HOW I MET THE FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF THAILAND?

Right time, right place, right people equals success!

Well at least according to my own experience.

Many have asked me how did I meet one of the most prominent figures of country like Thailand? It took me sometime to figure out how it really panned out.

It didn't happen just by chance, the whole process took about two years to happen.

It all started back in 2015 when I travelled to Penang with some lady friends to meet up with a group of ladies there. I happened to be introduced to a kind couple who offered to host me in their cozy and beautiful home in an up market neighborhood right next to the sea. Because of this connection, I was by chance later offered a complimentary 4 night stay in one of the most prestigious hotel resorts on Phuket Island; The Marriot Phuket Beach Club, if I was willing to attend some business meeting to be held there.

Due to work commitments, I wasn't able to take up the offer straight away. However, I did manage to communicate with the organization that offered me the vacation and they agreed to hold the offer until such time when I was able to take it up.

Just so happened that my busy work schedule allowed me a little window of free time in February this year and so I proceeded to confirm my meeting and my booking with Marriot.

The day before my trip to Phuket however, I was requested to attend a meeting with a Chamber of Commerce of which I am a Supreme Council member. I was in a slight dilemma of deciding on whether to attend the meeting or not as I had to catch an early flight the next day. My gut feeling however said that I should.

Thankfully that gut feeling was right. My Chamber had received an invitation to send a representative to Bangkok, Thailand for a discussion on a business matching project. None of my other colleagues could make it for the meeting because of the short notice and so I volunteered to represent the Chamber to attend the meeting as I would be just a short flight away in nearby Phuket. The rest is history.

Knock, and the door shall open for you!

Opportunities don't always come calling, but when they do, be sure to be there to open that door! ~ @madeve

While enjoying my holiday at the luxurious Marriot in Phuket and just two days before my scheduled departure for my meeting in Bangkok, I got to know that my itinerary would include a meeting with the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. I then took the initiative to do some research on him and Thailand and to prepare for the meeting. Sounds like an interesting holiday huh? Anyway, I was hopefully optimistic that this could be an opportunity for me to introduce and tell him everything he wanted to know about my Kadazan-Dusun Community.

The meeting was held at his personal residence in the heart of Bangkok. On the way there, I tried to prepare myself with some facts and figures and on the answers to questions that he may ask of me and honestly, deep down I felt a wee bit nervous. My affirmations in preparation had somehow helped by actually imagining that things will go quite well. I tried to calm myself down by taking a few deep breaths in the car on the way there. What made me feel strong was the faith that my community had in me to bring uplifting change to their lives.

It took me about two hours to prepare myself in my hotel room before my scheduled pick up. Even so, I was still quite anxious and trembling inside when the meeting began. “Tell me about yourself and what you do? How can I help you?" were his initial formal questions after the pleasantries upon my introduction to him.

I could still feel my feet cold and shaky as I tried desperately to get over my nervousness, but thankfully I managed to compose myself quickly. I had learnt that really preparing oneself before meetings and also really knowing your 'stuff' is an absolute must to ensure a successful meeting. The coping strategies worked well this time. I started to talk calmly and comfortably and frankly even surprised myself on how cool and collected I could be in an unnerving situation such as this.

I would have to say that I feel deeply honoured to have been given an opportunity to make a courtesy call on Mr. Korn Dabbaransi, a former Deputy Prime Minister and the former Minister of Industry for Thailand at his personal residence. The meeting was awe inspiring as we were able to discuss on the economic empowerment of our communities and our peoples, towards the bridging of economic relations between Thailand and Sabah as well as our shared visions. I was also fortunate to be able to indulge in a deeply personal and wide-ranging, conversation on the aspirations of my community and to learn from him about the development, growth and success of Thai SMEs'.

This marks my journey to build up a working relationship with Thailand government and their SMEs. Perhaps a journey of endless opportunities to grow my people.

So that is how I met with the former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand. An opportunity by pure chance or was it? Now I'm going to manifest on meeting the President of Indonesia & Phillipines!

Ask, and you shall receive!