After having been permited by ALLAH to survive exploring my profession as an Independent Business Lawyer for more than 17 Years since 1 June 1998, nearly reaching 18 Years, if ALLAH permits me to be still alive in venturing my life journey in this Beautiful and Challenging World that ALLAH has created for us to leave, I did not realize that such experimental venture which I experienced was actually "similar and has the same
character as Freelance Independent Business Lawyer" where I can apply Flexi Hours and Flexi Time in performing my enjoyable Profession as an Independent Business Lawyer;
- This started when I quit as an an In-House Legal Counsel from PT Freeport Indonesia Company, a Copper and Gold Mining Company operating its Mining Operation in Indonesia, after working as In-House Legal Counsel in PT Freeport Indonesia for 5 Years (from 1993 until 1998). Of course there was a reason which triggered me to quit from this Mining Company, when my Former Boss who left Indonesia, went back to the United States, but still held a weekly meeting with the Legal Department and Tax Department of PT Freeport Indonesia, whereby such teleconference was ceased and stopped by another guy who was assigned in Jakarta to replace my Former Boss.
This New Guy from the field replaced my Former Boss and had instantly changed the program which was already made by my former Boss, where no more weekly Meeting will be held through teleconference between my Former Boss and the Legal Department and Tax Department, and will be replaced by this New Boss.
- Apart from that, my Carrier path program which was established and agreed by my Former Boss and myself was also being changed for which really upset me and I directly told this New Boss that I am really wasting my time and requested to be compensated by owning a certain House which was under a House Loan Program plus a certain amount of money compensation; This House was actually rented by me to a certain Filipino Expatriate when this matter emerge, since thanks to ALLAH, I had already another house in Cipete which is the Southern Part of Jakarta, which me and my family already owned and stayed;
Luckily, thanks to ALLAH that a portion of my claim was agreed including getting this House to be legally owned by me (which for 5 Years the Principal payment was paid by the house lease amount and the interest was paid by a Certain Bank who has a Cooperation Agreement with PT Freeport Indonesia relating to this House Loan Program for the employees of PT Freeport Indonesia). There were no any outstanding payment of the House Loan that I had to repay to PT FI, which for me this was really a "Blessing in Disguise", since there is always 2 (two) sides out of a "Coin".
Thanks to ALLAH that this House was used by me as the Safety Net and starting Working capital for me in practicing my new Exiting Venture as an Independent Business Lawyer. Lessons which I captured from my respective case appears to be that if you try to be honest there will be sort of a Blessing in Disguise which I felt was really a great help from ALLAH to me, who loves to be "More Independent" in pursuing my further Experimental Venture in practicing my Law Profession as an Independent Business Lawyer. Of course there are the ups and downs in terms of Cash - In since you no longer have a guaranteed monthly payment for continuing your life.
- But on the other hand we do not have a Boss who frequently possessed the control of our live and can easily changed the carrier path program that had been established and planned, which really can disturb your life expectation in a certain fragmentation of your life journey.
- If you are Self - Employed, your only Boss will be ALLAH who created you in the first place, and of course our-self who must manage our own cash-flow, which is for sure uncertain from month to month in the running years, for which there is always the Advantage and Disadvantage of every life choices that you have pick, among the many alternatives and option available in this life.
This really comforts me since as an Independent Business Lawyer, we no longer feel lonely in pursuing this profession which is more closer to the understanding of practicing as a Freelance - Independent Business Lawyer - which has the similar characteristic - in principal - More Flexible in terms of time and Place where you want to optimize your Professional Services for the best interest of your Client since you are Independent and have the freedom to perform the Professional Services that you are required to render to protect your Business Client Interest from the Legal Business Aspects of your Clients Business Venture and Operation.The Disadvantage being Freelancer :
- There is no Guaranteed Fixed Monthly Income like if you are working in a Corporation
- There is no Insurance for which you have to cover and seek for your own Health Insurance
- There is no Pension for which your Pension is your accumulated Tangible Asset and Intangible Asset
- We are our Own Boss - Self Employed- thus you have to control and master your Freelance Career- Your Real Boss is ALLAH - for believers and has faith in ALLAH and the Hereafter.
- Flexible Time and Flexible Place to perform your Professional Services
- You are not Stuck in a Cubical Wall
Jakarta, 4 March 2014
Agung Supomo Suleiman
Cheers.....
