Kartunet - Physical limitations and economic hardship are often used as excuses to give up. However, this was not the case for Yulianto. Starting as a visually impaired masseur living paycheck to paycheck, he managed to turn his fate around through financial literacy and stock investment. His story is living proof that stepping out of one's comfort zone is the key to independence.
A Turning Point in Life and Getting Acquainted with Stocks
Yulianto's life journey encountered a rough patch when he lost his sight due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a medication error) in 2002, and was declared completely blind a few years later. After a period of suffering, his life slowly found a new direction when he entered a social rehabilitation center in Solo in 2011. There, he was equipped with mobility orientation skills and massage techniques.
His profession as a masseur led him to deep contemplation. "I thought, if I keep massaging, when I get sick, where will the money come from?" he recalled. That concern proved true when he suffered a leg muscle infection that prevented him from standing and caused him to lose income from massaging.
Inspiration struck when he often listened to radio broadcasts about investment. Despite having limited capital, Yulianto bravely set aside his earnings. From a massage fee of Rp25,000, he disciplined himself to save Rp10,000. To save money to buy Bank BRI shares, which were then priced at Rp260,000 per lot, he even willingly ate only "nasi karak" (stale rice) as a side dish.
Buying a Dream Home from Stock Earnings
Yulianto's patience and discipline bore sweet fruit. One day, while living in a low-cost apartment (Rusun) and facing eviction due to a rental deadline, he received an offer for a subsidized house.
When he was struggling to find a down payment, Yulianto decided to liquidate all his shares. The capital gain (increase in stock price) and dividends he had accumulated from setting aside his massage earnings turned out to be more than enough to pay the down payment for the house. "I thought, now I don't have to be afraid of being told to leave the apartment, because I already own a house," he said proudly.
The Fisherman's Philosophy: "Profit is Simple, You're the Complicated One"
Today, Yulianto no longer relies on massaging for his livelihood. His success in the capital market often earns him the nickname "suhu" (master/guru) from his colleagues, although he himself remains humble and feels he is still learning. In investing, Yulianto has a very down-to-earth philosophy: be like a fisherman going out to sea.
Many beginners are ruined in the stock market because they want to get rich quickly with large capital but without knowledge. Yulianto advises starting small. "If we try with small things, it's like a fisherman going out to sea in a small boat. At least if it capsizes, it capsizes in that boat, not sinking with a large ship. Once you know the terrain, then you can try going out to sea with a large boat," he explained.
Yulianto also criticizes the public's habit of often complaining and blaming circumstances or the government. For him, behind every crisis, there is always an opportunity. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and many people complained, he saw it as a great opportunity to profit from the plummeting stock market.
Conclusion
Yulianto's story teaches us that financial success does not depend on physical perfection, but rather on the willingness to learn, adapt, and dare to take calculated risks. Nothing instant is worthwhile; everything requires a process. As the motto he now firmly holds: "Whatever our condition, profit is simple... you're the complicated one!" (DPM).