学文网马来西亚中华工商联合会总会长钟廷森被称为“钢铁大王”,他的狂热工作态度曾吓跑了一些高层职员,他爱上夜总会的嗜好也曾招来非议,但这一切并没有影响这位胆大心细､眼光锐利的企业家的事业前途｡
在马来西亚,钟廷森享有“钢铁大王”称誉,而钢铁业正是“金狮”之本｡这位“金狮之王”表面看起来沉默寡言,每次出现在记者会上,总是面无表情,言语不多,喜欢让左右手代答问题,因此,许多人认为他不善言辞,甚至以为他不甚了解其庞大集团的详细操作状况｡所有一切不过是假相,事实却是,这位带领金狮集团跻身亚洲跨国公司行列的制造业巨子是胆大心细､具有敏锐生意眼光的商业策略家｡
子承父业,发扬光大
钟廷森祖籍广东潮阳,出生于新加坡,早年在新加坡华文小学念书,后来进入吉隆坡公教英文中学求学,19岁辍学进入父亲钟水发的大马公司服务｡他与哥哥钟廷基是父亲的第一任太太所生,在7个兄弟和10个姐妹中,钟廷森排行老二｡
钟水发来自中国,于20世纪40年代在新加坡开设了德昌制造厂,制造及出口狮标铁制家具､纲柜等｡1956年时,他把业务范围扩展至马来亚(即今天的马来西亚)｡除了家具之外,钟水发还从事橡胶产品制造｡后来,大儿子钟廷基继承了父亲在新加坡的业务,而钟廷森则接掌了马来西亚的生意｡
早在10岁时,钟廷森已开始帮父亲打理公司业务｡他说:“从父亲那里,我学到了很多东西,知道人应该勤奋､有自信,说话一诺千金,对朋友更应有诚意｡”尽管对父亲的为人非常景仰,但钟廷森并不赞同父亲和哥哥保守的经营手法｡
在马来西亚企业界,钟廷森以极其旺盛的进取精神著称｡当他在1978年接棒时,金狮集团只不过是一家员工不足百人的中型企业,从事橡胶制品､钢板及纲柜等制造｡但到了今天,这个集团的业务已包罗万象,从制造钢铁伸展到种植业､房地产､食品､贸易､各种工业､百货､金融､电脑､保安､旅游业和休闲设施等｡在马来西亚,金狮的标志几乎天天见报,不是招兵买马,就是有关业务扩充的新闻报道｡在20世纪90年代,金狮集团仅在马来西亚的雇员人数已近2万名,钟廷森拥有100家私人有限公司,更控制了6家上市公司｡
除了拥有敏锐的判断力,钟廷森成功的另一个重要原因在于他善于任用人才､授权有方,如此一来,他在扩展业务时,能够把精神集中在研究新市场上,其他已上轨道的业务就交由其他董事和专门人才负责｡
钟廷森说:“在这里,我们对职员很诚恳｡我让他们发挥所长,让他们做决定,并原谅他们的过错,令他们对公司有归属感｡”但这并不意味着员工可以随心所欲地做事,因为金狮集团重视制度｡钟廷森说:“公司制度化可阻止职员有机可乘,杜绝一些人想用不正当的手段牟取暴利｡”正是因为有了这个保障,钟廷森可以没有后顾之忧地不断开拓新市场｡除此之外,金狮集团也重视训练各阶层的员工和领导人,并注重信息､研究与发展工作｡
钟廷森工作起来,可以不分昼夜｡他在工作上表现出来的狂热已吓跑了一些高层职员｡一位已经离职的经理就表示:“我实在受不了他那种狂热的工作态度,他经常会在下午5点下班时召开会议,而且一开就开到晚上10点｡”
就算工作再忙,钟廷森却几乎每天晚上都要招待生意伙伴及酒友｡他说:“白天为业务忙,只有晚上可以做些交流｡喝了几杯酒,讲话比较无所顾忌,不含蓄｡因此,我们之间流传着这样的话:10点后讲的话不算数｡”但钟廷森就是钟廷森,在娱乐时也不忘工作:“晚上时间可以谈谈***治趋势､经济,以及研究一些商业上的成败等等,这是把工作寓于娱乐｡”
虽然从小和钢铁结下不解之缘,但钟廷森并没有一副铁一般的硬心肠｡经济不景时,金狮集团不辞退员工,如果员工表现欠佳,金狮也不会马上开除,而是会分析问题背后的根源｡钟廷森说:“如果夫妻不和影响到一些经理人员的心情,我有时也会出面和他们谈谈,以解决问题｡”
看好中国-东盟博览会
钟廷森的卓越成就和财富,为他奠定了领导马来西亚华商的基础,也让他顺理成章地成为马来西亚中华工商联合会总会长｡对去年在广西南宁举行的首届中国-东盟博览会,他给予了高度的评价,强调中国-东盟博览会是在中国举办的第一个以自由贸易区为主题的博览会,聚集巨大的物流､信息流和资金流,对促进马中贸易与投资发挥了积极作用,同时也大力带动中长期东盟､马来西亚和中国的经济合作,通过中国-东盟博览会平台,马来西亚企业发挥了自己的优势,向世界展现马来西亚产品和良好的投资环境,而博览会也是马产品进入中国和吸引中国及东盟其他国家企业界到马投资的好机会｡
The chairman of Malaysian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Tan Sri William H J Cheng, is called ″Steel Baron″, whose workaholic scares off some of his senior executives.
Carry forward the family business
In Malaysia, Cheng is famed to be ″Steel Baron″ and the steel industry is the major business of the Lion Group. Cheng was descended from a family in Chaoyang, Guangdong, China but was born in Singapore. After completing his elementary schooling in a Chinese-language school, he attended a English-language high school in Kuala Lumpur and quit the school at the age of 19 to work in the company run by his father, Cheng Chwee Huat.
His father came from China and set up a factory in Singapore in 1940s, manufacturing and exporting iron furniture, steel cupboards, etc. In 1956, he expanded his business to Malay (i.e. the present Malaysia) and included manufacturing of rubber products besides furniture.
As early as 10 years old , Chengalready gave a helping hand to his father with his business. He learned a lot from his father such as hard-working, confidence, honesty, and sincerity to friends. Despite his admiration and respect to his father, he frowned on the conservative operation adopted by his father and brother.
In the Malaysian industry, Cheng is famous for his enterprising. When he took over the business, the Lion Group was no more than a medium-sized enterprise with less than a hundred employees, engaging in manufacturing of rubber products, steel plates, steel cupboards. To date, the business of the Group covers a large diversity ranging from steel production to plantation, property, food, trade, industries, retailing, finance, computer, security, tourism and leisure facility.
In addition to sharp judgement, Cheng＇s success lies in his employment of talents and proper authorization, which enables him to concentrate his efforts on the development of new markets, leaving other established business in the custody of other directors and specialists. The Lion Group also attaches great importance to the training of employees at all levels and to the information, R&D work as well.
Once Cheng engages himself in work, he will work incessantly regardless of day and night. His wild enthusiasm for work has scared off some of his senior executives, one of whom complained, ″I really can＇t stand the workaholic craze he shows. It is often the case that he has a meeting convened right at 5 pm after the working hour and keeps it going on till 10 pm.″
Favor China-ASEAN Expo
His outstanding achievements and wealth lay a foundation for Cheng＇s leadership in the Chinese business circle in Malaysia and make it a matter of course to be the chairman of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. He sings highly of the first China-ASEAN Expo held in Nanning, China last year, stressing that the Expo has played an active role in the promotion of China-Malaysia trade and investment with its enormous convergence of commodities, information and capital and will push forward the long-term economic cooperation among ASEAN, Malaysia and China. He also says that on the stage provided by the Expo enterprises from Malaysia have given a full display to the world of the quality products and the wonderful investment environment in Malaysia. The China-ASEAN Expo is also providing a good opportunity for products made in Malaysia gaining access to China and for attracting businesses from China and other ASEAN countries to invest in Malaysia.
(Translated by Zhang Xiaoyan)