Concept Paper of the Blog

Ever person admires someone.  They are the reason we keep going on despite all the challenges and temptations. They help us go on the right way. They stand as our bones that help us stand straight. There are many people who influence my life. I do realize that most of us admire most world’s top-notch entrepreneurs like Donald Trump and Steve Job. But then again, don’t forget that our country also have inspiring entrepreneurs who are currently making their stands, at par with renown entrepreneurs as well. For this post, I would like to talk about 2 Malaysian entrepreneurs that I admire and lessons that I’ve learn from each of them. I hope this can inspire you as well.

How did they do it?

Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew was born in Hui of China but moved from China to Malaysia in the early of 12 together with 5 of his friends and without any formal education. At that time, he decided to train himself by being a mechanic with no pay until he learnt some basic skills of it. He was also doing another job that was washing the bus as additional job to earn more income. In the year of 1958, Loh Boon Siew realized that the popularity of Honda Cub motorbike was large in Japan. In order to introduce this motorbike, he made the appointment to meet with this bike’s creator, Mr. Soichiro Honda and was also convincing Mr. Soichiro Honda to build a Honda subsidiary company in Malaysia. Soon, this motorbike became the bestselling motorcycle in Malaysia. Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew’s lifelong search for a better world did not always result in personal profit.  Nonetheless, “doing well by doing good” remains the secret to his success, both as entrepreneur, and as human being.

The rare gem among entrepreneurs in Malaysia, that is Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong. From harvesting lettuce and maple syrup, we now have one of the most profitable casino in the world, which is Genting Group.  He is a fine example of the results of what a ‘Can Do’ and ‘Never Give Up’ attitude can do. Lim Goh Tong was an immigrant from a little mountainous county in Fujian, China. He came to Malaysia to work as a carpenter and rised up to be a building sub-contractor. The idea for Genting Highlands came when he was having dinner in Cameron Highlands. He thought it would nice to have a cool place where people can escape from the heat in the lowlands. As Cameron Highlands was too far from Kuala Lumpur, he had to search for another location. He did some research and that is where he found an unexplored hilltop called Genting Highlands. He started building a casino up there. And he continued adding building after building until it is what it is now. As he was building at a new unexplored location, there were many difficulties he had to face. But all the difficulties did not stop him. He has since passed away in 2007, now the Genting Empire he created is being run by his son. What I truly learnt is from his walks of life, are keep on working hard and don’t give up. Not forgotten from where we come, and try to contribute to them back once we are successful in life.

       In conclusion, among the entrepreneurs in this world, Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew and Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong are the entrepreneurs that I admired due to some reasons stated before. They teach me the important of the spirit of not giving up and they make me realize that everyone can become an entrepreneur not matter how difficult is. These entrepreneurs have also taught me not only to dream the big idea, but that not enough emphasis can be placed on the execution of it. Their visions, values and methods have played an integral role in the growth and development in my life, and for that I am forever indebted to them.