SURVIVING IN VICTORY
Success is a function which is directly proportional with prayer, goal, effort, and tools. Because of his love of physics, Gideon formulated his success secret to the “formula” F(x)=DxCxBxA. If a component is missing, there is no success or the result is zero.
dr. Gideon Hartono (45) once took part in the election as the candidate of vice major in Yogyakarta for period 2006-2010, accompanying Herry Zudianto. However, politic world does not only rely on the ability to manage and create concept. Politic is about the most popular votes and Gideon did not have this basic. He was bounced in the last minutes. Herry Zudianto finally progressed in the election of city major with his pair from PAN.
“I am double minority. First, I am Christian and second, I am from Chinese ethnic. So, I am double minority, ha-ha-ha,” he said while laughing in an evening last November. “However, I have shown that I am an Indonesian citizen as the descendant from Chinese ethnic who also cares about national importance and want to give the best for people,” he said.
The interview was supposed to be done a day before, but the guests kept coming so that the time is up. That evening, in the Laboratorium Klinik Utama Hi-Lab, Jl. Yos Sudarso, No.27, Kotabaru, when the rain poured in Yogyakarta, dr. Gideon narrated about the spirit and success key he used to manage his franchise business of Apotek K-24. This pharmacy has many branches that spread in 96 locations across Indonesia.
LONG PROCESS
There is no instant result. Gideon is not the child of rich family who can just step on the red carpet of success. There was long process and also ups and downs in his life.
Born in the poor family as the fifth child from seven siblings, Gideon already sharpened his entrepreneur instinct. When he was in junior high school, Gideon with his friend, rode a public minibus to Klaten to sell red rice flour. Entering Kolese de Britto high school, Gideon coordinated his friend to sell snacks to the new students. He also cooperated with his two friends to write a book of physics problems. The money he got from selling them was used to go on vacation to Tawangmangu and Sarangan.
His brother’s pocket camera helped Gideon to learn photography by himself. He won several photography competition and built a small studio in his house. Years later, Agatha Photo Studio was established and was one of the largest photo studios in Yogyakarta.
Gideon was graduated from the Medical Faculty of Gadjah Mada University. After serving people, he planned to take ophthalmologists specialist program, “Two days in a week of my time would be dedicated to the less-privileged people. I would do cataract surgery for free,” that was what Gideon promised. He was the only civil service that registered in specialist program. His academic grades were good. However, he was not accepted, “I tried to think positively. God must have other special plans for me,” Gideon said.
In the book entitled “Menembus Puncak” published by ANDI Yogyakarta, dr. Gideon stated that the reflection of his failure above created new inspiration to keep working in health field. He met the reality of the difficulty in finding medicine during the night or holiday. When he found it, said Gideon, the price was above the normal price. Then, an idea to establish a pharmacy that opens for 24 hours, with no closing day, complete, and the price is always the same showed up. In October 2002, the first pharmacy was opened in Jl. Magelang Yogyakarta. He later sells franchise for his pharmacy. “Now K-24 is in the big three. We want it to be the first in 2010 with 500 outlets accross Indonesia,” he said it confidently.
From Yogyakarta for Indonesia and Asia
Hardship must have experienced by everyone. The difference is there are individuals who can overcome it and there are those who don’t. In his case, Gideon even got the inspiration from the hardship he faced. Gideon said, “Inspiration was derived from the word ‘in’ and ‘spirit’. The meaning is as long as we are inside the spirit, motivation to move forward will always be there even though we are in hardship,”. The husband of drg. Inge Santoso, Sp. Ort was sure that no matter how sophisticated a management is, there is always a weak point in it. That is why Gideon never relied only on human-made knowledge, but also to the God who always awakens the spirit inside him: Inspiration.
After “from Yogyakarta for Indonesia,” through Apotek K-24, Gideon was inspired by “Yogyakarta for Indonesia” by Hi-Lab Diagnostic Center in Kotabaru, Yogyakarta. Except the high technology tools to diagnose various diseases, the other benefits of Hi-Lab is the result can be accessed via sms and internet. “Developing countries like Vietnam and Myanmar must need a comprehensive laboratory. We can export our educated expertises in this field to operate it,” said Gideon who applied long life learning concept for him and his employees.
Harmonious in Diversity
The stigma of Chinese descendants is very uncomfortable. That is why Gideon since the beginning always instilled the philosophy of “The spirit of living harmoniously in diversity,”. This value is instilled for real in Apotek K-24. It can be seen from the symbol (logo that consists of four colors: green to represent Muslim, red for christian, yellow for chinese ethnic, and white for other minority groups) or in the company regulation. Everyone, no matter what the tribe, race, or religion, is the same in front of the God. “Now, I focus more on K-24 to spread that spirit. If we want Indonesia to be more advanced, we have to learn to manage the diversity. It is not only with the sentence, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, but also in real life. From the pharmacy, I spread the spirit to live harmoniously in diversity,” said the man who is also the chief of Educational Organization Budya Wacana.
Surviving in Victory
Being a successful entrepreneur is not the main purpose in Gideon’s life. “For me, success means finding God’s plan for myself, which is being both inspiration and blessing for others. I want my existence to be benefit and useful for others. Being a successful entrepreneur is not the only purpose, but also to be a facility or stepping stone so that I can be more effective in answering Allah’s calling,” said Gideon in the book entitled Menembus Puncak.
Gideon held a faith to survive in his victory. This faith came from the reflection and his experience. When someone was suffering, he tried to find a way out from it. But, when he was in the good condition, he felt like being up above the clouds.
Gideon persuades his friends - that was how he called his staffs - to have humble heart. This behavior will help them surviving in victory. “If we are blessed by God to step on successful peaks, this is a gift from God. God makes us able to do that, and God said that there is still peak above it. So, it is not good to be arrogant for it. The behavior to survive in victory for me is the sign that we still depend on God. Even when we succeed, it does not mean that we can do it by ourselves. Haughty behavior, feeling capable, will make us falling,” he said.
http://www.ebahana.com/warta-28-Bertahan-Dalam-Kemenangan.html