Yesterday, I asked my second son to open a LinkedIn account.
I am not even sure how to pronounce it correctly until today. He asked me, “Are you asking me to open an account because I want to look for a job?”
I told him, “No. There are many interesting things on LinkedIn, and you should have an account.”
LinkedIn is a social media platform with its own unique impact. For me, I often open LinkedIn to look for something positive that can become my daily source of motivation.
Sometimes, I see people in my professional network sharing their achievements, milestones, projects, or career journeys. In one way or another, their stories inspire me. Seeing other people achieve something meaningful can quietly awaken the desire within us to strive for something similar.
There was a time when I had almost 5,000 followers on LinkedIn. Eventually, however, I decided to close that account for several reasons. Later, I created a new account, but this time I became more selective about the people I chose to follow.
I wanted to build a positive circle.
On LinkedIn, I follow several individuals who consistently share things that I find positive, beneficial and meaningful. One of them is Dato' Dr. Hj. Ahmad Sabirin Arshad, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SIRIM Berhad.
His academic and professional journey is remarkable.
He obtained a B.Sc. in Marine Engineering from California Maritime Academy in 1986, a Diploma in Education from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 1988, a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Malaya in 1990, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, specialising in Combustion, from the University of Wales College of Cardiff, UK, in 1993.
Throughout his career, he has been involved in several significant Malaysian aerospace and space-related programmes. He was among the Malaysian engineers involved in the development of MEASAT-1 together with Hughes Aircraft Company, which is now part of Boeing. He was also involved in TiungSAT-1 and RazakSAT, as well as providing technical and logistical support for Malaysia's first Angkasawan mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2007.
After serving in SIRIM, he later joined Boustead, where he served as Group Chief Executive Officer before becoming Group Managing Director.
For me, people like him represent a positive circle.
Following their journeys, reading their thoughts and learning from their experiences can become a source of motivation. They remind me that there is always room to learn, improve and pursue excellence in whatever field we choose.
But LinkedIn is not only about looking for a job.
There are many other benefits.
It can be a platform for building a professional personal brand, making our career experience more visible, developing professional networks, building a reputation as a knowledge creator, supporting learning at university—from degree and master's programmes to Ph.D. studies—exploring career opportunities, maintaining a career portfolio, and gaining insights from people across different professional fields.
I gave my son another example from my own experience.
Several years ago, I came across an article on LinkedIn written by a General Manager of a palm oil refinery in Sandakan, Sabah. The article discussed energy efficiency in a large refinery plant. I also learned that he was a competent Renewable Energy Manager.
At that time, I simply followed him and read what he shared.
But one of his articles eventually became a small spark that changed the direction of my own journey.
After reading his article and following his professional sharing on energy efficiency, I became interested in learning more about the subject. A few months ago, I decided to take the Renewable Energy Manager Type 1 course. Eventually, I became a Renewable Energy Manager myself, walking along a path similar to the person whose article had inspired me in the first place.
Think about that.
It started with just one post on LinkedIn.
One person shared his knowledge.
Another person read it.
That knowledge created curiosity.
Curiosity led to learning.
Learning led to action.
And action eventually created a new professional capability.
That is the power of sharing knowledge.
Sometimes, we never realise how far our words can travel or whose life they might influence. A simple article that we write in our spare time may become the very thing that motivates someone else to take a new step in life.
That is why I told my son to open a LinkedIn account.
Not simply to look for a job.
But to learn, connect, share, build and be inspired.
And perhaps, one day, he may also share something that inspires someone else to begin their own journey.
One post can become one spark.
One spark can become one journey.
That is my story today.
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