50 years ago, my parents were two ambitious young Egyptians living in Cairo, contemplating marriage, and trying to figure out how to better their lives and the lives of their future children.

40 years ago, I was an insecure, 7-year-old schoolboy trying to figure out the cultural norms in England, how to make new friends, and how to avoid bullies.

30 years ago, I was a college student in the United States trying to figure out if I could navigate having enough minimum-wage, on-campus jobs to pay for the required credit hours to keep my student visa valid.

20 years ago, I was a newly-minted manager in one of the hottest technology companies in history trying to figure out if I had what it took to succeed professionally, and the guts to ask my best friend to marry me and start a family.

10 years ago, I was a parent to two young children aged 8 and 4, and trying to figure out how to balance my career, my marriage, and being a parent with the friendships, professional associations, and community posts I was so eager to maintain.

Today, I am responsible for a technology company made up of hand-picked colleagues, supportive clients who have bet on us, and a family at home facing the reality that one of its members is becoming an adult and leaving to go to college, and trying to figure out how not to let any of those people down.

After all of these years, and all of these experiences, I’m still trying to figure things out.