You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

There's No Time Like The Present To Move On Your Entrepreneurial Ambitions The fears that are instilled in our minds were, in many entrepreneurs' cases, disproven once we decided that the business was ready to be take flight.

By Ammar Al Raees

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock.com

A majority of us have been raised to lead a very linear life, whether the contributing factors are cultural, familial or societal. It's this very reason that stops most people from taking the plunge and investing in starting up their own business. It is the perceived risk of losing all of your savings on an idea that you (and only you) thought would earn you a living. It is the notion of juggling a full-time day job and starting up a new venture at the same time that seems both daunting and nigh-on impossible. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness sets in, and just like that, you're another cog in the corporate machine, destined to play a small insignificant role in the big corporate picture for many years to come.

I, like many of my peers, was under the impression that that was the only way to live; have a stable job, a stable income, start a family, maybe go to Disneyland and then, well…I didn't think any further than that. And for a while, that was the roadmap that I followed. That is until things got stagnant at work. At the time, I worked as a Wealth Manager at one of the regional leading financial institutions. My main job was to look after the accounts of HNWIs and royal family members. After literally years of plugging away at my job, it occurred to me that most of my clientele were entrepreneurs, some self-made, some enjoyed a few million via inheritance, but the trend was real and a huge eye-opener for me. It was then that it was decided that that needed to be my goal for the future, to be self-employed. That, and I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

Of course, wishing for something and actually doing something are two very different things. It would be very poetic if I would now tell you that I have achieved total independence, and I'm now totally self-employed. I'm not, but I am getting there. My only regret was that I didn't start earlier. The fears that are instilled in our minds were, in many entrepreneurs' cases, disproven once we decided that the business was ready to be take flight. In our case, the building blocks that consisted of the setup, equipment, manpower, and marketing all fell into place like they would in a perfect game of Tetris.

An example here to take note of is that obtaining funding is easier when you have both a solid idea and a source of funding. We, here in Bahrain, can make use of several different funding tools and resources, so fortunately that sorted out the setup cost (more or less). The people that made it all happen were on board from the get-go, and selecting employees that are trustworthy, hardworking and inventive was one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks we faced- it's still a challenge to this day. The right branding also goes a long way in this region, and marketing was a cinch in our case. (Oddly enough, it was aided by political unrest that the country was going through back in 2011, but that's a story for another time.)

My startup story might not be the same as your startup story, but once a proper vision of what you want to do materializes, it's hard not to work towards making it happen. And that's the best thing you could ask for.

Related: Why Now Is As Good A Time As Ever To Be An Entrepreneur

Ammar Al Raees

Business Development Professional

Ammar Al Raees is an MBA, an ex-banker and a business development veteran. He has co-founded Dikkan, one of the fastest growing Interior Design firms in the Kingdom of Bahrain, whose clients mainly consist of HNWIs and members of the Royal Family. Dikkan’s reputation has allowed it to be the exclusive agent to fabrics from renowned design houses such as Armani and Hermès. 

He is currently involved in the development of a couple of new businesses as well. Ammar maintains his day job as a Business Development Manager in a Government-owned aviation company and is the designated Government Liaison.

Thought Leaders

How To Improve Your Soft Skills and Emotional Intelligence in 7 Easy Steps

Using these simple but effective approaches will help a person in their business, life and relationships.

Women Entrepreneur™

Rayne Founder Sarah Jones On How To Build Solutions That Address Real Market Needs

"Embrace failure as a learning opportunity- because not every idea or decision will lead to success, and that's okay."

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Starting a Business

Startup Spotlight: Here's How UAE-Based Appro Is Simplifying Customer Onboarding For Banks

In its current iteration, the platform is able to help its users find for themselves the right credit cards, home loans, personal loans, as well as car loans.

Business News

Tim Cook Was Reportedly Rejected From Applying For an Apple Card

The card officially launched in the U.S. on August 20, 2019, and features perks such as no late or over-limit fees.

Business Plans

7 Steps To A Winning Business Proposal

Seven essential steps to guarantee you get the contract.