J-emine's reflexionando

All business on earth is management. In the hotel world – in any business world – you must look for three ingredients when you hire staff: talent, integrity and stamina for hard work.

Robert Kuok, A Memoir with Andrew Tanzer

This memoir has been sitting on my shelf for awhile now – I heard various version of the memoir from different people who has read it, and what a joy it was to hear how each in their own cogent way shed their insights on the memoir or what struck a chord with them. My Father circled around Kuok’s values, principles and patriotism for the Motherland. Our dear friend, T – I believe this was one of the last few books, he read before he left us; we didn’t talk at length of the memoir but knowing T, we would have spoken of Kuok’s role in Malaysia’s economy, his patriotism and family ties.

The memoir spans across over 8 decades and offers revealing accounts of the successful businessman’s endearing influence in Asia, playing specific economic/ growth catalyst roles within China, Singapore and Malaysia. I particularly enjoyed Kuok’s insider account on the changing government and economic landscape, and he does so with such candour and wit, especially towards the portrayal of crony capitalism and his immense dislike for colonialism and supremacy.

Kuok peppers the memoir with his guiding principles in life – the morals instilled by his Mother, whom he calls the ‘hidden captain’, behind the Kuok Brothers’ success and a vital force in his ability to navigate success and duck misfortunes. Luck was a recurring theme and the foundation to sustain, was even more critical, such as – showing up (early), working hard, having a healthy dose of greed (to propel forward) and knowing when to stop.

I truly enjoyed the read as it brought me on a journey of South-East Asia post 1945 and the formative years towards independence and beyond, the excitement and science of commodities trading, the grit and zest of our Overseas Chinese Businessmen etc – the story itself weaves together my own fragments of conversations that I’ve had with my elders, like Kuok, bears witness of the same challenges and triumphs of those yesteryears.

The ending of the memoir bears wise words from Kuok to young people akin;

Do not confuse material satisfaction with happiness. Money cannot do everything for you. Distinguish between the real and the fanciful. Learn to live simply and , wherever you can, share your wealth with others. You are not alone in this world. There is immense wisdom handed down from ancient sages such as Laozi, who taught that to live a contented life, one should eschew greed and live as simply as possible and in harmony with nature”