“Actually, you should be an entrepreneur.”
That was the “end-tag” that one of my key clients left for me to ponder; after a fruitful meeting the other day on potential business development and matching between two of my most supportive clients (and friends) since the inception of CA, both aspire to be even more prosperous than they already are. To me, it is definitely not money that continuously drives them to greater heights but rather the challenges and thrills of taking on bigger things. For me, while getting my end met every month remains a priority, I would like to think that I’m driven by the same aspiration.
That simple enough and clear enough remark has since been in my mind for days. If I am taking it on face value, I should be happy as I am supposing for greater things with that remark, not just a professional service provider. However, as I ponder further against my current position and progress, some concerns are raised in my thought and increasingly drowning me with more question marks than answers through out the last few days. These are the daunting thoughts that were looping continuously in my minds ever since:
- To the most extreme, does that remark means that I am not a good professional service provider since I should be an entrepreneur?
- Given that I am deeply involved with many different variances of businesses and associations across the spectrum of conformity and creativity of which most of my clients are aware of the same (please read my profile on CA Web – www.churassociates.com to find out more), that remark seems to suggest that I’m not focus in what I set out to do?
Here are some facts about me and CA:
- CA shall turn three (3) come November and expanding.
- I shall turn thirty (30) come November.
- I shall complete my seventh (7th) years in practice as a lawyer come next April which means that I shall be able to take on legal pupils a “Master”.
These are all significant milestones for a business, a person and a professional that accordingly invite a lot of thinking as it mark the end of the formative era while signifying the start of another era of growth in a wiser manner (hopefully). Setting against such background, that remark, for all intents and purposes to mean well, has become overbearing to me.
First of all the underlining questions, am I good enough as a professional service provider?
While realizing that CA is an aspiring creature of mine and the high confident that I have with CA, I realize that no matter what I do I can’t buy two (2) things:
- Time; and
- Experience.
I guess I have always knew it all along in my business decision-making but it just get very clear over the last few days with that remarks. Despite all the qualities and abilities, CA would not be preferred over another practice that have been around and established for decades, if you can afford it. Legal practice is a service that thrives on being risk-adverse and conservative. Young and less experienced are not synonymous with those compelling virtues. Simply, if you can pay for an S-class, would you instead opt for a Sonata?
Based on my “green sugar merchant” theory (let me know if you wish to know more on this!), there is still a valid reason for the Sonata to be preferred – that is being “Green” …
Green means
- High energy level as we try harder and willing to invest more times to go the extra miles…
- Fresh – ideas and willingness to test the limits instead of relying on past precedents (as we don’t have one!)
- Flexible – ready to adapt for common solution
- Receptive to new ideas and technologies; try them too!
- Be new age! Do not go into a battle in the classic manner used by the experienced and time-tested.
- Focus and triumph on the “Greenfields” as these new frontiers are level-playing grounds for both the new and the old, and the chances are the new shall prevail over the old with the lesser historical burden.
- Environmental friendly – we believe in Solutions; NOT papers!
For me and CA, I have many ideas and I need many doors and windows to be in the business. Being Green again, it does not allow me to close doors or windows at these formative stages, at least I do not know how and which one to close just yet. These come with experience.
Being the Green Sugar Merchant, I have extremely high energy to sustain this great diversity of involvement (although I might overestimate at times). However, I acknowledged essentially that it paid to be focused. As for now, I must ensure that my core business as a lawyer must be up to the mark to meet expectation of my client at least. That’s why “We Deliver” is a rightly themed brand charter of CA.
Therefore, the theme for the last quarter of this year as I have told my team at CA during the last status meeting is “Be Operational Transparent!”. This is an effort to make things clear but putting it in writing. Being clear and unmistaken, we can stamp out the possibility of oversights and mistakes. There is also a healthy check and balance. We have identified ten (10) core areas of our practice and have assigned teams to work on it. Similar efforts have also been made to address operational and administrative issues. We hope to report good news by next year.
The past few days, I have been highly critical on the quality of our work and my eagerness (or rather impatient) for results and quick-fix would have offended some consciously and unconsciously. I take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for my un-wise choice of words, and if at all, I was only mad with myself. Thanks for those of you for lend your ears to solve my question marks on the said remark; I shall not let you down.
With this writing, I shall accept the said remark positively and look forward to my next phrase of challenges upon my consolidation effort in ensuring my core is run effectively to the dot of “We Deliver”.
On a lighter note, I am happy to share that the trademark application of “Chur Associates” is now at the final stage and we forward to greet you next year with chur associates®. With your support, we are determined to serve you at the level worthy of our registered trademark.
As for my book, I have consulted with my “Guru” and the conclusion is that it is not an easy effort to write a book. There are too many questions to answer and I shall solve this with my “Guru” to report to you my progress.
Until then, to all Muslims, Happy Fasting and Selamat Hari Raya! To all Hindus, Happy Deepavali!. To all Malaysians, enjoy the festive break at the end of the month. Trust me, you deserve it!
- To Hani and Lee Ping, our blessings are with you and keep up the CA spirit in style!!!
- To Terri, Josephine and Chye En, welcome on board @ CA. May the force be with you!
Actually, I am an Entrepreneur!
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