Dreams and Imagination
'Imagination is more important than knowledge'.
'A true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination'.
'Education is what remain after one has forgotten what one has learned in school'
'Logic will take you to A to B. Imagination will take u everywhere'
- Albert Einstein
Let me tell u a story about someone i really love and adore, my father.
He came from a place called Pematang Pasir, or as we Kedahan would say, Pematang Pasi'aq. His father was a teacher and his mother was a housewife.
He used to tell me, that when he was about to sleep, and if it rains, he had to use 'kain' just to cover himself from the rain. He used to travel to school everyday using his bicycle, a few Kilometers away from his home. He comes from a very humble beginning, Kampung Pematang Pasir.
After a few temporary job, he started his career in banking. From being just a clerk to being the head of credit. He was offered as the branch manager but did not accept the due to better oppurtunities.
In 1992, which was the year i was born, he took a leap of faith and moved to KL. He told me, that moving to KL was really out of his comfort zone but, that move made him who he is today.
During his years as a banker, he used to do other business just to have extra/side income. He used to buy a car, modified the car and made it really nice using minimal budget, and sell the car at a profit. That way, he got to enjoy the car, he got to drive in style and at the end of it, profit from it.
He has one amazing trait, he has a big heart. He loves to give. He loves doing charity and he loves helping others.
I remember when i was still a young boy, he told me, 'Ap, bila ap sedekah, ap jangan fikir ap tengah bagi duit ap kat orang lain and jangan sayang duit ap, ayah nak bila ap sedekah, ap bayangkan ap tabung duit ap kat jalan Allah.'
I know for a fact now, that when we give, we will get it back. Not from the person we give to, but Allah will repay u in a bigger way.
He told me something that i think is worth sharing. He told me that he used to imagine having a great life even when he was having a difficult time.
He used to visualize himself driving a BMW, he used to have pictures of BMW's car on his wall, so he would see it and feel that he actually have the car. I remember going with my dad to test drive a BMW 3 series. We went there using a Suzuki Vitara.
If u know him, u would know that he drives like a maniac. During that test drive, he made the sales man scream like a baby. Haha. He was going so fast but I remember I was loving it. Then, after we were done, we went back in the Vitara, and i remember telling myself, 'How wonderful would it be if we could own that BMW'.
Today, he has 4 BMWs at home. Accumulatively I think he has bought more than 10 BMW.
He used to just dream about it, now he lives in his dreams, whether he realise it or not. Alhamdulillah, he now have a wonderful house, a wonderful wife, and hopefully wonderful sons too. :-)
Even people like Albert Einstein, Donald Trump, Tony Fernandes, and many others talks about dreams and imagination. Most of the success stories i've read starts with a dream.
I feel very strongly about my dreams. I want to be a Malaysian icon. I dream that when people abroad talk about Malaysia, they would say, 'Oh i know Malaysia, A great man, Asyraf Khalid is from Malaysia.' I want to be known as a rich man, that is humble, that loves to help others, and as one of the most prominent business figure in Malaysia.
Money is so important, and i have to say, I love money so much. However, you should never put money before your values.
I've seen so many examples of people who has too much money that they become evil. This is because of the lack of core values and morality in them. They have no guidance in life, that is why i feel that we have to gain as much knowledge before money comes. With the right knowledge comes the right values.
When I talk about knowledge, it is not just studies. Personally, I feel that memorizing notes for exams are just a waste of time. I see so many teachers in Malaysia teach the students with zero passion in what they do. Just because they can't answer us, they tell us to memorize.
Memorizing doesnt help u make decisions, it doesnt teach u any values, and one that memorize, might do well in exams, but when life really test them, i doubt they will do well.
I remember when I was in class, i asked the lecturer some difficult question, instead of answering my question, she went on blabbering about the government, talking about how bad her life is because of the Government.
We need teachers that are passionate, we need teacher that are able inspire us to dream, we need educator that wants to educate people, not educators that just want to wait for the paycheck at the end of the month.
I'll be very honest, I was not a great student. I used to answer back to my teachers, I never believe in memorizing notes so i rarely do well in exams, but at the same time i love to read and gain new knowledge since early age. I love reading about leaders, about business, self help books etc. Sadly, these subjects aren't in my exam syllabus.
When i was younger, i used to keep my habit of reading to myself, even my family didn't really know that I really love reading. I thought that reading wasn't cool.
I'm telling you, money is cool, having a wonderful life is cool, having nice cars is cool, and in order of us to achieve all this, other than just having that dream, we have to do something about it. Action.
For us to learn a certain subject, other than going through the experience, by reading u can gain so much insight about whatever u are interested in. So my conclusion is, reading is cool! Because it leads u to a better life.
What does all this have to do with dreams and imagination?
When you read, you are exposed to more stories and other people's experience. It makes u believe that u can actually do what others has achieved. You will eventually believe that u can actually achieve your dreams. When u believe, you will attract opportunities, with knowledge, you will know what to do with the opportunities
So, to all the dreamers out there, I'm sure others, might be your brothers, your parents, your friends, or anyone, has scoffs at your dreams. I say, F them. Keep on believing, one day, they will believe when they see it.
I'm sure if my dad told people around him that he would have what he has today, people would say, 'Lid, hang tok sah berangan la'. However, that 'angan2' made him who he is today.
They don't believe in your dreams simply because they think they can't achieve what u dream of so they think everyone else can't aswell. I don't blame them, maybe it is because of their experience. That is their life, not yours. Don't let other people's bad experience be a barrier between you and your dreams.
Everything starts with thoughts and feelings. Let your imagination run wild. Pick up a book, ask from people that are more experience.
For people who are about to start reading, i would suggest books like 'The Secret'.
'All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them' - Walt Disney.
'To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.' - Anatole France.
Thank you for reading.
'Dreams are not just about your thoughts, its also about your action, ask from Allah, and Allah will guide u.' - Asyraf Khalid.