1.0 INTRODUCTION
Sani Express Sdn Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sani
United Berhad established on January 9, 2007, is a six years old professionally
managed. Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh, founder and managing director, Sani
United Sdn Bhd (SUSB) has imperatively altered the travelling experience of
Malaysian commuters.
Datuk started his career as a singer in the entertainment
industry but he soon changed his occupation starting his own venture, a large
fleet of buses. While commuting from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, the idea of
starting a network of buses snapped. On January 7, 2007, seven single-deck
buses were launched on the roads. In just a year the number of passengers
increased and likewise Datuk’s business continued sailing smoothly.
With intense competition lingering all around, Sani
Express stood out with its hi-tech provision becoming synonymous with bus
service. Sani Express is part of the group that runs hotels and provides
engineering services as well. Sani Express operates 25 double decker buses on
these routes. Sani Express is one of the famous bus industries that offers bus
services to all its passengers around within Malaysia.
Bus of company providing high tech bus services linking
places in the North and East of Malaysia that offers bus services to Kuala
Terengganu and later to Kota Bharu, Kelantan and Kuantan, bus from KL to
Terengganu, bus from Terengganu to Shah Alam, bus from Kota Bharu to KL, bus
from Kajang to Duta, bus from Klang to Kangar, bus from Puduraya to Kuala
Perlis and much more.
Profit has always been secondary for this young
entrepreneur who primarily focused on the safety and comfort of the passengers.
Seven years since its inception, Datuk now employess more than 150 people and
owns 25 two store buses. All the buses are provided with GPS system for vehicle
tracking and recording of information on speed, sudden acceleration and braking
for safety purposes. Sani Express buses are provided with Dax system which
reminds drivers of over speeding as well as danger areas while driving. Drivers
of Sani Express buses are selected after close scrutiny of their driving
records and are well trained in safe driving.
In addition, thriving to explore all routes in the
country, Datuk is further looking forward to adding hundred more buses to his
existing large fleet of vehicles. In addition to transportation, Datuk is also
involved in the real-estate and hospitality business.
A self-made millionaire, Datuk has won many awards for
his service. In 2009, he was awarded the title of ‘Datuk’ by the Sultan Ahmad
Shah, Sultan of Pahang subsequently followed by the Outstanding Entrepreneur
Award by Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM). A high school dropout,
Datuk has gained from the experience, “From bus driver to mechanics, they have always
been insightful. I learned and gained knowledge from my failures. I am still
learning by analysing myself and reviewing my actions.”
2.0 ESSENTIAL ENTREPRENEURIAL
CHARACTERISTIC NEEDED BY ENTREPRENEUR
2.0 Push Towards Success
Entrepreneurs have passion and the ability to move
forward. When a project is determined, the entrepreneur will try our best to
complete the project to achieve his goal.
2.1 Take Calculated Risks
In the increasingly fierce business world nowadays, risk
plays an important role in the development of self-entrepreneurs. An
entrepreneur must make an assessment and consideration of the risks, because
risks as will ensure his safe return. If the risk is calculated, it is possible
that entrepreneurs will suffer losses. Successful entrepreneurs are not
gamblers who take risks.
2.2 Craft, Commitment,
Determination and Perseverance
It refers to the personality of the entrepreneur is very
important in the development and success of an entrepreneur. At each stage of
the life business, entrepreneurs really need the features above. At the
starting stage of a business, entrepreneurs really need those features to
manage the challenges, obstacles, problems and failures in developing the
business. At the level of survival, entrepreneurs need this feature to face all
difficulties and to gain a competitive advantage over existing competitors. On
the stage of growth, entrepreneurs goes a feature to further expand its
business internationally for gain.
2.3 Initiative and
Responsibility
Entrepreneurs must have a sense of initiative and
responsibility for the matter entrusted to him. This feature shows that
entrepreneur has the spirit to meet its obligations without being ordered or
forced. Initiative and responsible attitude needs to exist within its own entrepreneurs
to exhibit positive traits in him. This is because the successful entrepreneur
will be responsible for the attitudes and actions. Someone took the initiative
to deal with the changing tides and the passage of time so as not to be left
behind.
2.4 Internal Locus of Control
It is the level of confidence in the ability of an
individual to himself without being influenced by external factors.
Entrepreneurs who have high internal locus of control is a person who is
convinced that her decision was the best decision for the benefit of all
parties. Entrepreneurs who have the feature is not easily affected by external
factors such as rumors or formulations that are not healthy. It varies with
individuals with external locus of control, which is always influenced by
external factors.
2.5 Confidence in The Abilities of
Self
An entrepreneur needs to have confidence in own ability
to ensure business success. Confidence in the abilities themselves mean
entrepreneurs have a stand in making any decision despite stiff opposition from
various quarters. Entrepreneurs must be bold and confident in all actions to
achieve the goals and vision of the organization.
2.6 Honesty and Keeping Promises
It is one of the features that need to be highlighted by
each entrepreneur to everyone who has an interest in his business. Honesty and
keeping promises is very important in business and need to be considered by the
entrepreneurs as it enables entrepreneurs to gain the trust of all stakeholders
to him.
2.7 Emphasize The High Quality of
Work
Successful entrepreneur will always emphasizing standards
and workmanship of the highest value. Products that have standard and high
quality work will gain a competitive advantage over existing competitors. This
is because customers usually will assess and compare the quality of a product
before they buy it. This indirectly can improve business performance and image
of the entrepreneur.
2.8 Ability to Solve Problems
An entrepreneur is like being faced with a battle that
will not be able to run away from facing any difficulties, hardships and
sufferings, especially in terms of financial management, marketing, production
and management employees. Entrepreneurs will face all the challenges and
difficulties calmly without hinder their efforts to move forward and every
problem there is a silver lining.
2.9 A High Level of Labor
Entrepreneur really needs the high internal and external
to motivate entrepreneurs to achieve its business. Entrepreneurs need a high
level of employment during the pre-start and start a business. Entrepreneurs
need to do a lot of analytical work and study to achieve their business goals
and vision. Entrepreneurs have to work hard for the success of its business.
2.10
Oriented
Goals and Vision
Successful entrepreneur will design and set the goals and
their vision. Entrepreneurs will be desperately trying to achieve its business
goals and vision to enable entrepreneurs to make business in the eyes of famous
people. Entrepreneurs also have dreams and ambitions to be achieved in the
future. Entrepreneurs need a thorough research and study as well as efficiency
in terms of thinking.
2.11
Ability
to Make Decisions
A successful entrepreneur is an entrepreneur dynamic in decision
making. Entrepreneurs must take into account all the factors, both internal and
external organizations and stakeholders to prevent entrepreneurs create
inaccurate results. Entrepreneurs need to have major implications for
businesses that spearheaded the event of any decision they take.
2.12
Using
Strategies to Influence
Entrepreneurs with strategic influence to gain the trust
and confidence and foster close relationships with all stakeholders.
Entrepreneurs use this feature to create intelligence and efficiency of a wider
network. Entrepreneurs will always use these commands to influence, persuade,
persuade, and convince others without committing fraud against them.
2.13
Social
Entrepreneurship
It is a contribution to the organization of social
entrepreneurs or nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to underserved
communities. People now regard the welfare cover handled by people who are rich
and have a wealth to win over customers. Entrepreneurs are now aware of their
social responsibility to the less fortunate. Entrepreneurs will take the
opportunity to carry out beneficial activities and add value to the objectives
of the society.
3.0 HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL
ENTREPRENEUR USING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN
HIS BUSINESS.
3.1 Ability To Make Decisions
A successful entrepreneur is also a dynamic entrepreneur
in making any decision. In making a decision, the entrepreneur has to take into
account all internal and external factors of the organization as well as taking
into account all relevant stakeholders. This is to prevent entrepreneurs create
inaccurate results. any decision taken by the entrepreneurs have major
implications for business leads.
When we think of what makes someone a
great leader, one characteristic that comes to mind is decisiveness. We do not
envision successful leaders standing around appearing unclear and uncertain.
Instead, we view them as people who are able to quickly arrive at their
decisions and communicate the goals to others.
His
two partners withdrew his cause confounded alone. Had to be careful because the
decision is not referred to by anyone.
"When there are two partners, I can refer to them,
but when alone, I need to make my own decision”. He also said that before he
makes any decision, he will think 10 times.
When he was only an employee after his two partners
withdrew, with full use of your energy and thoughts, all plans to start
operating express buses dreamed only bear fruit after three years, and he
struggled to get capital from financial institutions.
3.2
Observant
The entrepreneurial attitude has successfully to try
get something its way up the ladder of human virtues. It’s currently valued as
one of the most difficult to understand expressions of human superiority.
Observation is a good at watching, listening, and noticing what is going on
around you and in your organization. Being observant to be on every side of
your organization is one way to unleash your inner creativity. You do not have necessarily have to be an
expert in a specific industry in order to come across a disruptive ways to deal
with and end a problems.
A successful entrepreneur is observant with every
available resource at his disposal and where he can get his sources to save
cost but at the same time it is has good quality. Regardless of how seemingly
small or unimportant, any decision that impacts your business should be
evaluated carefully with respect to advantage and trade-offs. Entrepreneurs
that can put into categories those options appropriately and make strategic
decisions are the ones that are able to scale quickly and ultimately to become
successful
Often, a successful entrepreneur is fast in thinking,
learning and understanding to pivot early on and does not allow their judgement
to become clouded by their strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement about
doing something. As entrepreneur, we should always be an observant about what
happen in our industry and economy. Those who are refusing to change ideas,
difficult to deal with and attempt the same process over and over again and
expect to observe different results are the ones who get left behind and repeat
the same fault to organization.
When starting a business in the field of transport,
several challenges have to be taken and Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani Salleh will need
to work hard to observe the economy condition and the customer’s feedback about
their services. In 2003 Sani establish special SUSB for the transport business.
"I was with two other partners. But not long after the two partners
withdrew, leaving me alone. When the situation was indeed grave, "he said
Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani Salleh.
When he already as an entrepreneur, he had to be
careful to observe his surrounding because its decision is without referred to
anyone. "When there are two partners, I can refer to them, but when alone,
I need to make their own decisions. “If erroneously decided, I was going to
fall. So before making a decision, I think 10 times, "he said Datuk Wan
Mohamad Sani Salleh. Lastly, this is shown that Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani Salleh
is very committed entrepreneur and very observant person to make sure his
business plan going smooth.
3.3 Oriented Goals and Vision
Goal orientation and reflect the actions of the
organization's ultimate goal. In business, goal orientation is a kind of strategy
that affects how the company making the approach and make plans for future
projects. Successful entrepreneurs will design and set the goals and vision of
the business in line with the government's vision. Entrepreneurs will be
desperately trying to achieve its business goals and vision to enable him to
become famous in the eyes of its business. Entrepreneurs who have dreams and
ambitions to be achieved in the future. In setting goals and vision,
entrepreneurs need a thorough research and study as well as efficiency in terms
of thinking. They should be sensitive to the ability of the organization
internally or externally.
Successful entrepreneurs will design and set the goals
and vision of the business in line with the government's vision. Entrepreneurs
will be desperately trying to achieve its business goals and vision to enable
him to make his business luminary in the eyes of the people. Entrepreneurs who
have a goal and vision showed that he also had dreams and ambitions to be
achieved in the future.
Goal-oriented features can be seen in the successful
entrepreneur Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh, better known as Datuk Sani. He is
the owner of the network Sani Express bus operations ever known today under the
operating company Sani United Sdn. Bhd. (SUSB). After deciding to leave the
field of entertainment to be involved in entrepreneurship, his first step is to
open a vehicle repair workshop in Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu and slowly she
immersed herself in the bus transport industry which has always been his dream.
Characteristics of a successful entrepreneur is
absolutely inside Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh. No wonder that he was able to
achieve a dream with a business that has been poured. Among its successful
entrepreneur who is in her is her goal-oriented person and insights. He adhered
to the principle "Where there's a will, there's a way". This
determination and principles which guide the examples of entrepreneurs who have
successfully developed its business on a smaller scale until the empire has become
a successful business for him.
These entrepreneurs stick to the principle "Where
there's a will, there's a way". This determination and principles which
guide the examples of entrepreneurs who have successfully developed its
business on a smaller scale until the empire has become a successful business
for him.
At
the age of 35 years, Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani has received numerous accolades
and awards over the pivotal role of business in the field of transport in the
country. Among the recognition he is Young Entrepreneur, an award which was
awarded by the Association of Merchants and Entrepreneurs Malaysia (Perdasama).
He also received the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award Malay Chamber of Commerce
Malaysia (DPMM) Kuala Lumpur in April 2009. In fact, he considered the young
generation in the business world today.
Furthermore, when he was 33 years old, a successful
entrepreneur is like to have everything. Businesses that earn millions of
ringgit has returned. With the profits, he already has his own business
building that serves as the center of business operations with the purchase and
renovation costs reached almost 7 million Ringgit. He also owns a Ferrari F360
Modena worth RM1 million and inhabit a luxury bangle worth RM9 million.
In an interview with Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani said he
never crossed the stay is that he take now although this is the dream that he
aspired to be a businessman as teenagers. An individual who involved in business should have
goals and visionary. This can be seen with the research and planning Datuk Wan
Mohammad Sani in drafting dream and his ambition to become a reality. Without
the vision and goals held by him, undoubtedly he would not be able to have all
of its business empire today results of operations and sustenance provided by
Allah Almighty to him.
The history of involvement in the world of business
starts with a dream since childhood he wanted to become a businessman. Sparked
the idea for a network of express bus after frequent commuting from Kuala
Lumpur to Terengganu. He showed up this challenge with enthusiasm and
determination to meet the challenges in the areas of fierce competition and
high risk.
Datuk Sani is an entrepreneur who has a high resilient
nature of which he had been honored when he was determined and confident to
resume its once partners have started to lift away from sharing in this
business. A turbulent situation can be resolved smoothly under his management.
With characteristic determination on himself, he managed to reach the goal of
having its own transportation company and can give satisfaction to himself.
3.4 Visionary and Proactive
There are many characteristics in entrepreneur of Datuk
Sani who was owned Sani Express are visionary and proactive. The first
characteristics that we can see through of his effort to expand the business is
visionary. He said we need to have our own vision in business to get a success
and this is not easy as we expected to achieve our target in business. Have a
vision makes him make effort to defend the business from bankrupt and always
succeed. As we can see, before he started doing this business, he has opened
the workshop in Kula Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur to try business in
transportation. When he was 35 years old, this young man have reached 25 buses
and purchase the office center and renovate with it had RM7 million. Now the
his business name are already known in most in Malaysia and he started to
expand the bus operation in Alor Setar beside East Coast.
Proactive means to taking action in the present will
influence things in the future, perhaps even the future itself. Proactive people must to think ahead and set
goals. There goes a saying: “To be a good speaker, you have to be a good
listener”. We say that working genuine under somebody’s leadership will make
you a better conductor to improve it. An entrepreneur who have characteristic
of proactive can be successful people.
Atitude is the most important
weapons that proactive people use, is their attitude or state of mind. In fact,
it could be called a way of life. Proactive people wouldn’t think of making a
telephone call without first jotting down the items for discussion or going to
the supermarket without first making a list of the items they need. They don’t
resent looking at a map before taking a trip or reading the instructions before
assembling a swing set. Being your own boss does
give you boldness of conception, but it comes at the cost of proactive and
responsible entrepreneur traits. And you have to create the ability and the act
of officially deciding something to fight all the odds coming your way, turning
your startup venture into a success series of event.
Proactive characteristic that show yourself Datuk Sani is
to improve ourselves to make a achievement in the business. Example, he was
treat the employees like a friend who can work together and expand the business
at the same time you have to appreciate the workers who give a distribution in
your business. Datuk Sani always
remember where did he came from before doing this business and always make his
boss as a role model that can he follow them as well.
From this trait, this show how Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani
Salleh one of the Malaysia entrepreneur character. He said he started with open
repair workshops in places like Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu. While working, he
always make his boss as a role model for him to snare in business. Last but not
least, when he became a successful entrepreneur, he shown his good trait by
treating his employees good and always be proactive toward his workers in
organization. He always be proactive about his employee’s welfare issues.
It isn’t easy to work for others and equally requiring
much work or skill to do or make in managing people who working for you. When
you decided to be an entrepreneur, you decided to be different and have to be
proactive in all aspect in your organization. Do not end up in the same mold as
the rest of the bosses that you have experienced before. Lastly, never think
that you will be superior to those in your team and, if you want a strong team.
3.5 Failure is An Option
Failure is a word that we understand as carries a
negative connotation. Nobody wants to fail but failure, if you're doing
anything worthwhile, is sure to happen. You have to showing an ability to make
new things or think of new ideas to think of all the ways that a plan could
fail.
We understand that the best solution to learn what's able
to happen or exist is to take risks. As entrepreneur, company must adopt and
embrace failure as part of its a way of thinking, behaving or working that
exist in a place or organization and recognize that it's not only okay but
something to be praised by many people. For example, Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani
Salleh has an annual failure award to celebrate low outcomes based on good
intentions and he also doing this because to appreciate his employees toward
their jobs to make sure that his company have a good services and chosen by
every customers.
From the beginning Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani Salleh use
public transportation (bus), so he know what customers want and don't went
using public transportation and he use that experience when managing Sani
Express. Besides, he take care of every way employess stands in the company,
from the counter clerk until the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This is because
if even one office is not operating properly, the company's operations will be
disrupted.
3.6 Open Risk Taker
The open risk taker in business world for someone who wants
to be successful entrepreneurs. Open risk taker is the synonym things that must
uncounted by each entrepreneur to succeed in any undertaking. Dare to take
risks means brave through life itself, in other words we believe will get
something valuable lessons despite the risk we taken.
Every entrepreneur should have the characteristics of
entrepreneurship is willing to take risks. For example Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani
Salleh who is the managing Director Sani United Sdn Bhd (SUSB) comprising Sani
Express Sdn Bhd, Sani Properties Sdn Bhd and Sani Hotel Sdn Bhd. every
entrepreneur must dare to start something of his own, and certainly not willing
to take any risks in addition to finding the best methods to reduce risks and
solve the problems facing the prudent and judicious manner.
When setting up SUSB in 2003, Datuk Wan Mohamad Sani Salleh
with two other partners. But not long after the two partners withdrew. He had
to be careful because the decision is not referred to anyone. He should make
his own decision. At that time he had only one employee and to make full use of
your energy and thoughts, all plans to start operating express buses that
dreams only show results after three years of hard work and capital from
financial institutions. He bears a great risk because the loan was made, but he
was brave and confident with what is created. Now sani has proved that the path
chosen is the best because he has brought an extraordinary success with the
establishment of Sani Express who performed extremely encouraging.
In sum, not easy to be a successful entrepreneur and a
recognized public. for Sani, he considered that to be a successful individual
should not be afraid to face the risk because risk is a challenge for an
entrepreneur. No doubt that a successful entrepreneur must have courage in
taking any risks, because the courage to take risks is important for the
success and of becoming a successful entrepreneur. And the most important is we
can make Datuk Wan Muhammad Sani Salleh like our idol for us to move forward
without any doubt.
4.0 Conclusion
The Company's success Sani Express Sdn Bhd in this
entrepreneurial industry would not be able to be achieved without the
entrepreneurship in Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh, founder and managing
director, Sani United Sdn Bhd (SUSB). The characteristic of entrepreneurs from
Sani Express is the ability to make decisions, observant, oriented goals and
vision, proactive and failure is an option. Young entrepreneurs should now make
success and assertiveness Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh to take chance and
risk in developing the business. Although constrained by challenges and limited
capital, but his patience make himself strong enough to continue moving forward
with its own business. As a result, the Employees Datuk now have more than 150
people and owns 25 two store buses. Attitude was not taking shortcuts to
success should be used as a motivational factor for all people, especially the
entrepreneur. For Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh, sweet and bitter experiences
he went through and thank the management of the business that had taught him to
remain robust in the industry. It is very appropriate to quote "The only
source of knowledge is experience" by Albert Einstein. Failure once does
not mean failing to forever even through his own efforts to increase enthusiasm
for achieving goals and success in business.
5.0 ATTACHMENT
5.1 Profile Entrepreneur Of
Sani Express
Name : Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani Salleh
Age
: 35 years old (24 July 1976)
Siblings : Fourth of six
siblings
Education : Diploma in Business Management Sunway College (1994)
Position : Managing Director Sani United Sdn Bhd (Sani Express Sdn
Bhd,
Sani Properties Sdn Bhd and Sani
Hotel Sdn Bhd).
Achievement : Awarded Degrees Indera
Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) which
carries the title Datuk by the
Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad
Shah (June 2009) and the Outstanding
Entrepreneur Award Board
Commerce Malaysia (DPMM), Kuala
Lumpur (2009).
References
Book :
Rosli
Mahmood, (2010), Prinsip-prinsip
Keusahawanan : Pendekatan Gunaan, Edisi Kedua Singapore : Cengage Learning
Asia Pte Ltd.
The Internet :
Ammar Yasir, Biodata@Profil Dato’ Sani Pemilik Syarikat Bas Sani
Express, access from http://jomklikblog.blogspot.my, (2011), access at
11/10/2016
James Stephenson, 25 Common Characteristics of
Successful Entrepreneurs,
access from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/200730, (2016), access at
20/10/2016
Shobhit
Seth, 10 Characteristics of
Successful Entrepreneurs , access from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance,
(2016), access at 1/11/2016.
Wcrcleaders, Datuk Wan Mohammad Sani
Salleh, access from http://wcrcleaders.com/datuk-wan-mohammad-sani-salleh/, (2014), access at 7/11/2016
