COVID is over. I’m 35. White streaks litter my bearded face and hair. Definitely not a romance novel intro.
In the past 3 years, so much has happened. I lost my mother. I experienced deep love. Family heartbreak. I witnessed more death than ever before. I learned about my childhood. I reconnected with my spirit. I geographically shifted to the Middle East. What a learning experience it continues to be.
Work wise: The agency I founded in 2015 was part of a NASDAQ IPO. The esports team I helped found in the same year has officially become the 2nd highest earning team in history; all in part due to its core members and excellent leadership team. In 2022, I was asked to lead the MENA region for a fast-growing transmedia group, Galaxy Racer. I learned more from some of the biggest creators in the Middle East than I’d ever imagined. Now in 2023, I’m working with two people I so deeply trust to transform and level up the Creator industry across the Middle East in a way no one’s done before.
Thank you God for every one of these experiences and the days you grant me going forward. You nourish me with tests and privileges I couldn’t have conceived when I was younger.
I felt with the opening of 2023, It was time to reflect on the last 10 years.. from being a banker at HSBC, a Sales Director at esports organisation Fnatic, an agency founder, a regional leader to now launching another start-up (more on that in future posts).
What better way than to start with a list? I still love lists.
Here are 10 lessons I’ve learned from my experiences over the last 10 years:
- Esports is full of people eager to solve problems for the future masses at the cost of the current community. It takes time to build a community but it’s worth it. Invest in solving long-term problems today.
- True creators aren’t just broadcasting their lives anymore, they’re telling stories that entertain people who can tune in when they want, how they want. I watch more YouTube than Netflix in time spent.
- It’s better to focus on solving problems quickly and with good people instead of trying to prevent them from happening in the first place.
- Work with people you trust but don’t hold them to the standards you have for yourself. Let your actions influence them not your words.
- Watch content across different categories through the eyes of a learner not a consumer. You might not like animation but you can learn a lot from it.
- When things are great, plan even more. When things aren’t great, you’ll wish you did.
- Don’t be afraid to experience things you don’t like. Or even initially feel you might not like. Be sensible with being uncomfortable.
- Practice getting comfortable and content alone. You don’t need to be the guy with the headphones in a crowded room but.. go to the cinema alone. Eat at a restaurant by yourself. You will love yourself for it.
- Always seek to learn from those younger than you. They set the tone for the Zeitgeist.
- Make decisions FAST instead of worrying about making the best decision SLOW.
— I’ll aim to share more learnings and insights every week this year. I will very likely focus on the creator economy across the Middle East and the journey that entails but expect the odd curve ball now and again.