With business as his passion, Amin Aznizan aspires to develop an ecosystem within the community that would provide opportunities for others to grow. With empowerment as his strength, he hopes to introduce Sarawak to a wider audience.
Helping others is key to success
Business was all he knew. Throughout his life, Amin Aznizan had always been exposed to the art of business.
At the tender age of seven, he was already accustomed to the business settings introduced to him by his father.
“Dad used to involve me in everything he did. I get to observe what he’s doing. I’d accompany him to his office and workplace. When I was 15, dad gave me part-time jobs at the company,” said the 34-year-old.
Today, as he juggles various businesses, Amin hopes to introduce Sarawak to the rest of the world.
With businesses in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar, the owner of Kedey Kamek, Seahorse Seafood, Nang Haus, and others is driven by a desire to succeed.
Born and raised in Miri, Sarawak, the jubilant lad said that, in the past, while he was building up his businesses, he only slept for three hours a day.
But the desire for success kept him awake — fuelled by perseverance and persistence, Amin’s passion does not waver.
“You will always feel energised when you do what you love. When you enjoy doing something, you just do it. I recall not feeling tired or bored, and somehow I managed to function,” said the Group Managing Director of SOCC Holdings Sdn Bhd.
When asked how he juggled his various businesses, Amin said that with good team members, everything is possible.
“I keep two things in mind when it comes to my businesses. First and foremost, be involved in every business operation. Meaning, I know what needs to be done in the company on a daily basis. Secondly, with set processes and procedures, I know exactly what happens while I am not required to be present,” he said.
Empowering people
Though the goal of a business is to generate money, Amin also strives to empower those who work for him. He believes that by being able to help others, their efforts would be rewarded.
Help, according to him, is offering a job to those in need, providing them with sustenance, and allowing them to work in good conditions while paying them good monthly salaries that can help a person grow.
As a leader, Amin would always take the time to sit down with his staff and encourage them.
“It requires time, effort, and encouragement. And when they make mistakes, I advise them how to do it correctly and not to worry about making mistakes.
“To me, mistakes are like a learning curve; they indicate that they are trying something new or different, that they are pushing the boundaries and the limits,” he said.
Despite his desire to help as many people as possible, his challenges occur within them at times.
Elaborating on the challenges, Amin said that there were times when he would spend long hours grooming and motivating a person to work just for them to quit within months.
“But people move on,” said the Director of AnakMiri Kitchen Sdn Bhd.
However, if he chooses who to trust and who not to trust, Amin quipped that there will be no one left to help him in the end.
And, as he motivates different people to work each day, he said that some of them go on to become business owners themselves. However, the competition does not bother him.
“To me, they are free to build themselves from everything I taught them, why would that discourages or worries me? Every business is unique. I know my people and my ecosystem. That is what distinguishes my company. That is what makes my business, my business.”
Amin, who has been in the industry for over a decade and has received numerous awards, hopes that people around him will be successful in their endeavours.
He believes that if everyone succeeds, everyone can support each other. However, if only one succeeds, help will be limited.
“It’s all about growing together. Nobody lives on their own in this community. Everyone is a part of the ecosystem.”
Growing up in a big family, Amin said that it was instilled in him to help others.
“Not everyone in my family does well. Some are, while others are not. We grew up knowing and seeing all of this: people who are well-off help others who are not. Meanwhile, people who are not well off support those who are.”
And helping isn’t always about money, he said.
“Sometimes, helping can also be in the form of motivation. This realisation and exposure instilled in me and my siblings the desire to always help people,” said the eldest of three children.
Nonetheless, there are days when he feels overwhelmed and considers giving up.
He admitted that there are times when he wants to throw in the towel.
However, he learnt to dismiss the feelings by convincing himself that everything happens for a reason.
“It was faith and confidence that kept me going, knowing that the difficulties I was facing would pass quickly. Obstacles will always exist. As a business owner, I should not allow it to remain there permanently. It will end one way or another.”
