On a day like today, about 15 years ago, I experienced fear as I’ve never experienced throughout my whole life; I came super close to being in the line of fire between armed military conflict in what I could call a mini-civil war that happened in Beirut in May 2008; It was around 1:00 AM, I can still remember the loud sound of firearms getting closer … Continue reading Be Bold, and Fortune Favors the Bold
I can’t remember when was the first time I actually had the chance to watch “Dead Poets Society” for the first time in the early 90s. Still, I surely remember rewatching it many times over and reliving the “Oh Captain, My Captain” moment that symbolizes the admiration of the students for their teacher and a reminder of the importance of inspiring and mentoring others to greatness. As … Continue reading Carpe Diem. Make your Life Extraordinary!
2022 has been an exceptional year; maybe it was the end of a cycle of world-changing events that introduced us to a new era of living, or just another year that came to remind us of what mattered in our lives. I have personally experienced loss on multiple levels during that year, and I wish I could say that I had more learnings than losses; … Continue reading ACCEPT what is, LET GO of what was, and HAVE FAITH in what will be.
For many of us who have taken many flights, these words sound very familiar, but for those who haven’t been on a plane before, it’s worth illustrating it a bit, Before the plane takes off, the flight attendants will start demonstrating the safety procedures, which include how to fasten and unfasten seatbelts, etc., and one sentence, in particular, goes something like this: “In the event … Continue reading Put Your Oxygen Mask on First, Before Assisting Others.
On September 27th, 2022, my father, Mokhtar Chidiac, passed away after battling cancer for 15 months. Only a few months ago, I had a rare opportunity to spend time with him with my camera just before his health started to deteriorate and had him tell me his life story and the moments that shaped his life. It was a very intense emotional time for me at … Continue reading 3 Life lessons I learned from my Father
In the summer of 2009 and before the release of the blockbuster science fiction movie AVATAR, I had the pleasure of meeting the co-producer Jon Landau while he was speaking at one of our company’s annual meetings at Microsoft; at that time, we were all waiting to hear about how Microsoft’s KINECT technology was used in the making of the movie; Kinect was not yet due to hit the market, … Continue reading Keep trying… Some goals are so worthy that it’s glorious even to fail.
Most of us, at some point in time, will experience anxiety, a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. You may be in a situation where you have a fear of the unknown; it could be the result of a recent job loss, a loved one being sick, a personal relationship that is heading toward a cliff, or any reason … Continue reading To help deal with Anxiety, Shorten your timeframes
I would like you to imagine this situation with me for a second; You’re wearing a suit (dress, skirt…) and you notice that one of the Buttons is loose and is hanging on a thread and it could fall anytime. Of course, the first thing that goes into anyone’s mind is to FIX the situation, but what happens when it’s not possible (at that particular … Continue reading Write off the Emotional Bad Debt
They say the first 30 seconds you meet someone are very crucial as that someone would have a long-lasting impression that would affect the way they listen, hear, see and accept you afterward. Are you the Gentleman, the Classy Lady, the Professional, the Amateur, the Charming, and the list goes on and on… It doesn’t really matter if you’re meeting someone socially or in a … Continue reading You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression
This week’s tip is an extract from my Commencement Speech for the Class of 2020, you can read/listen to the full speech 👉 The Last Day of the Present. “Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” ~Suzy Kassem Around 10 years ago (8 years at the time of the speech), I was having a chat with my sister, she … Continue reading Become Friends with your Fear
The other day, I was having a chat with a friend of mine who has become a mother just a few years back, and as we talked about Life and challenges in general, she shared with me some great advice that was so simple, and yet very powerful, about facing challenges in life. “Men are what their mothers made them.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson She said … Continue reading A simple lesson from Mothers on Perseverance
A dear friend of mine once told me his story; He was engaged in a very serious relationship with somebody, for several years they were together. And then, one day, out of the blue, their relationship ended; his fiancé messaged and told him that they cannot stay together anymore because of multiple issues and reasons. Her reasons to breakup were valid, but the way to … Continue reading Choose your better end of the story
One day you wake up, and look at the mirror and see a person you don’t know, a person that looks a lot like you, has your features, but strangely you don’t recognize that person. Because deep inside of yourself, you realize that this is not YOU… and if it was indeed you, you fail to acknowledge how did you end up here. When did … Continue reading Never lose track of yourself
Have you ever woke up one day with that strange feeling that you don’t want to get out of bed? That going to work feels like going to a slaughter house and you’re the cow? have you ever felt that even on your vacation days, you don’t feel like having fun? How many times have this occurred to you? if more than once in the … Continue reading Get rid of the things holding you down!
The Monday Tip 