SARA ALMADANI

Before starting my masters in International Business, and before having a whole view on the approach certain businesses take in the field... I always wondered why businesses draw this line that separates big clients from small ones. 

Now that I have had the chance to look around, analyze a couple of service providers and businessmen... I have come to a very simple conclusion. Small clients are also clients that people tend to overlook at all times especially big companies. Why? The only answer I have to that is maybe because those companies are swimming in money and they don't think a couple of more cheques will be helpful to grow or expand their business... that might be true. But what I don't understand is something that I've been trying to get for a very long time "Not everything is money!" this might not be the perfect sentence told to a businessman, yes; but then again, I wouldn't want to be a businesswoman who only cares about getting the money and overlook the quality of clients I have, their loyalty to me, or the quality of work I deliver to those people. Small client, big client, or client... they are ALL clients, period.

I actually was thinking of reasons why to give those small clients a chance rather than the big ones.

#1: Just because they're small, doesn't mean they don't have money! - I chose to put this at the very beginning so that I wouldn't be criticized on not having a "business brain" think about it, those small clients are only approaching you because on some level they are funded and can actually afford your service.

#2: Being different: I'm sure that each company has a duplicate in its own field, and I'm sure that each company thinks the same way "I'm too big to offer you my services" but this could be a way where your company could shine amongst others by giving these small clients a chance. Think about it.

#3: Everybody knows somebody: As simple as the sentence states, your "small client" might be working with a small company, but that doesn't mean that connections have to be killed because of it. One way or another, this person knows a few people here and there that could come in handy one day.

#4: Small companies grow: Last but not least, those small companies... will not remain small forever. By giving them a chance when they are small... you're on your way to building a relationship with a future loyal customer who would be titled as "Not so small" in a few years.

Moral of this post: Business needs money, but in order to keep the money coming... businessmen need to be human.

ما هي السعادة؟ في نظر الأكثرية السعادة هي شخص أو فكرة أو سيارة جديدة أو أو أو... ولكن الشيء الذي لا يحسبون حسابه عندما يدربون عقولهم بالتفكير في هذا  الإتجاه هو أن الأشياء تزول، و افكارنا تتحول.. أما الناس فأنهم يتغيرون إن لم يرحلوا.. فأما الدنيا فهي فانية.. 

نكبر نحن ونزرع فكرة السعادة في عقول الاجيال التي تأتي بعدنا فيتعود العقل بالتفكير التقليدي والروتيني للسعادة.. ولكن هل تعلمون بأن الروتين يقتل العقل؟ 

دعونا نفكر في السعادة بطريقة أخرى.. السعادة ليست شراء حقيبة جديدة، ولا هي وجود شخص واحد فقط في حياتنا فإن غاب تموت السعادة فينا، ولا هي مكان نزوره فإن أضعنا طريقنا أضعنا السعادة أيضاً.. السعادة هي الشيء التي تتكون في داخل الإنسان.. هي الاحساس بأن كل شي يمكن أن يكون جميل من حولنا إذا اردناه أن يكون كذلك. أما الاشياء والناس التي نربط سعادتنا بهم الآن فهم أدوات للسعادة.. أدوات تساعد في سعادة إنسان. وليست مصدر أساسي للسعادة.

حاول أن تركز تفكيرك في هذا الاتجاه.. حاول بأن تبرمج عقلك بأن السعادة هي آلتك وهي التي تتكون في نفس الإنسان.. وكل شي من حولك مجرد أدوات. سترى نفسك حتماً أسعد.

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موقع الحدث: جوهر الانسان

الآلة: السعادة

الأدوات: أشياء أو أشخاص تجلب السعادة

الصعوبات: قتل الروتين 

 النتيجة: السعادة الأبدية 

I am a fresh employed individual, which means I’m a new graduate, which also means I’m surrounded by people who are not sure what they want to do with their lives. Six months after graduating they are on the verge of losing hope in the area of “What’s going to happen to my career”; which is only normal.

I don’t understand why people have this idea of things happening fast mean that things are going well for you. Sometimes certain things take time, and the reason why they take time is because they’re finding their way to fit perfectly together and fall in place just like a puzzle. So many people I see around me who currently do have a career and they have had it for a very long time, are yet to be happy with what they are doing. Rushing into things isn’t the answer, it never was, and never will be. Of course, I’m taking the job and the career as an example. This falls under every category of your life. What ever it may be, you may see people around you moving forward, while others are starting all over again, and others are just standing still with you. That might be a bit discouraging at first, but we always tend to forget one thing… that if God intended you to stand still while someone else is moving forward, that’s only because he knows that standing still for now, is probably the best thing for you. You might think that you’re not getting something that you want the most, but that’s only because not getting it “right now” is a million times better than getting it right this second.

I am not sure if this makes sense to you, if it doesn’t then let me just sum it up in one quote: “When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” If one door closes, another opens, if a door didn’t immediately open, look for a window… and this window will eventually lead you to a door. If you’re currently in a state where you’re not sure what you’re doing with your life or you’re not even sure where your life is taking you… keep 2 words in mind “It’s Okay!” cause God has a plan that is perfect for only you. 

You know what? I actually enjoyed the approach I took last time. Writing a story with a moral behind it, I think it is more likely for you to remember the post and more likely for you to remember it in a situation. Maybe… anyway, here it goes! 

“A guy that you’d love to hate” that’s what people used to say about Jerry because he always had a positive attitude about everything in life. Every situation that you might think would make a person flip, always made him see the good side of it, and if there were no good side to it, he’d make one! Every time someone would ask him “How are you doing?” he would answer, “If I were any better, I’d be a twin!”. He was one of the best managers to his employees, that even when he moved from one restaurant to another, the waiters would blindly follow him to the place he used to manage. Always motivated them and told them what they had to hear. One day at his new job, Jerry did something that was never meant to be done in the restaurant business… keeping the backdoor open. Next morning, 3-armed robbers held him at gunpoint, they shot him. 6 months later, he was released from the hospital, met with his friends. He was asked, “Weren’t you scared?” “Well, at first I regretted leaving the backdoor open, then when I was laying there the paramedics kept telling me that I’ll be okay, but when I was rushed to the emergency room, the look the doctors had on their faces scared me. It was a look you usually give a dying man. So the doctors asked me, “are you allergic to something?” I replied, “yes” they stopped working and waiting for me to answer… I calmly said “bullets! So please operate on me as a man who is going to continue living, not a person who is about to die!””

Every morning you wake up, and you get to choose whether to have a good morning, or a bad one. You’re not in the best situation, you get to choose… whether you want to make the best out of it or be the victim. When someone complains to you, you can either choose to accept their complaining or point out the good in the same area. Bottom line, it’s your life and you choose how to live it or what affects it!

I'm taking a different approach for this blog post, instead of blabbing about what I think and why I think it; I'm going to be starting with a story that you will hopefully figure out the moral behind it.

There was a young man who was practicing to become a professional painter; a very old Chinese master was tutoring this young man. He was given his very first project to paint one of the walls in a very well known street. He has spent around a week painting that wall, putting his energy and everything he has learned into it since it was his first project. A week later, he was done with painting the wall and he decided it would be a good idea to put up a sign in order to get feedback from those who view his work. So he put up a sign that said "I'm a young professional painter, I have just freshly started working and I would really appreciate it if you could give me your feedback on my work." Next day he goes back to the wall he painted and finds the whole wall covered with "X's" and notes that were pointing out every single flaw in the painting. The young man was crushed and disappointed, he went back to his master and was frustrated for not being close to a professional painter after all those years. The master looks at the young man, smiles, and tells him "I assure you son, you are a professional painter, just do as I say and it will be proven to you as well." Next day, the master goes with the young painter to the same place, put up a new sign right next to the wall that said "I'm a young professional painter, I have just freshly started working, I have put a bucket of brushes and paint on the side, I would really appreciate it if you could help yourselves and help me find out the flaws in this painting" They come back the next day along with the master, and it takes him by surprise to realize that the brushes were as clean as he kept them, and the paint wasn't touched.

Moral of the story? People will always find a way to criticize what you do but they will never be as good as you to create what you created, or to even improve for that matter. The only reason we criticize is because we enjoy to point out other people's mistakes, rather than concentrating on the good around us. Two words: Human Nature. So don't beat yourself up. 

You know the whole “give & take” ideology that we live by? You’re supposed to give something to the world, society, or someone in order to get back something in return. If I’m being completely honest, it’s a two way street. Then as generations have changed, we reached to a stage that it’s more of a one way street; it’s either you’re giving and getting nothing back, or getting something and not giving back.

Well, yesterday I’ve noticed a new turn in this story. People are not ready to accept good gestures in life if they know that it doesn’t cost them anything in return. Whether it was in business, or our everyday life. I was having dinner with a friend in a restaurant when I found myself thinking the same way; the waiter approached us with a bowl of soup, a big platter that has every kind of appetizer, bread, and a bottle of water (All this, complimentary or “on the house”.) First loud thought that I shared? “Wait, why are we given all this when it’s already on the menu and can be ordered? Is it expired? Has it gone bad? Well, something isn’t right and I don’t trust it.” This is what we’ve reached to. A while ago, I also encountered an experience where people were being invited to a conference for free, with nothing to be asked for in return except for them to share an educational opportunity, and what was the first response by the people in charge? “What? It’s a free educational opportunity? What do we have to do? Nothing? Well, isn’t this new…” This is what really ticked this topic in my mind. How people are always surprised when they’re offered something good in life with nothing in return. We don’t stop and think that maybe some people in life are actually genuine enough to share their goods or their services.

Humans are making money out of everything, whether it was health, education, food, or any other main aspect in our lives. Maybe for once, we could celebrate the success and the bliss we are surrounded by, by doing a good deed and giving back while not waiting for something in return. Present a gesture no matter how small, even if nothing tangible is given back to you, something more valuable will automatically be present within you, which is a good feeling about yourself.

You know how a workplace has endless rules to comply with? I honestly think that lunch breaks should have its own rulebook too; or judging from what I see more like a “guide book” to those who misunderstand the concept of a lunch break.

Since I started my fulltime job, I have been around a lot of people, which helped me realize that lunch breaks are not taken the way they should. People usually mistake lunch break for an hour of filling your body with food, while the idea is broader than that. The idea of a lunch break is an hour that is given to you, your brain, and last but not least your stomach. If you start work at 8, and you continuously work until 1 per say… you would be very tired to accomplish more through the rest of the day. It was proven through a survey that those who take an hour break from work are more likely to be productive and energized. 

Yes, so let us say when you read this you decide to start having your meal everyday at lunchtime. That’s not enough… This hour should be completely detached from your workplace. I’ve seen many people hold their sandwich in one hand while the other hand is occupied by the keyboard, or leave the workplace for a decent meal but do nothing except discussing work related matters; and that’s where you should revise what you are doing and redo it all over again. By doing so, you're giving your brain a chance to refresh, relax, and if you're lucky.. get inspired!

If it’s difficult for you to not speak of something else other than work with your colleagues try meeting up with old friends in that one hour, make new connections, socialize, or just take an hour off to do something you enjoy or a break from everything and everyone.

You might think that by working nonstop you’re getting closer to the title “employee of the month” while in reality, you’re just wasting all you energy in return of not being as productive as those who take lunch breaks. And of course, abusing your brain. 

PS. This post is no excuse for employees who take a lunch break longer than an hour.

Lately, I have been encountering many couples fighting very openly and bluntly in public. Whether it was in a restaurant or in a mall. Although this comes as a shock to me, it is not what really bothers me, what really bothers me is when this happens right in front of their kids. You see their reaction very helpless with a bit of embarrassment as they stare back at the people filling the room staring back at them. This was when I decided to read more about how couples think it’s “healthy” to discuss or in their cases fight in front of their kids. This is a very big misconception.

Couples usually confuse “discussions” and “finding a solution to a problem” to “fighting and attacking each other”. There is a red line that is drawn between those to concepts. If you are discussing an issue or a problem with your spouse with mutual respect and points where you can both discuss in a respectful way. This is where it is healthy to discuss certain topics amongst your kids; by doing so, you are teaching them how to respect opinions, speak their minds, and follow your footsteps in finding a solution to a quarrel.

Fighting on the other hand causes much bigger damage than you expect. While fighting in front of your kids, they are automatically plotting one of the parents as being the “bad guy” even though they don’t know it, they see both of their parents fighting and attacking each other… this is also another way for them to adopt certain traits from your discussions and quarrels. Kids seeing their parents fight could cause them emotional trauma even if they seem fine at that exact moment, first they get scared, then horrified and disgusted on how two people could live together and fight this much, and last but not least they fall back into the very first stage which is fear; the fear of maybe one day they might relive the experience their parents went through when they grow up.

 What is even worse than everything already mentioned, is the fact that certain parents make it an obligation (indirectly) for the child to take sides, whether it was by badmouthing their spouse, or by asking for their opinion. This is where things are getting out of control and the parents mistake their kids for counselors. Even if those kids were mature, or old enough to understand certain issues. At the end of the day, your spouse is either the kids’ mother or father. Not a spouse to them. Indirectly, you are implanting ideas and belittling the image of the father or the mother in your child’s brain. By this being said, they slowly start losing confidence in their parent, and with that disrespect grows.

As difficult as it may seem for you to admit that you’re going through a problem, which you probably need to talk to someone (not a friend or a family memeber but an actual specialist or a counselor) about, you have to keep in mind that your child is not your marriage counselor. Most probably your kid in this case is a tool you’re using to make yourself feel better about your life, but what you don’t know is that by doing that, you’re wrecking your own child’s life.

Newsflash: It’s not because you want to, it’s not because it makes you happy, and it’s not because “it feels right”. Long story cut short, the only reason you’re settling is to make others happy… or, in other words… to shut people up and to shift the judgment on someone else rather than it being on you.

There are 4 main reasons why people settle for less than what they actually deserve:

1-  Low Self Esteem: People most of the time think that they should settle for less because they are not worth more than that, or because they won’t be able to succeed in something better. The sad truth is that we are all a bunch of lazy people who wouldn’t want to put some extra effort in ourselves. If you’re eyeing a position and you’re too scared to get it, stop blaming it on your “low self esteem” and start working on your skills. As simple as that.

2-  Comfort: One of the very most dangerous trait and a one that is very difficult to overcome is comfort. We are always too scared to leave our comfort zone, as long as everything is familiar, and we have found a way to adapt to the situation then it’s good. Well, it’s not good if it’s making you miserable and you’re in complete denial about it. A way to get myself out of this is to think of comfort as a silent killer. I’m not saying that you should be worried when you’re comfortable, I’m just saying that you should be worried when you’re comfortable and unhappy. That’s when it causes damage on the long run.

3- Beliefs: As you grow up, there are certain beliefs that are implanted in your mind. Whether it was by the experiences you faced or the people you met who have changed the way you think. Sometimes, in order for us to see that we deserve better, we have to let go of the certainty that our ego refuses to detach from. For once, it’s okay to not be certain, it’s okay to make a mistake, and it’s okay cause you’ll realize that along the way… you’re starting to replace your “meh beliefs” with “happy beliefs”. 

 4- Fear: I decided to keep the base and the root to settling for the very end. What are you scared of? Failure? Judgments? What people might say? Yes. All of the following mentioned points are valid. Sadly, most of us would rush to our fate; do whatever it takes to not be judged by others. For fingers not to be pointed and for us to be in the safe zone away from what people “might” say. Where does that leave you? Miserable. Why? Because you’re throwing away every belief you have to satisfy those around you. What we don’t think of is that those people will always have something to criticize, to judge, and to mock. It might be you today, you keep them quiet by the act of settling, they go around to someone else, another opportunity arises on your account, and there they are again pressuring you by what they might think. 

“People are like rubber bands, they are mostly effective when they are stretched” - John C. Maxwell.

So stretch away, shape yourself in different shapes and forms until you realize that this is the shape that suits you the most and not what shapes the moods of the people around you.

Dictionary.com defines “Childhood” as the state or period of being a child. To me, it has a deeper and a more powerful meaning to it than just being a child. At that specific period of time, a child’s personality is shaped to who they become when they’re grown up. Whether they turn into people who are fairly social, secretive, or many other traits that we find in ourselves and the people around us. Childhood has changed from one generation to another, and with every generation that passes I can’t help but feel sorry for the generations that are yet to come.

When I look back at my childhood… I see simplicity, beauty, innocence, and most of all... actual childish memories. I remember when cartoons were only showing on TV either in the morning or in the afternoon, and when we had to fight over the channels because some of us want to watch the girly cartoon shows while the boys would want to watch football cartoon shows. Yes, it was pretty annoying at that specific moment, but beneath it all there was something bigger than all of it, which was enjoyment. We used to enjoy those 30 minutes of watching our favorite cartoons and we had something to look forward to and anticipate for. While now, kids have around 10+ channels of cartoons of different tastes, varieties, from different countries that never stop or end.

Half of the kids nowadays don’t care if their favorite character is on TV, if they missed it they know that they are one click away from watching it online or downloading it. Doesn’t this somehow erase the feeling of excitement? The feeling of cherishing something when having it? The feeling of being thankful for something? I mean, I know I’m basing cartoon shows on a much bigger concept, but isn’t that where it all starts? We slowly tend to take everything we have for granted, and this trait continues to grow within us subconsciously.

Another idea that ran through my mind as I was writing this is the material that is being shown to kids as cartoons nowadays, I remember cartoons with a moral behind it… a story that will teach you how life is, a lesson to be learned and if it wasn’t all that then it was as simple as it revolved around sports which encouraged most boys to actually go out there, practice it, and try to be like their favorite character more. That is where the innocence took place in children’s minds. While now, all you see is a group of kids who are trying so hard to be something they’re not. A 6 year old would want to do things an 18 year old is doing and a 10 year old wants to copy something a 20 year old is doing. Take a minute and try to realize why that is? They have been staring at the screen for hours watching things that seem like characters, are colorful, and apparently have a funky music playing in the background… but have you taken the time to hear what those characters are saying? What they’re teaching your kids to do in a very crafty way? I bet not. As much as you would say that kids know that those are cartoons and it wouldn’t affect them, sadly it is not that simple with kids. As much as we would love to think that they grow up that easily in a scenario, and as much as we would want them to stay clueless in another scenario… kids are very smart and are aware of their surroundings very much.

Of course, by this blog post… I’m obviously not asking you to keep your kids in a box and not let them watch television. Instead of throwing your kids in front of a screen as you take the day off, try to take that time in knowing what you’re feeding your child’s brain that might have a higher impact on them negatively in the future.