Biography of Sokimex founder published
VETERAN businessman Sok Kong formally launched the book Secrets Behind the Success of Tycoon Sok Kong with a glitzy affair at his home atop Bokor Mountain on January 3. The book is partly biography, partly a history of business in the Kingdom and partly a guide to doing business successfully.
Kong has conducted business in four different eras, each with its own unique political context.
“Doing business successfully under several different circumstances came from honesty. Honesty build trust,” said Kong.
Ngin Banal, one of Kong’s son-inlaws, co-authored the work. He described the importance of telling the tale of the struggles of his father and mother in law.
“The main reason I and my cowriters have published this work is because we want people to understand the huge contributions that Kong has made to Cambodian society, before, during and after the civil war,” he said.
“If we do not compile this important history now, it may be lost to the next generation,” he added.
The book demonstrates the work ethic of Kong and his wife as they toiled together to navigate a complex business path. It also highlights a lot of his experiences and espouses many of his personal theories about business. In addition, it provides several helpful strategies that young people can use, both for business development and daily life.
Yip Chheng Leap, co-author and editor,
added that the 175 page tome described Kong’s childhood in Prey Veng province and then expanded to cover his dealings throughout the region.
“Selecting the perfect cover photograph was a challenge as it had to reflect many complex emotions and themes,” he said.
“It took us at least five meetings, and hundreds of photographs to select the image that perfectly signified
the story,” added Banal.
“The cover shows the composure of the veteran businessman in Cambodian society, gazing far ahead with a long-term vision – not just from a business perspective, but with regard to orienting the generations that will follow,” he continued.
Co-writer Ros Kong added that the authors had interviewed Kong about his business history as well as collecting some family stories.
“The main think we took from the interviews was that Kong is a hardworking businessman who is dedicated to his family,” he said.
Kong spoke to the assembled media at the launch event, saying that the two most important elements to success are business capital and austerity.
“Not having the money to conduct business is the hardest thing. My wife and have experienced poverty, and I know that when you are down, it is hard for people to look you in the eye,” he said.
“A long time ago, I was foolish with money. We would hang out with our friends, eat in expensive restaurants and drink the finest wines. One day, we were reduced to poverty and our so-called ‘friends’ would not even invite us to have coffee,” he added.
“They looked down on us. I have often warned my children that when you have no money, you will get no respect. They must always make sure that they have enough money to do business, even if it means spending less on the finer things,” he continued.
Many of the employees of Kong’s umbrella company – the Sokimex Group – have turned pain or poverty into financial success, with many going on to establish their own businesses.
Kong said he shared advice to even the most entry level of his staff, telling the workers at his Bokor Mountain development that they should not spend their money on alcohol. They should be saving their money so that they would have the capital they needed when an opportunity presented itself.
“We should think about our longterm futures and work hard. More importantly, we should be wary of throwing away our hard-earned money,” he said.
“There is nothing harder than being poor. It is really hard when there is no money,” he added.
Banal said more editions of the book will be published in the future. The book, which is not-for-profit, will be translated into English, and possibly Chinese.