In business, you will reap what you sow, says the Emirati writer Manar Al Hinai. Alamy
In business, you will reap what you sow, says the Emirati writer Manar Al Hinai. Alamy
In business, you will reap what you sow, says the Emirati writer Manar Al Hinai. Alamy
In business, you will reap what you sow, says the Emirati writer Manar Al Hinai. Alamy

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Why spring has important lessons to teach potential entrepreneurs

The changing of the seasons can help to show us how to grow our businesses

Manar Al Hinai

March 28, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

When I was a student at university, I often daydreamed about becoming a full-time entrepreneur.

After I completed my assignments every night, I would research business inspiration and think about names for my future company.

Like many potential entrepreneurs, I had a romantic idea about entrepreneurship. Growing up, I participated in charity bake sales and other activities for a good cause.

Business seemed easy to my young mind and something I truly enjoyed. I loved interacting with clients and marketing a product. It felt natural to me.

Yet when I graduated from university and ventured into entrepreneurship, things became challenging, especially as my business grew.

If I were to compare my business journey to the seasons, then my early stages would have to be winter. I faced multiple challenges and found running a company harder than I thought it would be.

I put in more hours to manage it every day and eventually learnt key lessons such as the importance delegating and ensuring that I was able to rest well.

As many of us around the world enjoy the warmer weather – and as I enjoy the transition of my business journey to spring – I reflect on the important lessons this season can teach potential entrepreneurs.

Tough times make us stronger

I wouldn’t be who I am today had it not been for the challenges that I faced with my business.

What many of us don’t realise when we celebrate successful entrepreneurs is the tough times they have experienced to reach where they are today.

A successful entrepreneur acquaintance once told me how the challenges she faced toughened her up for the next phase of her business, which required another level of strength that she previously didn’t possess
Manar Al Hinai

Not all of us are exposed to their moments of weakness, breaking points and challenges that may have put their businesses at risk.

A successful entrepreneur acquaintance once told me how the challenges she faced toughened her up for the next phase of her business, which required another level of strength that she previously didn’t possess.

The harsh winter season prepares us for the spring ahead. The great thing about any winter is that it’s temporary and, like clockwork, spring always comes.

Live in the moment

There was a point in my career when I had invested so much time and effort into my business that I did not make any time for myself, my friends or family.

My work came first and last. My laptop was my travel companion and during a holiday with my cousin, while I was typing on the beach, she shook me and pointed at my unhealthy work pattern.

The thing about work is that it never ends. We have a saying in Arabic that goes: “Life ends, but work doesn’t.”

Make time to live in the moment. Everything is temporary, just like spring, so make the most of every moment.

As much as I love my work, I know that there’s more to life. Dedicate some time to doing the things you enjoy. As hard as it may be, aim to create a balance between your work and personal life.

You reap what you sow

In business, you will reap what you sow. If you put 10 per cent into your business, you will receive 10 per cent in return.

You don’t need to work hard, but work smart. You can end up doing less if you have invested in the right partnership, collaboration and the right product that will help you to yield the returns you are looking for.

Spring is the season of bloom and growth. It teaches us that no matter how long winter lasts, spring is bound to come through.

And when it does, we should learn to live in the moment and reflect on what winter has taught us – and how we can use the lessons to prepare us for the seasons ahead.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant in Abu Dhabi

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Tips on buying property during a pandemic

Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.

While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.

While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar. 

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Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8

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How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?

If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.

Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.

Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.

Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).

Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal. 

Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.

By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.

As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.

Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.

He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.” 

This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”

Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.

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