As we wrap up this year, I, like many company owners and organisations, face an ever-changing business landscape that is deeply affected by evolving technology and shifting marketing trends.
Navigating this landscape requires agility, an open mind and a creative approach to tackling challenges.
Here are some key lessons for businesses to learn from this year and put into effect in 2024.
Embrace change
One of the most important lessons I have learnt is that embracing change is the best thing I can do for myself and my business.
Nothing good comes from resisting change and not learning how to take advantage of the shifting landscape.
Build a strong team
Whether it is in your personal life or your business, it is often the people you surround yourself with who help you get past the worst of situations.
Invest in hiring a good team. This is an exercise you should not rush. Hire team members who share your vision, values and drive.
This means offering a competitive salary package, fostering a collaborative culture where your team members would thrive and providing them with the opportunity to learn and develop their skills.
Connect with the community
I always believe that brands are built by people, and brands are also easily taken down by people.
Your business is not disconnected from the community and the world it operates in.
Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of how businesses affect the community and the environment around them.
Adopt environmentally friendly business practices. Look for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and embrace initiatives that will support your community members and global audience, if applicable.
This will not only help businesses build a positive brand image but will also help attract and retain the right talent, investors and customers.
Never stop learning
Whether you are an entrepreneur, a chief executive of an organisation or an employee, you can never learn enough.
In an ever-evolving business landscape that is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence and other technological advances, we need to continue dedicating time for learning and developing our skills.
Organisations need to ensure that their employees have the time and resources to learn and develop.
You can do that by dedicating certain hours a month for employees to learn about a certain topic(s), organise workshops with experts in various subjects, or sign them up to free courses online.
The key is to always be in the know. Thirty minutes dedicated to reading every day can do wonders in the long run.
It’s OK to fail
I admit that one of my worst fears has been the fear of failure. It felt like the end of the world to me.
However, once I decided to perceive failure as a learning opportunity, my whole work dynamic shifted.
If I fail at a task, it means I am learning something new. It means that I am evolving and no longer in my comfort zone, which I should not be if I want to develop my skills and my business to grow.
It's OK to fail. However, it is not OK to not try something new. Fail, fall, get up and try again.
We will never know exactly what the coming year holds for us, but what I know for sure is that being well prepared, planning ahead, embracing learning and continuous development, being agile and surrounding yourself with a strong team will help ease challenges along the way.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications adviser based in Abu Dhabi
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
RESULTS
5pm: Watha Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Dalil De Carrere, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Pharitz Al Denari, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mahmood Hussain
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Oss, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Almajhaz, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Lewaa, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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U19 WORLD CUP, WEST INDIES
UAE group fixtures (all in St Kitts)
- Saturday 15 January: UAE beat Canada by 49 runs
- Thursday 20 January: v England
- Saturday 22 January: v Bangladesh
UAE squad:
Alishan Sharafu (captain), Shival Bawa, Jash Giyanani, Sailles
Jaishankar, Nilansh Keswani, Aayan Khan, Punya Mehra, Ali Naseer, Ronak Panoly,
Dhruv Parashar, Vinayak Raghavan, Soorya Sathish, Aryansh Sharma, Adithya
Shetty, Kai Smith
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (11.30pm)
Saturday Freiburg v Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund, Cologne v Wolfsburg, Arminia Bielefeld v Mainz (6.30pm) Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig (9.30pm)
Sunday Werder Bremen v Stuttgart (6.30pm), Schalke v Bayer Leverkusen (9pm)
Monday Hoffenheim v Augsburg (11.30pm)
The years Ramadan fell in May
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THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
