KINIBIZ G Gnanalingam’s success has been down to taking the opportunities when they come and making them count, and his achievements at Westports Malaysia are perhaps the ultimate embodiment of this skill.

However Gnanalingam, or Tan Sri G as he is fondly known to many, first did this long before he entered into the corporate world, in perhaps what was the first massive challenge of his life, when at the end of his first year in university his father passed away.

With three younger brothers still in school, as the eldest son he felt that it was his responsibility to now support his family and he considered leaving university to look for a job. Even at that young age, Gnanalingam understood the value of a solid education and wanted to be able to complete his studies.

As he contemplated how to both fulfil his familial duties and finish his course, he happened upon a crossword competition in a local newspaper that offered a cash prize for the winner.

Gnanalingam entered the competition and ended up netting the more than RM7,000 prize when he won the competition - a substantial amount of money in those days. He used a portion to pay his university fees, and used the rest as income for his family.

It was the first time that he had taken a rather ordinary opportunity and turned it into a success, but it certainly would not be the last.

For the complete article go to KiniBiz .