Being a Civil Servant?

Pramoedya Ananta Toer, the old Indonesian great writer, in his era ever said“Don’t be a civil servant, be a boss of yourself. Don’t eat others’ sweat, eat yours. And those are proven by working.”

Wow… What a message. I was actually so surprised when I read this quotation. At that time, even when the vacancy of being a civil servant was widely opened, Pramoedya had said such thing. From the words “…be a boss of yourself”, if we notice carefully, it means that by not being a civil servant, we can be the possessor of ourselves. Or in other words, it means that by being a civil servant, we cannot be the possessor of ourselves.

Being a civil servant or PNS in bahasa Indonesia, is actually good. We do something based on our ability that matches to specific government department. We have enough monthly salary, subsidy for some things, and a guarantee of pension fund later. Everything is safe. We are really in a safe and well-ordered situation. However, don’t you remember that everyone can be their best when they are not in a safe place?

There was a proverb by Duke Ellington I ever read, which said that a problem is a chance for you to do your best. Since, by being in a bad condition, we will try best to be out of not being bad anymore. Therefore, a problematic circumstance was said as an opportunity.

Now just imagine if all 220 million people in Indonesia want to be civil servant. Wow… Really there is no idea what will happen then. For more realistic, actually it won’t happen right? (hehe). Ya. Let’s just realize then, that it is impossible if all people can be a civil servant. Does the world stop spinning then? Of course not! The sun still rises from east and sets in west. Rasulullah even once said that Allah will open 7 doors of prosperity for those who do a trade. Rasulullah was a seller, too. Since he was child till he was adult.

For today circumstance, we must know that trade, selling, does not only concern to any material things such as clothes, shoes, bags, and so forth. No, actually it does not. Just discover anything from you that worth it, then it will be. You can broaden your ability, your skill, and you can make anyone look at you at last. You may start by making an id card, leaflet, brochure, or anything you can. Sell what you can, write them down there, and just distribute. You can start distributing them to your close relation first, such as family, friends, neighbors, a friend of your friend, etc. At least you have tried, not statically wait for a job. If the destiny later brings you to be a civil servant, just be grateful. But if the destiny brings you to the opposite, you won’t be regret for preparing the alternatives :).