have passion. You'll get worn out and depressed because business ain't easy if you're not doing what you love. People will give up. They will be sad to leave, but relieved it's over. And that's fine. It happens all the time. Only those with passion will persevere and carry on amidst the hardships. Because when the lowest point hits you, that's when passion kicks in. It gives you the drive to go on because you're doing something that you identify with yourself. Something you can't live without.

[williamharjanto]

Seven Dangers to Human Virtue

I love this.

Gandhi has definitely understood and foreseen the autonomy of a balanced and harmonious society. There needs to be a boundary drawn to give every modern human the knowledge to understand their limits in a world where us humans coexist.