We are always talking about graduates who are not doing enough to look after themselves and hoping for handouts. Sometimes, however ,one must learn to actually differentiate between luck and skills.

Many who have been successful in business think that they have the best management skills in the world without realising that some of their successes are due to 'string pulling' rather then skills, especially in Malaysia.

There are good examples around the world who we can emulate. John Bond is one of the true rises from the bottom, now chairman of HSBC. Tesco man Terry Leahy is another. They have made it to the top based on skills and experience and not string or cable pulling.

Is it any wonder that HSBC and Tesco are leaders in their areas of expertise? You will not find these men soliciting others for congratulations and taking part in 'feel good' self-proclaimed achievements of this and that or awarded citations by dubious sounding organisations. These have no value other than to pander the ego and boost newspapers advertising revenues with self- gratifying solicited messages.

Anyway, this is actually what is severely lacking in corporate Malaysia - people who have come up from the bottom rungs before taking over at the top. People who understand how it is for staff at the lower ranks and the difficulties they face.

If spouses and offspring just take over at the top without any experience, be it in banking, construction or entertainment, surely it is a recipe for disaster. The stories of those who have made to the top through the old fashion way of hard work and diligence serve as a timely reminder to all of us.

This process is almost non-existent in corporate Malaysia and we all now are seeing the downside to it and how it has curtailed our knowledge and skill expansion. We can still learn but would we?