Measuring Success

How do you measure your success?

For many years, I almost believed that success is always about the amount of money I earn or about good career I have. But, recently my mind gradually changes. I met many right people on the right time that shows to me what success is. Through these people, I feel like God giving me piece-by-piece of puzzle to be solved rather than gives a whole picture. I called this Puzzle: "what-is-success" puzzle. 

After arranging the puzzle piece-by-piece, I come to the conclusion, that success is not merely about money or career.  For me, success is about how big your impact to other people, how big your contribution to the society. If through your lifestyle, your action, your thinking, your teaching, your writing, your invention or whatever you can think of, many people are touch and became a better people, then you are simply a success people.

I realize that living in this world is not about ourself after all, it's not about earning money and enjoy it for ourself alone. I do believe, we all are here in this world, breathing the same air, walking under the same sun, living under the same moon is NOT meant to live for our own. We're here because someone NEEDS us, because the society needs us, otherwise God won't create us.

This revelation convinces me more to pursue my doctorate and to be a researcher in IT-biomedic area. IT and biomedic area opens the posibility to make better quality of life for all people. I just finished writing two research proposals, one about early detection of osteoporosis. If I could have finished this research, thousand of people around the world will get the benefit. In their early age they would have known either they have osteoporosis risk or no. If they have one, they will do precaution act to prevent osteoporosis in their old age. Finally, they will work more productive and enjoying better quality of life. But, they wouldn't enjoyed their life if their bone fractures because osteoporosis. I can clearly imagine how world would be different by the result of this research alone.

The other research proposal is about estimation of respiratory organ motion for cancer radioteraphy treatment. I don't know how to explain because there will many technical and medical terms. Basically, it will help lung cancer patient to have better treatment.

I really HOPE, I can give something for the society - to make this world a better world. The amount of money will not determine my success, but it is  determined by the amount of people that is helped by what I've done, the amount of students that have learned from what I've taught, and the amount of readers that have better thinking by the book or posting I've written. (And through what I've done, I believe that money will automatically flow in). That what success is.

Life is not about ourself after all. It's about what we give. It's about what we contribute to make this world is better world.

Quantum Leap - The Interpreter

Knowing how to speak English is one thing, but interpreting English is completely different thing.

So, there he goes. Leaping into a character called an “Interpreter”. Last time I saw him, he was a lecturer with tons of office tasks during new coming semester. Preparing research proposal, preparing scholarship applications since he’s so eager to take Ph. D this year, preparing subjects to be taught for next semester, involving in some campus activities to make sure that he can hit Key Performance Indicators (KPI) target as a lecturer.

But then, last Saturday, the news came like brick hits his head. He was elected to interprete Pst. Steven Davis from Australia for the sunday service at Bethany Church, Malang. Why did they choose this-so-unexperienced-interpreter to interpret? The church has more experience-and-annointed-interpreters, but somehow they could not do the interpretation. One is sick and must be hospitalized, this-mom-would-be is pregnant for 5 months, and this-best-interpreter-ever couldn’t do because must taking care her of baby boy (Geee… this-best-interpreter-ever is amazingly-incridibly-accurate, though she never formally studies English!).

So, he was the chosen one, leaping into a character called “interpreter”. Must  accomplish the mission, interpreting Pst. Steven Davis’ preaching in two services. The challenge was thathe’s never done the interpretation for a service with one thousand people. The other challange was, he knew exactly that he’s not yet a good interpreter - he neither having rich vocabulary nor knowing lot “christian-terms”. I saw him, he was scared to death! He prefers to do 100 TOEFL tests or translating 1000 pages rather than interpreting an Australian preacher in front of thousand people.

So, what happen then? I believe your guess is same like mine. In the first service, he totally messed up the sermon and the service as well. Lot of words missed, lot of sentences not delivered clearly, many times he used inproper term. He ruined the whole service. I really felt sory for him…

After the service then I saw him humbly himself… Spoke to the deputy-pastor if should he be replaced. The deputy-pastor simply smiled at him, and said to carry on for the next service. He’s not losing hope on him and believe that he’ll do better for the next evening service.

He went back with discouragement and uncertain feeling… Fear and doubt came. Wondering if he’ll keep doing the same mistake for next service.

At the second service, I saw God’s grace was upon him. He was able to interprete much much better than the first one. Very few words were missed, and overall he delivered the interpretation quite well. Despite of the difficulty-level, he considered that as his best interpretation. It was not by his power nor his mighty, but it was truly by the Spirit of God and God’s grace…

So, he learned something by leaping into this “interpreter character”. He knows that God’s grace always sufficient for him, he experienced personally what God’s grace is - not from what people said or what he’ve learned from Christian books, but experience PERSONALLY… Suddenly, he returned back into his body… The body of a man who loves teaching and writing, plus a valuable personal experience about God’s grace and how good God is. Then, that man started to share his quantum leap experience through this posting.

It all started with...

Yay, first posting in 2009 will be grouped in a new category called "My Doctorate Journey"... (Geee... I'm sooo eager to have additional "Ph. D" after my name, so it'll be "Windra Swastika, Ph. D"... Cool, ah? After finishing "My Doctorate Journey", next category will be "The New Adventure of Chasing Professorship", haha2...)

So, it all started with a dream (remember...? we all are ordinary people, and will stay ordinary until we encounter extraordinary dreams and the moment we step forward to achieve that dream, we're becoming extraordinary). I'm dreaming... of a white Christmas..., oh, sorry, it's over... I'm dreaming, that someday my mom and my future soulmate (whoever she is and probably with my children) attend my doctorate graduation ceremony (somewhere in Australia, USA or Japan), and when the dean calls my name to come forward to stage, my mom shouts "THAT'S MY BABY BOY...!!!" (Please deh, mom...)

But, like the wise says, the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Definitely, doctorate journey is not one or two miles away. It's a long... long journey. It takes many steps to make that dream come to past.

My first step was initialized by Ivonne Sabrina (a friend that lives and works in USA... we've even never met, yet she's willing to help me sincerely - ya, sincere people DOES exists). She introduces me with her former lecturer that already got Ph. D degree from State and gives me some valueable information. Thanks a lot, Von!

Yesterday was my second step. I attended "How to get scholarship for Universities in Japan" workshop. Another valuable information. The speaker gave us a very detail step, start from how to write the research proposal, search for professor, contact professor, fill in the scholarship application from, interview tricks, etc. He made me believe that as long as we step in the right track (of scholarship), then we'll have the same result (get the scholarship).

Ok, what next? The next two weeks will be a time for writing research proposal and contact professors (notice: PLURAL!) to find a supervisor for my research. Meanwhile, enhancing my English is a MUST!

I'll keep updating the news...

Last Posting of Year 2008

This posting is going to be my last posting in 2008, and when I look back, I'm quite amazed what God has done to me so far. How He has changed me, renewed my mind, renewed my strength, moved me from glory to glory... Never doubt that God is indeed a good God.

So, here are... the result of my partnership with God.

1. Awarded as Lecturer of the Year 2008 M* C** University - June 2008. *)
2. Achieved Master Degree, Electrical Engineering, Br* University - August 2008. *)
3. Successfully gave presentation to 300 students about the opportunity of being a book author - July 2008. (some of them came to me, ask and show their interest to be an author, I think I managed to motivate them... you go guys).
4. Set a new record of largest-attendance-public-preaching (500 people), B* Church - August 2008.
5. Set a new record of public speaking to a group of 70 Public Relation Managers from all university in Malang - November 2008.
6. Visiting Singapore for a week - November 2008. *)
7. Finally successfully managed to give presentation for an hour and a half, FULL IN ENGLISH to group of 30 M* C** Lecturers - Dec 2008. *)
8. First time got invitation to preach in a Christmas service - Dec 2008. *)
9. Finished 7 IT books, 3 of them got ISBN already (will have finished another 3 in Feb 2009).
10. Set a new record of "most-packed-activity-semester", had 23 credits semester, that means spend 1150 minutes/week (yes, per week) in teaching.

The asterisk sign (*) means that I've done for the very first time.And for 2009, I'm expecting:

1. Get Ph. D scholarship in overseas (USA, Australia, Europe or Japan)
2. Set a new record for highest income of my career history (please, it's income, not salary... you know that as a lecturer you won't have high salary, don't you? I'm thinking to earn from writing a book or website-based-business-income).
3. Have serious relationship with a girl.
4. Finish at least 6 other books, and at least one of them titled as best seller.
5. Conduct at least 2 researches in IT and publish them in a scientific journal.
6. The only record I don't want to break for year 2009 is: "most-packed-activity-semester".

I'll stay together to achieve them with My BELOVED Partner. I believe that HE has more than I thought or plan... I'm not going to limit HIM and as HE faithful to me, so am I.

Welcome 2009!

(Hei friends, why don't you make your own? you can't achieve what you can't imagine, rite?)

I've decided...

“Hi Wind… So, how’s your ADS Application?” (frequently asked question of this month)

“Emm… Unfortunately, I failed.” (the word “unfortunately” can be replaced with “fortunately” in the coming months or years… no doubt about that. but for now allow me to put the word “unfortunately” as the most suitable word).

“Oh… So bad…” (thanks for your sincerity and pray, guys… I do appreciate that)

“That’s fine lah…” (I answered and still curious why they reject my application. I’ve put a lot of efforts in it, I have 3 reference letters from the Ph.Ds, I already have supervisor for my proposed research from Curtin UT, I got TOEFL score…, never mind. Beside, I was applying for Master Degree… I’d beter apply for the Ph.D next year)

“Oh, ya… By the way Wind, you got girl friend already?” (Hmm… it sounds very familiar question… Let me think… oh ya I it’s My mum fave question!)

“I want to… But, it’s difficult to find one lah… Hei, you do know about that, rite?”

“Ya, Wind. But let me tell you something. Sooner or later you’re gonna marry someone, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Then you’re gonna face the same conflicts in marriage just like other couples. The problems won’t be easier even if you postpone your marriage. They’ll be there and stay the same.”

“Okay, what’s your point?”

“Then you’d better get married soon, young man! The sooner, the better… You’ll have longer time to learn and deal with that all those problem! Why postpone, ah?”

“Errr….” [Okay, he's right.. Completely right]

“Errr… what? I don’t see any good reason why you postpone your marriage. You’ve got all what_girl_want. You wait for nothing!”

[Geee... once again, he's right] “But… but… I enjoy being single. I can go anywhere I want, I can have anything I want, I can go with whoever…”

“Let me tell you something… It sounds cliche, but it’s true… There’s a season for everything… Your season for freedom is running out, and now it’s the time for you to prepare for a new season. That new season called “marriage”.”

“But… It’s one time season, rite? The moment I entered that season, there’s no way back, rite?”

“Hei, you got the point! And let me add something, doesn’t that your Bible teach ‘It’s not good for a man alone, I’ll make a companion for him’.”

“Yeaaa..”

“If God says not good then it means not good. You teach Bible Study, you know that, don’t you?”

“Yaaa… yaa… I know that…”

“Then you go decide which one, make commitment and get married soon…”

“I’ll think about it…”

“NO! Don’t say “I’ll”. You got to decide now… You have lot of girl friends to be considered, rite? Tell me, which one you like most?”

“It’s ****”

“Then you go for her… Tell her, that you’ve decided and choose her… Ask her if she’s willing to be your mate.”

“Hah? Maid? You kidding me?”

“…”

[Never ending conversation, but I've made a decision...]

Emotional Quotient

Starting today up to next week or even could be next month, my emotional quotient has been and will be tested. I just lost my all my cell phones (N E71, N5510, N6215) - including the cards (2 GSM, 1 CDMA, and 1 Singapore Number). Someone broke into my room and took all my cell phones plus couple hundreds thousands (for my monthly expenses) from my wallet.

How bad is that? For me, it’s bad. Damn bad!

Is it influencing my daily routine? Yes, definitely! I lost all contacts, birthday remainder, sermon notes, photos, songs. (So, please, kindly re-send your contact number trough YM or any other messengers).

Then, here is the emotional quotient test.

Next hours after I lost them, I had to teach Bible Study for the youths.

So, I must teach and feel bad and sad because of losing things in the same time. But I did it. I taught as if nothing happen. Nobody noticed that I have deep bad and sad feeling. Everybody just enjoyed the lesson as usual. I speak, chat with others, smile, and cheer as usual.

The challenges still continue.

Today, I got to teach 3 classes. So, I must controlled myself. I teach just like as usual. Same style and I think, nobody felt the difference. My students enjoyed my class without even realize what did happen to me. Ya, I think I did it.

So, I learn something. That’s emotional quotient all about. It’s the way we control and manage our emotion toward the situation we’re dealing with now. It’s about our respond toward the problems. I’m glad that I know I can control my emotional through this problem. It could’ve been worse. But I’m learning.

Next days, in the coming weeks, my emotional quotient still be tested, because I still feel bad about that… But I want to overcome it.

Meanwhile, if you notice this blog hasn’t been updated since last month, it means I’m waiting something. I’m waiting the result of ADS2009 scholarship application. Some of my colleagues that apply the scholarship already have the result, and… it’s not quite good news for them.

God… You know, I want so bad that scholarship. But, let Your will be done. You know what best for me.

Sermon on the 2nd Floor (Part 1: The Beatitudes)

In the book of Mathew, chapter 5, there’s a very famous and powerful exposition that Jesus ever preach. It called “Sermon on the mount” (Kothbah di Bukit). This “Sermon On the Mount” starts with “The Beatitude” (Ucapan/Sabda Bahagia). There are 8 beatitudes that every believer should live in their daily life, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven“, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted“, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” and so on. But, anyway, I’m not gonna teach about this “Sermon on the mount”.

I have my own Sermon. This is probably the most and powerful academic sermon I’ve ever preached in my career history as an IT lecturer. Since my room at 2nd floor of B* P* Building, I call it “Sermon on the 2nd Floor“.

Let’s start with the first series, called “The Beatitudes” (Sabda Bahagia).

1. And seeing the multitudes reading this blog, I went up to my office: and when I was set, I start to type.
2. Blessed are the pure in heart during the work, for they shall obtain promotion.
3. Blessed are the Professors and Ph. D/DR, for they shall appreciated with high salary.
4. Blessed are those who hold JAFA (Jabatan Fungsional Akademik/Functional Acknowledgment as a lecturer from the Department of National Education), for they shall teach in peace.
5. Blessed are those which do hunger and thirst after the truth, for they shall receive block grant through their research.
6. Blessed are those hold Structural position (Jabatan Struktural), for they shall find many problems and challanges.
7. Blessed are the workaholics and productive lecturers, for they shall be praised.
8. Blessed are the diligent, merciful, cheerful and joyful, for they shall become popular and nominated as Lecturer of the year.
9. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for they shall quit and find another good University.
10. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for you shall receive help from many friends.

So, colleagues, if you want to quote this verse, you may say, “According to Sermon on the 2nd Floor by Windra, Posting #155, verse 3, it said that Blessed are the …”

Hehe2… and someday this “Sermon on the 2nd Floor” will become popular around the world and be preached from university to university. This sermon will be a standard for lecturer attitude. It starts from this small university.