(Features Best Persona/A True Entrepreneur)
(Former model turned entrepreneur)
An extra ordinary Story of Passion, hard work & dedication
It is said, nothing is easy and nothing is free in life. True accomplishment has to be earned, and the value of success is best known to those who have humble, ordinary beginnings and many of them have failed. On exceptional instances, one meets an individual whose passion is driven by wanting to make a real difference in this world, and Firass Abbass is on a journey to do wonders !
Our Middle East editor has brought for our readers an inspirational story of ordinary man who not only made his own life a success but helping many to make their way to sky. We asked him questions which can reveal his personality and how he made his life a success. He firmly believes in getting it done and getting it right. Let’s hear his story in his own words.
H2O: A brief description of your background and yourself ?
Born in Lebanon and graduated from the Open Arab University with a business and marketing BA, I have chosen Dubai as my playground, where I started my whole career. As a former Model, I built some strong connections that helped me launch my career as an entrepreneur.
Digital Marketing, event planning and setting up different types of businesses became my passion and my door to success that started with being a partner in Kingsmen, a concierge, event planning and marketing company. Shining with Kingsmen has sharpened my path.
H2O: Your core strengths & values you believe in?
I believe that values and strength change every 5 years or/and with your surroundings. Today, I believe in hard work and dedication. Nothing can be achieved without hard work.
H2O: What makes you different from others?
I try to be different by giving my all when it comes to my work. My friends, colleagues and employees are well aware that I always go above and beyond to achieve my goals and keep my clients happy. After all, a good reputation is a great booster for the old word-of-mouth marketing.
H2O: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Success is my greatest inspiration. Money and materialistic profits are a great deal when it comes to inspiration – in a realistic world- but achieving my goals and visions are definitely the ultimate satisfaction.
H2O: How many hours you work a day per average?
Who counts hours?! Working hours are not something I believe in. Work starts the moment I open my eyes and ends never. Office hours are the usual 9 to 5 but meetings, phone calls and business talks are endless.
H2O: Can you describe/outline your typical day?
I believe that waking up early is one of the keys to success. I wake up at 7 every day and kick off with an hour at gym. I have my breakfast while getting ready for the office. I reach the office at 9:30 and start my meeting with my team. I work with an international team remotely, therefore, keeping up with their tasks and jobs is essential to have a clear workflow. After all the meetings and zoom calls, we leave the office and head back home where I like to sum up my day and plan for the next day.
H2O: How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Work has definitely affected my family and social life. The balance is hard to achieve but I try to spare as much time possible to maintain my social connections and a minimal family involvement.
H2O: What motivates you?
I am motivated by great results and reaching the phase where you no longer need an introduction.
H2O: How do you generate new ideas?
Research, research and research. I count a lot on my research skills and combining out-of-the-box ideas. An open mind helps you cross your path seamlessly. Hence, besides researching, I keep an open mind for new ideas.
H2O: What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
My greatest fear is failure. I have put a lot of effort, sweat and tears into my business and failing is not an option for me. Managing fear is not something a person can do, and for a person who takes great risks on daily basis, I put fear to sleep long time ago.
H2O: Who are your idols?
I don’t really have one idol. I admire the people who started from scratch and were able to succeed world wide. On the other hand, I wish to be an idol for future entrepreneurs.
H2O: How do you market your business and which tactics have been most effective?
I run a digital marketing agency, therefore my first tactic will automatically be digital marketing and social media. It has shown great success but I believe that in Dubai’s market and today’s business count a lot on word of mouth which is alone the highest achievement a business can achieve.
H2O: What kind d culture exists in your organization and how did you establish it?
For me, a healthy work environment is essential for a smooth workflow. I follow a 3/2 rule: 3/5 days a week I am the leader, the teacher the colleague. On the other hand, 2/5 days a week I am the BOSS. I believe in leadership and that the team is working with me and not for me, but implementing a neat hierarchy is also essential.
H2O: What piece of advice would you give to college graduates who want to become entrepreneurs?
The same advice that I’d give to my younger self. Everything can wait, except your success and your career. Clubs, friends, fun and freedom are still going to be there after you achieve your goals. They actually will mean more and taste better from the top!
H2O: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
If I had the chance to start over, I’d start building my identity and my brand earlier than I did. It took me a lot of time to discover my love for marketing and how much I have passion for this field. Finding out about this passion added a lot of value to my life and sharpened my vision of my future.
H2O: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
First of all, and the most important skill is time management, not only in the short term; manage your time and have a plan for the next hour, next day, next month and next year!
To have a clear schedule and excellent time management, Task allocation has a major part. Once the tasks are allocated properly I have all the time to monitor the Proper execution of the tasks allocations planed.
H2O: What entrepreneurial tricks have you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day-to-day busy schedule?
It’s not really a magical trick, I simply compare my work to both small businesses and large enterprises. I start my survey inside out; starting with the smallest details to the macro stuff that are visible to the naked eye. This evaluation and observing will showcase the secret of their success, whether it’s small and slow, or fast and remarkable.
H2O: What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in?
Wake up early, stay healthy and fit, exercise to release the stress and to have a clear vision of your entourage and of course RESEARCH & KNOWLEDGE. Today, your power lays in your knowledge and your curiosity to know and discover more. Manage your priorities and your time accordingly. Success is just around the corner, take that step you might reach it in a blink of an eye.
You can check out Instagram profile of our chosen personality
“Face of H2O – Magazine”
https://www.instagram.com/firassabbass