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…
One activity has gotten me closest to a sense of calm and collected peace: early-morning writing, usually with a cup of something hot next to me. I’ve never described myself as a writer, as it wasn’t a skill on which I was academically trained. However, just as I used to get incredible mental gratification from…
It’s a question that troubled and pained me earlier in my life and career. Even as a young child, I suffered from Imposter Syndrome; I felt like I wasn’t as smart as adults thought I was nor as strong as my karate sensei believed. In college, I was enamored by the incredible intellect that surrounded…
In my experience, the most common obstacle holding back highly intelligent people from achieving their potential is that they’re so smart that they always think they’re right, but not quite humble enough to realize that they’re frequently wrong. It took me a long time to understand this, but it was a pivotal epiphany that changed…
Worrying isn’t inherently bad, but worrying about the wrong things is. I humbly share my reminders to myself: • Don’t worry about brand,worry about relationships. • Don’t worry about network,worry about community. • Don’t worry about detractors,worry about champions. • Don’t worry about outcomes,worry about progress. • Don’t worry about circumstances,worry about choices.
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.
I know it’s hard for many of my friends to appreciate the severity of the tension and helplessness that many African Americans feel towards law enforcement. To Americans of European descent, especially those in the upper socio-economic classes, the fear and antagonism directed towards a police force that is, by and large, hard-working and committed…
