In Search of Excellence...

Here's a question for you: What do you wake up every morning for?

Fast-forward a few months: I am an MBA student, married and living in Los Angeles. It's quite interesting seeing as at the time of my last blog entry, I was single (engaged), employed and living in Cairo. Quite a transformation!

During managerial economics class the other day, we were discussing the concept of economic profit vs. normal profit. Somehow, this discussion reminded me of where I was and where I am now - my own normal vs. economic profit.

I feel alive again. It's not because I am out of Egypt, not because I am out here in the States. It's because I'm finally challenging myself. Exposed to these new challenges, it has dawned upon me that I have been residing at the far left of an "easy" bell curve instead of finding myself in the middle of a "tough" bell curve and then try to make it to the left. This very much echos some of the themes from my earlier blog entry about My Thoughts on Thoughts.

Back in 2004, when this whole journey started on a December night at Sherif Bishr's home, I didn't expect that I could make it here. I had built-in obstacles such a steep financial hurdle. For three years, I'd been juggling building a life and pursuing my dreams. The remarkable part is not that I'm at the gates of my dreams now. What's even more remarkable is what I found in my way: a person with whom I can share this dream along with the rest of my life.

So what's the point of all this? I would like to avoid the question of divinity in this whole matter, since every time I bring it up, side arguments ensue. Instead, I just want to say something lame but very true: it's less about what you achieve, more about what you try to achieve. It's what you try that makes you extraordinary (this message is specifically targeted to my friend who's worried because he's hit 24 without winning the Nobel prize).

Just another side point... I guess a lot of my coming blog entries will about my experiences with people during my time in LA. As a starter, I just want to confirm what I've been preaching all along to all those skeptics: people here are no different than people back home in Egypt. They have the same desires, needs, fears and aspirations.

At any rate, I have to stop here. I have some self-challenging to do. What are YOU going to do when you're done reading?

Get Your Car out of My Way!

If someone double parks his/her car in a crowded street and you happen to be driving in that lane, how would you feel towards them? You may park right behind them and sound your horn until they move; you may drive by and give them a look. Or maybe you will do nothing at all... but you certainly wouldn't be very happy about it.

Now imagine that you need to go into a store for just one minute to pick up something. The store so happens to be in a crowded street and you can't find parking space. Would you double park your car? Most probably... you'll just tell yourself that "it will be a minute."

Sometimes actions are classified as right and wrong depending on who took the action. Sometimes actions are right simply because I or the group to which I belong took those actions.

We're all guilty of this. Let me give some common examples of how subjective right and wrong can be:

Pre-marital sex in eastern socities like hours:

• When a guy does it: he was a player before marriage but now he's straightened out
• When a girl does it: she's a whore

Smoking in public:

• When a guy does it: he's a smoker (perhaps an addict)
• When a girl does it: she's a whore

Walking down a street at 3:00 AM in the morning alone

• When a guy does it: he's just having a walk
• When a girl does it: she's trying to get picked-up because she's a whore

When someone laughs out loud in a public place

• When it's not you or your group: They're vulgar people!
• When it's you or your group: We're having a good time

When someone dies and a street is blocked to set-up Soradeq for funeral and Quran-reading

• When it's someone dear to you: People should understand our grief
• When it's someine else: Does grief justify inconveniencing others?

When Ahly wins a championship and fans block the streets in celebration

• If you're an Ahly fan: We have every right to celebrate
• If you're a Zamalek fan: Come on, don't block the streets. What if an ambulance needs to pass through?

When a waiter is being discourteous at a restaurant

• If you give them a hard time: You're demanding service excellence as a customer
• If someone else gives them a hard time: They're just being difficult

Examples are endless.

Whether you believe in an absolute or not, right and wrong should remain objective. Why? At the risk of oversimplifying life, I dare say that we, as humans, seek the same things and, more importantly, are hurt by the same things. We spend too much time judging others and their actions and very little time judging ourselves and own actions. If we all spend a little more time putting ourselves in other people's shoes, our disputes as humans would be subdued. And if we fail to develop a perspective, we should then resort to some tolerance.

So the next time you hear the neighbour's stereo playing so loud, play your's at a lower volume when you turn it on!