Dato Sani Entrepreneur Characteristic

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