Characteristics Of Entrepreneurs And the Examples of Entrepreneurs

INTRODUCTION

Entrepreneurship can be defined as an individual process that involved directly or indirectly in order to produce a new creation to the satisfaction of those around him. According Kamus Dewan (1984) entrepreneur is derived from the word effort. Effort is defined as including voluntary efforts, activities and acts to perform and execute something. Entrepreneurs in Malaysia arise from a number of ways through their involvement with the government or the individual who is active through its own efforts.Entrepreneurship is also an assurance as to the quality of life for someone to develop the national economy and the benefit to himself or to others. However, individuals who involved in entrepreneurship should have the entrepreneurial traits such as integrity and reliability, initiative, versatility, decesive, time competence, perceptiveness, ability to learn from mistakes, ethical consciousness and foresight. There are few examples of successful entrepreneurs who have the entrepreneurial traits as noted.

1.    Integrity and Reliability

Integrity is the nature of identity that encompasses honesty, openness, transparency, trust, truth, adhere to the principle, and not easily influenced. Reliability word basically will believe in truth or exixtence of something. Dato’Ramly Mokni is a entrepreneur that has integrity and reliability attitude. He  started out making burgers from a mobile kiosk in a small lane in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. In the 34 years since, Ramly has built a food empire that boasts annual sales of RM1 billion, churning out around 150 metric tonnes of meat, chicken and seafood-based products a day. The Ramly burger itself has become synonymous with late-night snacking amongst Malaysians; the combination of beef or chicken patty, margarine, onions, eggs, and worcestershire sauce. He is succed in entrepreneurship with so brilliant and exemplary by Bumiputera enterpreneurs other. Dato’Haji Ramly has many characteristics of successful in enterpreneurs such as integrity and reliability. Dato’ RamlyMokni just started as a meat cutter at a supermarket in the capital in the early '70s, at which time most of the frozen food status uncertain greed. Take the opportunities that exist in plain sight, he then got the idea to produce frozen halal food to meet the demand of Muslims in Malaysia. He is a wise and far-sighted opportunities never give up even his idea was never belittled by some parties and also the bankers who are not sure of the strength of his products.

Then, the support of family, especially his wife, who always provides encouragement to him as a morale booster for him to succeed. Armed with their own savings and loan assistance granted by the Development Bank and Malaysia Berhad has enabled great strides to develop its business.Although have many challenges and obstacles. However, armed with a integrity and reliability he has been able to expand its business of producing meat burger just as much as 300 pieces per day to 30 tons of meat a day after 20 years in the business world. Among the products under the brand Ramly is meat chicken and bacon burger, nuggets product range, radius, sausage and more. In addition, to ensure the quality of products has always been at their best to cater to the tastes of its customers, Ramly Microbiology Laboratory was established. The purpose of this lab is to ensure that its products are pure from the selection of rawmaterials to finished products and safe to eat user. Laboratory complete with high-tech equipment also served as a place of research and product development aside.

However, among the major issues facing the Haji Ramly is the issue of pig DNA in the product Ramly Burger. This happens due to a blog that displays a copy of the letter dar State Health Department who claimed the department concerned to find Yan District pig DNA findings on a sample product Ramly Burger.But this was denied outright by Haji Ramly also the Group Managing Director of the Company Ramly this is because its great importance to the question of halal haram and halal have a committee to ensure the halal status of products prior to release on the market. However, the issue does not affect to business Ramly burger.

Looking at the success achieved by Haji Ramly, there must be a secret or strategy is holding prominent businessman. Haji Ramly always think positive, honest, trust and believe in himself. In addition, he will never take for granted every opinion given by the clients of his company's product. Any customer complaints and dissatisfaction will certainly be entertained by his best, but he will improve the quality of their products to meet the customers in a timely manner to identify problems arise.He described the actions taken he was not a fast “melatah” on trifles even tackle the problem effectively and efficiently. The results of his hard work for almost 30 years has earned him awarded the medal of honor which carries the title Dato 'in December 2009 from the Sultan of Selangor's birthday and several times crowned as Best Entrepreneur Award.

2.    Initiative

Initiative is the ability to decide and do the right thing without being told, was able to find what should be done about something that is around, trying to move to do some things became more difficult however states. The initiative is aproactive attitude towards things that are around, to take the initiative we must prioritize action rather  than reaction. High initiative on someone able to find problems and difficult implicit and can also decide on solutions and solve the problem.

We have to do a thing without having ordered in advance. Effectiveness of the activities of entrepreneurs is to find and take the initiatives. These people are willing to put themselves to find and take the initiative. They are seen as responsible person in as operating regardless of wether successful and failed. Entrepreneur is a person who is responsible for what is going to happen on their business. They take the initiative to solve problem where no other  leader  who is willing to take it.

For example, Tamin sauce entrepreneurs, Tuan Haji Mohd Tamin who have started this business capital of RM10 only. He is meticulous in ensuring the quality of his products is guaranteed. Ingredients and manufacturing processes soy sauce mixture and lead this very neat. The result of his effort in keeping the quality of its products, it gets the heart in heart housewives and citizens around the village. Initial daily production of 700 bottles a day and has grown to reach a production of 80,000 bottles of soy sauce and a day. Also has expanded its business by opening a factory in Batu Gajah and Kuala Kangsar with a workforce of 250 people. Products have also been penetrated markets in Japan, the United Kingdom, Arabic and Indonesian.

3.    Versatility

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Shah bin Syed Nor Al-Bukhary is a businessman and millionaire Melayu famous not only in Malaysia but throughout the world. His name is synonymous in the business world. He was born in Alor Setar, Kedah in 1951. He grew up in a poor condition that wooden houses in Kampung Hutan Keriang not have a bed, table or chair. The hard life taught her to be more independent in their success. Although he is only the highest education level five but that does not mean he has no knowledge. A lot of knowledge and experience he has gained through his own entrepreneurial experience during his youth.

He is a man of versatile. He dabbled in the business world began when helping her grow and sell vegetables in the market and also sells bread rolled. Knowledge score was used in helping his father did passbook daily. After completing his studies, he helped his father in the business of breeding cattle, but the business is insolvent as a result of foot and mouth disease. After that, he restarted the business of selling meat. He has gone from week to week around Alor Setar to buy unsold meat and the meat packing with ice and sell it back to Bumiputera businessmen and restaurants around Alor Setar. Success in business is adding his confidence to develop themselves in the business world.

In 1972, he shifted to the transportation business. He managed to get a permit for four lorries Class A and get assistance loan of RM 110,000 from the MARA used to buy two lorries Mercedes 911LS. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar using truck-lorry to start rice business. He started his business in Kedah in the 1990s dealing in rice. More success followed and he moved to rice trading business. He worked even harder after he was awarded the rice trading license from Lembaga Padi Negara, and was later awarded successions of supplier contract government-linked corporations as partner with Zainal Hatim Hj Ambia Bukhary. Of the rice business, he later expanded its business to other commodities such as sugar through his company named Bukhary Sdn. Bhd and an annual turnover of RM250 million. He then stepped to the manufacturing sector as a result of its success was awarded the contract to make clothing for the military seragan Ministry of Defence. He has also set up two companies, namely Amtek Holdings to manufacture shoes and Garments Orietal Uniform Division for the manufacture of clothing. (Abd Aziz, 2012)

At the beginning of an 90- year, he continued to focus its efforts in the development and management of the port and he is also the one person responsible for making the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor became famous in the eyes of the world. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhari also the owner of Gulf States Capital International Investment Group (GIIG) who have an interest in the Bakun Hydroelectric Project. He also has interests in several well-known firms such as Malaysia Mining Corporation Berhad (MMC), Pernas, Cement Holdings Berhad, Malakoff Berhad, Johor Port Berhad, dream model Sdn. Bhd., Indra Cita Sdn. Bhd

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary is currently the richest bumiputra corporate figure with many interest in diversified business areas which include transportation and logistics, plantations, property development, defense and armory as well as engineering and power generation.  He is also a symbolic figure that holds philosophy that 'education does not guarantee success in life, but hard work does', and he's a walking proof of that.  He never knew the meaning of failure and always learn from mistakes. He is a prudent business especially in terms of the purchase and acquisition of a stake in a company or project. He has a personality, and should be emulated by all parties.

4.    Decesive

               Noor Arfa Batek company is a renowned company in Terengganu. The company manufactures products which produce different patterns of batik in various types of clothing. Company founder Noor Arfa Batik is Wan Mohamed Ariffin Wan Long and his wife, Puan Noor Hijerah Hanafiyyah the Executive Director in this company. Founder, Wan Mohamed Ariffin Wan Long has a disciplined attitude in a job and decisive in control of the company and the job that needs to be implemented. He also decisive in the work and educate employees to be honest and sincere worker doing any work and good at dividing his time between working with other matters. The decisive owned properties, properties owned by his patient. without the nature of the discipline, decisive and patient, success is not easily obtained and that victory recipes Noor Arfa Batek than ensure product quality and market share targets. At the same time the management system must also be properly and systematically in control of the company.

In addition, he started this business on a small scale at the rear of the house they rent in the Kampung Tanjung, Kuala Terengganu with a capital of only RM1,000 savings and loan Mara RM5,000 with his wife, Puan Noor Hijerah Hanafi. Noor Arfa Batek initial product is batik kaftan. In the initial stage, where products Noor arfa own self and finding alternatives to find customers. Even through various challenges and obstacles and no less tired. He first got the idea after being told by a tourist that is why he did not come up with designs that favored tourist and more contemporary designs. The words had opened his mind and gave him the inspiration to produce batik more interesting and contemporary liking travelers.

               Finally, he was introduced batik States across the country because of his many customers ranging from foreign tourists, including in the country. Architecture Noor Arfa Craft Complex is also influenced by the old Malay architecture is very unique, coupled with a very beautiful landscape and spectacular views. Visitors can see how batik is produced, the process of coloring, painting with wax and wax relief. This process takes time and skill to produce high quality batik.

5.    Time competence

The closest example for entrepreneur that have a value of time competent we are opening the biggest tourist center of Genting Highlands Resort. His arrival as a very poor led him to try harder to improve their standard of living. Genting Group founder cum Asian tycoon Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong never reveal some tips inspiration itself so successfully make the Genting Highlands Resort as an entertainment center and a world-leading vacation. As Malaysians, we should be proud and make it as inspiration to forge ahead in business. The late Tan Sri is the founder and president of Genting Group lifetime. He died in 2007 as Southeast Asia's richest person with assets worth RM 421.8 billion.

Feelings of inferiority and not arrogance with which owned luxury will make a person more alert with the work done. And never fail with a lot of money. So, the money collected is always promising a return of capital that can be used in the future and the money saved can also be started. Practice humility will make many people like communicating and like to make friends with us. While we have become famous among entrepreneurs, to respect the other person do not forget. Moreover, Tan Sri also adopt a timely that have been made. He will also present 10 minutes ahead of time that has been promised. He never breaks a promise he had made. Because things like this will affect the relationships that have been built. If possible, stay away from this behavior to ensure a good connection. Tan Sri also practice wake up early and went to sleep late. If you want to succeed in business, let's try his tips.

Tan Sri also adopt a timely that have been made. He will also present 10 minutes ahead of time that has been promised. He himself never breaks a promise he had made. Because things like this will affect the relationships that have been built. If possible, stay away from this behavior to ensure a good connection. Tan Sri also practice wake up early and went to sleep late. If you want to succeed in business, let's try his tips.

As a conclusion , everyone has the right to succeed and they should be given the opportunity to try their luck. Because all human beings have ambition. They can make any figure as inspiration to succeed. Efforts will be fruitful in every work to be done. Indeed, every ambition and dreams to charge full attention and the highest sacrifice. Before that, I think we should read the biography entitled "My Story". This book contains the story behind the success of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong before successfully established a world-class large empire.

Tan Sri also adopt a timely that have been made. He will also present 10 minutes ahead of time that has been promised. He himself never breaks a promise he had made. Because things like this will affect the relationships that have been built. If possible, stay away from this behavior to ensure a good connection. Tan Sri also practice wake up early and went to sleep late. If you want to succeed in business, let's try his tips.

6.    Perceptiveness

A successful entrepreneur has a response characteristic in which they have the ability to understand or recognize something that other people do not realize. They have sight or taste different from others and has its own policy. Many are making perception that entrepreneurship has a high risk, but for a perceptive entrepreneur knows how to guide a small business by keeping an eye on political and economic developments. Ultimately, knowledge is the best policy to limit risk and thereby increase the chance of success.

Examples of entrepreneurs who have the character traits are tough Gerald Pencer, as he is known, Coke and Pepsi soft drinks are the largest in the industry. He had thought of a way to compete with the two companies. He has found the best way to face this challenge by establishing Cott as private label bottler. How that is done by Gerald has provided many benefits to retailers by offering soft drinks at low prices. Furthermore, he has been successful as making Cott as fourth largest beverage manufacturer in the world. The way he sees and thinks to look forward greatly admired and showed he has the perceptiveness characters.

7.    Ability to Learned From Mistakes

Every entrepreneur has a history in developing their business to get a higher level. Any errors that occur in the business is the normal things for entrepreneur, therefore they cannot avoid from making mistakes in their business. The fault is not necessarily done by the entrepreneur and there are also errors committed by subordinates. Every entrepreneur has experienced a failure in their business. Entrepreneurs don’t easily give up when their business has a problems but they become more passion to develop the business. For example, Dato’ Ameer Ali Mydin, Managing Director of Mydin Holdings Bhd. He has continued family business and expand the business across the country. There are many obstacles and barriers to establishing a successful business. In Mydin’s family value of honesty is needed. In Mydin’s business ever happened defection where an employee was stealing money from the sales and there was show attitude of the workers themselves who are not honest in doing a job. The offense is committed by employees and management must be careful in selecting employees.

8.    Ethical consciousness

Ethics shows moral or ethical behavior according to what a person who has been designated by the situation. It can be define as the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group or culture. While consciousness is defined as a feeling that leads to an awareness of perception, feeling, and thinking about something. In business, lack of ethics consciousness is one of the main obstacles to become a successful entrepreneur. This is because when there is no respect between the entrepreneurs, it will affect the reputation of thenew company. Among these virtues or values we find honesty and truthfulness, trustworthiness, fairness, respect for others, service, justice, moderation, wisdom and prudence.

Among entrepreneurs who have properties ethics awareness is Datuk Yusof Taiyoob. His practice ethical principles in business by being honest with the quality of his products. He did not want to be deceived customers with the quality of  the fruit. "I choose a high quality fruit than those available in the market. Our customers know the quality of the fruit and are willing to spend more to get it," he said.

9.    Foresight

An entrepreneur who wants to succeed should have a foresight attitude. Foresight means a person who is always forward thinking about what to do in the future for success. Someone who has the foresight future directions are clear and they always think positive even if he did not know the risks that may be encountered later. This foresight people always have high self-confidence. This attitude makes one should always take advantage of every moment in his life by thinking of things that would constitute success for him in the future. They also take the opportunities that lie ahead. Moreover, a foresight it will always make its failure as a lesson and try to re-build success without despair. This is so because, they farsighted always positive and never give up.

Examples of entrepreneurs who have a sense of foresight is the late Tan Sri Dato 'Loh Boon Siew. He is an entrepreneur who introduced Boon Siew Honda motorcycles. He is a illiterate and can not read, but he has a very strong memory in making a judgment or decision. He was a visionary though he never went to school because of poverty. Through his life of poverty, he was trying to figure out how to run their own business. Initially, he had only the used car business. In 1958 he visited Japan and interested in Honda motorcycle that was never used in Malaysia. Therefore, with foresight attitude that existed at him, he tried to find the founder and order the motorcycle of 12 units to be brought back to Malaysia. However, people laughed at motorcycle with assumes that the mototcycle is easy to damaged and useless. The case has not break his spirit to continue to introduce the motorcycle. Finally in 1969, he has successfully built the first motorcycle factory in Malaysia, namely Assembly Plant Boon Siew Boon Siew Sdn Bhd owned in Mak Mandin Industrial Estate, Pulau Pinang. With foresight attitude that makes him a successful entrepreneur in the field of motoring. His efforts as successful entrepreneurs have proven until now when sales of Honda motorcycles in Malaysia is increasingly in demand.

BACKGROUND OF DATUK MAZNAH HAMID

Datuk Maznah Hamid was born in Air Hitam, Kedah Darul Aman. Datuk Maznah Hamid was married with Datuk Shaheen Mirza and they have 5 children. Known as Iron Lady of Malaysia, Datuk Maznah Hamid is a very known entrepreneur, business woman as well as a famous motivational author and speaker. During the early days, she employed a few guards with herself being jack of all trades in small outfit. And in order to expand the business, she and the husband sold their own house and moved to a new, smaller place which come without proper amenities.

With only a few thousand capital of their own, her company has to compete with hundreds of other licensed security companies in Malaysia, with many of them were established with up to millions of capital. And against all competition, the company survived and triumphed. Securiforce now is one of the biggest security companies in Malaysia, having more than 30 branches across Malaysia and employing more than 4000 employees. And all of this is achieved without financial help or capital from financial institutions.

Alongside with other prominent Malaysia business icons, Datuk Maznah become one of the entrepreneurs who build and grow companies and play importants roles as a leader, strategies while contributing to the overall growth and improvement of the society life in Malaysia. Datuk Maznah has also established Maznah Motivational Centre, MMC, which conduct seminar on business and human development. Her book “Motivasi Memburu Kejayaan” is a best seller and has become the source of guidance to the aspiring entrepreneurs who can learn from her own experienced, principles and secrets in her quest to achieved success and excellence.

1.    Initiative

Datuk Dr. Maznah Hamid is a woman of 1001 from others to involve in this business. We always expect that in this business, only men that introduce the business of securiforce. She is a brave because of that the people called her The Iron Lady. She also is an initiative. She takes any action to produce more productive business and successful. She always spot opportunities and potential improvements .she is who show initiative often do so by spotting and acting on opportunities that her colleagues or leaders have not noticed. She is curious about her organization and how it works, and she keep her  mind open to new ideas and new possibilities. She always be on the look out for areas in her organization that could use improvement.

For always find initiative in great salespeople. She see it in her personal development efforts, like her reading and studying to improve her professional skills. She see it in the actions her take to write their own plans, to set her own goals, to direct her own work to achieve greater results than anyone requires or expects. She takes initiative instead of relying on her employees to tell them what they must do to succeed.

She sees it in their prospecting efforts. She open new opportunities without having to be inspired, encouraged, or commanded to do so.  She knows that taking initiative is what opens relationships.

She sees it in her interaction with her prospects and clients. She research her dream client’s before calling on them to generate ideas about how she can create value. After acquiring a client, she and her employees find opportunities to create solutions that benefit the client outside of what their company normally provides. She consistently bring their clients new ideas, new ways to improve her results. She work to identify areas where the solutions her sell might be put at risk, and they proactively take action to ensure that the client gets the outcome she promised and sold. She do all of this without ever having to be told to do so. Taking initiative is a cornerstone of professionalism. It is acting proactively, not simply reacting.

2.    Foresight

Datuk Maznah Hamid is an entrepreneur who has entrepreneurial foresight because she is a woman who is highly working hard and not give up. The achievements by her should be an example to other entrepreneurs. Although she is a woman but with its existing foresight on her has made her a successful entrepreneur until now. Originally she was only a private language teacher who worked in foreign embassies in Kuala Lumpur. Through it, she always spent time with the lives of the rich. With a life path, her thought to be successful and foresight attitude that existed at her makes her able to engage in business. Capital-based RM 5000 she and her husband took over a security company by name as Securiforce Sdn. Bhd. Although only based on the business of providing security guards to residential housing, but with ongoing efforts and foresight attitude to further develop her business, lastly she become one of the most known as the iron lady.

3.    Decisive

She also has a decisive nature in various areas and tasks, especially assertive in doing any work in his business and decisive established in educating children so successful in her side. She decisive when working in the business and its employees so decisive against the workers were not negligent in doing the work. In her assertive nature, just in work but outside the field of employment she was just an ordinary and kind to everyone.

It is because of his versatility in performing tasks such as motivational speakers in councils invited. Moreover, her asserted in educating children up to five people, three women and two men who are successful in her next career. While she was busy with her business, but the business of educating children has never been abandoned and forgotten.

Now she lives happy with the effort and the properties it owns so successful that she can build a business that is spread and famous. She managed to produce religious upbringing provided by grandparents who often gave impetus during kacil ago. Obtained upbringing, she revealed, and also taught his children to know yourself and try to learn to live hard and strive with their own hard-earned.

4.    Ethical

Datuk Dr Maznah Hamid is an entrepreneur with a strong sense of work ethic. The execution of a job, she is a highly motivated, she continued to take steps to success in life. She started his business from the ground until the results of his efforts led to the pinnacle of success. She also adopt ethical nature of strong leadership, the establishment MMC has proven that she is an entrepreneur in ethical leadership.

5.    Versatility

Datuk Dr. Wira Hajah Maznah binti Abdul Hamid is a versatile woman because she started her career as a language’s teacher and translator for foreign ambassadors then she was opened a security company , those the largest in Malaysia Syarikat Securiforce and successfully compete with 500 other security company. She is the Executive Chairman of Securiforce Sdn. Bhd and she is a woman who dared to being able to get involved in a field that is synonymous with the men, and very rarely with women. Currently, she is a leader of nearly 6000 employees, took over more than 65 branches and is surrounded by hundreds of firearms and dozens of bullet proof. Syarikat Securiforce services not only limited to the 'static guard' but also include logistics services, cash-in-transit, cash management, high-tech cargo management, and service 'armored trucking' and provides a complete security package and total, pioneered the concept of ' total security '(NURAIZA Ismail, 2011).

Datuk Dr. Maznah Hamid is also a motivator. She established her Maznah Motivational Centre (MMC) to help new entrepreneurs and those guide who had failed in life or business world in order to re-motivate yourself. She who is not stingy knowledge and experience, despite being at the peak of success. She was a woman who never forgot her background and is willing to share all the knowledge and experience to the public. She tried to inspire and motivate and happy to help those who aspire to change the lives of children regardless of farmers, fishermen, rubber tappers or felda’s children. It is her responsibility to society, especially to the youth of the nation to achieve a bright future. She has published several books, among which is the motivation 'Hunting Success Motivation' and mini book series 'The Secret 3K- Success, Happiness and Wealth'. Her work has received a positive feedback by customer and became a bestseller.

Moreover, Datuk Dr. Maznah Hamid Entrepreneurship Clinic has established nation wide to help those who want to start business. She also served as ambassador by the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development (MECD) to promote the 'Entrepreneurship A Career Option in which she acted to motivate entrepreneurship, opportunities and challenges through the seminar to all graduates. She also explain the reality life of the world of entrepreneurship and practical training before starting a business (Rabiatul Adawiyah, 2013). She is also active in politics in Malaysia, namely as Exco Wanita Umno and Ketua Wanita Umno Kedah. Datuk Dr. Maznah Hamid is also active in community work and helpful irrespective of the community. Among her contributions are resident Speaker for Radio Television Malaysia (RTM), Rancangan Wanita Hari Ini on TV3, and Bengkel Pembangunan Usahawan Bumiputera organized by the Ministry of Education (Maznah Hamid, nd). Every gesture and her work reflects that she is a woman of great spirit and ability in various fields. She saw all failures, pain and exhaustion as a opportunities to achieved her goals and learn from her late mistakes to improve her knowledge in way to success and realization of all the ideals embedded in the conscience.