Norman Hakim, “Inspektor Harris” of Gerak Khas – His Notebook Was Once Full of Tears. Today His Business Does RM15 Million
Most people only see the success. Very few see how long it took, or how painful the process was to get there. Yesterday, Dato’ AC Mizal (DAC) and I co-hosted the Double Ace podcast, and our special guest was Norman Hakim.
What people see today: a Norman Hakim who has built the Normey brand to RM15 million in sales in just six months this year. What they don’t see: that journey started way back in 2016. Back then, Norman quietly joined my classes and learned. He was still busy acting, but he kept finding a way to improve himself, even though his business was still uncertain.
His notebook used to be full of tear stains. Not just tears of sadness, but the tears of a man who was tired, confused, and sometimes asking himself, “will all of this be worth it?”
Those tears are proof in themselves that effort never betrays the result. I went quiet listening to him. Behind the celebrity we know on TV, there is an ordinary human being who once felt lost. Just like all of us.
Covid was the turning point. When acting offers dried up, he realised something bitter: the reputation and lifestyle people see don’t necessarily mean a stable income. No job, no income. That is when Norman decided to leave the quadrant of “celebrities only get paid when they work.”
The serious business started after the pandemic. He began taking action on what he had learned over the years in RichWorks classes and programmes, especially the marketing classes. Then he was mentored in RichWorks Consulting Group (RCG), on how to build a business to RM1 million in sales. From there it kept climbing, until this year alone it hit RM15 million.
He said the real key is not just getting your teacher’s blessing. It is putting your ego aside to truly become a student. To me, that is no small thing. Many people come looking for guidance, but their hearts stay closed. Norman was different. He came with a heart genuinely open to change.
That is why he was willing to learn from 2016, without any fanfare, until the results spoke for themselves. This session reminded me of DAC himself, about 6 months ago. 36 years in the industry, known by everyone, yet behind it all he was asking the same question: “have I done something meaningful enough with my life?” We talked for 3 hours at my house. Those three hours were enough to change the way he thinks, and today his business is growing fast.
Two stories, different backgrounds, one same lesson: transformation never starts with strategy. It starts with the willingness to admit, “I am not there yet, and I need guidance.”
That is the hardest admission, especially for someone the world already assumes “shouldn’t need to learn anymore.”
Like a caterpillar that has to fight its own way out of the cocoon before its wings are strong enough to fly. Nobody else can speed up that process, no matter how much we love them. It has to be gone through, however painful and slow.
That is why I believe this: success does not start when we stop learning. Success starts when we are humble enough to keep learning even though the world already sees us as successful.
To anyone reading this who feels tired, confused, or like you haven’t gotten anywhere yet, Norman’s and DAC’s stories are proof: it is never too late to start learning again. The important thing is to start.
Thank you Norman Hakim for accepting the invitation to the Double Ace podcast yesterday, and for sharing so honestly from the heart. Congratulations on reaching RM15 million in sales through the Normey brand. You deserve it.
— Datuk Wira Dr Azizan Osman
MANY ENTREPRENEURS DO NOT FAIL BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY. THEY FAIL WHEN FEAR BEGINS TO SHAPE HOW THEY SEE THE FUTURE.
Last night, I was on a flight to London. As we enter Q3 of 2026, I am grateful to be travelling for the graduation ceremony of my Global Master of Business Administration at Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester.
During the long journey, I noticed a notebook and a pen placed in front of my seat. It reminded me of a habit I have kept for many years. Whenever I travel, I take time to rewrite my goals and aspirations not because I have forgotten them, but because rewriting them forces me to reflect on something much deeper than the goals themselves. It challenges me to ask whether my vision is still big enough, whether I still believe it is possible, and whether my thinking has continued to grow alongside my ambitions.
As we move into the second half of the year, I know many entrepreneurs are feeling the weight of rising operating costs, higher interest rates, cautious consumer spending and an increasingly uncertain global economy. Over time, these external pressures quietly become internal assumptions. Without even realising it, many founders begin lowering their expectations before the market has truly limited their potential, allowing fear to influence decisions that should instead be guided by purpose, strategy and conviction.
A few days ago, during the Double Ace Podcast, Norman Hakim shared his experience of attending a RichWorks programme for the first time. He admitted he was surprised when participants shouted the word “SWITCH.” To many, it may have seemed like just another activity, but to me it represents something much more meaningful. It is a conscious decision to change our state of mind, to stop dwelling on obstacles and start looking for opportunities, to replace fear with faith, and to approach challenges with a renewed sense of purpose.
After more than 18 years of mentoring entrepreneurs, I have observed that the founders who continue to grow are rarely those blessed with the easiest market conditions. Instead, they are the ones who refuse to let external circumstances dictate how they think, lead and act. They continue making decisions based on sound strategy, disciplined execution and an unwavering belief that every challenge carries within it an opportunity to grow.
As Muslims, we are reminded through a profound Hadith Qudsi that Allah says, “I am as My servant thinks of Me.” The more I reflect on this hadith, the more I realise that our assumptions are never just thoughts. They shape our prayers, influence our decisions and ultimately determine the direction our lives and businesses take.
So, at 35,000 feet above the ground, I was not simply rewriting my goals for Q3. I was renewing my belief. Whatever the economic outlook may be, my responsibility remains the same: to keep learning, to keep serving, to continue mentoring others, to improve myself every day and, above all, to maintain positive expectations of Allah while striving with sincerity and excellence.
I have come to believe that while economic conditions may influence the journey of a business, they should never determine its destination. Clarity of purpose, the courage to act and unwavering trust in Allah SWT will always carry us further than fear ever will.
— Datuk Wira Dr Azizan Osman