Kick Start !!

ERNST & YOUNG Is Seeking Outstanding Malaysian Entrepreneurs

2009-04-24T14:55:00.003+08:00

Nominations Now Being Accepted for the
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2009 Malaysia Award

KUALA LUMPUR, March, 2009 - The search is on! Ernst & Young is seeking nominations for outstanding entrepreneurs as part of Malaysia's 8th Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® (EOY) awards, the prestigious annual programme honouring outstanding owners of fast-growing companies.

As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award celebrates entrepreneurs through regional, national and global award programs in over 135 cities and 50 countries. The worldwide recognition of the award credentializes recipients as world-class entrepreneurial companies and provides a benchmark for entrepreneurial excellence. Winners often become much admired companies in their industry - many become global brand names.

Our previous award recipients were Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Francis Yeoh of YTL Corporation Bhd (2002), Dato' Mohd Nadzmi of Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd (2003) , Dato' Dr Lim Wee-Chai of Top Glove Corporation Bhd (2004) , Tan Sri Dato' Professor Dr Lim Kok Wing of Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology (2005), Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes of of AirAsia Berhad (2006), Dato’ Edmund Santhara of Masterskill Sdn Bhd (2007) and finally Dato’ A. K. Nathan ofEversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd who was named the 2008 Malaysian Entrepreneur in December last year and who will represent Malaysia at the same venue in May this year.

In Malaysia, we are holding this programme for the 7th year. Our previous award recipients were Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Francis Yeoh of YTL Corporation Bhd (2002), Dato' Mohd Nadzmi of Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd (2003) , Dato' Dr Lim Wee-Chai of Top Glove Corporation Bhd (2004) , Tan Sri Dato' Professor Dr Lim Kok Wing of Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology (2005), Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes of of AirAsia Berhad (2006), Dato’ Edmund Santhara of Masterskill Sdn Bhd (2007) and finally Dato’ A. K. Nathan of Eversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd who was named the 2008 Malaysian Entrepreneur in December last year and who will represent Malaysia at the same venue in May this year

Over the last 7 years, Ernst & Young Malaysia is very proud to have had the following outstanding entrepreneurs as category award recipients:

	Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
·	Mr Chuah Choon Bin, Pentamaster Engineering (M) Bhd (2002)
·	Dato’ Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Bhd (2003)
·	Mr Choong Hock Phung, Trend Matrix Enterprises Sdn Bhd (2004)
·	Mr Chan Moon Kien, Moon FX Sdn Bhd (2005)
·	Mr Kenny Goh Chee Ken & Mr Henry Goh Chee Heng, Macro Kiosk Berhad (2006)
·	Mr Edmund Santhara, Masterskill (M) Sdn Bhd (2007)
·	Mr Bob Chua, Pulse BPO Sdn Bhd (2008)

	Technology Entrepreneur of the Year
·	Dr Bernard Tan, asiaEP Bhd (2002)
·	Mr Alan Tan, TimeCom Holdings Sdn Bhd (2003)
·	Mr Mark Chang, JobStreet Corporation Berhad (2004)
·	Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Silverlake System Sdn Bhd (2005)
·	Mr Simon Loh, e-pay (M) Sdn Bhd (2006)
·	Mr Nigel Lee, TechnoDex Bhd (2007)
·	Mr Harvinder Singh, Incontrol Tech Sdn Bhd (2008)

	Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
·	Puan Hazimah Zainuddin, Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd (2002)
·	Ms Theresa Fong Nyok Yoon, Caely Holdings Bhd (2003)
·	Datin Dr Liana Low, BELL Group / Syarikat Perusahaan Kelapa Sawit Sdn Bhd (2004)
·	Madam Yeo Kim Luang, Ecofuture Berhad (2005)
·	Puan Nafisah Radin, NR Architect (2006)
·	Datin Alicia Tan, TA Enterprise Berhad (2007)
·	Puan Noraini Nordin, Sipro Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd (2008)

	Master Entrepreneur of the Year
·	Tan Sri Francis Yeoh of YTL Corporation Bhd (2002)
·	Dato' Mohd Nadzmi of Nadicorp Holdings Sdn Bhd (2003)
·	Dato' Dr Lim Wee-Chai of Top Glove Corporation Bhd (2004)
·	Tan Sri Dato' Professor Dr Lim Kok Wing of Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology (2005)
·	Dato' Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Bhd (2006)
·	Dato' A K Nathan, Eversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd (2008)

"Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Malaysia's economy." said Mr See Huey Beng, Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young Malaysia. "The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award programme was created to recognize those individuals who are making a difference and paving the way for a new age of entrepreneurship. With this prestigious award comes recognition of an industry leader who has established his or her mark of success in our economy," Mr See added.

The Award is open to all Malaysian residents who own and manage entrepreneurial business in Malaysia. To be eligible to receive an award, the nominee must be:

·	An owner-manager primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company that is at least two years old and an active member of top management; or
·	A founder of a listed company who is still active in senior management and who still retains a significant stake in the company.

For the 8th year, this programme will once again honour four categories of entrepreneurs namely:

·	Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year;
·	Technology Entrepreneur of the Year;
·	Woman Entrepreneur of the Year; and
·	Master Entrepreneur of the Year

·	An owner-manager primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company that is at least two years old and an active member of top management; or
·	A founder of a listed company who is still active in senior management and who still retains a significant stake in the company.

For the 8th year, this programme will once again honour four categories of entrepreneurs namely:

·	Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year;
·	Technology Entrepreneur of the Year;
·	Woman Entrepreneur of the Year; and
·	Master Entrepreneur of the Year

Award recipients will be selected by a panel of independent judges comprising leaders from business, governmental, and media organizations. Judges will look out for entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Winners of the award categories will be honoured during an awards gala event. Out of the four category recipients, one will be named Malaysia's Entrepreneur of the Year 2009. He or she will represent Malaysia at the world awards programme, where the best entrepreneurs in the world compete for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Monte Carlo in May 2010.

"The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award programme is established as the most prestigious global business award in the world. It is unlike most business awards held in Malaysia as this award programme provides the Malaysian entrepreneur with a springboard to a global business platform. By being part of the programme, these Malaysian entrepreneurs are exposed to hundreds of entrepreneurs - the world's "change-makers' - for learning, networking and inspiration as well as providing them with valuable exposure, recognition and networking opportunities with other entrepreneurs in the world," said Mr See.

"We want our Malaysian entrepreneurs to be given such exposure and opportunities. We highly encourage the best entrepreneurs in Malaysia to step forward as outstanding entrepreneurial role models and take up the challenge to make Malaysia proud at the next world awards," said See.

Nomination forms may be obtained from
1. Ernst & Young offices throughout Malaysia
2. Event Sponsors' offices
3. Selected Trade and Business Associations

Soft copies of the nomination form may be downloaded from our web site at www.ey.com/my or http://www.eoy.com.my/ and the form can be submitted by way of e-mail.

Anyone can nominate an entrepreneur including the entrepreneur himself/ herself. Self-nominations are encouraged. Nomination closes on 30 April 2009.

Ernst & Young is proud to have these organisations join us in celebrating entrepreneurship, namely
- ASTRO
- asiaEP Berhad
- Bits & Pixels Sdn Bhd
- Bursa Malaysa Berhad
- Enterpreneurs' Organisation Malaysia
- Himawari (M) Sdn Bhd
- Ideas Street Sdn Bhd
- Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd
- Nanyang Siang Pau Sdn Bhd
- Seribu Emas Sdn Bhd
- The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd
- WOOHING KL Sdn Bhd
- YTL Corporation Bhd

Members of the public seeking more information about the award and nomination forms may contact Ernst & Young at 603-7495 8131 / 32 or log on to http: //www.eoy.com.my or write to: eoy.mail@my.ey.com.

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global Ernst & Young organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

Ernst & Young Malaysia
Ernst & Young in Malaysia was established in 1909 and was one of the first internationally linked public accounting firms in the country. In 2002, Hanafiah, Raslan & Mohamad, established in 1964 as the first Bumiputra accounting practice in Malaysia, became a member firm of Ernst & Young. Ernst & Young is now the largest professional services firms with more than 2,300 employees in 17 offices in West and East Malaysia.

We are also a market leader in the provision of assurance and advisory business services, tax and transaction advisory services, serving a board array of clients, covering all industries and market segments in Malaysia.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com/my

About Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 135 cities in 50 countries.

ASTRO
ASTRO ALL ASIA NETWORKS plc (AAAN) is the holding company for MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd, the sole operator of direct-to-home satellite pay television services in Malaysia under the “Astro” brand, and Airtime Management & Programming Sdn Bhd, the leading commercial radio broadcaster in Malaysia. Celestial Pictures Ltd, a subsidiary of AAAN in Hong Kong, owns and distributes the world’s largest Chinese film library as well as operates the Celestial Movies Channel. Astro Entertainment Sdn Bhd, another AAAN subsidiary, creates Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia content for distribution primarily to the Malaysian and Indonesian markets. AAAN also has investments in pay television and radio broadcasting in India. AAAN, which is listed on Bursa Malaysia, operates out of the All Asia Broadcast Centre, a fully-integrated digital broadcast and production complex in Kuala Lumpur.

Click here to download the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® - Malaysia 2009 Nomination Form. Please select enable macros.

References : http://www.eoy.com.my

Free advertising by Sheryna.com for your Business.

2009-03-23T15:19:00.004+08:00

Sheryna.com is new portal for free classified services everyone, company or individual, can publish online classifieds. Sheryna.com.my is a free classified similarly like Mudah.com.my. Here are Sheryna Tips for advertised :

Is not recommended to use, for title or description of your classified, short words (internet slang, sms style, etc), because when visitors are searching ads using keywords, your classified will not be displayed!

Is not recommended to write a very short description. Classifieds with 100 words will be displayed more frequently than classifieds with 3 words for description, when visitors search using keywords!

Bear in mind, when you fill the classifieds registration form, the following special characters
< > $ % ^ & * / | \ [ ] – { } ; " ´ • or other kind of bullets, are not allowed (secutity reasons!).
For title and description of the classified, the words can be lower case, upper case or title case. Ex: 'malaysia', 'MALAYSIA' or 'Malaysia' is OK!
For title and description of the classified, do NOT use words typed with mix character case.
Ex: 'maLAysia', 'MalAYsIA' or 'MaLAYsia' is NOT OK!
(If the search is made using keywords, this type of classified will not be displayed.)
Keywords can be only words with minim 4 characters!
Keywords can be lower case, upper case or mix.
If use '-' or '+' sign in front of a keyword, keywords become case sensitive. Ex: using '+malaysia' in keywords field => will display only classifieds which contain 'malaysia' word, but not the classifieds which contain 'Malaysia' or 'MALAYSIA'.
So, ONLY if use '-' or '+' sign make searches for all 3 possibilities from above, to be sure that didn't miss a classified.
If you are interested only in cars registered in 2005: in keywords field type 2005, in category box select Used Cars and click Search button.
If you are interested only in women clothes: in keywords field type Women, in category box select Clothes/Shoes/Bags and click Search button.
Exception for this category: if search only clothes for men, can not use the above example (because 'men' has only 3 characters and can not be considered a keyword). But this will be OK: in keywords field type Clothes -Women -Children -Other (must be used title case style!), in category box select Clothes/Shoes/Bags and click Search button.
Search bar is a powerful tool. Feel free to try any combination. Is there, so use it!

Cultivating That Customer Service Mindset - George Aveling of TMI Consulting at BFM

2009-03-20T18:18:00.003+08:00

George Aveling of TMI Consulting talks about the importance of customer service. In the first part, George Aveling talks about how customer service is moving from the traditional transaction-based to one that provides an experience. Service is a transaction, it is a change, now service is an experience, for luxury car service is a about feeling, about making people feel good. We need to engaged the people to give a service. Complain is a give! Thank the customer, Thank U for that let Us know. Second part,Why this is important? because this will help Us to improve our service. Third part to say I'm really sorry that situation is happen.

Threat every customer like your 1st customer and their are very important. In the second part, George explains how complaints are gifts and how in a tightening economy, the importance of the intangibles become critical.

Oli Barrett, UK - Social Entrepreneur

2009-03-16T14:53:00.005+08:00

Oli Barrett, social entrepreneur from UK, talks about social entrepreneurship initiatives and his passion for bringing entrepreneurs together through speed networking.

Oli shares his entrepreneurial ventures which includes an online socks business (www.sockrush.com), and Make Your Mark With A Tenner campaign where school children are given money and they have to come up with ways to grow the money.

Oli talks about speednetworking for entrepreneurs, and also about bringing entrepreneurs to visit Silicon Valley.

The 1st Must-Do for Entrepreneurial Success With Ernie Chen, ATCEN International Group

2009-03-16T13:50:00.004+08:00

The first must do is to identify a business idea desired by the market. A true entrepreneur is always looking for new opportunities. Do not spend the money than U are earned. Entrepreneur are the people who willing to take the risk the idea to opportunity new business idea.
It's okay to fail and don't make same mistake .

Time Management - Dr Venga Kalachulu, Ventrax Management

2009-03-16T13:05:00.006+08:00

Dr Venga explains the principles of time management, being interview with Business FM. We are all given 24 hours a day.

Noticed shop keeper used a book '555' Buku Tiga Lima / Buku Roti used that book to record or do list. Maximum mind very productive are 20 minutes, even though at meeting.

New tools cannot help U until discipline at Ur self to do something, 2 cannot put off or waste time to do it and U must have desire to do it.

16 hour a day can be effective for only 4 hour per day. Work 45 minute and brake for 15 minutes to bring productive work.balanced Ur time with family. How U do? Locked your time and set it.

Kenapa Baru Sekarang?

2009-02-28T18:36:00.006+08:00

Salam pertemuan, sesudah sekian lama tak menaip, lalu perjuangan harus diteruskan..Er sebenarnya topik ni dah lama diketengahkan namun sebenarnya perlu bagi kita berfikir secara mendalam. Kenapa baru sekarang? bermaksud kenapa baru sekarang nak memboikot barangan keluaran Yahudi?

Mengikut maklumat produk-produk ini adalah milik/penyokong Yahudi

Jika anda ada sebarang maklumat atau pertanyaan sila hubungi PPIM di Hotline:019-3591000

Sebenarnya sudah lama perkara ini boleh dilaksanakan. Tapi sebagai contoh sudah lama Malaysia sendiri menghalang rakyatnya membuat Passport ke negara rejim itu sendiri. Itu sepatutnya satu teladan yang patut dicontohi oleh kita, rakyat Malaysia. Ingat jangan fikir apa yang negara telah sumbangkan pada kita, tapi sepatutnya kita berfikir apa yang telah kita sumbangkan pada negara..walau tak banyak pun sedikit sudah memadai. Ada apa dengan boikot? Ya,mungkin sekarang permulaan langkah sebagai mencari identiti kita. Mari kita lihat dengan lebih jauh lagi ke mana hala-tuju ekonomi diri dan negara? Kenapa baru sekarang nak menyekat pembelian daripada Tesco?
Bagaimana pula pasaraya besar yang lain daripada luar seperti cendawan tumbuh di negara kita? Sebenarnya semua ini boleh dilihat sebagai kebangkitan rakyat Malaysia sendiri untuk menyokong peruncit tempatan, disamping bersikap positif terhadap kemampuan sendiri dan kebolehan sendiri. Pasaraya tempatan sepatutnya untuk rakyat tempatan bersikap lebih adil dan telus, sentiasa memikirkan nasib dan keadaan persekitaran. Ingatlah keuntungan saja tak menjamin kesetiaan pelanggan, malahan rakyat sekarang lebih bijak memilih pasaraya mana yang lebih banyak membantu rakyatnya. Sokonglah barangan tempatan, disamping tubuhkan latihan bagi usahawan-usahawan muda untuk meningkat naik.
Secara tak langsung usaha ini haruslah secara berterusan, secara sedar atau tidak di ruangan blogspot atau blogger-blogger ada mereka yang mengusahakan perniagaan mereka sokonglah mereka ini...mungkin mereka memerlukan tapak permulaan untuk berkembang...

Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

2009-01-12T16:14:00.004+08:00

When we talking about entrepreneurs, we want to know what is the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs? Even though new characteristics are continually being added to the list, it does provide important insight into the entrepreneurial perspective.

1.Initiative and Responsibility

Most researchers agree that effective entrepreneurs actively seek and take the initiative. They willingly put themselves in situations where they are personally responsible for the success or failure of the operation. Entrepreneurs feel a personal responsibility for the outcome of ventures in which they are associated. They like to take initiative in solving problem where no leadership exists.

2. High Degree of Commitment

Launching a venture successfully requires total commitment from entrepreneurs. This commitment helps entrepreneurs to overcome business-threatening mistakes and obstacles. Entrepreneurs commitment to their ideas and ventures they spawn determine how successful those ventures ultimately becomes.

3. Opportunity Orientation

Entrepreneurs focus and start on opportunities rather than on resources, structure or strategy. They begin with opportunities and let their understanding of them guide other important issues. Entrepreneurs have a well- defined sense of searching for opportunities. In searching for new business opportunities, entrepreneurs observe the same events other people do, but they see something different. Entrepreneurs are not only capable of searching for opportunities but also capable of seizing extraordinary opportunities.

4. Moderate Risk Taker

Entrepreneurs are not wild risk takers; they are calculated risk takers. When entrepreneurs participate in any venture, they do so in a very calculated, carefully thought manner. They often avoid taking unnecessary risks.

5. Confident & Optimistic

Entrepreneurs typically have an abundance of confidence in their ability to succeed. They tend to be optimistic about their chances for success, and usually their optimism is based on reality. The high level of confidence and optimism explains why some of the most successful entrepreneurs have failed in business, often more then once, before finally succeeding.

6. Creative and Innovative

Creativity and innovative are important for entrepreneurs to gain a competitive advantage in their ventures. Through their creative and innovative minds and imagination, entrepreneurs can produce unique goods and services for customers. Creativity is not inherited, it can be learned.

7. Seeking Feedback

Entrepreneurs like to know how they are doing and are constantly looking for reinforcement. They actively seek and use feedback to improve themselves and their venture performance. From feedback, entrepreneurs can learn from their mistakes.

8. Drive to achieve

Achievement seems to be the primary motivating forces behind entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are self-starters who internally have a strong desire to complete, to excel,and to pursue and attain challenging goals. One of the common misconceptions about entrepreneurs is that they are driven wholly by desire to make money. To entrepreneurs, money is simply a symbol of achievement. It is not the driving motive of most entrepreneurs.

9. Ability to Set Vision

Entrepreneurs know what they want to achieve. They have a vision or concept of what they can be. Not all entrepreneurs have predetermined visions for their firm. In many cases, this vision develops over time as entrepreneur begins to realise what the firm is and what it can become.

10. Skilled at Organising

Building a venture "from scratch" is not easy. So, entrepreneurs know how to put the right people to accomplish a task. Entrepreneurs are able to organise their resources in an effective way so as to inform their visions into reality.

11. Internal Locus of Control

Entrepreneurs believe that the success or failure of their venture depends on themselves. Their accomplishments and setbacks are within their own control and influence, and they can affect the outcome of the actions.

12. Tolerance of Failure

Entrepreneurs do not become disappointed, discouraged or depressed by failure. They use failure as a learning experience. In difficult times, they still look for opportunities. Most entrepreneurs believe they learn more from their early failures than from their early successes.

13. High Level of Energy

Entrepreneurs are more energetic than the average person. Entrepreneurs need to have a high level of energy so as to cope with the extraordinary workload and the stressful demands they face. That energy may be a critical factor, given the incredible effort required to start-up a company.

14. Team Building

Most successful entrepreneurs have highly qualified, well motivated teams that help handle the venture's growth and developments.

15. Independent

Entrepreneurs are independent people. They like to accomplish tasks in their own way. This does not mean entrepreneurs must make all the decisions. They want to have authority to make important decisions.

16. Flexibility

Entrepreneurs are not rigid in their venture. They are flexible and have abilities to adapt to the changing world economy, rigidity often leads to failure.

If u want try one of the online tests by accessing http://bizmove.com/other/quiz.htm

(OUMM2103 Entrepreneurship) http://www.oum.edu.my/

Good Motivation Song

2009-01-04T18:00:00.003+08:00

Everyone need motivate, I think everyone in Malaysia now who is Irfan Khairi the Malaysian youngest internet millionaire. 1st Jan 2009 he made a song's who can motivate everyone when listening. The song's is "Selamanya" and "Reaching Higher".

Click here to listening to the song SELAMANYA!
http://www.razzimuzik.com/dedikasi/selamanya.htm

Click here to listening to the song REACHING HIGHER!
http://www.razzimuzik.com/dedikasi/reachinghigher.htm

SELAMANYA
=========
Performed by: Razzi.muz.ik
Composed by: Johan Nawawi
Lyrics by: IK

Syukur ku
Kepada Tuhan
ooo
Kau di sini

Dari dulu kita bersama
Teman sejati

Ku damba kamu teman
Waktu jatuh bangun
Tak kira hujan terang
Pelengkap ku...

chorus:

Akan kita
Tempuh bersama
Menuju
Bersama selamanya

Akan kita
Hingga akhirnya
Gemilang
Bersama selamanya

Selamanya...

Takkan ku siakan lagi
ikatan ini...

Ku damba kamu teman
Waktu jatuh bangun
Tak kira hujan terang
Pelengkap ku...

Akan kita
Tempuh bersama
Menuju
Bersama selamanya

Akan kita
Hingga akhirnya
Gemilang
Bersama selamanya
Selamanya.... oooh

Syukur ku
Kepada Tuhan
ooo
Kau di sini
Selamanya

REACHING FOR THE STARS
======================
Lagu: Zul Mahat
Lirik: Irfan Khairi (IK)

Looking back
To the times I had
I never knew I'd come this far
Away...

Here I am
Ain't turning back again
The dream I had seems so close
To me...

I will fight
Everytime I fall
And one night
You'll see me standing tall

I'm reaching for the sky
I'll raise the stakes
I'll make mistakes
But I'll do it my way

I'm reaching for the stars
I'm not afraid
I will not break
No matter what they say to me

I'm reaching for the sky
I'll take my stance
I'll grab this chance
With all my heart and soul

I'm reaching higher... higher
Reaching for the stars

Teamwork

2008-12-31T13:08:00.004+08:00

image by mgcpuzzles.com

The positive result of team-work are very obvious. They produce an effect called SYNERGY - meaning that the whole is bigger than the sum of its parts: that a few people working together can produce more shoes per person, through specialisation, etc. than one person working at it alone.

A team is a group of people working toward specific objectives in given operational situation. Teams must have purpose, know that the individual and organisational objectives are. This is followed by the question of how they fit into the organisational structure, the type of power they possess, their clear plan of duties and responsibilities and the people who are to be members of it.

Texas Instuments Malaysia have teams with revolving leadership, Sharp has urgent development project teams which have their own budgets, recruit their own people, purchase their own equipment. Normally, Sharp streams have a life span of eighteen months. Their objective - the team is to identify potential for technological development.

Small workgroups, between four to twenty people, can have responsibility to manage their day-to-day job functions. Team members can set their own goals, share workload and engage in cross training. Self-directed teams operate with little supervision and can make important decisions. High performance, cutting wastage, etc.

Building group team spirit and working towards enhanced results is one of the major function in management. Excellent companies, inevitably, posses, superior team spirit and owesome work.

TeamWork

Coming Together is a Beginning
Keeping Together is Progress
Working Together is Success

A Team
.....a group of people with complimentary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.

TeamWork
Working together ordinari people can perform extraordinary feats.
They can lift things a little higher and a little further towards greater heights.

Indicators of Poor Teamworks

Lack of open disagreement
Failure to share information
Conflicts within the team
Low commitment
Tension and stress
High employee turnover
Increased absenteeism

Indicators of Good Teamwork

Open communication
Open disagreement
Productive meetings
Low tension and stress
Low staff turnover
Few complaints or grievances

Trainers Alliances

Managing Stress

2008-12-27T15:19:00.006+08:00

Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and the American Psychological Association show that stress on the job siphons of more than US$500 billion from the economy. A survey by an insurance company showed that 50% of those interviewed said that stress reduced their productivity. 46% said that they experienced more job stress now than a few years ago. Minor illnesses like headaches, backaches, anxiety and fatigue and major illness like hypertension, heart attacks, ulcers, strokes are common in places where workers experiences a high level of stress. How will this apply in Malaysia? We witness a high rural urban migration, we see the setting up of high-tech fast paced industries ; we rush to and from work. Many of us are in the rat race, working ourselves towards becoming type A personalities.

A neglected risk factor.

Stress is a highly complex and personal matter. It affects all of us in the way we feel, behave, perform at work, and fall prey to accidents or illness. Stress occurs whenever we feel under any pressure. It also a response to any situation to which we are accustomed. It is virtually impossible to formulate an accurate definition of stress because it varies so much according to person's perception of situation, as well as his ability to cope it.

Perception of Stress.

Different people, when confronted with the same information, situation or problem, will respond to it in different ways. What feels like overwhelming stress to one person may be a stimulating challenge to another or mere trifle to a third person.

Our genetic endowment, upbringing, education and previous experience in dealing with such situations will determine whether they are challenging, threatening, acceptable or boring and tension, physiological, such as a rise in blood pressure; or behavioral, such as defying authority.

Some Stress is Necessary.

A certain amount of stress is essential for our personal growth; it gives us a zest for life, spurs us on, keep us going and makes us creative. Too few challenges make our lives boring and frustrating and this can be just as stressful as too many challenges. It has been said that finding the right balance is like adjusting the strings of a musical instrument to obtain melodies tune : too loose the tune will break.

Stress is a fact of life : we can't escape it. Any change, pleasant or not, is stressful to some degree. A new love affair, getting married, going on holiday and being promoted are all examples of positive kind of stress. Bereavement, being burgled and breaking leg, on the other hand, are all negative type of stress, but as long as these experiences are few and far between, most of us would recover from them without any long-term ill effects. Becoming tense over making a difficult decision, getting anxious about the outcome of an uncertain situation, worrying about the problems of relationships with others and feeling frightened when faced with dangers are all perfectly normal reactions. The stress response prepares us to face all these difficult situations.

How to Recognize Stress

In order to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress in yourself or anyone else, it is necessary to understand what effect it has on the body and mind and on behavior.

The "fight or flight" machanism
Whenever we receive a stress signal, whether real or imaginary, a biological mechanism called the "fight or flight" response comes into operation. The situations that cause this response are known as stressors.

As soon as the brain receives a stress signal, the production of adrenaline and other stress hormones is stepped up
The liver release sugar and fats, which flow into the bloodstream to provide fuel for quick energy
Red blood cells flood the blood-stream, carrying more oxygen to the muscles of the limbs and brain
The heart beats faster and blood pressure rises, ensuring that sufficient blood reaches the necessary areas. This can sometimes be felt as pounding heart of racing pulse
The blood clotting mechanism is activated in anticipation of injury. This clotting mechanism ensures that the clots seal up the injured blood vessels
The muscles become tense in preparation for action: leg muscles are tense in readiness to run; fists and jaw are clenched, ready to fight
Digestion ceases, so blood may be diverted to the muscles and brain
Perspiration increases in anticipation of the heat that may be induced by fighting
The mouths feel dry
The bowel and bladder muscles may become loose so there may be desire to defecate or urinate
The pupils dilate to let more light in so that you can see in the dark
The senses are heightened, enabling quick action and decision making

The person who undergoes these changes is in prime state of readiness to deal with danger, challenges or other feel of imaginary demands. It is also important, however, to recognize that this state is a temporary one, reserved to deal with emergencies. The body cannot maintain it as a lasting condition.

Once the immediate threat has been removed or overcome, or after we have adapted to the disturbance, a reverse mechanism is activated and the body returns to its normal state. If however, the stressor persists, another stressor develops or the resistance continues after the stressor has been removed, the alarm stage is replaced by stress response which can show itself in a variety of ways.

Managing Strategies for Eliminating

Type of Stressor = Elimination Strategies

Time = Effective Time Management, Efficiency Time Management,
Delegating

Encounter = Collobaration and clan building, interpersonal competency

Situational = Work design

Anticipatory = Goal setting, Small wins

Article by Trainer Alliance - Corporate Learning Provider

Forget Ah Long go for TEKUN Nasional to loan.

2008-12-27T01:26:00.009+08:00

Remember at local TV advertised that said " Kami bukan Ah Long, Kami mau tolong. "

Malaysian Entrepreneurs who are keen to venture into small business or increase their working capital should apply for a loan from Yayasan TEKUN Nasional (YTN) instead of turning to unscrupulous 'Ah Long' for the loan.

The Entrepreneur Fund (TEKUN) managed by YTN had disbursed up to 134,000 small loans to about 80,000 entrepreneurs all over the country up to December 2006.

YTN managing director Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Zainol Khodki Shahabudin said that under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, YTN had been allocated RM350 million and that it had no problems in giving out loans to assist small-scale entrepreneurs.

"Anyone who fulfils the loan conditions should be able to obtain the loan. It's so much better and safer than borrowing from a loan shark," he said.

CONDITIONS SET BY TEKUN

Of late, "Ah Longs" have been hogging the headlines for resorting to criminal intimidation and other brutal tactics against those who failed to pay up. Though the media has given wide coverage on the issue, there are still individuals who are ignorant and resort to borrowing from these loan sharks.

Some gave the excuse for turning to "Ah Longs" because agencies like TEKUN, MARA and banks failed to help them.

In refuting this, Syed Kamarulzaman explained that the conditions imposed for loans by TEKUN were minimal but if they failed to fulfil YTN's prerequisites, they would not get the loans.

"The borrowers only need a permit, place to conduct the business and they must conduct the business full time. The process is facilitated by 192 TEKUN branches all over the nation with the cooperation of the District Entrepreneur Development Council (MPUD).

Unlike other financial agencies, TEKUN does not require the loan applicants to do much paperwork. They each need to fill up one form only.

"We also have to ensure that with the loan, they can do business and the income generated can be used to pay back the loan," he said.

LOAN PROCESS

In the early days, loans were approved within 90 days. But now the process takes only 45 days.

"For a short-term loan, like for operating a Ramadan stall, the process takes only two weeks," Syed Kamarulzaman said.

He, however, regretted that many of the businessmen only turned to TEKUN when they were in financial trouble.

"As they feel the 45-day period is too long, they end up going to Ah Long who can approve their loan within a day. In fact, as business people, early planning is necessary, rather than acting at the last moment," he said.

"There is another category of Ah Long described as 'soft Ah Long' who don't lend out money but make sure the borrowers are indebted to them," he revealed.

"For example, they supply items to retailers, farmers and fishermen and establish good rapport with them.

"The catch is that they offer the products at lower prices or allow credit to the buyers who can pay in instalments.

"As they are indebted, they are bound to return to the soft Ah Long. This is in contrast to Bumiputera suppliers who offer goods at higher prices as they procured them at high prices too.

"These are the problems plaguing Bumiputera businessmen. Poor business networking and lack of knowledge in marketing their products add to their woes," he lamented.

However, he felt that many of those who got into trouble with Ah Long were those who borrowed for reasons other than doing business. They used the money to paying off an existing loan, for example.

Only by doing business they can expect returns that can be used to pay off the debts and reinvest to improve their business.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP A CAREER

With eight new products launched last December, it is hoped that youths, women, rural folk and undergraduates will pursue entrepreneurship as a career of choice.

The products are TEKUN Niaga, TEKUN Tunas, TEKUN Tani, TEKUN Ternak, TEKUN Rakan Niaga, TEKUN Jangka Pendek, TEKUN Pelancongan and TEKUN 2nd Chance.

Through its workshops, YTN provides guidance for entrepreneurs before and after receiving the loans and this has helped create many new, successful Bumiputera businessmen.

"Those selected to attend the workshops are the ones with potential and are serious in conducting business. They are also shown the way to establishing business networking," said Syed Kamarulzaman.

On unemployed graduates, he said various efforts were being taken to lure them into entrepreneurship and TEKUN had a number of loan schemes for them.

If anyone needs capital to start a business, TEKUN is ready to help. In fact, the foundation also provides short-term loans to graduates who want to start a career as insurance agents.

TEKUN is doing all its best to help these undergraduates establish themselves.

So, it's up to the people, whether they want to look for Ah Long or TEKUN when they need help.

By Nurul Halawi Azhari

-- BERNAMA

TEKUN Financing Scheme

Objective

To provide microfinance facility for working capital requirements to assist the small entrepreneurs in their existing new start-up business and project implementation.

Maximum tenure : 6 months to 5 years

Minimum financing : RM500

Maximum financing : RM50,000

Eligibility criteria

Malaysian entrepreneurs aged between 18 to 60 years old

Possess a valid business licence or permit or registration

No unsatisfactory record with financial institutions and Government agencies

Entrepreneurs directly involved in the business

Existing business borrowing should be within the range of RM5,000 to RM20,000 subject to the type of TEKUN financing scheme

Type of assistance / Form of financing

TEKUN Business (TEKUN Niaga)
Additional working capital for fixed and mobile stall or business premise to undertake services, transportation and manufacturing activities

TEKUN Business Venture (TEKUN Rakan Niaga)
Funding for joint venture business package with TEKUN i.e. beauty products, frozen food, tuition centre and others as specified by TEKUN

TEKUN Start up (TEKUN Tunas)
Start-up capital for potential and new entrepreneur to operate fixed or mobile stall or business premise to undertake services, transportation and manufacturing activities

TEKUN Animal Husbandry (TEKUN Ternak)
Provide financing to start or expand business or project in animal husbandry such as cattle and goat rearing, breeding bird (Puyuh), fresh water fish and prawns

TEKUN Agriculture (TEKUN Tani)
Provide financing to start or expand business or project in agriculture such as planting banana, corn, sugar cane and vegetables or ornamental plant such as orkid, cactus and bonsai tree/plant

TEKUN Short Term Financing package (TEKUN Jangka Pendek)
Working capital financing ranging from RM500 to RM2,000 with weekly repayment period between 1 to 3 months to operate business stall for day or night market, Ramadhan Bazaar, Exposition and Sales Promotional activities

TEKUN Tourism (TEKUN Pelancongan)
Provide financing to start or expand business or project in tourism sector for activities such as Homestay program, chalet, recreational equipments, agro-tourism and others as specified by TEKUN

Application procedure

Contact the nearest TEKUN’s office

Attend briefing by YTN

Application to be submitted to Yayasan Tekun Nasional

Contact
Yayasan TEKUN Nasional

No. 2, Wisma Matmunap
Jalan 4/146, Metro Centre
Bandar Tasik Selatan
57000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-9058 8550
Fax : 03-9059 5980

Other Information please log on to website : www.tekun.gov.my

Managing your time

2008-12-25T21:22:00.006+08:00

" Time and tide waits for no man".

Studies show that everyone, on the average, are interrupted every minute or so. Their time is controlled by persistent, bothersome and energetic people. Robert Guest's study found out that an industrial foreman images between 237 and 1073 separate incidents with no real breaks. Interruptions, wasteful, affects almost everyone.

Time is inelastic - demand has no influence on supply
Time is irreplaceable. Once it has gone, it has gone forever
1/4 of the demands of our time, can be thrown away
600 hours each year spent on things that if we stopped doing, no one will notice

Remember - we are here for "results" not "to do"

Vilfredo Pareto - 80/20 rule. We often spend 80% of our time on work that contribute about 20% to our work objective

"The concept of vital few and trivial many"

Some Tool

Daily - to do list
Cut the rituals - Coffee breaks, etc
Hours in the morning - most creative
Successes in the first hour
Arrive early
THINK - can increase productivity by 30%, can reduce time taken to complete task by 1/3
Start with the easiest
Interruptions / Diversions - Where? Who? - meet in people / place - stand up " Be ruthless with the time but gracious with people"
Apply conversation - ending techniques
The telephone : 40% spend more than 2 hours on the phone everyday
Plan calls in advance
Delegate calls
Watch out for interruptions.

TIME is .......

Free

Finite

Fair

Fixed

TIME

A measure of duration
It exists naturally
It exists in the mind / clock / watch / or just about anywhere...

Dato' AK Nathan, Group Managing Director

2008-12-25T11:20:00.009+08:00

Eversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd

Malaysian Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2008
Master Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2008

"When he lost of 1st Petronas Twin Tower project, he talk at himself why missed it and he coming back for successful 2nd Petronas Twin Tower project."

Petronas Towers project, the tallest twin tower in the world. Eversendai was involved in the fabrication and erection of the steel structures for Tower 2. The Petronas Towers measure 452 meters high and has 88 floors comprising 8000 tons steel. The columns up to the 83rd floor are in concrete. From the 88th floor, the inclined columns are made up of steel. The steel frame work above the 84th floor provides the support for the 65-meter high pinnacle. The floor beams at all levels are in steel connected to the steel embedded plates in the core wall and concrete columns.

Eversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd, founded by Dato’ Nathan in 1984 is a reputable player in the fabrication, design and erection of steel structures, having been involved in the construction of such iconic landmarks as the Petronas Twin Towers, the Burj al-Arab hotel in Dubai and the Burj Dubai – currently the world’s tallest building. In all, the company has completed over 100 projects in Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

Having to curtail his pre-university course due to financial difficulties, he started work as a printing machine operator and subsequently as an insurance agent. With no formal education in engineering, Dato’ Nathan has grown Eversendai to where it is today, with sheer hard work and perseverance. His first foray into the construction sector was accidental, when he was given the opportunity to work on the Dayabumi project where he learnt Japanese project management techniques on the job.

Dato’ Nathan has steered Eversendai into one of the largest steel contractors in the Middle East with fabrication plants in Dubai, Sharjah and Qatar. In 2005, Eversendai was awarded the “International Achievement Award” by the Construction Industry Board, Malaysia.

Good Habits to Cultivate

2008-12-24T17:03:00.006+08:00

If we want our business to grow, we must remember :

What we say can HELP or HURT us !!
What we say continuously, whether good or bad, will become TRUE and REAL in the future. Self-fulfilling prophecy.
YES, it is TRUE now. But we do not keep on saying it, it will not be TRUE ANYMORE (This is meant for negative affirmations).

DON'T SAY

Difficult
Cannot
Cannot Sell
Hard to Sponsor
Bad, Terrible, Dying
Problem
No
Not Free
Cannot do Business

ALWAYS SAY

Easy & Simple
Can
Easy to Sell
Easy to Sponsor
Good, Very Good, Excellent, Fantastic
No Problem
Yes
Have a Time
Easy to Learn to do Business

Dr.Azman Firdaus Shafii, Chairman & CEO

2008-12-23T20:08:00.001+08:00

QUANTUM BEEZ SDN.BHD.

Quantum Beez Sdn. Bhd. was established in 1998.This company developed Malaysia’s first Linux based Parallel Cluster in 1998 and was awarded MSC Malaysia Status. Quantum Beez is a pioneer in high performance computing, bioinformatics, grid computing, portal development, Linux, and open source based solutions.

Profile:

As a Colombo Plan Scholar, Dr Azman studied at the University of Sydney, Australia where he graduated with the ICI Australia and New Zealand Prize for Chemical Engineering. He then went to Aston University, UK, to do his PhD in Computer Process Control, and later an MBA at Harvard Business School, USA.
He first taught Chemical Engineering and Computer Programming at Universiti Malaya, and moved on to hold top management positions in public listed companies such as Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Intria Berhad and Costain PLC, UK.
In 1998, Dr Azman decided to pursue his technopreneurial vision. He founded the Aldrix Group (http://www.aldrix.net) spearheaded by an R&D driven company, Quantum Beez Sdn Bhd (formerly known as Open Source Systems Sdn Bhd) a Malaysian pioneer in Linux based Cluster Computing, Open Source software and Bioinformatics.

eduCATE™ is a suite of software applications that is customizable, scalable and cost effective for all educational environments. It is designed to suit the needs of pre-schools, schools, colleges, universities, government/corporate organizations and training centers.

The five core modules in eduCATE™ are portal management, student management system, learning management system, learning content management system and library management system.

eduCATE™ was developed based on open source portal framework called LEBAH ( Light and Easy Business Architecture) which was created using Java Technology like Java, Groovy, etc on platform like Apache Tomcat, MySQL, etc

eduCATE™ contributes to the creation of innovative E-learning environments through MIMOS technology enhancements by adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI), Semantic and Assessments Engines.

Finger Lickin’ Good - KFC

2008-12-23T12:55:00.000+08:00

He was 65 years old when he received his first social security check of $99. He was broke, and owned a small house and a beat up car. He made a decision that he has got to change. The only idea he had was a chicken recipe, which his friends liked. With that idea in mind, he took massive action. He left his home in Kentucky and traveled to many states in the US to sell his idea. He told the restaurant owners that he had a chicken recipe that people liked and he was giving it to them for free. What he wanted in return was for the restaurant owners to pay him a small percentage on the pieces of chicken sold. He got rejections after rejections, but did not give up. In fact, he got over 1000 rejections. He got 1009 no’s before he got his first yes. With that one success Colonel Harland Sanders changed the eating habits of the whole world with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Age is no barrier to success, and so is capital. What is needed is an idea put into action, followed with proper planning and persistency. How many of us will keep knocking on doors when we have received 1000 rejections? I presume not many! This is why there are not many successes like Colonel Sanders.

Malaysian Young Entrepreneurs Conference '08

2008-12-23T12:15:00.000+08:00

Last week at 21^st December 2008 I already attended Malaysia Young Entrepreneur Conference 2008. Many great stories and experiences presented by successful Malaysian entrepreneur. Thanks very much to YB Dato’ Edmund Santhara because giving opportunities to joined this great conference. Launched by YAB Dato’ Seri Ong Tee Keat, Transport Minister Malaysia. The successful entrepreneur that gives a presentation are Dr. Azman Firdaus Shafii, Chairman & CEO of Quantum Beez Sdn Bhd, Dato’ AK Nathan, Group Managing Director, Eversendai Corporation Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Mohamed Izat Emir, Presiden of Perdasama Nasional, Datuk P. Kasi, Co-Founder, MK Land Holdings Berhad, Dato’ Mohd Shukor Omar, Chairman of KMB Educational Services Sdn Bhd, Dato Edmund Santhara, Group CEO, Masterskill Universities College of Health Sciences, Dato’ Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of Air Asia. Another presenter as Mr. Selvaraja Velautham, MD, AVP (SEA) Sdn Bhd, how to get funding by Mr. Rizal Alwani Mohamed Nordin, Manager Competency Building Unit, Cradle Investment Programme, CIMB Bank Mr. P Manoharan, SMIDEC’s & SME Development Programmes by Pn Suraya bt Kulop Abd. Rahman, Deputy Director of SMIDEC, soft loan & facilities by Mr. Zabidi Abdullah, SME Bank, opportunity in Agro Industry by Puan Salina Main, Agriculture Malaysia and Mr. Mohd Yusliezal bin Mohd Yusof, TEKUN Nasional.

Define Entrepreneurship

2008-12-22T10:46:00.001+08:00

What is entrepreneurs?

"It's sound like Tyrannosaurus or a weird creature from a past century Dinosaurs"!!

Entrepreneurs are individuals who recognise opportunities where others see chaos or confusion. They are aggressive catalysts for change within the marketplace. They have been compared to Olympic athletes challenging themselves to break new barrier, to long-distance runners dealing with the agony of the miles, to symphony orchestra conductors who balance the different skills and sounds into a cohesive whole, or to top-gun pilots who continually push the envelope of speed and daring. Whatever the passion, because they all fit in some way, entrepreneurs are the heroes of today's marketplace. They start companies and create jobs at a breathtaking pace. The challenge the unknown and continuously create the future.

(Kuratko, D.F & Hodgetts, R.M., (2001) Entrepreneurship - A Contemporary Approach. 5th ed. Harcourt College Publishers.)

An entrepreneur is an individual who efficiently and effectively combines the four factors of production. Those factors are land (natural resources), labor (human input into production using available resources), capital (any type of equipment used in production i.e. machinery) and Enterprise (intelligence, knowledge, and creativity.)

Entrepreneurship is often difficult and tricky, as many new ventures fail. Entrepreneur is often synonymous with founder. Most commonly, the term entrepreneur applies to someone who creates value by offering a product or service. Entrepreneurs often have strong beliefs about a market opportunity and organize their resources effectively to accomplish an outcome that changes existing interactions.

Some observers see them as being willing to accept a high level of personal, professional or financial risk to pursue that opportunity, but the emerging evidence indicates they are more passionate experts than gamblers.

Business entrepreneurs are viewed as fundamentally important in the capitalistic society. Some distinguish business entrepreneurs as either "political entrepreneurs" or "market entrepreneurs," while social entrepreneurs' principal objectives include the creation of a social and/or environmental benefit.

Business entrepreneurs who adhere to Cultural Creative values are defined^[who?] as innerpreneurs as their principal objectives include personal development and social change.

(Wikipedia overview)

The word "entrepreneur" is a loanword from French. In French the verb "entreprendre" means "to undertake", with "entre" coming from the Latin word meaning "between", and "prendre" meaning "to take". In French a person who performs a verb, has the ending of the verb changed to "eur", comparable to the "er" ending in English.

Enterprise is similar to and has roots in, the French word "entreprise", which is the past participle of "entreprendre". Entrepreneuse is simply the French feminine counterpart of "entrepreneur".

According to Miller, it is one who is able to begin, sustain, and when necessary, effectively and efficiently dissolve a business entity.

(Wikepedia Etymology)