By Mohammad Suyanto
Matsushita was born among ordinary people and was raised in poverty near the small village of Wakayama. He has seven brothers and sisters. His family once lived prosperously, but after his father’s business went bankrupt, he lived in poverty. Matsushita left school in 1904 and had an apprentice at a charcoal maker. After he became an inspector at Osaka Electric Light Company, and eventually established his own company with the name of Matsushita Electric.
What Matsushita produced for the first time was a plug adapter. This adapter was actually proposed to his previous employers but they did not care for it. It took Matshusita and his four companions four months to create this product, and after it had been made, no one bought it.
Companies started to believe when he received orders insulator plates. Orders were filled with high quality products on time. Of their profits, Matsushita developed innovative bike lights. Like the adapter products, bike lights were not attractive to retailers. Matsushita then asked the sellers to demonstrate by asking them to keep a light on in each of their stores . The demonstration attracted customers, so the business began to develop. In 1932, Matsushita had 1000 employees, 10 factories, and 280 patents. The decision to demonstrate his products to customers is the basis for the beginning of the empire of his business.
Matsushita built ships and aircrafts in the Second World War. In 1958, Matsushita Electric received awards for the quality of factory operations and in 1990, Matsushita bought MCA company. Matsushita has created one of the most famous brands in the world, that is Panasonic, and he has created a 42 billion dollar business. Using the philosophy of running water, Matsushita started with capital from scratch; however, he has defeated dreams of west industries.
Like Matsushita, to attract prospective students considered as its customers, The College of Information Management and Computers (STMIK) AMIKOM Yogyakarta also demonstrated its products to prospective students, particularly the products made by the students of the College. The prospective students were shown how to make television ads; how to create multimedia profiles used by governmental departments, private companies, etc.; and how to make cartoon films, like “Jatayu”, “The Adventure of Abdan”, etc. Before the making of the film was described, it was screened first. Most prospective students were amazed at the students’ work. In addition, STMIK AMIKOM Yogyakarta also demonstrated how the lecturers of the College teach through Super Excellence Training for prospective students. More than 90% of prospective students were satisfied with the training and teaching styles of interesting lecturers, because previously the lecturers had been given training on how to teach well. Finally the prospective students registered and became students of STMIK AMIKOM Yogyakarta.