THE FIRST BUSINESS & EMPOWERMENT MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST
March 2011
Opening Your Own Business
THE RIGHT TIME TO TUNE IN
THE TRUTH ABOUT MULTITASKING TICK TOCK BIOLOGICAL CLOCK!
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Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Samia El-Solh Managing Director Dania Boustany
“It’s a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it” Happy Mother’s Day
PUSH Team
Operations Manager Manal Nakhle Chief Editor Richard Labaki Responsible Manager Ali Zeineddine International Liaison Rania Tabbah Senior Designer Ralph Waked UAE Chief Bureau Rym Ghazal Editors Pierce Benedict Neil Soans Sherry Tenorio Contributing Writers Toleen Badawi Dalal Farah Raja Sfeir Mariam Corbel Cara Khatib Dr. Hady Safa Money Madam Editorial Consultants Alias Publishing
table of CONTENT 008 The push manifesto 009 editor’s note
Substance
010 International Women's Day 012 Arab Women NGOs 016 The Pitfalls of Multitasking 018 A “Can-Do” Attitude 022 She Who Delegates Can Reach the Stars
Possibility
024 Making the Moment Matter 026 I Quit – Or Maybe Not… 029 Time Management Quiz 032 What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Lot
Feature
Geek chic
Felicity
Mamapreneurs
last but not least
034 Most Annoying Alarm Clocks 036 Realizing a Fantasy
048 Tick Tock Biological Clock!
Media Representatives Beirut Ahmad Bawab ahmad@pushmag.me Dubai Advance Media samar@advancemena.com evelyn@advancemena.com Regional Sales sales@pushmag.me Printer Raidy | www.raidy.com
Cultivation
052 Bid Farewell to Mediocrity 055 Money Madam 057 Book of the Month 058 Driven by Deadlines 061 Woman of the Month 062 ‘Habibti’ and the Arab Women
040 The Right Time to Tune in!:
Seeking the right moment to start your own business/project and the variables you need to consider to achieve success
064 The Road to Bliss 066 How are your Cells Today? 070 Mirror Mirror on the Wall; Does Lemon Detox Work at All? 071 Go Ahead; Take a Break
074 Small Talk 076 Social Pages 078 Brain Gym 079 Get More out of Life by Writing your own Manifesto 081 Recipe 082 Horoscope 085 Not so FAQ 086 Exhibitions 087 Conferences 088 Classifieds
Bechara El-Khoury st., Sayegh Center, 6th fl. - Beirut, Lebanon. Tel/Fax: (961) 1 204 577, 330 803 - info@pushmag.me - www.pushmag.me Copyright - All rights reserved 2011 Alias Publishing accepts no liability for any unsolicited material. Opinions and views contained in PUSH’s editorial content are not necessarily those of the publisher’s or the magazine. No Part of this publication in whole or in part there of can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing.
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t was once believed that the Earth was flat and that we would fall off if we ventured beyond its limits. As time changes, different limits, rules, regulations and beliefs are set. Yet, some outdated norms and traditions set by society remain unchanged. As educated women of the 21 century, we are aware of these limits. We feel them. We are affected by them. We now live in a world where physical strength is no longer the main factor for survival. st
We live in a world where culture, education, politics and intellectual skills are revered and admired. We declare that we are ready to embrace our destinies and to take matters into our own hands. We are mothers, daughters, wives; we are ambitious businesswomen. We are citizens of the Arab region and of the world. We believe in dreams and passions. We believe in the relentless search to know
who we are and what we stand for. We believe in self-awareness and the neverending pursuit of self-improvement. Now, we take matters into our own hands, and this magazine will be our guide and our mentor. PUSH will be the platform for a new community – a sisterhood of empowered women, who are ready to claim their place in the world and ready to make a change. We are ready to pave our own paths and follow our own dreams. We are ready to pay our dues and create our ideal life. To inspire and be inspired is what we live for. To motivate and be motivated are what fuel our drive. We are all members of this movement. We strive to achieve as well as give in return, and we speak up for those whom are without a voice.
We are all of this and much more. Are you one of us?
Editor's note
In Retrospect "Each today, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life.” – Sanskrit poem.
sksolh@pushmag.me
The push manifesto
Time is the one thing that cannot be retrieved. Time is a perpetual movement forward; it cannot be replaced, reinvented or rewound. In the past few years, I have found myself analyzing my time – what I’m doing with it and what it is doing to me. Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing and in the right order? And am I using my time wisely? Due to the depth that I have reached while analyzing, I became cautious of my time – maybe even a bit selfish with it. I now believe that certain tasks are a waste of my time; therefore, I refuse to do them. A bit extreme; I know. But I believe that at some point, you need to take charge of your decisions and of how you to chose to spend your time. After sufficiently analyzing time, I realized that any more analyzing would be a waste of time. So I stopped and came to this conclusion: You have to do everything you can with what you have at the time. Make sure that every step you are taking is towards a greater goal. Every step you take, whether fruitful or not, will most likely lead you somewhere else. As long as what you are doing is productive, time has not been “wasted”. Other than that I’m going to avoid clichés by NOT saying “Make every Moment Count”, “Carpe Diem” and “Time is of the Essence”, because sometimes life gets in the way and you just can’t carpe diem when you could barely get out of bed. I say in that case stay in bed; rest and get up the next day rejuvenated. Your body is trying to tell you something. Use that time to figure out why you feel down. As women, we are blessed with two clocks: The regular clock that everyone has ticking and a biological clock that limits the time in which we can conceive. We get two, as if one weren’t enough to begin with – two clocks around which we are forced to plan our lives. So as women, we do have to consider time: Are we directing it or is it directing us? Ultimately, the sentence that you want to be saying while thinking back on your life is “In retrospect, I wouldn’t change a thing.” As for me, in retrospect, I think the time I spent writing this editor’s note was certainly worthwhile. Happy mother's day Rania Tabbah, Mom. From your 3 daughters.
Samia El-Solh Editor-In-Chief
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International Women’s Day
Each year, the International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. It is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions, the focus of the celebrations ranges from general expression of respect, appreciation and love towards women to celebrating women’s economic, political and social achievements. Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia and the former Soviet bloc. In many regions, the day lost its political flavor and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother’s Day and St. Valentine’s Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong. And political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. The idea of having an international women’s day was first put forwardat the turn of the 20th century amid rapid world industrialization and economic expansion that led to protests over working conditions.
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Arab Women NGOs in the Spotlight Highlighting amazing initiatives taken by NGOs across our region
Injaz Egypt
Definition of an NGO
Advocacy
Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society
The Syrian Business Council (SBC)
Advocacy
Advocacy
Modernizing and Activating Women’s Role in Economic Development
Working Together for a Rising Syria
History
Set up in 2007, the Syrian Business Council (SBC) is an independent and non-profit NGO with an elite membership of Syrian entrepreneurs. SBC aims at helping the Syrian business community to cooperate in a friendly environment to ensure professional, social, cultural and occupational dialogue that would help enhance their businesses and personal lives.
By Pierce Benedict
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any nonprofit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organized on a local, national or international level. NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as women rights, environment, human or health. They provide analysis and expertise; serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. It is with the notion of liberating and empowering women in this part of the world that regional NGOs and Women Associations have been sprouting for the past forty years or so. And the results have been real, tangible and substantial. Individually and collectively, NGOs have become catalysts for change by bringing women’s concerns to the forefront. Moreover, their impact has affected the local/regional business arena. PUSH magazine has identified eleven associations, which span the entire region – from Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq and the UAE. They all deserve the mention and truly merit the spotlight, for they have all tirelessly worked (and working still) towards identifying, training, coaching and assisting the inevitable placement of Arab women in the boardrooms – and not in the bedrooms. In this issue, we shed light on three of these NGOs; more NGOs will be highlighted in the upcoming issues. PUSHMAG.ME
Work, Readiness, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy History Injaz Egypt is an education organization, which was launched in 2003. It works to bridge the gap between the education system and the private sector. In partnership with the Ministry of Education and multinational companies, Injaz has been established to create a new generation of empowered youth who will become entrepreneurs for corporations (instead of simply ending up unemployed.)
The Bahraini Business Women Society was established in the year 2000 according to the provisions of the law for societies in the Ministry of Social Affairs. The BBS was founded on the principle of promoting the role of businesswomen in all commercial and economic activities, and to support her in all fields.
Aims
Aims
• Prepare students to enter the workforce as qualified and skilled employees. • Empower Egyptian youth to utilize their personal and professional capabilities. • Build confidence and creativity in students to enhance their knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit. Achievements Injaz Egypt is a member nation of Junior Achievement Worldwide and Young Enterprise Europe – the world’s largest and fastest growing organization specializing in economic education. Injaz is also a member of the regional Junior Achievement network and Injaz alArab (based in Jordan.) Injaz is responsible for over 10 countries, covering Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Egypt. Contacts Website: www.injaz-egypt.org E-mails: injaz@injaz-egypt.org
• Development and promotion of social and economic relations among businesswomen in Bahrain. • Promoting and strengthening the role of Bahraini women and her participation in all commercial, economic, investment, and developmental activities in the country. • Bahraini women’s participation in conferences and working to achieve cooperation and economic exchange with other Gulf and Arab countries and the world in general. Achievements • Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society organized the first forum for businesswomen in Bahrain in 2001 • BBS represented the Kingdom of Bahrain at many international conferences and forums.
History
Aims The Syrian Business Council (SBC) is a business NGO of diverse membership and scope. It aims to advance sustainable growth of Syria, the business community and SBC members through leadership, networking, ideas exchange and cultural and social interaction. Achievements • Advising regulators and decision-makers on policymaking and reform. • Advocating and promoting the private sector in cooperation with other organizations. • Promoting investment in Syria and acting as a catalyst to potential investors. Contacts Website: www.sbc-sy.org E-mail: sbc@sbc-sy.org
• WomenGateway: A Portal concerned with all women’s requirements, providing a directory of participating businesswomen in Bahrain, the GCC and the Arab world. Contacts Website: www.bahrainbusinesswomen.com E-mail: info@bahrainbusinesswomen.com
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MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Business Plan Competition, in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel Co., announces the top 30 teams qualifying for the second round. T h e fi r s t ro u n d o f t h e M I T Enterprise Forum Arab Business Plan Competition, finally closed off receiving 3,800 registrations from 17 Arab countries, a 100 percent increase from last year. The Competition, in partnership with Abdul Latif Jameel Co., which is in its fourth year now, has selected the top 30 semi-finalist teams that qualify for the second round. The top 30 teams are from the following countries: Eleven from Egypt, five from Jordan, five from Lebanon, two from Tunisia, and one each from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Qatar, Palestine, Yemen, United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Team members will be invited to attend a workshop on business planning, which will be held in Beirut and led by Ken Morse, Co-Founder of 3 Com and founding member of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center in Cambridge, MA. Subsequently, nine teams will be shortlisted from the following teams and invited to Tunisia to present their business plans on Friday, June 17, 2011 in front of a high profile jury. Three winning teams will be announced and receive up to $65,000 to take their ideas to the next level.
Project Name
Industry
Country
Ability Contact Center
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
AlKhawarizmy Language Software
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
BasharSoft
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
Engage Educational Resources
Education and Training
Egypt
iNavigator
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
Presto Wireless
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
PT Screen
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
SUI
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
SuperMum
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Egypt
Wild Guanabana
Entertainment, Recreation, Travel and Tourism
Egypt
Al Wahdat Engineering Company
Agriculture
KSA
Bit Bait
Agriculture
Algeria
Buffle.com
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Jordan
Ciapple
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Jordan
Diabetes Healthcare
Health and HealthCare
Jordan
Drb 7enna
Construction, Engineering, and Transportation
Jordan
TalebTech
Education and Training
Jordan
CardioDiagnostics
Health and HealthCare
Lebanon
DropnAdd SAL
Entertainment, Recreation, Travel and Tourism
Lebanon
Marhaba
Entertainment, Recreation, Travel and Tourism
Lebanon
Ounousa.com
Creative Industries
Lebanon
Phoenus
Creative Industries
Lebanon
Container-Farms
Agriculture
Qatar
E-Bysat
Creative Industries
Tunisia
Not decided yet
Construction, Engineering, and Transportation
Tunisia
Experts for Semantics
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Palestine
micro-WTE
Energy, Environmental Services, Power and Water
Philemon&Baucis
Entertainment, Recreation, Travel and Tourism
Morocco
Memory Smart Archiving Solutions
High-Tech, Telecommunications and Software
Yemen
In partnership with
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www.mitarabcompetition.com – info@mitarabcompetition.com
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The Pitfalls of ‘T
ime’ magazine refers to today’s gadgetjuggling, netsurfing, keyboard-addicted generation as “genM”, where “M” stands for “multitasking”. While it’s easy to look down upon the youth and admonish them for handling too many things at the same time, the corporate world is certainly no different.
Multitasking is a mode of life for many people these days. And while some claim to retain their efficiency doing so, research begs to differ
Many employees try to manage a number of things simultaneously at the workplace, and most of the tasks are not even part of their job description. Some people take a lot of pride in being able to “have their fingers in many pies”. However, psychologists have found that people who try to switch between tasks fare poorly on attention and short-term memory tests. This means that people who multitask are more likely to make mistakes than those who take on one project at a time. The human brain is a wondrous organ and, true to hearsay, does indeed work faster than the latest computer on the market. But it does have some limitations, among which is the ability to concentrate on multiple and simultaneous events. In 2006, neuroscientists at Vanderbilt University, USA, used an MRI on two separate groups. They discovered that neural activity slowed down in the group performing two tasks in succession versus the group focusing on one single task. The difference was barely a second. But this can have a compound effect over time, as seconds build up to minutes and so on. Additionally, splitsecond decisions are a matter of life and death in certain conditions; imagine driving and texting on your phone at the same time. Indeed text-driving has become a serious concern, since it has been the cause of many road accidents over the past few years.
For starters, how important is quality versus quantity when it comes to your job? If, for example, you’re into sales and are expected to meet a certain target each month, then handling various clients at the same time might be wiser. However, if you are in a creative field such as design then you might want to channelize all your artistic energy into the layout in front of you. Not that everything you design needs to be award winning or groundbreaking, but at least you are attempting to do good work. Extend these examples to your job and see how you relate.
Psychologists have found that people who try to switch between tasks fare poorly on attention and short-term memory tests. This means that people who multitask are more likely to make mistakes than those who take on one project at a time
The implications of multitasking in the corporate world are not so severe (unless you’re in stock trading.) But these findings are important to consider, as you don different hats and play various PUSHMAG.ME
roles within your company. While you’re at it, you might want to address a couple of questions.
Is there any reason why you cannot focus on only the most important task? Are you biting more than you can chew? In some work scenarios, job allocation is evenly distributed between members on the same team to ensure that no single person is carrying a heavier load than the others are. But sometimes, you might feel the need to prove your worth, especially if you’re a new employee or if the
market is extremely competitive. Here again, you must weigh the pros and cons of multitasking and evaluate the importance of each alternative. Another aspect of multitasking is switching from one task to the next, and how this affects your brain’s ability to process information. How many times have you been at a restaurant and heavy in conversation with a friend when the waiter interrupts to take your order? Chances are, it would take you a while to recollect where you left off – having to retrace the flow from a point that you could remember. Task shifting could cause short-term amnesia, as the brain scurries to process the new incoming information while failing to stash the older information in your memory bank. This effect is replicated at work when you answer a phone call or read a mail in between something you had been focusing on. Therefore, it makes more sense to let the unimportant mail sit in the mailbox and forward calls to your voice mail as you get “ i n t h e z o n e ” . Yo u c a n a d d re s s these matters after you’ve managed to complete the main task at hand.
Another aspect of multitasking is switching from one to the other, and how this affects your brain’s ability to process information Multitasking is a mode of life for many people these days. And while some claim to retain their efficiency doing so, research begs to differ. Either way, no one can deny the benefits of concentration and the positive effect it has on anything that you put your mind to. So go ahead; tell your boss to wait while you finish what you were doing. Most likely, he/she will not complain. By Neil Soans
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A “Can-Do” Attitude Rania Al Harith, founder of Benefit Arabia, initiates a paradigm shift There are those who imitate. And there are those who break new grounds and set new standards. Rania Al Harith belongs to the latter category. A young Saudi student fuelled by a desire to make a difference and alleviate pain, Al Harith set out to establish Benefit Arabia – a charity organization that operates on a completely different level. In this interview, PUSH tries to pick the brains of this dynamic and philanthropic entrepreneur.
“I would define myself as a social entrepreneur, who thinks out of the box and promotes activism within her scope of work”
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Benefit Arabia is a unique non-profit organization. How were you able to found this organization considering the tremendous effort that goes into this process? Rania Al Harith (RH) – Through the support of my family and friends, and my persistence in wanting to make a difference. I identified a missing element in our society and decided to fill the void. What are the valuable lessons that you have acquired during this process? RH – I learnt that true happiness comes with spreading joy to others; which is ultimately the vision behind the conceptualization of Benefit Arabia. When did you decide that you wanted to make a difference in your community? And what triggered this urge within you – was there any specific event/incident? RH – I decided that I wanted to make a difference when I came to the realization that there are many people in need out there. Maybe not all of us are aware of the fact that a lot don’t have the basic needs of living. So while most of us have the luxury of enjoying life, we could also compromise and give back. I have been a supporter of many causes, from breast cancer awareness to charity work. And I thought to myself, ‘Why not establish an entity that brings all these causes under one roof?’ And that is exactly what happened. How did the idea of combining entertainment, networking and social impact under the umbrella of your foundation come about? RH – No matter how much a person is selfless and is all for charity and helping others, there’s always a small part that’s inevitable in our nature as humans: We want something in return. So the combination of entertainment and networking
for a good cause could help increase the social impact – find joy in giving back. Benefit Arabia seems to aim towards supporting a myriad of causes. Doesn’t that lessen the impact as opposed to focusing on a single cause? RH – This could be the case in the beginning. But in the end, supporting a myriad of causes would attract more audience and thus create a larger impact. What were the major challenges/ obstacles that confronted you in your journey to establish the organization? And how did you tackle these problems? RH – They are the usual problems: Cultural and legal. But I believe that if you’re doing something for a good cause, everything will be facilitated because Allah would be on your side. Additionally, passion and determination overcome all obstacles. Benefit Arabia supports healthy living – a right that belongs to people around the world. We wish to bring light to every cause out there. And we want to help every giving individual in figuring out how he/she would like to support those in need.
Didn’t you harbor any fears/ doubts considering your young age and the fact that you are a student? RH – For sure, the responsibilities that come with having a charity f o u n d a t i o n a re v e r y s c a r y. But thank God, I have people standing by me for help and guidance. Are you being able to juggle different duties – both at work and home – in an efficient manner? RH – So far, so good. Having various tasks is not a problem when you know how to manage your time and set your priorities. I can proudly say that I’ve mastered the art of time management.
“I identified a missing element in our society and decided to fill the void”
Where do you see the organization in a couple of years? And what are your aspirations in that regard – support additional causes, increase the scope of services etc.? RH – I see Benefit Arabia expanding – going across the region through increasing the scope of services offered. Will you be dedicating all your efforts to the organization or do you have other plans and projects? RH – I am not able to focus solely on the organization, since I am currently a college student. How would you define yourself as an entrepreneur/ businesswoman? RH – I am an entrepreneur who is coupling entertainment with social good. I would define myself as a social entrepreneur, who thinks out of the box and promotes activism within her scope of work.
“The combination of entertainment and networking for a good cause could help increase the social impact – find joy in giving back”
What advice would you share with your fellow females who are eager to become entrepreneurs/ businesswomen but are not sure how to do it or from where to begin? RH – I would say that confidence and passion are the keys to success. Have faith in yourself and always stand up for what you believe in.
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She Who Delegates Can Reach the Stars
“When delegation is possible, it becomes a win-win situation: You get the job done while focusing on other matters that need your attention and your team develops by acquiring more responsibilities”
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e all know that delegation is possibly one of the most difficult skills that we need to develop to improve our career and our personal life. Nevertheless, many feel that doing things right is associated with doing things themselves without the need to depend on others. Delegation is a high form of interdependency. You get to depend on others to complete the tasks, and they depend on you to advance their levels of expertise and development. The question is how to build this crucial skill. Well, it’s a two-fold process: Recognition and action. You must first recognize that development is needed before deciding on what needs to be done; many underestimate the power of this step. When you realize that you lack a certain skill, you surrender to the solution. In the case of delegation, you need to surrender to the fact that your way is not the only way. And most likely, there is a better way – because there is always a better way. Once acknowledgment is achieved, then we seek the best course of action needed to develop the skill. So what are the actions required to become a good delegator? You need to answer three vital questions: How do we delegate, when do we delegate and to whom do we delegate? How to Delegate 1) Identify the result and outcome of the task. As Stephen Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind.” 2) Divide the task into smaller mini-tasks; gather your team and give them the chance to choose the tasks that they would like to handle. And agree with them on the time of delivery. 3) Ask for help when you need it. Expecting people to offer help will only cause misunderstandings.
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4) Delegate the objective. Don’t dictate how you want something done; give your team the following: a. The desired end result b. The levels of authority and responsibilities c. Identify constraints and boundaries d. Discuss timelines and deadlines 5) Give the team the required training and the needed access to resources necessary to complete the task. 6) Remember that you can’t delegate the ultimate accountability; considering that it’s your project, you have the ultimate accountability. 7) Patience. Mistakes will be made; however, it is part of the learning process. Everything takes time, so you need to be prepared. When allocating tasks, make sure that you have properly planned and prepared for mistakes to happen. And have a backup plan to counteract what might go wrong. Stay positive about it. 8) Recognize your team and their efforts in completing the task. When to delegate Deciding when to delegate a task is a crucial point,
because not everything can be delegated. But when delegation is possible, it becomes a winwin situation: You get the job done while focusing on other matters that need your attention and your team develops by acquiring more responsibilities. So here are a few questions that you can ask yourself. If you answer “yes” to some of these questions then delegation is possible and even advisable: 1) Can someone else complete the task if given the necessary resources and information? Or does it need your attention? 2) Would delegating this task help develop one of your team members? 3) Do you foresee that this task will be one to be repeated? 4) Do you have the time to train and mentor someone to handle this task?
1) Level of expertise a. What is the candidate’s current level of knowledge and expertise? 2) Aspirations a. What does the candidate seek from his/her job? b. What are his/her long-term goals and are they aligned with the proposed project? 3) Workload a. Does the candidate have the time to take on a new project? b. Can he/she delegate any of his/her work to other colleagues c. Make sure you don’t always delegate tasks to the same people. You don’t want to overwhelm your highest performers and alienate others who seek development. When following these simple steps and asking yourself some of these questions, you might find in the beginning that tasks take longer to complete. But eventually, your team will start to develop and you will have more time to grow as an individual as well. By Toleen Badawi
Whom should we delegate to? To whom should we delegate to is just as important as deciding when to delegate. Naturally, you can’t delegate anything to anyone. Therefore, we need to look at three factors when seeking the right candidate. We need to look at his/her level of expertise, his/ her career aspirations and his/her current workload.
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“The clock is running. Make t h e m o s t o f t o d a y. T i m e waits for no man. Yesterday i s h i s t o r y. T o m o r r o w i s a m y s t e r y. T o d a y i s a g i f t. That’s why it is called the present.” – Alice Morse Earle
Making the Moment So how do you stop thinking about the past or worrying about the future while concentrating on the present? Identify your chain of thought: Start with thinking about an unpleasant thought, something that you don’t particularly look forward to such as paying a bill. Now keep track of ver the centuries, a lot has been said about where your mind the power of the present and how important takes you from this it is to concentrate on what you’re currently point on. Paying a doing rather than ruminate over the past and worry bill could lead to about the future. Bestselling books have been written thinking about how about this topic, and there are numerous courses on much money you how to bring your mind to focus on the “here and spend on a monthly now”. Yet, many people find this incredibly hard to do. basis, to how little And they usually go back to dwelling on their previous you save, to how experiences while fretting on the unforeseeable. But badly you need to until time travel is invented, there is little that anyone can earn more to buy do about that which has passed and what is yet to come. the house of your dreams, and why you should look into changing your current job. Baffling, isn’t it? You could just stop at paying the bill. But as a starting point, it could lead to a myriad of neverending branches. This exercise is important to establish the trends in your thought processes so that you can actively stop them from going further than what is necessary.
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Acknowledge the concept of time: You’ve heard a clock go “tick tock”; to many, it’s the sound of time passing by. PUSHMAG.ME
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Focused and deep breathing is one of the easiest ways to bring yourself back to the present again
But how does your life pass along with it as well? If each second is a moment of your life, then this second is now in the past. Understanding this concept enables you to cherish every passing moment and to understand how it relates to your life. Would you rather live it per second or as a collection of moments? Once you establish this relationship, you can appreciate the present acutely by involving your senses more actively than before. Every breath becomes more valuable as you take it. In fact, focused and deep breathing is one of the easiest ways to bring yourself back to the present again. Appreciate every little thing, but don’t sweat the small stuff: Contradictory? Not quite. Every little facet of life holds value, but that does not warrant the need to fuss and fret over every single one of them. Numerous aspects and people inhabit your life; each one performs a different role/task or serves a different purpose. Appreciate all these people/things and the effect that they have on you. And acknowledge that at any point in time, these things or people may change or simply cease to be a part of your life as they currently are. While it’s necessary to reiterate that thinking about the future is futile,
it will be interesting to note how you will be affected once this happens. How much will your life change, and how difficult or easy will it be for it to return to normalcy? This will give you the opportunity to see that in most cases (other than some obvious exceptions) the impact won’t last very long. Remember your inner child: Children truly know how to live in the moment, especially when they’re having fun, and there’s a lesson to be learned here. While it is not feasible for us to discard our present responsibilities and duties, it is possible to relive certain pleasures that we enjoyed when we were younger. Children also teach another lesson: Disconnecting from external stimuli to channelize energies to the required task. As adults, we refer to this as being “in the zone”. This is a state where you are so fixed upon what you’re doing that you will give it your best, simply because your mind and body are synchronized with the task that you’re performing. The mind-body connection is known to increase productivity and enhance results in this manner.
Children truly know how to live in the moment, especially when they’re having fun, and there’s a lesson to be learned here
By Neil Soans
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There are times when your boss demands that you do the job of two or more people, since he/she is short on staff. And there are times when your boss just tends to forget that you are a professional and makes you waste your time copying, stapling, collating, filing and doing other silly tasks. Worse still, your boss might disallow you from making major decisions or halt raises and promotions. And that is when you start pondering whether to stay onboard or to submit your resignation. In today’s evolving markets, one major factor keeps influencing the employees’ decision to quit their jobs and to find new ones: Bad management! Statistics shows that 84 percent of employees around the world leave their jobs as a reaction to management behavior.
Don’t quit for the sake of quitting unless you’ve thought about how it will affect you financially PUSHMAG.ME
Employees don’t quit their companies; they quit their bosses! Let’s take it from the employees’ side and see what could be done to make sound decisions regarding whether to quit or not. The points to consider before making any move are many and include: Do you have this “High Anxiety Factor”? You truly dread going to work every day. If that’s because you’d rather be sleeping or shopping, then that’s not a reason to quit. Remember that you have bills to pay. But if you just can’t stand the people that you work with or the work you’re expected to perform then that’s a solid reason to start searching for another job. Are you no longer challenged? Some people work for a paycheck and are not ashamed to say it aloud. They’re not particularly interested in growth or building a career. That’s fine. But there are those who figure that if they have to work then they might as well want their jobs to be challenging and fulfilling. And when they
start to feel complacent, it’s time to think about quitting or making a change. When there’s no opportunity to excel within an organization or field, it’s time to shake things up. To move up you must move out – which means quitting. Are you burnt out? When your work is making you sick, it’s time to quit and rethink your career options. We have to realize that our mental and physical wellbeing are far more important than any job. If your health is being compromised, it’s probably time to quit. The same is true regarding your worklife balance. If your family is suffering because of your work then you may want to consider quitting. Can you fix it? Oftentimes, you can spot opportunities to fix the problem instead of simply quitting. Think about talking to your boss, switching departments or taking on new projects. The grass is almost never greener on the other side. When frustrated employees tell me, “Oh, I bet this nonsense doesn’t happen at other companies” I always say, “I bet it certainly does.”
Our conscious mind focuses on the job itself, the job environment, the positions people hold and the hierarchy and policies in companies, while our subconscious mind is more interested in two main factors: Perspective – what you see in the job, what you think about your boss and the way you admire or detest a peer. Not all those elements are necessarily the way they are though. Bear in mind that this is the way that you see things. This is your perspective, which generates your own opinions.
We have to realize that our mental and physical wellbeing are far more important than any job
Comparison – we simply compare (whether we know it or not and whether we intentionally do it or not.) We compare our lives to those of others. We compare at every possible opportunity. This is how we function. So before taking the decision to quit, take a step back and ask yourself, “To what and/or to whom am I comparing my job situation now?” If the comparison were for the better then the decision for leaving would be right. So before you hand in your resignation, first identify opportunities for change/improvement. After all, the devil you know is sometimes far better than the devil you don’t! Don’t quit for the sake of quitting unless you’ve thought about how it will affect you financially. Most people can’t survive without a paycheck; consequently, the financial repercussions could make quitting your job a decision that you might regret. So before walking out the door without having another job offer, be honest with yourself about your true willingness to struggle in order to get another job opportunity. And be sure that you have enough money to cover your expenses for at least six months.
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Statistics shows that 84 percent of employees around the world leave their jobs as a reaction to management behavior Don’t quit in the midst of a challenge. Instead, force yourself to see it through until the end. It’s through hard work that you truly test your mettle. Never write when you’re angry; never make a decision while being either enraged or under the influence of a promise that is not yet confirmed. And remember: Decisions make destinies! By Dr. Hady Safa
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Time Management Quiz Here is a quick and useful time management quiz from Penn State University. Please circle the answer that most closely describes your situation. 1. How often do you take work home? (a) Every day (b) Three or more days per week (c) Twice a week (d) Once a week or less 2. How many people constantly interrupt you in the course of a day? (a) Six or more (b) Four to five (c) Two to three (d) One or less 3. How much time do you spend each week in other activities outside your job (e.g., hobbies, exercising, social and cultural events, etc.)? (a) Three hours or less (b) Four to five hours (c) Six to nine hours (d) Ten or more hours 4. How much time do you spend each day “socializing� on the job (e.g., extended coffee breaks, late luncheons, long visits with other supervisors, etc.)? (a) Two hours or more (b) Sixty to ninety minutes (c) Fifteen to thirty minutes (d) Less than fifteen minutes 5. How many separate stacks of work are usually on your desk during the day? (a) Three stacks or more (b) Two stacks (c) One stack (d) My desk is clear PUSHMAG.ME
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6. How much of your work do you delegate? (a) Very little (b) About twenty-five percent (c) Forty to fifty percent (d) More than fifty percent 7. How often do you approach and discuss things with people on a oneon-one basis in the course of a day? (a) None (b) At least once (c) Twice (d) More than twice 8. How much time do you spend with your people in training and developing during the course of a week? (a) None (b) Less than an hour (c) One to two hours (d) Three hours or more 9. How often do you procrastinate – put off making decisions in the course of a day? (a) Fairly often (b) Occasionally (c) Seldom (d) I don’t 10. How many times do you handle a piece of paper in the course of the day before doing something with it? (a) Four times or more (b) Three times (c) Twice (d) Only once 11. How often do you permit extensions of your own deadlines? (a) Fairly often (b) Occasionally (c) Seldom (d) Only when there’s a good reason 12. How do you approach detail work? (a) Do it all myself – I love it (b) I do most of it (c) Delegate some of it (d) Delegate most of it
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13. How often do you set, communicate and review department and individual goals with your subordinates? (a) Twice a year (b) Quarterly (c) Monthly (d) Weekly 14. How often do you prepare a “to do” list and set priorities? (a) Monthly (b) Bi-weekly (c) Weekly (d) Daily 15. How much of your work do you do because you “really want” to do it? (a) About five percent (b) Less than fifty percent (c) About seventy-five percent (d) Almost all of it
Think about the below questions as you evaluate your time management techniques.
Time management Quiz Scoring: To score the time management quiz, give yourself: 1 point for each “a” answer 2 points for each “b” answer 3 points for each “c” answer 4 points for each “d” answer.
2. What is misleading about the following “time management” myths? • “He/she has more time than I have.” • “There just isn’t enough time in a day to get things done.” • “Someday, the pressures will be off.”
YOUR TIME MANAGEMENT QUIZ POINT TOTAL: ___________________
Discuss this with your co-workers. 1. What time management tips will help you eliminate your “time wasters”?
3. How can the following strategies help you improve your time management skill and reduce stress in the work environment? • Establish credibility: Personal integrity instills trust between supervisors and subordinates. • Be a good listener, give a short answer and don’t waste time on small talk. • There is no such thing as overwork – tension is created by faulty work habits. • Set your watch ahead by fifteen minutes – get into the habit of allowing sufficient time to get to work, to have a leisurely breakfast and to get to appointments and meetings on time.
Evaluate Yourself According to the Following Scale: Excellent: 55 – 60 Good: 45 – 54 Mediocre: 30 – 44 (Examine your time management to see how you can improve it.) Poor: 29 or below (Watch out! You are running out of time.)
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What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Lot
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limbing the corporate ladder could feel a little like giving birth. You have to push and push hard just to make it to that first rung. Your professional development will most probably take longer than nine months. But the question is, “How far along are you?”
If you’ve been married to your work for a while now, chances are you’re getting ready to take that next step. And what could be more natural than evolution? If you’re thinking that you want more – if you even want it all – then welcome to:
phase 1:
Preconception. It starts with a mere idea. And before you know it, you have a goal, a sense of direction, a purpose. You’re going to get that promotion, make partner; open your own business… You’re full of great ideas and intentions and can’t wait to get started. This is your little shot at immortality and you intend to take it.
Say you’re feeling overworked and underappreciated for instance. It’s never easy to just walk out the door and start over. The unknown is always a bit terrifying. But if you know that you’re not in the healthiest, most constructive of environments then there are no “ifs” or “buts” about it. You have to look into a better match for yourself – some place that’s more conducive to conception and inner growth.
Want more still? If you’re ready to start your own family business then ask yourself, “Do I want a partner [a silent one perhaps] who is willing and able to share some of the responsibility with me?” Draw a working plan to answer other basic questions related to goals, vision, market study, expected periods, cost and revenue estimates... The Internet is full of inspiration in the business plan department. What’s more, putting your plan in writing will not only enable you to look at your idea from all angles and determine whether your project is viable or not, but also it will help you sell the idea to potential partners. Additionally, the plan will help secure financial support should you need it to get things underway.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to grow right where you are then why not speed up the process a bit? Start by building on your strengths and working on those weaknesses of yours. Woo your employer, so to speak. Make sure that he/she stops and takes notice. Asking for more out of the relationship then becomes the logical next step. If you haven’t gotten anywhere yet then you’re not going to by simply doing
At the conception stage, it’s also helpful to figure out when your thoughts and ideas are at their most fertile. You can then take advantage of your primetime to ensure the desired outcome. Once the thinking part is over, you can start doing. Go out
Phase 2:
Although you instinctively know what you’re doing, being the strong independent woman that you are, you’ll be tempted to go the single mother route PUSHMAG.ME
what you’ve been doing already. Consider a different approach, renew yourself; take that course you’ve always wanted to take... Thankfully, there is no such thing as professional impotence. And there are so many ways that you can think of to get on the route to self-improvement and fulfillment.
Conception. Can you do this? Are you ready? Surely, doubts will creep in. Just don’t let them linger too long. In a sense, this goal of yours is like an egg waiting to be fertilized. Keep the idea in your head and that’s where it’ll stay. Put it out on paper and you start to breathe some life into it. Try to relax; this is supposed to be enjoyable.
In a sense, this goal of yours is like an egg waiting to be fertilized and get what you need to give your plan the best chance of seeing the light of day: Contacts, training, supplies, suppliers, human resources, etc. In other words, get “baby ready”. Now that you’ve done all that, the time has come to step back and evaluate your progress. Why not take the “Clear and True” test. Share your thoughts and feelings with family and friends and see what eye-openers they have for you. A visit to the doctor may also be in order. Seek expert opinion and find out all the “dos” and “don’ts”. Soon enough, if all goes well then your wish will hopefully come true. Although you’ve been hoping for this, doing all you can to make it happen, it will still be unexpected – taking you completely by surprise. You get a call: It’s a job interview. Your boss drops by: You’ve been picked to work on a big account. It’s official: You won the pitch. You’ve got mail: Your loan’s been approved… Naturally, you couldn’t be happier. All that’s left for you to do now is break the good news to family and friends.
Phase 3:
Pregnancy. You’re on your way now and there’s no need for an echo to hear a heartbeat. The dream is alive and kicking. Although things are really starting to happen for you now, it won’t all be rosy. There’ll be blue moments too. Because when you’re talking about being pregnant, even in the figurative sense, you have to expect a bump or two. For starters, you’ll have to pull your own weight. You’ll be tired. You’ll be stressed. There’ll be times
when you are sick to your stomach with it all – all the questions/doubts and the running around trying to get everything ready. You’ll probably have to go out and get a completely new wardrobe just to dress the part. Do some decorating for your business’ big opening. Your agenda will be full of appointments and that’s just the half of it. You know all this of course. You signed up for this. You’ve heard all about what’s coming too: The sleepless nights, the worrying, all the nurturing and caring… Your life is about to change drastically and you’re saying, “Bring it on!” Your maternal instincts seem to be kicking in nicely. Just think of how protective you’ve become over the whole thing. The only advice you can use now is to listen to your inner voice – the positive one of course. What is it telling you to do next? Although you instinctively know what you’re doing, being the strong independent woman that you are, you’ll be tempted to go the single mother route. No one can do things quite as you can; am I right? Thing is, not even Superwoman can do everything on her own. That’s why they brought in Wonder Women, Cat Women and others. Besides, it’s exhausting to be everywhere at the same time. Let someone else do something for you for a change. It may not be exactly how you would have done it, but it’ll give you more time to devote to tasks that you really want to accomplish alone. Better still, maybe you’ll actually give yourself a break and learn to relax a bit. Speaking of relaxation, remember to breathe. Ever heard of Lamaze? Those classes that teach expectant mothers how to reduce the pain associated with childbirth? Being an expectant businesswoman who, I might add, expects a great deal out of herself and others, you could use some breathing and relaxation techniques yourself. If you must work hard then know your limits. Your body and mind also need rest and play. Make time for both. Stop and smell the jasmine occasionally. How else are you going to find the inspiration and energy to get to full term? It’s imperative that you learn to de-stress. I cannot stress this point enough.
Phase 4:
Delivery. Maybe they should call it deliverance. It usually comes unexpectedly or just when you think that you can’t take it anymore. This is probably the
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If you must work hard then know your limits. Your body and mind also need rest and play most excruciating and most rewarding part of the experience. But as you well know by now, nothing is born without effort. That’s why they call it “going into labor”. And this is it: Your big moment – due any minute. Talk about pressure! While you’re in there sweating it out and closing the deal, your loved ones are waiting by the phone or behind closed doors hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Is this taking longer than usual? Could there be any last minute complications? You’re wondering the same thing, as you wait to sign your contract or for your very first customer to walk in. Behind your cool exterior is the most primal version of you, screaming at the top of her lungs and thinking, “Please, let this be over soon!” If only you could, you’d take the epidural along with any drug that could ease the agony. But one last push is all it takes. And just like that, the dream is born. It’s not a boy. Not a girl either. It’s a big promotion or your very first sale. It’s finally here; finally real. You did it, congratulations! All that kicking and screaming and all that pain and hard work haven’t been in vain after all. Fortunately, the pain is soon forgotten. Many even decide to repeat the experience. But for now, how about celebrating? Although you’re not a real mom yet, but you at least can pop open a bottle of champagne without having to worry about your next breastfeeding! By Cara Khatib PUSHMAG.ME
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GEEK CHIC
GEEK CHIC
The Puzzle The Puzzle Alarm wakes Alarm you up by firing three puzzle pieces up in the air, then it is your mission to get the pieces and put them back in the alarm clock or it won’t turn off until then.
Most effective annoying alarm clocks
When you hit Clocky’s snooze button, he will roll off of the nightstand, fall to the floor, and run around the room, searching for a place to hide. When the alarm sounds again, you have to get out of bed to find it and turn it off. It finds a new spot everyday, “kind of like a hideand-seek game”.
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Laser Target Alarm A laser beam aimed at the exact center of the target is the only way to turn off the alarm sound in the morning. When the laser hits the target, the alarm is turned off for 24 hours and goes off at the same time the next day. The alarm will always do this until manually de-activated or the alarm time changes. When you wake up to an alarm and you have to concentrate to carefully aim the laser beam at the target, you’ll be suitably awake so as not to easily fall back asleep.
Clocky
Flying Alarm Clock
ClearSounds Wake & Shake Alarm Clock
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ClearSounds Wake & Shake alarm clock features a choice of loud tones, a flashing strobe, or vibrating pad to alert you when the alarm signals or, as an added bonus, when the phone rings!
The blowfly alarm clock escapes from a cage in your room, moves and produces sound around you when the alarm goes off. To turn it off you have to catch it and put it back in its home.
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GEEK CHIC
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Realizing a Fantasy N
umerous women fail to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations, as the duties of being mothers and wives force them to brush aside their dreams. But Dania Boustany, a mother of two, found a way around this age-old dilemma: She established her own web-based business through which fantasy-inspired lingerie items are sold. The fact that she doesn’t need to leave the house is very convenient, as workrelated matters could be overseen with the help of a laptop. And ever since she established her website www.icandygirl.com in 2010, her business has been developing rather steadily.
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E-commerce is an intriguing concept, especially for stay-at-home moms. But the preparatory work is anything but simple, warns Boustany. She stresses on the importance of extensively researching the product/service that one wishes to offer online. And most importantly, one needs to gauge the competition accurately. Doing so is sure to put one on the right track in terms of proper pricing in order to compete in the market. And there are other elements to be considered such as shipping fees in the case of selling products, which could make it difficult to lower the price tag. “The product/ service has to be very selective, unique and unavailable everywhere,” Boustany explains. “Otherwise, there would be no enticing reason for the customer to purchase online!” But the questions on everyone’s mind are why this type of lingerie and which items are selling like hot cakes? “Most local and regional lingerie outlets don’t have ‘naughty’ items in the form of costumes,” she points out. “And so I decided to focus on this niche and sell such products online.” The fact that everyone around her liked the concept motivated her to move ahead with the project. And according to her, corsets are hugely in demand because they are both sensual and flattering for all body-types. “Most of my girlfriends bought corsets, since those could be worn with jeans,” she says. “But the right size is crucial, and so we do offer several sizes.” As for fantasy-inspired
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costumes, French Maid designs are hugely popular with men and generate the highest sales.
the response of friends, acquaintances and family members before attempting to conquer big markets.
Though the products are for females to wear, men form the majority of clients. Purchasing online offers the advantage of privacy, which is appreciated by men who might feel awkward going into a lingerie shop to buy items for their loved ones. Via icandygirl.com, they just go through the designs before deciding on what to buy. For delivering orders within Lebanon, Boustany utilizes the services of a courier company that accepts payments on delivery. Orders for other countries are paid for through either PayPal or credit card. And one week is all it takes to deliver the package to its owner – if the product is in stock. So far, most of the orders have been shipped to Gulf countries (mainly to Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.)
The next step for Boustany now is to empower her website via online ads on Facebook and other marketing tactics. “This certainly helps in targeting the right demographics,” she asserts. “Another method is banner sharing – I put your banner on my site and you put mine on yours.” The lessons that Boustany learned during the past two years might sound simple and commonsensical but are vital nonetheless. “Learn about the manufacturers of the products that you wish to sell, since so much fraud plagues the dot.com world,” warns Boustany. “Be true to your brand and select a proper name to reflect the spirit of your business; you want one that is short, catchy and expressive.” And the most important factor to consider in a successful online business is a beautifully designed website. Boustany advises to seek out web-design companies that are not only technically adept but also creative.
But are web-based businesses a thriving sector, specifically in the Middle East? Boustany believes so. Through Facebook, she came to realize just how many women in the region purchase products online. Actually, iCandy was first established on Facebook long before the official website was launched. “You surely need to create a single-page website for payment transaction, and the link to this page could be featured on your Facebook account,” Boustany explains. Using this social media network to display and market your products/services is a great idea, according to her. After all, this would be an interesting way to gauge
Boustany is continually seeking out novel and interesting products to offer. But this is a double-edged sword in her opinion, since new concepts require heavy marketing approaches. “Being a trendsetter makes one worry since there is no benchmark to refer to,” she maintains. “Nevertheless, it is always exciting to learn and to adapt your vision and strategies accordingly.” By Raja Sfeir
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Nicole Kidman, who lives for part of each year in Nashville, was being photographed for an advertising campaign for OMEGA’s new Ladymatic watch line by Peter Lindbergh.
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FEATURE
THE RIGHT TIME TO TUNE IN!
Seeking the right moment to start your own business/project and the variables you need to consider to achieve success By Neil Soans and Sherry Tenorio
The idea may be your key to success, but you need to consider a dozen more factors before you can reach your goals PUSHMAG.ME
FEATURE
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f you subscribe to business magazines, chances are you’ve probably been swamped by reports and studies that demonstrate how the best time to start a business is “right now”. Richard Branson, founder and president of Virgin Group, puts it best, “I think now is a really good time to start a business because everything’s half the price it was two years ago, and therefore the cost base is low. The big companies are struggling and that’s the time for the new young entrepreneurs to get in and have a bite at the fat underbellies.” There are some definite advantages to starting a business during a recession, but don’t let that fool you into a false sense of security that your business will succeed. Eric Ryan, co-founder and chief brand architect of Method, a company focused on green and environmentally conscious home products, says, “It’s never a good time and it’s never a bad time to start a business. It’s unpredictable how long it will take an entrepreneur to get through the start-up cycle. So regardless of the immediate macro [i.e. economic] or personal situation, it will change for better or worse. For example, if the economy is roaring when you start, by the time you have funding or finished writing your plan, there may be a recession and vice-versa.” It gets confusing when you look at it both ways. One is tempted to go with what the bigger person says and go gung-ho the “Branson” way. But not everyone is equipped to replicate his level of success, especially if you’re looking to start small. Let’s look at some of the clear advantages of starting a business during a downturn: Less competition – many companies have taken big hits and succumbed to the pressures of a tough economy. While your competition is waiting out the storm, why not make yourself available and offer people what they need? Even now (though
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they may be a little harder to find), there are people in need of a service or product who are willing to pay (albeit possibly for less.) Actively seek them out instead of waiting for them to come to you.
author of the study. Briefly, not all hope is lost for new ventures during troubling times. Indeed, past downturns have produced corporate juggernauts that are on top of their game even today.
Lower overheads – Office, warehouse and even storage space is much easier to find and cheaper to rent. Real estate owners are more likely to rent out space for less rather than having no tenants at all. Businesses going under have to get what they can for their furniture and electronics. Auctions may offer ridiculously low prices for items that you’ll need. Also, there are all kinds of service providers who have to lower their prices due to the lack of demand. Think of advertising specialists who can prepare your marketing campaign for much less than normal.
“It’s in the Game” Speaking of “game”, one such example is videogame developer Electronic Arts (EA). Founded in 1982, EA faced a crisis in the gaming industry as primitive consoles were already on the decline and PCs were not yet capable of accommodating bigger ideas. But computing improved gradually. And while EA had to endure frugal times, they hung on and managed to pull through. In 1983, they came close to folding in when the games giant of the time Atari folded due to major financial troubles. This led to the videogame crash in ’83, leading all the way up to ’85 when the industry started picking up as Nintendo launched their iconic Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). But it was only in 1987 that the console really took off.
Better talent for less – A vast number of well-trained professionals have been laid off and are yet to find suitable employment. Chances are they will gladly accept a cut in salary rather than stay unemployed. Not that you should think it’s fine to exploit people when they’re down, but look at building up a strong workforce that can deliver results so everyone can reap the rewards when the company starts making a profit. While this is encouraging, research tells a different side to the story. According to a p re l i m i n a r y s t u d y re l e a s e d by the Kauffman Foundation, which analyzes the number of companies that went public per year across every expansionary and recessionary period from 1900 to 2006, it’s difficult to tell if downtur ns spark the entrepreneurial spirit. To make matters worse, there is not much data available on the subject. So the study posts a somewhat ambiguous result other than emphasizing on the fact that “there’s no better way to weed out the wimps than with a depression or recession,” according to Paul Kedrosky, a senior fellow and
Meanwhile EA kept struggling as they made sales to direct buyers rather than creating games for various consoles. This strategy eventually paid off during the upswing as the company penetrated the gaming market during a low phase that set them ahead of the competition. As Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox consoles gathered steam among casual gamers, the company was a market leader by far – establishing themselves as a dependable brand for action, sports and strategy games. As of 2011, EA is having an exemplary year with a plethora of cross genre and groundbreaking series that are setting new gaming standards to beat – earning their tagline “It’s in the Game”. Kauffman Foundation president Carl Schramm puts the “ideal time to start a business” dilemma in perspective. “Good things grow even in the darkest times,” he says, “and not all recessions are the same. Some are the aftermath of euphoria-driven speculation like the 2001 downturn. PUSHMAG.ME
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Rather than relying on a specific time phase, it always makes more sense to be prepared before jumping right in and learning to swim in the deep end of the business pool
There are some definite advantages to starting a business during a recession, but don’t let that fool you into a false sense of security that your business will succeed Others, like this one, are debt and finance-led. The early 1980s, for example, marked the decisive transition from the industrial to the knowledge economy. But most of this becomes apparent in hindsight, and no entrepreneur is going to wait for the dust to settle.” Rather than relying on a specific time phase, it always makes more sense to be prepared before jumping right in and learning to swim in the deep end of the business pool. Minding your Business So you have the most creative and unique idea! But is that enough to make you the next D o n a l d Tr u m p o r R i c h a r d Branson? The idea may be your key to success, but you need to consider a dozen more factors before you can proceed. Thus, a calculated study of your chosen business is necessary in order to achieve your creative mission, your unique vision, and, of course, your rich ambition. PUSHMAG.ME
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business planning. It is essential that you second-guess yourself as well to the viability of your idea. No matter what, it is quite important for you to be open to other people’s suggestions or recent events that might influence and make better adjustments to your concept.
Any new business requires a Feasibility Study – extensively done or not. This study is a documentation of all the research findings and business analysis that you need in order to execute your business idea. A Feasibility Study is entirely helpful in enlightening a would-be entrepreneur to the realities of the business. Ideally, the Feasibility Study is divided into three important segments: Market Feasibility (studying the ability of your business idea to succeed in terms of marketing viability), Technical Feasibility (pertains to the capability of the idea to be translated, executed and implemented) and Financial Feasibility (crucial study wherein you forecast your earnings and returns.) Some might add other studies, such as social and management feasibility. All these studies are to be done in order to form a sound decision that will make or break your drive to push forward in realizing the business. However, with or without devising a Feasibility Study, budding entrepreneurs must have a set of guidelines to follow before taking further steps. Consider the below factors. And hopefully, a fruitful enterprise would be born or an idea would be enhanced to become more feasible. Scope out your industry. Or if you’re just starting to think about entrepreneurship in general, find the best industry to fit your style and talents. For example,
this year’s burgeoning industries include interactive technology (from mobile app design to tech-savvy translation), wellness (healthy beverages), and little luxuries such as baked goods. When you start honing in on a s p e c i a l t y a re a , s e e k o u t counselors and talk to industry veterans. The Internet, your local library, business schools and industry associations could all be valuable sources of information and contacts. For instance, you might approach business schools in your area to see if one of their marketing classes will take on your business as a test project. You could potentially get some valuable market research results at no cost. Size-up the competition. Study your competition by visiting stores or locations where their products are offered. Say you want to open a new restaurant. For starters, create a list of restaurants in the area. Look at the menus, pricing and additional features (e.g., valet parking or late
night bar.) Then check out the diners those restaurants appeal to. Are they young college students, neighborhood employees or families? Then, become a customer of the competition. Go into stealth mode by visiting their websites and putting yourself on their e-mail lists. Read articles written on them. Sign up for e-mail alerts about search terms of your choice on Google News, which tracks hundreds of news sources. Your aim is to understand what your competition is doing so you can do it better. Think about funding. A lot. Can you bootstrap your company? Or are you going to need a small business loan? Might an entrepreneur in the family be able to invest, or should you look for venture capital or an angel investor? Money is a big topic for entrepreneurs, and you’ll want to know your options early on. In order to get investors to open up their checkbooks, you’ll need to convince them that your idea is worthy and be willing to subject yourself to increased scrutiny and give up a percentage of your company. If you decide your business can only get to the next level with the aid of a professional investor, then you need to figure out what a potential backer looks for in a budding company. Start doing your research now, and don’t talk to investors until you have a strategy that involves foreseeable future liquidity. Refine your concept. Don’t get overly excited with your original idea and get stuck with it. Make sure that you are willing to be flexible as you move along in your
S e e k a d v i c e f ro m f r i e n d s , mentors or anyone else. A mentor can be a boon to an entrepreneur in a broad range of scenarios, whether he or she provides pointers on business strategy, helps you bolster your networking efforts, or acts as a confidante when your work-life balance gets out of whack. But the first thing you need to know when seeking out a mentor is what you’re looking for from the arrangement. What can your mentor do for you? Determining what type of resource you need is a crucial first step in the mentor hunt. You may want someone who’s a good listener, someone well connected, someone with expertise in, say, marketing or someone accessible. Ideally, you should find a mentor with all of these qualities. Who’s best as a mentor? Look within your family, friends, business community a n d a c a d e m i c c o m m u n i t y. Pick a name. Naming your business can be a stressful process. You want to choose a name that will last and, if possible, embody both your values and your company’s distinguishing characteristics. But screening long lists of names with a focus group composed of friends and
family could induce mixed results. Alternatively, a naming firm will ask questions to learn more about your culture and what’s unique about you; elements that you’ll want to communicate to consumers. Some businesses are so concerned about gaining credibility in their field (often those in financial services or consulting) that they will sacrifice an edgy or atte n t i o n - g e t t i n g n a m e . Get a grasp on marketing strategies. You don’t need to be a marketing whiz. But if you’re trying to build an idea from the ground up, you’ll likely need to build an accompanying marketing strategy from the ground up. In doing so, you need to be clear on who your customers are. One way to make marketing easier is through joint-venture marketing. Another important a n d re l a t i v e l y e a s y w a y t o get your name out into the market is by building your web presence through social media. Do a little test-run. If the business is already your day job, then you have to move quickly to test, verify and tweak your model. Try surveys, polls and focus groups to gain insight into attitudes about your business idea. The goal is to get to know your customers intimately. What tur ns them on? What causes them to tune out? Are they impulse buyers or do they like to deliberate over their buying decisions? Knowing the answers to these types of questions may h e l p y o u re f i n e y o u r i d e a . PUSHMAG.ME
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1- Do I have the persistence and patience necessary to be a business owner? It takes patience to wait for substantial results. It takes persistence to keep updating your plan and then trying something else until you find how to make it work.
Things to Ask
Before Starting Your
Business
2- Does this business idea really energize me? Am I really excited about it? If your vision of this business is compelling then it will give you the energy to move forward. 3- Can I generate enthusiasm about my idea in others? New business owners have to spend most of their time marketing. If you can get others excited about the business idea then that is the first step in generating interest from a customer or a strategic partner. The owner must be able to articulate the idea in a way that is convincing to the customer. 4- Am I convinced that I am exactly the right person to own this business? Can I articulate why? Self-confidence is important in the success of the business. You must believe in yourself before others believe in you.
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5- Do I have the commitment necessary to put aside other interests to focus my energy on this business? There will be many distractions while you start your business. Are you willing to commit to whatever it takes to get the business up and running successfully? 6- Am I able to quickly recover from setbacks and not take things personally? Can you still keep working and feeling confident even on a day that
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a big client or big prospect decides against using your service or buying your product? 7- Who will support me in this endeavor? It helps to have people in your life that appreciate you and really want you to succeed. Family support is critical, because you’ll need to spend large amounts of time working and your family needs to understand this. Mentors, colleagues and coaches are also important for advice and encouragement. 8- Do I have enough financial reserves to carry me until I am profitable? Your business needs enough capital to keep going until it is profitable. You also need money in reserve for your personal expenses if things get tight. Worrying about money will sap your energy. 9- What weaknesses do I have that may get in my way as I start this business? What will I do about them? Identifying your weaknesses and strengths is an important task. Use your strengths in running your business and find ways to off load the tasks you are not good at. Shore up those weaknesses as best you can in the beginning when finances are tight. Being aware of them is the first step. 10- What is my intuition telling me about this venture? Be in tune with your intuition. Business people get caught up in the analytical part of the business. The numbers do help you run your business but don’t ignore what your gut tells you. Allocate some time in your day to think about your vision.
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MAMAPRENEURS
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Tick Tock Biological Clock!
“Behind every great person is a great woman – usually that woman is a mother” PUSHMAG.ME
fter the wedding story comes the baby story. Yo u r m o t h e r w a n t s grandchildren, so she starts pressuring you to get pregnant right away. On the other hand, your friends are married with children and are begging you to wait a while before starting a family so that you get to enjoy your life before it’s “over”. Your boss is watching you week after week to determine whether it’s a good idea to give you that promotion or is something on the way that might affect your professional momentum. Ok, maybe the boss is not monitoring you, because he/she doesn’t really care. But it is definitely on your mind. You want to enhance your career, travel and see the world and so does your husband. You both sit together and decide to have the “B” talk. And after an hour-long conversation (possibly hours) with a long list of pros and cons, you find yourself more confused and with no decision made. So what is a couple to do? Allow me to give you my side of
the story. When my husband and I got married, we agreed that we would not try for a baby during the first year. We wanted to get to know each other better as husband and wife and get our finances in order. Six months into our marriage, we felt ready to start trying. Like all other couples, we thought I would get pregnant from the first month. Well, we have been trying for almost a year now. This brings me to my first point; it’s not up to you regarding when to get pregnant. It’s a cosmic decision. Naturally, it’s a life-altering event and you need to put thought into it. But the decision to get pregnant is completely disconnected from the reality of getting pregnant. According to www.babyhopes.com, under the best of circumstances and when doing everything right you have around 25 percent chance of getting pregnant. My doctor told me that I have 30 percent chance of getting pregnant. That is neither low nor high. So for those who are trying, don’t be discouraged. And for those who are worried about it
“Make sure that you and your husband are on the same ‘baby’ page”
happening right away, the odds are neither here nor there. So don’t turn down that promotion just yet. Then again, who said that you have to give up your career altogether if you have children? You might only have to make minor adjustments.
you lost your chance to go down in history. After all, behind every great person is a great woman – usually that woman is a mother.
Having gotten all the statistics out of the way, let’s talk about the psychology of wanting that shift in your life. Some people know that they don’t want children and they do all that is possible to ensure that this never happens. Some people get married to have children, so they allow nature to take its course. The majority of us want a bit of both worlds. And this brings me to my second point; you can’t know when the time is right. Sometimes, life happens all at once – when you least expect it. And you have to be prepared for that change; after all, the only constant thing in life is change. However, there is one advice that I will allow myself to give you: Make sure that you and your husband are on the same “baby” page. The last thing you need is to want to have children while he is not ready, as I believe that this will cause unnecessary tension in your life.
“The decision to get pregnant is completely disconnected from the reality of getting pregnant”
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By Toleen Badawi
Finally, I will leave you with this thought: It’s up to you as a woman and a wife to decide what is important in your life at any given moment. It’s your mission, should you choose to accept it, to prioritize your life and plan accordingly. Just remember that the decision to have a baby is the decision to further humanity, while the decision to advance your career is the decision to further yourself as a person. In the former option, you might get the chance to raise the next president, the next peacemaker or the next scientist who will find the cure for cancer. In the latter option, you might derive a sense of satisfaction to see yourself grow as an individual and to play an instrumental role in developing your company. But bear in mind that if you lost your chance to bring children to the world then PUSHMAG.ME
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As soon as we decide that an “ok” life is not enough for us, we motivate ourselves to initiate the change
Bid Farewell to W
hen we were kids, we dreamt of becoming astronauts and presidents. When we were teenagers, we fantasized about becoming renowned musicians, artists and designers. Now that we’re adults, most of us discard such dreams. Why do we undermine our passion to achieve our fullest potential and realize our dreams? Why do we settle for a life that we’re not passionate about? And why do we sit and watch as others excel and stand out? Have we become so complacent that now we simply accept the “ordinary”?
Each one of us is unique and possesses great gifts. But due to a number of factors, including fear, we stop chasing after our grand dreams and simply settle for less
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To Be or Not to Be Each one of us is unique and p o s s e s s e s g re a t g i f t s . B u t due to a number of factors, including fear, we stop chasing after our grand dreams and simply settle for less. This leads us to the “mediocrity trap” – a situation where we pick less desirable options instead of simply channeling our energies towards achieving our original dream. No space would be left for our dream to flourish as a result, and so we forget about it. But how do we get out of this trap? Well first, we have to examine ourselves and ask the following questions: 1. What is our dream? First thing to do is to go back to the roots of our dreams, ambitions and aspirations. If there is nothing to pursue then why bother being different and try to achieve excellence? This “dream” is what would drive us to fly above the average. So go ahead and listen to that little voice inside; let the dreams come out. 2. Are we doing what we want or what we should? There are often implicit “rules” regarding what someone should do in a particular situation. When there are two job opportunities for example, the “rule” dictates that we
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should take the one with the higher pay. But is that what we truly want? If not, do we have the courage to walk away from what we “should” do and just follow our dream? 3. Do you worry more about being loved than being what you love? Another reason why we m i g h t n o t d a re f o l l o w o u r grand dream is that we are trying to meet other people’s expectations. We often worry more about what other people say than what matters to us. But living someone else’s life is a lousy way to live. Why should we lose opportunities just because of what other people might say? 4. Do we play it safe? Oftentimes, people who have less mediocre lives are risktakers. So ask yourself this question: Have you been leading a “safe” life? Maybe being too cautious is standing in the way of your realizing an exceptional life. Answering these questions, lear ning more about whom we are and trying to weigh our decisions are definitely life changing activities (and very much liberating.) But there are consequences for the “crossroad” decisions that we make.
Leaving a mediocre life behind and opting for excellence require a lot of self-assessment, confidence and patience.
Don’t accept mediocrity just because it is safe and easy
How Not to Be As soon as we decide that an “ok” life is not enough for us, we motivate ourselves to initiate the change. We stop accepting things the way they are and fight against the status quo that is causing us dissatisfaction. With a proactive self, and by implementing the following pointers, we would be able to lead ourselves out of the desert of mediocrity. 1. Expect great things out of life. Though it is not easy, we should always aim for the best and expect to reach it. We have to realize that we are entitled to great things. Just because we might have not consistently experienced great things in the past doesn’t mean that we weren’t supposed to. 2. Evaluate your life, what you are doing, how you are doing it and how you feel. If we honestly look at our lives, we’ll know what kind of existence we are leading and we’ll know how we feel about it. And in order to know that we need to change or improve things, we need to acknowledge and deal with the element of complacency in our lives.
3. Develop goals and plans. Spend time developing a plan to improve the elements in your life that are just “ok”. We have to ponder where we are currently and where we ultimately need to be. Work on creating a roadmap so that you know where you are going and how you are going to get there. 4. Take action. A n i d e a i s n o t h in g wi t h o ut execution. Don’t just dream and develop plans. Do it. It’s time to move and take action. We have to figure out how best to push ourselves consistently so that we make progress. If we aren’t doing what it takes to move forward then we are being complacent and settling for what is mediocre. So get into action every single day.
a journey, and we are going to need to find the motivation to keep going. There may be days when we want to just relax and slip back into accepting the status quo. But even on those days, we have to keep pushing. Not every day may be as productive as you would like or as it should be, but you have to make certain that you are continually pushing yourself towards the goal. Life is meant to be great, and you are supposed to enjoy it. Living an “ok” life is just not good enough. Don’t accept mediocrity just because it is safe and easy. You have to change your perspective. So live your life without regrets and live it to the fullest. By Sherry Tenorio
5. Keep on pushing. Sometimes an action is insufficient. Oftentimes, we need to work hard to get good results. It means not giving up. So recognize that it is PUSHMAG.ME
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MONEY MADAM
INVESTING IN STOCKS 101 W
hen you first decide to venture into the world of stock investing, the concept might seem daunting. I remember my first time. It was an overly emotive experience, where I dived into a company without even considering the basic rules of stock selection. I merely chose a stock that I felt was reasonably priced, forgetting to calculate my brokerage costs versus the total amount that I was allocating to that stock. I bought £100 worth of a company’s shares. My broker charged me £11.95 for the transaction and would do the same upon my selling the stock; that meant that I had already booked a cost of £23. That’s an astounding 23 percent. So if I wanted to break even, I had to live on the hope of the stock price rising by at least that much. I remember my father having a credulous expression on his face at my unplanned trading plan. I actually didn’t care. I just wanted to get involved. I have come a long way since my first blind trade. As silly as this might sound, most trading novices start out making irrational decisions such as this one. The moral of the story is, you have to have a trading plan. That means you need to go into an investment with a solid set of criteria, which you must not
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waver from. That is the first step towards successful investing. So when you start building your portfolio of stocks, ask yourself: What is my overall profit target? Would I be happy with an overall annual return of 10 percent? A simple benchmark is your current or savings account interest rate. If your bank is giving you a mere 3 percent on your bank balance, then you know that 10 percent would provide you with better value for your money. The sensible novice should not aim for the moon. If you are lucky in your well-placed choices, you could find yourself earning 50 percent on one stock, but perhaps another choice will lead to a loss of 5 or 55 percent. The key is to balance your risk by spreading it over several companies. There are countless ways to develop investment strategies. Some are simple, others are highly complicated. In your position as a novice investor, it is best that you start with a simple strategy and stick to it. That way, you can learn from your successes and mistakes while being positioned in an area that you are most competent in. That will be your second lesson today: Find an area of interest that you are familiar with, specialized in or interested in enough to maintain your motivation. People who first start this investing game have a habit of being lazy researchers. They rely on tips from brokers, friends, family members, newspapers and specialized internet websites that claim to know what the hottest stocks are – urging you to pile your money and wait for your insane gains of up to 200 percent. I am not here to invalidate these methods. Sometimes, you can get lucky and make a large profit. At other times, the investment
flops and you automatically blame the source of the tip, rather than yourself. Did you learn anything new? Did you dig deep into your investment decision to ascertain why this stock flopped? Was it because of a weak company balance sheet, cash flow and income statements, and negative market sentiment towards that stock? Did the company have too much debt that it suddenly found it could no longer repay due to declining revenues? Was it unable to honor its financing deals with its bank, leading to a terminated agreement and lack of funds to continue with its expansion plans? Did the latest product it was marketing have an intrinsic fault, which forced the firm to recall the model from every distributor it had in the market? That is what happened to one of Toyota’s models recently. Did you check the sector it belonged to before investing? How was that sector doing over the past few months? Did you even know that you had to screen the sector as well as the financial fundamentals of that firm? Are you getting a headache from all these questions? If yes, I’m glad, because this is not a good way to start. You worked hard to save your cash. That means you should honor the fruits of your labor by taking a more responsible approach that involves doing your own homework , thinking for yourself rather than relying on tips from others and be willing to learn from your mistakes as you gradually build up experience in the world of investments. Successful professional and private investors do their own homework. This exposes them to less risk, as they aim to put their money in investments with a higher probability of growth and success – leading to a higher rate of profit. That leads us to lesson number three: Find companies with the highest probability of success to invest in. This will allow you to preserve your capital and achieve a higher rate of winning trades. So let us break this down for you into a simple five-step process.
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Step 1 - Trading Ideas When you are looking for companies to invest in, it is wise to stick to an asset class, sector or stock that you are familiar with. This could be a product of the industry that you work in or a general interest that you might have. If, for example, you work in the media industry, you will automatically be familiar with the big media companies such as WPP, Leo Burnett, BBO Impact, etc... This gives you an immediate edge over someone who is not familiar with that industry. You are exposed on a daily basis to news and publications that are relevant to your workflow. You know how this sector has been performing over the past six months to a year. You know what the latest revenue trends are and the cyclicity of the industry (which months of the year usually generate the most revenue for firms in this sector and which months are known as quiet trading periods.) And you know who the big players are and how they compete against each other for market share. This will naturally make you more comfortable in reaching an informed decision about which firms to start researching at an in-depth level. If you do not work in a certain industry, but have always been attracted to it, there is a higher probability that you will make an effort to understand it better. Just as you can naturally ask yourself the above questions for an industry you work in, you can develop a similar path of knowledge for a sector that you are interested in. Step 2 - Company Analysis Company interim statements, balance sheets, income and cash flow statements have a wealth of information that can provide you with a great deal of insight about what the company has been doing. It can show you earnings growth, what strategies it has in place for future revenue and where it finds itself within the short and long term. This information is freely accessible on every listed company’s website. Companies trading on stock exchanges are bound by financial regulations to make this information public and transparent. Another key area to look at is the management’s track record. If management has been producing consistent earnings growth over time, controlling its debt to equity ratio in the process, then you know that management will strive to achieve the same for future success. You can even find news snippets about current management online to give you a better overall picture of what they are thinking. In short, the information is there at the click of a mouse. You might not realistically be able to personally grill management with your questions, but you can certainly gain a good idea of what is happening at the firm by doing a bit of research and staying on the pulse. Step 3 - Chart Analysis Look at the chart to see the historical price movement of the stock. You can get free stock charts from a variety of websites, including Yahoo! Finance,
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Bloomberg, Bigcharts.com and many more. Sometimes, you might find yourself a little late in the game. For example, the stock price might have hiked up 50 percent – that means the market is most probably ahead of you and the earnings growth that you noticed has already been priced into the stock. That could indicate that you should sit back and keep an eye on the stock for the next few weeks until a market correction comes into play, allowing you the opportunity to buy the stock at a cheaper price. Step 4 - Trading Psychology You need to have the right attitude here. This is where having a trading plan comes into play. When you find a promising stock, you should always have an entry price, stop loss (at what price you are willing to exit this trade and avoid a bigger loss) and target exit price. Having an exit price is vital to trading success. Otherwise, what is the point of buying it in the first place? Let us say you bought stock X shares at $3. Having a long-term view allows you to aim for a price of $7 based on the company fundamentals and overall market sentiment. Now that you have a solid target, you are better equipped psychologically and emotionally to avoid selling at a premature date. You have owned the stock for the past three weeks. You become less nervous when you see the stock price move between a range of $2.5 and $3.70. If you did not have a set target, as soon as the price moves up, allowing a modest profit, you might panic and find yourself tempted to sell. This could cause you to lose out on a far better selling price at a future date, making you want to kick yourself for being so presumptuous. The same applies if the stock dips below $3. If you had done your homework and kept abreast of industry and company news, then this
book of the Month
would have signaled to you that the price movement was most probably the result of professional traders going about their shortterm trading strategies on the stock. So you can comfortably wait for the price to continue along its gradual ascension. Step 5 - Good Housekeeping The final lesson involves your c o n s t a n t l y re v i e w i n g y o u r portfolio. Are the reasons for entering a trade still valid? Is market sentiment still in your favor? Do the analysts that cover your chosen stock still feel that it is worth holding on to? How is the sector doing this week and what are market commentators, statisticians and industry professionals saying? I f y o u a re c o n s i s t e n t a n d disciplined in your investment approach, you can find yourself making more money than if you parked it with your bank or a fund manager whose yearly management fees are eating into you overall profit. Learning about investing is a time consuming process where every line read and every idea questioned leads you to delve deeper and learn more, so that you can be ahead of the game. The satisfaction you get from formulating a plan based on your investment personality and watching it reap rewards for you is well worth seeking. It is as arduous as developing a career in any sector. Time, patience and the willingness to learn and improve (while maintaining a positive attitude and keeping your ego in check) can truly lead to phenomenal results.
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Timothy Ferriss The 4-Hour Workweek
R ‘The 4-Hour Workweek’ contains a wide array of how-to tips, which could be life altering (even if you implement just a few of these tips.) Check out Ferriss’ blog – http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog – to pick his brains and to get a better idea of the nature of his book.
eading the ‘4-Hour Workweek’ is nothing short of a delightful experience. Loaded with practical advice, the book should be on the shelf of anyone with a penchant for improving his or her life. Many self-help authors do not practice what they preach – but not Timothy Ferriss. In fact, only after making the successful transition to a better life by utilizing the principles mentioned here did Ferriss write this book. Leading a rather miserable existence as an employee (40 hours of work a week) and then as a self-employed person (80 hours of work a week), Ferriss decided to change things around. He reckoned that certain steps had to be implemented in order to reduce the effort and time expenditure spent on work-related issues, while substantially boosting his performance, effectiveness and joie de vivre. One of the interesting laws that Ferriss focuses on in his book is the 80/20 Principle, which is originally known as the Pareto Principle. In brief, the principle states that 80 percent of your productivity comes from 20 percent of your time, and the other 20 percent of your productivity eats up 80 percent of your time. Therefore, eliminating the 20 percent of productivity that consumes most of your times allows you to lead a more effective and enjoyable life. Ferriss explains that his mission is “lifestyle design”, showing the reader how he/she could make a decent living without becoming enslaved by work. Taking “mini retirements” and enjoying life is one of the elements that he sheds light on in this book, which is divided into four sections. The first part of the book explores the notion of defining one’s objectives and setting goals/priorities. The second part shows the reader how to eliminate distractions to free up time, and delves deep into the 80/20 principle. Ferriss explains how to put oneself on a “low information” diet and how to reduce interruptions to become more effective. In the third part, he describes the process of generating income via automation. Ferriss also shows the reader how to outsource his/her life by hiring a virtual assistant based in India or the Philippines – one who could handle tedious tasks that slow a person down and waste his/her time. The fourth and final part of the book shows you how to design your job to increase mobility, whereby you could work from any place and anywhere in the world. This section is interesting, as it promises the freedom that we all ache for without having to quit our work. PUSHMAG.ME
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DRIVEN BY DEADLINES Short bursts of focused activity are more productive than sitting on an assignment for days on end without actually getting anywhere
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f it were entirely up to us, we would be wandering aimlessly like zombies, roaming the streets without any meaning or purpose and achieving nothing. At least, that’s what your boss would have you believe. That’s why even in his (or her) absence, he keeps you tightly wound on a leash, which in the corporate world is also known as the “deadline”. That highly exaggerated opening and the rest of this article was written rather quickly, because it had to meet a deadline! But in all seriousness, it’s intriguing to observe how our lives are dominated by deadlines, particularly in the business world. It’s almost as if we would cease to function if we didn’t know when the project at hand was due. How exactly does that work? And what would happen in the absence of a deadline? In his book ‘The 4 Hour Workweek’ (reviewed in this issue of PUSH), Tim Ferriss looked into these questions and explored the implications of Parkinson’s Law, which in its basic form states: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Another model that Ferriss uses is the Pareto Principle (otherwise known as the 80/20 rule). To those unfamiliar with the principle, it states that roughly 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes. Applied to the market scenario, this translates as 80 percent of your sales come from 20 percent of your clients. Using this principle, you can take a different approach to your work.
Ferris elaborates by using the following example: “If I give you 24 hours to complete a project, the time pressure forces you to focus on execution, and you have no choice but to do only the bare essentials. If I give you a week to complete the same task, it’s six days of making a mountain out of a molehill. If I give you two months, it becomes a mental monster. The end product of the shorter deadline is almost inevitably of equal or higher quality due to greater focus. This presents a very curious phenomenon. There are two synergistic approaches for increasing productivity that are inversions of one another: • Limit tasks to the important to shorten work time. (80/20 Principle) • S h o r t e n w o r k t i m e t o limit tasks to the important. (Parkinson’s Law)” So what does this teach us? Differentiate between urgent and important: On one hand, you have “urgency”, which is time bound but might not be “important”. And on the other, you have “importance” which may or may not be time-bound. This difference will play a big role as you allocate your time and it allows you to identify your short-term goals from the long-term ones. Fight procrastination with aggression: Short bursts of focused activity are more productive than sitting on an assignment for days on end without actually getting anywhere. This way you can put in maximum effort for tangible results that will eventually accrue over time, resulting in higher chances of success or better quality.
Research conducted in effective time management suggests that the ideal time span of these bursts is around 25 minutes. The “Pomodoro” technique works around this finding and suggests using a timer that goes off every 25 minutes after which you’re allowed to take a short 5-minute break. Only after four such cycles can you take a much longer break, assuming you’ve achieved your shorter targets by then. Understand procrastination: Psychologists have identified different types of procrastinators, among them are: • Arousal types or thrill-seekers – people who enjoy the adrenaline rush of the last minute hustle-bustle. • Avoiders – people who are so concerned by what others think of them that they actively seek to avoid the fear of failure or the fear of success, as the case may be. They prefer to blame their poor performance on the lack of effort rather than inability.
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It’s almost as if we would cease to function if we didn’t know when the project at hand was due. How exactly does that work? And what would happen in the absence of a deadline?
• Decisional – People who are afraid of responsibility to the extent that they would rather not commit to a decision. These people are unable to deal with the consequences of the outcome following their decisions. Establishing which category you fall under will enable you to tackle the root cause of being unable to meet your deadlines. Eventually, using the techniques mentioned in this article will not only see you achieving better results but also help you manage your time more effectively to enjoy a healthier work-life balance. By Neil Soans PUSHMAG.ME
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Woman of the Month Josephine Cochrane
Inventing the Washing Wheel! T
he first practical mechanical dishwasher was invented by Josephine Cochrane in 1886. Although Cochrane was a rich woman who did not do any of the dishes herself, she wanted a machine that could do the job faster and without chipping any dishes. Cochrane regularly hosted fancy dinner parties and having such a machine would make the lives of her servants much easier she thought. Problem was that no one had invented such a machine, and so Cochrane built one herself. She is said to have once remarked, “If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself!” She began the process of building the machine by measuring the dishes. Then, she built wire compartments (each specially designed to fit plates, cups or saucers.) The compartments were placed inside a wheel that lay flat inside a copper boiler. A motor turned the wheel as hot soapy water squirted up from the bottom of the boiler and rained down on the dishes. Cochrane’s friends and acquaintances were taken by the invention and had her build dishwashing machines for them. The machine was dubbed the “Cochrane Dishwasher”. Soon after, Cochrane began receiving orders for her invention from restaurants and hotels. Consequently, she patented her design and went into production. Cochrane displayed the dishwasher at the 1893 World’s Columbian E x p o s i t i o n in Chicago and won the highest award. Her company later became what is now known as Whirlpool.
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“I’m just trying to tell a story that will entertain the audience through its light and subtle humor and, hopefully, be an enjoyable experience.”
‘Habibti’ and the Arab Women “It is actually the first time I join the festival, and I’m glad for the support and advice that I get from them,” Nour Wazzi, Beirut-born, London-based director, producer and founder of Panacea Productions, tells PUSH. “It is great that the Arab world is slowly realizing that films are good means to promote its culture.” “I just wanted to tell that no matter what decisions you make in life it is never too late to start anew and afresh.”
The recently concluded 7th Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) displayed hundreds of films that highlighted controversial issues, with cultural and even political agendas being featured in a variety of creative works. However, the 17-minute short film titled ‘Habibti’, an entry from Wazzi, stood out – shortlisted to the Muhr Arab Short category. What made ‘Habibti’ an outstanding piece of moving literary, aside from its compelling manner of storytelling, was its subject. Though brief, the film was able to recount 1) The life of a middle-aged and conservative Arab mother who needed to start living on her own after her husband’s death, and 2) The relationship of this woman with her daughter’s boyfriend. Read on as the budding filmmaker explains how this conflict brought humor and an intriguing bond.
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Can you share with us the story of ‘Habibti’? Nour Wazzi (NW) – Story is about an Arab woman who lost her husband and then decides to go to London to visit her daughter. But when she arrives there, she finds that her daughter is living with her boyfriend who happens to be a black artist. What inspired you to make the film? NW – It is my observation that many Lebanese women live their lives for their husbands and for their families. They put aside their desires, passions and ambitions and focus on building their families. When their kids leave home and they lose their husbands, they wind up losing everything. And they soon realize that they have lost their identities. I put importance on sharing the life of such women, and so I tell the story of a middle-
“They put aside their desires, passions and ambitions and focus on building their families. When their kids leave home and they lose their husbands, they wind up losing everything.”
aged Arab who is on the verge of re-evaluating and re-knowing herself. Moreover, we don’t have many black people in the Arab society. So I focus more on the cultural differences and on how much we have in common. This issue also inspired me to create friendship between the mother and the boyfriend; she finds a bond with somebody who she would have never met or become close with in Lebanon – paving the way for her change of perception. Would you say that your film is reflective of the society? Why or why not? NW – I have to clarify that the film does not paint a picture of Arabs as racists in any way. We just do not have much exposure to other cultures. The only prejudice is ignorance – the lack of experience. I told the story in a lighthearted manner. I’m not trying to say
anything political; I’m not trying to be preachy. I’m just trying to tell a story that will entertain the audience through its light and subtle humor and, hopefully, be an enjoyable experience. How has been the response from Arab women? NW – I’m very lucky to have the Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass playing the lead role, and to have the beautiful Yasmine Al-Massri play the daughter. Their fantastic portrayals are quite relatable to the audience. My mother showed the film to her middleaged friends, and it encouraged debate amongst them. It was nice to have people responding; the film actually encouraged people to talk. Would the film be a trigger to open minds? NW – As I’ve said, I’m not trying to preach anything. I just want
to create a film that will make the audience leave with a feeling of hope in the end. I just wanted to tell that no matter what decisions you make in life it is never too late to start anew and afresh. Why the title ‘Habibti’? NW – The reason why I chose the title is that what connects the mother to the boyfriend is the love they both share for the daughter. She is their love, their darling. I preferred the title because the word is stronger in Arabic than in English – in Arabic, it is a word of deep affection.
“I have to clarify that the film does not paint a picture of Arabs as racists in any way. We just do not have much exposure to other cultures.”
By Sherry Tenorio
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caressing an oval stone, as she tried to dissipate some of its heat before placing it on my body. Now, I was already feeling comfortable with the idea of warm stones. But I still wondered about the effect.
The Road to Bliss Le Meridien’s Spa Al Aqah in Fujairah By Neil Soans
Patience is a virtue, they say. And I surely needed this virtue while taking the long drive from Dubai to Le Meridien’s Spa Al Aqah in Fujairah. “How far would I go to get pampered” was the recurrent question on the road to Dibba, as Dubai’s towering concrete buildings gradually faded into the horizon. Now, I found myself surrounded by the stony hills that adorn the road to my destination. Eventually, a blue beachfront relieved my sepia-saturated eyes. And two hours away from Dubai, I finally reached the hotel. I then made my way to the spa, as I was eager to relax my tired body. Demurely lit, the décor has a clandestine feel that heightens the impression of a retreat and offers an immediate calming effect. The therapist Moha invited me on a quick tour to check out the premises before deciding on a particular treatment. Despite the fact that noise was leaking out of the gym nearby, Moha assured me that the therapy rooms are quiet and insulated. Additionally, the lounge area was equipped with headphones for guests to tune in to relaxing music before and after treatments. After the tour, and following my review of the different therapies, I decided to try out the Aroma Stone Relaxing Ritual. Although the notion of having hot stones placed all over my body was worrying somehow (will I leave with burns or sizzled hair?), I was reassured that the experience would certainly be far from uncomfortable.
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The massage room was rather small, but that’s probably an illusion created by the wide array of spa products displayed on one side of the massage table. There was a pot-like apparatus in which the stones were being prepared, or rather boiled, and that got me a little troubled. Moha took the time to explain the process of the treatment. And when she explained that she’s been doing this for over 10 years now, this lowered the anxiety levels a bit. She began the treatment by brushing the body lightly with a comb, before starting the massage routine. Moha was constantly communicating with me to see how I feel and to adjust the pressure applied to meet my comfort levels. Minutes later, the stones were brought out. And although my eyes were involuntarily closed, I mustered enough courage to sneak a peek. I saw Moha
Moha explained that the stones were made from volcanic rock, as she carefully placed them on specific points on my back. The pressure, while not uncomfortable, felt weird initially. But I gradually “warmed up” to it. After Moha was done placing the stones, she continued to massage gently the back and I inevitably slipped into deep slumber. At her cue, I turned on my back while the process was repeated on the chest as well. Moha gently awakened me a while later to inform me that the treatment was over. Still on my back, she explained to me about how the stones had revitalised my body’s energy by dissipating muscle tension and removing toxins. She then asked me to sit up slowly on the massage table and stand on my feet whenever ready. I truly realised the effect of the treatment only after standing up. The body felt balanced and supple yet strong at the same time. Before I got dressed, Moha offered a selection of teas. And I had the option of relaxing at the lounging area or within the spa room itself. I chose the latter as it seemed to be a comfort zone for now. It’s a long drive back home. And so I made sure to stretch my legs on the white sandy beach before I departed. The hotel is located in Fujairah for a good reason; it is indeed a peaceful getaway beach resort – ideal for those who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan Dubai. PUSHMAG.ME
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How Are Your Cells Today? “There are those who think that sickness, disease and suffering are sent by God – if so then every surgeon, physician and the Red Cross are defying the will of God” – Charles F Haanel
universe inside my body with a miracle happening every second. And the idea has inspired a number of my paintings entitled “The Cellular Universe”.
It all started when I was greeted one morning by a colleagues at work who asked, “… and how are you today Dalal?” There is nothing unusual about the question – although most of the time we ask, “How are you” when we are not truly interested in the answer.
Well, we now know that the body is made up of around 10 trillion cells that fall under one of the 200 different types of cells. To get things into perspective, just picture a house full of peas – floor to ceiling!
I paused for a second and thought, “Now, is she interested in my wellbeing physically, psychologically, spiritually or mentally?” The answer would surely be very different to every aspect. An idea then popped in my mind: Why don’t we ask instead, “How are your cells today?” After all, our state of mind affects the health of the cells in our entire body! It is all interrelated. I don’t claim to be an expert in this field. But the little I know is enough to convince me that, every now and then, I need to look within. There is a whole
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We also know that stem cells are blank slates, which could develop into every cell, every tissue and every organ. They have limitless potential. With so much to learn about what goes on every second in our body and how it affects us, why should we leave the profound information
about cells to scientists alone? To keep it simple, I had a quick look at the ‘Oxford Children’s Book of Science’ by Charles Taylor and Stephen Pople and noted the following facts: • All life consists of one or more cells; • All life is made from the same materials; • All life can react to changes in its external and internal environments; • The instruction book for assembling proteins in the cell is contained within the DNA; • Whenever a cell divides, it first makes a copy of its DNA so that each new cell has its own instruction kit (very smart); • A hormone is a chemical created by a group of cells in
one part of the body that encourages activity in another part of the body – i.e. it carries a message that tells a second group of cells to do something (high tech communication, no?) • Each cell is surrounded by a cloud of energy. When this cloud is happy and stress-free, it penetrates the DNA cells and revitalizes the cells. Based on these facts, it is clear then that we need to monitor our thoughts and take charge of our state of mind as part of our daily health routine. Positive thinking alone is not enough. Dieting and exercising alone are not enough. It is the body, mind and soul dancing all together in harmony. So ponder those hard-working cells and revitalize them with your thoughts the next time someone asks you: “How are you?” Take care of your cells and make every day a cell-ebration! By Dalal Farah
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Mirror Mirror on the Wall; Does the Lemon Detox Work at All?
GO AHEAD; TAKE A T
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osing weight without feeling ravenously hungry sounds alluring; surely, it’s just too good to be true. Well, not according to fans of the Lemon Detox Diet – currently the talk of Hollywood. Gwyneth Paltrow swears by it. Beyoncé believes in it, while Angelina Jolie and Madonna are apparently huge fans. Mariam Corbel discovers that a lemon is truly a girl’s best friend.
The lemon detox has been around since 1941. It was created by naturopath Stanley Burroughs and was originally known as the “The Master Cleanser”. More recently, it’s been dubbed the Lemonade Diet or Lemon Detox Diet because, quite simply, all you ingest is a drink made of lemon “Not only is juice, Madal Bal (a mixture of there a loss tree syrups) and cayenne pepper. Consequently, you wind up feeling of weight, full and satiated.
few days away from excessive caffeine, fat and processed food make me feel tremendously better. The problem is that, unless you have “Did I lose a will as tight as trap, it’s weight? I ai msteel possible to certainly stay committed when you’re did: 2 s u r ro u n d e d b y ½ kg in the temptations three of everyday life.
leaves and a tomato make a square meal. What about normal people with normal appetites, I thought to myself.
Yes, but can I keep on it? Or will I fall off the bandwagon and stray to that evil compartment called the fridge? Well at least for now, I’m looking at the mirror and I like who’s looking back at me!
“Not only is there a loss of weight, the skin is clearer; there is a regeneration of the body and there is a feeling of vitality and wellbeing,” claims Beyer. Obstetrician Dr. Michel Odent uses the regime as part of his preconception program – and believes it helps to create healthier babies.
So how does this diet work? Twice a day (or more if you like), you’re given a flask of the drink to sip. Reflexology, body scrubs, massage and watsu (“underwater shiatsu” in which you’re stretched and soothed while being swirled around a very warm pool) supposedly h e l p t h e p ro c e s s a n d t a k e your mind off the fact that you aren’t eating.
Most doctors, however, roll their eyes at detoxing – arguing that the body will cleanse itself quite easily if left alone. Personally, I have always found that a
I was skeptical about a diet favored by the kind of celebrities who think that four lettuce
the skin is clearer, there is a regeneration of the body and there is a feeling of vitality and wellbeing”
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You can “lose 3 ½ kg in 10 days”, according to Swiss psychologist Dr. K. A. Beyer, who refined Burroughs’s detox and is the author of ‘The Lemon Detox Diet’. The regime will also, allegedly, regulate blood pressure, lower cholesterol and alleviate a host of complaints – from infections and allergies to joint and respiratory issues.
days – no wonder the celebs love it”
To my amazement, I didn’t feel hungry on this diet. I had a vague headache (from coming off caffeine) on day three. But otherwise, I felt very cheerful. Did I lose weight? I certainly did: 2 ½ kg in three days – no wonder celebs love it.
(ED. Disclaimer: The abovementioned diet, depending on body type, weight and specific physical traits, might not be ideal for certain individuals. With that in mind, we at PUSH urge you to consult with your physician before you proceed to try out any method that may assist in shedding some weight.) By Mariam Corbel
The best time to take a break is when you feel you need one
Assuming that the average time off allocated by most companies is 30 days every year, the ideal combination is to take 15 days every 6 months
he notion of taking t i m e o ff f ro m w o r k might sound odd in such turbulent times. After the global recession, many employees began to believe that they need to work extra hard in order to justify their designations and prove their worth for fear of being laid off. And as a result, a healthy and fruitful work-life balance is being constantly pushed to detrimental levels, leading to increased cases of bur nout (which in turn damages productivity.) Even in the absence of the economic downturn, many are of the notion that he/she is indispensable and his/her contribution to the company is invaluable. While this might be somewhat true, it doesn’t mean that we have to forgo our right to stop and recharge every now and then. The next pertinent question, however, is when to take a b re a k . M o s t p e o p l e i n t h e corporate world give the excuse of “waiting for the right time” to do so – awaiting some unknown sign, which never arrives. The best time to take a break is when you feel you need one. Now if you feel like taking one every month or so, you might want to consider getting a new job.
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Assuming that the average time off allocated by most companies is 30 days every year, the ideal combination is to take 15 days every 6 months. But before you put in your leave request, make sure to check with your colleagues to see if the time suits them. This is crucial in order to avoid clashing dates and to ensure that a couple of members don’t wind up carrying the burden of an entire team.
Another aspect to making sure that your absence does not stall work or delay results is to delegate to your colleagues. Find the best person in your team who can fill your shoes, especially if you have to interact with people outside of the company. This way, they can tur n to him/ her during your absence. Make sure to inform everyone of this “change of guard” well in advance. Consequently, it’s most essential to do your share of the job before you go on vacation so that nobody else has to do your own work. Once you’ve covered all bases, you can look into what exactly you want to achieve during your leave. Different plans will need different approaches and preparation. For example, if you plan to make an international getaway then you will need to finalize all the bookings and paperwork well in advance. This way, you can figure out methods to stay in touch with your colleagues in the case of an emergency. If it is just to get reports from your team, set a prefixed time when you can get a summary of the essentials to keep you in the loop. Although you don’t want to be disturbed while sipping your drink in the Bahamas, you won’t regret spending 30 minutes every couple of days catching up on the action, especially if you hold a high pressure and demanding position in the company. This way, you illustrate your dedication to your role as you enjoy a guilt-free holiday. By Neil Soans PUSHMAG.ME
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NERDY FACT
The universe’s expansion helps us to appreciate the direction in which time flows. This is referred to as the Cosmological arrow of time, and implies that the future is - by definition - the direction towards which the universe increases in size. The expansion of the universe also gives rise to the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the overall entropy (or disorder) in the Universe can only increase with time because the amount of energy available for work deteriorates with time. If the universe was eternal, therefore, the amount of usable energy available for work would have already been exhausted. Hence it follows that at one point the entropy value was at absolute 0 (most ordered state at the moment of creation) and the entropy has been increasing ever since - that is, the universe at one point was fully “wound up” and has been winding down ever since. This has profound theological implications, for it shows that time itself is necessarily finite. If the universe were eternal, the thermal energy in the universe would have been evenly distributed throughout the cosmos, leaving each region of the cosmos at uniform temperature (at very close to absolute 0), rendering no further work possible.
Term of the Month Space-Time
The combination of three spatial dimensions, which are length, width and height with time. The four together form the four-dimensional nature of our Universe. The effects of gravity can be regarded as a result of the curving of space-time due to the presence of massive objects.
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PUSH Asked
Is it easier to work with men or women? What are the pros and cons? Do you discriminate when hiring? Do you feel men have a hard time working under a female boss? Nadine from Abu Dhabi, UAE I think it is much easier to work with men, because they are much simpler beings and they are very direct with their work. With women unfortunately, you have to deal with jealousy, preferences, likes and dislikes, PMS, etc. We have to deal with our hormones! In my experience, men usually treat women in a much nicer way than how women treat other women. If I were hiring, I wouldn’t discriminate between a man and a woman. But I will admit that if I came across a man who is qualified for the position and a woman who is also qualified, I would most definitely hire the man if I felt that the woman might cause problems due to her attitude. Men may have a hard time working under a female boss only because most female bosses, in my opinion, are very bossy. And so, men might feel a bit threatened. If not threatened, they might start to feel insecure. So the problem exists due to the female’s strong personality and the male’s ego being tested.
Chronophobia
Chronophobia is the fear of time. This phobia is most common with prison inmates, who become stir crazy. After they get used to being in prison, they begin to go crazy thinking of all the time they have to serve. This can lead to claustrophobia because they think their surroundings (cell) are closing in on them. The origin of the word chrono is Greek (meaning time) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear). People with Chronophobia might also have Chronomentrophobia (fear of clocks or watches).
Lama from Syria I don’t think it makes a difference; it all depends on the person and the situation. It’s all about the personality. Randa from Lebanon My boss definitely discriminates between my male colleagues and me; consequently, I feel very uncomfortable. So for me, having a male boss makes things more complicated. Nevertheless, my male colleagues are very easy to work with and we get along great. PUSHMAG.ME
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S e c o n d b u s i n ess l unch meet for dbwc members
The Deutsche Bank Creative Award in partnership with Bader awards two prizes of €10,000 Dr. Henry Azzam, Chairman MENA Deutsche Bank
The Deutsche Bank Middle East Foundation in partnership with Bader Young Entrepreneurs Program announced during a final ceremony the two winners of the Deutsche Bank Awards in Lebanon.
Mr. Robert Fadel, President of Bader Young Entrepreneurs Program
The top 5 finalists which competed for the final prizes were chosen amongst a pool of 25 applications. The finalists were Out Loud (Feature Film), Karen & Josette (Photography), Draw Me A Song (Poster Service based on song lyrics), BrandMee (Branding service), Sukoun (Furniture design based on Arabic Calligraphy).
Arnaud Leclercq giving a lecture entitled: “How to Grow Small Family Businesses: The Financial Solutions”
Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC), the body that functions under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized its second business luncheon (DBWC Network Majlis) for its members in Legends Restaurant at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. The Council hosted during the lunch Mr. Arnaud Leclercq from the Swiss bank Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch.
For the Jury Award, each finalist team presented their projects for 15 minutes in front of a Jury. For the Public Choice Award, more than 3,000 people voted on the internet to select their favorite project. This marks the first time that the Deutsche Bank Awards have been offered outside of the UK, where they have been in place since 1993. The creative industry includes fields as varied as music, performing arts, fashion design, designers, photographer, cinema and documentary, etc… The Awards offer practical and financial support to artists, craftspeople, designers and performers to start a business or carry out a project. It was announced during the ceremony that the Deutsche Bank will continue its partnership with Bader for 2011 to run a new cycle of the Deutsche Bank Creative Award. The winners, Nour Tohme of Draw me a Song and Karent & Josette owners of Karen & Josette Studio
The Five Finalist Teams
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Hannah Clements, Grace Chalabi, Noha Yamak
Fethiye Khmer, Samia Saleh, Kirsten Staab
For additional information on the awards, please visit www.dbawards.com and www.baderlebanon.com
Nada Jaber, Kirsten Staab
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A manifesto is a written declaration of your principles and intentions – matters that you wish to manifest. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for filling your soul with a sense of purpose. Although writing a manifesto might not be easy, it is in fact a very enjoyable task. And it is fun to do. Not only do you get to set forth what you believe in (without the need to justify your beliefs), but also you can denounce everything that you dislike. A Manifesto could help you ponder certain beliefs, which you might have never deeply examined before. Moreover, it could make you reflect on novel matters previously deemed unimportant. You could write your own life manifesto as well as one that is specific for your business.
In every row reposition just one matchstick to make the question valid
PUSH believes that all businesses should declare a manifesto – not only for public image but also for internal guidance. If you follow your manifesto, there is a possibility that you might reach an epiphany! So make it your priority to write down your manifesto; sit quietly in a secluded room and ponder all the clauses that you wish to include. You may refer to the PUSH manifesto for inspiration on what to write about. And here are some additional guidelines:
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I- A manifesto should serve as a guide – one that could lead to a healthy, productive and satisfying life. II- All violations that you commit against your manifesto must be admitted. III- Violating the manifesto must induce an examination as to why it happened. And then the manifesto must be revised, or a decision not to repeat the same mistake must be made. IV- On the first day of each month, you should schedule a meeting with someone to discuses how your life is unfolding in regards to your manifesto (if it’s a business manifesto, you can discuss it with your partners or colleagues.) V- You may adjust your manifesto at any time. VI- It’s a good idea to post your manifesto in a place where you can see it every day. How to proceed: Begin each section of the manifesto with a topic that you want to improve or enhance in your life. Write the rules of your life in an inspiring manner. Be honest; you are writing for yourself primarily.
so Be creative, and have fun! answers of sudoku and exercise on page 088
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MY MANIFESTO “T
his is something I can create quickly and easily and dash out. I dislike eggs, and I find it difficult to get enough protein into my morning meals. This has been a real boon to staying healthier and getting in more protein, plus I don’t get hungry for carbs in the late morning when I have this dish.” Directions In individual cups or a large bowl, combine the yogurt, cottage cheese, berries, granola, and nuts. Grate the chocolate over the top. Nutritional Facts per serving Calories: 174.1 Cal Fat: 2.7 G Saturated fat: 1 G Cholesterol: 4.9 Mg Sodium: 304.2 Mg Carbohydrates: 26 G Total sugars: 17.9 G Dietary fiber: 1.6 G Protein: 12.2 G
1 cup fat-free blueberry yogurt ½ cup reduced-fat cottage cheese ½ cup blueberries and/or sliced strawberries 2 tablespoons fat-free granola 1 teaspoon crushed walnuts or almonds 2 teaspoons grated dark chocolate
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CHINESE
HOROSCOPE Dragon
RAT
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Born in the year: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Born in the year: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Born in the year: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Born in the year: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
Born in the year: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
WORK: Urgent attention is needed, as there have been events triggered by a recent dispute or disagreement. A variety of revelations makes you realize that much of what you have been fighting for no longer matters.
WORK: You will soon
WORK:You cannot
WORK: You are about
have to make lifechanging decisions. It is premature to raise certain issues, for you are unprepared to commit to anything yet. Focus on untangling complications from the past.
do much about the confusion that occurred during the end of last year. Instead of struggling to regain control, you will enjoy witnessing the end of one cycle and the birth of another.
LOVE: Questions by loved ones could be interpreted as provocative. But actually, the questions are encouraging you to review your beliefs and habits.
LOVE: Try not to
LOVE: The intriguing
to experience some lifechanging developments. Don’t let the fact that you don’t have the full picture make you overly cautious. Actually, you should be exploring absolutely everything that comes your way.
WORK:You are among the first to explore new ideas, because you like to keep up to date. However, you should be aware that some of the extreme options being discussed could soon become part of your life.
argue over certain arrangements with loved ones or with your partner. Ponder the reason behind your objection to these arrangements; what you might learn could enable you to make easy and worthwhile changes to existing situations.
relationship now approaching your way merit serious attention; yet, you are wary of getting involved in something that might be potentially disruptive.
HEALTH: Stop complaining about certain circumstances affecting your life. Stressing over this could be taxing on your health. This is time to ponder instead of fretting and fuming.
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HEALTH: You have strong opinions and do not mind expressing them. However, even simple statements could lead to contentious exchanges or you might find that you have the facts wrong. So beware.
HEALTH: You do not recognize recent disappointments as having liberated you from restrictive situations. These events are in fact helping you to abandon the old and venture into the new.
LOVE: Tedious as the confusion you are facing in your personal life may be, every dilemma offers remarkable insight. Such revelations are important, preparing you for the crucial events that are heading your way.
HEALTH: Once you understand that this month is all about exploration, you will stop worrying and start embracing the healing process. And each day’s progress will alter your thinking and therefore your confidence.
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LOVE: Usually, you are the one who is adept at solving difficult situations caused by tactless words or unwise actions. But now, you seem to be causing them. So watch out.
HEALTH: No simple solutions to the issues that are confronting you exist. Acknowledge that and stop worrying. Do whatever you can for your loved ones and leave the rest to the professionals.
Snake Born in the year: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 WORK: During this period, special events will affect your financial status. While some matters were already on your mind, others arose suddenly and a few were quite a shock. LOVE: You either have little say in decisions or must leave it up completely to those who are more knowledgeable than you are. Your instincts tell you that your loved ones are trustworthy enough, and you are happy to rely on them. HEALTH: Don’t ignore pressing matters. And consider the assessment of the medical team – try not to disregard professional recommendations.
Horse
Goat
Born in the year: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Born in the year: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
WORK: A new and
WORK: Impossible
vital project has reached the final stage. This means turning theories into practical ideas – something that you find tedious. Yet if you opt out of negotiations, you would then have no right to complain about the arrangements that others make.
as it may seem now, a combination of inspired thinking and fortunate developments should enable you to discover ways around major dilemmas.
LOVE: Certain close individuals are being petty or refusing to undertake necessary changes, and you are getting increasingly frustrated. Stand your ground but do not force issues.
HEALTH: Others may want to make decisions, but there are too many uncertainties. Knowing that, explore options on your own and with others. But try to keep any arrangement loose.
LOVE: You prefer to forget about a personal relationship and recent family-related issues. But there is a lot to be learned from such experiences. HEALTH: Telling others that they will just have to wait may sound harsh. But it is equally vital to inform others of any potential risks involved.
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NOT SO
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
BOAR
Born in the year: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Born in the year: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
Born in the year: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Born in the year: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
WORK: The last thing
WORK: Since events
WORK:Last month’s
WORK: You cannot
you want to hear is that certain financial plans cannot be implemented as anticipated due to external influences. Do not despair; explore the situation wisely.
are fantastic, sort out what you can each day and leave the rest. Life could not simply be any less aggravating; you will be calm enough to enjoy the wonder of it all.
events convinced you that many of the ideas, feelings and hopes you normally keep to yourself are best revealed. This month’s openness will foster exciting updates.
LOVE: During this period, you will be conducting a massive review of virtually every aspect in your life. Try to focus on learning all you can. Soon, your situation and your priorities will shift.
LOVE: Try not to
LOVE:If you still
keep everybody happy, so stop trying. This may sound harsh. But in reality, you are encouraging those who have been overly dependent on you to make their own decisions while you explore your own options.
HEALTH: Few things annoy you more than being delayed by details that have been neglected. Once you calm down, however, you might find yourself feeling grateful that events are forcing you to question certain matters.
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consider recent events as disruptive; see them as elements paving the path for new developments. Instead of struggling to keep things as they are, you will experience intriguing progress.
believe that with enough charm you can create relationships that flow magnificently without a hitch then you are in for a surprise. What you need to do is try to be patient and understanding.
HEALTH: Destiny
HEALTH: Beginning of the month brings a new and exciting cycle. These events will remove distractions so that you can focus on the latest medical developments coming your way.
seems determined to interfere with your plans. However, the chaos is actually clearing the way for thrilling and unexpected events that may occur during this month.
LOVE: A mix of obstacles and errors, mostly minor, may sound like a formula for a challenging month. But if you take action on these matters as they arise, you will probably turn any potential problem to your advantage. HEALTH: During this period, be prepared to end one chapter and begin another, for these changes could manifest themselves in a completely unexpected manner. Destiny has a far better idea as to what is in your best interest.
Frequently Asked Questions For general business advice or office etiquette questions, email us to: feedback@pushmag.me I have a coworker who once said to me, "You make me look bad." Is he suggesting that I should adjust my performance so that he looks good? Don’t you think that this is selfish on his part? I ignored his comment, but it made me uncomfortable. How should I have responded? K.R. – Lebanon Dear K.R., The communicational skills of your coworker obviously need some work. But it is important to address this in a professional manner for greater understanding, especially if you work in the same department or on the same team. To avoid future conflict, schedule a time to talk to him privately. Ask him about SPECIFIC instances that you have "impacted" him negatively and he felt uncomfortable as a result. Avoid namecalling such as "selfish"; stay with the FACTS. Once you have the facts, then you can determine how to find a solution without compromising your work. If this fails to accomplish some form of understanding then it may have to be dealt with at a higher managerial level.
I was at a business function last week when a person waved and said, “Hi Rima!” I faced the person and drew a complete blank. Not only did I not know this person’s name, I didn’t recognize him at all. So I smiled, said "Hi" and kept on going. I was disappointed with my reaction. Other choices might have been to stop and engage in a conversation and fake it, hoping to pick up a clue to help me remember. Or to come right out and say, “I’m sorry; I can’t remember your name!” Or say, “I know you but I don’t remember from where.” What do I do in such a situation? Rima – Jordan Dear Rima, A good response in a situation like this is to say something like, “Hi, good to see you.” Then, start a simple conversation. For example, ask him/her, “Is your company sponsoring the function?” This way you can get a clue. The key here is to say “good to see you.” This allows you to start a dialogue without being obvious that you don’t remember the person.
Some women just don’t seem to get it! A company’s restroom mirror should not be used for curling hair or plucking eyebrows! It is for freshening up, washing hands and reapplying lipstick. Where do people get the idea that others who are also using the facility don’t mind such actions? Isn’t this a breach of workplace etiquette? J.N. - Dubai Dear J.N., Extended use of public facilities is a breach of etiquette, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Business and social manners dictate that you avoid excessive primping in public locations. That includes brushing or flossing your teeth and other activities. Such matters should be attended to in a private area, rather than a frequently visited public restroom. You have to talk to the person in charge and ask him/her to send out a memo dealing with such issues.
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exhibitions
8-9 Mar EGM on Enabling Environment for the Development of Arabic E-Services ESCWA 961 1 978035 www.escwa.un.org www.exporise.com 25-27 Mar Made in Lebanon Expo Rise 961 6 425 555 info@exporise.com www.exporise.com
22-26 Jun Outdoor Lebanon IFP Lebanon 961 5 959111 outdoor@ifpexpo.com www.ifpexpo.com
International Guangzhou, China 10-15 Apr CANTON FAIR China Foreign Trade Center 86-20-26088888 www.cftc.org.cn
29 Mar – 1 Apr HORECA Hospitality Services 961 1 480 081 info@hospitalityservices.com.lb www.hospitalityservices.com.lb
DUBAI, UAE 7-9 Mar Paperworld Middle East Epoc Messe Frankfurt 971 4 3380102 paperworld@uae.messefrankfurt.com www.uae.messefrankfurt.com
7-9 Apr SMES-Security Middle East Show INEGMA 961 1 974 530 contact@inegma.com www.inegma.com
8-10 Mar Wetex Exhibition 2011 Dubai World Trade Center 971 4 3321000 info@dwtc.com | www.dwtc.com
14-17 Apr IMEET International Fairs & Promotions (IFP) 961 5 959 111 info@ifp.com.lb | www.ifpexpo.com
14-16 Mar Franchising Middle East Exhibition International Expo Consults 971 4 3435777 iec@emirates.net.ae www.iecdubai.com
5-6 May The Thirteenth Student’s Annual Science and Arts Fair LAU 961 9 547254 www.lau.edu.lb | www.ifpexpo.com 18-22 May Beirut Boat Show International Fairs & Promotions (IFP) 961 5 959 111 info@ifp.com.lb | www.ifpexpo.com 24-28 May The Garden Show and Spring Festival Hospitality Services 961 1 480 081 info@hospitalityservices.com.lb www.hospitalityservices.com.lb 31 May – 3 Jun Project Lebanon International Fairs & Promotions (IFP) 961 5 959 111 info@ifp.com.lb | www.ifpexpo.com
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14-17 Mar Gulf Pack and Gulf Print Exhibition Dubai World Trade Centre 971 4 3321000 info@dwtc.com | www.dwtc.com 21-23 Mar Careers UAE 2011 Dubai World Trade Centre 971 4 3321000 info@dwtc.com | www.dwtc.com
SAUDI ARABIA 4-7 Apr Saudi Building and Interiors Exhibition Al Harithy Exhibitions 966 2 654 6384 ace@acexpos.com www.acexpos.com 10-13 Apr Saudi Communications Riyadh Exhibitions Company 966 1 2295604 info@recexpo.com www.recexpo.com 10-13 Apr Acoustics in Construction Saudi Arabia IQPC Middle East 971 4 3642975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae 17-20 Apr Second Annual Saudi Supply Chain & Logistics Forum IQPC Middle East 971 4 3642975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae
25-28 Apr Saudi Building Industries Exhibition Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions 966 26546384 ace@acexpos.com www.acexpos.com SULTANATE OF OMAN 21-23 Mar The Big Show Oman Expo LLC 968 246 60124 omanexpo@omantel.net.om www.omanexpo.com 28-29 Mar Air Power Middle East IQPC Middle East 971 4 364 2975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae
28-30 Mar Offshore Arabia Exhibition & Conference Dubai World Trade Centre 971 4 3321000 info@dwtc.com | www.dwtc.com
25-29 Apr IT Telecom and Technology Show 2011 Oman International Trade and Exhibitions 968 24564303 info@oite.com | www.oite.com
ABU DHABI, UAE 8-10 March Interiors UAE Channels Exhibitions 971 4 282 4737 channels@channelexhibitions.com www.channelsexhibitions.com
EGYPT 27-30 Apr The Third Round of the Mega Real Estate Exhibition and Forum ACG-ITF 202 27538401 info@acg-itf.com | www.acg-itf.com
SYRIA 25-29 Mar Shaam the Sixteenth Exhibiton for Information and Communication Technologies Arabian Group 963 114433444 arabiangroup@net.sy www.arabiangroup.com 4-7 Apr SYRPOWER 2011 Allied Expo 963 11 332 4801 alliedexpo@mail.sy www.alliedexpo.com 25-29 Apr Wedding Expo Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions 973 17 299123 info@hilalce.com | www.hilalce.com KUWAIT 30 Mar-3 Apr Kuwait International Boat Show Kuwait International Fair 956 25387100 info@kif.net | www.kif.net JORDAN 7-9 Apr The Wedding Show Events UnLimited 962 6 5656550 info@eventsunlimited.com.jo www.eventsunlimited.com
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conferences
7-9 Mar The Eighteenth Regional Social Security Pension and Provident Funds Conference The Muhanna Foundation 961 1 751 290 programs@muhanna.org | www.muhanna.org
18-20 Apr Third GCC Police and Army Organizational Leadership and Economic Excellence Conference Datamatix Group 971 4 3326688 info@datamatixgroup.com www.datamatixgroup.com
25-27 May Beirut International Franchise Forum & Exhibition Al-Iktissad Wal-Aamal Group 961 1 780 200 www.iktissad.com | www.muhanna.org
20 Apr Eighth Leading CEO Summit Datamatix Group 971 4 3326688 info@datamatixgroup.com www.datamatixgroup.com
25-26 Mar ArabNet International Business Alliance Group 961 1 751 180 ibag@ibagrp.com | www.arabnet.me
24-27 Apr Sixth Annual GCC nationalization Summit 2011 IQPC Middle East 971 4 364 2975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae
14-16 Apr Impact of Integrated Clean Energy on the future of the Mediterranean Lebanese University & Medgreen Society 961 3 445 428 salame@ul.edu.lb
International DUBAI 14-17 Mar Aviation Outlook MENA Terrapinn Middle East 971 4440 2500 enquiry.me@terrapinn.com | www.terrapinn.com 26-31 Mar Balanced Scorecard Forum 2011 IIR Middle East 971 4 3365161 info@iirme.com | www.iirme.com 4-7 Apr Planet of the Apps Arabia 2011 Terrapinn Middle East 971 4440 2500 enquiry.me@terrapinn.com | www.terrapinn.com 10-14 Apr Fifty Ninth UITP World Congress& Exhibition Dubai World Trade Centre 971 4 3321000 info@dwtc.com | www.dwtc.com
ABU DHABI 20-23 Mar Sixth Annual Asset Integrity Management Summit QPC Middle East 971 4 364 2975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae 10-14 Apr Customer Service Forum2011 IIR Middle East 971 4 3365161 info@iirme.com | www.iirme.com 24-27 Apr Disaster Management & Crisis Response 2011 IQPC Middle East 971 4 3642975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae
EGYPT 14-15 Mar Twelfth MEAPET Centre for Management Technologie 65 64357322 sharm@cmtsp.com.sg | www.fleminggulf.com SAUDI ARABIA 13-15 Mar The Sixth Gulf Municipal Work Conference Exicon International Group 966 1 4602332 info@specialist.com.sa | www.exicon-intl.com 13-16 Mar Second Annual Cost-Effective Sustainable Design and Construction KSA IQPC Middle East 971 4 3642975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.enquiry.ae 20-23 Mar Middle East Electronic Health Records Summit IQPC Middle East 971 4 3642975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae 27-31 Mar Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market Riyadh Exhibitions Company 966 1 2295604 info@recexpo.com | www.recexpo.com 9-11 Apr Outlook Saudi IIR Middle East 971 4 336 5161 info@iirme.com | www.iirme.com
QATAR 6-9 Mar Road Planning Design and Construction Middle East IQPC Middle East 971 4 364 2975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae 13-16 Mar Education Design and Construction MENA IQPC Middle East 971 4 3642975 enquiry@iqpc.ae | www.iqpc.ae
11-12 Apr The Private Equity International Middle East Forum Private Equity International 44 20 7566 5450 Nicholas.l@peimedia.com | www.peimedia.com
BAHRAIN 14-15 Mar Fourth Middle East Risk Management Forum 2011 Fleming Gulf Conferences 971 4 3902764 events@jacobfleming.com | www.fleminggulf.com
11-13 Apr Sixth Annual Middle East Retail Banking Forum Fleming Gulf Conferences 971 4 3902764 events@jacobfleming.com | www.fleminggulf.com
18-19 Apr The Financial Technology Market Media Generation Exhibitions 44 1423 524 545 info@meftec.com | www.meftec.com
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Connect with companies about your CSR Project! YAWE wants to help you pitch your Corporate Social Responsibility idea to companies!
Register Now For The Starting a Business Workshop! The fourth Cisco Entrepreneur Institute “Starting a Business” workshop will start on Thursday, March 24 For more information: Allyson Jerab Email: ajerab@amideast.org Phone: 01-989901 ext: 234 Web: amideast.org/lebanon Facebook: Cisco Entrepreneur Institute at AMIDEAST/Lebanon fan page http://on.fb.me/eDL897 LinkedIn: Cisco Entrepreneur Institute at AMIDEAST/Lebanon http://www.linkedin.com/ groups?mostPopular=&gid=3055457
Investment Opportunities: For investment inquiries or to enlist your project email: bizops@pushmag.me
1- E-commerce: An online interactive website that targets men & women of all ages. Great earning potential, minimum risk! For more info refer to code 001FD 2- Brand Launching: Retail/Franchising opportunity! Unique “theme” Boutique. Original concept & design. Looking for investors/agents/distributors in the MENA area. For more info refer to code 001IC 3- Investors Needed for a High End Bridal Center- A Dream Come True for every bride! Bridal services, from A to Z. Design, concept & execution completed & ready for execution. Looking to open in Lebanon by 2011. For inquiries refer to code 001RT
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Brain Gym solution
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SUDOKU solution
Twitter: CILebanon
To submit your project, or for more info, Please email us at: csr@yawe.org
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