Personal branding for business owners

In this inspiring episode, Dona Amelia shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings in rural Indonesia to becoming a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Asia's premier peer network, EGN. Growing up in a bamboo house without electricity, Dona's story exemplifies how purpose-driven leadership and unwavering determination can transform challenges into opportunities. She reveals her strategic approach to brand building through social media, particularly LinkedIn, and discusses the importance of authenticity in business networking. Perfect for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to scale their influence, this episode offers invaluable insights into personal branding, market adaptation, and the power of maintaining core values while expanding globally.

Timestamps: 
00:01 - Introduction and early life in Indonesia 
06:46 - Journey into entertainment industry 
16:30 - Building EGN network 
24:59 - Overcoming challenges in new markets 
29:31 - Key entrepreneurial advice

Key Topics:

• Personal brand development across different markets
• Strategic social media presence for executives
• Building authentic business relationships
• Transitioning between industries
• Global networking in the Asian market

#BusinessGrowth
#EntrepreneurialSuccess
#AsianBusiness
#ExecutiveNetworking

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Chapters

• 16:36 [Ad] Everyday AI: Your daily guide to grown with Generative AI
• 17:23 (Cont.) Personal branding for business owners

Transcript

Jim James (00:01)
My guest today is living proof that doesn't matter where you start, it's where you want to get to that matters. And it's the purpose that you drive your life with that is going to catch you there. We're going all the way to Indonesia to meet Dona Amelia, who is the co-founder of a group called the EGN, which is Asia's premier peer network. But she's also come from a background of being a keynote speaker, a performing artist with her own record labels and TV shows. She started in a bamboo hut

I guess it'd be fair to call it in the villages of Indonesia and the kampongs there, but is now in TV studios and boardrooms around the world. Dona Amelia, welcome to the show.

Dona Amelia (00:43)
Thank you so much, Jim. It's my pleasure to be here today. Thank you so much for having me.

Jim James (00:48)
Well, it's my pleasure because what an amazing story. You know, I personally lived in Singapore back in 95 through 2006 and I used to love going to Indonesia, but I do know that parts of Indonesia and part of the rural areas are pretty cut off and not necessarily the centers where people would expect celebrities to come from, but you've managed to do that. So let's find out from you a little bit about your backstory, but also some of the life

stories and some of the influences that have made you who you are today and some advice that you would give anyone that's thinking maybe they don't have anything to give. You're a living example that there is always something to give to everybody else to brighten up the world. So Dona Amelia, tell us a little bit about you first and then we'll talk about the journey and how you've managed to yourself into a brand, into a business from the villages of Indonesia.

Dona Amelia (01:45)
Thank you for the great question indeed. So yes, I was born in a rural area in Indonesia called Malingping. Back then, yeah, I completely agree with you. 86, we don't have any electricity. I grew up in a bamboo house full of holes, no electricity, dirt floor. We need to fetch water from outside, right? But again, I think with those kinds of circumstances, there's always like brightness and also the suitable lighting for me.

I was having great, great, great parents that love me so much. despite all the adversity, they're always there for me. They always give me some encouragement and all. Although my dad was just graduated from university, my mom just graduated from senior high school when they had me. So they don't have the money to even buy me a milk. So I drink starchy liquid from rice instead, which is probably now is a good thing. Because maybe that is...

Jim James (02:38)
Hey.

Dona Amelia (02:40)
you know something that is more organic and so on so forth but back then it's because you know it's we don't have the money to just give me that and even having a chocolate for me when I was a child it's like a dream you know I still remember that when I was you know growing up probably about five six years I was grew up with my grandmother my grandma told me hey don't I if you play with your friends and you see that they are having chocolate or candy and you want it never ask to them

go back to grandma and if I have it, I'll give it to you. But if it is not, don't be sad. Instead, you need to be grateful because God gives you so much things. You are pretty, you are blessed, and most importantly, you need to give to them instead of asking. And I'm like, give what? I don't have money, I don't have candy, I don't have chocolate. What do I give? And then my grandma told me, you can give your kindness and you can give your smile because regardless,

what background, regardless you have money or not, you can always give your kindness and give your smile. I mean, back then you are kids, right? You just like, okay, okay, I will keep smiling and all, but actually that is very powerful because that is like the things that brought me to who I am today. My purpose in life is to make my parents happy and everybody happy through anything I do in life, through me being an actress, singer, TV presenter, entrepreneur now, or a coach or a speaker.

whatever it is, my purpose is to make people happy. You know, if I can give happiness just through a smile, I'll be very grateful. And that smile, regardless your background, regardless your financial situation or whatever what happened to you, you can always give those smile. So I think that is one thing that, you know, very, powerful to me.

And yeah, and I also remember the influence of my dad. My dad was a teacher back then. And then he heard that, you know, there is a filming happening near my hometown and I was in the senior high school. So my dad in the pouring rain with the, you know, old motorbike with the thunder, he drove there, brought my photograph just to show to the producer that, I do have a daughter. She can sing. She might be able to act. Would you like to cast her?

And of course he got rejected immediately. Like, who are you? Like get away. my God. But then my dad not give up. He never give up. And he kept telling me that, Donna, I believe you will be successful one day. I know that you will help many people. I know I cannot give you anything, but I know you have a talent and I know that you willing to work hard. So then you will be very, very successful. So that was my story when I was a child and the value that I keep.

until now and also back then you know it was a patriarchy kind of you know like living situation in Indonesia but then my mom still helping my dad to also sell something in the market and also since I was a child I know that as a woman we can also contribute we can also help our family and also we also needs to work hard so since I was a child I know exactly my purpose in life is to make my parents happy bringing them

from the poverty to have a better life to the point that I would love to make people happy. So that is a little bit of my story that I brought up and also I still keep the value until now I becoming an entrepreneur.

Jim James (06:00)
And Dona, what an amazing story. I can imagine or visualize your dad on those little Honda dreams, probably, right? Where there's little 90cc's driving, driving along the lanes there, trying to get to the producers. So Dona, you, you've managed to then go from sort of TV and to the music. Just tell us a little bit about what, if you like, took you down that path. Cause I mean, the helping people could have also been

Dona Amelia (06:06)
Yeah.

Yep. Yep.

Jim James (06:28)
working as a teacher or being in the medical profession, for example. Obviously you could sing and you're an attractive young person. You your dad was out there for you, but you said you got rejected first time. So what happened? How did you get that first gig? And what was it?

Dona Amelia (06:46)
Right, so I think it was start when I was in the senior high school. One of my family got the wedding party and then I sang there like the first time. That time my dad knows that, my daughter has a talent of singing. So since then I sing all over the place, like from wedding to wedding and so on and so forth. So since then I already paid for my own study and so on since I was in the senior high school.

And then when I was in the university, still do the same and you know, because I really love to help my parents. I keep singing every single day and night and then study at the same time in the university and all the money I have, I give it to my parents so then they can have a better life. I still remember the first thing that I gave to my parents was the

What is it? The money to buy a stove and then washing machine because normally I'm the one who wash for them but then now I'm gone, know, with poor mom. She has not nobody to help her. all the money I have I give it to her to the point that I managed to give her a house, a car, go I mean bring them to Hajj because in Indonesia it's mostly nothing better than give them a gift to be able to travel to Hajj.

So yeah, I was doing that and I'm very grateful for that since I was in the university. Yeah, so that is like the beautiful things about it. It started with you doing something that seems simple just to sing in the wedding of your family and then your dad know it. And then from there, my dad always go with me everywhere singing. And then from 2007, I already made my own album.

when I was in the university and then when I graduate from university I go to Jakarta and then from there I spread out the wing even more so I becoming TV presenter and actress and all one of my TV program won eight time Panasonic Gobel Awards and then people see me on TV every day at 11 a.m for my program and also for my movie series normally people will see me every day at 6 p.m because it's rolling every day right

But of course it's not coming easy because first of all, I don't have any background of let's say singing school or acting school and also everything I do in life is just God bless through the talent that God gave me and the support from my parents because they know although they, my dad told me like although I have nothing, I cannot give you anything but I know I can give you my blessing and my support. And he always believed in me. My mom also the same. So yeah, I need to work super hard

to go to, let's say, one role. If I do 10 casting or 15 casting, if I get one goal, that's already perfect. Because you can imagine in Indonesia is 250 million people. A lot of girls wanted to be in my position, right? And of course, they're also pretty, they're young, they're also rich and they have the background and so on and so forth. But I guess when you really know your talent and your strength,

and you need to hold on to your values, really work hard on that. I'm so grateful to be able to pursue my dreams and having those great opportunities to be in a great, great program during my life in the showbiz, basically. But it's not easy. Of course, it's not easy. I got so many rejections also, as mentioned, from 10 to 15. If you get one, you're lucky already.

Jim James (10:21)
you

Dona Amelia (10:27)
for the word program.

Jim James (10:28)
Well, Dona, and you remind me a little bit about the story of your dad hearing you sing at a wedding, because I think Whitney Houston used to sing in a church, didn't she? And that was her beginnings was being seen. But the reason I wanted to ask you what was the pivotal moment was because for most entrepreneurs, there is a moment, there's an event when they cross from obscurity into a bit of publicity.

But you then have to leverage that and what you've also then talked about is just how hard you've had to work day in, day out. As you say, Indonesia, 250 million people, half of them are, you know, half of them are men, but you've got a lot of talented and attractive women competing because the path of celebrity, of course, for many people is the dream path, isn't it? Really in terms of the lifestyle and so on, especially with media and so on as it is today.

Dona Amelia (11:15)
Mm-hmm.

Mm.

Jim James (11:21)
How have you used social media, Dona? Because I'd love to move on to the building of the brand, Dona Amelia. How have you used social media, because as you say, when you grew up, there wasn't electricity. When I moved to Singapore in 95, we didn't have the internet, for example. We didn't have mobile phones yet.

Dona Amelia (11:39)
Yep.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Jim James (11:42)
How have you built the brand of Dona Amelia using the tools that are available now, I'd love to hear your strategy for that.

Dona Amelia (11:52)
So back then when I was still in my showbiz, I do have not yet so much, we don't have Facebook, Instagram and so on so forth back then, right? So the only media that is available, especially in Indonesia is TV. So basically if you are on TV every day, you kind of an artist and celebrate the end all and that is the social media, the biggest one that you have. So everyone really fighting for it.

And it's very hard because it's only certain programs, right? On TV basically. So what I do is of course I do have like kind of joining the agency and so on, but not so much in the agency that, you know, having so many actress or a singer under them. I do have like one person who really taking care of me, but probably she also taking off a few other people, but really like...

Taylor made for me. So she's really taking care of me. And then she has the network throughout all these showbiz life. And then we have the percentage that we agreed to. So for example, it's depend, let's say, even with the record level, some record level will have, let's say, 20, 80. They took 20. We get 80. Some of them get 40%. We got only 60%.

It depends from agency to agency, company to company. But I think having a manager that can really help you and really focus on you, understanding your talent, understanding that basically dedicated her or his time for you.

to really brought you everywhere, do the casting here and there. And then I think that is what helps me a lot back then. Of course, now, you ask me now as an entrepreneur, like what is my strategy in my social media, I do very active on LinkedIn because as an entrepreneur and a businesswoman and all professional, LinkedIn is the best, right? However, of course, when it's coming to your life as well, I think Instagram is also helpful.

Facebook also okay because I think however, I think LinkedIn is the best for entrepreneur Whatever you do you want it to be seen and it's free and all you need to tell them in LinkedIn I think right. It's not about show off that much LinkedIn is all about you Sharing your story that can also help others. So all the learning point is always be on LinkedIn. So

Jim James (14:27)
you

Dona Amelia (14:27)
People doesn't really like to only see a rough rough good

things and all but yeah, even if in the good news, like tell them what is the learning point? What is the hurdle? How you overcome that? So I think the social media nowadays that I use the most is LinkedIn. Of course, second Instagram and Facebook. But just to add on that, every country has its own like, you know, social media kind of preferences.

So I noticed in Singapore where I live for the last seven years, example, LinkedIn is the best. Like everybody's on LinkedIn and so on, Especially as a professional. However, for example, in Indonesia, not so much LinkedIn user compared to Instagram. So even everybody who sells something as an entrepreneur, they post it on Instagram, everything, you name it. So again, of course, TikTok is also there, but yeah, so it's...

It's amazing to see like every country has a different and their own preferences. Like in Thailand, where I also have a house now in Phuket, they really love Facebook. They love Facebook for everything. They love to chat on Messenger instead of WhatsApp. I'm a WhatsApp user. But then when I like also live in Thailand and Phuket, I noticed, okay, so in this country, Messenger on Facebook is the way to connect and so on.

Jim James (15:46)
Thank you.

Dona Amelia (15:50)
So yeah, either way, I guess for social media, just look at where you are. It's very important.

So then you know which platform to use, I think.

Jim James (16:00)
Dona Miller, that's great. Dona will share, I'm sure, at the end of the show, her handle so you can connect with her on those various different platforms. As you say, you've got to be quite sophisticated and really audience specific when it comes to the social media content that you're producing. Tell us about the move into EGN, the global network for executives, A little bit about the network, but also more about building that as a brand

because this shows about how you'd start and build a brand. How are you building that business up?

Dona Amelia (16:30)
Mm-hmm.

So basically I involved more focus at EGN since 2018 when I moved to Singapore. Back then I'm still also a female global DJ championship in India and so on. However in Singapore it's a different story, know how hard people working over there. They're really kind of like a robot I would say, but in a good way, know, like really fast and all, you know it. But then, yeah.

Jim James (16:57)
Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Dona Amelia (17:04)
I'm focusing on EGN more. So how can we build the brand? So EGN stands for Executive Global Network. We are the second largest peer network in the world. We do knowledge sharing for senior executive. We provide a safe space for senior executive, let's say CEO and all C-suite level to have a safe space for them to talk with their peers in a safe environment, discussing about their challenges and get help from each other. Because leaders, most of them are lonely at the top.

When you reach a certain point, you might not be to discuss certain things with your colleagues, for example, because it's confidentiality or hierarchy and so on and so forth. So that's what we have at EGN to provide them a safe space for them to really discuss their challenges, helping each other and grow together eventually. So how I build the brand. So for me, again, authenticity is number one. It's very, important. Nowadays, with the help of LinkedIn, it's make it

very, very easy to be seen. And again, it's a low cost, right? Like low budget. What I do in terms of building my brand and EGN brand is always to post something that happening at EGN basically. So I post like all the peer group meetings or all the events that happening. But again, most importantly, it's not only about posting what happening, but what is the learning lesson that I took from that events basically. And that's how you build your brand because then people will see, what is it?

What is Dona stands for? Dona is representing EGN, for example. what is it EGN? What do they do? So when they see my post, they understand, ha, there's a lot of, you know, like great leaders over there. They're discussing about the topic that is, you know, really trending and also the topic that can help me, for example, people can relate to that. So that's how I think it's very important to build the brand effectively through all the social media, especially through LinkedIn. So I can

really recommend for those who wanted to build the brand. The easiest one, especially for entrepreneur and so on, right? I think LinkedIn is your go-to for the beginning. Well, it's not only for the beginning. Actually, yeah, lasts forever, guess. Hopefully LinkedIn will stay there. But yeah, I think LinkedIn is the best for you to build your brand. Posting something that really, really can relate to people. It is authentic. Be yourself.

Jim James (19:16)
Mm.

Dona Amelia (19:28)
Don't make something that you know only a rahra or only big things. People want to know you. People want to know what is the challenges and people want to know how you get up from that those challenges and those stories are really, really powerful to build your brand.

Jim James (19:41)
You know, and you certainly

have done that. And Dona Amelia is is Dona Amelia on LinkedIn. She has 20,000 followers. And wonderfully, we have some 80 mutual acquaintances, you and I, on LinkedIn. So we're almost related, Almost related.

Dona Amelia (19:53)
Wow, yes. Awesome. I know, right?

And see, yeah, that's the beauty of this social network nowadays, correct? Yeah. So I mean, at EGN, do, I mean, it stands for Executive Global Network. So in, we do have a network of almost 1000 senior executives in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia. But look at how easy it is through LinkedIn, right? To build up your brand, to getting to know each other. And then,

through all those, for me, I have now over 20,000 followers on LinkedIn. So if I wanted to post something, you know, like the possibility of that, 20,000 people seen it, it's huge. So you need to just build your brand, post something that is useful for everyone, and then build up your community, your connection, your followers on LinkedIn, and then yeah, post something, and that's gonna help your brand.

Jim James (20:48)
Yeah, and I think maybe going all the way back to those early days when your grandma said, you've always got your kindness, you've always got your smile to share. You're still doing that actually, aren't you? Just now in a different medium, right? Not at school, but in the global platform, right?

Dona Amelia (20:55)
Yes.

Yes, yeah!

Super, yes, yes, thank you for reminding me about that. Actually, yes, that's true. I just noticed now, you know, those values when you were a child and it's great value, you can bring it throughout your life in the different platform, but the essence is the same. You keep giving and sharing and serving, give kindness, give love, give smile, give happiness, because regardless your financial situation, you can always give your kindness because nobody can take that away from you, right?

Jim James (21:06)
That's

Dona Amelia (21:34)
So can always give kindness and smile and so on.

Jim James (21:34)
Exactly, 

And generosity is free, but it's priceless, isn't it, Dona, in that way?

Dona Amelia (21:40)
Yes,

completely agree. And I love this kind of, you know, generosity, kindness, especially as a leader. I mean, if you as a boss can just touch the hand or just say with the smile, thank you, you've done a great job from your heart. Meaning, I mean, it's it means a lot to the person that, you know, get that complimentary and it costs nothing. But as you said, priceless.

Jim James (22:06)
Yeah. And as we know that,

well, and as we know for most people, it's the recognition and the support that people work for and gravitate towards rather than the money and the self-serving, as you're sharing on LinkedIn, what you've learned from this journey, incredible journey that you've had, Dona and Amelia. Now you've been building up your brand, you are on podcasts and you've got, Bical, my good friends in Singapore, the agency, they're helping you to find podcasts. What is the impact and the role of podcasts?

Dona Amelia (22:16)
Yep. Yep.

Jim James (22:36)
guesting for you on building your brand.

Dona Amelia (22:39)
I think this is also very impactful in the sense that you you reach many more people. Again, back then when I was starting my career in the showbiz, right, in the 80s or sorry 90s or the 2000 and all, it's all TV to reach global, I mean, more people and so on, right? Now, yes, you can do LinkedIn and all, but podcasts, so for example, your audience is in the US or in Europe or in Asia, whatever it is.

And then your voice will be heard in those countries. probably, for example, this kind of peer network like EGN is very new in Indonesia. Actually, we are the first one who came to Indonesia. And if I talk about this and the audience is in Indonesia, for example, they will know something new. So I think podcast is super powerful to really spread the news, the good news, especially the good one and the authentic one.

Because probably in the mainstream media, because I'm coming from that world as well, some of them can even, you know, like being edited and, you know, but then I think this kind of podcast is very good because it's spreading positivity, spreading knowledge limitless worldwide. So I love this podcast experience.

Jim James (23:51)
Yeah. Yeah.

Dona, me too, I'm glad and I'm really delighted that it connects people like you and me who otherwise wouldn't get a chance to meet and we'll have our, if you like, micro audiences, whereas our CTN for a course in Indonesia has the global but also very commercial focus. We can have a human focus, can't we really, which is just so different. The commercial focus is different. Dona, you've managed to go from, I'm gonna call them humble beginnings, but it sounds as though

Dona Amelia (24:16)
Yes. Yes, agree.

Jim James (24:24)
also very rich beginnings in terms of love and support from your parents and your grandma as well who taught you some great values, but also gave you the concept of sunshine and a smile is gonna go a long way. If there's something that you've done that hasn't worked quite as well, a mistake, maybe in the marketing, without trying to embarrass you in any way, but just, I like to ask my guests if there's something that they've learned, well, you've learned lots, but,

something you tried that didn't work that we can, most of us try and avoid to do.

Dona Amelia (24:59)
Right, of course I have a lot. Failure is part of my life also. So I give you an example. For example, I always dream to be able to go overseas, build up my brand as an actress, singer, TV presenter and all. And I had a chance. So in 2015, I moved to Vietnam, to Ho Chi Minh City. So I thought my career will also great over there.

Jim James (25:02)
Hehe.

Dona Amelia (25:25)
Like because in Indonesia I'm well established actress, TV presenter, as mentioned, I won eight time Panasonic Nobel awards, my program and so on. So I thought moving overseas, I choose Vietnam. And then I thought that, I can continue my career over there as a TV presenter and an actress. Fail 100% because I cannot speak the language. So what I do instead, okay, if I cannot be the TV presenter over there, I cannot acting over there.

So what is left? Okay, I can sing. So I still continue singing and then I pick up another skill to becoming a DJ. So I made a collaboration back then with Miss Universe Vietnam when she can DJ, I sing. So we made like a single together and then my current husband back then still my boyfriend told me like, why don't you also do DJing so you can sing and DJ? So then, you know, I pick up a new skill.

So then I becoming a DJ as well. And then back then also I start to be introduced to EGN and seeing all these kind, humble leaders, yet they love to learn. They love to cherish moments from each other, really helping each other out. So I'm like, wow, this organization, this community is amazing. I love it because I love serving people. I love people who still very humble and also still wanted to help others and all.

So back then also I already you know fall in love with this organization. However, from the background of being an actress always in the Glamour's life and you know TV to TV, I have no idea about how to use PowerPoint, words, PPTs and all. So I have no idea about that.

Jim James (27:08)
Hahaha

Dona Amelia (27:10)
Yeah, in the corporate world, you know, it is serious. I have no idea. Excel and so on. Right. But then again, instead of all only like winding down on I cannot. So I am honest. I've been honest to my colleague. I said, hey, I have no idea about all this, but I'm willing to learn because this is not my strength. I'm coming from completely different world. And then what happened is that I leverage on my strength. Oh my strength is with people.

I love making people happy. I know how to talk to people. I know how to make people happy and also to cherish them, to appreciate them and creating great events because that's my background from TV. So I'm glad that EGN is all about making peer meetings for all the senior executives and then I'm creating all those events. I need to do 150 meetings and events in one year,

until now and that's my background. I mean, yeah, so instead of focusing on things that you, you know, not your strength, I think it's always good to focus on your strength. Yeah. At the same time, of course, you also still need to learn your other skills and also get better on it. But yeah, don't focus on the things that you don't know most. Just focus on your strength.

Jim James (28:27)
So.

So interesting Dona. So I asked you about a mistake you've made and I think it's a probably a hallmark of how you operate that you talked about the challenge of moving to a new market and the mistake of not speaking the language of the place. And you immediately turn that into the solutions that you found for that problem. So perhaps that's a hallmark of your positivity and your resilience. Well, I'm sure it is of just how you've done that.

Dona Amelia (28:48)
Yeah.

Jim James (28:59)
That's wonderful. Now, having moved to China where I tried to build a communications PR firm in a country I didn't speak the language, I've also experienced what it's like to start a business in another country where you don't speak the language. So, mine's another story for another day. We'll talk about you today. So, love to hear how you managed to transition from one to another. So, Dona, if there's a number one tip that you would give an aspiring

Dona Amelia (29:06)
Yeah, I can imagine.

Jim James (29:28)
UnNoticed Entrepreneur. What would it be?

Dona Amelia (29:31)
I think don't be afraid of a failure that is very very important and embrace failure as your friends it is painful but it is necessary to embrace it so if people ask you if you need to go back in time would you like to change? Nope because you know whatever happened in your life is the one who brought you today basically so don't be scared of the failures another thing that I might add on that is

start small. It's very very important. If you start something new, if you are transitioning or whatever it is, right? Just start small and then learn and hone your skill and your ability and understanding your market and all. Once you know all the knowledge and all, make it bigger is another thing and maybe it's becoming easier compared to you bet.

in one basket with all you have and all and then if you face failure it's gonna be really really hard right because failure it's gonna be you know you're always gonna face it anyway but if you start small and then you understand the business understand the market it will be easier for you to grow later on

Jim James (30:46)
So start small so that when you fail, it's not fatal. So that when you reconstitute yourself, you're able to build back more quickly and learn from those small failures. To build, as you've done, huge success. Dona Amelia, if you want to out what you read or listen to, what would that be?

Dona Amelia (30:58)
Yep. Yep.

I love these new books. I mean it's not new but I love this like book that is very practical. I love something practical so I can recommend like Atomic Habit from James Clear. Very very easy because as entrepreneur, as a human you know like building the habit that can make you a better person is very very important and you can implement this in any situation in your life including how to grow your business and all it's all starting with building something

new habit that is good that can make it bigger basically. So this atomic habit is very very good as a book. I also love to hear of course all these audible books. I love listening to books and then yeah I think maybe everybody already used this but I think Blinkies also help because you know you get some summary of like books and I love that as well because sometimes you already read the books probably long long time ago.

But then you forget and so on, right? But then when you get this short summary for 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, you kind of reminding yourself about this. So I love listening to audiobook or Blinkies when I run because I love to run daily for two kilos or five kilos, doesn't matter. So you get reminded of all this great wisdom from all the books. Yeah.

Jim James (32:27)
Yeah, there's Blinkist, right? It's a great book summary platform. Dona Amelia, thank you for that. And as always, I asked you for just one thing, but actually you've got many, many more. So that's, you're abundant in your giving, as we can see from the whole of your life and your career. Dona Amelia, if people want to find you, where can they do that?

Dona Amelia (32:46)
Thank you.

Sure, I'm very active on LinkedIn. You can find my LinkedIn is Dona Amelia. It's D-O-N-A space A-M-E-L-I-A. And if you want to connect with me on Instagram and Facebook is at Miss Dona Amelia. So M-I-S-S D-O-N-A A-M-E-L-I-A both for Instagram and also for Facebook. So you can find me there. But I think LinkedIn is the best for all the entrepreneurs to connect with me.

Jim James (33:16)
Great. And just to be clear, that's Dona with one N by the way, D-O-N-A Amelia. Yeah. So it's, yeah. So we pronounce it Dona, but actually sort of a donor, I suppose. And you had an acronym for that, didn't you? So just to help people, you've got an acronym for your name. Dona, what is it?

Dona Amelia (33:21)
Correct. And then A-M-E-L-I-A. Yes.

I'm

Yes, yes, the acronym is the testify of my life actually. DONA stands for Dreams, Opportunity, Never Give Up and Action. So I start with having a dream to make my parents happy, to travel the world when even when I have nothing, I already have a dream. And when you have the dreams, you cannot just have a dream without doing anything. So it's coming to the next word, which is opportunity. When you have a dream, you need to work hard to find the opportunity to reach that dream.

And along the way, it's not going to be easy. So, N stands for never give up. To reach your dream, to find the opportunity, don't give up. And once you understand and you get the opportunity to reach your dreams, the next word, action. The action needs to be all out. Needs to be 200% in my case. 200% meaning you need to do another, you know, like principle of my life stands for four PEs. The first P is to pray to God. The second P is to prepare from A to Z.

And then the next P is to basically practice, practice, practice, practice. And then the next P is to perform the best. And then the E is to evaluate. The evaluates needs to come from the feeling of grateful and also accept. Because you did your best, you need to accept because God is the one who decides, right? Ultimately. But when you come from this acceptance and grateful, you will be happy to identify what went well.

What I need to eliminate, what I need to give. And yeah, the action will be the best and you will have the best result if you can just follow those principles, I think. That's happened to me.

Jim James (35:11)
Well done. I'm glad that we've taken the action of getting you on the show and you know we've had 35 minutes of complete joy. So thank you so much for bringing your smile and your wisdom and your enthusiasm to me and The UnNoticed Entrepreneur. Thank you today.

Dona Amelia (35:26)
Thank you so much Jim, you are wonderful. I'm very glad to be here. Thank you.

Jim James (35:31)
Thank you. So we've been listening to Dona Amelia, who's come from Indonesia and now she's living the life really in Southeast Asia, but also around the world sharing that key message that being of service and bringing joy to others is sustaining and is really a wonderful life mission. So we've been lucky to have her on the show today. If you've enjoyed this message, please do share it with a fellow UnNoticed entrepreneur, because we don't want anyone to go UnNoticed. And review the show and until we meet again.

Really,  I just encourage you to keep on communicating.