Persistence pays off

Hard work, the ability to complete tasks and an insatiable hunger for new ideas are among the hallmarks of successful people, according to three local hotshots.

DJ Hattaya Wongkrachang, DJ Miew (aka Atchariya Singrachatanan) and ML Apimongkol Sonakul, member of the Democrat Party, said that perseverance, dedication and inquisitiveness had helped them get ahead of the pack. They added that their ability to use the Internet as a research tool was crucial to keep up with developments

"I consider information as a tool, a key to success," said Apimongkol, who holds a master's degree in engineering from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. "It's important to read books, magazines and newspapers daily to stay abreast of events."

Hattaya also says that reading and research are crucial. As a DJ, she's constantly surfing the Web looking for "something to talk about with my audience". Hattaya developed her hunger for information while studying for a degree in graphic design in London.

DJ Miew says that moving to the UK to study business taught her to question what she hears and to do independent research.

"When I was a student in Bangkok, I believed whatever my teachers said. But in the UK, I learned to think for myself and to question what other people said. That ability to think for yourself is very important for every occupation," she says.

DJ Miew adds that she now relies heavily on research from the Internet, but makes sure that she's using reliable Web sites.

"If you think that being a DJ means just playing songs, you're wrong," DJ Miew says. "We have to talk intelligently to the audience. So that means gathering lots of information from the Internet, which is constantly being updated, making my life much easier."

By Sirin P. Wongpanit

Special to The Nation