Almost every entrepreneur would tell you that starting a business is no walk in the park. When I started my first venture, I kissed sleep goodbye and worry took a front seat in my life. I would check in on its performance all the time and stay up late at night looking after it, thinking how I could develop it.
My mother often joked and referred to it as my baby and would celebrate its milestones with me, just like she did with my siblings and I when we were little. As the world fights the pandemic, we see that just like frontline heroes, mothers play a significant role in caring for their families, protecting their households, contributing to their economy and keeping their communities safe.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day in the Arab world today, I reflect on what my mother, and other mothers, have taught me. Though managing a business could not be compared to the effort and dedication that mothers put into raising and caring for their children, there are valuable lessons that entrepreneurs can learn from their mothers and apply to their businesses.
Perhaps the most important lesson I learned from my mother is patience. I started my first official venture as soon I graduated from university and I was young and impatient. I still recall how discouraged I felt when my business didn’t make any profit in its first month. I wanted to quit and felt like a failure.
But it was my mother who inspired me to be patient. She told me that I had planted the seeds and, just like plants, my business now needs nurturing, care and love for it to grow. That advice changed my perception and I knew that patience was key. Soon after, I enjoyed the fruits of my labour.
Since many entrepreneurs live in a fast-paced world, they tend to believe that they have failed if things take longer than expected. Be patient. Another business of mine took two years for me to witness results, and for other industries it may take longer. But keeping that fact in mind will help you stay calm and focused.
If there is one thing that mothers do best, it’s multi-tasking. I remember at some points my mother would be cooking and teaching us at the same time. Multi-tasking is an important skill to have as an entrepreneur. It helps you to be efficient and save time. When the pandemic hit last year, my team and I had to adapt, multi-task and take on extra responsibilities. Doing so helped us save our business from the negative effects of the pandemic.
This leads us to the importance of empathy, especially when working with a team.
My mother taught me that you should be empathetic towards your people and that you rise together as a family unit. Just as she looked after us and always put herself in our shoes to understand what frustrated us, entrepreneurs need to take care of their team, to put themselves in their customers’ shoes and to try to see the situation from another person’s perspective. Not only will that mean that the team and your customers will be happier, but you save time and money wasted on a problem that would otherwise linger longer than it should.
Last, but not least, my mother taught me that there are many other doors that open if one shuts. When we refused to eat our vegetables or go to bed early, she didn’t take no for an answer and looked for creative ways to achieve her goals. Don’t be discouraged when one door closes. Often, you will find not one, but several ways to achieve your goals.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati journalist and entrepreneur, who manages her marketing and communications company in Abu Dhabi
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden | US$45,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Tabarak, Royston Ffrench (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $175,000 (Turf) | 3,200m
Winner: Dubhe, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Estihdaaf, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
8.15pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Nordic Lights, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 | $450,000 (D) | 1,900m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm: Handicap | $175,000 (T) | 1,200m
Winner: Mazzini, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
10pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,400m.
Winner: Mubtasim, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
MATCH INFO
Red Star Belgrade v Tottenham Hotspur, midnight (Thursday), UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Specs
Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
GULF MEN'S LEAGUE
Pool A Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers 2
Pool B Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jebel Ali Dragons, Dubai Knights Eagles, Dubai Tigers
Opening fixtures
Thursday, December 5
6.40pm, Pitch 8, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Dubai Knights Eagles
7pm, Pitch 2, Jebel Ali Dragons v Dubai Tigers
7pm, Pitch 4, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Exiles
7pm, Pitch 5, Bahrain v Dubai Eagles 2
Recent winners
2018 Dubai Hurricanes
2017 Dubai Exiles
2016 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2015 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
2014 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
