Autumn means I get to spend more time with my younger cousins.
The more time I spend with my young relatives, the more I realise that there are many similarities between the business world and the playground, where we are now spending our cooler afternoons.
One of my young cousins asked if she could learn how to swim in my pool. I offered to teach her, as I have been swimming all my life.
It was an unexpected fun exercise. Every time she messed up, she would laugh about it.
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When she didn’t do something right, she would ask if she could do it again, and then again, until she got it right.
All in all, there was no pressure. We did that nearly every day until she learnt how to stay afloat at the deep end of the pool.
This led me to think about how I would react had I learnt to swim as an adult.
I would have taken the class seriously and would have felt embarrassed by my mistakes.
But it is not the same with children. They fall but then get up and try again.
The entire process is fun for them. I imagined what would happen if more entrepreneurs adopted a similar philosophy to how they managed their businesses.
We would probably learn more — and enjoy work and the business development process.
When I was a child, I wanted to try every possible activity. I didn’t care what it was, I wanted to try it.
As I grew older, I became more cautious and lost sight of what made experimentation as a child more fun for me — as is the case for many people.
But spending more time with children ignited that spark within me, a part of me that I thought I had lost touch with.
The children in my family reminded me that it is fine to continue dreaming big.
One of them proudly told me that when she grows up, she will own the biggest ice cream factory in the world.
Nothing else mattered. That was her vision and she didn’t think it was too audacious, nor doubt her capabilities of achieving her dream for one second.
If you look back, you will notice that many of us had big dreams once. But somewhere along the journey to adulthood, we lost that belief. People talked us out of them by telling us to stick to the well-beaten path and not take risks.
But we always need to remind ourselves that those who made it didn’t always have more advantages; they believed in their vision and worked towards it.
Spending time with children also taught me that fun and play should be part of that process.
Whether it is riding our bicycles, swimming or drawing, it is always a good time.
Because we are spending so much of our time on building our businesses, it makes sense that we should also have a great time while doing it.
Manar Al Hinai
We would get up and twirl, listen to loud music or simply colour outside the lines.
Whatever it was, my younger cousins made sure we enjoyed it.
We should also remember this when we are building our businesses.
Because we are spending so much of our time on building our businesses, it makes sense that we should also have a great time while doing it.
But perhaps the most important lesson that children can teach entrepreneurs is to use their wild imagination and to remember to think outside the box.
As we finished a swimming class and enjoyed a bowl of chocolate ice cream, my cousin looked up at me and said: “My father thinks that there are some things in the world that can never be fixed, like my bike.”
I asked what she thought of her dad’s remarks and she replied: “I don’t think he thought hard enough. I just think he was too lazy to imagine.”
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)
Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens
Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
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SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
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Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
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Hamilton profile
Age 32
Country United Kingdom
Grands Prix entered 198
Pole positions 67
Wins 57
Podiums 110
Points 2,423
World Championships 3
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
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