Who was it to have first coined the term ‘entrepreneur’?
Ah oui! Trust the French to come up with such fancy words! It was in fact a French economist by the name of Jean-Baptiste Say that defined it as a word closely resembling ‘adventurer’.
Say himself was an admirer of the founding father of economics, Adam Smith and his book ‘The Wealth of Nations’. He argued however, that the latter missed out on one crucial element – that is, the individuals themselves. Whilst Smith’s entire ideology and concept is based on the effective use and allocation of resources, who is it that actually makes these things happen? That’s right, you’ve guessed it! It’s the entrepreneur.
He continues to say that it is actually these adventurous individuals who actively seek out to relocate inefficient uses of capital and resources, and moving them into other areas of higher productivity and yield. Evidently today, we are seeing the advent rise of industries being redefined; and even more thought-provoking – the innovation and creation of completely new markets AND marketplaces!
This is the beauty and power of being an entrepreneur – it is that absolutely everybody and anybody can be one! That being said, although I have personally started businesses of my own and been made partner at others, I continue to stop short of calling myself an entrepreneur. Why? Because I thoroughly believe that being called one is something to be earned, not self-proclaimed. It is a title not bestowed unto oneself, but by the consensus of others.
Deciding to be a part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem was not something I had initially intended on. My mother and late father had both worked in multinational organisations for many years before starting up a business of their own. Naturally, I always thought that I would follow a similar path, and what I believed to be the ‘organic’ route of career progression. After finishing my Master’s degree in London, the decision for me to return home was made, after thirteen years of living abroad.
Equipped with a background in Finance & Economics, I became more and more intrigued with the idea of fintech. I loved technology, so why not just marry the two then? A dear friend had roped me into equity crowdfunding company, Ata Plus. It is important to note that at this point, I was already an investor before ever having found employment. It was a match made in heaven. Alternative financing coupled with positive, impactful and inclusive change – all determined by consensus.
The Malaysian entrepreneurial scene blew me away. Never had I seen nor realised the raw talent coming out of small businesses and the youth! The amount of potential and opportunities almost seemed boundless, not only here at home, but across the entire south east asian region! It was here that I learnt how to juggle the interests of investors and businesses, but more importantly – it allowed me to analyse the inner workings of how to manage my own business; both directly and indirectly.
And so I did just that, I started a family owned investment firm – Helmigreen. The past year of my ‘entrepreneurial’ journey has been both difficult, and perhaps also different from most. I struggled with the fact that my father had been diagnosed with lung cancer. It was he who taught me the foundations of business, and get this – he invested in me. It was with his blessing and trust that I am where I am, and why I continue to strive for better; not just as a businessman, but as a person. His consequent passing was a difficult time. My point here is this ; – that setbacks are inevitable and come in different shapes, sizes and forms, no matter how big or small. What makes you stronger is the will to overcome them. The tale of the adventurous protagonist is never an easy one is it?
I was consequently made a founding partner in Tribe Boxing Studio (read more) – a fitness concept based on group cardio boxing workouts in a heart-pumping nightclub atmosphere. I also formed several other formal partnerships venturing into other areas of business and industry.
Entrepreneurship is a journey of commitment and the continuous strive for what one aims to achieve – whether it be personal, social, financial, family, it matters little. Put your head down, work with what you have, allocate what you have, and work smart. Most importantly, believe in your ability. The day the entrepreneur ceases to believe, is the day they cease to be an entrepreneur. In Malay we have a saying that goes ‘sedikit-sedikit, lama-lama jadi Bukit’ – loosely translated as ‘bit by bit, and eventually you’ll have a mountain’s worth.’ Whilst it may sound a little cheesy, this is the very foundation of entrepreneurialism. Simply put, progression and growth. The underlying theme? Effort. Blood. Sweat. Tears.
So get out there and make a name for yourself, be that adventurous soul and embark on a journey of your own – but never forget to be grateful and thankful for all that has led you to where you are today, be it the bad, the good, or the in between. Your next big break might be just around the corner! No… like literally. I’ve got a solid two-hour lunch break in a little while.
All jokes aside, in continuing with the spirit of World Entrepreneurs Day, I thank my mentors, directors and colleagues at Ata Plus, thank you to my partners (you know who you are), thank you to my beloved family, with special mention to my late father, Datuk Hj Timbas Helmi – and of course, thank you to you! To all you entrepreneurs out there striving to redefine not only the way the world does business in this new economy, but also for continually putting in that little bit more extra effort and constantly breaking barriers! Kudos team!
