It's Not More Time That We Need

February has been a very busy time for me. First, because I have to travel back to back for 3 weeks within this month. Second, because I'm leading three concurrent projects at the same time for three customers in two different countries. Third, I also need to help the program manager finalizing the CCIE presentations we will be presenting in Cisco Live Melbourne next month. Fourth, since I travel to South Africa and Nigeria I use the opportunity to deliver free CCIE R&S Unofficial session over there. And last but not least, during my busy time I still conduct several free WebEx sessions with technical subjects like IPv6 for Indonesian professionals and students.

Now I'm in Lagos, Nigeria, doing design workshop with the customer. Yes, it's the same place where I have to use armed escort between the airport and the hotel.

I will host CCIE R&S session here this Friday, then while waiting for my flight to Johannesburg next Monday, I will conduct another WebEx session in my native language to discuss the architecture of Cisco ASR9000.

Even the schedule is really tight, I still believe it's not more time that I need. But less distraction. Appreciate and utilize any available time and try not to get distracted easily in order to focus, and one can deliver many things even within a very limited time.

Profit, Passion, Purpose

Tony Hsieh, the visionary CEO of Zappos, in his book Delivering Happiness shares how an emphasis on corporate culture can lead to unprecedented success, based on the different lessons he has learned in business and life.  One thing I took from his book: most of us work to make profit (or financial gain) in mind at the beginning, then move to a state where we want to work on something we are passionate about, and finally reach the last state where we want to contribute to bigger community; to have a higher purpose other than for ourselves.

Tony is not an ordinary CEO. First, he was already damn rich in 1999 when he sold the company he co-founded, LinkExchange, to Microsoft for $265 million. Second, Zappos started the business in online retailer by only selling shoes at that time. You must be wondering, who's on earth would buy shoes online? The answer is the third point, Tony and his team turned Zappos from a small online retailer with no sale, into doing over $1 billion in gross merchandise sales every year, within 10 years. Until today Zappos is still listed as one of Fortune magazine's 100 best companies to work for, and was acquired by Amazon in 2009 in a deal valued at over $1.2 billion on the day of closing.

I'm still far behind what Tony has achieved in life. Right now I still work for a corporate, with mix target between gaining financial stability and working on the field that I like. I'm nowhere near Tony's courage to drop everything he had in life to focus on developing Zappos. Even currently I've been trying to set up something outside my work. But for a while I have felt that I need to do more, I need to do things to fulfill my purpose: to live life to the fullest and at the same time to provide benefits for others whenever I can.

With that in mind, I set my target in 2012 to focus on helping the IT professionals and students from my country so they can be ready to work and to compete in global market, just like what I do now. I will only do the things that I know best: sharing my knowledge and experience to my country men, with hope that they will gain some benefits from it. I can give advice on career and Cisco certification program to the students, and I can share some network design case studies and my project experiences to the professionals.

On the last week of March, after my trip to Melbourne to present at Cisco Live, I'm planning to pass by Indonesia for few days to conduct free session and workshop for students and professionals. So far I've got positive response: there are 4 universities in two cities that are willing to host the session, and there is one training institute that will provide a location in central Jakarta for me to conduct the free 6-hours workshop.

What I will do, you may consider it as a small contribution.
But I consider it just as the first step.

And then what?

You went to the best school in the country. You studied hard competing with many others. And finally you were graduated. And then what?

You got accepted in your first job. You worked hard trying to distinguish yourself from others. And finally you got yourself a promotion. And then what?

You were among the best at work. Suddenly you felt money is not the object anymore. Finally you could afford all the things you always wanted. And then what?

It's a new year and I feel like I haven't done much during the past one year to contribute to the community. For 2012 I set a target to put more focus on helping the professionals and students from my country so they know how to compete in global market too. Expect more WebEx sessions, more writings, more social media, and more knowledge and experience sharing workshops.

The new year's eve has passed. The firework show is over. Those who went out for hangover are already in bed.
And then what?

Happy new year 2012.

Why Would I Hire You?

So you sent me email saying you want to join my company, along with your CV attached or at least with the request asking me to provide my recommendation. It's funny because of three things:

One - I'm not the owner of my current company nor the decision maker in my company's hiring process.
Two - How can I provide recommendation if I never meet or work with you personally? Do you expect me to just blindly believe in everything you said in the email or your CV?
Three - You expect me to provide recommendation but your email contains basic grammatical errors. Your CV can't be read easily, it contains unnecessary information, it doesn't tell who you are, what you are looking for, and what you are capable of, and it contains many spelling mistakes.

Let's just say I was the owner of the company. Or at least I had big influence in company's hiring process. Why would I hire you?

I would hire someone who has better skills than me. So go ahead, impress me.

I would hire someone who has extensive experience in multiple roles. Who has real experience in different type of customers. Who has been in many challenging situations.

I would hire someone who can work with minimum supervision, but at the same time can get along with the team.

I would hire someone who can adapt quickly. Who is open for options. Who's willing to look from another perspective. Technical competency can be built but someone attitude may not change after many years.

I would hire someone who will bring new values to the team. Who comes with different mindset. Who will bring up new and fresh ideas.

But above all, I would definitely hire someone if I could say: Hey, I know you. I have seen your work. And I heard lots of good things about you.

Now you just need to change the question to: why would (insert your dream company name here) hire you?

Good day.

What's Your Story? Version 2

Five weeks ago I was escorted by a vehicle with 3 guys carrying automatic weapons, just to get into Lagos airport.

Four weeks ago I led 10 cars to Fossil Rock in Dubai, and for some it was their first experience desert driving for real.

Then on Sunday morning I took another Emirates flight from Dubai airport.

Reached Vienna, moved to the Schengen side.

Took small airplane to reach Budapest. Thank God, it still really works.

Met and got envious by so many couples in this amazing place.

And watched the time pass by from Danube bank.

But I felt lonely so I know I should spend my weekend somewhere else.

On Thursday three weeks ago I packed my bag and took the train to Bratislava.

Took a budget airline from Letisko airport to...

.. Barcelona! Visited Camp Nou stadium directly, home of FC Barcelona!

Then spent most of the Friday afternoon in Barcelona with the seagulls at Moll de la Fusta.

Time seems to stop moving here.

Probably the best place to have one own time.

Life is like a boat, they said.

I really wished you were here.

 
My first sunset in Barcelona.

It reminded me why I love traveling. I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away.

The next day I spent time from morning to walk around Ribera, Gothic Church, Picasso Museum.

But the most impressive experience was watching the game between FC Barcelona against Racing on Saturday evening, live from Camp Nou stadium with more than 80,000 spectators!

I even stayed outside the parking exit with all other fans, trying to catch the FC Barcelona players driving their Audi home.

The next day on Sunday morning I passed Arc de Triomf before leaving Barcelona.

Then I took Ryan Air flight back to Bratislava.

 
I almost missed my train to Budapest. Got on board a minute before it left, literally.

So two weeks ago I spent another few days in Budapest.

 
Listen to Speak Softly Love on the street.

Took some risk just to make a photo of Budapest tram.

And spent the last night in Budapest at Danube.

Really said goodbye to Budapest when I left through Keleti train station.

Reached Bratislava again.

 
Leaving from Letisko airport again for one last trip before heading home.

On Wednesday night two weeks ago, guess which city map I was checking?

Guess where did I listen to cool song that night?

Rome! It was raining though.

Didn't stop me to walk around.

And climbed the Spanish Steps.

Fontana di Trevi was cleaned up due to the rain.

Good thing the sun started coming up when I went to Vatican.

Felt lost at San Pietro square.

Took the long and impossible stairs to reach the top of the Basilica San Pietro dome.

The view of Vatican city from the top was amazing.

The sunset here is unforgettable too.

And the trip to Rome wouldn't be completed without visiting the amazing Colosseo.

Watched the gladiator getting prepared.

And passed through the road tunnel.

Friday two weeks ago was the time to go back home in Dubai. To go back to the desert too.

But before that, on Tuesday last week I went out to see Metallica performing live at Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi!

I grew up listening to their music, so can't get enough screaming and headbanding that night.

I must gave my respect to James by showing the fingers.

Last week I also reached the magic number 444 somehow on Instagram.

And last Friday it was just a usual weekend at Dubai desert.

Finally yesterday I watched the sunset from the beach next to Burj Al Arab hotel.

What's your story?

Follow my life story @hnugroho on Instagram.


And thank you, God, for the amazing time during the past 5 weeks.