The 3rd trait : VERSATILITY

The definition of versatility is “capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavour”.  Being versatile is going to be a major challenge for many is because we get so used to doing something the way we have been doing it that we do not consider other ways.  Many of the entrepeneurs don’t try to learn new methods or even new fields of endeavour because it takes us out of our comfort zone.  In order to become a success entrepreneur, being versatile is one of the trait that we need to practiced because the customer’s needs will be different from time to time and if we didn’t took any inisiative to try making new products or make the old one become more better than before, the customers might run away or turned their back from us.

For example, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al – Bukhary had been go through many ups and down in his business as he tried various of business before he can became for who he is today.  In mid 70s, as his father’s cattle business ran into trouble from the foot-and-mouth disease, Syed Mokhtar took over his father’s business and decided to never involved in that business again and try other business that is selling meat.  He scoured markets around Alor Setar to buy unsold meat from the vendors there then re-sold it back to bumiputera traders in that area.  Syed Mokhtar also packed the unsold meat carefully and kept on ice to maintain freshness. Using his experience in handling this products, he gained positive vibes from the public. The success had made him become more eager to expand the business so he moved on to the transportation business.  He then created a transportation company named Syarikat Pengangkutan Sentosa in 1972 that offered transport service to haul rice, now it owns more than 40 lorries for various transport purposes. Syed Mokhtar also created Syarikat Bukhary shortly after that involved in the rice and sugar business.  He keep try to open new business fields and almost all of them were successful making him the 7^th billionaire in Malaysia.