About Me (Part-12) — Mazlan Abbas

ABOUT ME SERIES

You are the painter of your life, and your thoughts are the brushstrokes

As I sit here reflecting on my journey with Favoriot, a quote comes to mind: You are the painter of your life, and your thoughts are the brushstrokes. It’s a simple metaphor, but it holds profound truth.

Over the years, I’ve realised that every decision I’ve made, every path I’ve chosen, and every challenge I’ve faced have all been part of the larger canvas of my life.

The way I approached those moments — my thoughts, my attitude — were the brushstrokes that created the picture I’m looking at now.

The journey to creating Favoriot was never a straight line, and I certainly didn’t have the luxury of knowing what the final picture would look like.

But looking back, I can see how each experience, each minor stroke, came together to form something much bigger than I ever imagined.

It all started with a desire to create something meaningful. I had spent much of my career working in government, academia, and large corporations. At each of these stages, I gathered knowledge and experience.

But deep down, I knew there was more I wanted to do.

I didn’t just want to be part of someone else’s vision; I wanted to paint my own.

That’s when the idea of Favoriot started to take shape in my mind.

Technology, especially the Internet of Things (IoT), has always fascinated me. It was a concept that could revolutionise industries and impact lives.

But at the time, many people didn’t fully understand its potential.

I remember sitting in meetings where I’d explain IoT only to be met with blank stares or polite nods. It was frustrating, but I kept reminding myself that not everyone could see the vision I had in my mind.

Others may not have understood the picture I was painting, but I knew the bigger picture would eventually emerge if I stayed focused on the details.

Starting Favoriot was my way of putting my thoughts into action. I knew that to make an impact, I had to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start making deliberate brushstrokes.

The first few strokes were shaky—there were moments of doubt, times when things didn’t go as planned, and periods when progress felt slow.

But I knew that was all part of the process.

Just like in painting, the early stages can look messy. Only when you step back after some time, do you see how it all fits together.

One of the biggest challenges I faced in the early days was convincing others to believe in the vision of Favoriot.

We were pioneering a new approach to IoT in Malaysia, and breaking into the smart city market was no easy feat. There were sceptics, people who questioned the need for IoT or the practicality of our solutions.

But I kept reminding myself: You are the painter of your life. No one else can see the full picture except you, and it’s your responsibility to keep painting, no matter what others think.

I remember a particular moment when things felt tough. We had just launched a pilot project with a local city council to implement IoT solutions for the command centre.

It was a groundbreaking project, and we were excited to get started. But soon after, we hit a wall of red tape. Bureaucracy slowed everything down, and it felt like we were losing momentum.

I could feel the frustration building among the team, and I began to doubt whether we could pull it off.

But then I took a step back and reminded myself of the bigger picture. This was just one part of the canvas — a challenging part, no doubt, but not the whole picture.

I realised that every project, every obstacle, was a brushstroke.

Some strokes might be more challenging, but they were still necessary to complete the painting.

We eventually got through that rough patch, and the project succeeded. That experience taught me an important lesson: the most meaningful brushstrokes often take the most effort.

They may need to look better, but they add depth, texture, and character to the final work.

As Favoriot grew, I saw the picture I had in my mind start to come to life. We began partnering with universities, local councils, and businesses to implement IoT solutions that improved efficiency, reduced costs, and solved real-world problems.

Whether helping warehouses monitor their assets or enabling cities to manage their IoT solutions more effectively, each project felt like another brush stroke, adding more colour and detail to the canvas.

But the painting isn’t finished yet—I don’t think it ever will be.

That’s the beauty of life—you are always adding new strokes and layers. Some strokes are bold, others subtle, but they all contribute to the larger picture.

One of the things I’ve learned along this journey is that you can’t always control the challenges you face, but you can control how you respond to them.

And that response, that thought process, becomes a brushstroke on your canvas.

For instance, when we faced the challenge of scaling Favoriot, I could have panicked or played it safe. But instead, I chose to see it as an opportunity—a chance to paint something new, something more significant.

We expanded our platform with new business models and entered new markets. It was a bold stroke, but it added a richness to the canvas that wasn’t there before.

The metaphor of life as a painting also reminds me that not every stroke has to be perfect. Sometimes, we make mistakes. Sometimes, I make decisions that don’t work out how I had hoped.

But I’ve learned that mistakes are just part of the process.

You can always paint over them or incorporate them into the bigger picture. Some of the most beautiful paintings have layers of mistakes hidden beneath the final strokes.

It’s what gives them depth and complexity.

I often share this perspective with the Favoriot team. I remind them that we are all painters, each contributing our brushstrokes to the larger canvas of the company’s journey.

Some days, the strokes feel effortless — everything falls into place, and progress is smooth. Other days, the strokes feel laboured — challenges arise, and it’s hard to see how things will come together.

But we’re moving forward as long as we keep painting and adding to the canvas.

Today, Favoriot is a testament to the power of persistence, vision, and creative thinking.

We’ve helped shape the future of IoT in Malaysia, and our solutions are making a difference in people’s lives.

But the painting is far from complete.

There are still so many more brushstrokes to make and so many more layers to add.

Looking at where we are now, I’m filled with gratitude.

I am grateful for the challenges that forced me to grow, the people who believed in the vision, and the opportunities that allowed me to paint my picture.

You are the painter of your life, and your thoughts are the brushstrokes. This journey has taught me that, above all else, your thoughts shape your reality.

They are the brushstrokes that define your canvas.

And while the painting may never be finished, it will always be yours to create.

So, if there’s one message I hope to leave behind, it’s this: don’t be afraid to pick up the brush. Don’t be scared to make bold strokes, try new things, paint over mistakes, and keep adding to your canvas.

Ultimately, you are the only one who can paint a picture of your life. And with every stroke, you bring your vision closer to reality.