Do it the Lim Goh Tong’s Way
By Zul • Oct 26th, 2007 • Category: All Things Malaysia, Career, Profile •
Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong passed away a few days ago and will be remembered as one of the entrepreneur greats in Malaysia. One of the earliest entrepreneurial stories I learned during the academic years was the Boon Siew’s story which was then part of the Form 2’s Kemahiran Hidup curriculum (and I believe it is still is today). Like Boon Siew, Lim Goh Tong was also an immigrant who came to Malaya with less than 150 US dollar (RM525) and eventually became one of the richest men in the country.
In fact, Boon Siew was one of Goh Tong’s business associates when the latter was making his way building Genting. It was Boon Siew’s palm station that supplied the petrol to Lim Goh Tong’s vehicles to climb the hill. During this time Boon Siew was at the peak of his career.
I remember many years ago passing the MPH shop in Gurney Plaza, Penang and saw the Goh Tong’s My Story book (actually it was written by a ghost writer as Goh Tong did not speak and write English) displayed on the main shelf. It took me less than 5 seconds to decide to buy the book. I was yet to land my first job by then and I did not have much money left but it did not deter me to spend the RM28 to buy the book. I can’t remember how many times I have finished reading the book; in fact at the very moment it is sitting there at my desk.
We, as the young Malaysia generation, have a lot to learn from sheer courage and perseverance shown by this man to face daunting challenges and at times, challenges we never even think as possible. Lack of education and experience should not stop us, or worse, become an excuse for us not to aim for the stars. When we achieve freedom, the sweetest part will come where we would be sharing our tales and hardship with our loved ones for them to ponder. We will leave a legacy for generations to come.
A couple of years ago, me and my former boss were having a chat about those people who started with zero and ended up multimillionaires and changed the world. We talked about Steve Jobs, Tony Fernandes, Lim Goh Tong, Syed Mokhtar Bukhary and so on. In summary, these group of people have undergone another level of events, challenges, adversities which surpassed our normal thinking pattern and are beyond our imagination. The combination of determination, hard work, perseverance, bravery and luck eventually make them to become exemplary figures.
Can we create our own imagination, live with it and make it happen?
Can you do it?
We are our own limitation.
Other posts you may want to read:
Came across this book earlier few years back, but have not came to known what is inside. Perhaps shall check it out to get some piece of mind from what most tycoons has came across.
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what we can say here, success is everywhere. as long as there an effort, ready and eager to learn.
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Surfnux –> I suggest you grab the book. Lessons learned will not be comparable to the RM28 (USD8) investment.
Zuhairy–> How right!
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u have a nice website. is your business lucrative? i can’t hardly break even from blogging. anyway, here’s my take on lim goh tong:
http://sophiesworld-sophiesworld.blogspot.com/2007/10/rip-lim-goh-tong.html
cheers
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Zul, this is a great piece of work, kudos!
When I was a kiddo, my grandpa always tell me some stories of these legendary entrepreneurs in our country, and somehow I really hated to listen to them, because for me the “Journey to the West” by my uncle was more attractive.
Now look back, these stories are worth to read with stronger value because it is so close to our life, he is the lagend of our country.
I wonder: how many youngsters out there still remember these stories? Rather than their wealth?
Asking permission to borrow this post for my1stpath.com
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You just can’t stop reading autobiographies, can you? :D. How many have you read already? I lost count
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You’re right, I cannot. I will suffer from the lose of endorphins if I stop reading.
In fact, I just bought one a few hours ago. Will share it with the readers soon.
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[...] From part I: Doing it the Lim Goh Tong’s Way. [...]