MGMT 212- BUSINESS

COMMUNICATIONS

AVISITWITHANENTREPRENEU
R

GROUP 4:
Imman Malik 23110078
Bilal Ahmed 23110280
Muhammad Shaheer 23110306
Maha Rizwan 24110029
Ahmad Ali 24110088
Ali Shahbaz Muzaffar 21110261
TABLE OF CONT

(I) INTRODUCTION

(II) OBSERVATIONS AND INSIGHTS GATHERED FROM

THESE INTERVIEWS

(III) CONTRAST AND COMPARE BETWEEN LIFESTYLE

AND HIGH POTENTIAL ENTREPENEURS

(IV) WHAT SURPRISED US THE MOST ABOUT TARIQ

SAHAB

(V) WHAT NEW INSIGHTS EMERGED

(VI) PERSONAL IMPLICATIONS FOR GOALS, CAREERS

AND ASPIRATIONS

(VII) CONCLUSION
 Introduction:
Success stories of prominent entrepreneurs are published every now and then in top
newspapers or websites, and biographies are told in the form of books and movies. However,
it is seldom that one comes across the story of the struggles and success of a small
entrepreneur. To learn more about such personalities, we interviewed Tariq Sahab, proprietor
of a small tailor shop – Tariq Peco Center – in B-Block Market Model Town. Interviewing
him paved the opportunity to learn about his life, take note of the characteristics for
comparison with large entrepreneurs, understand entrepreneurship from his perspective and
collect some interesting insights.

Observations and insights gathered from these interviews:

This interview turned out to be a great learning curve for us due to the insights that emerged
from it. To begin with, Tariq Sahib took us through his personal life and shed light on how
his business came into being. Initially, he studied till matric and had a passion for tailoring
and sewing which he learned through watching others. In his
search for work he came to Lahore and got a job under a
sewing company; however, they did not treat him well, and he
felt suppressed and trapped. He told us how while working
under the company, he was given no respect - the owner did
not care about him and the other workers; hence he prayed to
Allah to provide him with the means to open up his own
business. After working hard in the factory every day and
borrowing money from some family members, Tariq Sahab
managed to collect Rs 1 lakh, which he decided to invest in his
tailor shop. After paying the rent and buying the fixed assets
such as machines, needles, and thread, he was left with Rs
9000, only from which he had to make a living. Initially,
adjusting was difficult- he had no residence in Lahore and had
A picture of Tariq Sahib.
to live in a small flat; he worked all seven days a week and for
14 hours a day; however, he remained persistent and worked hard. When asked about his
intentions and aspirations, he stated he wants to make sure his kids are happy and successful.
It is important to respect one's parents as their prayers are vital. We asked Tariq Sahab for
some advice, to which he replied: "Work as hard as possible and put true effort into your
Work-Allah never puts one's efforts to waste." Thus, we acquired valuable insight into how
small business owners struggle to earn just enough to support their family.
Patterns, differences and similarities that exist between lifestyle and high
potential entrepreneurs:

After interviewing Tariq Sahab, a striking combination of differences, patterns, and

similarities between lifestyle and high potential entrepreneurs can be observed. First, let's
look at the differences: Mr. Tariq started his business off with minimal resources. He had
only 9000 Rs. to his name in the beginning and had to borrow 70,000 Rs. from his sister to
start the business. This is not the case with high level entrepreneurs as they have access to
multiple resources and links in the business sphere. Moreover, Mr. Tariq had to do business
in tailoring as he was already familiar with its products and services. In contrast with high
level entrepreneurs, they have a lot of freedom, and their
business ventures are usually focused on bringing
innovation in a new market or in an existing field. Mr.
Tariq also pointed out expansion plans which,
considering the resources he has at hand, seems to be an
uphill task. The same cannot be said for the high-level
entrepreneurs due to the abundance of resources at their
disposal to deal with the constraints. But there were
certain patterns and parallels. First, the first few months
are crucial for any firm, big or small. A product's launch
and market reputation are crucial in these months. Also,
each entrepreneur must labour tirelessly to get A Look inside Mr. Tariq’s Shop
their firm off the ground. Both trim level and high
potential entrepreneurs face challenges while
starting a business. Regardless of the size of the
issue, it is vital to be patient, seek opinions from
relevant parties, and promptly establish a solution.

What surprised us the most about Tariq

Sahab: The story of Tariq sahib serves as a
testament to the fact than an entrepreneur can be anyone who starts their business and bears
all the risks associated with it. He started his tailoring business 4 years ago with the required
skill and minimal investment, part of which was borrowed from his sister and part of it was
his own savings collected over several years. He received training from a professional tailor
for some years before he opened his own shop and employed other skilled craftsmen. His
firm belief in his hard work and the support of God has helped him become a successful
entrepreneur. What surprised us the most was his understanding of the business as he
explained how one should consider opting for a business which has demand and an
established market for it. As the example of Tariq Sahab shows, we do not only need book
information about how business should be set up and run but observation and practical
experiences also play a crucial role. He explained all his expenses and how much he should
earn every day to cover his cost and make a profit of 3000-4000 rupees per day, which says
that anyone with a basic understanding of managing expenses and incomes can become an
entrepreneur. He has kept some decoration pieces to attract the target customers (household
women) in his shop, diversify his business, and not depend only on tailoring for income,
which also minimizes the risks of failure. Like all new entrepreneurs, Tariq Sahab faced
problems initially but never gave up and continued his hard work with integrity. After 14
years of being a tailor, Tariq Sahab advises other young entrepreneurs to start their business
with their own money as it will motivate them to work hard and expand it step by step to
avoid any significant losses.

What new insights emerged?

The story of someone who has seen the hardships of life and started from scratch to come to
where he is today - a small entrepreneur who is content in his business - reveals an exciting
insight; million-dollar ideas are not the only intelligent and creative ideas. It can be as small
as discovering a market opportunity like Tariq Sahab did. Intrigued by the sight of home
decoration ornaments displayed inside a tailor’s shop, upon questioning the prospect and
origination of the idea, Tariq Sahab explained that since his shop is visited by mostly
household women, who love these small items that add value and beauty to their homes, he
added them slowly to his shop, and that has eventually paid off well. It is interesting to note
that an idea as simple as selling a miniature cat statue or an ornament teapot became a
significant contributor towards his income.
What are the implications for you personally, your goals, career
aspirations?
Tariq Sahab’s journey has left a lasting impression on me. I used to wonder how someone
could start a business with little or no money. With Tariq Sahab, I learned that it's not just
money that matters, but a strong sense of purpose and creative ideas. My personal goals are
comparable to our interviewee's. I want to start my own business and grow it so I can serve
clients worldwide. I want to create something unique that also simplifies people's life. I want
to start a business that will be listed on the Pakistani stock exchange. But this does not
happen overnight. I'd have to stay focused on my goals and work hard. As a result, I will
remember Tariq Sahab's advice to not be afraid of starting a small business. A well-organized
company with a dedicated proprietor will always grow.

Conclusion:
Through this interview, we were able to gain an understanding of the motives for becoming
an entrepreneur, the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, and the problems that arise
on this road. Entrepreneurship provides excellent rewards and, if conducted correctly, can
produce a plethora of job prospects for others. However, entering the business sphere with the
wrong mindset or a lack of willpower can be disastrous. It has numerous advantages, but it
also presents several obstacles that may prove to be a substantial impediment to the
entrepreneur's success.

Key Takeaways

Imman Ali
Malik

Bilal Ahmed
Maha Rizwan No matter how difficult the circumstances are, if we are firm and believe
in ourselves we can achieve anything through hard work .

Ahmad Ali

Muhammad Anything is possible if we believe in ourselves and work hard  

Shaheer

Ali Shahbaz Life is what you make of it

Muzaffar

Contributions

Imman Ali
Malik

Bilal Ahmed

Maha Rizwan Compiled information regarding Entrepreneurial idea and how the
business was set up: major insights related to it.

Ahmad Ali

Muhammad Transcribed the interview from audio to text. Compared and contrasted
Shaheer high level entrepreneurs with low level ones and provided insights.

Ali Shahbaz Edited and Formatted the document entirely to make it look presentable
Muzaffar and helped the group members in whatever capacity needed