Names of Amazing Pakistani Entrepreneurs

Amazing Pakistani Entrepreneurs

These selected individuals have amazing contributions for Pakistan particularly in creating some truly amazing entrepreneurial ventures . Some of them might have been known and recognized for a part of their personality or work, but the whole canvas of their inspiring journeys, their vision and most importantly their dedication to their country was never properly recognized.

This is our attempt to pay a tribute to these Amazing Pakistani Entrepreneurs...

Hakim Muhammad Saeed | Hamdard Pakistan Sir Adamjee Dawood | Adamjee Group M A Habib | Habib Group Hussain Dawood | Dawood Group Agha Hassan Abedi | An enterprising banker and philanthropist Sadruddin Hashwani | Hashoo Group Iqbal Qarshi | Qarshi Laboratories Mian Muhammad Sharif | Ittefaq Group Shaukat Tarin | different banking organizations Seema Aziz | CARE Foundation & Sefam Shaukat Raza Mirza | Engro & PSO Hanif Rajput | HR Group Mian Muhammad Mansha | Nishat Group Syed Babar Ali | Packages, LUMS, Nestle Izhar Ahmed Qureshi | Izhar Concrete

Haji Muhammad Ali | Student Biryani Yusuf Haroon | Dawn Group of Newspapers Saeed, Ashiq & Bros | Sabro Mian Aamir Mehmood | Punjab Group of Colleges Salim Ghauri | NetSol Mian Muhammad Din | Super Asia Taher A Khan | Interflow Group Majeed Nizami | Nawa-i-Waqt Group S H Hashmi | Orient Advertising Mian Muhammad Fazal | Orient Group of Companies Aftab Tapal | Tapal Tea Byram D. Avari | Avari Hotels Asad Ali Khan | Abacus Consulting Khalid Awan | TCS Couriers Farhan Masood | Solotech

Success Stories of Pakistani Entrepreneurs

Success Stories of Pakistani Entrepreneurs

Success Stories of Pakistani Entrepreneurs Malik Riaz and Agha Waqar who represents Pakistan in Creativity world so far. When it comes to the success stories of the entrepreneurs in Pakistan, we do have numerous examples of such master minds and risk takers which have created an empire on their own just through their willingness and their determination for success.

Malik Riaz: 

One of the renowned and respectable businessmen in Pakistan is Malik Riaz, who have created his own name and got fame and strength all on his own. Although Malik Riaz has its family background as a wealthy and strong ancestor ship but when the contacting business of his father collapsed they have to spend a brutal time as he was just 19 years old. At the time he started his career as the lowly clerk in Islamabad, his educational background is still controversial but his close friends and the one who know him closely do rate him as the ultimate genius.

At the time of his marriage he was so poor that he was not having the money to buy the medicine for her newly born daughter and that is the modesty of this guy that he never forgets what the situation was when he was poor which makes him really generous and kind towards the poor.

Agha Waqar:

 Another Pakistani entrepreneur who has started from zero is now touching the sky and this is the great Agha Waqar who is just 32 years old and in the time span of 2 years he has managed to build a business empire of almost 90 corers. Agha Waqar is a doctor through profession but due to his God Gifted skill of entrepreneurship, the guy has managed to groom himself in various diversified businesses which included the distribution of petrol.

He despite of all such business does also have the government job which was initially in the health ministry and later in Federal Investigation Authority (FIA). He started the business when he was not having the enough money to make his own office which forced him to create the office at the home of his father. He is holding the current business of real estate and telecom and has almost 400 people working under him and he is spending a luxurious life with modern cars like BMW, Range Rovers and many more.

Khalid Awan

A flight engineer by profession, Khalid Awan showed his visionary skills early in his career when realized that flight engineer jobs might not continue with engineering advances in aircrafts. It meant that he had to find something new as a career path. Along with his elder brother, he ventured on the franchise of DHL in Pakistan. Experience of world's leading logistics and Courier Company provided Khalid Awan with skills and business knowledge for setting up a company of his own that he started in early 1980s. TCS Couriers proved to be a bigger challenge from onset because country's bureaucratic postal restrained any courier operator from carrying postal letters. Navigating this and many other political challenges, Khalid Awan continued developing a strong presence in country as first leading Courier and logistics brand. More than three decades later, company has grown into a conglomerate having coverage to related businesses.

Under leadership of Khalid Awan, TCS has host of remarkable management practices which enables it to remain highly competitive while maintaining a formidable presence all over Pakistan with thousands of employees. These practices as well as its history have been subject of a case study at Harvard Business School. This made TCS among few organizations from this part of the world to be featured at such coveted platform.

Hakim Muhammad Saeed:

A true scholar, writer, intellectual, innovator, entrepreneur and a philanthropist, Hakeem Muhammad Saeed is alive as an amazing person of diverse abilities in memories of Pakistan even years after his tragic murder in 1998. Hakim Saeed, as he was popularly known established Hamdard Dawakhana, from the institution his father created in India before partition. His organization which was mainly focused on traditional medicine later went on to diversify in fields of higher education, publishing and social work. Hamdard is one of the largest production facilities of traditional or herbal medicines in Pakistan. Hakim Saeed's work in reviving traditional medicine is considered to be pioneering in contemporary times because he established on modern footings and got it recognized by established bodies like World Health Organization.

Hakim Saeed was always optimistic and enthusiastic about Pakistan and what all this country has to offer. He established 'Madina-tul-Hikmat' (city of wisdom) in outskirts of Karachi which today houses different institutions of higher education including Hamdard University. Hakim Saeed was always very fond of interacting with children and was a popular figure among them through his writing from a children magazine, Naunehal. Hakim Saeed also served as Governor of Sindh.

Mian Muhammad Mansha

Mian Mohammad Mansha is the Chairman of “Nishat Group” - the biggest industrial and financial conglomerate of Pakistan. This group was founded in 1948 by Mansha's father Mian Mohammad and his three brothers. It was named after Nishat Haroon, the 3 year old grandson of Mian Mohammad Yaqub. Nishat Haroon was born to Mian Farooq who was married to the daughter of Mian Fazal Rehman of United Textile Mills, Multan. Windmills of God work in strange ways. In 1948 when Mansha's father Mian Mohammad Yahiya and his three brothers incorporated a partnership concern, it was called Nishat Corporation after Nishat Haroon, the three year old grandson of Mian Mohammad Yaqub, eldest of the four brothers. The child who gave his name to the group has disappeared in thin air and Mian Mohammad Mansha, Chairman Nishat Group is today on top of Pakistan's corporate world, boastfully accustomed to buying his casual outfit from Harbe Frog on Bond Street, shoes inevitably from Gucci, cardigans and overcoats from Burberrys’. Nishat Group had several industrial units in East Pakistan, which they lost in 1970. This group now owns ‘Muslim Commercial Bank’, five cement factories and numerous other industries.

Entrepreneurial goals and choice of venture creation

  

Entrepreneurial motivations, goals, expectations and capabilities vary across individuals likewise opportunities are to be screened for both viability and fit the entrepreneurs before they are perused. Venture creation is a model for starting and bridging the gap between an idea and a capitalized business. The entrepreneurial goal and choice of venture creation based on external and internal factors make new venture creation possible .Entrepreneurs are lacking guidance on how to get their idea to market.  Following are the typologies of venture creation that let entrepreneurs to make the right choice about the venture creation.

Revolutionary ventures: Involve a revolutionary idea, innovation and this concept also evolves new processes and manufacturing techniques, this concept shake up matured industry or can create a new industry but the only is to think out of box.

Niche ventures: Serve segment with a unique need not served by mainstream offerings .it is based on the modest managerial and leadership skills. Ideal for entrepreneur with insightful knowledge of large market and the niche in particular, suits entrepreneurs with moderate growth/wealth ambitions and limited resources.

Hustle venture: Suits to entrepreneurs with limited resources and modest growth ambition. Fit those who value satisfaction and donot seek high growth. The hustle ventures are ideal for entrepreneurs who seek a lifestyle business and satisfactory cash flow as against high growth and wealth creation.

Speculative (deal) venture: Suits those who want quick profits and for those who are willing to take commensurate risks. The speculative ventures gave the financial strength and staying power to go through deal.

5 Ways to Successfully Cultivate Your Personal Brand

Personal branding is a hot topic and yet most people don’t understand what building a “Personal Brand” actually means. Having a "brand" is very different from branding and yet many Entrepreneurs and Business Owners completely avoid building their personal brand in fear of being seen as that shameless self-promoter.

What if we’re missing the point - as well as a massive opportunity? According to Glen Carlson, small business and brand expert, this mentality is keeping founders and their businesses stuck in a “struggle zone”.

Carlson is the co-founder of Key Person of Influence, a company that is rapidly becoming known as one of the top business growth accelerators in the world. 

“You can’t avoid having a personal brand,” says Carlson.  “Your brand is an expression of who you are and whether you like it or not, you already have one.”

“Simply put," Carlson says, “Your brand is what you’re known for; what you stand for and what you stand against, your products and services, the people you associate with. All of these elements contribute to the way people see you.”

The mistake that most of us make is confusing "brand'' for "branding''.  Branding is the creative expression (the look, the feel, your logo and so on), often cooked up by agencies or branding experts, that aims to most accurately represent your brand. 

Too many people make the mistake of focusing on branding before understanding what their brand is in the first place. This is like trying to perfume a pig.  

1. Your pitch. 

Take time to craft a quick pitch that effectively communicates what you want to be known for in a way that makes it easy for other people to talk about it. Let's call it your social pitch. It’s how you might introduce yourself to someone you just met at a bar to get their attention.

2. Publishing your ideas.

Be prolific with publishing your ideas, beliefs, philosophy, ideology and message. The more you publish your best thinking, the more you’ll become known for your ideas.

3. Align with valuable products.

You need to align yourself with the right mix of products and services. Great entrepreneurs and leaders are able to make excellent choices when it comes to what they sell. Make, source, innovate, reinvent and find unique and valuable ways to deliver your value.

4. Raising your profile.

You need to raise your profile both online and in traditional media. It isn’t about feeding your ego, it’s about sharing your ideas with more people. The more seen, known and recognized you are, the more opportunity will flow your way.

5.  Connected partnerships.

Actively pursue partnerships with other influential brands and people that have the respect and trust of your target market. By association, their brand rubs off on your brand. You get to rapidly accelerate how you build reach and trust with the people who matter in your industry.

Armed with these key principles you will be able to avoid the mistake of prioritizing branding over brand, focusing instead on building a personal brand that yields true influence in your industry.

7 Things That Can Make You Look Like a Successful Entrepreneur

You feel like you’re going to be successful (someday). You feel powerful (almost). You’re going to make it big (very soon). You’re worth a million bucks (in your mind). You’re famous (just about). All you need is a little bit more time...and it’s all going to come together.

Does this sound like you? Good. This is exactly the kind of attitude that characterizes a successful entrepreneur.

You expect it. You want it. You’re hungry. You’re driven. It’s all there, except for the reality.

The reality will come. But in the meantime, you need to keep up the actions and attitudes that will produce that level of success. How do you look like a successful entrepreneur even if you haven’t quite yet arrived?

Here are seven principles that I’ve learned and seen other aspiring entrepreneurs practice with success.

1. Fake it. You’ll make it.

The popular expression, “Fake it till you make it” works. Why? Because it’s built on real science.

Psychologists have long recognized the correlation between the mind and the body. When we feel a certain way, we act in corresponding ways. The reverse is true. When we act in a certain way, we feel a corresponding emotion.

The most common example is the smile. Smiling isn’t just a response to a happy feeling. The act of smiling can actually make you feel happy.

The same principle is at play in “fake it till you make it.” If you act in a certain way, your feelings, emotions, confidence levels, and overall attitude will gravitate in that direction. The result? Eventually, you make it.

2. Act confident. No matter what.

One of your greatest assets is your confidence. The problem is, it’s hard to project confidence from a mind filled with fear and doubt. Many entrepreneurs and soon-to-be-successful people suffer from a condition known as the imposter syndrome -- a feeling of inferiority and personal misgivings about one’s status or achievement.

In the flighty and fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, the imposter syndrome runs rampant. Even the most successful people experience the impact of self-doubt.

You either can give in to the lying voices in your head that you’re an imposter, or you can project confidence in spite of those naysaying voices.

I suggest confidence. Confidence will cover for you. If you’re still driving a beater car, wearing a cheap suit, or don’t even have your own office space, be confident.

3. Ask people for help.

Smart people know how not smart they are. That’s why the smartest people are often the ones asking for help.

The only reason why I know a thing or two about online marketing is not because I’m smart. It’s because I asked for help.

4. Be selective about who you spend time with.

Entrepreneurs know the value of time. They understand that “spending time” is the equivalent of spending money, except that money is a renewable resource, while time is not.

For this reason, you should be spending time with people who make you better. You shouldn’t be spending your leisure time in places where you’re the smartest guy in the room. You should be spending your time in places where you’re challenged, sharpened, and cultivated.

Successful people spend their time around other successful people. When it comes to investing your time, make smart decisions.

5. Dress the part.

Like it or not, people judge you based on how you’re dressed.

I used to dress like a bum. When I made a few strategic and low-budget changes to my wardrobe, everything changed. My consulting rate more than doubled, I gained valuable new clients, and my business exploded.

Was it all due to my wardrobe? There was obviously luck involved, but the wardrobe did make an impact. I now spend a lot of money on nice clothes, but it doesn’t take an enormous amount to make a difference in how you dress.

 “You have to look like you belong to the group, [and] you have to look a little better than the group.”

Being a cut above is about looking a cut above.

6. Take risks.

Good entrepreneurs take risks well. The secret to being a great risk taker is simply to start taking risks. Sounds simple, but it’s true.

Start with smaller risks that don’t have a large downside. Eventually you learn how to calculate how risky a decision may be and from there you can slowly increase the amount of risk you take on.

Take risks with confidence. It looks good on you.

7. Write your own online biography.

If someone wants to know more about you, what are they going to do? They’re going to Google your name. They’re not stalking. They just want to know who you are, what you do and what you’re all about.

You get to shape what they see online and the impact it makes. By intentionally creating and curating your online presence, you can develop an identity that matches who you want to be.

Your profiles on all the major social media sites should be cohesive and compelling. This is your autobiography, and it affects your future. 

Conclusion

Everyone who is successful has faced a time in their when they weren’t so successful. Success is preceded by growth and development.

Now is your time to prepare, to work hard and to give it all you’ve got. To become what you’re destined to be, you’ve got to act in corresponding ways.

4 Tools Entrepreneurs Can Use to Increase Productivity

Starting a business is difficult work. Stamina, sleepless nights and a super-set of organizational skills are essential. To get your business off the ground effectively, you'll also need to be extremely organized and have a keen sense of all your plans and goals.

What additional personal tools can entrepreneurs use to make sure their operations run like clockwork? Here are a few that have helped me immensely through my business ventures and saved me a lot of headaches:

1. Use your eyes and ears.

Keep your eyes and ears open because listening to your customers is the most valuable and honest feedback you will ever receive. They will tell you when something is working or not working, and they’ll definitely tell you what they like and don’t like. It is imperative that you listen, and if possible, spend a little time learning from your customers.

In my first book, The Mirror Test, I wrote about my experience working the floor at a Best Buy store. What was unusual was that I wasn’t starting out, or a young entrepreneur looking to get my business off the ground. I was the chief marketing officer of a Fortune 100 company.

Working the floor at the store allowed me a unique perspective and one-on-one interactions with the people buying my product. That kind of firsthand feedback is seldom acquired, but I think it should be one of your business’ best practices.

2. Use your brain.

It seems simple and obvious, but I have encountered many so-called “entrepreneurs” who don’t engage their brains, and I’ve seen their business ventures barely take off because of some dumb mistake.

Let me clarify: Using your brain doesn’t mean "always get it right." Youwill fail. Like death and taxes, failure is a given in any business venture, but if you engage the brain, your entrepreneurial shelf-life will be a long one.

How do you engage your brain? By consuming as much information as you can, so you are the expert. As your business takes off, you’ll have employees who in due time will become experts with your customers, but don’t let that prevent you from engaging and knowing everything there is to know about the tools your business uses. Don’t rely on others!

If you’re in sales, and Salesforce is one of your tools, learn how to use it. At the very least, you should be proficient.

Before I was part of the c-suite, I ran several printing businesses and one of the first things I did was learn all the ins and outs of the how the press worked. If you think you’re too big to do the "little stuff," your business shelf-life will be short. You have to lead by example. Don’t ask employees to do something you’re not willing to do yourself. That is how you lead. 

3. Keep track of your leads.

My mantra is “sell, sell, sell, and when you’re done selling, sell some more.” No matter what business you’re in, you’re always selling something, so be sure to keep track of all your leads and stay on top of them.

According to the Journal of Marketing, 70 percent of leads generated by marketing departments are not pursued by salespeople. I don’t need to tell you those are not good numbers. Why aren’t those leads being pursued? That’s potential revenue you’re losing, and as an entrepreneur, you can’t afford to lose money. I always say, "Making money is how you keep track of business." Follow up on your leads; just don’t be a creeper about it.

In business, sometimes you have a lucky streak and hit the jackpot on your first try. However, that is the exception. Here are four things you need to know when pursuing leads:

• Keep it simple -- Lead, pitch, negotiation, closing, win. Simple.
• Only track prospects that might turn into customers -- Don’t bother going after every Tom, Dick or Harry. It’s not a good use of your time. Time is money.
• Know where you are in the process -- You should always know how many leads you have at any given time and how much each deal is worth.
• Watch every step of the conversion rate -- Don’t just track overall conversions. Track every step of the funnel instead. The data gained will give you a much clearer picture of your methodology, what works and what doesn’t.

There’s no sure-fire way to go about this process. Do what works for you and your business, but don’t overcomplicate the process. That will cost you time and efficiency, taking you away from other essential duties to help grow the business.

4. Avoid fuzzy math.

Starting your own business requires meticulous bookkeeping skills to ensure the financial health of your business. You have enough problems popping up every day, and accounting shouldn’t be one of them. As an entrepreneur, you have to come up with systematic ways to divide your time equally for all of the important things your business requires.

Therefore, you need to get organized -- not just during tax season, but all the time. Establish a series of checklists: daily, weekly or monthly, depending on your business needs, and don’t let them accumulate over time. Come tax season, you’ll thank your superb bookkeeping skills.

Take your books to the cloud. Staying organized with cloud software increases accuracy and efficiency. It also makes your information available at all times and on your smartphone. Automating key tasks like repeat invoicing and credit control will allow you to spend more time growing your business and making money.

Last, but definitely not least, invest in an accountant. This should be one of your top priorities when owning a business. They will not only help you with basic accounting tasks but help you plot the direction of your business, not to mention ensure its financial growth.

Whatever your business is, never stop learning. Never stop becoming an expert. Your business life will depend on your God-given talents and a little bit of luck. Never squander an opportunity when it comes knocking. Use your brain. And, above all, have fun doing it. Otherwise, what’s the point?

How to Find Your Next Big Business Idea

You have been thinking about this for a long time, and now you are ready to get serious about starting your own business. Many people know they want to strike out on their own before they have a solid idea. There are so many different directions you could go, so many ideas out there. How do you know what is the right one for you?

Sure, some entrepreneurs have inspired moments that give them that big idea, but even more follow a method of generating successful ideas. Rather than waiting for the lightning bolt to strike, there are some tried and true strategies for arriving on your best bets for a business.

Here are some of the things you can do to set yourself up for the win when planning your new venture:

Focus on your strengths.

Create the parameters of your business based on the skills you already have available either from yourself or your team. Exploit those skills and be clear about what you want to create. Do you want a small lifestyle business or a fast-growing company that could go public eventually? How much money do you have available for the startup? How long can you go without income? What are your goals? What is your vision for your life as a business owner?

The answers to those questions will help to determine your next steps.

Brainstorm.

Even if you have a few potential winners on your list already, be sure to go through the process of brainstorming, especially if you are involved with partners. Have everyone on your team brainstorm separately and provide their ideas. Save the lists for future endeavors. Give yourself plenty of time to percolate as this process could take months or longer.

Think about things that frustrate you and that you could improve upon. Look for needs you can fill and problems you can solve. Oftentimes you can make improvements on already-established ideas and create a business around that.

And eventually the best idea wins.

Based on the guidelines you created in answering the questions about your strengths, go through your  ideas and rule out any that don’t fit within the parameters you have established.

Next, begin conducting market research on several of the winning ideas. Do an Internet search and look at prices, competing products and how large the market is. If your idea is inventive, do a thorough patent search and even hire a patent attorney to be sure you don’t invest too much in one concept.

Now, seek feedback from trusted advisors such as experts in the field, mentors and fellow entrepreneurs. Meet one-on-one or in a group and present your ideas, asking for insights and criticisms as well as any questions they may have. You can also ask them to tell you which of your ideas they think will be most successful and narrow the list to their favorite three.

At this point you should have a good sense of your most promising idea. Don’t forget to make sure it is something you are excited about and will enjoy.

          This process of finding an awesome idea for your new business will be worth investing your time and energy into. After you have chosen your big idea you can begin to take steps toward its creation. Creating a new business is one of the most exciting adventures you can take.

Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are a unique group of people. Not only do they think differently; they act differently. They draw on personality traits, habits and mind-sets to come up with ideas that straddle the line between insanity and genius. But just because you’re an original thinker and came up with an idea to replace gasoline in cars doesn’t mean you’re cut out to be an entrepreneur. 

If you ever wondered if you were an entrepreneur, check out the following list. You may not have all these traits or skills, yet if you have some, this is a pretty good indicator that you have what it takes. 

• You’re a logical thinker with ideas about how to correct problems and the overall situation.
• You hate the status quo. You’re a person who is always questioning why people do the things they do. You strive to make things better and are willing to take action on it.
• You’re self-confident. Have you ever met an entrepreneur who was pessimistic or self-loathing? After all, if you don’t have confidence, how can others believe in you?  Most entrepreneurs are very optimistic about everything around them.
• You’re passionate. There will be times when you spend an excessive amount of time and do not make a dollar. It’s your passion that will keep you going.
• You don’t take no for an answer. An entrepreneur never gives up -- ever.
• You have the ability to create unlikely partnerships from out of nowhere because of your ability to connect the dots. People tend to gravitate toward you because you are likable. Many times this is because of your passion.  
• The daily commute to your office is from the bedroom to the living room.
• You have a competitive nature and are willing to lose. You always know that you can do something better.
• You see opportunities everywhere. For example, you walk into a building and are curious about its worth or the companies inside.
• You believe that your time is worth more than money.
• You’re a bit out there. Having the ability to create something out of nothing takes a mad-genius type of person. Remember, people thought Albert Einstein was insane before he proved the theory of relativity.

Even if you don’t have all the above traits right now, you’ll probably develop more of them over time. After all, being an entrepreneur is a lifestyle, not a job or hobby.