Heart, smarts, luck ... but Singaporeans need more guts

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#1
Sharing the article. Worth a read...

Heart, smarts, luck ... but Singaporeans need more guts

What qualities does it take to build a great business? According to Mr Hsieh Tsun Yan, a former Senior Director at McKinsey, counsellor to global CEOs, author and now professor, it takes a combination of heart, smarts, guts and luck.

His book, a New York Times bestseller which takes these four elements as its title, says the key to success is for leaders to be “willing to make ourselves vulnerable, generous, open and authentic”.

Singaporeans, he says, as a whole are two-and-a-half times less likely than the global average to start their own business, and only 1 per cent of would-be entrepreneurs actually get their business ideas off the ground. It is time for Singaporeans to gain more guts, he told a recent forum: “When in doubt, do something.”

“It’s not that we don’t have money,” Mr Hsieh said to the gathering organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. “Our would-be entrepreneurs’ biggest stumbling block, even among those who profess to be seriously thinking about it ... is the failure to start.”

He said extensive research had shown that successful entrepreneurs and business builders understand that they cannot just sit back content with the status quo.

“When it ain’t broken, break it anyway and fix it,” Mr Hsieh said, noting that, in too many cases, leaders fail to evolve their business model. “It takes courage to tamper with the wellspring of success.”

His book is co-authored with Mr Richard Harrington, former President and CEO of Thomson Corporation, and Mr Anthony Tjan, Managing Partner of venture capital firm Cue Ball. Between them, they surveyed more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and business builders to uncover what motivates them and how they make decisions. They found that both share a combination of these four key factors.

THE FOUR ELEMENTS

The first, heart, “is about passion”, Mr Hsieh said. Successful entrepreneurs set aside other things to fulfil their dreams and push through challenges — such as when Singaporean parents ask: “When are you going to get a real job?”

Smarts, Mr Hsieh said, has nothing to do with books. Rather, there are two critical components: Pattern recognition and judgment. The first is about being able to connect the dots and see things in alternative arenas. The second, judgment, is crucial when entrepreneurs are choosing business partners. Going into business with friends, while possibly fun, is not always smart, he said.

Luck “is about attitude”. In the business context, it means a combination of humility, optimism and networking. Humility comes from understanding that you may not know something, but may be able to find others who are experts. Optimism is about retaining a positive outlook, while networking — as well as being a crucial business skill — means spending time with people who are different and who may bring different perspectives and talents.

Guts, the final element in the quartet, breaks down into three parts. Mr Hsieh said: “Guts to start, guts to persevere and guts to evolve.”

ADVICE FOR SCARED YOUNG SINGAPOREANS

Finally, Mr Hsieh shared the key learnings that he said were important for a Singapore audience. Young entrepreneurs needed more guts to start their own businesses, and he challenged them with six questions:

• What terrifies you? Gutsy people are not fearless. They have the ability to turn negative energy or fear into the positive energy of action.

• What is the worst that can happen? What have you got to lose? The best time to start is when you are young, because you can lose.

• Are you truly and madly in love with the business you are trying to build? Those are the businesses that succeed.

• Which risk are you better positioned to take? There are two kinds of gutsy people: Those who have a high tolerance of risk for long periods of time, and others who occasionally step up for risks that they are uniquely positioned to take.

• How can I experience and learn from a crisis? Most people think about it as a thinking exercise, contingency planning. That is all wonderful, but crisis management is experiential. It is not a thinking exercise.

• How would you team up to complement your leadership qualities? The best leaders know that they are not dominant in every aspect of business.

This is adapted from an article published on NUS Business School’s Think Business portal (thinkbusiness.nus.edu).

Mr Hsieh Tsun Yan was with McKinsey for more than three decades, before leaving to set up his own management advisory firm, the LinHart Group. He is a Provost Chair Professor of the National University of Singapore Business School.
http://www.todayonline.com/business/mana...-more-guts
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#2
Are "passive" business investors/partners counted? How can they benefit from the articles?
WB:-

1) Rule # 1, do not lose money.
2) Rule # 2, refer to # 1.
3) Not until you can manage your emotions, you can manage your money.

Truism of Investments.
A) Buying a security is buying RISK not Return
B) You can control RISK (to a certain level, hopefully only.) But definitely not the outcome of the Return.

NB:-
My signature is meant for psychoing myself. No offence to anyone. i am trying not to lose money unnecessary anymore.
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#3
wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue
1) Try NOT to LOSE money!
2) Do NOT SELL in BEAR, BUY-BUY-BUY! invest in managements/companies that does the same!
3) CASH in hand is KING in BEAR! 
4) In BULL, SELL-SELL-SELL! 
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#4
(23-09-2013, 01:07 PM)brattzz Wrote: wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue

Alamak! Ya Hoh! How can we be gutless? We have survived so long in the markets.
WB:-

1) Rule # 1, do not lose money.
2) Rule # 2, refer to # 1.
3) Not until you can manage your emotions, you can manage your money.

Truism of Investments.
A) Buying a security is buying RISK not Return
B) You can control RISK (to a certain level, hopefully only.) But definitely not the outcome of the Return.

NB:-
My signature is meant for psychoing myself. No offence to anyone. i am trying not to lose money unnecessary anymore.
Reply
#5
Gut, Passion and Luck are common sense. Not sure about Smart but definitely not an idiot.

Just my Diary
corylogics.blogspot.com/


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#6
(23-09-2013, 01:07 PM)brattzz Wrote: wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue

You forgot that we are owners of many businesses... we're definitely not lacking in guts.. Further, we don't even need to get our hands dirty running these biz, isn't that smarter than smart?? Tongue
Luck & Fortune Favours those who are Prepared & Decisive when Opportunity Knocks
------------ 知己知彼 ,百战不殆 ;不知彼 ,不知己 ,每战必殆 ------------
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#7
(23-09-2013, 02:10 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 01:07 PM)brattzz Wrote: wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue

You forgot that we are owners of many businesses... we're definitely not lacking in guts.. Further, we don't even need to get our hands dirty running these biz, isn't that smarter than smart?? Tongue

We are all "Outside Passive Minority Investors". At best, partners. At worst, carrot-heads.

Dont hope for major shareholders to be fair. Just hope for the interests to be aligned.
"... but quitting while you're ahead is not the same as quitting." - Quote from the movie American Gangster
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#8
(23-09-2013, 02:10 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 01:07 PM)brattzz Wrote: wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue

You forgot that we are owners of many businesses... we're definitely not lacking in guts.. Further, we don't even need to get our hands dirty running these biz, isn't that smarter than smart?? Tongue

It is not gutless, but need more guts.

Should we change the guideline from "when in doubt, walk away" to "When in doubt, do something before walk away"? Hmm...
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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#9
(23-09-2013, 02:32 PM)opmi Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 02:10 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 01:07 PM)brattzz Wrote: wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue

You forgot that we are owners of many businesses... we're definitely not lacking in guts.. Further, we don't even need to get our hands dirty running these biz, isn't that smarter than smart?? Tongue

We are all "Outside Passive Minority Investors". At best, partners. At worst, carrot-heads.

Dont hope for major shareholders to be fair. Just hope for the interests to be aligned.

There're also many advantages of being an OPMI, compared to the majority shareholders or even substantial shareholders eg. Institutions.

- We can be very flexible and nimble, no need to hang around if we don't like what we see ie. "when in doubt, walk away" as mentioned by 'CityFarmer'.
- We have no restrictions of what we want to vest in and how much or how often.
- We can make quick decisions, no need to answer to anyone else like shareholders, bosses,...

It's up to each individual to decide whether they want to use such advantages... to their advantage! Tongue
Luck & Fortune Favours those who are Prepared & Decisive when Opportunity Knocks
------------ 知己知彼 ,百战不殆 ;不知彼 ,不知己 ,每战必殆 ------------
Reply
#10
(23-09-2013, 02:50 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 02:32 PM)opmi Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 02:10 PM)KopiKat Wrote:
(23-09-2013, 01:07 PM)brattzz Wrote: wait a minute... we are gutless? Tongue

You forgot that we are owners of many businesses... we're definitely not lacking in guts.. Further, we don't even need to get our hands dirty running these biz, isn't that smarter than smart?? Tongue

We are all "Outside Passive Minority Investors". At best, partners. At worst, carrot-heads.

Dont hope for major shareholders to be fair. Just hope for the interests to be aligned.

There're also many advantages of being an OPMI, compared to the majority shareholders or even substantial shareholders eg. Institutions.

- We can be very flexible and nimble, no need to hang around if we don't like what we see ie. "when in doubt, walk away" as mentioned by 'CityFarmer'.
- We have no restrictions of what we want to vest in and how much or how often.
- We can make quick decisions, no need to answer to anyone else like shareholders, bosses,...

It's up to each individual to decide whether they want to use such advantages... to their advantage! Tongue

Yes, it is indeed a critical advantage.

Furthermore, if the OPMI doesn't invest OPM (Other People Money), than it is even more advantage, because "Tikam" become an option Tongue
“夏则资皮,冬则资纱,旱则资船,水则资车” - 范蠡
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