Laying the Foundations

While I was at Coffee Bean SACC Mall, I wanted to write an entry on how I plan to start out this career stuff. Six hours later, I’m here in Starbucks Plaza MASALAM, writing an entry I am proud to call “Foundations Laid”. At Coffee Bean (my No. 1 favorite hang out place in Shah Alam), I was waiting for the Companies’ Commission Office (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia) to open for business. What caused this sudden change in heart?

WHAT LED ME TO REGISTER?

This morning, I was going through John Lee’s Be Great by 24. I flipped to Six Strokes for Success and started going through it. No. 1 on that list was “Register Your Business”. It just takes up less than a hundred ringgit to do and has a strong psychological impact. As the “Winter” holidays were ending, I couldn’t wait to return to Shah Alam to start my freelance thingy. Initially I wanted to just start the whole writing bit in February. This would buy me time to settle down. What is one month compared to never starting, right? After reading that book, and having several discussions with some friends, I decided that it is best if I register the business.

So, at 2.00 p.m. I made my way to Plaza Alam Sentral. Upon arrival at the Information Counter of SSM office, I was greeted by a very friendly staff. She looked rather young. As she handed me Form A, she explained what I needed to fill in and how. After filling out the form (nervously), I returned to her to get my number. When 2454 was called, I handed my form to the lady at the counter. She asked me to do a business name check first! Clueless as I was, I went to the friendly officer at the information counter and explained to her about the situation. She was baffled because my trading name was my name! It only applies if I wanted to use a trading name other than that in my Identity Card. I returned to the officer at the counter and explained to her. We had a good laugh after she knew that Aldric Tinker is my name. After consulting her on the type of business carried out, she suggested “perkhidmatan penulisan perdagangan”.

Hard to explain “copywriting” in BM - my fault entirely. Before I finally received the registration certificate, there was one correction which needed to be done. Instead of writing “perkhidmatan penulisan perdagangan“, I wrote “perkhidmatan penulisan perniagaan”! Another officer helped me out here. She suggested I just write down “perkhidmatan pengurusan perniagaan”. I guess as long as I’m not opening a shop or office in Berjaya Times Square, I don’t have to worry much. Why did I face so many hiccups? First, try explaining “copy writer” in Malay. Not only is the service relatively unknown, there’s no equivalent translation in Malay. As a writer, all I do is write. I don’t design the copy or print it. I receive the assignment from my clients and after I’m done, I email it back to them before the deadline. This led to the second issue: premise and place of business. Here’s how “work” would be like: I connect to the internet to check my mail and all. This can be done in Coffee Bean, Starbucks or UiTM. After receiving the assignment, I conduct some research - again, I can go to these free WiFi areas or just a library. After having the data I need, I go back to my room where I analyze the data before making an outline, drafts and finally editing. Then I email my clients the copy. For registration of my business, RM40 was spent. Now, I’m a sole proprietor registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. After my rubber stamps are completed, I can consider opening up an account.

CUSTOMIZED STATIONARY

There’s almost nothing which a laptop, a printer and some good softwares can’t do. For RM18.00, I got two rubber stamps and another RM20 got me a box of double sided color printed business cards. Now I just have to scan the card t personalise my stationaries. From there I will be doing my own letterhead. Why am I so obsessed with all this? A business can only survive if and only if it is treated like a business. Although this is a part time job, for it to pay off, I still need to take it seriously. Besides emailing, letters would be sent to prospects, clients and editors. Everything from the envelope to the paper used must convey professionalism, quality and credibility. Just because I’m a novice writer, it does not mean I’m not a professional or serious about my work.

You might even be able to learn something from all this: it does not take money to make money. I’m just using the things I already have. In fact, a lot of people have the same stuff if not more. All you need is a bit of common sense, creativity and discipline.

REFLECTING ON TODAY

The bridge you see is called the Bridge of Sighs. In the old days, prisoners crossed this bridge from the Doge’s Palace (left) to get to the prison (right) and carry out their sentence. That would be the last time they see anything outside the prison. This same analogy was used by John Lee in his book. This analogy played in my head several times: On January 4th, 2007, I sentenced myself to the life of a freelance writer and copy consultant. While I am a full time student, I’m also a part time professional, proprietor and business owner. While most of my peers can commit themselves to their girlfriends or boyfriends, I am committed to my work. In the past, it was campus activities, now it’s commercial and business. I can’t not think like a businessperson. Juggling my two roles would be challenging but possible. But I’m not going to prison and my view isn’t this:

Instead, it is a transition. I’m leaving the “old” world for the “new”. I’m heading for the Naboo:

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