1. Leverage, Not Just Hard Work
Amir once worked 16-hour days in the mill, but his salary barely changed. Only when he learned to delegate, train others, and create systems did his value multiply. He realized wealth wasn’t about working harder, but about leveraging time and talent [1].
2. Distraction is an Assassin of Dreams
Living in a remote estate, Amir sometimes drowned in distractions — endless TV shows, idle chatter. He failed his steam engineer exam more than once. Each failure was a painful reminder that distractions silently kill ambition [2].
3. Choose Voices Carefully
Everyone had advice for him — some said, “Leave the palm oil industry, it’s too hard.” But Amir chose to listen only to mentors who had walked the same road. Their wisdom carried weight, while others’ opinions were just noise [3].
4. No Hero is Coming
During his early days in Lahad Datu, Amir injured his hand while repairing a mill gate. No one came to rescue him. He endured the hospital nights alone, learning that no savior would appear. His destiny rested in his own hands [4].
5. Less Reading, More Doing
Amir loved motivational books, but soon realized theory alone couldn’t save him. Progress came only when he acted — joining Toastmasters, sitting for exams, and writing his blog. Discipline, not theory, moved him forward [5].
6. The Power of Sales
Though an engineer, Amir once worked as a sales engineer. Learning how to persuade, connect, and sell ideas helped him rise faster in management. He saw that sales was not just about products — it was about influence [6].
7. People Think of Themselves More Than You
For years Amir feared sharing ideas, worrying about criticism. Later he learned: most people were too busy with their own lives to think about him. Once he realized this, he stepped forward boldly into leadership [7].
8. Walk Beside the Wise
At first Amir envied senior managers. Then he humbled himself, walked beside them, and asked questions. Slowly, their wisdom rubbed off, shaping him into a stronger leader [8].
9. Smoking Steals Clarity
Amir never smoked, but he saw its effects on colleagues — sluggish thinking, clouded judgment, tired faces. He decided early: nothing that stole clarity was worth the cost [9].
10. Comfort is a Poison
Life in plantations was comfortable enough — steady salary, simple living. But Amir knew staying too long in comfort would poison his growth. He chose discomfort — moving mills, taking exams, facing change. That discomfort built his resilience [10].
11. Guard Your Privacy
Since 2009, Amir wrote blogs. But he never shared everything. Family conflicts, office politics — he kept private. Peace, he realized, was worth far more than public curiosity [11].
12. Avoid Alcohol
As a Muslim, Amir never touched alcohol. Yet he saw brilliant men humiliated in one night because of it. That was enough lesson: dignity once lost is hard to regain [12].
13. Hold Your Standards High
When tempted with jobs that paid more but clashed with his principles, Amir refused. Standards mattered more than convenience. His worth, he believed, was not negotiable [13].
14. Build Your Family with Intention
Amir didn’t just admire other families. He built his own intentionally — loving his wife Arni, raising five children with values and faith. For him, true success was measured at the dinner table, not just in the boardroom [14].
15. Take Nothing Personally
Amir faced criticism, gossip, and betrayal. Early in his career, he took everything personally. But maturity taught him: not every battle was his to fight. By letting go of ego, his peace grew stronger [15].
16. Faith First
Through failures, betrayals, depression, and victories, Amir returned to faith. By placing God first, he found clarity in chaos. Everything else eventually aligned [16].
Reflection
By age 40, Amir’s truths were not just lessons — they were scars, experiences, and faith woven into his journey. His story reminds us: wisdom is not read, it is lived.
References
[1] Covey, S. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Free Press.
[2] Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing.
[3] Maxwell, J. (2007). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Thomas Nelson.
[4] Frankl, V. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.
[5] Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit. Random House.
[6] Carnegie, D. (1936). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Simon & Schuster.
[7] Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly. Gotham Books.
[8] Collins, J. (2001). Good to Great. HarperBusiness.
[9] WHO (2019). Global Report on Tobacco Use. World Health Organization.
[10] Grant, A. (2021). Think Again. Viking.
[11] Nissenbaum, H. (2010). Privacy in Context. Stanford University Press.
[12] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2018). Alcohol’s Effects on the Body. NIH.
[13] Rumelt, R. (2011). Good Strategy Bad Strategy. Crown Business.
[14] Chapman, G. (1992). The 5 Love Languages. Moody Publishers.
[15] Carnegie, D. (1948). How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Simon & Schuster.
[16] Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2.
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