Eka Tjipta wijaya life story

By : Daniel Reinhard Ogi
290069
Integrity


Anyone who thinks tycoon Eka Wijaya Tjipta formerly poor people. The number of companies have nearly 200 units with 70 thousand employees. But, that's the reality. To go to Indonesia alone, parents owe on the loan sharks. Eka is just nine years old. with her mother went to Makassar in 1932, following his father who had already arrived. "We sailed the seven days and seven nights. Because of the poor, we could only sleep in the worst place on the ship, under the steerage. Want to eat delicious food, unable to. There is money five dollars, but could not spend. Because, to go to Indonesia, we still owe on the loan sharks, 150 dollars, "said the man who is born on October 3, 1923 this. Arrive in Makassar, a small Eka was still named Oei Ek Tjhong, immediately helped his father in a small shop owned. The goal is clear, immediately get 150 dollars to be paid to the moneylenders. Two years later, the debt is paid off, and store his father stepped forward. Eka also ask schooled, but refused to sit in first class.
Complete primary school, Eka could not continue their education. Again, because of economic problems. He began selling around the city of Makassar, hawking biscuits and confectionery. Only two months, he was hooked profit Rp20, a large amount for that period. When the price of rice is still three to four cents per kilogram. Looking at developing their business, Eka buy rickshaws to transport goods.
However, when his business flourished, came the Japanese invaded Indonesia, including Makassar. His efforts were totally destroyed and he was unemployed. There's no import / export can be sold. Gain Rp2.000 painstakingly collected over several years, been spent on daily necessities. In the midst of hope that was almost severed, Eka pedaled bututnya, around the city of Makassar. In Paotere (outskirts of Makassar, now one of the largest boat base outside Java), he saw hundreds of Japanese soldiers are watching hundreds of prisoners of the Dutch troops. Not the Japanese and Dutch soldiers who Eka's attention, but a pile of flour, cement and sugar, which is still in good condition. Eka business right brains spinning. He immediately returned home and made preparations to open a tent near that location. The plan, he will sell food and beverages to the Japanese army in such employment.
The next day, still at four in the morning, Eka already in Paotere. He brought coffee; sugar, kerosene cans filled with water; small oven containing charcoal to make hot water, cups, spoons and so forth. All equipment that he borrowed from his mother, including the six chickens he borrowed from his father .. Chickens were then cut out and made a white chicken salt scrub. He also borrowed one of each bottle of whiskey, brandy and wine from his friends.
At seven in the morning, Eka is ready to sell. Shortly thereafter, 30 prisoners of the Japanese and the Dutch began to come to work. But, until nine o'clock, no visitors. Eka Japanese troops tried to approach the boss, then mentraktirnya eating and drinking in the tent. After tasting a quarter chicken complete with vinegar and garlic sauce, and drank two sips of whiskey for free, the Japanese say, joto. After that, all his men and prisoners are allowed to eat and drink in the tent Eka. And, Eka also asked permission to lift all the items are removed, to his home. He began working hard, choosing what can be used and sold. He also learned how to sew sacks.
In circumstances such as war, the supply of building materials and consumer goods-to-day is very less. Hence. goods which he obtained from the debris that becomes very valuable. Flour for example, originally sold Rp50 per sack, and then raised to Rp60, and finally 150. While cement sold USD 20 per sack, then Rp40.
Business sense is the father of eight children growing. When a contractor wishes to purchase cement for making graves of the rich. Eka refused. Then, turning to contractors Eka tombs of the rich. After the cement and concrete iron out, he was stopped as the contractor's grave. That Eka. After that, he traded copra. and sailed for days to Selayar (South Sulawesi), and other centers to obtain copra copra cheap. Eka took a big profit, however, Japan suddenly issued a regulation that the sale and purchase of palm oil is controlled by Mitsubishi who bought Rp1, 80 per cans. In fact, the market price per tin Rp6. Eka huge losses and almost went bankrupt. He was forced to seek other opportunities. Sugar trade, and teng-teng (Makassar typical food of brown sugar and peanuts), sesame, and cotton candy. But, when I started flying, falling sugar prices, Eka big loss. Capital is depleted and he even owed. To close their commercial debt, he was forced to sell the family car and jewelry, including rings kimpoi. But, Eka remain strong. This time, he tried to field a variety of suppliers and other necessities. However, efforts still fall awake. When it was flying in the 1950s, appeared Permesta. Merchandise goods, mainly copra been looted Permesta personnel. Exhausted their capital again. However, Eka rose again, and to trade lkembali.Jatuh up as a normal thing for Eka.
His efforts had not really raced and never fall again after the New Order. New Order era, according to Eka, "gives coolness business era." Cold-armed man was able to fix the various businesses which was originally "no nothing", to "nothing" Eka Business start reaching. From the paper business, banking, plantations and palm oil factory, tea plantation, until the property business.
"I really realized, I could be like now because God is Good. I strongly believe in God, and always wanted to be good servants, "he said commenting on the success of today. "Besides, Save," he added. He suggested, if you're going to be great entrepreneurs, learn to control the money. Do profits only Rp100, shopping Rp.90. And if fortune only Rp.200, do not try to spend Rp210.
After 58 years in business and hold a conglomerate, Eka said, he personally is actually very poor. "Every thought of the debt plus interest is so great, I dare not to use the money carelessly. Want to break hard, because when depleted for business. There was no time to feel right to use private money, "he complained. Want to eat good food, he added, good food is difficult because the average high cholesterol.
This is the irony, said Eka. Once he was hard to eat good food because of the poor. Now when it was "conglomerate", he remains difficult to eat well, for fear of cholesterol. Age of almost 86 years, sued to keep a strict health and excellence.
Owned companies now include paper mills Tjiwi Chemistry; plantations and palm oil mill in Riau; Plantation and tea factories; Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII); pulp and paper manufacturer PT Indah Kiat; ITC Mangga Dua, shophouses, apartments in Roxy Green View , and Ambassador at Drogheda.
Source: Banu Astono / Abun Sanda, general Kompas Daily, Wednesday, February 1, 1995
excerpted from: bisnis2121.com