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Disabled man earns $5,400 monthly
Fri, Feb 19, 2010
The New Paper
By Arul John
WHEN he was just 4, Mr Mohd Arsyad Mohd Yusuf was struck with muscular atrophy. Since then, he has been in a wheelchair.
But his disability did not rob him of his desire for self-improvement. He learned how to use the Internet to make a living.
Today, at 23, Mr Mohd Arsyad makes RM13,000 ($5,400) a month from designing web pages, selling e-books that he wrote, and giving motivational talks.
The Kedah native was in Singapore as a guest speaker at a financial management workshop.
Mr Mohd Arsyad was diagnosed as suffering from spinal muscular atrophy when he was 4, after he started falling down often at home.
The condition is a genetic disease caused by the loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord. This affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.
Mr Mohd Arsyad's father, Mr Mohd Yusuf Salim, a retiree in his 50s, said: "Doctors recommended physiotherapy for him when he was younger, but there was no cure or medication."
It was hard on the young boy at first.
Said Mr Mohd Arsyad: "When I went to school, my classmates would tease me because of my disability, and I felt sad and discouraged.
"But my family and relatives encouraged me and said God made me the way I was for a purpose - so I could help and give hope to others."
The second of three children eventually came to terms with his disability.
After he completed his Malaysian Certificate of Education (the equivalent of the O levels here) at the age of 17, he took up religious studies for two years. He then conducted religious classes at home, earning RM100 ($41) a month.
Private lessons
He also took computer lessons at a private school.
Two years ago, he picked up graphic design skills from the Internet and learnt how to write and sell e-books.
"I used to e-mail my designs to my friends and they would ask me to design their web pages," he said.
"At first, I did it for free, but a relative said I could make money from it."
So he did.
"Soon I was earning about RM13,000 per month. I use the money to help support my family, and sometimes I give RM1,000 to my parents.
"I also use the money to buy software which I give free to participants at my talks."
He advertises his business via e-mail, Facebook, blogs and online forums.
In the last two years, he has written and marketed eight e-books - mostly about self-improvement and money management.
Titles include 14 Keys to Open your Mind's Power and The Fundamentals of Blogging.
Mr Mohd Arsyad claimed to have sold 660 copies of his e-books in Malaysia so far.
"I plan to write another six e-books this year, give more motivational talks and expand my business outside Malaysia, probably starting with Singapore."
Mr Mohd Arsyad said he puts in about eight hours of work a day.
He said: "I usually start work at 9am and work four hours in the morning and four hours later in the day.
Mr Mohd Arsyad is not the only person in his family to have to overcome great odds.
The youngest brother, Mr Mohd Azfar Mohd Yusuf, 22, is paralysed from birth.
The bedridden young man sells handphones on the Internet.
Mr Mohd Arsyad said: "My youngest brother was inspired by my success and wanted to earn some money too, so also picked up Internet skills.
"I want to inspire others like me to make the best of their lives, like I have done."
This article was first published in The New Paper.
Fri, Feb 19, 2010
The New Paper
By Arul John
WHEN he was just 4, Mr Mohd Arsyad Mohd Yusuf was struck with muscular atrophy. Since then, he has been in a wheelchair.
But his disability did not rob him of his desire for self-improvement. He learned how to use the Internet to make a living.
Today, at 23, Mr Mohd Arsyad makes RM13,000 ($5,400) a month from designing web pages, selling e-books that he wrote, and giving motivational talks.
The Kedah native was in Singapore as a guest speaker at a financial management workshop.
Mr Mohd Arsyad was diagnosed as suffering from spinal muscular atrophy when he was 4, after he started falling down often at home.
The condition is a genetic disease caused by the loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord. This affects the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.
Mr Mohd Arsyad's father, Mr Mohd Yusuf Salim, a retiree in his 50s, said: "Doctors recommended physiotherapy for him when he was younger, but there was no cure or medication."
It was hard on the young boy at first.
Said Mr Mohd Arsyad: "When I went to school, my classmates would tease me because of my disability, and I felt sad and discouraged.
"But my family and relatives encouraged me and said God made me the way I was for a purpose - so I could help and give hope to others."
The second of three children eventually came to terms with his disability.
After he completed his Malaysian Certificate of Education (the equivalent of the O levels here) at the age of 17, he took up religious studies for two years. He then conducted religious classes at home, earning RM100 ($41) a month.
Private lessons
He also took computer lessons at a private school.
Two years ago, he picked up graphic design skills from the Internet and learnt how to write and sell e-books.
"I used to e-mail my designs to my friends and they would ask me to design their web pages," he said.
"At first, I did it for free, but a relative said I could make money from it."
So he did.
"Soon I was earning about RM13,000 per month. I use the money to help support my family, and sometimes I give RM1,000 to my parents.
"I also use the money to buy software which I give free to participants at my talks."
He advertises his business via e-mail, Facebook, blogs and online forums.
In the last two years, he has written and marketed eight e-books - mostly about self-improvement and money management.
Titles include 14 Keys to Open your Mind's Power and The Fundamentals of Blogging.
Mr Mohd Arsyad claimed to have sold 660 copies of his e-books in Malaysia so far.
"I plan to write another six e-books this year, give more motivational talks and expand my business outside Malaysia, probably starting with Singapore."
Mr Mohd Arsyad said he puts in about eight hours of work a day.
He said: "I usually start work at 9am and work four hours in the morning and four hours later in the day.
Mr Mohd Arsyad is not the only person in his family to have to overcome great odds.
The youngest brother, Mr Mohd Azfar Mohd Yusuf, 22, is paralysed from birth.
The bedridden young man sells handphones on the Internet.
Mr Mohd Arsyad said: "My youngest brother was inspired by my success and wanted to earn some money too, so also picked up Internet skills.
"I want to inspire others like me to make the best of their lives, like I have done."
This article was first published in The New Paper.
