Being an entrepreneur means that I have to constantly think about innovative and creative solutions to challenges I or my clients are facing. With time, this can be draining.
This is why whenever I face a mental block, I leave the project in hand, engage in a completely different activity and speak to people who work in a different industry. What I thought was a nice distraction from work, actually helped me to come up with innovative solutions whenever I was stuck.
I incorporated that routine into my company culture. Whenever we are stuck with a challenge, we would organise a brainstorming session with people outside our industry or engage in a different activity such as going for a run or exploring a new location.
For example, when we faced a challenge with a disgruntled employee, a woman provided us with a solution inspired by her experience of handling five children.
Throughout history, founders and entrepreneurs found innovative solutions outside their industries.
Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, realised that to produce affordable cars, he needed to find an efficient way to produce more units to lower their prices. That meant improving the speed and flow of work at the factory and minimising the time employees spent moving about to assemble car parts.
He found an innovative solution to his problem in the meat-packing houses of Chicago and a grain mill conveyor belt. Mr Ford realised that if work was brought to the workers in an assembly line, there would be less time wasted moving around between stations.
Each employee would focus on one step of manufacturing the car instead of working on different stations. As a result, Ford was able to manufacture cars at a record speed, lower costs and make them more affordable.
Steve Jobs was inspired by Buddhist ideas of simplicity and purpose. That is reflected in the look and function of Apple’s products.
Once you strip down your challenge to its core, you realise that solutions can be found in places you would have never thought of
Manar Al Hinai
Other entrepreneurs are turning to nature for sustainable business solutions. Architect Mick Pearce worked with engineers at Arup Associates to design Eastgate, an office complex in Zimbabwe inspired by the structure of termite mounds. The building uses 90 per cent less energy for ventilation than conventional buildings.
Corals offer sustainable solutions to the fashion industry where textile dyes contribute to 20 per cent of wastewater. Werewool, a fashion-biotech start-up, is developing a platform to create biodegradable fibres with inherent colours, thus preventing pollution caused by dyes.
How do you search for innovative solutions to problems in your organisation? Look beyond your organisation. The further the better, just like how architects are looking at sustainability solutions in termite mounds.
You need to strip down your problem to its essence and research how entrepreneurs, nature or people in other industries such as science have dealt with a similar challenge.
For example, if you are looking for a solution to offer a fast and efficient delivery service to residents in a city, then look at the flow of matter. This is where engineers, haematologists, civil engineers and nature can help you come up with an innovative solution.
We’ve always been told to seek advice from others working in our industry or experienced in it. There’s nothing wrong with that.
But I found that the most innovative solutions are found in different industries and come from people who have nothing to do with your field.
Once you strip down your challenge to its core, you realise that solutions can be found in places you would have never thought of.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi. Twitter: @manar_alhinai
Malcolm & Marie
Directed by: Sam Levinson
Starring: John David Washington and Zendaya
Three stars
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
MATCH INFO
England 241-3 (20 ovs)
Malan 130 no, Morgan 91
New Zealand 165 all out (16.5ovs)
Southee 39, Parkinson 4-47
England win by 76 runs
Series level at 2-2
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
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
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
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Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Trolls World Tour
Directed by: Walt Dohrn, David Smith
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake
Rating: 4 stars
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
