WRITER’S JOURNEY
Let not the fear of imperfection or judgment deter you. Your voice is unique, and your stories are necessary.
As I sit to pen down my thoughts in this tranquil corner of my study, surrounded by books and artifacts that tell tales of my past ventures, I am transported back to the beginning of my journey—the journey from being a techie, a CEO, and a thought leader to embracing the unpredictable path of writing.
It’s a world apart — yet strangely, it feels like coming home.
The Spark
The idea of writing came to me not in a moment of epiphany but as a gradual awakening.
Over the years, leading initiatives on IoT and engaging with smart city technologies, I have always felt the undercurrent of stories waiting to be told.
These were not just narratives of technology but of people, dreams, and the future.
The more I spoke at conferences, discussing the complexities of our digital world, the clearer it became — these experiences deserved a life beyond the fleeting moments of a speech.
“Could I?” I would often muse silently after my sessions. “Could I translate these dialogues into written words that might inspire, inform, and touch a reader’s heart as profoundly as they have touched mine?”
The First Steps
Taking the first steps was like entering a new city.
The paths were unfamiliar, and the language was nuanced.
But the essence, the pulse of writing, was like any technology I had mastered—it needed understanding, patience, and practice.
I began with short pieces, reflections, really, on my day-to-day encounters in the tech world. What started as a trickle — posts on LinkedIn and blogs on my company’s website — soon gained momentum.
The feedback was encouraging and often heartening.
It wasn’t just about sharing knowledge anymore; it was about sharing a part of my soul.
The Challenges
Transitioning from corporate presentations and technical dissertations to personal and engaging narratives was no small feat.
I grappled with voice, structure, and style. Each sentence posed a question: Was this Mazlan the CEO talking, or Mazlan the individual?
“Keep it simple, keep it sincere,” I would remind myself, my pen hovering over a notebook filled with crossed-out lines and arrows.
It was a dialogue, not with an audience this time, but with myself.
The Revelation
It was during one such session of self-dialogue that I penned a short poem — a simple set of verses that encapsulated my thoughts on writing:
Write when you feel it,
When ideas surge and swirl.
Don’t put off the moment,
Let your thoughts unfurl.
This poem became my manifesto, my guide.
It reminded me that writing, much like technology, isn’t just about the mechanics and the human connection. It’s about touching lives, sparking ideas, and nurturing thoughts.
Embracing the Journey
Now, as I continue on this path, each word I write strengthens my resolve. Writing is no longer just an activity; it’s a journey of exploration and self-discovery.
It’s about painting pictures with words, about seeing the world through a different lens.
“Where will this journey take me?” I often wonder.
The destination remains unknown, and perhaps, that is the beauty of it. In writing, just as in life and technology, the journey itself is the destination.
To those who stand where I once stood, at the edge of a new venture, unsure and tentative — write.
Write from the heart.
Let not the fear of imperfection or judgment deter you.
Your voice is unique, and your stories are necessary.
As I close this chapter of reflections, ready to open another, the lines of the poem echo back, a gentle reminder of why I began:
Write because it matters,
To you more than anyone else.
Let your innermost whispers,
Jump right off the shelf.
Writing, for me, is no longer just about sharing expertise but about baring my soul.
It is daunting, yes, but exhilarating.
And as long as the heart speaks, I will write.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 