You don’t choose your passion, it chooses you
Carmine Gallo
The Art of Never Standing Still
*2016*
He was walking towards our table at Liberté, Pacific Place, where we had arranged to meet for lunch.
He was dressed in a black suit, looking sharp.
I remember feeling honored that he had made time for me, knowing how busy his schedule must have been.
Over lunch, he patiently answered my endless questions about the capital market. I was particularly curious about an article he had recently published, and I had a few questions about it.
What fascinated me wasn’t just his knowledge, but his passion for sharing it.
Here was a man who, at the time, was a director of the Indonesia Stock Exchange, yet still found the time to write. Not because he had to, but because he genuinely wanted people to understand the capital market.
*23rd September 2026*
Tonight, I watched that same man once again.
Dressed in a suit, looking just as sharp. Only this time, he wasn’t walking towards my table.
He was standing on a stage, delivering the keynote speech at the EmitenNews Awards, an event born from something he had spent the past five years building.
His own baby, EmitenNews.
For a moment, my mind wandered back to that afternoon in 2016.
Back then, I had the privilege of listening to him across a table. Tonight, I watched an entire room do the same.
And somehow, that made me smile.
Because in many ways, he was still the same man.
Still passionate about the capital market. Still believing in the power of knowledge. Still finding ways to educate and inspire.
Only this time, he wasn’t just writing about the industry. He had built something of his own within it.
And that, to me, says so much about the kind of man he is.
Over the years, he has never been one to sit still.
Six published books. Then came podcasts, hosting, moderating discussions, and now, the EmitenNews Awards.
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, he proves you wrong.
At an age when many people might be perfectly happy doing what they’ve always done, he somehow keeps finding new things to try.
Perhaps he has never quite understood the concept of slowing down. 👀😄
Or perhaps he simply refuses to let age decide what he can or cannot do.
Ten years ago, I looked up to him for what he knew and what he had accomplished.
Today, my respect for him goes far beyond all of that.
It’s for the man I’ve come to know over the years, and the way he continues to live life on his own terms.
Read More
ULTRA
ULTRA
Mereka menyebutnya matahari
Yang memanggang kepala kami
Yang mengisap keringat kami
Yang melepuhkan telapak kaki kami.
Kami menyebutnya ultra
Mereka menyebutnya jarak
Yang mempertanyakan nyali kami
Yang menguji arah langkah kami
Yang memaksa tunduk ego kami.
Kami menyebutnya ultra
Mereka menyebutnya malam
Yang gelapnya menerawangkan kami
Yang dinginnya menenggelamkan kami
Yang heningnya membungkam kami.
Kami menyebutnya ultra
Mereka menyebutnya mental
Yang mengada dan tiadakan kepala kami
Yang meremas-mengempas dada kami
Yang mengejawantah dalam tarikan napas kami.
Kami menyebutnya ultra
Mereka menyebutnya batas
Yang menyatukan kekuatan dan kelemahan kami
Yang mengaburkan nyata dan halusinasi kami
Yang mencairkan air mata di ujung tawa kami.
Kami menyebutnya ultra
Ring of Lawu, 25 Juli 2026
Read More
WELIRANG
Tidak ada pilihan. Harus terus bergerak. Dari titik start di Kaliandra Resort, Pasuruan menuju Check Point (CP) 1 di Pondok Welirang. Sepuluh kilometer pertama dengan “elevasi-gain” 1.600 meter. CP sekaligus “horror” COP (cut-off point) yang harus ditempuh dalam waktu maksimal 5,5 jam, atau risiko “di-out-kan” kalau tidak bisa memenuhi waktu itu. Huft! Di jalur awal -jalur makadam, jalanan dengan batu pecah- berusaha melewati -dan juga tentunya dilewati- pelari-pelari (sebenarnya lebih tepat pejalan atau pendaki). Eh, don’t get me wrong, aku juga berjalan. Manalah mungkin -kecuali para pelari elit yang sudah melesat sejak awal- berlari di antara ratusan peserta, di jalanan bebatuan tidak rata, dan terutama mendaki. Hanya dan terus mendaki. Di antara deru langkah dan deru napas. Huft! Setelah jalur makadam, memasuki jalan setapak single track, dengan pandangan lepas ke sisi kanan lampu-lampu kota dan desa jauh di bawah sana. Tetap berusaha menjaga posisi, terus mengekor antrian, sambil mencuri napas saat antrian melambat. Melipir sejenak ke pinggir hanya akan berarti bersiap dilewati barisan antrian mengular di belakang, dan bakal tercecer, lalu horror COP kembali menghantui. Gak deh. Huft!
Read More
Surat Terbuka Untuk Semua
Semua yang Terkasih,
Satu dekade dulu, saat menjadi bagian dari kampanye “Yuk Nabung Saham”, saya bersemangat mengajak masyarakat -seluruh lapisan masyarakat, apapun profesinya- untuk menjadi investor saham. Menyisihkan uangnya, untuk ditabungkan dalam bentuk saham -menjadi pemilik perusahaan publik- demi “mengamankan” uangnya, mendapatkan dividen, seraya berharap kenaikan “nilai perusahaan” dan harga sahamnya, agar setidaknya uang-uang yang dihasilkan jerih payah dari hari ke hari, bulan ke bulan, tidak tergerus inflasi, tidak menurun daya belinya. Bermimpi menjadi kaya? Tidak perlu. Cukup punya “tabungan” nyaman masa depan, sembari melek investasi agar terhindar dari investasi-investasi bodong. Cuma berharap menjadi sedikit lebih sejahtera saja, tidak berlebihan. Seluruh rakyat negeri ini berhak untuk itu.
Read More
