Dear 18-year-old self: It’s not your college degree or your grades that will define you.It’s not your intelligence, either.And it’s certainly not your paycheck or your wealth. What defines you as a human, a professional, and a member of society are just two things that matter above all else: your ACTIONS and your WORDS And…
The things you own own you; if you don’t need it, get rid of it. Few things are worth arguing over; let people believe what they want. Seek happy, humble, hungry people; most think they are, but few actually exist. Life’s most impactful decision is our choice of a life partner; choose wisely and invest…
What’s your most valuable “asset”? Easily the most fulfilling aspect of life, in my humble opinion, is derived from our relationships: friends, family, coworkers, and everything in between.I’m so grateful for the relationships in my life and the fulfillment I derive from each. Those who know me will appreciate that I’ve given a great deal of…
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,…
I humbly share five life lessons I learned from my parents:
1. Seek to understand why you might be wrong, not to prove why you might be right. You aren’t as smart as you think you are, so find mentors who are A) smarter and more experienced in life than you, and B) have your best interest in mind and no reason to misguide you; then, consider their counsel seriously no matter how difficult it is to hear.
Photo by Chaz McGregor Dear 11-year-old self: For as long as I can remember, I’ve suffered an emotional weakness: I’ve always had an overwhelming sense of guilt at my inability to remove pain and suffering from the world around me. I feel bad for animals… I can’t stand being in the meat section of the grocery…
Originally aired on Salt Lake City’s KCPW on April 19, 2016: The Bottom Line – (Air date: April 19/26, 2016)Bassam Salem immigrated to the U.S. from Egypt as a young kid. Despite currents of prejudice and discrimination flowing against him, Salem rose to become a successful entrepreneur and software engineer in Utah. He has been…
This series of posts (and accompanying podcast) is dedicated to my children. It consists of a series of letters from my current, older self addressed to my younger self. These letters would have helped me navigate some of the rough waters I faced during various phases of my life and when I was faced with difficult decisions. Through these letters, I hope to impart some of my admittedly limited experience on my two wonderful children and, eventually, on their children.
Dear 22-year-old self: Do you know what makes you happy? You’re already pretty sure it’s not money, and you’ll later confirm that. It’s not popularity or fame, either. As you mature, you’ll come to the realization that happiness is a fundamental and purposeful objective of life. While that will be an epiphany in and of itself for you,…
Dear 27-year-old self: I’m afraid it’s true: the more you learn about and understand the world, the more your sense of empathy will be overwhelmed by how sad, unfair, and difficult life is for so many people. Just as sad to you will be your realization that the small minority of fortunate people in the…
Against the Herd 