I had the opportunity to talk with Pak Budi Rahardjo at Iji, a cozy cafe with a natural atmosphere at the heights of Bandung. I learned some business principles from his business endeavor which I hope can be of inspiration for us fellow entrepreneurs.
#1 Have an Identity
Pak Budi classifies one of his companies, Indo Cisc (https://indocisc.com/), as a SWAT team, which prefers non-routine and challenging projects. Having a clear identity often means leaving money on the table, for example a highly profitable routine operational network security projects.
He made an analogy with Indo Cisc as a doctor, diagnosing patients and then giving them prescriptions that they can buy at a pharmacies. Can Indo Cisc become a hospital with doctors and pharmacy? Yes, but Pak Budi prefers Indo Cisc to be a doctor.
Having a clear identity means having a clear positioning for customers, employees, and stakeholders. Indo Cisc employees are those who dislike routine operational work, just as the company does.
#2 Be Honest
We should be honest with our business partners about our condition and intention. With honesty, we can build trust and find a workaround that works for both parties.
Imagine we potentially misses a payment schedule to our supplier due to unforeseen issues. We can choose to disappear, remain silent until the inevitable happens, or openly share our condition to find solution.
#3 Care
Business is not only about money. We should also take care of our partners, customers, and employees. One of Pak Budi’s colleagues had a stroke. Together with his friends, they raise funds to help with treatment. “Udunan” as we usually call it in Bandung.
Unaware of the time, suddenly the cafe was closing soon. We part with homework in my mind for Rekadia.
By the way if you’re wondering why Indians seem to dominate the big tech companies (Twitter I see you), Pak Budi has an insightful and engaging talk that you can access at https://pinalle.com/rahard.
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