Think Big Dream High E-15 – The Follow Through Strategy,Part 1

Intellectual Discourse

I came from the village. As a result of my experience I am sometimes being invited to participate in seminars and discourse on my countrymen. In general these seminars are organized to discuss how my countrymen can become more successful. Most of the presenters were popular intellectuals with either Tan Sri, Dato’ or PhD titles. Many proposals and comments were put forward for discussion. The participants too were excited to give their comments and debate on the issues. Thus it appeared worthwhile for the organizers to prepare breakfast and lunch for the participants. If you don’t voice out your opinion you will be labeled as just having a free lunch. Giving opinions is our number one role. Same goes with the Tan Sri, Dato’ or PhD presenters, their papers were filled with proposals and suggestions. Proposals must be put forward. The presenters will have ready many young and pretty secretariat officials to prepare reports especially on resolutions or the agreed recommendations.

The Beautifully Designed Reports Are Confidential

Reports need to be prepared. Reports on resolutions, proposals and new ideas need to be prepared. The reports must be done in a proper manner or else the boss will be upset. However, when the boss received the report he doesn’t know what to do with it. Hence the report is kept and labeled confidential. Nobody can have access to it as it is confidential. Many a times the organizer tried to impress the audience with reports that are beautifully designed. Any participants interested in the report will be given a copy. The balance will be kept at the storage area in the boss’s office. This has to be done to avoid reports going into the wrong hands as the report is confidential. Come next year the organizer will organize another seminar with a different theme but the process of presenting it remain unchanged. The seminars has to be done if not the budget will be pulled back. No more budgets will be approved for next year.

Yes, All Seminars Are Important

All seminars, discourse or congress are important only if the resolutions, conclusions and ideas are taken heed of and implemented with full commitment by all related parties. Without these ideas our lives will not be dynamic, it will be outdated, not open and not expanding.

The Golf Swing

In a golf game, there is one famous strategy i.e. the “follow through”. Once in a while, I watched the golf channel especially when Tiger Woods is in the game. There is usually a section of the channel that teaches the audience how to play golf. From thereon I understood the concept of follow through. According to my understanding, the swing of the golf stick before hitting, when hitting and after hitting must follow one and a half cycle from the time it started hitting until the maximum swing after hitting. The swing will not be accurate if after the swing it ended just there. The swing must be continued to the most maximum possible. The swing that has the follow through strategy will result in the golf ball going further and hitting the target. It will not be OB, not going into the bunkle or not entering the pond. This has been what all the famous golfers are doing i.e. Tiger Woods, Michelson, Westwoods, Kymer or Mclroy.

Programmes for My Countrymen

The government has carried out many programmes for my countrymen. The financial allocation maybe reaching billions of ringgit. However, in terms of performance and achievements, they are still not at par with the achievements and success of the other communities. Many financial institutions have been created for my countrymen entrepreneurs such as MARA, PNB, PUNB, PNS, Bank Bumiputera(CIMB),Bank Pembangunan, Bank Rakyat, CGC and many more. Many programmes have been launched by the government such as Graduate Entrepreneur Scheme, Agricultural Entrepreneur Scheme, Competent Contractor Scheme, Mentor Mentee, Middle Class Entrepreneur, Umbrella Scheme, Strategic Partnership Scheme, Vendor, Prosper, Franchise and others. All these institutions and programmes though not exclusive for my countrymen, the priority and reason behind its establishment was to assist them in entrepreneurship and businesses. These are some of the examples in the field of entrepreneurship. In actual fact if we list down, there are many more benefits in the other areas not elaborated upon. Maybe all the programmes under the related agencies can be listed and circulated widely for public knowledge.

Underperformed

Why is it that despite the many institutions and programmes, my communities are still mediocre, average performance only, still below the performance of the other communities, not a five star or megastar businessmen.We have still not reached world class standards.

In general, without any empirical studies and strong evidences as this is the academician’s field, I believed the government as seen through the implementation agencies of the programmes is not practicing the follow through strategy as in the golf game I mentioned above.This in a way contribute to the half baked businessmen,neither here nor there.They are not a failure neither are they successful.

We Like To Change Things

We are not focused, we are not consistent, we change policies, we change programmes, we change players. We are always in the mood of changing things around. A rising tide lifts all boats. When the Minister or Prime Minister changes, things will start to change too. Any players not aligned with the Minister or Prime Minister will not received the same treatment as before eventhough the players may have been at the development phase. As a result, the players may have to close shop or wind up or migrate to another country.

In our works and responsibilities, we do not prioritise to assist in a just and fair manner. We do not assist the entrepreneur the whole way through i.e. until they achieved world class standards. We assisted but not full swing and wholeheartedly. That is why we cannot see the number of our contractors who can be categorized under the competent contractors programme at par with the contractors from China or Korea that have dominated the construction business throughout the world.

All these programmes are not wrong and need not be stopped as in my opinion it is still relevant. What we should do is not to change it but keep on improving it, so that the element of follow through and continuity will be there and not being disturbed. If anything need to be change, change the packaging, the approach or maybe the branding but the goals and objectives should be defended forever. The demand for these programmes will be there forever as demand for world class entrepreneurs will always remain relevant for the future entrepreneurial generations.