Chasing Dreams

In the life of business building one often gets lost. It is too easy to fall into traps of wrong-doings and despair. When the sky is the limit, the ground isn't usually the lowest. People come up with various theories and concepts to encourage and push themselves up ranks. Because the front lines of product and service provision depends highly on first impressions, many devise ingenious ways to stay ahead of competitors. 

The Outlookers 

Outlookers are obsessed with things that make them look successful. They 'invest' in expensive cuff links, coats, belts and shoes to make themselves look presentable to clients. They believe the Mont Blanc emblem peeking out of the breast pocket gives confidence to their clients. They also believe driving luxurious cars give them optimum first impressions. Their slogan is: " Our clothing and car is our shop and sign board. The better we look, the more returning customers we get."

I think it is nice to live in this alternate reality, where people are actually only concerned with looking good and showing the world they're rich but tell themselves it's important for business. Ultimately, it is our actual service or product that will determine customers' return. However i do believe to some degree, everyone looks at what you drive.

Do-Or-Dies

There are some people out there with the Will of Steel. Their belief is: To Be the Best, First Drop To the Worst. They get into countless amounts of debts with bankers and other funding sources, resorting to eating Roti Canai with Ais Kosong every day. In turn, they believe when a man is pushed to the limit, his true potential will surface and take over. Kind of like Aang and the Avatar State, only more dangerous because this deals with real life and not cartoon characters.

I've witnessed fruit from this method. 2 years into it, he emerges a Millionaire. But I also know for a fact that millions have died failing this path. This method works, but only for the select few. We would all like to think we're the strongest, the most resilient, the toughest. But this method is not for those who think, rather those who know.

Objectivers

Objectivers care about how people look at them. They care about their status or the lack of it, which is why they strive like any other to reach the sky. But the Objectivers are, well, objective in their methods. They always find the best possible way to ensure their money are not placed in items that do not possess real value. Fine, cars help you make money. But how real is it? Objectivers would rather place these money in some form of investment, like Mutual Funds, EPF or shares and bonds. Something that they know will make them more money in return. They may be as successful as the previous two, he may not. He may also be at a disadvantage in providing sufficient First Impressions with his clients. But he knows that when he falls, he will have a safety net protecting him from broken bones and hearts.

Objectivers are safe people. They may make it, they may not. In their position, it is way too easy to fall lazy and lose their goals in life, because their commitments are somewhat minimized. The most difficult task for Objectivers is to wake up every morning and creating false urgency to make more today than yesterday.

Take It Slows

Take It Slows only work when they have to, and only as much as they need to. They're happy with what they have and they do not wish to step up to anything else. If there's money, they'll go for a holiday. If not, they'll stay home. They take a Hundred year housing loan to pay minimum every month, and work every month only enough to make payments and food.

Take It Slows are utter failures in business sense, but they live. The previous people are so concerned with rising up status ladders and making money, they fail to actually live a life. They don't see the people around them. They don't feel the cold air on a good morning. Take It Slows believe life is more than money and Bungalows and Gallardos. As much as I don't want to be a Take It Slow, I somehow understand them very well.

I met a co-agent about a month back. He's well dressed and drives an E-Class Merc. Not too bad, I thought. All that went away once I started working with him on a rental case. When you meet a successful person, there's usually a certain 'air' in his/her presence. The way they talk, the way they walk, the way they comment on something. The confidence and the certainty are there even when they're asking for my expert opinion. They respect people in a way they know people will return more respect to them.

Not with this guy. He has a bad stature. He walks looking down on the floor. He doesn't comment. When he does, he's always uncertain of everything. He promises and forgets them. He has less 'air' in his presence than some Camry owners half his age.

People can force out what ever is it they want, but it will be of no use to them unless they act like one. It's nice to see an agent with a nice car, but when it comes to seeing him actually working, he's not worth even its tires.

Dreams are good. Heck dreams are what keeps all of us alive today. Without them we'll all live pointless existences and eventually die off from boredom. But dreams have to take its course. Force it out, and you better live up to its demands. Or it will all be in vain.