Satu hal paling berharga yang aku pelajari dari orangtuaku adalah tentang bagaimana membangun bisnis—bukan hanya dengan strategi atau modal, tapi dengan loyalitas. Sejak awal merintis usahanya, beliau selalu memperlakukan para mitra bisnisnya dengan penuh hormat dan kebaikan. Tidak sekadar sebagai rekan kerja, tapi sebagai manusia yang layak dihargai.
Aku sering melihat bagaimana beliau tampak “terlalu baik” dalam urusan kerja sama. Bahkan, kadang aku merasa beliau terlalu mengutamakan hubungan dengan para mitra dibanding mengejar keuntungan besar. Tapi di situlah pelajaran penting itu muncul.
Beliau pernah berkata, “Bisnis bukan cuma soal uang. Tapi tentang kepercayaan dan kesetiaan. Karena saat kita sedang tidak punya apa-apa, para mitra itulah yang tetap berdiri bersama kita.” Dan benar saja—banyak dari mereka tetap mengirimkan barang ke toko kami, meskipun pembayaran harus ditunda. Mereka percaya pada orangtuaku. Bukan karena kami selalu tepat waktu membayar, tapi karena mereka tahu, jika kami mampu, kami pasti akan menepatinya.
orangtuaku membangun bisnisnya bukan dengan janji-janji kosong, tapi dengan reputasi yang dijaga baik. Dan dari situlah aku belajar: dalam dunia yang penuh persaingan, hubungan yang tulus bisa jadi pondasi terkuat dalam berbisnis.
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One of the most valuable lessons I learned from my parents is the importance of loyalty in business. From the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journey, they consistently treated their business partners with respect, integrity, and kindness—always prioritizing long-term relationships over short-term profit.
At times, I even felt he was going too far placing the well-being of their partners above maximizing earnings. But as I grew older, I began to understand the wisdom behind their approach.
They once told me, “Business is not merely about money. It's about trust and loyalty. Because when difficult times come and we have nothing to offer, it is the loyalty of our partners that keeps us going.”
And they were right. Many of their partners continued to supply us, even when payments had to be delayed. They trusted us—not because we were always prompt, but because they knew that we valued and honored our commitments whenever we were able.
My parents built their business not simply through transactions, but through relationships grounded in mutual respect. It is from them that I learned this truth: in a world of constant competition, genuine relationships may be the most enduring foundation for sustainable success.