0:00:13.500,0:00:15.460 So, when I was around five years old 0:00:15.460,0:00:18.990 my sister who's older than me,[br]she was already going to school. 0:00:19.105,0:00:21.154 My aunt was teaching in that same school. 0:00:21.354,0:00:25.957 Now one day, I found my sister[br]holding all these beautiful crayons 0:00:26.558,0:00:29.985 and drawing what looked like[br]a very creative drawing, 0:00:30.309,0:00:32.354 which was actually[br]for a school competition. 0:00:32.766,0:00:36.274 Now, owing to the fact[br]that I could not be but myself, 0:00:36.417,0:00:38.275 I wanted to draw as well. 0:00:38.440,0:00:40.358 I wanted to be in that competition, 0:00:40.358,0:00:42.368 and I wanted to win that competition. 0:00:43.178,0:00:45.403 I remember nagging my mom[br]and asking about it, 0:00:45.632,0:00:48.444 like really nagging,[br]like a determined kind of nagging. 0:00:48.899,0:00:50.558 And what do you know? 0:00:50.558,0:00:52.811 All the fuss I made actually paid off! 0:00:52.919,0:00:57.021 At the age of eight,[br]I won Sheikha Latifa Award for arts. 0:00:57.181,0:00:59.197 I was the youngest artist in the country 0:00:59.190,0:01:02.510 to draw stories[br]that were actually published 0:01:02.510,0:01:04.039 for two consecutive years. 0:01:04.330,0:01:06.089 And throughout this whole process 0:01:06.089,0:01:09.265 I was interviewed by many[br]magazines and newspapers. 0:01:09.746,0:01:12.548 Now, some of you might argue, 0:01:12.548,0:01:16.760 "Oh well, it is not that big[br]of an issue or that big of a step, 0:01:16.760,0:01:19.281 or even not that big of an achievement." 0:01:19.281,0:01:21.032 Well, I am here to tell you, 0:01:21.160,0:01:23.280 it is not about how huge 0:01:23.280,0:01:26.675 or how gigantic this step[br]you're about to take is. 0:01:26.955,0:01:29.518 Do not dwell on those kind of details. 0:01:29.538,0:01:33.862 It might sound like cliche to you,[br]but it is absolutely true. 0:01:34.049,0:01:39.551 It is the union of the small steps[br]which makes that one big step. 0:01:40.167,0:01:42.245 So, this might be trivial to you, 0:01:42.384,0:01:45.425 but this was the proof[br]that I had a talent. 0:01:45.496,0:01:49.433 This was the proof that I can do[br]and be whatever I wanted. 0:01:49.922,0:01:53.364 This was that piece[br]of the puzzle that inspired me. 0:01:53.512,0:01:56.837 It inspired me to work harder[br]and aim even higher. 0:01:56.990,0:02:01.752 It inspired me to win Sheikh Hamdan award[br]for distinction three times, 0:02:01.830,0:02:05.000 it inspired me to win[br]Sharjah award for distinction, 0:02:05.000,0:02:08.217 again for three times,[br]and many awards followed. 0:02:08.687,0:02:12.115 Now, what happens is as time passes by, 0:02:12.253,0:02:16.466 and owing to the fact that human[br]beings are very creative, 0:02:16.460,0:02:18.100 we come up with ideas, 0:02:18.100,0:02:20.274 thoughts, and dreams on a regular basis. 0:02:20.280,0:02:25.550 What happens is we often find ourselves[br]in conflicts and at crossroads. 0:02:26.227,0:02:27.659 We have the potential. 0:02:28.004,0:02:29.329 We have the ideas. 0:02:29.375,0:02:30.845 We want to do stuff. 0:02:30.898,0:02:35.702 But there are walls, and bars,[br]and prisons that are standing in our way. 0:02:37.149,0:02:41.123 What might come handy[br]in that specific situation, 0:02:41.443,0:02:44.050 Is to recognize the person[br]that's surrounding you, 0:02:44.050,0:02:46.270 and to know how to overcome the challenges 0:02:46.270,0:02:48.356 that might face you at that crossroad. 0:02:48.976,0:02:52.973 Today I would like to share with you[br]three notions that, for me, 0:02:53.121,0:02:56.227 form the ultimate recipe[br]to find your solutions. 0:02:56.887,0:02:59.429 So, the first notion I would like[br]you to keep in mind 0:02:59.429,0:03:03.409 is that you have got to find your passion[br]and what works for you. 0:03:03.744,0:03:05.669 You should find your comfort zone. 0:03:05.856,0:03:09.224 You should thrive, and flourish,[br]and find what suits you. 0:03:09.818,0:03:11.218 But not only that. 0:03:11.528,0:03:13.698 You should gradually push yourself. 0:03:13.698,0:03:15.078 You should push the envelope. 0:03:15.078,0:03:17.708 You should find your creativity, 0:03:17.708,0:03:19.106 and you should explore it. 0:03:19.648,0:03:23.589 Only by doing so you'll be [br]more prepared and more equipped 0:03:23.646,0:03:26.418 to face whatever conflict[br]and whatever crossroads. 0:03:27.481,0:03:30.554 The second notion that I would[br]like you to keep in mind is that 0:03:30.582,0:03:33.867 you should have an absolute belief 0:03:33.867,0:03:37.683 that there is nothing wrong[br]with asking for help every now and then. 0:03:38.488,0:03:40.271 Do you want to be successful? 0:03:41.036,0:03:41.785 Yes. 0:03:41.828,0:03:44.822 Well, if you want to be successful,[br]you should play it smart. 0:03:45.101,0:03:46.848 You should know your weaknesses. 0:03:47.830,0:03:51.640 You should surround yourself with people[br]who compliment you and support you. 0:03:53.970,0:03:56.200 Just like anybody sitting here, 0:03:56.630,0:03:58.738 I, myself, might have some prisons. 0:03:58.960,0:04:00.960 I myself might have some notions 0:04:00.960,0:04:03.548 that stop me from doing things[br]I like and I love. 0:04:03.886,0:04:07.580 But I figured that the only way[br]I would overcome that 0:04:07.754,0:04:11.173 is if I surround myself with[br]my social support system. 0:04:11.619,0:04:15.248 Now, my support system is my family. 0:04:15.430,0:04:17.480 For you, it might be your friends. 0:04:17.480,0:04:19.136 It might be your best friend. 0:04:19.190,0:04:20.579 It might be your colleagues. 0:04:20.579,0:04:23.753 It might be your advisor,[br]whoever you trust. 0:04:24.390,0:04:26.320 It would never fail you 0:04:26.320,0:04:28.769 to have someone out there supporting you. 0:04:29.740,0:04:31.980 I can absolutely promise you. 0:04:32.400,0:04:34.588 Whenever I feel that there's any wall, 0:04:34.840,0:04:39.120 or any bar, or any prison that's standing[br]in the way of my thoughts, 0:04:39.120,0:04:40.987 my ideas, and my dreams, 0:04:41.016,0:04:43.593 I would refer back to my[br]social support system. 0:04:43.593,0:04:45.708 I would refer back to my family. 0:04:45.927,0:04:49.826 It never fails me,[br]and it always enlightens me. 0:04:50.560,0:04:53.789 So, the third and final notion[br]I would like to share with you today 0:04:53.789,0:04:58.020 is actually inspired by one of the most[br]influential people for me, Steve Jobs. 0:04:58.490,0:05:00.964 What he actually said is that, 0:05:01.272,0:05:04.500 "You cannot connect the dots[br]looking forward; 0:05:04.810,0:05:07.704 you can only connect them[br]looking backwards. 0:05:08.105,0:05:13.075 So, you have to trust that the dots[br]will somehow connect in the future." 0:05:13.376,0:05:15.230 You have to trust in something. 0:05:15.230,0:05:18.680 Your guts, destiny, life, whatever. 0:05:18.680,0:05:20.720 This approach has never failed me, 0:05:20.720,0:05:23.035 and it has made[br]all the difference in my life. 0:05:23.035,0:05:24.966 And that's what Steve Jobs said. 0:05:24.989,0:05:27.723 After a very inspiring life and career, 0:05:27.730,0:05:32.965 Steve Jobs realized that everything[br]would eventually fall in place. 0:05:33.710,0:05:37.320 Every action, every decision,[br]every dot in your life 0:05:37.730,0:05:40.436 would somehow eventually connect 0:05:40.736,0:05:44.106 to form the ultimate picture[br]and the ultimate dream. 0:05:44.174,0:05:47.209 Do not stop yourself[br]from doing things you like 0:05:47.209,0:05:49.934 thinking they have no value whatsoever. 0:05:50.118,0:05:52.553 Do not stop yourself[br]from doing things you love 0:05:52.710,0:05:56.450 thinking they wouldn't benefit me[br]or my future one way or the other. 0:05:57.840,0:06:02.550 I think what I'm trying to say[br]is that you should do your best. 0:06:02.992,0:06:06.071 Do not calculate every step[br]you're about to make. 0:06:06.071,0:06:12.747 Be spontaneous. Be bold.[br]Be clever. Be ambitious. 0:06:13.500,0:06:19.060 And last, but not least, be determined. 0:06:19.060,0:06:20.003 Thank you.