The moment you decide to become an entrepreneur you should realise that certainty goes out of the window. You no longer can predict how your weeks and months to come will pan out for you. That’s what the package contains and there’s no way out of it.
Let me give you an example: at one point in my business, I was completely broke, and at another months passed by without proper income because of the tough economic situation, and then came the time when my arms ached all night because of the number of emails I had to type, replying to all interested potential clients.
This is how crazy my entrepreneurial journey has been, but I would never trade it for certainty. Certainty equates boredom for me, and nothing gives me an adrenaline kick more than entrepreneurship.
The bottom line is that in this journey, you can’t really guarantee anything, except that you will be placed outside your comfort zone more than you’d like.
The good thing is that at least you have one thing guaranteed: you will often be faced with this situation. And the best way to handle it gracefully, is to prepare for it.
Yes, that’s right!
Practicing to be outside your comfort zone, is something you can learn. Let me share my experience with you:
Do something new that's outside your comfort zone
I love traveling but I am an absolute chicken on a plane. The slightest bump in the flight sends my brain in hyper-drive imagining the worse possible scenarios. I hate the way I feel because I’m always calm and collected, and I don’t like that side of me that exposes itself on the plane. So, what did my friend suggest? That I should do it more often, to deliberately fly in winter when the plane is bound to shake and move, and to listen to podcasts by ex-pilots who explain the dynamics of the plane and its engine. And so, I did.
It wasn’t easy at first, but it got better with time. I decided to apply that to my daily life. For instance, I got on roller-coaster rides which absolutely terrify me, slept in a resort that had lizards roaming around freely -- and you guessed it right -- those tiny shy creatures terrified me and I travelled to new destinations that I wouldn’t have chosen prior to that.
I also went through a 100 days of life experiment where I tried new things every single day of that period, and that has altered me completely. It broadened my perspective, made me more appreciative of the smallest things, and simply made me a happier, more collected person.
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Assume different roles in your business
The more you are aware of the different parts of your business, the better prepared and more understanding you become when an unexpected crisis hit that particular part of the entity. In my media company, for instance, I look after the marketing and business development sides, but from time to time I deliberately juggle other tasks to understand them more fully. Lately, I’ve been working a lot with the creative team, specifically, with videographers, and what are the best shots to choose in order to keep viewers glued on social media platforms. I’ve also been executing photo shoots around cultural topics, and I discovered that I enjoy that process very much; something that I see myself doing more of in the long run.
Focus on the good
Last but not least, as terrible as your situation may be, remember all the good stuff that are still going right for you. It may sound a bit cliché but it’s true. These are the kind of things that keep us going. My comfort zone, my happy place, is my home. I love the fact that I can always guarantee comfort and peace there no matter how hard my day may be. I love that my family is supportive, caring, and their love pulls me through any dark day. Focus on “good things” and always, always keep in mind that no matter how hard a thing may seem, it is only temporary. It too shall pass, and you will have another day, to face something different, and that will be all right as well.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer who manages her branding and marketing consultancy in Abu Dhabi
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
more from Janine di Giovanni
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
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The biog
Name: Greg Heinricks
From: Alberta, western Canada
Record fish: 56kg sailfish
Member of: International Game Fish Association
Company: Arabian Divers and Sportfishing Charters
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl
Power: 153hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: Dh99,000
On sale: now
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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