4.5 Years Down the Road

It is a Friday 22th August 2008, 7.00pm. I am in ATCEN Learning Centre attending an English Writing Class. Yes, an English Writing Class conducted by Aneesa. Do I need it …YES, because she writes for a living and I am learning. Learning how to get important written message across effectively. So Aneesa thank you.

Sitting at the back of the room, with my laptop, I am looking and listening to Aneesa conducting the session. Next thing I know I am compelled by a sense of accomplishment. All this learning about writing for effectiveness and seeing that every single ATCENian is still in the office learning; made me remember something.

To recollect my thoughts, I logged onto ATCEN website (www.atcen.com) and clicked onto “OUR STORY”. The page on The Journey popped up and I read it. Next I clicked onto the Chapter 1 button and what I was recollecting popped right up at the top of the page

“ATCEN was not built solely for the motive of profits. Why? We believe there's more to life than money. ATCEN aspires to revolutionize the Malaysian business approach; to be a model company, an innovative company. A company where the principles and values of the organization are not mere talismans on display but in every breath we exhale. We care for the development of our people, to build characters and the entrepreneurs of the future.”

I wrote the above paragraph, part of the ATCEN Story, on 29^th March 2004 when ATCEN was barely 4 months. It was written from the heart as ATCEN was still young and it was then a fantastic opportunity to start something new, something great, something to be proud of. And the founders at that time want it to happen.

Coming back to ATCEN Learning Center, I am just struck by what I wrote 4 ½ years ago and what we have achieved today.

In the room with me are 24 individuals consisting of 8 Malays, 10 Chinese, 3 Indians, 1 Iban and 2 of mixed parentage. We had ladies in tudung, mini skirt, jeans, office wear, fresh graduates, also the not so young, English educated, Malay educated and Chinese educated. They had only two things in common, we were all Malaysians and also ATCENians. Tell me of another company that is so rojak and diverse.

This is a company that is not relationship based, race based, chain based or any other based, even sexuality preference based. We are only PERFORMANCE BASED.

We are definitely revolutionizing the Malaysian Business Approach just by our background and the way we do things.

We are extremely Principled and Value driven, it does not matter who it involves. A wrong is a wrong and will be feedback upon. A Right is a Right and will also be feedback upon. Good behaviours are praised, the bad raised and learnt from. We do this regardless whether the individual is the CEO, the manager or the penyapu lantai, which is the CEO occasionally, rank is of little relevance here. All are equal. The CEO cleans the toilet so does everyone else. This in itself is another revolution in Malaysia if not the world.

Ask anyone in ATCEN and they will say we live here. That is just the practice in this organization. We are here not just to make a difference for our clients or ATCEN, the organization but for ourselves. We want to develop, build our character and be entrepreneurs. This is who we, ATCENians, moving towards our Aspiration and proud of it.

To the team it is now 8.15pm and the English Class has just ended and we are all happy with what we have learnt.

As for me I am just proud that words for a certain vision written 4 ½ years ago is now a reality. To ATCENians, you made this possible.