I spent 14 years constructing and scaling my enterprise, Worldwide Nomads. We launched in 2006 as the primary full-service digital company within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Center East area. We crafted digital methods for manufacturers and constructed apps, video games, advertising campaigns, and story-driven experiences lengthy earlier than it was standard within the area. We had been explorers and adventurers, like many startups: Following our ardour, trusting our intestine, and constructing one thing we cherished.
In 2019, I exited the enterprise and relocated to Canada. Instantly, I discovered myself in a interval of my life that so many entrepreneurs know all too properly after an exit: I felt uncertain of my “place.”
My firm was a grounding pressure in my life. Other than my fantastic household and religion, my firm was a part of my identification—and it was my most important driver of objective.
I bear in mind asking myself questions like:
- Am I nonetheless an entrepreneur?
- What ought to I be doing subsequent?
I had two selections: Really feel aimlessly misplaced or embrace the journey of exploration.
It has been three years for the reason that starting of that second in my life. I’ve discovered a number of issues all through the entrepreneurial lifecycle (construct, develop, exit, restart) that is likely to be useful to entrepreneurs going by means of that very same journey.
Be an Underdog
Like most entrepreneurs, I began as an underdog, and it remained a key a part of firm tradition as we grew. I had studied high quality arts in college as a substitute of enterprise, advertising or pc science. I used to be not the “apparent” option to construct and scale an organization—however I did it anyway.
As a agency, we pitched marketing campaign concepts and methods to large, internationally acknowledged manufacturers, going up in opposition to large community companies. We had no enterprise capital and weren’t a part of a world company community. We had been resilient, artistic, pushed—and every time we had been snubbed, it made us extra decided to win the account. We did win these enormous accounts, and we relished the moments.
The expertise of being the underdog was a great reminder that I wanted these final three years as my entrepreneurial life underwent a transition. At any time when I began to really feel misplaced, confused or uncertain of my talents, I remembered: When challenged, I used to be all the time the underdog who discovered a approach to come out on high. Generally, an underdog mindset will be the very best motivator for development.
Dwell and Suppose Nomad
After exiting the corporate, I felt like I had no “dwelling base”. Instantly, I used to be a nomad wandering the world.
Shifting perspective, I noticed that the nomadic life-style and mindset are extremely highly effective. I had all the time believed in it—a lot in order that I named the corporate “Worldwide Nomads.”
Nomads should not slowed down by conventional limitations. They embody freedom—and out of the blue, I used to be free. I traveled, collected experiences and explored new cultures, locations and folks. My perspective grew like by no means earlier than. As a substitute of being singularly centered on the each day “9 to five grind,” I used to be in a position to see a extra holistic view of the world in a means I had not seen earlier than. I put extra time into constructing deeper relationships with my household and others in my life, each outdated connections and new ones. My concepts, power and imaginative and prescient turned clearer than ever.
Although I’m now firmly primarily based in a brand new metropolis, the nomad spirit is rekindled inside me. It jogs my memory that typically exploration with no clear vacation spot is liberating, empowering and transformative. Take probabilities, say sure, and take a look at issues. After we are uncomfortable, we understand how a lot we take issues as a right. Generally discomfort is an efficient factor. Whether or not in enterprise or life, suppose like a nomad.
Embrace an Exploration Mindset
After my exit, folks would ask: “So, what are you doing these days?” It was a query I didn’t like as a result of I had no clear reply. Typical knowledge tells us that life is linear and our paths, each academic {and professional}, ought to be linear, too.
I used to be dwelling in entrepreneurial journey mode: I used to be doing freelance consulting and advisory to a enterprise right here, investing in a web3 gaming startup there. From AR to social media tendencies to actual property, I used to be exploring. It didn’t make for an incredible reply to the query I used to be requested (repeatedly).
Then I noticed: My first enterprise was an company. At any given time, we had 10 to fifteen tasks, all completely different in scope and form and dimension, operating without delay—a portfolio of tasks, shoppers, industries and contacts. I might have quite a few ventures, tasks and experiences taking place concurrently, too.
Instantly, I turned desperate to dabble in numerous issues—the extra numerous, the higher. I discovered a ton within the course of, had a number of enjoyable, made connections in numerous industries, and started slowly carving out my subsequent path. A portfolio mentality could be a mighty instrument to search out singularity of focus.
At first, exiting the corporate I ran for 14 years challenged my sense of identification. As we speak, I understand that there’s energy within the exploratory course of. Had I stayed in my enterprise, my life would have been steady—however I’d have missed out on the unimaginable journey that can result in my subsequent enterprise (ask me about it in six months).
Entrepreneurs, ensure that your journey of exploration by no means ends. Embrace the unknown of dwelling in journey mode—it is likely to be the very best determination you ever make.
One different factor I’ve discovered: The great thing about all adventures are the experiences and tales we accumulate alongside the way in which. I’ve loads of them now—and what’s extra highly effective than the tales we reside, inform and share with others?
Samer Hamze, an EO Toronto member, is an entrepreneur, investor, advisor and explorer of digital and real-life communities serving startups, companies and SMBs with artistic, advertising and know-how technique. He has labored with main manufacturers throughout the globe. Samer is an entrepreneur in journey mode, serving to firms discover new applied sciences, communities and tales.
