WEBVTT
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So welcome back to another episode of Game On with the co-hosts Fami, Mustafa, and myself.
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Hello again.
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How are you guys doing?
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Fantastic.
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I mean, we just raced in here from driving at what speed.
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God knows how many tickets you got.
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I'd rather not publicly say it for speed.
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Just so I'm not late, so I wouldn't disappoint you.
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Well, I'm saying that's dedication.
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Dedication to the podcast.
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Always.
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And to you guys, and to you guys.
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That's actually one of the first times we uh we record midday.
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It's not for me, this is not midday.
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This is the evening.
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I was gonna say no, this is midday for I'm wrapping up my day and now I usually go home and have dinner.
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Okay.
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Well, okay, I mean, uh why is that significant for you?
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Why is that significant for you?
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A little bit of traffic, yeah.
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Right.
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Uh we still had to juggle a lot of things to actually be here on time or just on time.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Like uh I felt it's like he's on time when it's late night or morning.
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Just uh just in time, just in time, always.
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Um okay, so icebreaker questions today.
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We've all had uh unique time the last few weeks.
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Uh but if you look at this just last week and you were to describe it as a movie, how would you describe your last week in a movie title if you could?
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Alright, Mustafa, come on, you look ready.
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You look ready.
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Uh it's like I'm sure there's a movie called the Roller Coaster or something.
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I don't know.
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Have you watched it?
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No, I have not.
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Or like a Mad Max, something like that.
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Mad Max, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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I've seen Mad Max.
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I mean, do you want to say a sentence why?
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It's been so I think it's clear.
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Okay, it's clear.
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The roller coaster and the man together, you can I don't know.
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I don't really have one.
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Go ahead.
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You don't have one.
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No.
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It's your question.
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That's fine.
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Just a question the easy one that cop out and say blessed.
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Just I feel like just blessed.
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Like things are happening and taking me by surprise.
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And yeah, enjoying the ride.
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Yeah, that's good.
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That's good.
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That's a positive one, right?
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Always.
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And is there a movie called Blessed, or just you'll just try to maybe it's one word that could be a movie.
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It's a it's a word.
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I don't know if there's a movie, I wouldn't have seen it anyway.
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I'm sure there is at some point.
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For me, I don't know.
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I think I think like, you know, it could be something like Twister, as like it's been that much of a whirlwind, or it could be something as simple as uh even you know, there's just progress being made every day uh in some way.
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So I don't know if those are movies, but maybe that's Twister is a movie.
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Twister, I know.
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That's the only one that came together.
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It works well.
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No need to pull a fame.
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Do you remember watching Twister when you were young?
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Yes.
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Yeah, you learned so much about tornadoes at that age.
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Yeah, yeah.
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And then when we talked about tornado happening here a few weeks ago, that's the only thing that came to my mind.
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Sorry, I when you were young.
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I was in college when I watched Twister.
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I mean, there's an age difference here, right?
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Uh I was still maybe seven, eight when that came out.
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I don't remember exactly, but we I was young.
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I remember watching it on a laser disc.
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That's how long ago it was.
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Do you remember laser discs?
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They failed, they never picked up, right?
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I don't know.
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I don't think I've got to go and twist them over and do you remember all that?
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I used to go.
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I used to go, um, I was 16, I was in high in the US, and I'd go to the$2 theaters.
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There was always a theater that has half price.
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And Tuesdays always had that price, and you get the movies sort of after they did the main.
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That's what I remember watching Twister.
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Twister, nice going paying$2.59.
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I mean, I remember my dad had a pretty extensive collection of Laserdiscs.
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I mean, what a depletion of technology.
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Laserdisc, which was the right thing.
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Okay, okay.
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And you had to go and flip it over to see the other half of the movie.
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Uh different time, different time.
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Okay.
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But you you haven't watched any on VHS or have you?
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Oh no, no, of course we do.
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Of course we do.
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Even like when I moved to the buy, of course.
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Betamax.
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Betamax, you don't know.
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I don't know what that is.
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I barely I'm not sure.
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Betamax, uh it's funny when you even VHS, I remember you sometimes the movie gets uh stuck inside.
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You'll take it out.
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And I'll cut I'll actually I'll if you want to remove a part, I'll cut two parts and from the back side you tape it and then you can watch it again.
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Wow.
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Wow, that I totally missed that generation.
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That's totally missed that generation.
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All right, so this actually is very interesting.
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I mean, I know it's not art of butt this is the so the Gen X and the millennials.
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Yeah, right?
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So we are or I am We are we are millennials.
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Yeah, but there is a He's a millennial?
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Yes, he's a millennial Yes.
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I mean just if you're a millennial, I but there is a small, very short period between the Gen X overlaps Gen X and Millennials.
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Okay, that's called I don't know how to pronounce it, but maybe the exennials or Xennials or whatever.
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This is the people who watched on uh uh VHS and Bitemax, and at the same time got the CD and the first MP3 songs, you know.
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But that's a big generation.
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No, this is uh apparently this is I think only eight years that you were really uh born, I think late 70s, early 80s, that you actually got to Bitamax, the VHS, and both your first MP3 player and the while you were still young.
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I mean that I read it somewhere, but I'm not sure of the source, but Instagram uh I had a whole thing in maintained about misinformation, fake uh facts.
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But you're in a good mood today, Aja.
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Always, always lashes.
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Alright, guys, calm it down, calm it down, let's move on.
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Let's move on.
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So a little bit more of a fun topic given um um you guys know I've had a big opinion of this of the the power of networking, the skill of networking, and the sort of importance of it.
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And it's never really taught to us at a young age, school or otherwise.
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Um, and just wanted to double tap on that and and understand uh how did you guys approach like the first time you remember going into having to network into a room with a whole bunch of people you didn't know, how did you approach it?
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How did you feel?
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What did you do?
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Um how did you build on that skill?
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Uh I'd love to learn a bit more about that from your perspective.
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Um I think net my issue with networking was when I was a kid, I couldn't mingle in a group.
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Like I'd go, we'd go to a nightclub in college, and I just I don't know how to talk to people.
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I don't know.
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So to me, that was always the obstacle of I can I can't network.
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Like, how do you go out and talk and just chit-chat and small talk?
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And that was the biggest challenge.
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And trying to look back, how did it, how did I change?
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Sorry, just I'll make it a little bit easier for you.
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Think about only the professional environments.
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So that's I would call that more social networking.
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Think about the professional networking.
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And like if you have to go from like a career's fair and like go and speak to all these random potential employers and sell yourself.
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Uh, did you ever have to kind of do that?
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And and and and or you know, that kind of much, much later in life.
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Yeah, yeah, much later in later life.
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I didn't know I'm talking probably didn't get the hang of it until I'm late 30s.
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Late 30s.
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I'd imagine mid to late 30s.
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But but go back to the first time you ever did that.
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How did you feel?
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Was it difficult?
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Was it not?
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Did it come to you naturally?
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Was it somebody that guided you how to network?
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Any of those?
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All right, I'll give I'll give you a perspective, right?
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Sorry, like I've stumped you guys with this one.
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So I remember from my my first real experience was uh it was at university, and all of us were told in our first year that the way you basically get ahead in life is to get a summer internship.
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And we were still in that age where investment banking was the uh job to get, that is how your career was made.
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And every like uh uh term the all the banks will come, they'll be in a big hall, and you have to go and basically network, and you know, and there was some uh element of how you would basically get some contacts and then build those relationships.
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And I remember walking into that hall, and it was absolutely terrifying, right?
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First, I'm a person, and still today today, I kind of need to know a person in the crowd, and then through that person, I'll basically find the rest, right?
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Um, and we have some close friends who are just serial networkers, they feel very comfortable.
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And I think that anxiety of always having to walk into a room and not know somebody, and then you don't end up looking them in the eye.
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They even say their name and you forget their name, right?
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Uh uh, do you guys find any of that?
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That's that's what that's really what's happened to me over time.
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I still can't catch names and forget the names.
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I still don't think that's the same.
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They just told you, right?
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Zero.
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Like because as they're saying their name, I'm just thinking about what am I gonna say next?
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And just I don't even listen to their name.
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And then a minute later I was like, oops.
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And and that's part of the skill set.
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But I'm saying that if if I I feel today there is actually a lot more focus put on it and something about teaching, about how you retain that memory.
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I honestly don't recall my first uh encounter with networking or what I did I feel then, but but what you just said there is that uh thought uh is it something that can be taught or not?
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And if yes, why isn't it being taught?
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Uh I I don't know this came to mind because it I think it's as you said, it's very important, right?
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Uh uh networking is actually crucial for your career in general.
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But if it's that crucial and it's that important, why is it not taught?
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Anyway, schools or so let me let me uh sorry, go ahead.
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No, no, no, please I'll just say a thought.
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So you I know you were big on sports, uh and you got sort of relations through sports.
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So you went to college, you found your sport, and that's how your network started being built.
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You as a kid, you'd get into a playground, you'd play a sport.
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That's that's effectively a mode of networking.
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The your easy path into it was you built start building a network.
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Sure.
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And I think it's a different angle finding a venue.
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It's it's always within a certain structure.
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I struggle with saying learn the skill of networking.
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There's a skill of sales, but a skill of networking, I think, is a bit I I I struggle with thinking, is it that for example with our kids, we realized recently that we need to push them more into awkward situations.
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We need to go out, uh, even if they don't have friends, because you know, as a kid, as a teenager, you go out and there's an outing, and your teenager kid or your eight-year-old is gonna say, I don't want to come, I don't know anyone.
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Because they're uncomfortable and it's not fun.
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Yeah.
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Uh and usually we cave in and say, Yeah, fine, they don't have to come.
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And recently we started pulling, saying, You know what?
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No, force them to come because it's gonna force them to have to enter.
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They'll sit alone the first time, the second time for an hour, but then they're gonna have to find some small talk with someone to start building that relation.
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Like networking, I agree.
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In my opinion, it's building is building that courage, I think, and building that.
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Self-confidence as well.
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Self-confidence to actually, you know, you think it's confidence?
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Also to be able to speak to a random stranger and and hold a conversation and and and whatever it might be.
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And I think I I I I was trying to bring the conversation to professional networking because even till today, if I was to go to like a a conference, right, if I didn't find a single person I know, I'm not comfortable just going to a random person and starting a conversation.
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It takes a lot for me to do that, right?
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And I see other people who have grown through the years, and they are way more comfortable.
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They'll read the name tag and say, hey, you know, this is my name, and then they just go, right?
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I I find it very difficult.
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And I don't know if that's a a very individual issue, or is that something to do with how you feel in in large crowds where you don't know anybody, right?
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Uh and that was really the thought-probably question that really built in my mind for today's piece on that.
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Majority of people struggle with that.
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I think it's a minority that come into a room and just look around and able to cla click and say, Oh, that guy and this guy.
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And usually those are the people that go with a certain motive or uh intention.
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Intentional.
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They could you walk into a room, it's intentional.
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I know I want to get that out of this room, and you go into it.
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Uh and I think that's where differs.
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I think my hack has been finding the story in my head.
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Like, what is a story that I know the other person will be interested in?
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Because it's always been if I want to speak to someone, how do I get him engaged?
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And and finding, making up that story of what is it, what could be interesting.
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So an easy one always is you anywhere you go, and especially you see this a lot in the way or in business conferences, the minute you introduce yourself, they're go, where are you from?
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And I found an easy sort of conversation starter or killer is I I go with the answer is where am I where do I live or where am I from?
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And if I want to go to where I'm from, you can take that into sort of a two-hour discussion.
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And I always and that was my hack.
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How do you start the discussion?
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I like that.
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I like that.
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So you actually have a way to basically because you can make it and then you build a story over time.
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I've built the story layers.
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I'm originally from this place, and then that obviously opens a whole discussion or just shuts it down completely.
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Nice, nice, I like that.
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Do you have a hack?
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I honestly I don't feel that it's that difficult.
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Uh if there is something actually to say.
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Right.
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It will be easy if I want to talk to you because we share something common, and the only thing I know in a conference is that, for example, we are in a similar industry.
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For example, I can't I can't.
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I'm gonna laugh.
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I have ten jokes I'm gonna make about this.
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.240
Go ahead.
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.200
No, I don't know.
00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.559
You're taking a serious point then.
00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.000
I don't want to go, please go, please go.
00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.919
Keep going, keep going.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:31.679
Sorry.
00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.759
No, I'm a common topic of finance.
00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.639
So maybe, yeah, I mean I I I can speak to anyone.
00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.480
I I don't feel that this is an issue.
00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:45.279
But I if you I need when I speak, I need to speak of something that is meaningful.
00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.159
So uh without that, that there's no point.
00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:58.559
I I would because we also we're talking, is it only networking, or are we talking uh uh also, for example, uh presentation to people that you don't know?
00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.759
Is that the same?
00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.440
Because I I we tended to overlap here a little bit.
00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:08.559
Uh if because when we say teaching, I agree networking is difficult to teach what to teach.
00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.360
Put kids in an awkward situation, get them ready.
00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:21.039
But that awkward situation means uh presentation, uh giving to class, uh debate classes, is that something that would help eventually?
00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.399
I don't know, I'm thinking out loud.
00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.320
So I I can only go on my personal experience.
00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.919
So if you were to tell me to get on stage and present, no issue whatsoever.
00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.320
Okay.
00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:28.639
Right?
00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:34.320
It was today putting into an environment where you didn't know how to basically navigate yourself, right?
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:38.000
Uh and I feel like there's a lot of people like that, and I've sp I've spoken about a few people there.
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:42.799
So if you're to do a debate, it's your you are the person in control, it was your chance to speak.
00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:44.320
Kind of flew flow really well.
00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:46.080
It's not stage, not stage fright, right?
00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.799
It's more the ability of like, how do you now create this?
00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.639
So, you know what you could get taught.
00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.960
I remember there was a professor in university.
00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:56.080
He said that when you shake someone's hand, you have to look them in the eye, right?
00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.000
And that's what builds confidence for you.
00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.799
You have that piece.
00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:01.759
These are the small tricks that you don't do overall, right?
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.320
Like even today, one of my kids will just go like this and sit shake hands with somebody rather not looking them in the eyes.
00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:08.240
You've got to kind of build that overall.
00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:10.960
So it clearly seems like an Abhishek problem.
00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:17.039
You know, uh, you're talking about a network in a specific environment, specific event.
00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.879
Yeah, but networking goes much beyond this.
00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:22.639
I mean networking is maintaining a relationship with someone without having a relationship.
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.600
So what what's networking is in my definition of a network is how big is your network today?
00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:29.440
Yeah, it's not just about that event.
00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.399
Because, like he said, you go to a conference, there's a topic.
00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:37.360
There's a conference about finance or investments, or and you'll find the topic and you'll be able to engage.
00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:41.200
Uh approaching people you talk about, which maybe takes confidence and so on.
00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:46.480
But in my uh definition of network is I'll come and say, How big is your network?
00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.200
Do you have a hundred people you can pick up or is it a thousand people?
00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:52.879
I need to reach the chairman of DP World.
00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.440
How many degrees of separation?
00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.320
And that's the breadth, strength and the depth of your network.
00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.879
Which comes to the reason of how we actually all met, right?
00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:07.600
Uh uh that was one of the things that really uh accelerated not only my networking skills and my network.
00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:19.600
Uh is is uh, you know, at the age of like, was it 28, 29, hit a glass ceiling in the business, didn't know what to do next, uh, and then realized that the best way to learn is through some of these peer-to-peer networks, right?
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:24.720
And I joined Entrepreneurs Organization where I met you, Farmy, uh, and then later into uh YPO.
00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:36.480
But I think those kind of networks where you learn from others is actually an incredible way to understand how you can build a network and and sort of you know learn the art of networking because there's just so many other people that are better than it.
00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.879
Um what's been your experience with that kind of environment?
00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.960
I love that because there's a term I really like, which is the borrowed experience.
00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.440
Yeah.
00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:43.919
Right?
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:44.879
I like that.
00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.919
Borrowed experience.
00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:51.279
Borrowed experience, which is it comes from this networking, right?
00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:56.559
Valuable networking or proper networking or valuable uh networking, whatever you want to call it.
00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:07.440
But uh because there's a uh networking is not uh collecting, it's absolutely not collecting uh contacts.
00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.279
Yeah, it's actually building context.
00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.680
Building relationships and relationships, right?
00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:25.279
Uh so so also a big difference because a lot of people, and I don't want uh mis uh understand or uh uh misunderstand uh the networking, it's just how many contexts you have.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.160
That's not it.
00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.119
It's how many meaningful relationships, right?
00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.799
And uh meaningful?
00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.000
Yes.
00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:39.039
I I I'm with you, it's not about collecting contacts, but meaningful is a is a high bar.
00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:44.640
Is it really about meaningful or is it someone I'm willing to pick up the phone and ask for something?
00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.880
This is in itself meaningful, right?
00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.880
Yeah, I maybe I I misused the word.
00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:53.599
I mean uh uh uh it's not just the contact on your phone.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:54.640
Okay.
00:17:55.119 --> 00:18:00.079
Well that if you needed to go and actually speak to them and have a conversation and actually set up a meeting, you could.
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.559
Yes, right?
00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.480
So how do you build that depth?
00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:06.960
That there is the art of building the relationship, which I think is a different story, right?
00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.759
I mean, today you can't call somebody only when you need them.
00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.400
Uh I mean that that that becomes too transactional.
00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.240
So what's your hack on that?
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:20.319
I mean, because as as life goes on, you want your network to get bigger and bigger for so many different reasons.
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:31.440
So, how do you mean how do you balance ensuring that your network keeps growing while having that level of confidence that I can send a message and ask for something?
00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.880
Yeah, and this is a great point.
00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.440
This is a great point.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:36.240
So if I think about like, let's say, industry, right?
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:45.039
You basically have to be someone who's there at industry events and building relationships, even though how small or large, so that if ever you call somebody up, they're going to pick up the phone because they know you.
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:57.279
Then you look about, let's say, uh the entrepreneurship or the professionals uh relationship, which is let's say YPO, how we all know each other, all these social events and the actual learning events that we do together, every time we interact, we're kind of building a relationship.
00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:00.640
And that hopefully makes it easier for you to pick up the phone and speak to somebody should you need.
00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.279
So it only comes down to FaceTime, interaction time, and the number of hours, right?
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:11.359
So it's not necessarily the quality of the hours you spend together, but it's the number of hours you spend together eventually, which will hopefully allow that to happen.
00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.960
I mean, that would be my hack, right?
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:16.640
Of just more and more time together and and and more relatability.
00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.079
What would be yours?
00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:21.839
Yeah, but I don't know if there's a hack, but again there must be rules.
00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.119
I mean, that how do how do you engage?
00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.759
Maybe you're in full.
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.799
For me, a mental model.
00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:34.000
But uh to me, spending time with someone uh doesn't have to be for a reason, right?
00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:38.799
Yeah, spending time with someone is just as simple as enjoying my time.
00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.599
This is good enough.
00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.559
But that's different.
00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:43.519
That's I mean, that's fine, but that's not that way.
00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:53.279
No, no, but but I don't it's not really uh networking is not just networking for opportunities.
00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:57.200
Uh networking gives you uh a worldview.
00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.160
Oh, absolutely.
00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:03.920
It it just it's it's not it's not about I hate I I wouldn't look at it.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.599
It's not like okay, what am I getting for this uh relationship?
00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.640
And if I'm not getting it.
00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.319
Tell me about your wine network, right?
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:15.680
Because you're a big part of the wine network, and you you've learned and and basically broaden your horizons through that, right?
00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.559
Yeah, for sure.
00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.319
Common interests, yeah, right?
00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:23.519
It brings us closer together, and this is an easy way if if if that's if that's what you want to call a hanker.
00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:27.680
Yeah, but I'm not it's uh a network is different than where you talk about.
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:32.000
I think you do what you're not differentiating saying between what you enjoy and friends.
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.160
Not every relationship is a network.
00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:40.079
Yeah, but you have a network of 500 people in your phone, probably 50, 60 are friends you enjoy.
00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:43.440
The other four you don't necessarily need something from them, but it's network.
00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.759
You you they're there, they've you I don't know if that makes sense.
00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:55.440
It's part of your uh I mean with with the age and with time, you build experience, you build expertise, and you build a network.
00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:59.200
Things you can tap into to help others, not necessarily to help yourself.
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.920
So tomorrow your son needs an internship.
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:07.839
I can check my network and say, you know what, Farid, uh why don't you go to these guys in Badalah?
00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.839
I have a friend's uh son who needs so that to me is the power of the network.
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.359
Yeah, yeah, okay.
00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.160
You're you're right.
00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:40.640
No, I was because you were saying to enjoy uh people I want, I don't know, like I thought we will have your network that has built over the years through common interests, through uh common friends, through uh uh just meetings, uh work, deals, and it happens, it grows, right?
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:51.359
Uh uh I don't know, it's it's just uh So I'll I'll throw a curveball at both of you because that this is where I've become a bit more conscious about what how do you build a network that has value.
00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:56.720
I've seen when my father retired, uh and I've seen a couple of people around me when they've retired, they got older.
00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:02.720
And the minute they leave their profession and A lot of the substance and what they were about went.
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.759
A lot of their network dissipated.
00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:09.839
And it makes you think, and over the last 15 years, I think about these things.
00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:14.960
How do you make sure that you're not about your position or you're not about your job?
00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:20.880
Because the minute you step down or you exit the RSA, you've just lost 70% of your network per se.
00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:27.359
I am a firm believer that you're not defined by what you but by what you do.
00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:33.759
But in a lot of people, their network is actually many people have an identity crisis after they exit their business, right?
00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.480
Because they're so synonymous with that brand and so synonymous with that company.
00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:39.119
But your network is is really fundamentally.
00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:58.319
And they're completely, let's say, uh, what's the word?
00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:01.359
Um uh rudderless in terms of who they are anymore, right?
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.480
From an identity point.
00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:05.599
It's a very different topic and something we can definitely discuss, but it's an interesting one.
00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:29.920
So on the network, the last thing I leave you on the network, uh I've always felt again, I call it a hack, but one of the things, and you we always hear this is uh people you meet, and people I meet in a conference randomly, I try to take a note of something coming that gives me a reason to just not every once in a while, once every six months or seven months, uh find a reason to do this.
00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:36.960
There's a the best saying I've ever heard is people don't remember what you tell them, people remember how you you made them feel.
00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:41.440
And that's one of the most powerful things uh there is.
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:45.519
And you meet someone in a conference, you make them feel good, you remember something about them.
00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:59.119
I know I remember meeting someone a long time ago, uh, and they were talking about how when they lost their parent, it really it was 13, 14 years into it, and it really left uh it really hurt them, it continues to hurt them.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.079
And they told me the date, and I literally jotted down.
00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:04.000
And for the next couple of years, I just stand this.
00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.279
I hope today was okay.
00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:08.880
And it just it doesn't cost you anything.
00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.319
But it makes the person feel good.
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:10.960
Yeah, yeah, of course.
00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.279
Like making people feel good really doesn't cost you anything.
00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:15.759
Well, it's very challenging to do for tens and tens of people.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.279
But you don't do it.
00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:19.279
But but you don't do it religiously.
00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:25.599
I mean, if you there's four or five hundred people, I'll remember something on this day and I'll remember that person and just send something.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:32.319
And I I and I feel like you can do so much good and make and make people so happy with really minimal effort.
00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.119
Yeah.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:47.759
You know, and just just to sort of close on this, the power of networking, and I remember it was one of my grandmother's sayings to me, it it's it's an it's a Gujarati saying, but basically translates into um your black book is its weight worth its weight in gold, right?
00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:50.880
Um because that's that's basically what it means, right?
00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:55.599
In in in terms of your book of relationships is worth its weight in gold, uh, or something of the sort.
00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.319
Um but yeah.
00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:03.839
You get much further on the people you know and the network than on education, on career, on hard work, on any of this.
00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:07.440
It's it's how especially our region pretty much completely operates on the other.
00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.640
I think I'm gonna be able to do it.
00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.680
I think everywhere.
00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:17.920
I think the opportunity is open more about the where you are and the people you know than what you've accomplished.
00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:23.519
So if there's somebody young listening who is never really invested in networking, what would you tell them to do?
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:30.400
Uh what would you tell like a 18, 19-year-old nephew, cousin of yours, um, or niece?
00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.119
What would you tell them to do?
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:35.759
No, there's an Arabic saying knowing people is a treasure.
00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.279
Right?
00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.240
Something like that.
00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:42.640
Uh yeah, in Arabic it is knowing people is in itself a treasure.
00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:42.960
Yeah.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:50.480
Especially with those young generations and more spending more indoors, more in front of their uh more digital relationships.
00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:55.200
More digital relationships, I I would say like spend more time with people.
00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:55.599
Yeah.
00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:02.319
My tip would be do favors for others and do things for others without really wanting anything in return.
00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:06.640
Just anyone asks for help, always go that extra uh step.
00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.839
Always do things for others.
00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.880
It comes back eventually.
00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.200
Nice.
00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.160
Hundred percent.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:17.039
For me, it's it literally is like you know, you push yourself out of the comfort zone and just so to put yourself out there once in a while, right?
00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.160
You have never no idea.
00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.000
I never know what could come out of that.
00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:24.480
Uh try a new sport, try a new activity, try something different, and just you don't know who you'll meet from that, right?
00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:30.640
And I think that creates so many more threads of where life could take you um uh when you have time on your hands at that age.
00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.160
Um so cool.
00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:42.720
I mean a limit a slightly uh uh uh adjacent but interesting topic related to this was at that same sort of time frame, what did mentorship do for you?
00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.720
Did you guys have mentors when you were younger?
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:50.880
Um people to guide you, uh someone you went to, uh I'm sure many of you have mentors still today.
00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:57.759
Um for me it was the thing I really wish I was told much younger to create a network of mentors, right?
00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:00.640
Uh and and how they could basically help you through the journey of life.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:02.240
What what did you guys think about that?
00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:07.279
I never had an official sort of mentor until six, seven years ago.
00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:07.519
Yeah.
00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:11.680
Uh previous to that, I'd speak to everyone who'd speak to me.
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:16.880
I'd listen to anyone who'd speak to me, and I'll go to random people and ask them, say, I want to come and pick your brain.
00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:21.039
And I and that was sort of I I'd listen to 100 people and then decide what I want to do.
00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:27.839
But in terms of actually having a proper set mentor, uh it took me a while to get used to it.
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:35.519
Because it's people, I mean, a mentor is I expected a mentor to sit and tell me what I should do and advise, uh, which I didn't feel comfortable.
00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.240
I didn't want to listen.
00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.440
I thought I knew everything.
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:41.759
Uh, one of my mentors now, uh, I've mentioned before, Warren Rustant.
00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.599
Um, I was it took me six years to convince him to become my mentor.
00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:48.720
And I struggled the first three months I'd sit with.
00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.079
Why why did you go and seek out mentorship?
00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.160
What made you say that I need a mentor?
00:27:54.480 --> 00:28:02.000
With with him specifically, I think there was an angle which I loved and I I I it's not something I could have learned from books.
00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:04.480
I didn't buy, which is how do you build successful families?
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.559
How do you get ethics into kids?
00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.680
How do you raise good kids?
00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:12.319
And I I try I that's something that I felt is I can't wing it.
00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:20.160
Uh and his philosophy in life, it's just he's one of the very few people in life that uh that I looked, and this is what I wanted to be when I'm his age.
00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.559
Yeah.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:22.240
Uh his outlook in life.
00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:24.400
And yeah, and the mentorship was interesting.
00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:29.200
We sit, and the first couple of times he'll ask me and ask me and ask me questions.
00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:36.160
Uh sorry, and he'll just sit there, and I'm like, uh, I'm here, so you can sort of advise me what I should be doing.
00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:39.680
Like, you're gonna give me business tips, and you're gonna give me tips how to raise kids.
00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.119
And all I do is ask.
00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:43.759
And this is what I found that this is what good mentorship is.
00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.720
It's like therapy.
00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:48.079
It's like they sit, they know what to ask, they don't tell you what to do.
00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.680
Uh and to me, it's just been invaluable.
00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:56.880
And I have a professional mentor which more or less is the same, uh, asks a lot of tough questions.
00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:02.720
Yeah, one thing I I think mentorship is very important, and I think I agree with Femi.
00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:10.319
You get to learn how important it is and how valuable it is later in life.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:18.880
Uh and uh along the way, I've had uh uh few mentors here and there, right?
00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:32.559
Uh from an early job, and then someone stayed uh with me, not in an official manner, but I mean we stayed in contact and stayed uh uh mentoring me or guiding me on my next steps.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:44.400
I have I have a number of people of those, but to really formalize it and look at this person as an actual mentor, yeah, this came very late in my career.
00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:53.119
Uh which is also something that is ideally young generation, learn to adapt that early on.
00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.519
Yeah.
00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.079
Right?
00:29:54.319 --> 00:30:04.319
And even if it's for maybe multiple mentors, it doesn't have to be one or but to because at some point in our lives we think we know it all.
00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:04.880
Yes.
00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:09.200
And this is a big, big mistake.
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:15.279
So having someone to guide you along the way is is uh is something very important.
00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:19.519
So no no crazy opposing view to what you guys have said.
00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:27.359
I think the only thing I'd add to that is you know, uh sometimes you just need somebody to put your hand on their shoulder and say, hey man, have you thought this through?
00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:27.599
Right?
00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:39.759
Just somebody to check you once in a while, or you have that uh confidence and support system to go and speak to somebody before you make a big decision, and it could just save you so much uh missteps uh overall in life.
00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:43.680
And and like you guys, started seeking it out much later in life as well.
00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:48.240
And I fully agree, you need to have a variety and a range of mentors for different topics.
00:30:48.319 --> 00:31:05.839
You go to different people, so you know there's a guy I go to for people relation issues, a guy I go to for global expansion, um, uh, and and really enjoy those conversations because uh they are the experts, they have uh no essential vested interest in however you do, they just want to be nice and help, and then myself now paying it forward as well, yeah, right?
00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:09.920
Uh uh and many more people coming to you and asking you, and I love that opportunity, right?
00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.640
Yeah.
00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:29.519
On that point, yeah, so I always say to younger fresh grads or anyone who asks me for a help or potential job opportunity or I always give it enough time and a lot of time, and I always say, I am doing that because I wish I had the same when I was at your age.
00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.240
I saw you.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:32.720
I saw you in ASD at the American School of Dubai.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.559
You were sitting with an eighth grader.
00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.359
Yes, yes.
00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:38.720
I sat for 15 minutes, and this guy was for like an hour sitting in there.
00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.759
But I'll ask you something.
00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:53.839
So, this one so so this was you know that thing, but those guys, I met three guys, and I got very, very nice emails thanking me for the time and the information that you shared.
00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:59.759
We asked them at the school and then you met there, we had them at the summer talking about it.
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:04.400
But like three months after that they sent me like I'll I'll ask you something from from a takeaway.
00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:09.039
I think one of the issues when you're young, you say we we we never had mentors when we're young.
00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.480
Number one, because we think we know it all.
00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:19.599
But the second thing also, you don't have the experience or the wisdom to pick the right mentor because having you can listen to someone that could be completely wrong.
00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.920
So uh one last thing.
00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:29.039
Your advice, how to pick a mentor, what to look for when someone young saying, you know what, I'm gonna take it take it up, take you guys on.
00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.680
Yeah.
00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:31.680
What do I how do I pick a mentor?
00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.640
What do I look for?
00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.400
That's a good question.
00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.079
One word, one sentence.
00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.880
One sentence?
00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.440
Quick.
00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:39.440
I mean, no, we have plenty, we have plenty of time.
00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:39.839
Don't worry.
00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:42.480
He was giving us some 10-minute warning.
00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.119
Okay.
00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:46.400
So yeah, I thought he was saying we're done.
00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.759
No, no, no, no, no.
00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:53.519
Uh no, no, I uh for picking a mentor, I would pick the wrong mentor, it can it can be disaster.
00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:57.119
Yeah, but I I I wouldn't put so much effort on that or so much essence on that right now.
00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.480
Right now, get into the habit of it.
00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:01.920
Of course, if you get really unlucky, you can have bad experience of it.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:02.720
So, what do you look for?
00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.519
How would you uh at a few years stage?
00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:08.400
It was today, I'm I'm making a series of decisions.
00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:15.839
So you need somebody with general experience that's got a good outlook and has your best interest at heart, and you have to judge that, right?
00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:20.240
Then as you get older, you look for more specialists for specific topics, for uh things like that.
00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:23.519
I'm a 22-year-old, just graduated college, I came to Abishek.
00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:25.039
I'm looking for a mentor.
00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.279
Yeah.
00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:27.359
What should I put on my checklist?
00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:32.480
Someone that's gonna give you time, someone you get along with, someone you aspire to potentially be like, right?
00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:34.319
Because it's basically like an older friend, right?
00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:41.039
And you know, there's someone we know, so uh we we're both part of uh Endeavor, uh, but Endeavor really runs on that ecosystem, right?
00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:47.440
Where they basically try to find you mentors and and other entrepreneurs giving each other uh uh structured advice uh and really works well.
00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.680
I mean in in my early years it was very, very powerful.
00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:53.359
Uh and one of them became a board member, one of them became a really good friend, right?
00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:57.680
So it's just relationships build from that, and and you now can call on these people whenever you want.
00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.200
Uh I am an endeavor mentor.
00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.319
You're an endeavor mentor.
00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.039
See, there you go.
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.519
There you go.
00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:01.839
Right?
00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:06.319
What would you uh advise a 22-year-old?
00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:09.760
Experience in the field you're gonna be in.
00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:12.800
Yeah, in in what I'm planning asking about.
00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:17.199
So if I'm in finance, I want to matter to look someone who's in investment banking or private.
00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:25.039
Experience generally, but yeah, ex you'll you'll need to see you'll need to bank on the experience.
00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:25.599
Right.
00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:27.920
So experience and trust.
00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:32.639
I feel these two again uh I I also like Abishek.
00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:45.760
I don't think choosing the right, it's not that crucial because at that age you'll hear this guy and this one and but you uh the two things that came to mind when they like experience and trust.
00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:52.159
Two things if I find in someone, I would maybe go a little bit further with him or with her.
00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.599
Okay, fair.
00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.719
Absolutely.
00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.280
Okay.
00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.119
So as we wrap up here, okay, go ahead.
00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:02.079
Uh no, I was gonna say it's interesting because we you touched on Endeavor as a network and how much it was.
00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:03.840
We were both in the EO, that's how we met.
00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:14.400
We met in YPO, and how all these organizations all sort of try to take what we've talked about networking, mentorship, and experience borrowing, and trying to institutionalize them.
00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.760
Package them into products.
00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:18.639
And there's a huge value in these organizations that people don't see.
00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:30.239
People on the outside a lot of time think, oh, it's a boys' club or it's an elite club, or it's but really the essence of these all started off to try and institutionalize the experience sharing the knowledge and the network.
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.119
Very true.
00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:33.599
And I have I honestly it's very true.
00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.280
I I haven't thought about it that way.
00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:43.519
Obviously, it is, but putting all this like what we discussed in the session is combined, is what these organizations are.
00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:51.440
Yeah, and they productize it basically to a certain degree to try and uh uh encourage entrepreneurship and and how you do personal development.
00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:55.119
And depending on some entrepreneurship, some uh different things.
00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:02.159
And we always say it's what you how much you give is how much you get out of it.
00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:02.639
Yeah, right.
00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:05.119
It's a full investment, exactly.
00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:07.840
How much you invest in is how much you can get back out of it.
00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:08.719
All right.
00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.800
Your book or movie?
00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:12.320
No movie, no book.
00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.440
I have a TV show now.
00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:18.719
Um there's a new one on Apple called The Imperfect Woman.
00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:21.039
It is an excellently written thriller.
00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.079
I think it's from a book.
00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:22.559
Okay.
00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:25.519
Uh you cannot predict what's gonna happen next.
00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:28.400
I highly guarantee uh uh recommend you watch it.
00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:33.840
Uh a bit crazy, uh, but there's no way in this thriller that you can guess what's gonna happen next.
00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.039
That's mine.
00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.320
Interesting.
00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:37.280
Go ahead.
00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:38.639
I I'm not ready.
00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:43.920
Uh a movie I watched, which I found uh quite interesting, haven't seen a good movie in a while.
00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.760
Uh Good Fortune on Apple.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.719
Really nice, uh it's a nice movie.
00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:49.920
It's a comedy, right?
00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:51.360
Yeah, it's lighthearted, it's good.
00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:56.480
Old one or uh, I think it's just made by Apple, it's one of the Apple productions, right?
00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.199
Uh okay, okay.
00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:59.280
So it's such a nice story.
00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.639
Uh and a book.
00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:03.679
I just started a book um early on, 1929.
00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:05.360
Uh that's a reception, right?
00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:08.480
That's it's the one by the uh the TV anchor.
00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:11.519
Um the West Wing uh guy.
00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:13.679
Yes, uh just started reading.
00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.320
I think so, yeah.
00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.920
He's basically predicting the next crash now, right?
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.719
That's what the book is about.
00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:26.239
It's the story of uh the 1929 uh and just starting it, it feels like a thriller movie.
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:29.360
And I I love it because it's actual, it's not a fiction.
00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.159
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:33.920
Uh yet he wrote it still already, but it looks promising.
00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:34.800
Fair enough.
00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.679
Mustafa.
00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:36.960
Well, I will go.
00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:45.199
I think last time I went with uh Remember the Titans, yeah, yeah, which was uh part of the series that I'm watching with the boys.
00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:52.639
Uh another movie we watched, which is an old movie, but actually they really liked was the Mighty Ducks.
00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.360
Wow.
00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.159
I can't remember that one.
00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:56.719
You weren't point you weren't point in that's what you weren't.
00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:58.079
No, no, you weren't point, seriously.
00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.480
You weren't point.
00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.920
No, no, I'm not kidding, you weren't point.
00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:07.760
Uh but that's again one that uh as much as it's a funny, uh nice Disney movie, I think.
00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:10.800
Yeah, but there's a lot of learnings for kids in that movie.
00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.760
Okay, interesting.
00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:12.320
Interesting.
00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.679
Good to takeaway there.
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:15.599
All right, guys, thank you very much.
00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:18.000
Uh we actually made an episode happen.
00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:18.719
Thank you, Fami.
00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:21.760
You like it, and we're gonna we're gonna split the screening tickets.
00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:24.159
One of the screen tickets again, we're gonna split it in three ways.
00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.679
Thank you for watching, guys.
00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:26.880
Please like and subscribe.
00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:28.480
Signing off for GameLive.
00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:11.119
So welcome back to another episode of Game On with the co-hosts Fami, Mustafa, and myself.
00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:11.839
Hello again.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:13.039
How are you guys doing?
00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:14.800
Fantastic.
00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:19.120
I mean, we just raced in here from driving at what speed.
00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:20.320
God knows how many tickets you got.
00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:23.120
I'd rather not publicly say it for speed.
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:25.359
Just so I'm not late, so I wouldn't disappoint you.
00:00:25.519 --> 00:00:26.719
Well, I'm saying that's dedication.
00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:28.000
Dedication to the podcast.
00:00:28.239 --> 00:00:28.640
Always.
00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:30.160
And to you guys, and to you guys.
00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:36.719
That's actually one of the first times we uh we record midday.
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.479
It's not for me, this is not midday.
00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:38.960
This is the evening.
00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:44.000
I was gonna say no, this is midday for I'm wrapping up my day and now I usually go home and have dinner.
00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:45.039
Okay.
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:47.840
Well, okay, I mean, uh why is that significant for you?
00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:49.840
Why is that significant for you?
00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:51.600
A little bit of traffic, yeah.
00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:52.320
Right.
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:57.200
Uh we still had to juggle a lot of things to actually be here on time or just on time.
00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:57.840
Yeah, yeah.
00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.960
Like uh I felt it's like he's on time when it's late night or morning.
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:05.840
Just uh just in time, just in time, always.
00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:08.719
Um okay, so icebreaker questions today.
00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:12.079
We've all had uh unique time the last few weeks.
00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:20.079
Uh but if you look at this just last week and you were to describe it as a movie, how would you describe your last week in a movie title if you could?
00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:22.560
Alright, Mustafa, come on, you look ready.
00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:23.840
You look ready.
00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:30.239
Uh it's like I'm sure there's a movie called the Roller Coaster or something.
00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:30.799
I don't know.
00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:31.519
Have you watched it?
00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:32.560
No, I have not.
00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:35.040
Or like a Mad Max, something like that.
00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:36.239
Mad Max, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:37.599
I've seen Mad Max.
00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:40.000
I mean, do you want to say a sentence why?
00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:42.000
It's been so I think it's clear.
00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:42.719
Okay, it's clear.
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:47.200
The roller coaster and the man together, you can I don't know.
00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:47.920
I don't really have one.
00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:48.239
Go ahead.
00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:49.040
You don't have one.
00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:49.599
No.
00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:50.640
It's your question.
00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:51.519
That's fine.
00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:55.359
Just a question the easy one that cop out and say blessed.
00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.359
Just I feel like just blessed.
00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:00.560
Like things are happening and taking me by surprise.
00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:02.239
And yeah, enjoying the ride.
00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:03.120
Yeah, that's good.
00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:03.519
That's good.
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:04.560
That's a positive one, right?
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:05.040
Always.
00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:10.080
And is there a movie called Blessed, or just you'll just try to maybe it's one word that could be a movie.
00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.120
It's a it's a word.
00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:12.879
I don't know if there's a movie, I wouldn't have seen it anyway.
00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:14.400
I'm sure there is at some point.
00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:15.199
For me, I don't know.
00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:26.800
I think I think like, you know, it could be something like Twister, as like it's been that much of a whirlwind, or it could be something as simple as uh even you know, there's just progress being made every day uh in some way.
00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:29.759
So I don't know if those are movies, but maybe that's Twister is a movie.
00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:30.400
Twister, I know.
00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:31.439
That's the only one that came together.
00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:32.479
It works well.
00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.000
No need to pull a fame.
00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:37.120
Do you remember watching Twister when you were young?
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:37.520
Yes.
00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:40.159
Yeah, you learned so much about tornadoes at that age.
00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:40.479
Yeah, yeah.
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:44.560
And then when we talked about tornado happening here a few weeks ago, that's the only thing that came to my mind.
00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:46.560
Sorry, I when you were young.
00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:48.000
I was in college when I watched Twister.
00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.000
I mean, there's an age difference here, right?
00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:53.039
Uh I was still maybe seven, eight when that came out.
00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:56.159
I don't remember exactly, but we I was young.
00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.000
I remember watching it on a laser disc.
00:02:58.400 --> 00:02:59.439
That's how long ago it was.
00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:00.319
Do you remember laser discs?
00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:01.680
They failed, they never picked up, right?
00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:02.639
I don't know.
00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:05.840
I don't think I've got to go and twist them over and do you remember all that?
00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:06.800
I used to go.
00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:12.159
I used to go, um, I was 16, I was in high in the US, and I'd go to the$2 theaters.
00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:15.199
There was always a theater that has half price.
00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:19.360
And Tuesdays always had that price, and you get the movies sort of after they did the main.
00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:21.039
That's what I remember watching Twister.
00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:23.039
Twister, nice going paying$2.59.
00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:27.439
I mean, I remember my dad had a pretty extensive collection of Laserdiscs.
00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.199
I mean, what a depletion of technology.
00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:31.120
Laserdisc, which was the right thing.
00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:33.199
Okay, okay.
00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:36.560
And you had to go and flip it over to see the other half of the movie.
00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:38.800
Uh different time, different time.
00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:39.439
Okay.
00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:42.159
But you you haven't watched any on VHS or have you?
00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:43.199
Oh no, no, of course we do.
00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:43.680
Of course we do.
00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:45.199
Even like when I moved to the buy, of course.
00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:46.000
Betamax.
00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:47.280
Betamax, you don't know.
00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:48.000
I don't know what that is.
00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:50.879
I barely I'm not sure.
00:03:51.439 --> 00:03:57.280
Betamax, uh it's funny when you even VHS, I remember you sometimes the movie gets uh stuck inside.
00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:58.080
You'll take it out.
00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:05.039
And I'll cut I'll actually I'll if you want to remove a part, I'll cut two parts and from the back side you tape it and then you can watch it again.
00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:06.240
Wow.
00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:08.879
Wow, that I totally missed that generation.
00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:10.319
That's totally missed that generation.
00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:12.960
All right, so this actually is very interesting.
00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:19.680
I mean, I know it's not art of butt this is the so the Gen X and the millennials.
00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:20.639
Yeah, right?
00:04:20.879 --> 00:04:24.800
So we are or I am We are we are millennials.
00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:27.120
Yeah, but there is a He's a millennial?
00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:28.800
Yes, he's a millennial Yes.
00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:40.079
I mean just if you're a millennial, I but there is a small, very short period between the Gen X overlaps Gen X and Millennials.
00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:45.439
Okay, that's called I don't know how to pronounce it, but maybe the exennials or Xennials or whatever.
00:04:45.839 --> 00:05:00.000
This is the people who watched on uh uh VHS and Bitemax, and at the same time got the CD and the first MP3 songs, you know.
00:05:00.800 --> 00:05:01.839
But that's a big generation.
00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:17.120
No, this is uh apparently this is I think only eight years that you were really uh born, I think late 70s, early 80s, that you actually got to Bitamax, the VHS, and both your first MP3 player and the while you were still young.
00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:28.560
I mean that I read it somewhere, but I'm not sure of the source, but Instagram uh I had a whole thing in maintained about misinformation, fake uh facts.
00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.560
But you're in a good mood today, Aja.
00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:34.160
Always, always lashes.
00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.399
Alright, guys, calm it down, calm it down, let's move on.
00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:37.279
Let's move on.
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:50.959
So a little bit more of a fun topic given um um you guys know I've had a big opinion of this of the the power of networking, the skill of networking, and the sort of importance of it.
00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:54.720
And it's never really taught to us at a young age, school or otherwise.
00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:06.800
Um, and just wanted to double tap on that and and understand uh how did you guys approach like the first time you remember going into having to network into a room with a whole bunch of people you didn't know, how did you approach it?
00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:07.439
How did you feel?
00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.399
What did you do?
00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.399
Um how did you build on that skill?
00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:13.360
Uh I'd love to learn a bit more about that from your perspective.
00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:22.319
Um I think net my issue with networking was when I was a kid, I couldn't mingle in a group.
00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:27.040
Like I'd go, we'd go to a nightclub in college, and I just I don't know how to talk to people.
00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:27.439
I don't know.
00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:31.040
So to me, that was always the obstacle of I can I can't network.
00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.319
Like, how do you go out and talk and just chit-chat and small talk?
00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:36.240
And that was the biggest challenge.
00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:40.399
And trying to look back, how did it, how did I change?
00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:42.959
Sorry, just I'll make it a little bit easier for you.
00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:44.560
Think about only the professional environments.
00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:47.040
So that's I would call that more social networking.
00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:48.480
Think about the professional networking.
00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:54.399
And like if you have to go from like a career's fair and like go and speak to all these random potential employers and sell yourself.
00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:56.800
Uh, did you ever have to kind of do that?
00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.519
And and and and or you know, that kind of much, much later in life.
00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:00.399
Yeah, yeah, much later in later life.
00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:05.199
I didn't know I'm talking probably didn't get the hang of it until I'm late 30s.
00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:06.079
Late 30s.
00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:07.519
I'd imagine mid to late 30s.
00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.360
But but go back to the first time you ever did that.
00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:10.319
How did you feel?
00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:11.120
Was it difficult?
00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:11.600
Was it not?
00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:12.879
Did it come to you naturally?
00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:15.600
Was it somebody that guided you how to network?
00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:17.680
Any of those?
00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:19.360
All right, I'll give I'll give you a perspective, right?
00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:21.839
Sorry, like I've stumped you guys with this one.
00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:33.360
So I remember from my my first real experience was uh it was at university, and all of us were told in our first year that the way you basically get ahead in life is to get a summer internship.
00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:40.240
And we were still in that age where investment banking was the uh job to get, that is how your career was made.
00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:51.680
And every like uh uh term the all the banks will come, they'll be in a big hall, and you have to go and basically network, and you know, and there was some uh element of how you would basically get some contacts and then build those relationships.
00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:55.759
And I remember walking into that hall, and it was absolutely terrifying, right?
00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:03.439
First, I'm a person, and still today today, I kind of need to know a person in the crowd, and then through that person, I'll basically find the rest, right?
00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:08.240
Um, and we have some close friends who are just serial networkers, they feel very comfortable.
00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:14.079
And I think that anxiety of always having to walk into a room and not know somebody, and then you don't end up looking them in the eye.
00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:16.639
They even say their name and you forget their name, right?
00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.160
Uh uh, do you guys find any of that?
00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.079
That's that's what that's really what's happened to me over time.
00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:22.399
I still can't catch names and forget the names.
00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:23.040
I still don't think that's the same.
00:08:23.519 --> 00:08:24.639
They just told you, right?
00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:25.600
Zero.
00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.759
Like because as they're saying their name, I'm just thinking about what am I gonna say next?
00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:31.600
And just I don't even listen to their name.
00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.679
And then a minute later I was like, oops.
00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:35.519
And and that's part of the skill set.
00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:43.440
But I'm saying that if if I I feel today there is actually a lot more focus put on it and something about teaching, about how you retain that memory.
00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:59.120
I honestly don't recall my first uh encounter with networking or what I did I feel then, but but what you just said there is that uh thought uh is it something that can be taught or not?
00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:01.919
And if yes, why isn't it being taught?
00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:07.840
Uh I I don't know this came to mind because it I think it's as you said, it's very important, right?
00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:14.639
Uh uh networking is actually crucial for your career in general.
00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:18.399
But if it's that crucial and it's that important, why is it not taught?
00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.000
Anyway, schools or so let me let me uh sorry, go ahead.
00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:24.080
No, no, no, please I'll just say a thought.
00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:30.799
So you I know you were big on sports, uh and you got sort of relations through sports.
00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:34.879
So you went to college, you found your sport, and that's how your network started being built.
00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:38.159
You as a kid, you'd get into a playground, you'd play a sport.
00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.480
That's that's effectively a mode of networking.
00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:44.240
The your easy path into it was you built start building a network.
00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:44.960
Sure.
00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.240
And I think it's a different angle finding a venue.
00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:50.799
It's it's always within a certain structure.
00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:54.799
I struggle with saying learn the skill of networking.
00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:06.639
There's a skill of sales, but a skill of networking, I think, is a bit I I I struggle with thinking, is it that for example with our kids, we realized recently that we need to push them more into awkward situations.
00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:16.320
We need to go out, uh, even if they don't have friends, because you know, as a kid, as a teenager, you go out and there's an outing, and your teenager kid or your eight-year-old is gonna say, I don't want to come, I don't know anyone.
00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.879
Because they're uncomfortable and it's not fun.
00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:19.440
Yeah.
00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:24.320
Uh and usually we cave in and say, Yeah, fine, they don't have to come.
00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:26.480
And recently we started pulling, saying, You know what?
00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:30.639
No, force them to come because it's gonna force them to have to enter.
00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:37.120
They'll sit alone the first time, the second time for an hour, but then they're gonna have to find some small talk with someone to start building that relation.
00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.440
Like networking, I agree.
00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:44.639
In my opinion, it's building is building that courage, I think, and building that.
00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.399
Self-confidence as well.
00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:48.799
Self-confidence to actually, you know, you think it's confidence?
00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:53.679
Also to be able to speak to a random stranger and and hold a conversation and and and whatever it might be.
00:10:53.840 --> 00:11:07.600
And I think I I I I was trying to bring the conversation to professional networking because even till today, if I was to go to like a a conference, right, if I didn't find a single person I know, I'm not comfortable just going to a random person and starting a conversation.
00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:09.759
It takes a lot for me to do that, right?
00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:14.799
And I see other people who have grown through the years, and they are way more comfortable.
00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:18.960
They'll read the name tag and say, hey, you know, this is my name, and then they just go, right?
00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.159
I I find it very difficult.
00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:27.279
And I don't know if that's a a very individual issue, or is that something to do with how you feel in in large crowds where you don't know anybody, right?
00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:32.559
Uh and that was really the thought-probably question that really built in my mind for today's piece on that.
00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:35.279
Majority of people struggle with that.
00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:41.679
I think it's a minority that come into a room and just look around and able to cla click and say, Oh, that guy and this guy.
00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:46.639
And usually those are the people that go with a certain motive or uh intention.
00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.440
Intentional.
00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.360
They could you walk into a room, it's intentional.
00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:52.480
I know I want to get that out of this room, and you go into it.
00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:55.120
Uh and I think that's where differs.
00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:58.720
I think my hack has been finding the story in my head.
00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:02.000
Like, what is a story that I know the other person will be interested in?
00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:05.440
Because it's always been if I want to speak to someone, how do I get him engaged?
00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:10.799
And and finding, making up that story of what is it, what could be interesting.
00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:19.759
So an easy one always is you anywhere you go, and especially you see this a lot in the way or in business conferences, the minute you introduce yourself, they're go, where are you from?
00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:29.200
And I found an easy sort of conversation starter or killer is I I go with the answer is where am I where do I live or where am I from?
00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:33.440
And if I want to go to where I'm from, you can take that into sort of a two-hour discussion.
00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:35.279
And I always and that was my hack.
00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:37.679
How do you start the discussion?
00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.240
I like that.
00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:38.639
I like that.
00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:43.120
So you actually have a way to basically because you can make it and then you build a story over time.
00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:44.240
I've built the story layers.
00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:50.159
I'm originally from this place, and then that obviously opens a whole discussion or just shuts it down completely.
00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:51.440
Nice, nice, I like that.
00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:52.639
Do you have a hack?
00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:57.120
I honestly I don't feel that it's that difficult.
00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.639
Uh if there is something actually to say.
00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:03.279
Right.
00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:14.799
It will be easy if I want to talk to you because we share something common, and the only thing I know in a conference is that, for example, we are in a similar industry.
00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.000
For example, I can't I can't.
00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:16.879
I'm gonna laugh.
00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:19.360
I have ten jokes I'm gonna make about this.
00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.240
Go ahead.
00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.200
No, I don't know.
00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:22.559
You're taking a serious point then.
00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.000
I don't want to go, please go, please go.
00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:29.919
Keep going, keep going.
00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:31.679
Sorry.
00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.759
No, I'm a common topic of finance.
00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:36.639
So maybe, yeah, I mean I I I can speak to anyone.
00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.480
I I don't feel that this is an issue.
00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:45.279
But I if you I need when I speak, I need to speak of something that is meaningful.
00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.159
So uh without that, that there's no point.
00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:58.559
I I would because we also we're talking, is it only networking, or are we talking uh uh also, for example, uh presentation to people that you don't know?
00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.759
Is that the same?
00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.440
Because I I we tended to overlap here a little bit.
00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:08.559
Uh if because when we say teaching, I agree networking is difficult to teach what to teach.
00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.360
Put kids in an awkward situation, get them ready.
00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:21.039
But that awkward situation means uh presentation, uh giving to class, uh debate classes, is that something that would help eventually?
00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:22.399
I don't know, I'm thinking out loud.
00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.320
So I I can only go on my personal experience.
00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.919
So if you were to tell me to get on stage and present, no issue whatsoever.
00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.320
Okay.
00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:28.639
Right?
00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:34.320
It was today putting into an environment where you didn't know how to basically navigate yourself, right?
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:38.000
Uh and I feel like there's a lot of people like that, and I've sp I've spoken about a few people there.
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:42.799
So if you're to do a debate, it's your you are the person in control, it was your chance to speak.
00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:44.320
Kind of flew flow really well.
00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:46.080
It's not stage, not stage fright, right?
00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:48.799
It's more the ability of like, how do you now create this?
00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:50.639
So, you know what you could get taught.
00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.960
I remember there was a professor in university.
00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:56.080
He said that when you shake someone's hand, you have to look them in the eye, right?
00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:58.000
And that's what builds confidence for you.
00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.799
You have that piece.
00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:01.759
These are the small tricks that you don't do overall, right?
00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:06.320
Like even today, one of my kids will just go like this and sit shake hands with somebody rather not looking them in the eyes.
00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:08.240
You've got to kind of build that overall.
00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:10.960
So it clearly seems like an Abhishek problem.
00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:17.039
You know, uh, you're talking about a network in a specific environment, specific event.
00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:18.879
Yeah, but networking goes much beyond this.
00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:22.639
I mean networking is maintaining a relationship with someone without having a relationship.
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.600
So what what's networking is in my definition of a network is how big is your network today?
00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:29.440
Yeah, it's not just about that event.
00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.399
Because, like he said, you go to a conference, there's a topic.
00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:37.360
There's a conference about finance or investments, or and you'll find the topic and you'll be able to engage.
00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:41.200
Uh approaching people you talk about, which maybe takes confidence and so on.
00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:46.480
But in my uh definition of network is I'll come and say, How big is your network?
00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.200
Do you have a hundred people you can pick up or is it a thousand people?
00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:52.879
I need to reach the chairman of DP World.
00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:55.440
How many degrees of separation?
00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:58.320
And that's the breadth, strength and the depth of your network.
00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:00.879
Which comes to the reason of how we actually all met, right?
00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:07.600
Uh uh that was one of the things that really uh accelerated not only my networking skills and my network.
00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:19.600
Uh is is uh, you know, at the age of like, was it 28, 29, hit a glass ceiling in the business, didn't know what to do next, uh, and then realized that the best way to learn is through some of these peer-to-peer networks, right?
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:24.720
And I joined Entrepreneurs Organization where I met you, Farmy, uh, and then later into uh YPO.
00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:36.480
But I think those kind of networks where you learn from others is actually an incredible way to understand how you can build a network and and sort of you know learn the art of networking because there's just so many other people that are better than it.
00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.879
Um what's been your experience with that kind of environment?
00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.960
I love that because there's a term I really like, which is the borrowed experience.
00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.440
Yeah.
00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:43.919
Right?
00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:44.879
I like that.
00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:45.919
Borrowed experience.
00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:51.279
Borrowed experience, which is it comes from this networking, right?
00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:56.559
Valuable networking or proper networking or valuable uh networking, whatever you want to call it.
00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:07.440
But uh because there's a uh networking is not uh collecting, it's absolutely not collecting uh contacts.
00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.279
Yeah, it's actually building context.
00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.680
Building relationships and relationships, right?
00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:25.279
Uh so so also a big difference because a lot of people, and I don't want uh mis uh understand or uh uh misunderstand uh the networking, it's just how many contexts you have.
00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.160
That's not it.
00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:29.119
It's how many meaningful relationships, right?
00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.799
And uh meaningful?
00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.000
Yes.
00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:39.039
I I I'm with you, it's not about collecting contacts, but meaningful is a is a high bar.
00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:44.640
Is it really about meaningful or is it someone I'm willing to pick up the phone and ask for something?
00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.880
This is in itself meaningful, right?
00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.880
Yeah, I maybe I I misused the word.
00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:53.599
I mean uh uh uh it's not just the contact on your phone.
00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:54.640
Okay.
00:17:55.119 --> 00:18:00.079
Well that if you needed to go and actually speak to them and have a conversation and actually set up a meeting, you could.
00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.559
Yes, right?
00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:02.480
So how do you build that depth?
00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:06.960
That there is the art of building the relationship, which I think is a different story, right?
00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.759
I mean, today you can't call somebody only when you need them.
00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:12.400
Uh I mean that that that becomes too transactional.
00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.240
So what's your hack on that?
00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:20.319
I mean, because as as life goes on, you want your network to get bigger and bigger for so many different reasons.
00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:31.440
So, how do you mean how do you balance ensuring that your network keeps growing while having that level of confidence that I can send a message and ask for something?
00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:32.880
Yeah, and this is a great point.
00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:33.440
This is a great point.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:36.240
So if I think about like, let's say, industry, right?
00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:45.039
You basically have to be someone who's there at industry events and building relationships, even though how small or large, so that if ever you call somebody up, they're going to pick up the phone because they know you.
00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:57.279
Then you look about, let's say, uh the entrepreneurship or the professionals uh relationship, which is let's say YPO, how we all know each other, all these social events and the actual learning events that we do together, every time we interact, we're kind of building a relationship.
00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:00.640
And that hopefully makes it easier for you to pick up the phone and speak to somebody should you need.
00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.279
So it only comes down to FaceTime, interaction time, and the number of hours, right?
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:11.359
So it's not necessarily the quality of the hours you spend together, but it's the number of hours you spend together eventually, which will hopefully allow that to happen.
00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.960
I mean, that would be my hack, right?
00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:16.640
Of just more and more time together and and and more relatability.
00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:18.079
What would be yours?
00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:21.839
Yeah, but I don't know if there's a hack, but again there must be rules.
00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.119
I mean, that how do how do you engage?
00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:23.759
Maybe you're in full.
00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:24.799
For me, a mental model.
00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:34.000
But uh to me, spending time with someone uh doesn't have to be for a reason, right?
00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:38.799
Yeah, spending time with someone is just as simple as enjoying my time.
00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.599
This is good enough.
00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.559
But that's different.
00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:43.519
That's I mean, that's fine, but that's not that way.
00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:53.279
No, no, but but I don't it's not really uh networking is not just networking for opportunities.
00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:57.200
Uh networking gives you uh a worldview.
00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:58.160
Oh, absolutely.
00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:03.920
It it just it's it's not it's not about I hate I I wouldn't look at it.
00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:07.599
It's not like okay, what am I getting for this uh relationship?
00:20:07.759 --> 00:20:08.640
And if I'm not getting it.
00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.319
Tell me about your wine network, right?
00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:15.680
Because you're a big part of the wine network, and you you've learned and and basically broaden your horizons through that, right?
00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.559
Yeah, for sure.
00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.319
Common interests, yeah, right?
00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:23.519
It brings us closer together, and this is an easy way if if if that's if that's what you want to call a hanker.
00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:27.680
Yeah, but I'm not it's uh a network is different than where you talk about.
00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:32.000
I think you do what you're not differentiating saying between what you enjoy and friends.
00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.160
Not every relationship is a network.
00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:40.079
Yeah, but you have a network of 500 people in your phone, probably 50, 60 are friends you enjoy.
00:20:40.160 --> 00:20:43.440
The other four you don't necessarily need something from them, but it's network.
00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:47.759
You you they're there, they've you I don't know if that makes sense.
00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:55.440
It's part of your uh I mean with with the age and with time, you build experience, you build expertise, and you build a network.
00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:59.200
Things you can tap into to help others, not necessarily to help yourself.
00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.920
So tomorrow your son needs an internship.
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:07.839
I can check my network and say, you know what, Farid, uh why don't you go to these guys in Badalah?
00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.839
I have a friend's uh son who needs so that to me is the power of the network.
00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.359
Yeah, yeah, okay.
00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.160
You're you're right.
00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:40.640
No, I was because you were saying to enjoy uh people I want, I don't know, like I thought we will have your network that has built over the years through common interests, through uh common friends, through uh uh just meetings, uh work, deals, and it happens, it grows, right?
00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:51.359
Uh uh I don't know, it's it's just uh So I'll I'll throw a curveball at both of you because that this is where I've become a bit more conscious about what how do you build a network that has value.
00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:56.720
I've seen when my father retired, uh and I've seen a couple of people around me when they've retired, they got older.
00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:02.720
And the minute they leave their profession and A lot of the substance and what they were about went.
00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.759
A lot of their network dissipated.
00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:09.839
And it makes you think, and over the last 15 years, I think about these things.
00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:14.960
How do you make sure that you're not about your position or you're not about your job?
00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:20.880
Because the minute you step down or you exit the RSA, you've just lost 70% of your network per se.
00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:27.359
I am a firm believer that you're not defined by what you but by what you do.
00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:33.759
But in a lot of people, their network is actually many people have an identity crisis after they exit their business, right?
00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.480
Because they're so synonymous with that brand and so synonymous with that company.
00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:39.119
But your network is is really fundamentally.
00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:58.319
And they're completely, let's say, uh, what's the word?
00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:01.359
Um uh rudderless in terms of who they are anymore, right?
00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.480
From an identity point.
00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:05.599
It's a very different topic and something we can definitely discuss, but it's an interesting one.
00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:29.920
So on the network, the last thing I leave you on the network, uh I've always felt again, I call it a hack, but one of the things, and you we always hear this is uh people you meet, and people I meet in a conference randomly, I try to take a note of something coming that gives me a reason to just not every once in a while, once every six months or seven months, uh find a reason to do this.
00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:36.960
There's a the best saying I've ever heard is people don't remember what you tell them, people remember how you you made them feel.
00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:41.440
And that's one of the most powerful things uh there is.
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:45.519
And you meet someone in a conference, you make them feel good, you remember something about them.
00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:59.119
I know I remember meeting someone a long time ago, uh, and they were talking about how when they lost their parent, it really it was 13, 14 years into it, and it really left uh it really hurt them, it continues to hurt them.
00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.079
And they told me the date, and I literally jotted down.
00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:04.000
And for the next couple of years, I just stand this.
00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.279
I hope today was okay.
00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:08.880
And it just it doesn't cost you anything.
00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.319
But it makes the person feel good.
00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:10.960
Yeah, yeah, of course.
00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:13.279
Like making people feel good really doesn't cost you anything.
00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:15.759
Well, it's very challenging to do for tens and tens of people.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.279
But you don't do it.
00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:19.279
But but you don't do it religiously.
00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:25.599
I mean, if you there's four or five hundred people, I'll remember something on this day and I'll remember that person and just send something.
00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:32.319
And I I and I feel like you can do so much good and make and make people so happy with really minimal effort.
00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.119
Yeah.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:47.759
You know, and just just to sort of close on this, the power of networking, and I remember it was one of my grandmother's sayings to me, it it's it's an it's a Gujarati saying, but basically translates into um your black book is its weight worth its weight in gold, right?
00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:50.880
Um because that's that's basically what it means, right?
00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:55.599
In in in terms of your book of relationships is worth its weight in gold, uh, or something of the sort.
00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.319
Um but yeah.
00:24:57.119 --> 00:25:03.839
You get much further on the people you know and the network than on education, on career, on hard work, on any of this.
00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:07.440
It's it's how especially our region pretty much completely operates on the other.
00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.640
I think I'm gonna be able to do it.
00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.680
I think everywhere.
00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:17.920
I think the opportunity is open more about the where you are and the people you know than what you've accomplished.
00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:23.519
So if there's somebody young listening who is never really invested in networking, what would you tell them to do?
00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:30.400
Uh what would you tell like a 18, 19-year-old nephew, cousin of yours, um, or niece?
00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.119
What would you tell them to do?
00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:35.759
No, there's an Arabic saying knowing people is a treasure.
00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.279
Right?
00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.240
Something like that.
00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:42.640
Uh yeah, in Arabic it is knowing people is in itself a treasure.
00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:42.960
Yeah.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:50.480
Especially with those young generations and more spending more indoors, more in front of their uh more digital relationships.
00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:55.200
More digital relationships, I I would say like spend more time with people.
00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:55.599
Yeah.
00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:02.319
My tip would be do favors for others and do things for others without really wanting anything in return.
00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:06.640
Just anyone asks for help, always go that extra uh step.
00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.839
Always do things for others.
00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.880
It comes back eventually.
00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.200
Nice.
00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.160
Hundred percent.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:17.039
For me, it's it literally is like you know, you push yourself out of the comfort zone and just so to put yourself out there once in a while, right?
00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.160
You have never no idea.
00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.000
I never know what could come out of that.
00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:24.480
Uh try a new sport, try a new activity, try something different, and just you don't know who you'll meet from that, right?
00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:30.640
And I think that creates so many more threads of where life could take you um uh when you have time on your hands at that age.
00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.160
Um so cool.
00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:42.720
I mean a limit a slightly uh uh uh adjacent but interesting topic related to this was at that same sort of time frame, what did mentorship do for you?
00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:44.720
Did you guys have mentors when you were younger?
00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:50.880
Um people to guide you, uh someone you went to, uh I'm sure many of you have mentors still today.
00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:57.759
Um for me it was the thing I really wish I was told much younger to create a network of mentors, right?
00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:00.640
Uh and and how they could basically help you through the journey of life.
00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:02.240
What what did you guys think about that?
00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:07.279
I never had an official sort of mentor until six, seven years ago.
00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:07.519
Yeah.
00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:11.680
Uh previous to that, I'd speak to everyone who'd speak to me.
00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:16.880
I'd listen to anyone who'd speak to me, and I'll go to random people and ask them, say, I want to come and pick your brain.
00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:21.039
And I and that was sort of I I'd listen to 100 people and then decide what I want to do.
00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:27.839
But in terms of actually having a proper set mentor, uh it took me a while to get used to it.
00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:35.519
Because it's people, I mean, a mentor is I expected a mentor to sit and tell me what I should do and advise, uh, which I didn't feel comfortable.
00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.240
I didn't want to listen.
00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.440
I thought I knew everything.
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:41.759
Uh, one of my mentors now, uh, I've mentioned before, Warren Rustant.
00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.599
Um, I was it took me six years to convince him to become my mentor.
00:27:45.759 --> 00:27:48.720
And I struggled the first three months I'd sit with.
00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:52.079
Why why did you go and seek out mentorship?
00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:54.160
What made you say that I need a mentor?
00:27:54.480 --> 00:28:02.000
With with him specifically, I think there was an angle which I loved and I I I it's not something I could have learned from books.
00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:04.480
I didn't buy, which is how do you build successful families?
00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.559
How do you get ethics into kids?
00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.680
How do you raise good kids?
00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:12.319
And I I try I that's something that I felt is I can't wing it.
00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:20.160
Uh and his philosophy in life, it's just he's one of the very few people in life that uh that I looked, and this is what I wanted to be when I'm his age.
00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.559
Yeah.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:22.240
Uh his outlook in life.
00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:24.400
And yeah, and the mentorship was interesting.
00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:29.200
We sit, and the first couple of times he'll ask me and ask me and ask me questions.
00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:36.160
Uh sorry, and he'll just sit there, and I'm like, uh, I'm here, so you can sort of advise me what I should be doing.
00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:39.680
Like, you're gonna give me business tips, and you're gonna give me tips how to raise kids.
00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.119
And all I do is ask.
00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:43.759
And this is what I found that this is what good mentorship is.
00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.720
It's like therapy.
00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:48.079
It's like they sit, they know what to ask, they don't tell you what to do.
00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.680
Uh and to me, it's just been invaluable.
00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:56.880
And I have a professional mentor which more or less is the same, uh, asks a lot of tough questions.
00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:02.720
Yeah, one thing I I think mentorship is very important, and I think I agree with Femi.
00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:10.319
You get to learn how important it is and how valuable it is later in life.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:18.880
Uh and uh along the way, I've had uh uh few mentors here and there, right?
00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:32.559
Uh from an early job, and then someone stayed uh with me, not in an official manner, but I mean we stayed in contact and stayed uh uh mentoring me or guiding me on my next steps.
00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:44.400
I have I have a number of people of those, but to really formalize it and look at this person as an actual mentor, yeah, this came very late in my career.
00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:53.119
Uh which is also something that is ideally young generation, learn to adapt that early on.
00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.519
Yeah.
00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.079
Right?
00:29:54.319 --> 00:30:04.319
And even if it's for maybe multiple mentors, it doesn't have to be one or but to because at some point in our lives we think we know it all.
00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:04.880
Yes.
00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:09.200
And this is a big, big mistake.
00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:15.279
So having someone to guide you along the way is is uh is something very important.
00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:19.519
So no no crazy opposing view to what you guys have said.
00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:27.359
I think the only thing I'd add to that is you know, uh sometimes you just need somebody to put your hand on their shoulder and say, hey man, have you thought this through?
00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:27.599
Right?
00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:39.759
Just somebody to check you once in a while, or you have that uh confidence and support system to go and speak to somebody before you make a big decision, and it could just save you so much uh missteps uh overall in life.
00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:43.680
And and like you guys, started seeking it out much later in life as well.
00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:48.240
And I fully agree, you need to have a variety and a range of mentors for different topics.
00:30:48.319 --> 00:31:05.839
You go to different people, so you know there's a guy I go to for people relation issues, a guy I go to for global expansion, um, uh, and and really enjoy those conversations because uh they are the experts, they have uh no essential vested interest in however you do, they just want to be nice and help, and then myself now paying it forward as well, yeah, right?
00:31:05.920 --> 00:31:09.920
Uh uh and many more people coming to you and asking you, and I love that opportunity, right?
00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:10.640
Yeah.
00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:29.519
On that point, yeah, so I always say to younger fresh grads or anyone who asks me for a help or potential job opportunity or I always give it enough time and a lot of time, and I always say, I am doing that because I wish I had the same when I was at your age.
00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:30.240
I saw you.
00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:32.720
I saw you in ASD at the American School of Dubai.
00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:34.559
You were sitting with an eighth grader.
00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.359
Yes, yes.
00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:38.720
I sat for 15 minutes, and this guy was for like an hour sitting in there.
00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.759
But I'll ask you something.
00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:53.839
So, this one so so this was you know that thing, but those guys, I met three guys, and I got very, very nice emails thanking me for the time and the information that you shared.
00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:59.759
We asked them at the school and then you met there, we had them at the summer talking about it.
00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:04.400
But like three months after that they sent me like I'll I'll ask you something from from a takeaway.
00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:09.039
I think one of the issues when you're young, you say we we we never had mentors when we're young.
00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:10.480
Number one, because we think we know it all.
00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:19.599
But the second thing also, you don't have the experience or the wisdom to pick the right mentor because having you can listen to someone that could be completely wrong.
00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.920
So uh one last thing.
00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:29.039
Your advice, how to pick a mentor, what to look for when someone young saying, you know what, I'm gonna take it take it up, take you guys on.
00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.680
Yeah.
00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:31.680
What do I how do I pick a mentor?
00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.640
What do I look for?
00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:34.400
That's a good question.
00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.079
One word, one sentence.
00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.880
One sentence?
00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.440
Quick.
00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:39.440
I mean, no, we have plenty, we have plenty of time.
00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:39.839
Don't worry.
00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:42.480
He was giving us some 10-minute warning.
00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.119
Okay.
00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:46.400
So yeah, I thought he was saying we're done.
00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.759
No, no, no, no, no.
00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:53.519
Uh no, no, I uh for picking a mentor, I would pick the wrong mentor, it can it can be disaster.
00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:57.119
Yeah, but I I I wouldn't put so much effort on that or so much essence on that right now.
00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.480
Right now, get into the habit of it.
00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:01.920
Of course, if you get really unlucky, you can have bad experience of it.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:02.720
So, what do you look for?
00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.519
How would you uh at a few years stage?
00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:08.400
It was today, I'm I'm making a series of decisions.
00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:15.839
So you need somebody with general experience that's got a good outlook and has your best interest at heart, and you have to judge that, right?
00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:20.240
Then as you get older, you look for more specialists for specific topics, for uh things like that.
00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:23.519
I'm a 22-year-old, just graduated college, I came to Abishek.
00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:25.039
I'm looking for a mentor.
00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.279
Yeah.
00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:27.359
What should I put on my checklist?
00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:32.480
Someone that's gonna give you time, someone you get along with, someone you aspire to potentially be like, right?
00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:34.319
Because it's basically like an older friend, right?
00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:41.039
And you know, there's someone we know, so uh we we're both part of uh Endeavor, uh, but Endeavor really runs on that ecosystem, right?
00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:47.440
Where they basically try to find you mentors and and other entrepreneurs giving each other uh uh structured advice uh and really works well.
00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.680
I mean in in my early years it was very, very powerful.
00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:53.359
Uh and one of them became a board member, one of them became a really good friend, right?
00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:57.680
So it's just relationships build from that, and and you now can call on these people whenever you want.
00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.200
Uh I am an endeavor mentor.
00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.319
You're an endeavor mentor.
00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.039
See, there you go.
00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:01.519
There you go.
00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:01.839
Right?
00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:06.319
What would you uh advise a 22-year-old?
00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:09.760
Experience in the field you're gonna be in.
00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:12.800
Yeah, in in what I'm planning asking about.
00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:17.199
So if I'm in finance, I want to matter to look someone who's in investment banking or private.
00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:25.039
Experience generally, but yeah, ex you'll you'll need to see you'll need to bank on the experience.
00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:25.599
Right.
00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:27.920
So experience and trust.
00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:32.639
I feel these two again uh I I also like Abishek.
00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:45.760
I don't think choosing the right, it's not that crucial because at that age you'll hear this guy and this one and but you uh the two things that came to mind when they like experience and trust.
00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:52.159
Two things if I find in someone, I would maybe go a little bit further with him or with her.
00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:53.599
Okay, fair.
00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.719
Absolutely.
00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:55.280
Okay.
00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:57.119
So as we wrap up here, okay, go ahead.
00:34:57.440 --> 00:35:02.079
Uh no, I was gonna say it's interesting because we you touched on Endeavor as a network and how much it was.
00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:03.840
We were both in the EO, that's how we met.
00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:14.400
We met in YPO, and how all these organizations all sort of try to take what we've talked about networking, mentorship, and experience borrowing, and trying to institutionalize them.
00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:15.760
Package them into products.
00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:18.639
And there's a huge value in these organizations that people don't see.
00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:30.239
People on the outside a lot of time think, oh, it's a boys' club or it's an elite club, or it's but really the essence of these all started off to try and institutionalize the experience sharing the knowledge and the network.
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.119
Very true.
00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:33.599
And I have I honestly it's very true.
00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:35.280
I I haven't thought about it that way.
00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:43.519
Obviously, it is, but putting all this like what we discussed in the session is combined, is what these organizations are.
00:35:44.239 --> 00:35:51.440
Yeah, and they productize it basically to a certain degree to try and uh uh encourage entrepreneurship and and how you do personal development.
00:35:51.760 --> 00:35:55.119
And depending on some entrepreneurship, some uh different things.
00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:02.159
And we always say it's what you how much you give is how much you get out of it.
00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:02.639
Yeah, right.
00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:05.119
It's a full investment, exactly.
00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:07.840
How much you invest in is how much you can get back out of it.
00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:08.719
All right.
00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:10.800
Your book or movie?
00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:12.320
No movie, no book.
00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.440
I have a TV show now.
00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:18.719
Um there's a new one on Apple called The Imperfect Woman.
00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:21.039
It is an excellently written thriller.
00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.079
I think it's from a book.
00:36:22.400 --> 00:36:22.559
Okay.
00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:25.519
Uh you cannot predict what's gonna happen next.
00:36:25.679 --> 00:36:28.400
I highly guarantee uh uh recommend you watch it.
00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:33.840
Uh a bit crazy, uh, but there's no way in this thriller that you can guess what's gonna happen next.
00:36:34.320 --> 00:36:35.039
That's mine.
00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:36.320
Interesting.
00:36:36.800 --> 00:36:37.280
Go ahead.
00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:38.639
I I'm not ready.
00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:43.920
Uh a movie I watched, which I found uh quite interesting, haven't seen a good movie in a while.
00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.760
Uh Good Fortune on Apple.
00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:48.719
Really nice, uh it's a nice movie.
00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:49.920
It's a comedy, right?
00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:51.360
Yeah, it's lighthearted, it's good.
00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:56.480
Old one or uh, I think it's just made by Apple, it's one of the Apple productions, right?
00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:57.199
Uh okay, okay.
00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:59.280
So it's such a nice story.
00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.639
Uh and a book.
00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:03.679
I just started a book um early on, 1929.
00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:05.360
Uh that's a reception, right?
00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:08.480
That's it's the one by the uh the TV anchor.
00:37:08.559 --> 00:37:11.519
Um the West Wing uh guy.
00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:13.679
Yes, uh just started reading.
00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.320
I think so, yeah.
00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.920
He's basically predicting the next crash now, right?
00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:18.719
That's what the book is about.
00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:26.239
It's the story of uh the 1929 uh and just starting it, it feels like a thriller movie.
00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:29.360
And I I love it because it's actual, it's not a fiction.
00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.159
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:33.920
Uh yet he wrote it still already, but it looks promising.
00:37:34.239 --> 00:37:34.800
Fair enough.
00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.679
Mustafa.
00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:36.960
Well, I will go.
00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:45.199
I think last time I went with uh Remember the Titans, yeah, yeah, which was uh part of the series that I'm watching with the boys.
00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:52.639
Uh another movie we watched, which is an old movie, but actually they really liked was the Mighty Ducks.
00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.360
Wow.
00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.159
I can't remember that one.
00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:56.719
You weren't point you weren't point in that's what you weren't.
00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:58.079
No, no, you weren't point, seriously.
00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.480
You weren't point.
00:37:58.559 --> 00:37:59.920
No, no, I'm not kidding, you weren't point.
00:38:00.559 --> 00:38:07.760
Uh but that's again one that uh as much as it's a funny, uh nice Disney movie, I think.
00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:10.800
Yeah, but there's a lot of learnings for kids in that movie.
00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.760
Okay, interesting.
00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:12.320
Interesting.
00:38:12.480 --> 00:38:13.679
Good to takeaway there.
00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:15.599
All right, guys, thank you very much.
00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:18.000
Uh we actually made an episode happen.
00:38:18.079 --> 00:38:18.719
Thank you, Fami.
00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:21.760
You like it, and we're gonna we're gonna split the screening tickets.
00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:24.159
One of the screen tickets again, we're gonna split it in three ways.
00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:25.679
Thank you for watching, guys.
00:38:25.760 --> 00:38:26.880
Please like and subscribe.
00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:28.480
Signing off for GameLive.
