What is the nature of your business? (Business Profile)
My business is music. We are basically providers for percussion programmes - performance, education, corporate team-building and community drumming activities - to bring people together from all religions and races. We do performances and trainings for schools and create awareness about music making.

What made you embark on this venture choice?
I started playing for rock bands and developed interest in music. I saw what music could do to people. It brings everyone together. At the same time, I had a passion for sharing percussion music-making and a desire to bring my work to a higher level - to a level where I can, not only work, but provide work for my people. I also want to make people realize that working in the arts is also a form of profession. It is sustainable, just like working in other industries.

How does your business work?
I have got about 25 experienced facilitators working with me. My company's main mission is experienced learning so one cannot teach without experience. Our way of working is to go to schools and enhance their music programmes and not implement our own programme. We work closely with educational institutions (for our education programmes), statutory board (National Arts Council, People's Association), and event companies for performances and corporate programmes.

Did you have the capital to start the business or did you have to borrow from someone to get started?
It all started when I won a lottery of about S$10000. I wanted to invest the money in something fruitful. So, it was good and I'm blessed to be able to have my own capital for start up.

Do your parents have their own businesses too? Have they inspired you in one way or another?
My parents used to be hawkers, so it can be considered as their own business. I was inspired by their responsibility, discipline and humility, regardless of how big or small the business was. My parents inspired me to do well in life, to be honest and sincere in life. More than that, my late elder brother imparted all good values to me in life.

What was your childhood dream? When did you decide that you would strike out on your own instead of working for someone else?
When I was in my school band, I had an idea that I would make my career in music. My band instructor inspired me when I was in school and that is when I realized the essence of a music instructor and I developed a goal that I wanted to be a percussion instructor in life. So, I knew since young that I want to make music all my life. But never thought to what extend it would develop. After spending a few years in the telecommunications industry (while still playing music part time), I decided I want to make music my career. So making music was my dream in childhood and I am blessed that it came true.

Why does someone decide to be on their own rather than join an existing company?
I feel if you are working for someone, people above you in position may at times have different ideas from yours and when you are very passionate about your ideas but they don't match with others, it is time to strike out. One who wants to do what they truly believe in, according to their own principles; and someone who wants to be able to provide work for others, would usually be on one's own than join an existing company. And of course, gain more satisfaction from it.

Are there at any point in your life that you experienced a significant event (WW2, racial riots of the 1960s, the Economic Crisis of the 80s or 90s, SARS, new competition or shifts in market behaviour and trends) which affected or influenced you and your business that made you change the way you think and do your business?
Yes of course. During SARS, all our events were postponed. And I am very glad that they never cancelled our events, rather postponed them. I have learnt a lesson, that when the work is down or pace is slow because of unavoidable situations, one shouldn't sit back and give up. Rather it is the best time when one can explore new ideas, improve oneself by taking courses, etc. Also, there was another time when it was not some kind of a national event, but a personal experience when I got admitted for cardiac arrest. All this while, I always thought that there's no stress, but only pressure. But that incident was a wake-up call for me. As much as I demand a lot from myself, I have learnt to delegate more.

What are some of the challenges in starting a business from scratch?
I'm blessed that the business I’m in, is related to what I am passionate about. So over the years I built rapport with many people from all walks of life, and this became integral in my work. When I left St. Anthony's Convent to start my own company, the outside community was waiting to tap on my talent. My biggest challenge was to live up to their expectations. I did not have typical challenges as I kept my business small scale but of course there's concern to produce enough work to sustain the business.

Who/What motivates you?
My parents and my late brother have taught me a lot in life. Besides that, good work that has been done, motivates me to do more and do better. The work and achievements of my band and my people motivate me. Working hard for each other is a kind of motivation which has a very deep impact.

Tell me about the first few customers and the first few years of business.
My clientele includes schools, corporate clients, multi national companies, students and organisations like National Arts Council. The first few years of my business saw some very good times like when I was invited by companies like Motorola and CISCO to conduct workshops, it was a very encouraging and motivating experience.

Please tell me some stories of your best day in business or your proudest achievement to date.
I think achievement in work has been an ongoing feature for us and there are no specific best days. My proudest achievement is the feedback I receive from my students after any performance. When students come to me and share their interest in music or talk to me in a loving manner, it is the most heart-warming experience. Also, when we receive praise and acclaim for our overseas performances and we are invited to perform again, I feel we have achieved a great height and a level of distinction in one way or the other. I feel if even one student in a class goes out and makes a career or if I have been able to touch even a single life in anyway, my job is done and that for me is the biggest achievement.

Do you recall your worst day in business? Have you ever felt like giving up?
I have never felt like giving up. But there are some times when I would feel low if I have worked very hard for a proposal for a school but it is rejected for cheaper alternatives. It hurts if one's proposal is rejected for a lower quality proposal only because of price. But I cannot compromise on price either as I provide quality and my instructors are very well experienced and therefore, I cannot pay them less.

When was the moment you realised the business would work and support you?
I believe that once you love your work, it will just work. So I was sure from day one, that it will support me. If one is sincere with one's work, it is sure to do well for oneself. We are not there to make money, we are to earn our living.

What are some of the things you have had to overcome to succeed?
I am still working to be successful. But I feel there have been challenges along the way that I have had to meet in order to reach where I am today. There is some kind of stigma towards people who work in the arts. There is always doubt whether you can earn a living out of it, whether it is considered a kind of profession. So, I have had to convince people, parents of my students and the society in general that one can make a full time career in arts. Also, you have to constantly educate your clients (many of whom do not have the understanding of how the arts work). For example, you have to convince some one that engaging your programme for a certain fee means that he/she is playing for your talent rather than the time you spend there.

What are some qualities that you feel you possess which differentiate you from someone who works for others?
I think it is confidence that differentiates me from other people. Some people may see me as arrogant. But I feel it is only my confidence and nothing more than that. Secondly, it is the ability to adhere to what I believe, in what ever work I do that would probably make me different from one who works for others.

To succeed in business, what qualities are essential? What are some of the secrets in making a successful business?
Honesty and sincerity in what you do and to whom you work with is the most essential aspect of working. Respecting oneself is equally important as that helps one make good decisions. The other important aspects are that one should never owe money to others and one should pay all dues on time. Keep your overheads low so that there is enough to payout to the people you work with. Take one step at a time and don't be a slave to your business even when you are expanding the business. Pay your people well and be fair to all.

Who or what inspires you?
The people I work with, the students I have taught and my facilitators are the ones who inspire me to do well. I have 6 of my own students working with me and that is truly a beautiful and satisfying feeling.

Have you ever thought of expanding the business in some way or in multiple locations? How and where?
I would probably see expansion in the business in terms of human resources rather than location. I feel during peak times we can be short handed. This would mean that we have to constantly upgrade our programmes and services and make ourselves marketable. I also have a dream to start a Percussion Arts School. This would be different from other drumming or arts school in the sense that a student who completes a course here, would go out as a holistic person in all terms of art and is able to express. It would be an institution providing the experience of learning.

What aspects of expansion would you like to see for your enterprise?
I want to do more of community drumming. I feel drumming brings people together. And I want to expand it beyond the community level, to the national level and corporate level - all tiers.

In your opinion, how would you define entrepreneurship?
Entrepreneurship to me is to create something new from something old. It is the creativity and willingness to explore unfamiliar boundaries - those yet to be explored by current industry players.

To what extent does one's educational level help or hinder entrepreneurial-ship?
The more your learn, you realise how little you know. Education provides the know-how (theory and principles) and technical ability (spoken and written language), while experience provides the maturity (especially in the process of decision making, human communications and execution of plans - in my case it can be a programme or performance.

As we try to select the final 41 entrepreneurs, what qualities would you think a person should have to inspire others?
One should be an inspiration to oneself to inspire others. People like Mahatma Gandhi inspired others because they had charisma. It is this charisma that is the source of inspiration. Responsibility, Discipline and Humility, along with sincerity and honesty in what you do are the essence of inspiration without which no one maybe inspired by you. And constantly push your work to unexplored levels so as to provide for something new that can inspire others.

What are some of your own values in doing business and what do you like to pass down to others, particularly the younger generation?
Sincerity, honesty and respect for oneself and for others and most importantly work hard with responsibility for each other.

What advice would you give young people who want to start their own business?
Students must think very carefully and get the experience before they start. You need to know what you are doing. And no matter what business you are in, you need to be creative and have the 'dare-to-try' mentality. If you feel that you are not good in certain aspects of running a business, hire/work with someone who is more trained/qualified than you to do that particular aspect. It'd be better for you to use your time to concentrate on what you are good at. This way your business will be productive and effective.

In General what do you have to say about how your entrepreneurship has come along the way and about your experience as a self reliant entrepreneur?
I go more for values so I feel that each person has some values unique to oneself. In entrepreneurship, one should make sure what one is doing. And always listen to your heart. As for my business coming along the way, I would say that I used to work with a handful of people, with most of the job handled by me. Over the years, I have learnt to involve more people to do what I do, which leaves me more opportunities to explore new grounds.

As you have been working with students, how do you think you've been able to inspire some students of the present generation or the youth in general to become entrepreneurs by facilitating interaction, communication and knowledge dissemination between students?
I feel I always tried to inspire my students to make their own lives and living and to stand up on their own. I inspire them by creating work for them which can be enjoyed socially and economically.

What makes you stand out amongst other self reliant entrepreneurs operating in a similar nature of business?
I am blessed with the ability to foresee industry's trend. This allows me to plan my programmes and services more effectively. Also, my simple financial principle - pay the people I work with well and on time. This strengthens the trust my people have in me and the company.

Interviewer's personal comment
I feel that Mr. Syed Ibrahim is a true entrepreneur in the sense that he has created something totally new from an already existing form of art. He has initiated the making and awareness of percussion music and has contributed to the society by bringing all together as well as by creating work for students who want to make a career in music. His strong values of respect and honesty are very deep rooted in him, and this makes him an entrepreneur of true integrity.