Tag: dailyprompt-1938

FAVORIOT’s Journey: Scaling IoT Locally, Shaping Digital Futures Globally

Based on FAVORIOT’s current trajectory, I would position us between the Growth Stage and the Future Stage — with a strong foot still in Growth, but steadily stepping into Future. Let me explain why.

Growth Stage: Where FAVORIOT is firmly rooted

FAVORIOT has already moved past the early Forge Stage — we’ve done the startup showcases, the live pitches, and the “who are you?” introductions. Those were our days in 2017–2019. Back then, we were explaining IoT to people who thought it was just about “smart home gadgets.” We had to educate, advocate, and validate — just to be seen.

Now?

We’re not just being seen — we’re being chosen.

Here’s how FAVORIOT aligns with the Growth Stage characteristics:

  • Fundraising and sustainability: We’ve bootstrapped from day one and survived the startup valley of death. We’re revenue-generating with paying clients in multiple verticals — education, government, smart city integrators.
  • Regional expansion: With partners in Indonesia, Philippines, Canada, and now India, our FAVORIOT Partner Network Program is not theory — it’s in motion. We’re onboarding system integrators who are deploying our platform in their local ecosystems.
  • Scaling education + enterprise: Our university certification programs, IoT labs, and integration-ready platform are helping us scale vertically into academia and horizontally across industries like agriculture, energy, and logistics.
  • Talent and branding: We’re building a real brand — not just a tech stack. From “IoT Man” and “IoT Queen” to our Sembang Santai podcasts and viral blog posts, we’re cultivating a community around a movement, not just a product.

“Okay, so we’re scaling. But are we ‘Future’ enough?”

That’s where the next chapter begins.

Future Stage: Where FAVORIOT is heading (and partially already there)

We’re not merely riding the current wave — we’re looking at what’s next, and in some cases, already building it.

How FAVORIOT aligns with the Future Stage:

  • AI + IoT (AIoT): We’re deeply embedded in conversations about how IoT-generated data powers AI. This isn’t hypothetical. Our clients are integrating analytics, predictive maintenance, and automation using the data we provide.
  • Digital Twin integration: With our new partnership with Future Elements Singapore, we’re pushing FAVORIOT data into 3D Digital Twins to visualize smart cities in real-time. That’s not tomorrow — that’s now.
  • Tech sovereignty: We’re part of the conversation around Malaysia’s digital independence. We’re advocating for national platforms, local data centers, and homegrown solutions to reduce reliance on foreign tech giants.
  • Smart Cities, Sustainable IoT: We’re not just talking devices — we’re talking ecosystem impact. Our collaborations with universities, local councils, and national bodies focus on sustainability, circular economy, and climate resilience powered by IoT.

So, where exactly is FAVORIOT?

Let’s visualise it like this:

We are bridging Growth and Future — like a startup that’s still scrappy, but also visionary. We’re refining our product, growing our partner network, pushing into AIoT, and influencing national digital policy.

“We’re not just building an IoT platform anymore… we’re shaping what Malaysia’s digital future could look like.”

And that’s a stage I’m proud to stand on.

Why Strangers Are Your Realest Customers (And Sometimes, Your Only True Ones)

“Eh, kenapa kawan sendiri tak support bisnes kita ya?”

That question used to haunt me. When I first launched FAVORIOT, I genuinely believed my first supporters would be the people closest to me — ex-colleagues, industry friends, fellow alumni, even family. They knew my journey, my passion, my sacrifices. Surely they’d be the first to sign up or share the word, right?

Wrong.

What actually happened?

It was strangers.

Total strangers.

People I never met, never had teh tarik with, never sat on the same conference panel — they were the ones who registered on our platform, joined our trainings, and even told others about us. I was puzzled at first. Then, a little disappointed. Then curious.

And now? I understand. Strangers are often your best and truest customers.

Let me explain why.

1. Strangers Don’t Know You — And That’s a Good Thing

Wait… what?

Yes. Strangers don’t know you personally, and that’s precisely why they can trust your product more objectively.

Your friends and family see you through the lens of personal memories — they remember the time you made that bad joke at the wedding, or when you flunked your first job, or how you always took the safe route. You, to them, are not a business. You’re a “bro,” “adik,” “sir,” or “uncle.”

So when you suddenly pivot and say, “I’m launching an IoT platform for smart cities,” their brain glitches a little.

“Huh? Dia boleh ke buat ni?”

Meanwhile, strangers judge you purely on what you present today. They don’t care about your past karaoke fails or awkward teenage phase. They see your landing page, your pitch, your clarity. That’s it.

They evaluate your offering, not your origin story.

2. Strangers Don’t Owe You Anything — Which Means Their Support Is Pure

This is where it gets even more interesting.

Friends sometimes want to support you — but they overthink it.

They don’t want to be seen as biased. They feel awkward asking for discounts. Or worse… they assume they’ll get it for free.

Strangers? They come in with no emotional baggage. No expectations. No history.

They want a solution. They see you offering one. They buy.

Simple.

No drama. No, “Nanti lah bro, aku tengah tight.” No, “Support-support tapi boleh free ka?”

“Would I do that to a stranger?”

No. That’s why strangers make better customers. They treat your business like a business.

3. The Trust is Earned, Not Assumed

With people who know you, there’s often an invisible hierarchy of roles.

You’re the junior. The class clown. The reliable IT guy. The academic.

Suddenly, you say you’re the CEO of a startup? That role doesn’t match their stored mental image of you.

It’s not malice. It’s memory.

Whereas with strangers, your LinkedIn profile is your identity. Your pitch deck is your first impression. You start from zero — and you build up trust.

And trust that’s earned is far stronger than trust that’s assumed or inherited.

4. Strangers Spread the Word Faster

It shocked me — the most virality FAVORIOT got wasn’t from my own alumni network. It was from strangers who stumbled upon our blog, tested the platform, and raved about it on their own channels.

Why?

Because strangers are hungry for something that works. And when it works, they want others to know they found it first.

Your close friends?

They might still be trying to “figure out what you’re doing.” Or too shy to post about you — “Nanti orang cakap aku biased pulak.”

I say, give me a thousand strangers over ten overthinking friends.

5. Familiarity Breeds… Hesitation

Here’s the paradox.

The more people know about your past, the harder it is for them to believe in your future potential.

When I transitioned from academic life to startup founder, there were people who couldn’t bridge that mental gap. “Mazlan? The MIMOS guy? Dia buat startup ke sekarang?”

They hesitated.

But when I met fresh faces at expos, conferences, or online — they didn’t carry that baggage. All they saw was a man passionate about IoT, solving a problem. Period.

And they said yes.

6. Friends Wait For You to Make It. Strangers Help You Make It.

It sounds harsh. But it’s true.

Friends often support you when it’s safe.

When you’re already on stage. When you’ve already raised a round. When others already validate you.

Strangers, on the other hand, often jump in before the spotlight.

They’re the ones who say:

  • “I believe in your idea.”
  • “Let’s try it.”
  • “Your story resonates with me.”

They’re not doing it out of obligation. They’re doing it out of alignment. And that’s the customer you want.

7. You’re Not in the Business of Convincing Friends

This was a big mindset shift for me.

“Shouldn’t I be convincing my old buddies to try FAVORIOT?”

No.

Your job isn’t to sell to friends. Your job is to build something so good that even strangers trust it. And ironically, that’s when friends finally take notice.

Build for strangers. Serve them well. And over time, your friends will quietly hop onboard — when they see you’ve built something real.

8. It’s Not Betrayal. It’s Just Human Nature

One final note — don’t take it personally.

I used to feel hurt. “Why are people who barely know me supporting me more than those I’ve known for 10 years?”

But now I realize… it’s not betrayal. It’s just how human psychology works.

Proximity creates assumptions. Distance creates curiosity.

And curiosity is what drives people to explore, ask, and buy.

So don’t waste energy resenting your circle. Use that energy to serve your real audience.

My Advice? Focus on Creating Real Value

That’s what attracts the right customers — regardless of who they are.

If you’re honest, passionate, and solving a real problem, people will come.

Some may be old friends. Most will be strangers.

But all of them are humans searching for a solution. Be the one who provides it.

And remember — in a world where everyone expects support from the familiar, be grateful for the unfamiliar who believe in you first.

Those are your true customers.

And maybe one day… your friends will join the queue too.

“Thank you, strangers. You made FAVORIOT real.”

Why “Pick My Brain” Isn’t Free Anymore — And That’s OK

You’ve probably heard it before — or maybe you’ve said it yourself.

“Can I pick your brain?”

It sounds innocent. Harmless. Even flattering, right?

But if you’ve ever been on the receiving end of that phrase more times than you can count — especially after years of hard-earned experience, long nights, and lessons learned the hard way — you start to notice a pattern.

Let me guess…

They want your expertise.
They want your contacts.
They want your strategy.
They want your playbook.

But they don’t want to pay for it.

Wait, when did my brain become a free buffet?

There was a time when I said yes to every coffee meeting, every DMs asking for “advice,” every student request to “chat for 15 minutes.” I thought, why not? It’s good karma. I’m helping someone.

But over time, something shifted.

I began to feel drained. Not just mentally — emotionally too.

People would show up with notebooks, ask 100 questions, take furious notes… and disappear. No follow-up. No thank you. Just silence — until the next person showed up asking the same thing.

It wasn’t a conversation. It was extraction.

Here’s the brutal truth: Free advice isn’t free.

Behind every answer I give, there are:

  • 10+ years of doing the work
  • Thousands of dollars in mistakes
  • Countless hours learning what NOT to do
  • Relationships I spent decades building

That doesn’t mean I’m unwilling to help. Not at all.

It just means I now value my time — and I hope you do too.

So when someone says “Can I pick your brain?” — here’s what I really hear:

“Can I get the shortcuts, distilled wisdom, and customized advice that you earned through blood, sweat, and tears… for the price of a latte?”

And that’s just not sustainable.

But what if you genuinely want help?

Great! There’s a better way to ask.

Try this instead:

  • “Do you offer consulting? I’d love to book a session.”
  • “Is there a paid way I can access your insights?”
  • “Can I attend your workshop or buy your guide?”

That tells me you respect the value of what I bring to the table — and you’re serious about acting on it.

Because let’s be honest: People who pay, pay attention. When you invest in something, you show up differently. You listen harder. You apply faster. You get results.

Free advice, more often than not, just collects dust in someone’s Google Drive.

It’s not personal — it’s professional.

This boundary isn’t about being arrogant. It’s about being aligned.

My time is now reserved for:

  • People who are ready to commit
  • Clients who want transformation, not just information
  • Collaborations that are mutually respectful and energizing

The rest? Well… they’ll be okay. Google exists. YouTube is full of free content. Libraries are still around.

But if you want my brain — the years, the insights, the customized roadmap?

That’s called consulting. And yes, it comes with a price tag.

I still want to give back — just differently.

I still write free blog posts. I still create podcast episodes. I still share value-packed content online. That’s me giving back at scale — to everyone.

But my one-on-one time?

That’s sacred now.

Because here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

“If you don’t put a price on your time, someone else will — and it’ll be far lower than it’s worth.”

So, if you’re someone who’s ever wanted to ask “Can I pick your brain?” — pause for a second. Ask yourself:

  • Do I value this person’s time?
  • Am I ready to act on what I learn?
  • Am I willing to invest in the outcome I want?

If the answer is yes — fantastic.

Let’s talk. But let’s do it the right way.

Because your brain isn’t a buffet either.

And it’s time we all started acting like it.