Jordan’s Hidden Gems: The Untold Stories of Local Entrepreneurs

Reading Time: 8 minutes One afternoon, while searching for the perfect gift for a friend’s birthday, I found myself diving into the diverse, creative world of local craftsmanship on Instagram. My aim was to find something unique, something authentic. Page after page, I discovered makers of soap, creators of jarred goods, and artists of embroidered pieces, all pouring their heart and soul into their craft. I was struck by a powerful realization that there was an abundance of talent and creativity in my local community that deserved recognition and a broader platform to shine.

You Are Your Perfect Time

Reading Time: 4 minutes Tala Bacouni, a Lebanese writer, shares her personal story of leaving her secure corporate job during the pandemic to pursue her passion. Through her journey, she shares the experience of finding her own “perfect time” to make the transition. The gentle power demonstrated through her determination and perseverance is a reminder that: “You can’t wait for the perfect time. There isn’t a perfect time. I made the decision to do what I love while I was fighting a virus, was on antibiotics, and had a fluctuating fever. For anyone reading this piece, it’s never too late.”

Amman’s Road Safety: Urgent Need for a Driving Culture Shift

Reading Time: 9 minutes According to a Ministry of Health 2018 study, traffic accidents are the fourth leading cause of death in Jordan, indicating the severity of the situation.

After 39 years of safe driving culture in Dubai, the author moved to Jordan in 2019 and found Amman’s driving conditions daunting. He notes the general disregard for traffic rules, leading to an aggressive and often dangerous driving Culture.

The Last Suitcase: The Wisdom of Yousef

Reading Time: 3 minutes ‘The Last Suitcase and the Wisdom of Yusuf’ is the first part of a series about growth and the impact of one’s definition of success on navigating times of great hardship. The series starts with the serendipitous journey of Wise Man Yusuf, from his beginnings on a Nigerian cocoa farm to becoming the Director General of an international institution and how Yusuf’s unique personification of success profoundly impacted and inspired the writer.

The Great David Crosby

Reading Time: 2 minutes The recent passing of David Crosby was a great loss to the music world and it brought back many such memories. CSNY as a Group was so much part of my life journey that losing David Crosby feels like losing someone who has been with me throughout my many years of growing up.

Coming Together In Service: Distinguished Team of Volunteers

Reading Time: 7 minutes ‘Coming Together in Service’ is a story about two cousins who established the Distinguished Team of Volunteers, a volunteering program operating in Jordan since 2018. They believe each member of a community bears a responsibility towards the other. Explore the impact of their acts of charity, as they seek to make a difference in their communities amid rising economic hardships and youth unemployment.

School, The Fortress of Hope

Reading Time: 11 minutes Dr. Nathaniel Branden, The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem TO MANY CHILDREN, SCHOOL REPRESENTS A “SECOND CHANCE”—an opportunity to acquire a better sense of self and a better vision of life than was offered in their home. A teacher who projects confidence in a child’s competence and goodness can be a powerful antidote to a family in which such confidence is lacking and in which perhaps the opposite perspective is conveyed….A teacher who refuses to accept a child’s negative self-concept and relentlessly holds to a better view of the child’s potential has the power—sometimes—to save a life.

Carving Out a Place In the Work World, Part – 2

Reading Time: 4 minutes Part 2 of Noah’s story, a man navigating the complex dynamics of the corporate world. This installment explores his hidden aspiration for entrepreneurial success, his fears, struggles, and personal revelations as he wrestles with self-doubt and seeks personal fulfillment while contemplating the price of success, battles with changing family dynamics, and faces unexpected challenges at work. Join him on this life-changing journey of self-discovery and assertion, providing a profound reflection on self-esteem, ambition, and the power of future vision. To Be Continued in Part – 3.

Carving Out A Place In The Work World, Part – 1

Reading Time: 5 minutes ‘From Employee to Entrepreneur’. In this inaugural chapter, we accompany Noah as he confronts the one-sided affair of his corporate existence, the impacts of his relentless commitment on his personal life, and the self-inflicted confines of his world. Grappling with self-perception, missed opportunities, and a yearning to redefine his identity, Noah’s enlightening shift demands he dispute ingrained societal narratives and courageously set forth on a journey toward entrepreneurship, albeit with personal costs. This narrative offers an examination of personal values, life’s priorities, individual interpretations of success, and the audacity required to alter one’s path, irrespective of age or prevailing circumstances.

Exploring the Limits of Motivation, Engagement, and Rewards in the Workplace

Reading Time: 9 minutes People require a lot more support now than they did before the pandemic. In his book that keeps on giving, Managing Oneself, Peter Drucker raises these points that are very pertinent to what we’re going through: “Only when you operate from a combination of your strengths and self-knowledge can you achieve true – and lasting – excellence”. He tells us that in order to live a life of excellence, we must ask ourselves these questions: What are our strengths? How do we perform? What are our values? Where do we belong? What should we contribute?