848) Do you Dare to Dream?!

This week I wanna share with you a video that can help you in understanding why many people -including you perhaps- are reacting the way they do, and sticking to their comfort zone.


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Now after watching it, you should be doing the following:
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1. Establish how your time is spent:
Look back through your diary or log-sheet to work out how you spend your time. If you have not done so, log your activities for a period of a month to see where your time is going. 

2. Determine your problem areas:
What is making you use your life inefficiently? Externally, and Internally.

3. Be clear on your objectives and priorities:
Agree your precise role, objectives and targets in your work and life so that everyone knows what is expected of you, and put this in writing.

4. Tackle the enemy within you:
By Planning your strategies, Prioritizing your actions, Delegating stuff that aren't that important anymore, Reviewing and evaluating yourself, and always allocating enough time to explore and play.

So do you dare to go to the Magic Zone?

M.O.H.@.L.Y

845) Got Money ... Got Life?!

Run after Money .... spend your whole youth piling it up ... over work, sacrifice time, relations, and anything to have more of it ..... why??! ... To enjoy your life when you are older and cant work ..... GIVE ME A BREAK.

Money is like drugs, it just gives an instant feeling of euphoria and owning the world, but no matter how much you have or get, you will always need more and your whole life will revolve around it. Do you think that keeping on possessing things will make you happy? Do you really think that if you own a yacht, a plane, 10 cars, ...etc will make you happy? ... I guess not, it will make you more worried about maintaining them and getting better ones. I'd rather earn enough money that makes me able to spend a week in a luxurious place twice a year than owning and worrying about it for the rest of the year.

This doesn't mean I hate making money, of course NOT. What I hate is making it a goal not a result. I work to make a difference, feel satisfied, and when I do that right, I should get money; sometimes a lot (Corporate), sometimes few (Academic), and sometimes none (Social Responsibility Work). But it only appears in my short term goals to maintain functioning properly, while life-time goals have no trace of it.

What really makes me happy is seeing a positive difference happening with people whether I took part in it or not. What makes me happy is seeing a talent recognized, an effort appreciated, and a passion respected. What makes me happy is freedom, justice, simplicity, and above all LOVE. This is a long lasting happiness money can't afford it.

Why do you lead a PENDING life running after a mirage while you can actually live it to the max with you already have? 

M.O.H.@.L.Y

837) Cairo Part-Timer !!

I am not gonna talk today about politics, love, relationships, life, or anything. This is one of the personal posts that I bother you with every now and then J

I finally took the decision that I have long waited for ; I am moving out of Cairo by the end of 2015 in-shaa-Allah. Before you say, that is still far away, I would like to tell you that it cant be sudden, and it has to be gradual in order to pull out slowly of the corporate business and establish another in the new destination, and handle how I will continue teaching at AUC as well, and do the Social work at Nahdet El Mahrousa. My Mission is the same, but I may need to change some strategies.

This will take at least 2 years to handle, but just taking the decision itself is a big relief. 

Although I loved Cairo a lot -when I was younger- that I have established a club in its name at AUC and other Egyptian and Foreign universities, but I really cant bare living there or being a full-timer in Cairo anymore. Cairo became a blood, mind, and soul sucking city with all its traffic, air, pollution, aggressiveness  and lost feeling of security. This is not only because of the aftermath of the revolution, I was actually thinking about it since 2006, but the revolution aftermath just came to push me to take the decision without regrets.

So what about Marriage? Ah, I won’t wait to get married and take the decision, that stage is over. I am where I am, and will be where I will be, and the woman who is gonna think about marrying me will know that from the beginning and it is her full choice to join me in such life or “enjoy” Cairo. In addition, I am more closer than ever now regarding not looking for an Egyptian wife with all my respect to Egyptian women.

The challenge is that I still have lots of ideas in development and corporate, that I cant still figure out how to handle while not always being in Cairo. I am sure that I will be able to handle it, specially that I wont completely move out, I will be a part timer being in Cairo 2 or 3 days every week or something of the sort.. The things I know for sure is that I don’t want Cairo to be my home anymore as I already don’t feel belonging there anymore.

Will I succeed in such new life challenge … I don’t know, but I know that I will do my best to take the challenge till the end J

M.O.H.@.L.Y

747) Mohaly ::: Round Thirty Six !

My birthday this year comes in a "mon3ataf tareekhy" in my life -and in our beloved Egypt as well - while facing many challenges in being myself again, riding through many disappointments on the personal level and making use of many achievements on the professional level.

My wishes this year are mainly to be forgiven... 

First and most important... I am seeking forgiveness from Allah, I feel and know that I wasn't really a good Muslim during the past period. I do really seek His mercy and forgiveness, and His help in being a better person.. I really want this more than anything in the world now.

Second ... I am seeking forgiveness from my old & gold friends whom I wasn't really giving the appropriate time and care as I should be. I was completely focusing on my career, but now I promise them I will be there for them.

Third ... I am seeking forgiveness from all those whom I had un-intentionality hurt or caused them any pain. I never planned to do that, and I am not perfect, and will never be.

Fourth ... I hope that I can forgive those who really caused me pain whether they intended to or not. There are some scars inside me, but I know it can be healed with time.

Other than forgiveness .. I wish to keep and build on the success I had in my career, AND asking God to help me find -this year- my life partner, someone who can really understand me and feel me, and vice-versa. Someone who is looking to construct not distruct. Someone serious enough to know what is marriage, and loose enough to know how to enjoy life.

I wish that God will bless Egypt as well, and to remember this date as a date that we will always be proud of....a date for breaking our fear and starting change from within. We have waited so long for this date, and it is about time to solidify together to achieve our goals of a having a better Egypt.

Sorry for the long wishes, but I like sharing with you. This blog has become a second home to me, and you do really support me more than you can imagine.

Mohaly


"My Mama always said you've got to put the past behind you before you can move on" Forrest Gump

735) What it takes for Career Breaks!

I wonder why do many employees in Egypt insist on joining or at least contracting for a new job before quitting their old job. I see the decision of quitting an old job has nothing to do with joining another one. It is like someone waiting to hook up with a new wife in order to divorce his old wife! 

If you cant take it anymore and can afford yourself for a while, why don't you get a career break to stop and see where are you heading and adjust your path to what serves your vision.

A career break is a period of time out from employment. Traditionally, this was for mothers to raise children, but it is now used for people taking time out of their career for personal development and/or professional development.

A career break is usually between one month and one year and is adopted by many employees in Europe and the US. Sometimes you stop to think, sometimes you stop to learn & explore, and sometimes you stop to rest... I think everyone should experience a career break every 5 years specially if he/she can financially afford it....What do you think about that?

You can check here if you are interested (this is not an ad).

Mohaly

P.S. Happy New Hijri Year by the way :)

625) 7adeeth El Saba7 wal Masaa !!!

What will happen to Egypt if its national football team win 14/11 match and joins the world cup? It may be a problem in my vision, but I still can't see why it is sooooooooooooooooo important that we win this match, and why all this time, effort, energy (fights),..etc are being wasted?

check some links in just 1 website:

http://www.masrawy.com/News/Egypt/Sports/2009/november/12/site.aspx

http://www.masrawy.com/News/Egypt/Politics/2009/november/9/Fugitive.aspx

http://www.masrawy.com/News/Egypt/Sports/2009/november/4/algeria_egypt.aspx

I am definately cheering for Egypt, I even will allow my students to leave 30 mins early to watch the match, but I still can't see why is it as important as October war (as some papers have written)?! Does this mean if Algeria wins, it will be another Naksa that will take another 40 years to fix its consequences.

I am wondering that we have reached a stage where I wish that we take our work as seroius as we are dealing with football issues!

Mohaly

P.S. I have witnessed Egypt in World Cup 1990, and I wish that we win 3-0 and see the Egyptians happy, this doesn't happen a lot.

610) Being Yourself :: Episode 3 - It's Your Goal !

Q: Why do people lose interest -or the required enthusiam- in achieveing their goals?

A: I think the main reason is that many people write down what others need or expect from them not what they really want.

Examples:

1. Those who want to live without the burdens of 9 to 5 job and they are talented enough to work as artists, writers, free lancers...etc but because the people around them are terrifying them from this life, they start un-dreaming their dreams!

2. Those who get hight scores in Thanawia Amma, and want to major in something they like, and end up majoring in Teb & Handasa to please their families!

3. The sweet couple who dream about their home, but family obligations change this dream to different goals.

4. Ha Meen Yezawed...

No matter how werid your dream or goal is, no one knows you better than yourself. Fight for your right to have and achive your own goals. Fight for your right to have enthiusiam in what you are doing. Have your path clear and be acctountable for your choices. Aboos Eidak Be Yourself !

Mohaly

503) Vacation Ahhhh at last :)

Begad this Eid Vacation comes at the right time, I really need a good vacation after this loooooong year of working and al-hamullah success..

I wish you all a happy and non-stressful vacation, and you can check 451,452,&453 for tips about optimum usage of vacation.

Yalla Let's enjoy it to the max. :))))

Mohaly

463) Ramadan Kareem.... & Balanced :)

I wish you all a very happy Ramadan. It is the best time in the year to balance our lives between work, family, health, and religion (Mind, Heart, Body, & Soul) so don't miss the chance.

Mohaly

453) Manage Your Vacation - Eps. 3 - How?!

How to enjoy your vacation?

Some of us really know how to get the best of their vacations, while many are not!

To make the best use of your vacation, you should:

1. Know why are you taking it and plan it based on it (see post 451.

2. Know what are the right place to go in the right time and plan based on it (see post 452.

3. Do NOT work during your vacation (a working vacation is a complete schizophrenia)!

4. Plan for the vacation as if it is work, there nothing called I will be happy if I did nothing. This is against human nature.

5. Avoid getting boared, this can be achieved by doing stuff that you are not used to do in your working days; e.g sports, painting, visiting different or new places in your city, knowing new/old people...etc.

6. Avoid the PVS (Post Vacation Syndrome ; bravo ya Shaimaa) by:

a. Preparing the first day after return from work on the last day before you take your vacation. Make sure that you consider your state as well so don't take meetings or set deadlines on that day.

b. returning home at least 1 complete day before you are back to work, and use this day in preparing for work (like 7ogret mo3adelt el daght).

Moh@ly

N.B. For my dear readers, these episodes are parts of my book (the forgotten wealth) so kindly if your want to copy or send them, please refer to me. Thank you.

452) Manage Your Vacation - Eps.2 - When?!

When to take a vacation?

In such hectic world, planning your vacation is not an option anymore. If you don't plan your vacation ahead (I mean long vacation not 1 or 2 days), you will be at risk of not being able to make it.

Remember that most of the people especially in Egypt are not organized, so the more you are, and the more you have planned time, the more they will plan based on what you have already planned.

Another common mistake is that we prefer to take the vacation all at once (1 month for example) and that is totally wrong. Too much of a vacation leads to same effect of no vacation. You should have at least 2 vacations per year ( 3 is the best).

So when you plan a vacation, be smart and plan it so that you insure minimal interruption in order to have the optimum output:

1. It has to be a down timing or a time that there aren't major need for your presence at work so that you will not be interrupted during the vacation.

2. If you are going with family or friends; make sure that the timing you choose is suitable for all.
3. If you are travelling abroad, make sure that that is the best timing in your destination, and give enough time for the VISA, bookings...etc.

4. Last and not least, if you are travelling for example 7 days, you should take a 9 days vacation so that you have 1 day or preparing for and getting into the mode of vacation, and 1 day for preparing and getting into the mode of work in order to avoid the PVS..

What is the PVS? ... In the next and final episode about How to enjoy your vacation..

Mohaly

414) Yes & No!

In post 398, I asked you to satrt saying no but I didnt mean to say it alone coz No without yes is war as Willian Ury Said.

Yes builds communities....No builds identities

Yes connects ... No protects

Yes for peace ... No for justice

We need the Yes as much as we need the No. It is all about using the right time and place for saying yes or no! So never say yes when you mean no!

Mohaly

380) Moh@lyics Weekly! Esp. 8

Cairo University: A light at the end of the tunnel. I am really glad that the oldest and biggest university in Cairo in its 100th anniversary is finally extending & expanding by the efforts of the Egyptian people as what happened when it was established. Thanks to Labib El Seba3y in Al Ahram to lead this campaign. This should be the real role of the public owned newspaper, and this should be the role of the society.

Accidents: Khalas mesh momken, accidents everyday, high ways, bridges, streets, everywhere. What happened last week with the AMN MARKAZY car is really sad. These innocent people who died after serving the whole day for malaleem have no one to blame or "compensate them". There must be a new system (not only law) to organize the traffic in Egypt, and Cairo in specific 2abl manmoot kolena.

Hurghada: Akeeeeran I am back in Hurghada after 3 months. Although I am on business but I feel like I am back home. Working between Cairo and Hurghada is my real work-life balance. It is even reflected on the blog where I rarely posted fun stuff in the last 3 months. What I do here in 1 day (business or fun) I do in Cairo in a week. God Bless Red-Sea.

Moh@ly

338) The Challenge to Balance!

All of us are seeking happiness. No matter how old are you or what you do in life, you just want to be happy. The problem comes when you think that there is a specific thing that will make you happy and you start chasing it, then when you achieve it, you don’t get the feeling that you were looking for!

Why? because you lost a lot of other things on your way to achieving what you thought that it is your bridge to happiness. You lost YOUR LIFE BALANCE, which is the real bridge to happiness. I always say that:

“Life is an ongoing challenge of balance between our real needs and desires in order to achieve happiness & satisfaction”. Mohamed Aly 2007.

Mohaly

267) RAMADAN, The Best Balance!

Dear blog readers & visitors,

I wish you a very blessed RAMADAN, may Allah bestow his mercy and forgiveness during this holy month.

I see Ramadan as a perfect opportunity for training and balancing our lives:

Spiritually: Praying, Quran, & Fasting.

Mentally: Working Early and more time to think and plan.

Physically: Eating less, organize eating time, some daily exercise.

Emotionally: Friends, Family, helping others.

Believe me if you managed to lead Ramadan in this way, you will get the best out of it not only in Ramadan but as a threshold for the rest of the year.

May Allah bless you all..

Mohaly

263) A Role Model $31 Billion Guy!!

I got a great email about the vision and life of Warren Buffet, and I think it is important to share it with this blog audience coz it is in the core of its theme...Enjoy and try to make use of it..
Mohaly

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:
كانت هناك مقابلة استغرقت ساعة زمن على قناة السي ان بي سي الامريكية مع ثاني اغنى رجل في العالم "وورين بفت " والذي تبرع بمبلغ 31 بليون دولار من ثروته لأمور خيرية ، وهنا بعض من مظاهر حياته وفيها دروس للاستفادة وخصوصا لأاصحاب النفوذ والملايين في بلاد المسلمين :
1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!
اشترى اول سهم مالي عندما كان عمره 11 سنة ، والآن يأسف بأنه ابتدأ متأخر جدا !!!
2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

اشترى مزرعة صغيرة في سن الرابعة عشرة من ادخاره في توزيع الجرائد اليومية !!!

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He
says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

لازال يقيم في نفس بيته الصغير المكون من ثلاث غرف في وسط بلدة اوماها ، والذي اشتراه عقب زواجه قبل 50 عام. ويقول بأن لديه كل مايحتاجه في ذلك المنزل والذي لايوجد به جدار خارجي او سور .

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
اعتاد ان يقود سيارته بنفسه حيثما يريد وهو لايوجد لديه سائق او رجال امن يحرسونه .
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.
لم يسافر ابدا بطائرة خاصه بالرغم من انه يملك اكبر شركة طيران خاصة بالعالم
6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO's only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your share holder's money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
تملك شركته 63 شركة وكل مايفعله هو كتابة رساله واحده سنويا للتنفيذيين في تلك الشركات يحدد لهم الاهداف للسنة. لم يعقد ابدا اجتماعات او يجري مكالمات انتظامية . قاعدتان فقط يعطيها لاولئك المسؤولين. القاعدة الاولى: لاتفرط ابدا في شريكك المالي ، والقاعدة الثانيه: لاتنسى ابدا القاعدة الاولى.
7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch Television.
لايشارك اجتماعيا مع حشـود المجتمع الراقي . كان فيما مضى من عمره بعد العودة لمنزله يعمل لنفسه الفشار ويشاهد التلفاز.
8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

بل غيتس ، اغنى رجل في العالم، قابله لأول مره قبل خمس سنوات ولم يكن يتوقع بوجود شيء مشترك بينه وبين وورن بفت، لذلك حدد المقابلة بنصف ساعة فقط. ولكن عندما قابله، استمرت المقابله لعشر ساعات ومن يومها اصبح بل غيتس شديد التعلق بوورن بفت .
9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

وورن بفت لايحمل الهاتف الجوال ولا وجود للكمبيوتر على طاولته
His advice to young people: " Stay away from credit cards" and invest in yourself and Remember:

نصيحته للشباب " ابتعد عن البطاقات الائتمانية " واستثمر في ذاتك وتذكر الآتي:

A. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.
المال لايصنع الرجل بل الرجل هو الذي يصنع المال
B. Live your life as simple as you are.
عش حياتك بكل بساطة وعفوية
C. Don't do what others say, just listen to them, but do what you feel good.
لاتفعل مايقوله الآخرون ، فقط استمع اليهم ولكن اعمل ماتراه حسنا.
D. Don't go on brand names; just wear those things in which u feel comfortable.
لاتنجرف وراء الاسماء التجاريه، البس تلك الاشياء التي تشعر معها بالارتياح
E. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend them on who are really in need, rather.
لاتضيع نقودك في الاشياء الغير ضروريه، فقط انفقهم على المحتاجين حقيقة.
F. After all it's your life then " why do we give a chance to others to rule our lives."
اجمالا، هي حياتك ، فلماذا نعطي الاخرين الفرصة ليحكموا معيشتنا.

207) Do you love yourself?

Should we love ourselves? Why? and To what extent?
Mohaly

118) Why do we over work & under achieve?!

Many of the people working in the private sector are overworking and underachieving the targets (if there are targets aslan), what causes that in your opinion.

P.S. I was surprized to know that the total average salary of the government employees is higher than the private sector!!

Mohaly

Happiness - Part II - Quality of Life

• Making time for yourself and self-care is worth doing, even when it requires changing a few things around, because it promotes good health and improves the quality of daily life.
• Quality of life is part of the recipe for happiness, but it is also an outcome of a lifestyle that incorporates a reasonable level of self-care.
• The lifestyle changes you make to improve your health should increase the quality of your daily life to the fullest extent possible. They should somehow make you feel good.
• Even people who say they "hate" exercise say they enjoy the way they feel after an exercise session...relaxed, invigorated and renewed.

What to Balance in your life?

There is no perfect “one-size fits all” balance you should be striving for. The best life balance is different for each of us because we all have different priorities and different needs.

• Life Balance does not mean an equal balance.
• Trying to schedule an equal number of hours for each of our various work and personal activities is usually unrewarding and unrealistic.
• Life is and should be more fluid than that.
• Individual life balance will vary over time, the right balance for you today maybe different for you tomorrow. The right balance for you when you are single will be different when you marry, or if you have children; when you start a new career versus when you are nearing retirement.

Mental (mind)
o This includes the amount of stimulation and variety of interests and challenges we face, also our capacity for coping. We need to take time out to expand our knowledge in the fast moving world in which we live, trying to solve problems with a fixed knowledge set is not going to help or support us.
Activities: Thinking & Brainstorming, Reading, Writing, Learning, Working, Investment,...etc.

Physical (body)
o This takes account of our current energy levels, eating and exercise habits, illnesses and relaxation time. Many of us know what we should do and need to learn to take better care of our bodies. But how many of us get enough good quality sleep, eat a healthy diet, know the consequences of what we eat or take sufficient exercise.
Activities: Eating, Drinking, Practicing Sports, Handy Activities, Sex,...etc.

Emotional (heart)
o This is the level of humour and enjoyment and sense of security and trust we have, also our sense of feeling valued and having a positive outlook on life. We need to consider our emotional reactions and develop approaches to managing them, this results in positive outcomes which build relationships.
Activities: Playing, Watching Movies, Listing to Music, Loving,...etc.

Spiritual (soul)
o This involves having an awareness of things that matter, a feeling of congruence about life and a sense of purpose and of “who I am”. This is our inner self, the essence of our individuality. For our life to have meaning and purpose we need to understand our own beliefs and values. Activities: Praying, Fasting, Meditation, Helping other creatures...etc.