"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
This is one of the most valuable lessons I learned during my first year as an Engineering Cadet at a palm oil mill.
Back then, I had a manager whose determination inspired everyone around him. Whenever a problem arose, he would tackle it one step at a time until it was solved. It didn't matter how difficult or impossible it seemed—giving up was simply not an option.
Watching him work taught me that true leadership is measured not by titles, but by perseverance.
One day, we were faced with what many believed was an impossible task.
Our plantation was located downstream along the Kinabatangan River, opposite Sukau Village in Sabah. The only connection between the estate and the main road was a large barge that served as a floating bridge, pulled into position by tugboats.
During the monsoon season, everything worked perfectly. However, when the dry season arrived and the river level dropped significantly, poor planning left the barge stranded on dry land.
We studied the tide tables repeatedly, hoping the rising water would lift the barge back into the river. Unfortunately, the dry season had already set in, and there was no realistic chance of the water reaching the required level.
To make matters worse, the barge operator warned that substantial additional charges would be imposed if the vessel was not returned to the river immediately.
The responsibility for solving this seemingly impossible problem was assigned to my manager.
A task force was formed, consisting of engineers, foremen, and maintenance personnel. For weeks, we camped at the site, attempting what many people considered a "crazy mission"—moving a massive barge from dry land back into the Kinabatangan River.
Our initial strategy was simple. We used diesel-powered water pumps to wash away the sandy riverbank beneath the barge, hoping gravity would slowly pull it toward the river.
Day after day, we worked tirelessly.
The progress was painfully slow.
Many people would have given up.
But not my manager.
Instead of accepting defeat, he changed the strategy.
"We need more power."
We returned to an old mill and recovered a large diesel generator engine that had long been out of service. The engine was completely overhauled, repaired, serviced, and modified to drive a much higher-capacity water pump.
What impressed me most was that my manager was an electrical engineer. Yet he willingly stepped into mechanical and civil engineering challenges without hesitation. For him, engineering was never about staying within the boundaries of one discipline—it was about solving problems, regardless of where the solution came from.
Once the upgraded pumping system was ready, it was transported immediately to the site.
The high-capacity pump began blasting water beneath the barge with tremendous force.
Hour after hour, the sand gradually eroded.
Eventually, more than 40 percent of the ground beneath the barge had been washed away, causing the massive structure to tilt toward the river.
For the first time, success seemed possible.
After carefully studying the tide schedule, we coordinated the final operation with the tugboat operators. The plan was to make the pull at the highest tide, when the river offered its greatest lifting force.
On the appointed day, everyone stood in silence.
The tugboats started their engines.
The towlines tightened.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
The barge began to move.
Then, with one final pull, it slid free from the riverbank and floated back into the Kinabatangan River.
Weeks of relentless effort had finally paid off.
What many believed was impossible had become reality.
That experience taught me a lesson I have carried throughout my career.
Success does not always belong to the smartest person in the room.
It belongs to those who refuse to quit.
Whenever I face a challenge that seems impossible, I remember my manager and the example he set through his actions—not his words.
"Winners never quit, and quitters never win."
And another timeless Western proverb that perfectly captures his spirit:
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."
Sometimes, success is not about having the perfect solution from the beginning.
It is about having the courage to keep searching until the impossible finally gives way.
That my story for today.
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