This book cost RM 139.90! It might sound expensive to some. But, let me tell you this: if you own this book, you are sitting on a gold mine. The memoir traces Sugar King's life from depression, world war two, Malaysia establishment up to the rise of mighty China. Overall, this is not only a story of the tycoon. It is a mixture of business, politics and opportunities. Readers will find it inspiring, motivating and interesting. After all, this is the only book penned by Robert himself. Hence, relatively; compares to other Robert Kuok's book, this book is definately number one choice for readers.
This book offered a lot of wisdom and perspective in life which was inherited by Robert's late mum. Surprisingly, Robert's mum was not born with silver spoon. In fact, she was rise up in the turmoil of real mess in china and colonial Tanah Melayu. However, the book clearly showed that this woman was born with natural intelligence. Robert mentioned umpteen times that whenever he got a problem, the mother's advice was always his best options.
This book also touched on with political situation after Malaysia was established. With the recent reformation on Malaysia, Robert's vision was spot on those days. Imagine if Tun Hussein Onn had listened to Robert. Malaysia might be one of the mighty giant countries alongside Singapore and Korea now. Well, there is no "if" in history. Main point is... Robert obviously is the man with great vision!
For a full rating of 10, I have no hesitation to rate this book at 10/10! There is a lot of great stuff to explore in this book. Everyone needs to read this book. It is a must read book since it brings along tons of wisdom in business, relationship and life. Last but not least, listed below are some of the great stuff from the book. I tried hard to choose the best part. But, it ended up with a long list. So, that sums up everything about this book. Excellent is the only word to describe it. Thumbs up!!!
Man must work; work is therapeutic, it binds your mind and body together. When you work, you wake up earlier than everybody, you go to bed earlier than everybody because you need to charge your batteries.
Bankers live by simple creed: Lend money to those who do not need to borrow. When you are penniless, your bank will desert you as if you're a leper... "Bankers are not my friends. Among my friends, some happen to be bankers."...Now, if that doesn't drive you forward in life to make as much money as possible so you can thumb your nose at those bankers, then what will?
I have always felt that wisdom is in the air. Structured learning is fine. But you can pick, you can distil, wisdom by yourself.
Now, there is only so much time in any given day. When you're awake, you must focus on what you really want in life. Many young men go in for the loviest sports cars and other material things. I saw very early on that these symbols of luxury and pleasure are not the real things in life, and they tend to distract you from focusing on what is important.
All my life, I have sought partners, because I know that there must always be teamwork in a society. It we cut each other's throats, the fourth or fifth dog gets the bone.
The experience drove home to me the importance of speed and trust. You must be super quick in driving towards your goal, since you are not working in isolation and competitors will come at your from all angles. You must also develop resilience, and be able to bounce back after the inevitable reverses.
Having made friends with all the major sugar brokers in the city, I was winning, dining and spending money like water on them. It was good public relations as only a Chinese knows how, practicing thrift on yourself, but generosity toward your friends.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, the oceans were teeming with fish. While volatility has not changed that much since then, there are many more sharks now. Sometimes, it seems like there are no fish in the sea - only sharks. Honours graduates in science and engineering are being recruited. PhDs are hard at working algorithms, and I don't even know what that means. If today's technology and speed of information had existed in the 1960s and 1970s, I would have been like a fish out of water.
One thing I learned from the Japanese is that you should focus on products which there are large, established markets and for which demand is uniform and sustainable.
I was eager to diversify from commodity trading. Why? Commodity trading is inherently risky. The only way you can trade commodities and make a fortune is to take substantial risks. There is no joy in getting too big in commodities trading. If you reach too high, you are in danger of going burst.
If you own just one hotel you might as well sell it at the right time - it's more of a burden than anything else. You must expand logically and sensibly.
I could make the same statement about the need for simplicity in doing business in general. Within a complex business you don't have to make it more complex. There are simple ways of tackling problems and operating the business.
All business on earth is management. In the hotel world - in any business world - you must look for three ingredients when you hire staff: talent, integrity and the stamina for hard work.
I sometimes employ this tactic when I'm in doubt about a project: I chat with a man cleverer than myself and offer him a joint venture deal. If he says, "Oh my God, it's an awful thing," then you know it's poison, and you are able to see the deal clearly through other people's eyes.
Another businessman's reaction might have been to sue the guy. I say: In life, when you can get out, get out. Life is not reasonable. You mustn't face life thinking everybody is going to be reasonable. You must look at life and assume everybody is going to be unreasonable.
I have not come across any people as loyal as the Chinese. The Japanese have a kind of loyalty, but it's an uncritical, bushido type of loyalty: they are loyal even if the boss is a skunk. Unlike the Japanese, every Chinese is highly judgmental, from the most educated to the uneducated.
The decent Chinese have helped to build up Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, and made these countries what they are today. But you also had the rise of the unscrupulous and ruthless Chinese, who in turn have devastated many parts of Southeast Asia. Why were these people allowed to wreck havoc? It is because the leaderships have been weak. Singapore had the same number of Chinese crooks, but you try and find one today.
Man must always remain humble because no matter how strong you are today, one day there will be someone stronger than you. Even if you have a lot of material wealth, please remember that you cannot live in isolation; you are always just a member of society.
Many people think that shyness is a great virtue. Well, if you want to join the business world, leave that outside your door. You have to be thick-skinned, able to take knocks. You will be insulted; you will have people slam doors in your face. But there is always another door, another road, and a way to forge on.
Before you enter business, you should vow that in whatever you do, you will be guided by the laws of morality. This will ensure long term survival. Adopt good, clean and honorable means of doing business, avoid dirty, tricky and unscrupulous methods.
The golden rule for good health is to lead a simple life, physically and mentally.
