Located in Lipis, Pahang, Malaysia, we got the opportunity to meet and chat with Adham — founder of Parang Lipis — during a hands-on blacksmithing workshop. What started as a craft demo turned into a masterclass on vision, grit, and purpose.
Here are 7 lessons from his journey that deeply resonated with me:
1. Growth Mindset
Parang Lipis isn't a legacy family business. Adham studied TESL (teaching English as a 2nd Language), and began his career teaching abroad. Blacksmithing wasn’t in the plan — until he fell in love with the craft. He took a bold step: traveling across Malaysia to learn from 60 blacksmiths, vlogging for safety but gaining a following that fueled his journey.
2. Cut Through the Noise
Many discouraged him from leaving a “safe” professional path. But Adham studied the knife-making market — and found demand wasn’t the issue; poor management was. He asked himself: “What if I could do better?” That question became the foundation of Parang Lipis, launched in 2020.
3. Purpose-Driven Action
During COVID-19, he saw friends lose their jobs. With a new skill and an emerging business, he made a commitment: create job opportunities. Today, some of his team are those he uplifted from that period.
4. Discomfort Drives Growth
To push himself and his business beyond comfort zones, Adham made a bold move: "I told my then-girlfriend, let's get married."
He knew real responsibility would force him to grow. He didn’t wait for external pressures — he created his own.
5. Find a Sustainable Niche
Instead of chasing trends by making knives as an art, he focused on practical, high-quality tools with continuous demand. The strategy? Build long-term sustainability rather than riding short-term hype.
6. Visionary Branding
Most blacksmiths brand with their own names. Not Adham. He wanted people to immediately know two things: the product (Parang) and the origin (Lipis). His dream? Make Lipis synonymous with parang-making. It's already gaining ground — even the Sultan of Pahang stops by when he visits.
7. Generosity & Inclusiveness
Adham isn’t gatekeeping his craft. He actively invites people to learn — even as a hobby — to preserve a dying skill. Of the 60 blacksmiths he once learned from, 7 have passed away. He’s working to ensure their knowledge lives on.
An inspiring story of passion, strategy, and service. Wishing Adham and the Parang Lipis team continued growth, impact, and barakah 🤲🏼
# Entrepreneurship #Leadership #GrowthMindset #SmallBusiness #Malaysia #Craftsmanship #ProfessionalDevelopment #VisionaryLeadership
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