I launched my first product—private tutoring services in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry—in 1990. I was 19 and a half years old at the time, in my second semester of undergraduate studies in Fisheries at the Faculty of Animal Science. I also created advertisements to attract students and earn money to cover laboratory fees and purchase books.
In 1996, at the age of 26, I developed a software product for international banking and export/import transactions. I created this product using dBase III Plus, a program I had learned in late 1994 through a dBase III Plus programming course.
In 1999, I produced educational articles for "Job Indonesia", a tabloid published in Jakarta. I wrote these educational pieces on export and import, drawing upon the professional experience I had gained between 1995 and that time.
In 2002, at the age of 32, I became the Operations Director of a company in Semarang. At the same time, I served as the Quality & Relationship Manager for the corporate group that oversaw that company. In 2007, I took on the additional role of Independent Commissioner for three banking entities within the same group. Over a span of 20 years—lasting until my early retirement in 2022 at the age of 52—I developed various products and systems for the group. These included advertising materials, press releases for newspapers, and operational protocols for several departments established at my initiative: Branding/Marketing Communications, Legal, Human Resources, and Technical Training. I also created protocols regarding employee scholarships (for university studies in Law or Management), pension funds, and technical training programs. Furthermore, I developed protocols for handling non-performing loans, restructuring manufacturing management, and managing human resources.
The keys to creating these products are: 1) I always keep my eyes open to the problems right in front of me. 2) I use (and expand) my insights to solve those problems. 3) I build relationships with people I can collaborate with. 4) I respond to criticism or rejection by staying focused on the product I am developing—which will ultimately address those criticisms or objections (this requires long-term patience, potentially up to five years). 5) When a product of mine fails, I view it as part of the process of creating a better product.
Of course, there was a price I had to pay to create those products: 1) I used to sleep only four hours a day (fortunately, I was young back then); 2) I continued working on days off—of my own volition and without overtime pay—because there were urgent issues to resolve or because I had ideas for new products; and 3) I spent my own money to attend classes while continuing to work.
The price I had to pay was still small compared to the results I gained, namely: 1) My income was relatively very good; 2) I was able to realize my ideas for creating new products; 3) I built an extensive professional network; 4) I established a strong professional reputation; 5) I obtained additional academic degrees (in Law, Psychology, Management, and Environmental Studies) as well as professional qualifications (as a lawyer and an industrial psychologist); and 6) I gained real-world experience that served as material for writing books.
In conclusion: 1) I always keep my eyes open to identify existing problems and develop products to address them. 2) There is a price to pay for creating these products, but that cost is relatively small compared to the results and benefits I gain.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 18:10 WIB
Dr. Constantinus, S.Pi, S.H., S.Psi, M.M., M.M., M.Psi, Adv., Psi. (Green Industry & Management)
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