Silent Millionaire

Silent Millionaire is a translation version of the original Malay book Menjejaki Jutawan Senyap by Dr Rusly Abdullah or better know as Chef Li.I would love to write a full review on this book once I find some ample time to do it. One thing though, if you know to read Bahasa Melayu, you’d better off get its original version in Bahasa Melayu as its English translated version sounds so academic (word to word translation), and comes with a number of noticeable mistakes (hmm.. macamlah english saya ni bagus sangat!). The book is translated by a local associate professor.

Here’s some preface to get you motivated in reading the 216-page book:

“For so long, the street vendors and small time businessmen are largely unknown. They are considered low class - no offices and no business cards to cast.

They work like turtles, struggling alone in the open seas to fend for themselves. When it is time to nest they would return to land but this time people would take notice. These turtles would lay hundreds of eggs but quietly with tears flowing silently.

Similar are the characteristics of entrepreneurs who strive diligently in small businesses. Eventually they become the ‘Silent Millinionaires’.

Unknown and certainly not living a glamorous life. However, if known their success will be the envy of millions. Could it be that your neighbour is a silent millionaire? You will not know until you become one of them!”

Prior to this, I have also made some brief research on the book and publish it in Malaysia Young Entrepreneur Forum on Nov 2005.

Here’s the cut:

Free your mind… Exit the comfort zone…

Street hawkers are normally not highly regarded. But do you know that many of them out there are millionaires? How they get away from the poverty-stricken life to achieve success?

Their stories are studied and shared by Malaysian motivational expert and author of Menjejaki Jutawan Senyap, Dr Rusly Abdullah.

Forget about sophistication of business models and mind blowing investment capitals. You can sell cendol, char kuey teow or soya drink under a flat or small warong and get rich. It all starts by first freeing your mind and be determined to leave your current comfort zone and start to ‘look and see’ for opportunities to create wealth, said Dr Rusly.

As a former banker, Dr Rusly noticed during his time that a lot of those ’silent millionaires’ who walked in into the bank and deposits millions are made up of single parents, nasi lemak hawkers and illegal immigrants.

For 22 years, he undertook study about the aspiration, motivation and the principles of these normal people who eventually reach the height of financial freedom. He was so encouraged that he himself left his job as a bank manager and started his small business selling char kuew teow until he reached the millionaireship status.

The story of Diyono Santoso, an illegal immigrant from Indonesia, whom he encountered during his time as a bank officer blew his mind. From his lowly status, Diyono achived a status as a millionaire, lived in a bungalow and drove a BMW though he stepped his foot in Malaysia “via a sampan and head first”. Dr Rusly asked himself, “How on earth that myself, a banker with a decent monthly pay check, is never a millionaire?” Then he realized of he was down with a syndrom ‘look but having never be able to see’, while Diyono looked and saw the opportunities.

Diyono started his business in Kampung Baru selling soya drink and red cendol. Being a diligent and dedicated trader, he managed to open up other 7 stalls which generate a total turnover of RM700 per day (RM21000 monthly).
When leaving for his home country, Diyono carried a cash of RM400,000 which he used to build up his empire in Indonesia.

“Apparently a lot of people out there who are rich and wealthy are not glamorous, not spoken about and even do not have a business card”, stressed Dr Rusly.

Dr Rusly also revealed the story of Ah Hong, a Chinese illiterate who sold Yong Tau Foo from his own house. Ah Hong would appear in front of the bank cashier, every day without fail and deposit RM200 to RM300. He owned two shop houses, 2 terrace houses and 2 kids who were studying in overseas using his own money.

Dr Rusly also expressed that there are differences in attitude between the Chinese and the Malay, and that there are a lot of things that can be learnt from the way the Chinese do businesses. The Malays are a bit skeptical on the idea of new business, and are so afraid of risk of failure, while the Chinese never stop thinking of ways to generate money.