I read a couple of weeks ago about our former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir’s venture into business. Say or think what you want about the man or his style, but I admire him. I admire that he is someone who isn’t afraid to stare adversity in the eye and fight it. That’s probably why he is quoted as saying :

“I have been telling people to do things and advising people in business. Now let’s see if I can do what I have been telling other people.

“I hope I succeed. I hope I encounter difficulties and find solutions to them. Then I can talk with greater authority,” he said.

Note the last para. Most of us remember Tun Mahathir as a someone who doesn’t shy away from problems. He takes the bull by the horns. I believe this is a necessary trait if we are to leave the secure comforts of our office and go into business or to work full time from home. Some of us lucky souls are naturally gifted with boldness, but for most of us, it is built over time and experience.

After four years of self-employment, my mindset has changed. Not without a mighty struggle mind you. The pessimist in me continues to lurk in the dark recesses of my mind and pops out every now and then, but I’ve learnt that conscious effort is needed to counter your fears and doubts. No, I don’t HOPE for difficulties and problems like Tun Mahathir, but where I once cringed in pathetic fear whenever problems arose, now I pause, take a step back, look at the situation and think how to solve the immediate symptoms of the problem first, then how to prevent it from recurring and finally what I can learn from the problem to make myself stronger.

Really. No kidding. This scaredy-cat has grown fangs!

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