Do you ever wish you could go back in time and give yourself a little hint of what’s to come? Perhaps give yourself a heads up on key turning points in your life? Wouldn’t it be nice to sit with your younger self and share some of the wisdom you’ve gained over the years? As professionals, we all have something we wish we could go back and tell our younger selves. Maybe it would be not to take a certain job, or that you shouldn’t feel bad about working into the wee hours of the morning in hopes of a promotion. Bayt.com spoke to eight MENA professionals who shared the advice they would give themselves if they could go back in time. Here’s what they had to say:
Khaled El-Ahmad, Social Media Manager, Zain Jordan
“I would not change a thing. I have made so many mistakes and wandered around quite a bit, but finally decided to get myself together and start working towards the thing I love doing which is social media. I''ve always had an online presence in the days of America Online (AOL) and the Internet Relay Chat services (IRC); I used to curate relevant industry content for my coworkers back in the early 2000s. It took me all the mistakes I made to be where I am today. So thank you, younger me!”
Bashir Mraish, Country Manager, Net Advantage Jordan
“If I had the chance to go back in time, I would tell myself not to do things the hard way, but do them the ''smart'' way. As I found out later in my career that the smarter you work, the more time you will find to think about yourself, others, and where you want to end up. Keep some time for your spirit and travel more, explore new countries – you can never keep a successful working pace (hard or smart) without giving back to your soul!”
Wajeeha Al-Husseini, Head of Brand & Communications, Vodafone Qatar
“I guess what I would say is never doubt yourself. If you believe you can accomplish a task or you have a passion for something, then nothing should stop in your way. Have no regrets. Every decision you make or fail to make is a lesson to learn from. Always have heart and passion for the goals you want to achieve. If leaving the corporate world in order to start your own business is your heart’s desire then allow nothing to deter you from the ultimate way in reaching it. Even if you fail, there are always other tomorrows to look forward to.”
Joe Akkawi, Managing Partner, PAZ Marketing & Bambinoz PR
“Avoid the 9 to 6. Avoid the desk. Avoid the boring meetings. Think. Create. Produce. Don''t settle for anything other than the best you can do and if you can''t do it, keep trying. And always, always ask for what you’re worth.”
Rory Coen, Reporter, Gulf Sports Media
“Choose a career which you enjoy and you will automatically be successful because you will try very hard to be the best in your field. And in order to achieve this think about your own definition of success. What really motivates you? Is it money? Helping others? Or maybe achieving a good work-life balance? Figure out what drives you and then pick a career that will help you reach success on your own terms.”
Reem Abu Zahra, Client Servicing & Media Analysis Executive, TRACCS
“My advice to my younger self would be to listen, because listening is key to success. I would also tell myself not to be afraid of trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone, as you might discover new territories for your talents that you weren’t aware of.”
Batir Wardam, Project Manager, UNDP
“If time allows me to make essential changes to my career management options I would certainly select one particular topic to focus on. With the increasing competition and enhanced professional skills due to accessibility of knowledge, it is becoming crucial that you are an authority in your field. Another early career option would be to work in an organization that invests in capacity development and providing training opportunities for its staff. You can grow with your expertise and knowledge until you feel that you are strong and confident enough to use your name as a professional brand at a cutting edge of excellence.”
Victoria Ferraris, Sales Manager, ITP Publishing Group
“Persistence is the key to success!” We hope these snippets of wisdom will help you take action and work towards achieving your dreams!
Do you have any advice to share? Please leave a comment below!
