Never Stop

By Erwin Parengkuan

A participant in the class asked me "Mr Erwin, did you ever imagine that you would be in a position like now? Leading a company and actively teaching?"The question suddenly surprised me because it was quite personal and I never thought someone would ask that question.It took a few seconds to answer the question, finally I said this, "To be honest, I never imagined my career and work would be at this point, I have also read a lot of articles and books about people who could be said to be successful in their careers, and they never imagined they would be at that point!"

If we look within ourselves and reflect on the life journey we have gone through and reap the results, some have sweet fruit, some have bitter, some have bitter, etc.All of this is of course the fruit of a process and actions that we take.I remember there used to be a contest for young people who were successful before the age of 30, some of them are still increasingly successful now, but many also stopped because after the fruit was picked the next process did not match their expectations, in the end most of them failed in the middle of the road, and they stopped!

In my opinion, the meaning of success is a non-stop action/process.like breathing, we have to keep doing it.If someone is quickly satisfied with the results, the process of success will stop by itself.I also remember my aunt who took a PhD in Japan, became a professor at that university, and this year I visited her at the age of almost 80 years.He said that the success and brilliant title he had previously, which he was proud of, now no longer exists.My aunt was also not in a fit condition, after she fell, she only spent the rest of her time watching television, reading books, sitting still and sitting without any productive activities like before.The various choices we have in carrying out the life/career we want to achieve until what age?

Earlier this year I hosted a birthday event for a businessman who is 90 years old but he still continues to work and actively leads his company to this day.I want to be like him, there will be no "stop" words, I have to keep going.Like many people who are old but still strong enough to climb the Himalayan mountains, etc.And of course it requires continuous hard work, such as consistently caring for your body, mind, feelings and the ability to build relationships with everyone.

Some of the examples above can be motivation and reference, choices and reinforcement for us in carrying out a process, referring to the meaningful sentence that is popular and my favorite, mentioned by Steven R. Covey, namely "Begin with the end in mind."This sentence has become a "fire" in me to keep going and accept the process whatever the outcome.It is said that there is no such thing as a person who fails, but there are people who decide to stop the process.

That wealth, success, popularity, even intelligence are not life goals (in my opinion), because if we have achieved these things we will then stop the process.In fact, every person must have the courage to get out of their comfort zone, with a sincere heart, being open, having integrity, respecting everyone, being polite, etc. are the main values ​​that serve as guidelines in reaping sustainable results.

Last month we at the office celebrated the new process where TALKINC became LPK TALKINC, a dream that I had been waiting for several years ago.We have gone through this long process thanks to the hard work of the team and the support system from the Accreditation Institute, the DKI government, as well as the Ministry of Manpower which has approved our request.A best gift for this year.When the press conference was taking place, a senior I invited whispered these words to me "You have to keep dreaming and make yourself bigger than your dreams!".Speeches that might seem normal to other people, but were so personal to me that I was momentarily stunned.Words that reassured me in my determination to continue my journey forward without stopping.I hope this article can influence readers to have direction &purpose in living life because from there we can interpret every step we take to survive in a life that is always 'what is', so never give up and never stop continuing to live your life!

Editor: Alyezca Disya Rahadiz