I want to become fluent in AI tools. I want to learn Python so I can build my own AI agents. I want to improve my communication skills. I want to read books and study material that help me grow. I want to learn sales and self-development so I can become a better pre-sales engineer. I want to write every day to become a stronger writer. I want to create YouTube videos.
The truth is, I can do many things—but I cannot do everything.
Time is limited.
As I enter what may be my final working decade, I feel the weight of that reality more than ever. Every new interest competes for the same finite hours.
This is where Stoic philosophy offers an important reminder: focus on what matters and what is within your control.
We cannot control how much time we have, but we can control where we direct our attention.
As Seneca wrote:
“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.”
He also warned:
“To be everywhere is to be nowhere.”
Even though I understand the shortness of time and the importance of setting priorities, my mind still wants to do everything at once.
This is where Buddhist philosophy comes to mind.
Much of our suffering comes from attachment—including attachment to the idea that we must do everything, learn everything, and become everything.
Letting go of that attachment creates space for clarity.
The power of focusing on a few meaningful actions is also reflected in Islamic teachings. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.”
The lesson is simple: consistency matters more than intensity.
I do not need to chase every opportunity or master every skill.
Instead, I need to detach myself from outcomes, choose a few priorities, and invest my limited time in them consistently.
Most importantly, I should focus on the skills that align with my profession and long-term purpose. When my learning supports my work, each effort strengthens the others.
While sitting in the office, I was communicating about Iranian food. Iranian food is tasty. I liked it. I really like the chullo kaaba. But suddenly, it came to my mind: What am I trying to convey? What message am I going to deliver? This message conveys that I am a food lover and that I like Iranian food. There are two major points here: will it impact someone? So the most important thing I release in building reputation is what type of impact you want to create on others. So I changed my approach. But the problem is, what is the starting point? The starting point is the power of intention. I was listening to an Operah Winfery video where she talks about the “power of intention.” She said that before the age of 40, she was a pleasing person. So she pleases others, but when others demand more, she starts to revolt. Then she released the power of intention. She talks about the seat of the soul. Then she shared the idea that intention is the soul of action—it fuels passion in action. So I decided to change my ways. I started before speaking about what type of impact I wanted to create on others. But before deeply implementing this idea of the power of intention, I was thinking What happened to me? Why did I start to talk about general topics? With too much work in the past, I got fed up with the same types of jobs. So I lost interest in my work. So I started to talk in general terms. Talk about food; talk about places. But as a result, it creates a very poor impression of me. That is a big problem for me as a professional. I am statistically significant based on the work I have done. I learned what people did not know about my work. They know about my taste in food, but not my quality of work. As a result, I became less worthy. Certainly they have word of mouth, but how do you create these words of mouth? That is what you told others. Who you are, what you are doing, and what are your achievements—but most importantly, what are your failures? Don’t share your failure. That all comes from one principle, and that is intention. So I start to think in a way that makes me comprehensible. What I already achieved, So I start thinking in terms of who I am. What have I achieved? What can I do? So the most important thing I learned from the video of Operh Winfery is intuition. What I am gone say, what is my itension. Either way, that other person knows that I am a food-loving person. Or a good consultant. What I know is that I started to think in terms of What type of impact do I want to create on others?
I want to achieve a lot. I want to do a lot of things.
I want to read a lot of books. I want to learn a lot of things. I want to earn a lot.
My friend Omer told me that, brother, you need to organize. I saw your stuff, but I feel it is not organized.
There are two things that Omer said. First, I have a lot of things, but they are not in a presentable way.
The second point is literally about disorganization.
I read a lot of books, but most of them are never finished.
My laptop has pictures and documents that are totally disorganized. and when I required something, I never found it.
I want to become an expert in supply chain management as a functional consultant in D365 Finance and Operations. I have links to different topics in a given subject and, as a result, never become confident.
My personal finances are all a mess. I have a rough idea of how much I need to pay. How much I spent, but no proper capture of what I spent and will is necessary.
That point is a turning point in my life. Both points are true. Neither I am organized nor my work is presentable.
It is said if you want to understand any person. Overserve his room. If everything is placed in the right order, it means he will be successful in life.
After understanding this point, I decided to organize what I already had and then move forward. First, I need to review what things I have and what tasks I already have. What books have I already read? which are completed, and which are partially completed. I list everything.
First things I organize my room and my wardrobe. What is required, what is not—I have done many things that are no longer required. You can move these things into the storeroom, so if possible, in the future, they will be required.
I define the location of everything. And strict to always place those things. For example, where will my keys be? Where do I need to place my body spray? Where do my clothes need to be placed?
https://youtu.be/KKwAHP3IGh0
For the day-to-day tasks, I started following the Getting Things Done methodology. After six months of effort, results are starting to appear. As an immediate benefit, I found that I stopped forgetting what important task I had to complete.
I make GTD things kanbanboard in the Timesprite productivity app. It was one of the best apps I ever used. I give me future prospects and remind me how much time I have left.
For books. I moved all my PDFs into one folder. I made a subfolder with the name “current reading”. This folder contains only one book. Until it is completed, I stop moving on to the next book.
For notes, I started using Second Brain by Tiago Forte. In addition to that, I made four folders, and all notes will be shifted. The only difference is that I make notes with the name Daily Archieve. I start storing everything there, and every month or week ends. I moved things into different folders.
For office work, I started using Eisenhower. The Eisenhower Matrix Take notes on every task currently assigned to me, and then move them into the Eisenhower matrix. And start working on only a specific task.
“The things that are urgent are seldom important, and the things that are important are seldom urgent.” Dwight D. Eisenhower, probably
For things I want to learn. First, I made a list of things under the subject. And start working on them one by one. And when each topic was completed, I added my notes and links to that area. So in the future, if I need to revise, this makes me a little confident.
For personal finance. I started using two things. Excel or a goal sheet. And start noting down every penny spent on it. Second, I start following Baby Steps from Dave Ramsiy. It is a good start. The only difference between what I do and what Dave Ramsiy says is that I start making a budget first. Instead, I start capturing everything first. After one month of efforts, it was clear to me where and what amount I spent. Then I start making a budget and following it.
for better presentation of work to your management. I start with the idea that “begin with the end in mind.” For communicating with management about when a task is complete, I start adding extra time. Instead of focusing on your personal satisfaction, I started focusing on management satisfaction. Before delivering any task, I start asking the following questions:
Is it completed? If it is not completed, speak to management. It is in progress. It will take more time.
Is it presentable? If not, do more work on it. Color notes, correct grammatical mistakes, and start following the pyramid principle. Focus on the starting and ending of the task report.
As I start getting organized, my presentation starts to improve, and my delivery of work improves. And my professional and personal life will be much better.
I hope you like this video. If you like, please hit and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
I met Ahmed after two years. He is totally changed. He looks smart and is 10 years younger than his age. He lost 25 kg.
I visit the local bazaar, where once there was a small cafe; now the owner of that cafe has a chain of cafes.
https://youtu.be/GdSI4r2RLfA
My friends share that once his son failed in his class, now he is one of the brilliant students who got admission to one of the most renown universities in the country.
where a lot of people fail to achieve their goals. how some achieve their dreams while others do not. What is the difference between these people? Those who achieved tremendous success did something different from those who failed.
Yes, my friend, they have determination. They decided to achieve something, and with determination, they achieved it.
So what is the difference between determination and hoping? Hope is something we wish for; it will happen automatically or God will bless us with it. Determination is different. Determination means I will try my best to achieve this. Whatever obstacle comes, I will overcome it. not discourage setbacks.
So determination is the key, which makes the difference between wishful thinking and achieving the goals.
Let’s discuss how you build this long-lasting determination that helps you reach your goals.
Focus on why. When you set goals or want to achieve something. You should clarify why. Why do you want to achieve this? What are the reasons? Most of the goals we set out of anger, revenge, or emotion are just wishful thinking. When situations change, our motivation is lost.
For example, why would I lose weight? Because some other person achieves weight loss, I should too.
Instead, make your reason that it will result in you thinking I’ll look smart, be beautiful, perform well in my job, or stay active in my day-to-day work.
Intention will be important. Until we have clear intentions, your determination will not fade with time.
Set small goals. Sometimes we set big goals. But in reaching them, we lost our motivation; more determination is required. If you have big goals, break them into small ones. For example, if you want to build a habit of reading, instead of focusing on completing the book, just focus on 10 pages per day. And with determination, in a few months, you will reach
For example, if you want to lose weight, set small goals for starting with a 10-minute walk, then 20 minutes, and then leading it to a 45-minute walk. And with the determination that I have to lose weight, within 6 months you will achieve it.
celebrates small wins.
We lost motivation because we focused on achieving big things. Set daily goals, and then achieve them. whatever you achieve, for example, 30 minutes walking or reading 5 pages. Celebrate it. Be proud to achieve something.
Keep being kind to yourself.
Most of the time, our biggest critics in life are ourselves. We did not let ourselves stand. So be kind to ourselves. If we fail to achieve something. Take it easy. Just start again. It’s ok; we put in effort and work with full determination. But if you fail to achieve it, no problem. Starts again. if you criticize yourself. You will not stand again. It will destroy our determination.
Hi friends. With determination, you can move mountains. We need to set clear goals and plan how we will achieve them. and what challenges we have to meet. Taking each step with determination will make us successful.
I was a total failure in my job, not due to a lack of knowledge or expertise but due to a lack of many things that are not technical at all. To be successful in any organization, you need many skills other than technical skills. So, when I encountered failure, I asked myself, “What is missing in me?”
I found the following answers to the above points:
Make it a human relationship.
Dealing with office politics.
Work on building repute.
Influence and assertive qualities.
Many times, the question of where to begin arises.
I made some mistake or had a lack of vision, so another person beat me. One thing is confirmed: somewhere I have a lack of vision or strategy, either in my work or in politics.
One thing is good here: you have an understanding of where you need to improve and where you made a mistake. There is a common quote.
“Where is the mistake? There is a need for improvement.”
I made a promise to myself: I am suffering now, but I will work on these weaknesses so that next time I will not suffer. I decided that this failure would be a stepping stone for me.
The question now is where to start. What is the starting point?
I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.
Confucius
So just start working. You will start to understand. The starting point is only understanding that you have the skills you need to build and just starting.
We cannot understand until we start.
So the starting point of office politics is to start understanding others.
We meet most of our colleagues in the office. When you see him, ask three questions in your mind, and during the discussion, start to understand.
What are his strengths?
What are his weaknesses?
What are his interests?
If you have to deal with this person, how do you deal with him?
Slowly, you need to move. You have to study each and every person in your office.
And that is the second tip, which I implemented in my life to improve my quality of life.
The result of an action searches its doer unerringly, just as a calf finds the mother cow even if there are thousands of cows [i.e., one cannot avoid the consequence of an action, do whatever one may.]
Ah, I have 6 weeks, but 3 days have already passed. I start searching for jobs and apply to different places. Try to connect different people.
Today, on a hot summer day in Riyadh, I was walking in line under trees with little shadow. I was feeling a little depressed, thinking about what would happen after September 5. My company will find another job for me because my contract will end. If I get a job without their help, will they cooperate with me or not?
What will happen? Possible stress was on my face. The temperature was more than 50 degrees Celsius. While walking on the footpath, Mercedes stopped. I was surprised. An Arab in Modern dress in his mid-30s gave me a chilled water bottle. The moment I saw and touched the bottle, a smile and happiness came to my face. He enjoyed my expressions, and I thanked him, and his car moved away. I was thinking that this is God’s omen for me, that if I trust in God, things will be better. Or It is just a normal incident.
How this idea came into my mind In Dubai, I have one Hindu friend who has a lot of knowledge. Another question is about his knowledge of right and wrong. He told me, God is in everyone, and when you were in trouble And called him, he replied to you indirectly. I don’t believe in this ideology.
I just know that good people are everywhere, which is why he gave me a chilled water bottle. Because Allah added it to his heart to distribute water. The idea came to him from Allah. So everything is from Allah.
I was listening a podcast, there speaker talks about 10 10 10, 3 10 are people observer in you and last 10 are words. It talks about this quote that is in China, they said, if you cannot smile, you should not open a shop.
It means, The smile is the first thing every one note.
My father once told me that what he observed in other person is the smile.
We all are business man, Some business men are selling their products or open a shop. Others are selling their services. Consultants are coming in second category. We are selling our services.
Services to our company, Colleagues, and to clients.
And best way to sell our services is to smile. Because before selling our services, we ourself to others.
The only way to smile at workplace is live in present moment.
We all have pains, traumas and failures in life. We all have regrets,
We cannot finish all these things. Only way is to accept them. Accept them, so they no more hurt us.
Sometimes, we start to oppose and as result, these pains and suffering hurt us more.
The solution to all these problems, are acceptance. Let them come and go. Then we have to able to face the challenges we have in present moment.
I have to smile. Smile because I am capable to face every challenge that comes across.
Conclusion is smile is first thing, people watch at your face.
For smile, you have to live in present moment. Just focus on now.
Make peace with your past and live in present moment.
It is said, that in ancient China, one rich man wanted to get a mouse statue for decoration. He held a competition, where he send request to all statute makers to participate in competition. When statue makers visited him. He told them his requirements, and held a prize who statue is so beautiful that his cat also confuse and snatch it.
On the competition day, all statute workers visited him, with his work. One young person comes with statue that is not so beautiful. When all statute placed in hall, all statue made fun of him.
But when rich man, visited the hall, he also not like his master piece. But young man, asked him that in invitation there is requirement, that his cat will confuse with mouse is original or not.
So as per rules, cat have to decided that competition. Rich man laughed at him, and told them it is symbolic. Not actual. For just joke, he brought his cat in hall. When cat saw these mouse, instead to second look on all other mouses, she took the mouse of young person and run away.
Young person laughed and demand his prize. Because his fish was so beautiful that rich man’s cat confused and take it like a real mouse. Actually he made that mouse with fish meat.
Rich man surprised and gave him the prize.
Our life is such a way. Usually as consultant. We know what is best for client. But we have to give them what they want. Yesterday, I made a document, and they did not understand what is major meaning. They just search the exact word, they gave. So objective meanings were lost. Later I start to understand them, how they work. And produce the work as wishes for them.
I heard that the Indus script is actually record of baniya. His balance sheet or some notes about payment. Right or wrong. One thing is confirm. Finance is since from dawn.
I meet with Indian friend in Dubai. He belongs to baniya family. He manage every rupee. He was rich person.
Financially very sharp. He told me from last 10 year, he was maintaining excel sheet for every pony he spent. And he told me, before that he was unorganized. But when he start maintaining where every rupee he getting rich and financially independent.
My father is 72 years old, He also maintain one excel sheet for his spending, saving. He also follow the envelop system. Dave Ramsey also talks about this.
The fundamental of personal finance is understand, how much you spent, where you spent, then you make a budget.
First and most important thing is not every rupee you spent. Until you don’t clear about it. You cannot make budget.
I am using google sheet. Just put four column
First column with Date.
Second column, what amount you spent.
Third column, about it is cash or credit.
Fourth column, category or classification, for example grocery, Dinning out, Traveling.
Fifth column is about comments
Sixth column is optional, but ask, is it necessary or we can save this amount.
Update this excel / google sheet on daily bases. Follow this religiously.
After one month, you have clear understanding where amount going, where you spent. After that you will be able to move next step. Like budgeting and balance sheet.
