Life is all about choices; from office boy to vice president

Life is all about choices. We often hear this quote in our life. But, what does it mean? It means that I, you, we have a choice to live our life. We can choose which behavior and which reaction that we would give as our respond. We can choose to be a victim or to be a person who has control and do better. It’s our choice how we live our life. Everything in our life is a result of our choice. When you read this blog, I absolutely believe that it happened because you’ve made a choice to visit my blog and read it.

At this precious moment, I want to share a story about a man who taught me how  this quotes applies in our life. Have you ever see this man before?

I know him at 2007, when we have the same project at one training provider. Even though he is not as familiar as motivator like andri wongso, tung desem, Mario teguh, but for me he is a real motivator. His name is Houtman Z arifin, He was born in a poor family. When he is at senior high school, his father got serious illness. They really had nothing, but spirit. He can say “Oh God..why you do this to me, rather then said it he choose to said “It’s enough, I need to do something for my family. Blaming fate will not change anything”. Without further hesitation, he came to his friend to find some loan . with With only 2.000 Rupiah that he borrowed from his friend, he became a jewelry merchant selling fake jewelry.

But life is so hard, a street enforcement officers came and kick all the jewelry that he sell, his money throwaway. He was shock and can’t say a word. He told to himself, I don’t want to be like this forever. One day he was making his first critical choice, pursuing as many opportunities as he could for a better career. He create his resume and began submitting job applications to every nearby big and tall building that he could see.

Luckily, he was accepted to work in Citibank as Office Boy, the the lowest position in the company hierarchy with main job to clean office, toilet, and any other rooms in the building . Every time he finished his main job, he offered a hand to help the staff, even only for throwing garbage or help the staffs and employees to buy some food. When helping the employee and staffs, he always asked the staffs to teach him some banking stuff. Due to his sincerity in offering the employees some helps, the employees were willing to help him and teach him some basic banking. Although it was very confusing material for him to think about, but he tried to learn it. He always believed that “If I want to succeed, I need to learn”. With this behavior, can you imagine what he became after 19 years? What position he will be? Coordinator of Office Boy? Manager? Or what?

The answer was like a tale. An office boy who has nothing but lowly high school degree, and could not speak English, in the end managed to secure of the finest position in Citibank. Ya…after 19 years, He became the Vice-President of Citibank in Indonesia. It was the highest position in Indonesia because the president Director was located in Citibank America.

How about us? After working 19 years at office, can we achieve the highest position at our office? May be..if we have strong determination like Mr.Houtman and if we are dare to choose that path.

As a conclusion, I want to say that in every situation there are always choices, even though when we face a dark sky. it is up to us whether we want to stay at the same place or move into the light side.

Noted: I deliver this story at Toastmaster, 07 January 2016.  I hope by sharing this story, every participant can get insight to be a better person, especially for myself. Amin….

Here are some picture when I deliver this story: