D-U-I-T (P-E-S-T) Philosophy
Along with the journey of time, one’s philosophy of life will also continue experiencing changes in line with situation and condition they faced. Many people when they were kids had the desire to be wealthy people, but after they were adult their desire changed and they wanted to become people who were happy in this world and the hereafter. This opinion is justified by life experience of Rudi Wirawan Rusli, chairman of PT. Eurocapital Peregrine Securities and commissioner of PT. Eurocapital. When he was a kid, his desires was to be a wealthy person, but after grown up he realizes that the wealth he coveted is actually world and the hereafter happiness.
In Rudi’s point of view, his nickname, wealth is only a tool to reach happiness in this world and the hereafter. Therefore, human being should not put wealth above all, even less if the wealth pull his happiness off this world and hereafter. "Wealth actually is only a tool to reach happiness in this world and hereafter" say the man who was born in Palembang, 18 May 1964.
Reaching for happiness in this world and hereafter is not an easy job, it needs special strategy, hard work and exhausting long struggle and sometimes takes so long time. Nevertheless, human being must keep on trying to fix their life to become quality life, because who can change their destiny is themselves. "Allah will not change the destiny of a nation before the nation itself that change it".
Allah SWT gives a chance to the entire human being to fix their quality and life standard, living to them whether they are able to use the opportunity and chance. " The example is Indonesia that bestowed by Allah SWT abundant natural resources, living to how this nation makes use and manage it" he said.
In reaching happiness of life in this world and hereafter, Rudi use philosophy D-U-I-T (D=do'a=prayer u=usaha=effort i=ikhlas=sincere t=tawakal=trust in God). The power of prayer is principal base for somebody in achieving certain thing, because without Allah SWT’s favor and help, undoubtedly what we want we would not be able to reach it. After requesting to Allah SWT, then we will do effort maximally to realize what we are willing to reach it. While sincere be the principal base for somebody in trying, as without the existence of sincerity, the effort will be felt very stressful. And the end of all is tawakkal or trust in God, where everyone is demanded to accept all that destined by Allah SWT for them. "Happiness is actually being able to accept Allah destiny, meaning that we have to be thankful to whatever given by Allah SWT to us" he said.
Be grateful to God’s blessings will bring about happiness for somebody, even according to His saying, every grace from Allah that is being thanked will increase its value. "If you grateful to My blessings so I shall add, but if you are infidel to My blessings, undoubtedly My torment is very painful". "I am very grateful to what I have obtained, as I felt Allah SWT is very pity to me" he stated firmly.
It has to be admitted, material wealth is one of the supporters for happiness in this world and hereafter, but it’s not the only one. Islam itself teaches its follower to be rich spiritually and materially. With wealth that he owned, a Moslem is expected able to help alleviating his brothers’ burdens". Islam has principle better to give than to receive or better hand above rather than hand under", said the man that has motto" better be tithe giver from in tithe receivers".
Being the one who is rich materially needs patience and long struggle, moreover for those who is in the corporate business, has to have specific strategies so that his business can generate profit and grow as expected. "In the business world we must have special tricks to it, so that business we do can generate profit, " he emphasized.
According to Rudi’s experience, some of the strategies he applied in running the business are: first, be honest and be committed, so that people trust to him is well maintained. Secondly, be creative, meaning able to create new innovations and to catch business opportunity. Third, persistent (fighting enthusiasm), meaning not easily give up when experiencing failure. And fourth, perform good silaturrahim (networking/strategic alliance).
The naughty youngest child in the family
Rudi Wirawan Rusli is the youngest son in the family with five children from happy couple H. Hadi Rusli and Hj. Rasyidah." People says that usually the youngest child is spoiled, but actually I did not feel it, " he recall.
When newly born, Rudi ever being assumed as "not the son", because his skin color is differ with his brothers and sisters, if his brothers and sisters have a clean white complexion, his skin is dark. Seeing this difference, his parent ever doubted whether Rudi is their own child, they were afraid if their baby got accidentally exchanged with other baby. But after being convinced by the hospital then his parent believed the baby is really their flesh and blood". This happened probably because when she is carrying me, my mother never take vitamins ", he explained.
In addition to having white skin, his four elder brothers and sisters also were bestowed on bright brain, they always be class champion from elementary to high school, get scholarship and loved by teachers. This condition differs with Rudi , since in the elementary school he often had fight, never been class champion even less to get scholarship. " Since childhood I am naughty, I never been class champion, but praise be to Allah, I remained pass, " he recall.
From profession aspect, Rudi is also very differ from his siblings, if all his four brothers and sisters are office employee, only him who is doing business or be entrepreneur." I myself who is different, since childhood naughty and like fighting, may be influenced as because I am the youngest child" he said.
A turning point
A turning point of Rudi’s life occured when he was in 3rd grade of high school. He came to realize and started to begin to re-arrange his future carefully, he did not want to be the only child that failed in the family. His four brothers and sisters had been successfully enter state college, and if he failed, what happened to his future?. "I didn't want to be the only child who were not succeed", he is determined.
Rudi began to organize the strategy on how being able to be admitted at one of state university, he doesn't want to be the only that child who failed and lost the opportunity studying at quality university. So that, from 3rd grade high school he joined at one of special course institution that preparing students to take state university admittance test. Then he chose University of Brawijaya, Faculty of Economics, Malang as second choice. He did it, just in case he failed in his first choice at University of Indonesia, Faculty of Economics, Jakarta. "I chose University of Brawijaya as second choice after University of Indonesia because at that time the rivalry not yet as tight as at UI or ITB ", he said. This strategy is successful, Rudi didn't pass at UI but he still admitted at University of Brawijaya, Malang.
After admitted as student of Faculty of Economics of University of Brawijaya, Malang, Rudi chose accountancy department, with consideration that accountant will be needed at various business sector. "I enter accountancy department because accountancy is a good basic to enter various area, " he explained.
Starts with “Empek- Empek”
When Rudi were in sophomore, his father who all this time financed his study began entering pension time. This condition, of course, must be anticipated as early as possible, so that his study did not stop in the middle of the way. When one day he was challenged by his father whether he remain to expect monthly transfer until the pension money ran out, meant gnawing his pension money or trying by himself to finance his study. Rudi answered emphatically that will try by himself to finance his study until finish.
With Rp. 2.000.000, - as capital from his father, Rudi began to set the plan on how to turn over the money to finance his live and study at Malang. " It is impossible for me gnawing my father’s pension money, moreover I was challenged, so that finally I chose be given capital. Although initially I was flustered, what kind of business that will be done with capital as little as that", he revealed.
In the middle of his confusion, Rudi began to inventory what business could he carried out with capital only Rp. 2.000.000, -. Various strategy and consideration begin to be thought, until finally he concluded the business that may be carried out has to meet several criteria: First, do not need big capital. Second, paid in cash, that’s not possible for people to owe. Third, has small risk of loss, and. Fourth, has big margin, means that has selling price much higher buying price (capital).
Leaving from four consideration above, Rudi finally decided to make business in food area. But the problems did not end in that point, society condition in Malang at that moment made him think hard to choose kind of food to be sold. " it is impossible if I sell rujak cingur, because so many people sell rujak cingur in Malang, it means that I have to be different other seller, " he said.
Coincidentally Rudi was from Palembang and he likes empek-empek so much, whilst at that time in Malang there’s no one who sells empek-empek yet, it means that if he sells empek-empek there will be no competitor yet. After passing various consideration he finally decided to sell empek-empek, but who will buy the merchandise at city like Malang. " This is Malang not Jakarta " his friends warned him.
His friends anxiety make Rudi felt being more challenged to prove that his business will run well and profitable. Coincidentally, at that time a plaza had just been opened in Malang, so he encourage himself to rent one kiosk in that place. In first day, he invited students from various school and university organizations to eat free of charge in the place, with message if it is not delicious try once again and if delicious don't forget to tell it to another person. " On first day the plaza is opened, it was obvious that my kiosk is the most visited kiosk " he recalled.
From selling empek-empek Rudi was able to finance study, saving, and helping friends that facing cash problem. Even his saving money he used to continue his study in the USA ". The money yielded from selling empek-empek he used to buy airplane ticket to the USA and to take English course, " he said.
Because his savings only enough to buy airplane ticket, so during his first year in the USA, Rudi worked at restaurant to collect money to finance his study. " In day time I work as dish washer at Italian restaurant, while in the evening at French restaurant, but after the study begin I only work as driver part timer at a clinic " he said.
After succeed reaching an MBA degree, Rudi returned to Jakarta and work at Bank Niaga. " I work at Bank Niaga for +/- 9 years, " he said. When he felt that the work experience was enough, Rudi decided to quit and begin to open business.
Rudi had been more than 7 times circled the Middle-East countries as Vice Chairman Middle-East & Organization of Islamic Conference Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, to promote economic relationship between Indonesia and the Middle-East countries especially to attract investors from the Middle-East to Indonesia, one of strategy that Rudi implemented was to charmed PATRON of their top entrepreneur, HRH Prince Alwaleed (owner of Citibank, etc) through the confer of Doctor Honoris Causa title from University of Brawijaya, Malang, to HRH Prince Alwaleed at Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 2 June 2008 last year.
Rudi W. Rusli
Jl. Belanak V/6a, Rawamangun, Jakarta, Indonesia
HP: (62) 811132043, E-mail: rudirusli@eurocapitalperegrine. com
Experience :
2006 – 2009 Vice Chairman Middle East & Organization of Islamic Conference Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Promoting the economic relations between Indonesia and Middle East & OIC Countries.
Wide network & good relationship with Major Institutionals and High Net Worth Individual Investors in Middle East, OIC Countries.
2003 – Present Chairman of PT.Eurocapital Peregrine Securities
Securities house with full Licenses of Brokerage, Underwriting & Fund Management.
Has rich experience in advising world-class company both from Local & Global companies for their Corporate Restructure & Action including Mergers & Acquisitions, IPO, Bond Issuance, and managing Asset Management, etc.
2002 – Present Commissioner of PT. Eurocapital
Direct Investment Management & Holding Co.
2001 – 2003 President Director of PT. Tradin Asia Sukses
ProAct Direct Investment Management
Succesfully arranged, established and manage several investment.
1992 – 2001 PT. Bank Niaga, Tbk
Corporate Banking/ Special Assets Mgt. Group
Credit and Marketing Manager.
Business Development, Evaluated Project Finance/ Working Capital/ Trade Finance/ Treasury Product proposal, Managed Trade Finance and Loan portfolio in amount of +/- Rp 500 Billion and then Restructured the Loan due to economic crisis in Indonesia.
Pro.Certificate/ Course :
Registered Accountant # D-6896.
International Certification Programme in Wealth Management, The University of Greenwich, London, UK
Workshop on The Development of Non-Bank Financial Institutions in Indonesia, The World Bank.
Workshop on The Challenge & Opportunity of Indonesian Debt Market, The world Bank.
Project Finance, Euromoney Institute of Finance.
Advanced Credit Analysis,Euromoney Institute of Finance.
Environmental Risk Analysis, Int’l Finance Corporation.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Course, AIMR .
Negotiation Skill, John Clement Consultant Inc.
Credit Analysis, Euromoney Institute of Finance.
Executive Development Program, Bank Niaga.
7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by S.Covey.
Education :
1990 - 1991 MBA - International Business/ Finance.
Graduate School of Business, Lincoln University
USA.
1983 - 1988 SE - Registered Accountant # D-6896.
State University of Brawijaya
Malang, Indonesia
Membership : - Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
- Association of Indonesian Advertising Company
- Certified Wealth Manager’s Association
Social Activity : - Persatuan Tarbiyah Islamiyah, Foreign Relation Department
- ANANDA Foundation, Chairman
