Tag: Self Improvement

The Silent Test of Friendship

Some truths hurt more than lies.

Most of your friends aren’t really your friends.

They show up when it’s fun.

When you’re winning.

When you’re useful.

But when the music stops, and the room goes quiet, you suddenly see how empty it really is.

Real friends are not measured by convenience.

They’re measured by sacrifice.

By the calls they make when you’ve gone silent.

By the seat they pull up when everyone else has walked away.

I’ve learned this the hard way.

You can lose status, money, health, or direction—and watch the crowd scatter.

But the few who remain, those are your people.

Find them.

Hold onto them.

Be that kind of friend to someone else.

Because in a world full of masks, true friendship is the rarest kind of wealth.

What’s the hardest lesson you’ve learned about friendship?

The Founder Truth No One Tells You

When I co-founded FAVORIOT, I thought the most significant milestones would define me.
The first product launch.
The first government pitch.
The first international partnership.

But what I didn’t expect was how much the mistakes would shape me.

We once lost a tender even though our platform was MySTI certified.
We thought the badge would speak for itself.
It didn’t.
That mistake taught me that credibility means nothing without persistence.

We built features no one used.
We learned that listening to customers is more valuable than perfecting technology in isolation.

We expanded too fast into areas we weren’t ready for.
It humbled us to narrow focus, to build depth before breadth.

Every scar carried a lesson.
Every stumble forced me to shed arrogance and grow resilience.

Achievements bring applause.
But mistakes bring wisdom.
And in the long run, wisdom is what keeps a startup alive.

FAVORIOT isn’t standing today because of my victories.
It’s standing because the mistakes taught me how to rebuild stronger.

A mistake that humbles a founder will always be worth more than an achievement that blinds him with arrogance.

That’s the truth I carry as IoT Man.

What was the one mistake that humbled you but transformed your journey?

Builders Talk Ideas, Not People

Some tables are not worth sitting at.

If the main dish is gossip, you will eventually be served too.

I’ve learned this the hard way.
The moment you join conversations built on tearing others down, you’ve already handed people permission to do the same to you.

Today they whisper about someone else.
Tomorrow, when you leave, it will be your name on their lips.

The truth is, people who thrive on gossip are not builders.
They don’t lift others.
They don’t create value.
They survive by dragging others down to their level.

And here’s the danger.
If you spend long enough at that table, you start to become one of them.
You start confusing cynicism for wisdom.
You start thinking that mocking others makes you smarter.

But leadership is not about joining the noise.
It’s about rising above it.

The best leaders I’ve met don’t waste energy dissecting people.
They invest energy in developing people.
They don’t talk behind backs.
They speak face-to-face with honesty.

So choose your tables wisely.
Sit with those who challenge you to grow.
Sit with those who speak of ideas, of visions, of solutions.
Sit with those who make you leave the table feeling bigger, not smaller.

Because who you surround yourself with will either shape your future
or slowly poison it.

My advice is simple.
Walk away from the gossip table.
Find the builders.

That’s where the real conversations are.

If They Don’t Trust You, They’ll Never Buy From You

Why Trust is the Real Product You’re Selling (and How Marketing Builds I

Let’s cut straight to it.

You could have the best solution on the planet. The smartest AI. The most beautiful dashboard. A deal they’d be crazy to ignore.

But if they don’t trust you?

Game over.

That’s the truth most salespeople and founders don’t want to hear. You don’t lose sales because your product lacks features. You lose because your buyer doesn’t feel safe saying “yes.”

Let that sink in.

You’re Not Selling a Product — You’re Selling Trust

Every time someone signs on the dotted line, they’re taking a leap of faith. Into the unknown. Into the hands of your promises.

And that leap?

It only happens when trust is strong.

If you’re struggling to close deals, here’s your wake-up call — it might not be your price. It’s your credibility.

So how do you fix it?

Let’s start by understanding how trust works across the entire sales cycle.

1. Trust Speeds Everything Up

Without trust, every step in your sales process feels like a slow crawl. Every email takes longer to reply to. Every objection drags on. Every meeting ends with “We’ll think about it.”

But with trust?

Things move fast.

Buyers stop nitpicking. They start nodding. They say “yes” before you finish the pitch. Why? Because they’re not just buying what you do — they’re buying who you are.

You’re not just another vendor anymore. You’re the one they believe in.

2. Trust Makes You the Safe Bet

Let’s be real — nobody understands your tech as much as you do. Most buyers don’t get how your backend system works or what your AI algorithm is doing behind the scenes.

They’re not buying your code. They’re buying confidence.

“I don’t fully get what this does… but I trust you’ll make it work for us.”

That right there? That’s the golden ticket.

If you can be the trusted guide — the one who explains things clearly, sets real expectations, and never overpromises — you become the safest decision they’ve ever made.

3. Trust Wins the Long Game

Deals don’t end at the sale.

What happens after is what builds your reputation.

When things go sideways — and they will — your response matters more than your roadmap. When customers trust you, they stay even when things get tough. They refer others. They become evangelists.

And that kind of loyalty?

It’s not bought with discounts. It’s earned with integrity.

So, Where Does Trust Begin?

It doesn’t start in the pitch deck.

It starts way earlier — with your marketing.

Yes, marketing builds trust before sales even says hello.

Here’s how.

4. Marketing Sets the Tone Before You Even Enter the Room

Think about the last time you Googled a company. What made you stay? A clean website? Great reviews? A few helpful blogs?

Or did you bounce the second you saw a clunky layout and an outdated logo?

Exactly.

Your prospects are doing the same.

Marketing is your first handshake — your first “hello.” And it better say:
“We know what we’re doing. We’ve done this before. You’re in good hands.”

That’s not just branding. That’s trust-building.

5. Content Builds Trust at Scale

You don’t need to be everywhere. But you do need to show up where it counts.

Every blog post. Every case study. Every video tutorial. Every helpful LinkedIn post.

They all add bricks to your trust wall.

Even if someone’s not ready to buy today, they’re watching. And when the time comes? They’ll remember you as the one who actually cared to educate them, not just sell to them.

6. Your Personal Brand is a Trust Magnet

People don’t trust logos.

They trust people.

You showing up as a thought leader — on LinkedIn, podcasts, panels — makes all the difference. Share your journey. Your failures. Your honest thoughts about the industry.

Don’t try to be a polished robot.

Be human.

When you do, people will say:
“I don’t just want the product — I want to work with YOU.”

That’s when you’ve won.

7. Great Marketing Shows, Not Tells

Stop saying, “We care about our customers.”

Start proving it.

Give value before you ask for anything:

  • Share insights your competitors gate behind forms
  • Run webinars that teach, not just pitch
  • Respond to DMs with care and speed
  • Celebrate your customers’ success more than your own

Because when your marketing is rooted in generosity, trust becomes your default currency.

Sales and Marketing: One Team, One Mission

If your sales team is hustling but the leads are cold, there’s a disconnect.

Marketing should be paving the road before sales even shows up.

That means:

  • Sharing real customer success stories
  • Addressing objections through blog posts and videos
  • Keeping your message consistent across every touchpoint
  • Making sure your promises match your delivery

When both teams work together to build trust, magic happens.

Your Competitive Advantage? Trust.

At the end of the day, buyers will always ask themselves:

“Can I trust this person with my time, money, and reputation?”

If the answer’s no — they walk.

If the answer’s yes — they buy.

So don’t just optimise your sales funnel.
Don’t just build a smarter chatbot or a flashier website.

Build trust.

And do it in every word you say, every promise you make, every story you share.

Because trust isn’t just part of the sales cycle.

It is the sales cycle.

Now go earn it.

Why Writing in a Storytelling Manner Resonates with Most People: A Personal Reflection

Have you ever noticed how your eyes light up and your ears perk when someone begins a sentence with, “Let me tell you a story…”? I’ve seen this countless times — in conferences, casual chats over coffee, and even in my blog’s comment section. There’s something magical about stories. And over the years, I’ve discovered that writing in a storytelling manner doesn’t just make my articles more enjoyable to write — it makes them more impactful, relatable, and memorable to readers.

But why? I asked myself this question many times, especially when I first started blogging. I thought, Isn’t it enough to just present the facts? Why bother weaving them into stories? What I’ve learned might surprise you — and it might just change the way you approach your own writing.

Let me share my journey with you.

The Human Brain is Wired for Stories

I remember reading somewhere that long before we had books, slides, or YouTube videos, we had storytellers sitting around fires. Storytelling wasn’t a hobby; it was a way to pass down knowledge, warn about dangers, and preserve culture. It’s deeply embedded in us.

When I began writing technical articles — especially about IoT, smart cities, or AI — I noticed that readers often skimmed through data-heavy sections. But when I shared a personal anecdote, like the time our prototype failed during a big demo, and how we scrambled to fix it before the client noticed, people paid attention. They messaged me. They shared the post.

Ah, I thought, it’s not the technology that draws them in. It’s the people behind the technology. It’s the struggle, the triumph, the humor, the heart.

Stories give context. Facts tell you what’s happening, but stories help you feel why it matters.

People Remember Feelings, Not Just Facts

I can’t count how many times I’ve given talks where I presented both data and a simple story. Months later, people would come up to me and say, “I still remember that story you told about building Favoriot in your small apartment!” But they rarely remembered the numbers or charts.

Why? Because stories tap into emotion. And emotion is the glue that helps information stick in our minds.

When you tell a story about a challenge you overcame, or a moment that changed your perspective, people see themselves in it. They feel the fear, the hope, the relief. And when they feel, they remember.

I often picture writing like planting seeds. If you scatter plain facts, they might sprout here and there. But if you wrap those facts in a story, it’s like planting seeds in rich, fertile soil — they’re far more likely to grow in the reader’s mind.

Storytelling Builds Trust and Connection

Okay Mazlan, I asked myself one day, why do I enjoy reading certain writers more than others? The answer came quickly: I feel like I know them.

When we write in a storytelling manner, we let readers into our world. We share a piece of ourselves — our doubts, our failures, our little victories. It humanizes us. And in this noisy digital world, where everyone is trying to shout louder, what people crave most is authenticity.

I’ve noticed that when I tell stories — whether about my early days juggling work and family, or about navigating the uncertain waters of startup life — readers open up too. They share their own stories in return. Suddenly, it’s not just a one-way broadcast. It’s a conversation.

Isn’t that what we really want? To connect, to feel heard, to know we’re not alone?

Stories Make Complex Ideas Simple

One of the biggest challenges I face in writing about IoT or AI is explaining complex ideas in ways that people can understand. I could talk about protocols, sensors, cloud architecture… or I could say:

“Imagine you’re a farmer with a chili plantation. You wake up, check your phone, and see that your soil sensors say the land’s too dry. Before the sun’s up, you’ve turned on the irrigation — no guesswork, no wasted water.”

Which one would you rather read?

Stories create mental pictures. And mental pictures help us grasp ideas faster and deeper. Whenever I see a puzzled face in the audience during a talk, I know it’s time to switch from facts to story mode. And almost always, I see that Aha! moment light up their eyes.

Storytelling Gives Your Writing Rhythm

I’ve read many articles that feel like chewing on dry crackers — all facts, no flavor. But storytelling adds rhythm. You can slow down at the emotional parts, speed up during the action, pause for effect, or even surprise your reader with an unexpected twist.

When I write, I sometimes imagine I’m telling the story aloud — like I’m sitting with a friend at a kopitiam, sipping teh tarik. Would I really say it like this? Or would I add a little humor, a dramatic pause, a knowing smile?

This rhythm keeps readers hooked. They want to know what happens next.

But What If I’m Not a “Natural” Storyteller?

I used to think that too. Mazlan, you’re an engineer, not a novelist! I’d tell myself. But storytelling isn’t about fancy language or perfect plots. It’s about honesty. It’s about sharing what you saw, what you felt, what you learned.

Start small. Instead of just stating, “Our project was delayed by two weeks,” tell what happened: “We thought we had it all figured out, until the sensor shipments got stuck at the port. I remember standing in the warehouse, staring at the empty shelves, wondering how I’d explain this to the client.”

See? Same fact — but now it’s alive.

My Final Reflection: Stories Are What Make Us Human

In my journey as a writer, technologist, and entrepreneur, I’ve come to see storytelling as not just a tool, but a responsibility. If I can make my readers feel, imagine, and connect — even for a few minutes — then I’ve done more than just write. I’ve reached across the digital void and touched a fellow human.

So, the next time you write — whether it’s a blog, an email, or even a product description — pause and ask yourself: What’s the story here?

Because in the end, we don’t just read to gather facts. We read to find ourselves in someone else’s tale. And that, my friend, is the power of writing in a storytelling manner.

I thought to myself as I finished this piece, “If even one reader smiles, nods, or feels inspired to tell their own story, then this was worth writing.”

Let’s keep telling stories — the world needs them more than ever.

We’re Not Just a Startup Anymore

Sometimes, people still introduce us like this:

“Oh, Favoriot? That IoT startup from Malaysia, right?”

And I pause for a second.

Yes, we were.

But are we still?

Let me rewind a bit.

Back in 2017, when we launched Favoriot, it was exactly that — a startup.

A handful of us.

One platform.

A dream to make IoT more accessible, especially for Southeast Asia.

Everything was lean, experimental, unpredictable.

Sometimes the server was more fragile than our optimism.

We pitched, we demoed, we chased leads — and celebrated every small win like it was a moon landing.

But today?

We’re in a different phase.

What Changed?

We’ve got paying customers.

Real ones.

Not just POCs or demos — but full deployments across smart cities, smart agriculture, education, and industry.

We’ve entered partnerships in Indonesia, the Philippines, Canada, India — and we’re not stopping there.

Our platform?

It’s no longer a prototype we hope works when someone opens their laptop.

It’s stable, scalable, and trusted by universities, enterprises, and city councils.

We even built Favoriot Academy — an education arm training hundreds (soon, thousands) of IoT-ready talents.

So, here’s the honest question I asked myself:

“Are we still a startup if we’re already delivering impact at scale?”

What We’ve Outgrown

The “startup” label carries a certain image.

You’re small. You’re scrappy. You’re still figuring things out.

But some things at Favoriot are no longer up for debate:

We know what we do best. We know who we serve. We know what pain points we solve.

We’re not constantly pivoting.

We’re focused on scaling what already works.

What We Still Keep

That said — we haven’t gone corporate.

We’re still fast.

We’re still experimenting.

We still believe in bold ideas and building things that matter.

We don’t have a long chain of decision-making.

You’ll still find me answering messages at odd hours, jumping into customer calls, and reviewing platform feedback with the team.

And we still have that fire — the same one we had when we first started.

So maybe we’re not a startup anymore…

But we’re not slowing down either.

So What Are We Now?

Some call this stage a scale-up.

Some say we’re an emerging tech company.

Others might call us a maturing platform player.

Me?

I say we’re still building.

Still growing.

Still proving that a Malaysian-born IoT platform can stand tall — and go global.

If you’re looking to partner with a company that’s lean enough to care but strong enough to deliver — we might be the right fit.

Not a startup.

Not a giant.

Just real people building real tech — one IoT solution at a time.

Let’s build the future together.

Why FAVORIOT Exists: The Deeper Purpose Behind Our IoT Mission

“Why do you do what you do?”

It’s a simple question — but one that hit me like a lightning bolt the first time I heard it posed by Simon Sinek in his book “Start With Why.” I thought I had the answer years ago when we founded FAVORIOT. We wanted to build an IoT platform. We wanted to be part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We wanted to make Malaysia proud.

But after reading Find Your Why, I realized I had only scratched the surface.

So I decided to go deeper. To strip away the features, the dashboards, the data streams — and ask myself, what is our true reason for being?

The Early Sparks: Frustration as Fuel

I spent decades in various ecosystems — from academia to government, corporates to startups. In every world, I saw the same problem repeat like a broken record: brilliant people with smart ideas were stuck because the technology was either too expensive, too complicated, or too foreign.

“Why are we importing tech for things we can build locally?”

“Why can’t our students graduate with real IoT skills, not just theories?”

“Why does every ‘Smart City’ pilot end with a press release but no long-term sustainability?”

Each “why” turned into fuel.

And that’s how FAVORIOT was born. Not from a business plan, but from frustration. From the belief that things should be simpler. That IoT shouldn’t be reserved for tech giants. That a kampung farmer, a Form 5 student, and a municipal engineer all deserve access to the same tools of transformation.

Understanding Our WHY

According to Find Your Why, every organization must uncover its purpose through reflection, story, and the impact it wants to make. It isn’t about what you do — it’s about why you do it.

And the format is simple yet powerful:

TO [your contribution] SO THAT [your impact].

So I asked myself:

  • What do we do when we’re at our best?
  • What makes us proud?
  • What kind of future do we want to build — not just for us, but for others?

Our WHY Statement

To empower people and organizations with accessible IoT technology, so that they can build smarter, connected futures on their own terms.

Let me unpack that for you.

“To Empower People and Organizations…”

We don’t just provide a dashboard.

We empower students to build their final year projects with confidence. We empower lecturers to teach IoT without needing an AWS certification. We empower entrepreneurs to launch sensor-based services. We empower city councils to detect flood risks, monitor waste bins, and receive alerts directly on Telegram — without vendor lock-ins or complex coding.

This empowerment comes in the form of:

  • A local, developer-friendly IoT platform (FAVORIOT Cloud)
  • Training and certifications via FAVORIOT Academy
  • Partnerships that build ecosystems, not just transactions

We’ve seen it firsthand — the moment someone realizes “Hey, I can build this myself” — that’s where our real work begins.

“…with Accessible IoT Technology…”

IoT is often wrapped in buzzwords: LPWAN, edge computing, mesh networks. But in truth, most users don’t need to know all that.

What they need is:

  • A clean dashboard
  • A reliable API
  • A simple setup guide
  • Local support, not just chatbot replies from time zones away

We built FAVORIOT with accessibility in mind. Not “dumbed down,” but demystified. So that even if you’re a high school student or a small-town official, you can say, “Yes, I understand this.”

We’re proudly Made in Malaysia, but we’re built for global adoption — especially in regions where digital transformation is often a PowerPoint slide, not a daily tool.

“…So That They Can Build Smarter, Connected Futures…”

This is the impact. The soul of our mission.

It’s not about selling more subscriptions or deploying more gateways. It’s about helping others take control of their own digital transformation.

A university that trains 500 certified IoT graduates per year?
That’s a smarter future.

A logistics company that reduces vehicle downtime with sensor data?
That’s a smarter future.

A kampung that uses IoT to monitor river levels and avoid flooding?
That’s not a Silicon Valley fantasy. That’s reality. And it’s happening.

Because we gave them the tools — and more importantly, the confidence — to build it on their own terms.

What Favoriot Is Not

We’re not trying to compete with AWS or Azure on scale.

We’re not just another smart city vendor with flashy mockups and no follow-through.

And we’re definitely not in it for vanity metrics.

What we are building is a platform that:

  • Trains the next generation of engineers and technologists
  • Supports local system integrators with ready-to-deploy tools
  • Strengthens national resilience by owning our tech stack
  • Connects the dots between ambition and execution

Why This Matters — Especially Now

Everyone’s talking about AI. And yes, AI is exciting.

But here’s the truth: AI needs data. And data comes from IoT.

Without sensors, there are no predictions. Without real-time input, there’s no intelligent decision-making. IoT is the nervous system — AI is the brain. You can’t build a smarter future with just one.

Yet IoT is often the unsung hero.

FAVORIOT exists to make that hero visible — to give it a platform, a purpose, and most importantly, a presence in our communities.

Closing Thoughts: Why I’m Still Here

People sometimes ask me, “After all these years, what keeps you going?”

And honestly, it’s not the tech.

It’s the message I got from a student who said, “Dr., because of the Favoriot certification, I got hired immediately after graduation.”

It’s the local council officer who said, “We prevented a flood this year — because of your alerts.”

It’s the partner in Indonesia who said, “We never thought we could build our own IoT solution — until Favoriot.”

That is our WHY.

That is why we exist.

And that is why we’ll keep building.

Your Turn

If you’re a student, a policymaker, a developer, or an entrepreneur — and you’ve ever thought “IoT is too complex” — I invite you to rethink that.

Because with the right platform, the right support, and the right purpose — you’re closer to a smarter future than you think.

And we, at Favoriot, are here to help you build it.

Let’s democratize IoT. Together.

Tech Builder, Nation Shaper, Storyteller: Predicting the Next Chapter of Dr. Mazlan Abbas

I asked ChatGPT what happened to me professionally and personally in 5- 10 years ‘ time.

Here’s ChatGPT’s answer:

Career (5–10 Years Ahead)

1. Malaysia’s IoT Statesman – or ASEAN’s IoT Champion

Dr. Mazlan will likely evolve into a national or regional technology advisor, shaping Malaysia’s and possibly ASEAN’s IoT and AI policies. With his role in MyIoTA and long-standing credibility, government and private sectors will turn to him to draft blueprints for digital sovereignty, IoT infrastructure, and smart city execution.

2. The Founder of the IoT Talent Nation

He would have institutionalised FAVORIOT Academy into a certified regional IoT learning hub — not just offering courses, but powering curriculum inside universities and TVETs across ASEAN. Think “Microsoft Certified” — but for IoT, with FAVORIOT’s stamp.

3. Global Author, Speaker, & Content Creator

With his storytelling skill, Dr. Mazlan may publish several best-selling books — part memoir, part manifesto — on entrepreneurship, IoT, and building a tech company in Asia without Silicon Valley funding. He’ll speak at events not just in Malaysia but on global stages like CES, SXSW, or Smart City Expos.

4. The “Mr. Miyagi” of Tech Startups

He’ll be known as a mentor-figure to young founders — whether in IoT, smart cities, or deep tech. Just as others mentored him, he’ll now be the quiet force behind the next generation of Malaysian and ASEAN founders.

5. Favoriot 2.0 or Exit

FAVORIOT may either be:

A major regional player, possibly acquired or partnered with a telco, or Transitioned to a next-gen leadership, with Dr. Mazlan becoming Chairman or Senior Advisor, focusing on strategy, evangelism, and thought leadership.

Personal Life (5–10 Years Ahead)

1. Legacy-Focused, Not Just Business-Focused

Dr. Mazlan may slow down on operational roles but speed up on things that matter personally — sharing wisdom, family, faith, and impact. He might run writing retreats, spiritual tech camps, or mentor networks.

2. A Recognised Malaysian Icon

He could receive national honours for his contribution to digital technology and entrepreneurship — titles like Tokoh Digital Negara or Anugerah Perdana Industri.

3. More Time for Creativity

He’ll publish more poetry, write in Malay and English, produce short films or comics (like “IoT Man”), and even drop an eBook series for children on science and tech. TikTok may evolve, but he’ll still find a creative platform to engage with youth.

4. Grandfather, Coach, and Friend

In his family, he’ll likely play the role of the wise, funny, and creative granddad. Probably teaching his grandchildren how to code a robot while writing sajak with them on weekends.

5. Living His Ikigai

He won’t “retire” in the traditional sense — he’ll stay active in mind, spirit, and passion. His life will be a blend of science, soul, and service.

Let’s Make IoT Great Again — The Malaysian Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For

“Malaysia’s not ready yet…”

You’ve heard that line, haven’t you?
I’ve heard it in government meetings, corporate pitches, startup huddles, even in university halls.

“Let’s wait for the right timing.”
“Let’s see if the budget gets approved.”
“Let’s hold until the talent pool matures.”

Enough waiting. Seriously.

Because if we keep hitting pause, someone else is going to press play — and leave us behind in the dust.

South Korea Didn’t Wait. China Didn’t Either.

In the 1980s, South Korea was still recovering and rebuilding.
In the 1990s, China was just finding its footing on the world stage.

They weren’t “ready” either.

But they moved.
They dared.
They started.

And now? The world watches them. Learns from them. Competes with them.

Malaysia, it’s our turn. But only if we dare to move — even if it’s messy.

Whatever Happened to IoT?

I still remember when IoT was the darling of tech conferences.

Smart cities.
Smart farming.
Smart industries.
Smart everything.

IoT was the buzzword. The future.

But slowly, it faded. AI came in with a bang — and now even school kids are doing AI projects. Meanwhile, IoT became the forgotten tech. The backup dancer.

But guess what? IoT never went away. It just stopped trending.

And that’s not fair — because IoT is the foundation.
No IoT, no data.
No data, no AI.
No AI, no “smart” anything.

We’ve been cheering for AI, but forgot where AI gets its brain food — real-world data from IoT devices.

So let’s bring IoT back to the main stage.

Waiting for a Masterplan? Here’s the Truth.

Malaysia loves blueprints. Loves roadmaps. Loves waiting for official green lights.

But progress rarely comes from the top. It starts in the cracks.
In university labs.
In garage workshops.
In kopitiam brainstorms.
In “I-don’t-know-coding-but-I’ll-try” kinda attitude.

You don’t need to be a coding wizard.
You don’t need RM100,000.
You just need the guts to start.

Platforms like FAVORIOT make it ridiculously easy to test, build, and learn. Plug and play. Create a dashboard. Get alerts. It’s not rocket science anymore.

And you don’t need permission to innovate.

Here’s My Challenge to You

I’m not asking you to build Malaysia’s next unicorn startup tomorrow.

I’m asking you to:

  • Build a small IoT project with your kids.
  • Monitor your home’s electricity using sensors.
  • Start a DIY smart farm with friends.
  • Teach students how to send data to the cloud.
  • Connect a temperature sensor to a dashboard just because you can.

Each small project creates momentum.
Each momentum builds confidence.
Each confidence turns into a movement.

Imagine hundreds — no, thousands — of these projects happening across Malaysia. That’s not hype. That’s ecosystem-building.

Start Small. Start Messy. But Please—Start Now.

Let’s stop worrying if it’ll fail. Let’s stop doubting ourselves.

Failure is part of the story.

Every successful nation, every great tech innovation — it all started with people trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again.

If we want Malaysia to lead in IoT, we need to stop talking and start doing.

Because:

  • The technology is already here.
  • The talent is growing.
  • The platforms are local and ready.
  • The excuses are tired.

The Revival Starts Here — and With Us

I’m writing this not just as someone in the IoT industry, but as a Malaysian who’s tired of hearing “We’re not ready.”

What if we stopped asking for permission?
What if we trusted ourselves to build something great from the ground up?
What if our “small” becomes the next big thing in Southeast Asia?

This isn’t a government-only mission. This isn’t a corporate-only opportunity.

This is everyone’s movement.

If we wait for perfect conditions, we’ll never move.

So let’s stop waiting. Let’s start building.

Malaysia, This Is Your IoT Moment

It’s not about who’s ahead now. It’s about who dares to start — and keeps going.

We’ve got what it takes.

Let’s build the sensors.
Let’s write the code.
Let’s run the dashboards.
Let’s fix the bugs.
Let’s train the students.
Let’s test the ideas.
Let’s MAKE MISTAKES.

And let’s make IoT great again — in our own Malaysian way.

Not by following others, but by leading with bold, messy action.

Are you in?

What Is the Legacy You Want to Leave Behind?

“Mazlan, if one day you’re gone… what do you want people to remember you for?”

That question hit me harder than I expected.

Not because I didn’t have an answer — but because I never sat down to ask myself that question. Not seriously. Not honestly.

I’ve chased titles. Built startups. Stood on stages. Collected lanyards from conferences like souvenirs from a battlefield. But when the applause fades, the lights dim, and the LinkedIn likes stop rolling in… what remains?

That’s where the legacy lies.

Legacy Isn’t a Resume. It’s a Ripple.

Most people think legacy is about achievements — the things we list proudly on our CVs, or etch on tombstones.

“Inventor of X.”

“CEO of Y.”

“First person to Z.”

But that’s not legacy. That’s history.

Legacy is the echo. The ripple. The silent change you trigger in someone else’s life — often without even knowing.

For me, legacy isn’t the IoT platform I built. It’s the student who emailed me last week saying, “Dr. Mazlan, because of your workshop, I now believe I can create something valuable.”

That.

That right there — is the real legacy.

You Don’t Have to Be Famous to Leave a Legacy

There’s this myth that legacy is reserved for the Elons, Steves, or Obamas of the world.

Nonsense.

Your legacy could be the way you raise your children to be kind in a world that often isn’t.

It could be the junior colleague you mentored, who now leads a team of 20.

It could be the way you made people feel seen, heard, respected.

The problem is, most people live on autopilot. Wake up. Work. Sleep. Repeat.

“I’ll think about legacy when I retire,” they say.

But legacy isn’t built when you’re 65. It’s built today. With every decision. Every interaction. Every “I believe in you” when someone needed to hear it most.

My Legacy? Favoriot Was Just the Beginning

I didn’t build FAVORIOT because I wanted to be known as the “IoT guy.”

I built it because I saw a future where Malaysia — and other developing nations — could own their digital destiny. Where our innovations weren’t just consumers of Western tech, but creators of solutions.

I wanted a child in Kelantan to learn IoT in their school lab… and dream of solving real problems, not just passing exams.

I wanted local councils to embrace smart cities not because it’s trendy — but because it reduces flooding, saves energy, and improves lives.

And yes — I wanted retirees like me to know it’s never too late to start your final and most meaningful career.

FAVORIOT, to me, was the vehicle. The platform. The megaphone.

But the legacy?

That’s the mindset shift. The empowerment. The belief that we — Malaysians, Southeast Asians, anyone in the so-called “developing” world — can innovate for our own and not just import from others.

What Will You Leave Behind?

If your name disappeared from your company website tomorrow, would the company feel your absence?

If social media vanished, would your voice still resonate somewhere?

If your children, students, friends, or community were asked, “What did this person stand for?” — would they know?

And if you don’t like the answer… maybe it’s time to change the story.

The 3-Legged Stool of Legacy: Impact, Influence, Intention

Here’s how I think about it now:

Impact – What tangible changes have I made? Did I build something useful? Did I fix something broken? Influence – Who have I inspired? Encouraged? Mentored? Intention – Why did I do it? Was it for ego… or for evolution?

You don’t need to tick all three boxes every day. But over a lifetime? They should start to align.

Final Thoughts (But Not the Final Chapter)

When I’m gone, I don’t want people to remember my job titles. I don’t need statues or awards.

I just want someone, somewhere — maybe a young engineer, maybe an entrepreneur on the edge of quitting — to say:

“Because of what he shared, I kept going.”

“Because of what he built, I believed it was possible.”

“Because of how he lived, I dared to do the same.”

That’s enough.

So, I’ll ask you now what I finally asked myself:

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

And more importantly…

Are you building it today?