The Road to True Success: A New Compass for Marketplace Leaders in SE Asia

by ELLIOTT SNUGGS

In the bustling economic hubs of Southeast Asia, the definition of "success" is often written in profit margins, market share, and rapid expansion. However, a recent gathering of A3.business, marketplace leaders explored a different map—one titled “The Road to True Success” by Dr. Suparno Adijanto. Suparno, a business leader in Indonesia, brought a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to Jesus to this cohort in a country in SE Asia.

His framework challenged the traditional "business-first" mindset, offering a complete integration of faith and industry designed to transform not just how a leader runs their business, but how they anchor their entire life.

1. Redefining the Destination: Calling vs. Career

For many leaders, identity is tied to their current title. This presentation argues that calling is constant, while roles and careers change.

• Identity Before Activity: True success begins by recognizing that you are first called to God Himself—to reflect His character—and everything else flows from that relationship.
• Discovery over Invention: You don’t create your calling; you discern it through prayer, scripture, and life patterns.
• The Burden as a Doorway: Leaders were encouraged to ask: “What deeply burdens your heart that you cannot ignore?”. That burden is often the doorway to your unique assignment.

Impact for Transformation

When a leader views their business as an assignment rather than just a career, decisions become easier and distractions become clearer. Success is no longer about building a personal empire, but about convergence—where gifts, experience, and opportunities align to serve God’s purposes with maximum effectiveness.

2. The Fuel of Stewardship: Breaking the "Ownership Trap"

One of the most profound shifts shared was the move from an Ownership Mindset to a Stewardship Mindset.

• The Ownership Trap: When leaders believe they "own" their business, they carry heavy burdens of pressure, fear, and identity.
• Sustainable Fuel: Stewardship acknowledges that God owns everything; we are simply faithful managers. This shift moves a leader from Control to Trust and from Fear to Faithfulness.

The 7Ts Wealth Creation Model

The presentation introduced the "7Ts" as the fuel for compounding impact:

• Truth, Time, Talent, Territory, Temple (Health), Tools, and Treasure.

Marketplace leaders are transformed when they realize that wealth isn't just for luxury; it’s a "harvest" from the "seed" of money, meant to be used to bless others and fund good.

3. The Rules of the Road: Reordering Priorities

To stay on the road to success without "crashing," leaders must follow a specific "Kingdom Equation" based on Matthew 6:33.

"You don’t drift into righteousness—you drift away from it."

— DR. SUPARNO ADIJANTO

"You don’t drift into righteousness—you drift away from it," Suparno warned. To prevent this, leaders are encouraged to build practical systems: daily quiet time, pre-decided values to withstand pressure, and accountability partners who can ask the hard questions.

4. The Eternal Perspective: "Sending it Forward"

The final session focused on Destination. In a world that prizes the "abundance of possessions," leaders were reminded that life’s true value is not found in what can be lost, stolen, or devalued.

• True Riches vs. Uncertain Riches: Money is "uncertain," but true riches are found in knowing Christ and being filled with the fullness of God.
• Investment Timeframe: Successful leaders often think in 5 or 10-year plans. This framework suggests an investment timeframe of 30 million years and beyond.
• People as the Priority: Because only God, His Word, and people are eternal, true success involves investing in others—reaching the lost, ministering to the saved, and being kind to the poor.

Final Challenge: Four Questions Every Marketplace Leader Must Answer

The story of these marketplace leaders gathered by A3.business in SE Asia is a call to all of us to ask four critical questions:

1. Am I on the right road (Calling)?
2. Am I using the right fuel (Stewardship)?
3. Am I following the right rule (Matthew 6:33)?
4. Am I heading to the right destination (Eternity)?

True success is not measured by who finished fastest or biggest, but by who remained faithful to the end.

Elliott Snuggs

More Information:

• Cover photo by Matt Foxx on Unsplash
• See a bio of Dr. Suparno Adijanto here...

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Elliott Snuggs

Executive VP at A3.business

Elliott Snuggs has been with A3 since 1983 and currently serves as Executive VP for A3.business. He has invested significant time and expertise in helping launch A3.business, building it to be a growing leader development program for the marketplace in numerous countries.

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