It’s always difficult to loose or even change jobs. Actually it’s one of the real reason for depression. Besides not having a big company name behind you will make you more vulnerable and I have learned it the easy way (as for now) and the hard way (on my previous losses).
My first loss was when I quit Gramedia in 1987. I was the director of PT Elex Media Komputindo. My ex-colleagues didn’t make my life easier either. Some of them have heart to tell my boss-to-be on how I was so irresponsible (according to their opinion) when I was with Gramedia. Even the ill news spread to my former campus and my ex-rector was also wary about my ‘ill-behave.’
I learned the hard way on how a powerless person have no rights to say anything, let aside defend oneself. The simple logic applies at that time: “Gramedia was such a great company. Those who left must be a jerk.” Now after 20 years you can tell who’s the real jerk.
I started selling accounting software at the time, DacEasy Accounting. It was a great software. I picked up my accounting knowledge by just following up how the data flow with the software. My involvement with the software continued to several other companies and eventually I had my own, PT Esolusi Pirantikita Esa, in 1997.
By that time I have been working with several companies, all related to book business. It was Sampoerna Executive Resource Center (as publishing manager), PT Pantja Simpati (printing company), Simon & Schuster Asia - Jakarta Office (as publishing manager), McGraw-Hill Asia - Singapore Office (as acquisition editor), Elsevier (as publishing manager), and eventually as editor-in-chief and publisher of my own magazine, Neotek.
When I published Neotek (while still keeping my accounting software firm), I thought it was my last career. I had never been working at position high enough and at a company big enough to be proud of since my Gramedia days that ended in 1987.
Actually it was not. I was called in April 2000 by my ex-boss at Simon & Schuster Asia which at that time was Vice President of Elsevier Health Science Asia. He asked me on the phone whether I’m still looking for a job. Honestly, at my age at that time (47) I didn’t look for any job anymore. I was happy being big fish in my tiny pond.
The lure of money and ‘new knowledge’ bring me to Elsevier. Here I was, having a paradox of career (corporate life after own business). This time I really thought that it was really the final stage of my career, at the job that I really loved. It prompted me to gradually passed the baton of Neotek to a younger computer enthusiast.
Believe it or not, it was not be the best decision. The party lasted only shortly. Change of corporate leaders at Elsevier created unfavorable changes and by May 2007 I was asked (and agreed) to quit. Here I was back to square one.
It was almost like I lost my first job in Gramedia in 1997. Twenty years later it happened again. Only I learned the easy way this time. I still have companies that running (my accounting software firm) and a dying one (my Neotek magazine). The best wit is to kill the dying horse.
Yet still, publishing Neotek is my best venture ever. I’ve lost quite some money but the magazine has extended my life to the next generation. My friends from Neotek vary from those at the age of my brothers and sisters to my daughters and sons! Even though the magazine has ceased publishing, my activities still revolved around its legacy and it make me less vulnerable to any career change.
I was then learned the true value of myself:
I was able to swiftly change my activities to online initiatives as well as expanding my accounting software offerings. I have the basic knowledge to exist online and still have friends who trust me in the brick-and-mortar world.
Airlangga University, despite knowing me having left Elsevier, still contact me for the November 2007 seminar. I might be one of the speaker on journal publishing even though not representing Elsevier anymore.
The Neotekers (readers of Neotek) who have their online own community (which extended to personal friendships) throwed some comments of sympathy and understanding. Anyway they must have known that it (the closure of magazine) must eventually happen. Some of them may want to continue the related activities and I might be invited as adviser (you bet I might not be a very good one).
I was contacted by my collagues for some business opportunities. Today at my 50’s, I’m not very keen on exploring new businesses. You know what you don’t want in your fifties.
There’s a joke that people at their:
20’s - think that thay can do anything
30’s - know what they can do
40’s - know what they can’t do
50’s - know what they don’t want
It has been some time since my last posting in June 2007. I was on holiday since then and had some business contacts which I think should be undisclosed for the moment.
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Posted by Kosasih Iskandarsjah
