Let me tell you about Shamma. She always dreamed of becoming a professional illustrator; to have her designs grace the pages of renowned publications.
After graduating from university, armed and proud with her graphic design degree, she knocked the doors of many publications in the UAE to work as a freelance illustrator, but failed in her attempts.
She then ended up working in the corporate communications department of a public organisation. Every now and then she would contact a media house and pitch her design services but was rejected every single time with people telling her that her designs looked unfinished, very raw, and unrefined.
Five years later, a renowned writer asked her to illustrate a cover of her book that became a best-seller. Soon after, she received requests from magazines to provide illustrations for their issues.
Shamma couldn’t keep up with the amount of requests for freelance work she received every week and she ended up quitting her job -- finally pursuing her dream career. In fact, Shamma did so well that she started her own design agency, and now runs an extremely successful business.
Many would consider Shamma’s story inspirational, a tale of struggle of someone chasing the dreams, and finally achieving them.
Shamma’s story, however, is unique. She wasn’t someone who believed that she had exceptional abilities which she can share with the world.
In reality, Shamma believed that she wasn’t that talented at all. She knew that there were more talented designers, and she understood why these publication houses had rejected her work all these years.
She did, however, strongly believe that her work and art, although raw and unrefined, was extremely honest, relatable and that is what has made it special.
To me, Shamma’s focus and realisation of her flaws was key to her success.
If there was a person out there who is a strong believer in the law of attraction and positive thinking it would have to be me. I’ve been fascinated with the subject and for 10 years now, I have applied it to every aspect of my life.
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Read more:
How to make the leap from employee to entrepreneur
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Do I count my blessings every day? Oh yes! Do I have a visualisation board in my office? You bet.
If I am in an unfavourable situation, I would try to focus on the positives, repeating affirmations and believing that there's light at the end of the tunnel.
It all sounds great, right? To be honest, that kind of positive thinking has helped keep me on track, not dwell too much on what negative people would criticise in my work, and kept my eyes on the prize. I was the opposite of how Shamma was.
With managing my own businesses, I’ve discovered that focusing solely on the positives wouldn’t serve me or my business in the long run. Don’t get me wrong here. It’s good to remind yourself of all the great things that you are good at. It’s good to remain positive, and not dwell on a negative situation. It’s good to focus on your desired results.
But not focusing on the negatives doesn't serve you or your business either. If I am a bad decision maker, or strategic thinking is not my forte, I need to focus on these issues and figure out how they are affecting my business. Ignoring the elephant in the room will only make the situation worse.
If you are running a business and it’s not picking up, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself.
If your team is great, and so is everything else, but things aren’t still working as you had anticipated, then you need to sit down with yourself and figure out if the fault lies within you.
As an owner, this may be one of the worse things to realise. The situation has an upside to it, and that it can be controlled. If the problem is due to your bad time management skills, or your refusal to market your products, then it’s in your hand to turn the situation around.
Once I realised my limitations and flaws, and altered the ways I did things, I elevated my business and professional life to a new level; a place where I am honest with myself, and where people respect me for recognising my flaws and correcting them.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and entrepreneur, who manages her creative consultancy in Abu Dhabi.
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Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
