rawakramblings

I personally think there's a difference between a businessman/women and an entrepreneur. I think a businessman sells products and there's a lot of them around. However, an entrepreneur creates business that serves a bigger objective. I see entrepreneurs as people with skills and brains, who knows how to empower people. I see entrepreneurs knowing the shortcuts to success. I see entrepreneurs as those who see long term goals and come out with creative brilliant ideas that others don't see.

After a couple of years being in this scene, I have learnt a lot. There are many out there that are short sighted. Only wanting to achieve a higher profit but do not see the importance of establishing a long term relationship. Tamak or Tak Sabar, they say. Which is why they go up high very fast but quickly collapsed too.

There are also out there that do not understand the power of collaboration - that when you work together, you can achieve a bigger and stronger goal. Most companies want to stand up on their own and then bring down others. Typical Malays I guess.

There are also companies that like the idea of selling, but not knowing how much they actually make monthly. They don't emphasize on their monthly financial reports - something that I've also just recently learned.

I personally think there's a difference between those who choose to leave something behind as either fighters or quitters.  I noticed that those who leave the workforce, claiming to 'try something new' are NOT really fighters but actually do that as an escape route, because they're spoiled. I noticed that people that give excuses are usually those who easily give up when a challenge comes.

Do you quit your current job because you cannot stand with what's happening and you want to try something new?

Or do you quit you current job because you are out to fight for something bigger?

Are you really a fighter? Or just a quitter?

Today, its an off day. Just like yesterday, my mood's been a little unstable. Told Mr. that I don't know what's wrong, but I just don't feel like doing anything, I feel lazy and I feel down. Good that he understood it and just said that "You need a break, just do anything, as long as you're happy,"

And then I realized that there's a lot in my mind today and I haven't been writing for such a long time!

A LOT has happened this few months. I've been updating my Instagram quite often as its easier and faster but nothing really feels as satisfying as writing down a post :)

The whole month of Ramadhan, we last minute decided to open up a pop-up-booth in Subang Parade. It was not in the plan, but we had other business friends wanting to join too, and Subang Parade also re-approached us, and so we just did it. Alhamdulillah, that went well, with our telekungs now all sold out, unexpectedly.

I once went to Dr. Azizan's talk, and he did warned, "Don't be shocked, with the right marketing strategy, the demand will be high and your production cannot cope,". Exactly what we're going through now.

We've been getting emails and messages on when we are going to stock up next. Unfortunately, production is a little bit slower than expected (post-raya they say) and I can't help it but to feel restless.

Did we not plan this out properly?

Are we not ready for this?

Or is this part and parcel of a company growing?

We have also just signed a tenant agreement for an office. Our first very own office. It is not under some minor renovation.

A lot of money is needed for all these; new office, production of telekung, company growth (hiring of staffs etc)

...........................

Some tell me that we should start pitching for grants. Some also recommended loans but we're all against it. But grants, should we?

Sometimes it feels like we're stuck. But when I read books and articles on successful business, they all get stuck somewhere, but they find a way to get out. It is when you're stuck, that your mind can go and think of the impossible and crazy ideas can pop up. I believe so too, which is why I'm trying to find that way to solve this without getting any additional financial help - or am I being to egoistic? Or just lazy (ha-ha).

O Allah - lead us the way.

Good morning!

Today marks the 3rd week of me working on my own. I now have a new laptop as my macbook decided to go KAPUUUKKKK on me, right after quitting the company [which also explains why I haven't been updating]. As I am writing this, my daughter is lying down on my lap, watching Dr. Mc Stuffins on Disney Channel. She has become less-clingy now, always seeing her mummy around.

So, how has it been?

It actually pretty tiring to be honest. The first week especially.

I used to plan my weekends, but now I have to plan my daily activities; which usually is not routine. I used to just do what my boss tells me, and just meet the deadlines.  But now, I have to plan out my day from the night before and meet my own deadlines.

After a few weeks, my brain is getting used to the nightly planning exercise and my body seems to get used to moving around a lot too.

I don't spend my whole day with Aisya. Usually in the morning, I will cuddle with her in her manja moments upon waking up, and then take her to shower. After that, I send her to my mom's and come and see her again around 4-5pm after I complete the day's work.

But its never really the same everyday. I have different tasks everyday. Flexible time; that's the awesome thing about this new world. Some days I'm too busy I see her only at 6pm. Some days, she spends time with me the whole day. The other great thing is that I also get to spend extra time with my mom and dad and my friends. And I also get excited upon seeing Mr. every evening.

How's business? Alhamdulillah, its heading somewhere insyaAllah. At the moment, its about running and kicking all the walls I see along the way. Dush! Dush! Dush!

Enjoying every moment of this!

You know that saying 'Wheel of Life - Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down,'. It seems that I've been down for quite some time now. The past few months have been quite bad. From incident A to incident B and then comes another. It feels like I'm at the most bottom part of the wheel.

But then again, who am I to complain right? There's so many other people out there who are going through worst? Manja betul!

The truth is, I've been making lots of duas for what is best for me and my family ever since late last year. Somehow, I think this recent incident opens the door even bigger for me. Like telling me, GO for it! This is the perfect timing!

Its funny. One whole week felt like I was in a dark hole and then suddenly, I see this bright light and I'm now looking forward to head towards that light. Alhamdulillah is all I can say.

I have decided to leave my 8-5 full time job and move to working on my own.

Goodbye Corporate World. Hello Entrepreneur World!

Trying to juggle everything - being a wife, a mom, a daughter, an employee, and still trying to run my business part time, just doesn't seem to work well for me. When you multitask too many things, you can't perform your best at any of them!

I want to be there for my kiddo. I want to be apart of her journey growing up. I want to cook for my husband. I want to be a better muslimah. I want to make Zaahara grow even bigger and mean something! I want to work hard and earn from my own sweat rather than working hard for other people's happiness. I want to have passion in what I do.I want to have that work-life balance and determine my own destiny!

I can see that it's going to be an awesome new journey insyaAllah.

It is not going to be easy, definitely, because now we will be depending on only one source of constant income. The other source of income is up to me to work on. But we have a plan. InsyaAllah with full determination and focus, one day, even Mr. can quit his job too and we can all enjoy that flexible family time. That's the aim!

You know one of the goals to achieve in 2015? One of them is achieved :)

Here's to making my dreams a reality.

Bismillah, Ya Allah, please bless this decision of ours. It is the best for me, for my family and for my religion.

When it comes to Zaahara, I visualize a lot. My imagination usually can only stretch to 2 years most. No 5 years plan whatsoever. So far, alhamdulillah, Zaahara have achieved some of things that I've imagined. I remember that everytime I get nearer to a goal, there will always be some hiccup and I will still push and try hard to make my dream a reality.

For 2015, I have a dream for Zaahara. However, I really didn't expect that the opportunity came this early of the year. EVERYTHING was perfect. Just like how I imagined. Everything seems to fall in place, except, financially. However, as what Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Toms shoes, wrote in his book, you can never get all traffic light to be green at the same time. The window of opportunity is very small and so, you have to grab the chance whenever you see it.

So, we worked something out to assist us financially.

We did more research over the weekend and I started contacting the right people. Even showed my parents and in laws on the idea to get their blessings and to get some feedbacks. They were also in favour of the idea, thinking that its a good one!

And then yesterday, just before signing the deal, it turns out that I was late by a few hours. Someone else had grabbed the opportunity.

The minute I heard the news, I was speechless. And then, I cried. I cried pretty bad. Like suddenly, my dream was shattered into pieces. Like suddenly, there's that hole there.

It feels like this: You meet this right guy, and everything is good, your families click, he's got all the right characteristics and then you proceed on with engagement and all and suddenly on the wedding day, he met with an accident. Like pfffttttttt! All hopes, gone!

Sometimes, Allah can give you very very high hopes. And then suddenly, he just takes it away just like that. Just to remind you that, this is dunya. Just to tell you to 'work harder'! - I have a better plan for you. You just wait and see! Yes, we did pray that if this is good for us, make it easier. If not, don't. So there is a reason behind this. In fact, I know all this. Its just that, that feeling of dissappointment, you know.

I have a feeling that Allah is giving us a pause, to look for even more money for Zaahara for it to grow and keep on spreading the Deen, instead of depending on other parties. I have a feeling that the opportunity will come again, when we are ready, maybe another 3-4 more months to come. Probably the same opportunity, probably better. At the time being, its time to get aggressive with our efforts!

Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life,

Such an inspiring quote. Making me question even more of what my plan is for the future. 

I now that I should be contributing something to the society with what I do but somehow I don't feel like I'm achieving that with working in this corporate world. The office politics and games, the monopoly of employee... they all just don't feel right. I just feel very strongly that I need to work on something that I am passionate about, something that has a meaning!

Or maybe, its that availability of options to choose from.

Life is too short to waste it on "What Ifs.."... I'll be turning 28 soon, with one young kid and another one coming insyaAllah, so its the perfect time to take risks, before even bigger commitments come along the way. And hey, I'm ONLY 28.. there's just sooo much more that can happen along the way! You wouldn't know if you don't try.

And reading this TOMS book every night before I sleep, just gets to me..like Grrrrrr!



I've been making some duas so that Allah makes it easier for me to decide and show me the right way. When the right time comes, I need to get rid of the fear and have faith.

I have a dream. I have a plan. And it feels like I'm getting closer to achieving it. InsyaAllah.

Here's a pic of us (including cranky Aisya who just got up from sleep) after dinner with Tante Debby from Jakarta at Hadramawt Restaurant in Jalan Ampang.

Twins of Faith Family Festival 2012 is happening this weekend! It's a fun, exciting and educational 2-days event that should not be missed by you and your family. Attend the main program and listen to professional international speakers talking about various interesting Islamic topics, listen to performers & artists at the Artist Zone, stimulate your children's mind with the interactive programs at the Kids Play Zone, find your perfect soulmate through the halal matchmaking game that will be organized by the Marriage Corner, learn latest hijab styles and pamper yourself and get your nails and henna done at the Sisters Corner...and the list goes on! Organizers have also updated us with more interesting news: 1. For each adult ticket purchased, one children ticket is for FREE. Those who already bought tickets for their children shall collect back their money at the registration counter insha'Allah. 2. Adult tickets will be sold at RM200. (RM50 discount from original price). 3. All the ToF volunteers can purchase five tickets for RM500. 4. People who wish to attend only one day of the conference shall buy tickets for just one day at RM100. 5. All the students can buy tickets at RM150. 6. All disabled people and New Muslims who have embraced Islam less than one year get FREE entrance. If you still haven't purchase tickets, you may do so by emailing us at sales@zaahara.com by tomorrow (25th December 2012) or if anytime after the 25th December 2012, via their website here. Zaahara.com will also be opening up a booth (#40) with free gifts and discounts on some of our items including our top seller: the Zaahara Sidr Honey.  Do check out some of the products of brands onboard zaahara.com now, including Cufica, Lift Me Up Project, Young Khalifah, and Dakwah Corner Bookstore. We will also be giving out 15% discount coupons for your future purchases..just make sure you look for us in this! May all of us benefit from the event and become better Muslims insyaAllah. Let's walk hand in hand to Jannah.