There are 4 types of learners:

1. Fast learners
2. Slow learners
3. Non learners
4. Wrong learners

There are also 4 types of people:

1. High quality, low cost
2. High quality, high cost
3. Low quality, low cost
4. Low quality, high cost

Do we know which type of learner and person creates the most value? Which type of learner and person do we want to be? Are we positive contributors today and every day?

Why do we make mistakes and perform poorly at work? Because our knowledge and discipline are poor or limited.

Why? Because we are not learning continuously and lack curiosity. Why is it some people work for 10 years but it is like they have only worked for 1 year, while others work 1 year but it is like 10 years? Because we do not ask enough questions every day.

Asking one or two WHYs is not enough. To identify the root cause of a problem, we should ask at least 5 WHYs. When we ask more questions, we will get some answers and knowledge which help us make better decisions and prevent mistakes. Curiosity drives learning. Learning builds knowledge. Knowledge reduces mistakes. Knowledge plus discipline is equal to wisdom, success and health. Are we asking more WHYs in our work and life? Are we positive contributors every day?

Tan Sri Lim has shared a lot of knowledge and discipline with senior management, GMs, HOFs, and HODs. The knowledge should not stop there. It must be passed down to the manager, executive, staff levels, and finally to the worker level. Workers are responsible for the daily operations of the factories and production lines. We must ensure they fully understand the knowledge that has been shared. We must communicate clearly, accurately, and effectively to ensure everyone does their jobs correctly every day, and to prevent mistakes. To communicate well, we should combine videos, pictures, labels and words, making the message easier to understand, remember, and apply.

Do you remember our motto “Must Know, Must Do, Must Teach?

Success is not built in one day but through daily improvement. If we want a healthier and more successful life in 2027, there are 8 important areas we must improve in NOW.

1. Discipline: Build good daily habits, and do what needs to be done even when motivation is low.
2. Communication Skills: Speak and listen clearly with confidence and respect.
3. Health: Take care of physical and mental health by practicing the 5 Healthy Wells.
4. Financial Knowledge: Manage money wisely and avoid unnecessary debt/spending.
5. Time Management: Plan work and use time purposefully.
6. Digital Skills and AI: Keep up with evolving technology and use it wisely.
7. Character: Build trust and a good reputation through honesty, responsibility, ownership, humility, self control, integrity and kindness.
8. Continuous Self Improvement: Practise the Power of Tiny Gains.

Are you a positive contributor everyday?

AI is accelerating knowledge growth at a very fast pace. The gap between those who learn and those who do not is widening rapidly. Before AI, a non learner might have scored 1, while a fast learner scored 10. Today, the non learner’s score may remain at 1, while the fast learner can score 100. With AI, the gap has grown from 10 times to 100 times compared with 10 years ago.

In the AI era, learning faster is critical. We must actively learn by coming out and attending meetings, conducting factory and site inspections, meeting more people, and gaining new knowledge and experiences. If we remain in the office or at home without learning from others, we risk being left behind in an increasingly competitive world. Are you a fast learner, a slow learner, a non learner, or a wrong learner? Are you a positive contributor?

In 1920, the average human life expectancy was approximately 35 years. By 2020, it had more than doubled to around 75 years. If this trend continues, in 100 years’ time or in 2126, it could double again to 150 years. Why was life expectancy shorter in the past, much longer nowadays and in future? Because of knowledge; discipline, people are smarter today than 100 years ago. Advances in medicine, healthcare, nutrition, education, sanitation, and technology have enabled people to live longer and healthier. Why are tigers’ lives shorter than humans’? Why do humans live much longer? Based on “The Tiger Story”, tigers do not go to school and do not learn much. Tigers live alone while humans live together and in group. Survival and progress depend not only on individual strength but teamwork, on collaboration, adaptation, and the ability to learn from one another. How can we live longer and healthier, and continue to be positive contributors?

When investing in global markets or foreign direct investments, we must ensure that both the government and the broader business environment of that country are stable, supportive, less corruption and conducive to do business and growth. The most important are the people in the country; their values, capabilities, and productivity as they ultimately determine whether our investments can generate positive and sustainable returns. The same principle applies when investing in a company. Beyond financial performance, we must assess the quality of its people, leadership, culture, and ability to create long term positive value. Great businesses are built by great people who are positive contributors.

Do you remember Tan Sri Lim's Investment Rules?

1. Always be disciplined: buy low and sell high.
2. Never lose our shareholders' money.

Today's business is very competitive and constantly changing. To survive and grow, we must be disciplined, proactive, hands on, and committed to take positive action and lifelong learning. Employees who make mistakes receive demerit points so they can learn, improve, and avoid repeating the same errors. Their mistakes also provide lessons for others. Likewise, employees who perform well, create value, and contribute positively are rewarded with merit points. Their success stories can inspire others to be positive contributors. However, leaders must exercise honesty, transparency, and integrity when awarding merit or demerit points. Power must never be abused through favouritism or bias. Trust is the foundation of leadership. Once trust is lost, credibility and leadership authority will be lost as well.

Are we implementing merit and demerit points to create more positive contributors and reduce negative contributors?

1. Property? Location, location, location.
2. Investment? Timing, timing, timing.
3. Production? Quality, quality, quality.
4. Business? Profit, profit, profit.
5. Health? 5 Wells, 5 Wells, 5 Wells.
6. Work? Alert, alert, alert/sengmok.
7. Company? People, people, people.
8. Life? Wisdom, wisdom, wisdom.

Do you remember the weightage or percentage allocated for quality, cost and service in the glove business? Are you a positive contributor today and everyday?

In business, companies, work, and life, we must communicate clearly to prevent mistakes. One person's definition of “soon”, or “later” may be different from another person's definition. Does “soon” mean one minute, one hour, one day, or one month? Ask questions and provide answers clearly, precisely, and directly so that we can avoid assumptions that may cause mistakes. Remember our communications must always be “BIG BIG” and “CLEAR CLEAR”.

Do you know how to prevent glove discolouration? We need to ensure that the temperatures of the pre leaching tanks, main oven, and final drying oven in the production line are within the required specifications and standards. Do we remember Top Glove's Business Direction?

Two hands clapping or shaking can signify friendship and harmony. Two hands with fists can signify anger and conflict. An argument grows when both sides choose to fight.

When others create problems, let us not follow or add to it. When others raise their voices, respond with calm instead of trying to be louder.

Peace is discipline and wisdom, not weakness. Many conflicts end the moment one person refuses to continue them. In work, business, or life, whether in conflict, success, or failure, it always takes two parties. Choose handshakes or clapping hands over closed fists. Are you a positive contributor or negative contributor today and every day?

We must be highly proactive in learning from others and continually gather knowledge and market intelligence. Some people work for 10 years yet perform like they have only one year of knowledge and experience because they are slow and not proactive in gaining knowledge and improving themselves. In contrast, others may work for only one year but possess 10 years of knowledge and skills because they constantly learn, pay close attention during meetings, and practise the Power of Tiny Gains every day. When facing challenges at work, always propose two or three practical solutions, and not give many reasons why something cannot be done. Let us be hands on, disciplined, take initiative, act immediately, and maintain close communication with colleagues, superiors, and management. Do we ask the “5 Whys” to identify the root cause of problems? Are we positive contributors every day?

In good and efficient companies, 80% of general workers perform like engineers or skilled staff. They work hard, discipline, fast, smart, and add value. In underperforming or inefficient companies, 80% of engineers and staff work like general workers. They earn higher salaries but make mistakes and contribute little. All staff need to learn fast and efficiently by paying full attention in meetings, be hands on, gain knowledge, and be able to troubleshoot parameters and solve quality problems smartly and immediately.

Do you know why pinholes occur in gloves?

Dirt/hardened particles/powder deposited on the former when dipping in coagulant.

Bubbles and high foam level in the coagulant tank.

High latex maturation hour and usage time causing over cured latex.

Are we working well and being positive contributors every day?