Outlier

Recently I got chance to have private ask-me-anything session with our Menteri Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi Republik Indonesia, Mas Nadiem Makarim. Well, not so private as 1-on-1, but more like whole WarTek team and Mas Menteri himself. But still tho, it felt private and the conversation topic also made us feel close to Mas Menteri. Kaya, wow ini orang biasanya di TV tapi sekarang seems reach-able hehe

So, 1 of the conversation goes: Q: "Mas Menteri, untuk Program Kampus Merdeka nih, kenapa Mahasiswa yang baru lulus itu difokuskannya ke kerja sebagai karyawan? Kenapa tidak dipersiapkan sebagai entrepreneur atau pengusaha aja?"

A: "Wahh... ini kayanya yang nanya belum pernah ngerasain jadi pengusaha ya? Well... jadi pengusaha itu nggak segampang baru lulus, langsung jadi pengusaha, nggak bisa kaya gitu. Pasti butuh modal, pasti butuh ilmu. Then what's the closest and best way to learn about it? Ya through established and big company who already have stable and sustainable system. Either it's as marketing, operations, HR, or anything. Mahasiswa harus absorb atau serap dulu ilmunya di dunia kerja, then they can implement it to build their own businesses. Jangan berpatokan sama Mark Zuckerberg, yang dropout college terus langsung bisa sukses. He was an outlier. One in million perbandingannya."

It was great explanation though. He got the point. Memang orang pinter tuh beda ya wkwk

I mean, orang pinter banyak, but yang public speaking and communication skillnya bagus itu different story, even better kalau bahasa yang dipakai itu nggak menggurui. And I think Mas Menteri is the best example of orang pinter yang gue sangat-sangat look up to.

Cannot be more thankful gue punya kesempatan saat ini untuk being 'mentored' by him meskipun sangat-sangat indirect and he actually even did not know that I exist. Tapi tetap nggak nyangka aja di posisi ini. Sejauh ini.

There is really a lot, I mean a looooootttt that I can learn from him in just 1 ask-me-anything session. Looking forward to work with him closely (maybe not too soon hehe)

Environment truly has biggest impact through someone's growth, kalau dikelilingin orang kaya gitu sih auto-berkembang dan terus termotivasi juga untuk belajar lebih banyak lagi. It's not make me competitive with my surroundings, it's make me competitive with myself.

I never imagine being an outlier karena kemungkinannya sangat kecil. But at least, I want to keep improving and growing every single day.