It’s not every week that I feel satisfied with all the movies I am watching, so I am happy this week. I love all three of them, they are unexpectedly really nice.

Granted, I didn’t go to the movies with high expectation, because of the mixed reviews of Whip It and An Education, and sometimes a movie doesn’t really have the same resonance with me like reflected in a gushing review. I had been reading reviews and watching movies since I was in junior high to understand that they can really differ.

But oh, the story and the scenery, the tragedy, the tears, and emotional depth of Balibo!

The romance, the disappointments, the high life, the short cuts, the glamorous world of Francophiles of An Education.

The parents-children dynamics, the hardwork, the competition action, the comedy of Whip It.

Really been a pleasure to watch and escape to for a while, and with soundtracks to boot too!

I am reading a few of Karen Armstrong books which totally rock my world: The Great Transformation, The History of God, and Muhammad: A Western Attempt to Understand Islam.

Book reviews coming up.

I am also writing a novel at the moment. Yeayyy!!!

According to the writer (Paul Keegan) who road-test the principles given by these gurus, David Allen’s principle is the most useful, Loehr is the most energising, and Covey’s the most profound. These of course have a lot to do with what each of them are trying to focus on.

Allen’s tagline for instance is “think small: get the details under control”, suggesting that they offer practical steps. Meanwhile Covey’s key concept is “Create a vision, set goals, and then plan weekly and daily.” The writer thinks it’s great to find what to do, but not really how to do it. It’s not enough. It’s profound because it deals with the why of things: the deep stuff. Whereas Jim Loehr’s principle is to manage your energy, not your time. This is obviously a more physical approach. Indeed, in his workshop, the participant is asked to do a lot of work outs to increase energy level.

What Works: Allen’s small detail focus works great for him. “Getting Things Done” as the program is named, is really helping one to do so. Firstly, he focuses on our work station: our runway. Until that space is cleared, and we have a good work flow, we can’t really take off to higher altitude. Hmm. Make sense. So how do clear our desk space? File everything. “In”, “Read/Review”, files emails in folders, and use the Five Step System: Collect, Process (either throw it away, file it, or put it on a list of “Maybe/Someday”), Organise (various to do list organised by context: e.g. @home, @office, @calls, @emails), Review (review your to do lists, to know where you are now), and Do (decide which task to do according to your energy level, gut feelings, urgency, time available.) This process is called “Distributed Cognition” in which you distribute organisation to a trusted system instead of your mind/brain: this will free brain space to focus on the task in front of you right now, to dream, to visualise, and to think. Ultimately, you’d need to set goals for next year or two, creating a vision of life, and pondering your life’s ultimate purpose.

Loehr’s is more energising (than the Allen’s method who is rather draining): get three cardio and two resistance training a week, eating three light meals and two snacks a day, get seven to eight hours sleep a night, and take a break from work every two hours. The result, said Keegan, is rather astonishing.

I guess for optimum results, you have to do that: combining all of these methods. Covey’s deep stuff of what is you imagine your purpose is (spiritual sense), combined with practical and meticulous, detailed stuff of Getting Things Done by Allen (mental), and keeping your energy abundant and intact Loehr’s style (physical sense).

I am checking out my Strategic Management’s lecturer’s blog (his name is Mr. Andre Sammartino) , which is called International Business and Strategy Blog . The life of an academic can sound really cool and nice for me: just hours on the office sitting during research and writing, preparing power point slides and notes and handouts,  lecturing and marking papers written by students, giving them a list of readings, and then asking them about whether they understand and discuss about it, and then flying off to some overseas or outside town for conferences and all in the name of research. What a good life. =) His blog is on international aspect of business, internationalisation, international business/economy/retailing, and strategic management.

From his blog, I also get a link to Robert Salomon blog, who is an Assoc Prof in Management at Stern School of Business, NYU (I believe this is the almamater of Jared Koshner – the guy who got Ivanka Trump converting to Judaism because if she wants to get serious with him and that’s the only way it’s gonna work out, owner of the New York Observer at the age of 25, and a kid of real estate mogul with Jewish Orthodox background). Robert Salomon blog is also along on the same lines: he studies how business enters international markets and the process they go through for internationalisation.

Meanwhile, Rita McGrath from Columbia Business School studies entrepreneurship, innovation, and corporate venturing. Her blog is called Dynamic Strategies and talks about leadership and human resources issue.

If I read them often enough, I may just be stimulated enough to start Semester 2 in high spirit.

This 2009, is a year of party for Indonesia (pun totally intended.) Democracy party, if you like. Parliamentary election came and went and made some chaos, and then it’s not done. More chaos are due with the first round Presidential election. After many many potential parliament members did suicide or attempted suicide because of nervous breakdown, stress, and financial loss that was just so overwhelming, now the President himself, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is admitting he’s feeling like he’s being attacked from all direction and it’s really hurting his feelings.

Controversy #1:   the spokeperson who is too outspoken.

Andi Mallarangeng from SBY campaign team, told the mass at Makassar, which is Jusuf Kalla’s (another Presidential candidate) base, that it’s not time for someone from the province to lead a nation like Indonesia. This provoked a big reaction from people in the North Sulawesi province, and they held big protests on his statement: they even went so far as putting up posters like,

“Andi Mallarangeng HARAM.”

When an authority figure from Makassar appeared in a TV news show to tell about his objections, Mr. Mallarangeng was there to say this back to him:

“I know that people in Makassar are already choosing Jusuf Kalla and they are worried that this would sway or change their opinion…”

a statement which was of course replied:

“No, no, it’s not about who we choose…it’s about the implied racism in the statement! We think that people from all states and provinces in Indonesia are capable and can lead this nation.”

The mature man in Mr. Mallarangeng would have admit that it’s not in his place to say something like that, let go of  his pride and apologise. That is all what they want. But of course my dear, what is politics without inflated egos? Or, to be more precise, what is politics without smooth talking, news-spinning,  self-defending,  inflated ego?

Controversy # 2: The Undemocratic Election Ad Campaign

A citizen social group made an advertisement saying that surveys showed SBY and his running mate will win with large margin in one round of election, so let’s try to make this happen, to save the country’s money in election. Yes, it will save a lot of money. But democratically, c’mon, people from these groups, they ought to know that this is not the way you pursue someone to choose a president. It’s like back in the Soeharto era, except back then there is no such thing like survey and pollings. Everyone just take it for granted that we only have one leader. Why the hell bother?

This was shot by JK during presidential debate:

“So, if you are chosen, and after 5 years, will you say again: “don’t need election again, let’s just let me in again, to save the country’s money!”

SBY then rebutted that it was not his official advertisement and JK shot back saying

“Oh then it’s illegal advertisement. Cos only candidates can release an official election ad! “

When the Head of the LSM (Lembaga Sosial Masyarakat) who created the ad in favor of SBY was protested by the JK campaign team on TV, he said:  Well, one round is faster and doesn’t you say “the faster, the better?” (that is the main slogan of JK campaign) and the JK campaign team rep flipped like crazy:

“OH COME ON. Don’t be like a prostitute, goes to wherever is the more suitable.”

The truth is, (in my opinion, hahha) he was raged because this guy used a perfect comeback: using an enemy’s weapon to kill the enemy. Oh oh who ever thought there will be so much drama? Who needs reality TV indeed, when you’ve got a presidential election.

Controversy # 3: The “Pity-Me-Everyone’s-Attacking-me-with-black-magic” Statement from the President.

Basically, during a sermon at a mosque, that is what SBY was saying. Of course without the Pity Me part. He was saying that, to make a point that by remembering Allah it really helps to defend oneself from this black magic and indeed it is the only thing that helps. The Pity me part only came later, from an interpretation of the rivals of course: JK WIN and Mega Pro campaign team.

“Gosh, as a President he shouldn’t say that, it’s just to evoke sympathy and feelings. Pity me, I am bombarded by enemies. We as campaign team we would never resort to that kind of tools. It is not in his place that in this day and age he still believes in black magic.”

Well for me I have no doubt whatsoever that Black Magic are sometimes being directed to SBY, by whoever it is. C’mon he’s such an influential figure, and face it, Indonesians, are very superstitious bunch who are still familiar with the notion of “Black Magic.” My friend was a witness of this in her office. Now they made it seem like such a big deal, oh wow…sby talks about black magic. what the hell? this is still common practice for some people and most people still believe in its strength anyway!

Controversy # 4: The Double Listing of Names, The listing of underaged voters, and all fingers pointed to SBY and his Election Committee: something is not right!

I would not comment on this thing because people who commented are just 1) very worried about how it affect their votes, and 2) does not have any slightest idea whatsoever, what is it like to be the Committee. Indonesia is a very big nation and trying to tame its numbers in democracy event with 100 per cent accuracy is like trying to be God: you ain’t gonna get there and people need to be more understanding of the Election Committee. They are probably tired, working overtime, and need rest. Doesn’t people are supposed to tolerate human errors?? They really should not have to make it a big issue, other than issue of more attention and better work performance from the human resources at the heart of the Election Committee team.

The Indonesian Presidential Election is on this Wednesday, 8th of July.

I am still quite torn after reading several magazines, each candidate’s online campaign, and listening to TV coverage and twice national television debates. Yet I don’t want to miss the chance and don’t vote for anyone.  I am still undecided, and I have about 1 day to decide. Guess what? I’ll sleep on it.  But the thing is if I just sleep on it too the next night, I am not gonna know who to tick at the box…Ah, ain’t election (could be) a pain in the ass…

Only the major industries are covered in the Wage Survey 2009 though: Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Telecommunications, Information Technology, Pharmacy, Banking, Oil-Gas (Natural resources), Logistics, Insurance and Farming.

The ranks listed are Officer (2, 5 – 8 million), Junior Manager (5-30 million), Manager (10-50 million), Senior Manager (20-80 million), Director (35-130 million), and CEO (80-250 million).

The Main Feature section of the magazine includes an article on how to be head hunted by many companies written by Henni T. Soelaeman. This article is sourced by interviews with successful executives from many companies who have been offered jobs by headhunters, and human resource practitioners.

The idea is that how do you become very impressive and thus very notable in the company and the industry you’re working for, that people you have worked with recommend your name to the people whose job is to hook up companies with great people who would work for them.

These people include Sandy Lumi (Country Manager Commercial Business Lenovo Indonesia), Pieter (Director and Country Manager Dell Indonesia), Muhammad Buldansyah (Deputi Presdir PT Bakrie Telecom), Ridwan Zharie (Direktur Risk and Compliance Recapital), Martini Soejatno (VP Direct Sales PT Bakrie Telecom), Liza Lindaningsih (Presiden Direktur PT Asuransi Jiwa Recapital, Antonius Widyatma Sumarlin (Presiden Direktur PT Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi Tbk.), Wishnutama (Presiden Direktur TransTV).

What they have to say is quite a common sense, really, but a common sense that we need to constantly remind ourselves with.

Sandy Lumi suggests improving yourself with books, seminar and going through many training. This will enhance your creativity in dealing with problems. Pieter suggests learning on the jobs – practical applications are very good teacher to keep increase your capability, experience, and understanding on the industry and problem solving. Meanwhile, Muhammad Buldansyah asserts that an open mind is essential. You need to read a lot of books when dealing with a new job, talk to your seniors and discuss things with people around you. If your boss is smart, then good you can learn a lot from them. If your boss is not smart, then good you will have a chance to move up the ranks and replace them.

The key to achieving good performance, according to these people, are essentially the same: exceed the company’s expectations. This is mentioned by Liza Lindaningsih (who continually exceeded the company’s target of sales during her time in PT. Aetna Life Indonesia and PT Asuransi Jiwa Recapital), Muhammad Buldansyah, Wishnutama and Antonius Widyatma Sumarlin. They all shared the same experience of how exceeding the company’s expectations and target will bring its own rewards that are unforeseen.

Liza Lindaningsih says she always give the best of herself and dedicate intensive efforts and time for that. She says “always do the best or not at all.” Wishnutama said that while perfection is God’s thing, aiming to be perfect is a human being’s obligation. Emirsyah Satar also expresses this in another article on the C-League player profile: “Good is not good when better is expected.”

Next, you have to be prepared to keep improving yourself and participated in training in order to update your skills and capability. Liza, for example, had amassed a significant number of formal and non-formal education through certifications, conferences, and leadership training and seminar. In addition, she is now preparing for online examination to get a certification on life assurance profession from an unnamed institution in the United States. Martini Soejatno also emphasise this learning and updating oneself in the industry they work in as an essential quality to survive and make impression.

Election 2009? Will write.
Social entrepreneurship and its rise? Will cover.
The notable gap between the luxury brands resurgence and the living situations in Jakarta? For sure!
The lessons gained on business experiences by various business moguls (as I read it in books, internet, and various business magazines I have collected)? No doubt on that.

Welcome to the world where learning consists of rewriting the ideas observed and heard and read in order to cement the understanding.