Last night, I was surprised knowing that my online business was one of the nominees in BubuAwards v.0.7 for e-commerce category. Though I was not the winner, the fact that my web was nominated was beyond my expectation.
I remember that I submitted my presentation on the last minutes and had to struggle with the submitting problem. My husband and I thought that the uploading system provided by the committee was not reliable so many participants encountered problem. As I wasn’t pretty sure that my presentation reached them, then I sent it directly via email to the person in charge. Yet, I was not contacted. I was not informed on the further steps.
I assumed that my presentation was failed and therefore didn’t expect anything. One day before the awarding night, I received an invitation to attend a seminar held by bubuawards and Idbyte where prominent speakers from Google, E Bay, Linked In, Facebook, Kaskus convened together and spoke about the digital industry. I also got another invitation to attend the awarding ceremony in the evening, still in the same day.
We, my husband and I, went to the seminar. However, I was reluctant to attend the award night because it did not interest me at all. As I told you before, I was pessimistic that my presentation would be successful. My husband insisted that we had to go there just in case we’re nominated or even be the winner.
In the evening, finally we went to the awarding ceremony. We sat on the back. Once the list of nominee was announced, I was surprised that my online business was there on the screen. However, I did not win. It was okay because our target was only be one of the nominees. We just want that this business resounds in the online business in Indonesia. Our main objective is that the judges, consisted of experts in online business and digital industry, know and recognize us. And become the nominee of BubuAwards, has a marketing and public relation value of which very important for us who doesn’t have dedicated marketing budget.
Big thing starts with the small one
That wisdom really relates to my personal experiences. I have been living in this world and I still have a faith that I need to work hard to get something. If people see my life runs so smooth, I assume I must be very expert revealing my bright sides. They may not know that I am friend of hardships. So many hardships that I’ve ever met and they make me unbreakable. People may try to hit me, but I always stay strong both in attitude and mind.
My mother teaches me how to survive. She crawled out of hardship and pursues what she wants. She is always consistent on what she’s doing. She always stays on her passion. In this case, I think my mum is the lucky one as she’s always hand in hand with her passions; journalism and broadcasting. And now she harvests the yield. She’s woman on top. She started with small and now enjoys her big things:)
I have been living for 28 years in this world. I celebrated my birth day on last 18 of May. From 1 to 10, I mark my life on 8. I am happy and I want to be happier. I learn a lot and I still want to learn more things. I got achievement but I want some more. I was small tiny creature and born from my mother’s womb. Her cares and values are the guidance in my life when I grow up. I am inspired by her attitude, her struggle, and her spirit. My mum is my heroine who never stops praying for me, for my life and for my new family. She is very glad and enthusiastic with my new life phase, starting with my marriage and then my motherhood. Many thing she tells me and I do appreciate it. I am her big big girl now. I always be her little girl, no matter how old I am.
I am happy….
Because I can share my experience on parenting with my friends who just entered their new motherhood life. We discuss about rational use of medicine, on how conducting home treatment for kiddos, on what illness that can be cured without medicine, on how to stimulate toddler to walk, on teaching them how to brush their teeth, on how face picky-eating kiddos.
I am happy..
As I can share my home-made food recipe for kiddos. Yeah, I love to modify with the recipes. And I can’t be happier if I my friends can try it too and their kids love it. I was also a winner in recipe creation competition powered by a mailing list where I am a member.
I am happy…
For now I can employ some people and they are so dedicated. I am glad that I all of them are now economically empowered. One of my employees now is attending college. She takes the weekend class. My hubby and I support her as we see that she has a potential to be a leader in whatever she does. It seems that the virus disseminating to other staff. Hopefully another staff will soon attend night-class college:)
I am happy….
Since I have a happy small family. A growing-healthy-chubby-smart son and a supportive-hilarious-caring husband really make my life. I am happy as I now I have strong interest in baking. I bake almost every week. The cake I successfully baked were cheese cake, muffin, banana cake, tape (sweet-sour fermented cassava) cake. Today I plan to bake brownies as a companion of our fast breaking. Ssttt…I am looking forward to attending sushi course. Later I will update!
What’s your happiness?
Watching The King’s Speech makes me thinking how it is really related with everybody’s problem: public speaking. Of course the King George VI had a very serious speech defect but still public speaking frightens everybody.
I have been kinda obsessed to have a very good public speaking skill. Just this afternoon, I read a status of a friend in one of the social network. She wrote: is there any correlation between being nervous with speech of speaking. Hmmm..that question provokes my respond. For me: there is. Either people will talk faster or even slower when they have to speak in front of public. Which one you belong? As for me, I will speak faster with higher pitch:D
Back to my obsession, why I think I should master the public speaking skill? Well in my opinion that of course will help me to deliver speech properly, with good intonation and good body language. Speaking in front of the mass or crowd is not a new thing for me. Since in high school, I took part as committee in almost all school event. I was the vice president in school student organization so I was familiar with the situation. But still those experience haven’t helped me much.
What is the hardest thing when we deliver speech? It’s beating the nervousness. I really remembered the first time I came to toastsmasters meeting. At that time, I was a guest who was invited to give a speech in table topic session. This session was designed to provoke one’s ability to give a speech without preparation. I came to the stage and was given a situation where I had to present in front of the investors about the situation in Canada. Why they should invest their money there. That didn’t run smoothly, I reckon. Okay, I am good in English but I was really nervous at that time. That was my first visit and asked to give a speech of topic that I never heard before.
Joining toastmasters has given me enlightenment about public speaking. The senior members, who have completed level as competent communicator, speak fluently. The way they deliver the speech in front of the public really encourages me to be able to speak like them someday. I have completed my second project. It’s still a long way to go need to complete 10 projects to be qualified as competent communicator. Of course, the title isn’t merely the thing I want to pursue as for me doing the upcoming project will give me chances to practice and practice and at the end my skill will be sharpened.
Woww….January almost ends. I still feel the energy and optimism to go on another months coming. Hopefully they will be increasing and increasing until the end of the year.
This January is so special for me. There are several reasons why.
First, I could accomplish my first speech at Jakarta Toastmaster Club. It took some times to deliver the speech since I joined the club at the end of 2010. Joining this club is something I am always excited. The atmosphere is so positive. The member? Don’t ask. They are very energetic and I learn a lot from them. The way how senior members deliver their speech in English smoothly really provokes me to improve my public speaking skill. Now I am about to deliver my second project. I am so excited!
Second, my lovely sunshine, Avicena a.k.a Supercun celebrated his first birthday. I am super mommy who’s very proud with my motherhood. The child really completes my happiness. Following my resignation from Telkomsel last September, I can do many things. I cook, try new recipe, go to gym, read more books, and of course play with Cena. He’s a warmhearted boy I adore. I love him so much. And being with him time by time is my ultimate achievement.
Third, after experiencing kinda dis-confident situation my English skill, I finally regain my confidence back. I got satisfying score in my last IELTS test. With the score, I can be categorized as a good user. Yippieee
I look forward to accomplishing many things in February. Will keep you posted!
2010 almost ends. These recent days were colored by many incidents and moments. Last night we just watched the fight of our soccer team against Malaysia. Despite Indonesia’s winning, we still failed to be entitled the cup due to the goal aggregate. Many days before last night, people were queuing to get the final ticket. Not easy. However, they were more willing to line sneaking to get the ‘passport’. It isn’t sugar coating that the nationalism emerging among us is the best thing to close the year. We share something important. We have this game to show that we’re proud of being an Indonesian. We forget the hurtful moments along 2010. It seems that we’re so optimized with this final game. Putting asides the issue of overexposing, we just want this game for us. And that it is, even the team was failed, we still give our pride on them.
The 2011 is nearly coming. I really learn that 2010 has been running so fast. I remember that a year ago I was waiting to deliver a baby. And next January, he will celebrate his first anniversary. His delivery to the world is the best thing ever happened to me this year. Growing and nurturing him even is much better. Because of him, I dared to take an important decision in my life. Yes, I quit from my nicely-paid job. Starting from September, I became a mompreneur, a mummy who is taking full responsibility of her son and manages a business from home. Resignation, definitely, wasn’t included in my 2010 resolution because early that year I never imagined that I could make this move. I am just happy that I had a courage to do so. My time now is nicely manageable as I can do the business at home while taking care of my son assisted by a nanny. But most of my time is dedicated to him. I can bath him and feed him as often as I want.
I am very optimistic with the next year that I plan many things to achieve. In some targets, I really put my effort because I want to gain the best result. I can do many things now and that simply makes me satisfied.
Some people love to write down their resolution, whereas some others prefer to leave them alone in mind or letting the year passing by. Well, whatever option that you belong, I’d like to say “happy new year”.
In this modern age, internet undoubtedly becomes a inseparable part of our life. The presence of this web-space is really helpful. It supplies us with any kind information we need. Previously, we were striving for the information. But now, the information itself that comes to us. What a lucky generation us.
The existence of web, mailing list or other forum based in web-space are the 24-hours available saviors of us. From my experience, I conceive that the internet is really helpful me as a new mother. More than one years ago, even before I was pregnant, I had joined a mailing list in which I could find smart parents who concerned about healthy, especially children’s health. From that mailing list, I start being familiar with the term Rational Use of Medicine (RUM). Once have a baby, a friend of mine introduced me with The Urban Mama. Well I think the site is not only useful in providing information, but also expanding our network as well. And I love that the members are called smart parents or smart mums and smart dads.
And now, as a new mother, my son is 11 month old, I am really inundated by information from my mother, my mother in law, my grandma, and other relatives who are more experienced in nurturing and growing a baby. The information has been being passed generation by generation. For me it’s similar with the local wisdom which to some extent is irrational. For example, we must wrap our baby tightly so the feet will stay firm. Another ridiculous myth is breastfeeding mum is not allowed to eat spicy food or drink ice as it will make the breast milk potential harmful for the baby.
By joining The Urban Mama forum, I know I can easily verify that information. Whether it’s a fact that should be paid attention or merely a myth that we can put aside. Just open The Urban Mama’s site and I can find abundant information and experience especially those relate to pregnancy, breastfeeding or chidlren’s growth. Even, several smart mums I find are promoting their online shop. This is fantastic because The Urban Mama empowers mums both by verified knowledge and leverage to earn living. In my opinion the urban mama is an empowering website.
Another thing I like most from The Urban Mama is the product review. I do remember when for the first time I knew about the doidy cup. I must haven’t known about that cute-helpful drinking device if i didn’t read it in The Urban Mama. And then, I bought two items of doidy cup for my son, Avicena, and of course I bought it from The Urban Mama’s member who manages her online shop. Smart choice for smart mums. In some chances, I also joined the quiz, yet never won any. It’s okay. Maybe it wasn’t my luck:D
In conclusion, with all useful information it provides, The Urban Mama is one of knowledge resource for me. As a new mummy, I want to give the best things for my son, just like other mummy out there. My decision isn’t wrong as I find more joy joining this site as I get knowledge and fun at once. Bravo The Urban Mama!!!
This September isn’t like typical previous September. For me it’s special, a month when I am officially quitting from my job at one of cellular company in Indonesia. My decision shocked many people, starting from my manager, my GM, my colleagues and of course, my parents. Well, frankly speaking, it wasn’t an easy decision. Not a few say that I must be crazy letting go this job, which every body pursues. However, this is a firm decision.
I had considered many things before coming to this point, ever since I was pregnant. My wish to stay at home with the kid and run the job from home is very compelling. Having discussed with my hubby, I decided to resign and proposed my resignation letter to my manager on July. She was surprised and offered me an unpaid leave just in case I wanted to join the company again. However, I declined it.
For me this is not a regretful decision. On the contrary, this is a liberating one. I am just lucky that I am dare to take this step. Quitting a settled job is hard, you know. However, I believe I will get the pay-off. Being closer to Avicena, my son, is the ultimate thing. While nursing the kid, I can focus to my new business (pssstt….I am a newbie of entrepreneur now) and sharpen my other skills. For the later I manage to take some short courses.
To sum up, I’d like to quote what Michelle Obama said about her decision…..
The career doesn’t define me. What I am doing defines me. I am a mother and wife
May Allah show his ways and makes everything easy for me:)
It’s been so long that I haven’t written anything down in this blog. Well…i was quite inundated with new-mommy-related chores for the last several months. Yeaahh I am mommy now.
Thanks to Allah that finally i could deliver my baby boy in the world. After struggling for more or less sixteen hours..yeap sixteen hours, my baby was born in the world in spontaneous labor. I can’t be happier. I really really enjoy my life phase, being single, married and now happy with a very cute boy:p
It’s not easy for the first time nurturing the baby. First, I didn’t get my resilience back after laboring, so staying awake until late of night was very hard for me. However, my love for my baby is bigger than any reluctance of my eyes to open. Yes my bay is so adorable. His name is Ogilvy Aksara Avicena. I call him Cena.
Another important thing for Cena, and for baby around the world is breast milk. Since the very first time, I have insisted to breastfeed Cena exclusively for about six months. Nothing is much better for babies than breast milk during their first six months. Neither formula nor additional food. As a working mommy, this is becoming a big challenge. Long before entering to the office, I expressed the milk and kept them in the refrigerator. This is for back up in any case the milk that I express when I am in the office isn’t sufficient. But Alhamdulillah, the milk that I get every time I am at the office is enough for my baby.
And now, Cena is getting closer to six months old. I am so excited. The next step is preparing the additional food for him. I will tell you the story later.
Okay…enough for now. See you in the next posting:)
Waiting for delivery day makes me excited and nervous at the same time. Knowing that I’m going to have my little miracle can’t make me happier. It feels like I’m on the top of the world. Everyday, I talk to my baby, letting him know that I am always ready whenever he wants to come out. I am asking several friends about their labor condition. The answers varied. Some say it’s hurt but it’s okay, but some others say it’s very nice. I do believe that everybody has her own experience. As for me, I strongly believe that when my active labor comes, it will be very nice and comfortable.
I keep suggesting myself that my experience will be the enjoyable and comfortable one. According to my instructor at hypnobirthing training, our body resembles a computer. However, our body is a bio-computer; a live-computer. We can set the program that’s installed in our body. What we assume is what our body will feel. Therefore, if we assume that the labor is nice and comfortable, then it will be felt by our body. To sum up, keep thinking positively on what we are going to face on the labor day. Put aside worry and anxiety in our mind. Keep focusing that everything will be okay and we can endure any condition.
Besides that mental attitude, we should keep practicing our body so our endurance will be positively maintained until the delivery time comes. It’s very important for a pregnant mummy to do exercise on regular basis as it will be very useful in labor day. The well-exercised muscle is one of important key of successful delivery. Walking and swimming can be a good choice of exercise for pregnant mummy. The importance of the sufficient-healthy food intake should not be underestimated. More vegetables and fruits are highly recommended.
Pregnancy is an amazing thing and the baby that we carry withing is very priceless and precious. Nothing we can do but enjoy and be grateful of it. It really completes my nature as a woman:)