The Power of Small Actions: Insights from Eric Sim’s Book Talk

30th August 2024 was one of those rare moments that leave a lasting impression. I, Ken—a product enthusiast with similarities to Eric Sim—attended a book talk show at Perpustakaan Kemendikbud. It wasn’t just any book talk; it was an event where the renowned LinkedIn influencer Eric Sim , alongside Linkedin Sales Top Person, APAC MVP awardee Lanny Wijaya and creativepreneur Yoris Sebastian Nisiho, moderated by Gagas Media editor, Raisa Wulan Kamila, shared their insights on how small actions can lead to big outcomes.

The Power of Small Actions

As I sat there, listening to Eric Sim talk about his journey, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to my own path. First of all, Eric shared a story about his love for orange, symbolized by the many orange items he owns, even showing his orange stuffs, except underpants??.

He also shares where he began his journey by helping his father, who sold prawn noodles every day. For ten years, until his graduation from a prestigious university, Eric worked alongside his father for 10 years until univ graduation in his conditions: skinny, short body, asthma, and bad grades. After graduation, he joined the banking industry as a salesperson. Despite his engineering background, he landed an interview at DBS Bank. During the interview, he recounted his bartending experience at a nightclub where, initially overwhelmed by a crowd, he learned to simplify his approach by serving a popular drink quickly, Bourbon Coke. This adaptability impressed the hiring manager, who offered him a role in front-office FX sales. At one point, he decided to pursue a master’s degree—a big decision that his parents were pessimistic about because they wondered why he would want to pursue further education when he was already building a successful career. After finishing master, he goes home but struggle because financial crisis made him bury the dream become derivatives. Despite the financial crisis forcing him to shift his focus to risk management in the banking industry, it didn’t matter. Even when he made bad decisions, he always had options. The crazy part is his senior support him and offer him sent abroad, make VBA program for Risk Management Monitoring Spreadsheets etc.

One of the most memorable moments he shared was his decision to post a LinkedIn article on Chinese New Year, a time when many people in Asia are on holiday. What he didn’t realize was that LinkedIn featured his post in a kind of LinkedIn weekly newsletter, and because there were so few articles published during that time, his post received worldwide attention. Eric recalled when he first posted his school essay on social media—only his teacher and he liked it (just two likes)—but when people saw a post showcasing a moment of failure, it went viral.

Lanny Wijaya’s Contribution

Lanny Wijaya played a significant role in adapting the book for the Indonesian audience, ensuring it resonated with the local culture. Eric’s choice of Lanny was intentional—her deep understanding of both Singaporean and Indonesian cultures made her the perfect collaborator. She is also consistent in her field and contributes to social impact through her writing.

Yoris Sebastian’s Creative Insights

Yoris Sebastian, who helped connect the book to Gagas Media, also shared his insights on creativity. A fun fact about Yoris: he became the General Manager of Hard Rock Cafe at just 26 years old! He has since founded several startups and won the Young Creative Entrepreneur Award 2006 from the British Council.

Diving into the Book: Eric Sim’s 66 Practical Tips

Eric’s book offers 66 practical tips on how to build networks and achieve career success as a young professional. I share 3 from 66 key highlights.

Highlight 1: Integrity or the Same Bowl Rule: My father caught me rinsing the bowl. "Don’t wash it a second time," he told Eric sternly but softly, to avoid alerting any customers. He froze, forgetting my meal as he tried to think of some words to pacify him. But He wasn’t quite sure why what he done was wrong. Seeing the blank look on my face, His father said, "If the bowl is clean enough for customers, it’s clean enough for you".

Eric’s father taught him a valuable lesson about integrity. Eric would help wash the dishes using a three-pail system: soaking in soapy water, washing in clean water, and then the final rinse. His father was upset when Eric rinsed a bowl while making noodles for himself, implying that the customer’s bowl wasn’t clean enough. This lesson of doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, stayed with Eric throughout his corporate career, ensuring that the financial products he sold were ones he would buy himself.

Highlight 2: Be a Combo Specialist: As industries are disrupted by technology and big trends outside of your control, your career will inevitably go through periods of drastic change. You should avoid becoming a generalist because your lack of in-depth knowledge means you could be replaced very easily. But you don’t want to be a one-dimensional specialist because you run the risk of becoming obsolete when your industry gets disrupted. Instead, you should aim to be a ‘combo specialist.

Eric uses the analogy of a combo meal at McDonald’s to illustrate this point. The burger is your current specialization, the fries are your secondary specialization, and the Coke is your interests. Over time, his career evolved, with different combinations of skills becoming his “combo meal.”

In his first banking job, his primary specialization was engineering, with finance as his secondary. He used his interest in programming to automate routine tasks, eventually making financial engineering his main specialization, teaching his secondary, and China his interest. His career continued to evolve, with his current specialization being public speaking, his secondary social media, and his interest live production.

Highlight 3: Consistent in all social media platforms: Other Eric's key takeaways from Eric’s book is his consistent approach across social media platforms. LinkedIn serves as a powerful engine for personal branding, allowing for more detailed posts and professional expression. Eric maintains a high-resolution profile photo and consistent titles across his profiles. He also encourages using one’s native language to enhance authenticity. Additionally, Eric adapts his content for different platforms: his LinkedIn posts often get shared on Facebook in a more casual tone and on Instagram with select high-quality photos. This strategic consistency underscores the importance of building a cohesive personal brand. Visit his LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to look at it.

Now I Show Some Few Methods I Love to Use

1. Specialist Combination: As a Product Manager, I also believe in the power of being a "specialist combination"—a professional who excels in core expertise while also bringing complementary and additional skills to the table. My core specialization lies in managing the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to launch and beyond. This involves a deep understanding of market needs, meticulous planning of the product roadmap, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams towards achieving our goals. However, what truly sets me apart is my secondary expertise in data analysis and UI/UX design. These skills allow me to make data-driven decisions and ensure that the products we develop are not only functional but also user-friendly. Additionally, my passion for emerging technologies like Full Stack Development, AI and strategic communication adds an innovative edge to my work. This unique combination of skills makes me a versatile and adaptive Product Manager, capable of navigating the dynamic landscape of technology and delivering products that resonate with users while driving business success.
2. Be My Own CEO: My journey to becoming my own CEO isn't about starting a business but taking full ownership of my career growth. I’ve invested heavily in myself—funding my own learning and development until 100 million Rupiahs, creating an optimal workspace, and acquiring skills that will benefit me in the long run. A big thank you to Lanny Wijaya for the support that has enabled me to share these experiences.
3. Young People Can Give Plus Points (Networking): In my approach to networking, I prioritize giving over receiving. When I engage with others, I focus on sharing knowledge, insights, and support without any immediate expectation of something in return. I make it a point to contribute meaningfully to the community around me. This selfless approach has allowed me to build genuine connections, where the relationships formed are based on mutual respect and trust rather than transactional exchanges. By consistently offering value, I’ve not only expanded my professional network but also discovered new opportunities and collaborations that have enriched my career. Because of that, I've been invited to become a speaker, acting as a PEACEMaker PEACE HR Society to sharing content consistently, or serving as a mentor to guide others on their career paths, This philosophy of giving first has proven to be a powerful way to foster long-lasting and impactful professional relationships. This achievement is inseparable from William Ndut, master of Networking and still learning ahead, for his knowledge. Thank you so much ko.

Want to dive deeper into Eric Sim's experiences and insights? ?? Grab his book here (Indonesia) and unlock a treasure trove of knowledge to fuel your own professional journey!