FIRST, I did write a BIG BLOG POST on 2011, you can read it by Clicking Here and I recommend you do if you haven’t.

The past 10 years of my life did define who I have become, and I will always have memories of the Good, the Bad and the UGLY , but they say that you only remember the Good things…. I’m Counting on that

a Wrap-up Video on my Last 10 years!

As for the New Year 2012, it will be the year of the “La Vie en Rose”, for some they think that it’s not a step forward?? it is… but I guess you need to stay in touch with me more to see how .

Cheers and enjoy the video!
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What I recall 20 years back, that almost EVERY day, I used to wait till it was EXACTLY 11:11:11 and used to close my eyes for a Second then as if I could Stop TIME .

so I feel like today at 11/11/11 at 11:11:11 … it’s like the celebration of my Childhood Time Stopping Fantasy!

Just felt like sharing this with you

Cheers,
SC

my last blog for the year will be out late December, and it will be more clear and more descriptive than this one… But I would say that this Song definitely is the best fit. and Check the BOLD / italic ones because they mean something for me…

Cheers,
SC

And more… Much More than This… I Did it My Way

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes there were times I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
And I stood tall and did it my way
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a man what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Yes it was my way

Today I was hanging out at my place and checking out the TV (I don’t do that much ) I’ve watched several (Parts) of movies, and I watched a big part of the movie Life or Something like it, by Angelina Jolie.

The Story of the Movie has lots of chapters that can relate to me personally, lots of these chapters I can’t disclose to public, but do try to guess

Trailer

The much important part I had got as a take-away from the movie, what the below interview… a scene that I may look and see my self being asked that question… “Was it all Worth it?”

Final Show / Interview–Check out Scene at 2:05

and then the answer should be: “The Only Person that would make you feel Special… is YOU!!”

So Stop fighting with yourself in the mirror! and start living Life… or Something like it ….

Cheers,
SC

Ramadan will Start in few days, and if you’re someone like me, you want to make this Ramadan as rewarding as possible… But what can you do to Think & Plan something in advance that would give you a personal satisfaction & sense of “Personal” accomplishment?

For 2011, I decided to use My Time Management Skills to Read & Finish the Entire Holy Quran During the Month of Ramadan.

if you think that’s an easy task to be accomplished… Then Good for you … Because I don’t… I do however believe that it’s a REWARDING Accomplishment!

First I have downloaded The Entire Quran from the Official site of Sheikh Mishari Afasy available at http://alafasy.me ;  It’s completely Free and it’s Just a wonderful recitation .

Now there are 114 Soura in the Holy Quran and if we included a 115th Track of the End of Quran Prayer recitation, you will end up with Roughly 30 Hours and 11 Minutes Long

30 hours … mmmm…. I’ll get to that in a bit…

Second Then if you’re want to make sure you don’t miss Reading the Quran, I recommend you download the “Al-Mushaf” iPhone App  (Android or PC Click Here | for Nokia and Other Devices Click Here)

3rd, all you need to do is decide to COMMIT to 1 hour per day in Ramadan to Read / Listen to the Holy Quran.

It all depends on how each of you is actually using their time during the day so there’s really no Best Practice here;

Here’s how I Will be doing it (ISA) in the 5 – not so simple – Steps:

1- I’m used to waking up & starting my day early each day, (5:30 AM mostly), and because of that I needed to sleep at MAX at 11 PM (which is fair for most); but for this Ramadan (and I can do that 5 days / week and change on the Weekends) I need to swipe it for 3:25 AM (Oh YEAH depending on your country check out WHEN IS THE MORNING Prayer Time ) but Chill up, it gets better since by the end of Ramadan 4:42 AM.

2- I will be having a Very Good Breakfast at 3:30 AM and drink lots of water (otherwise surviving the Heat of the day and the A/C… would be a challenge)… and trust me on this, since I Wont be SLEEPING afterwards, GO NUTS with what you want to eat… You can Go for a Double Whooper with Cheese or KFC or PIZZA or Meat Shawerma  

3- I will Take a shower, Dress, Take a Fresh Apple with me (it’s Stronger than Coffee and better for your Teeth and Breath – Trust me) and head to the Mosque to perform my morning prayer (I experienced that since 3 years now.. it’s an incredible feeling… you should try it if you haven’t yet)

4- After finishing from the Mosque, I will head to my office or house (Oh yeah… 5:30-6:00 AM … What an ****** )

5- I will Read & Listen for 1 UNDISTURBED hour to the Holy Quran (I insist on BOTH Listening and Reading…)

(in Weekends, that Hour will be Pushed to Before IFTAR, where your energy will be the Lowest I’m sure )

And there you go!  30 Hours in 30 Days and this in only in 1 month out of 12 months… It’s your New PERSONAL Accomplishment.

Ramadan Mubarak for All!

SC

(original article is available at: http://abraj.maktoob.com/men-sagittarius.htm )

Enjoy!
SC

حيث يوجد رجل برج القوس يوجد جمع يلتـف حوله . فإذا أضفنا إلى هذا الحشد من الأصدقاء الكثيرين والأعداء القليلين أهداف رجل القوس العظيمة وعادة التمثـيل والتهريج عنده وجدنا أن مكان العائلة في حياته ضيق نسبياً , أو هكذا يتصور أفرادها بينما ينكر هو المسألة بشدة هذا الإنسان متـفائل إلى درجة الإيمـــان الأعمى بالناس والظروف , وإلى درجة الاستخفاف بالصعاب والأزمات , أو تفسيرها كما يحلو له . لا بد لمثل هذا التفاؤل أن يقترن ببعض الخطر على رجل برج القوس إذ يجعله يثـق بمن لا يستحق الثـقة أو يضع قدمه حيث لا يجب أن توضع . لكن العجيب هي تلك الحيوية التي تجعله يُواصل السير قـُدماً وتلك الروح الرياضية التي تدفعه إلى قبول الخسارة عن طيب خاطر . تلك هي تأثيرات كوكب ” المشتري ” الذي يمنحه حظاً عظيماً على الرغم من كل العثرات . قلنا أن أصدقاء الرجل القوس عديدون , لكن حتى بين هؤلاء من يتمنى قتله في بعض الأحيان جزاءً على خشونته وعدم لباقته . ومع ذلك تـُغفر له أخطاؤه بسرعة مذهلة بسبب طيبة قلبه ونقاء سريرته .
يُقال أن حديثه وسهامه قلــّما تخطيء . فإذا أراد إصابة الهدف نجح بدقة محرجة لغيره . صراحته المتـناهية موجودة حتى في مواقف الحب مع العلم بأنه يُعالج قضاياه العاطفية بسطحية بعيدة عن هدف الزواج الذي يخشاه وينـفر منه . ومع أنه يحب الغزل ويلجأ إليه عند الحاجة إلا أن علاقاته بالمرأة تقوم على أسس كثيرة غير الجنس . فهو يُـقدّر الذكاء إلى جانب الجمال , ويُفضل الاحتـفاظ بحريته واستقلاله مهما بلغ حبه لامرأة معيّـنة . نصيحة إلى التي تربط مصيرها بهذا الرجل أن تمنحه ثـقتها التامة , وأن تمتـنع من إظهار غيرتها مهما بدر منه , وألا تلجأ إلى التذمر والشكوى أمامه مهما كانت الأسباب . وعليها أن تـُحب مثله الطبيعة والحيوانات والرياضة , وأن تـتحلى مثله أيضاً بالكرم والحماسة والاندفاع , وألا تهزأ بأفكاره العظيمة وأهدافه السامية مهما بدت خيالية بعيدة عن الواقع . يفقد رجل برج القوس اهتمامه بأهله بعد الزواج فلا تعود تربطه بهم سوى علاقة سطحية لا تسمح لهم بالتدخل في شؤونه وشؤون زوجته بصورة خاصة . ومقابل ذلك يحاول أن يبني مع شريكة حياته علاقات حميمة تـنهض على أساس المشاركة في كل شيء لذا يجب عليها أن تهتم من ناحيتها بالأخبار الرياضية والقضايا العالمية والسباقات على أنواعها , وأن تطالع المجلات والصحف , وأن تتحلى بالمرح والانفتاح , وألا تتخلى عن الواقعية حتى في مواقف الانفعال والعاطفة . على هذا الأساس وحده يلازم هذا الرجل زوجته . ويصطحبها معه في حلــّه وترحاله , وينفق عليها من ماله بسخاء مع أنه ما من أمر يمنعه من توجيه النقد إليها بصراحة غير مبطنة , ومع أن سخاءه يتعداها إلى جميع أنواع المقامرة كالمائدة الخضراء والسباق والبورصة وغير ذلك من ألعاب الحظ الذي عنده منه الشيء الكثير . يحب هذا الرجل أطفاله من بعد أن يكبروا قليلا ً ويصبحوا في عمر يؤهلهم للخروج معه في النزهات والرحلات وغيرها . إنه لهم صديق وأنيس أكثر منه والد . وكثيراً ما يغفر لهم أخطاءهم وهفواتهم لإيمانه بأنهم سيصبحون أفضل في المستقبل . على أن الكذب يُـثير غضبه وحنقه إلى أقصى حد . أما صراحته المتـناهية فتـُثير حنق أولاده تماماً كما يفعل الكذب بالنسبة إليه . إن رجل برج القوس باختصار إنسان صادق جرئ شجاع , فيه بعض الجنون الذي يدفعه إلى ارتكاب الخطأ . من الصعب أن يحقد عليه الناس عامة وزوجته خاصة . كيف تستطيع أن تحقد على إنسان ينطوي قلبه على مثل هذا الحب العظيم ؟

This is how I remember it…

There was a Man a his wife who has been married for a long time, and they were happy with their lives…

What was funny about this old Couple, is that the Wife was always Hyper-Active and the Husband was always COOL… The Wife is always concerned about almost everything, can get upset from anything and makes a Drama out of Nothing… Always! While  the husband lives in peace and a Calm Satisfaction with his life…

They decided to go on a Trip by Boat in the Sea…

Everything was great at first and they were having “Separately” a great time, the wife meeting new people and socializing, and the husband smoking his pipe while watching the never-ending sea…

During that trip, a Big Storm came along… and everyone got concerned because the storm seemed much serious than they would’ve thought…

The Storm got Stronger and Stronger… and everyone on board went into a Panic Mode… and things went over the Top when the Captain of the Ship shared the Bad news that

“We have Very little Chance to Survive this Storm, I’m sorry about that… please pray for your lives…”

The Wife (who normally would have gotten upset and concerned for even less dramatic events) rushed hysterically to the cabinet to find her husband sitting calmly on his chair and watching the waves and the storm from the window of the cabinet…

“How can you be So CALM… in a Time like this…. This is UN-ACCEPTABLE!  we are about to Die and you’re acting as if nothing is wrong… What’s Wrong with you?????” said the Wife…

The Husband got Very Upset and got a Kitchen Knife and held it to his Wife’s Neck….

“Are you afraid from me Woman??” Said the Husband in Anger

“No I’m not!” Replied the wife while a Knife is still at her Neck

“Why is that?” said the husband

“Because the knife is in the hands of someone I Love and Trust and I know that he loves me and would never do me Harm…” Said the Wife with small tears in her eyes

“Same Thing with this Storm my one and only love…”  Said the Husband while he put down the knife and continued saying…

“ This Storm is in the Hands of  The One I Love and Trust and I have Faith that no Harm will happen to us because GOD Loves us… That’s why there’s no reason for us to be afraid as long we have our Faith…”

The Wife wiped her tears and held her Loving husband really tight… She never felt the Wisdom from his Calm in her 40 years of marriage as She felt it that evening…

The Old Couple held Hands and watched the Storm going away and the weather coming back to normal… and nothing was more beautiful than the first Ray of Light coming from far away that made them forget how Bad that night was…

That’s why My friends… No matter how Hard your days seemed….  Always remember that a Night no Matter How Long it was… Will always End with the Sun Rising…

Never Lose your Faith… Carry it in your Heart Everyday and Wherever you go…

Hope this Story made a difference in your heart like it did to me…

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Enjoy,
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You can spend your whole life building
Something from nothin’
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
That seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain’t good
And when I pray
It doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world’s gone crazy
It’s hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
For all the right reasons
In a moment they can choose to walk away
Love ‘em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain’t good
And when I pray
It doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yea – I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing
A song you believe in
That tomorrow they’ll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yea, sing it anyway
Yeah, yeah!

I sing
I dream
I love anyway

When I’m Coaching about Marketing and Consumer Behavior, I normally note how BOMBARDED by 1000s of Advertising Messages a Consumer gets EVERY day… so the need for innovation in how to perfect our reach rise… But Today I’m going to state that sometimes you need a BREAK from what PRO-Active Consumption of information…

For the past weeks, the region I live in witnessed GREAT changes, and I mean CRITICAL ones… HISTORY was written in January & February 2011 in the Middle East & North Africa… And what was once almost impossible is now possible… The Flow of Instant Information Reach was AMAZING…

Did you know that it took 40 Years for information about The French revolution to Travel from France to EGYPT once!! and now Information is shared by 100s of Millions of People across the world in almost REAL-TIME.. Thanks to Regular Media and Social Media…

I have felt connected to around 100,000,000 Person, from Egypt to Tunisia, to Sudan, to Lebanon to Jordan… EVERY DAY!!! I shared the revolution updates coming from all over..

Twitter, Facebook, El-Jazeera & Al-Arabiya were running in my blood along with the updates of Tunisia then with Egypt and GOD knows when elsewhere..

The Stress Level of what is called… I WANT TO TAKE PART… What’s going to happen next… When is Mubarak going to Step Down… Poor People in Tahrir Square… made lots of people share links, make videos, and Offer Virtual SUPPORT…

I was one of those people of course, because I LOVE EGYPT & TUNISIA…

A Video I made on the Revolution…

Not to start talking about the OTHER things happening in the world that interest me, like NOKIA & Microsoft new partnership to put Windows Phone 7 on Nokia…

But I mean… ENOUGH!!!! I need a Break….

That’s why I’m going on a SOCIAL & MEDIA DIET for the next 10 days… No More Facebook, No More Television… and DEFINITELY NO MORE TWITTER for the coming 10 days… I need to bring the UN-Necessary Stress out of me a little bit.

Cheers,
SC

Hey!

There’s only one time of the Year… Where it just ENDS!

So like every year, I sat down and took some time to reflect on what happened in my life during that year;

Well you can read my 2010 Year’s Resolution … and I’m happy to say that I have “Managed” to apply most of that NY’s resolution..

So here’s how it went… Since my last 10 years were too much work and less on Samer … 2010 was dedicated to SAMER and that’s it … 

• I resigned from my Day Job working for one of the Biggest Corporations in the World (Microsoft)…
• Took the first TRUE vacation in 10 years… it lasted 4 months … OHH YEAH… 4 * 30 Days… of NOTHING BUT RELAXATION…
• Started a Healthy lifestyle, Working out, watching how I eat… etc
• Started a New Company: Quick Refresh… (QF5.net)
• Re-invested in my Old Company, HBPRO… and as of 01.01.2011 I’m the new Chairman
• Made more commitment in “THINK COMMUNITY” going forward… and as of 01.01.2011 I’m its new President…
• Worked on my book “WORK LOVE BALANCE”
• Got an idea for Another Book … Will reveal more information on it this year..
• Read Lots of BOOKs… and even Traveled to Cambridge to take a Course on “Strategic Marketing”
• Was finally … FINALLY ready to move on my personal life  
• Almost got engaged… … Met this wonderful girl… but unfortunately things didn’t work out…

So all in all… 2010 was my time to relax, and reflect on my life…

2011, will be the start on my next decade… The decade where my Focus will be on Influencing the Future of Others…

so now for my last couple of sentences … Here’s how my 2011 will look like…. it will be around teaching myself and others… “The Art of the Possible” starting with how can we benefit from Time …. Check out the example:

Happy New Year 2011!

Talk to you Soon … Cheers,

SC