Mo-tiv8

Achievements…

Its been a while since my last blog post, and as due course of my last one, I decided to reflect about the last three weeks and truly decide where I would like to be.

My business partner and fellow blogger Denzil Jacobs has invited me to various functions over the last three weeks where I was rubbing shoulders with some of South Africa’s up and coming and well-established personalities.  In the interest of my future posts I will be writing about them and what motivates them within their roles.

TIPLINE: “opportunity is out there – GO GRAB IT…!”

I think a lot of us, including myself, have been sitting way to relaxed in our “comfort zones”.  We need to extend our reach and see where that can take us. 

TIPLINE: “Try and try and do not give up – No success?, No answer? – TRY AGAIN…!”

From various conversations with a lot of the personalities, one thing that remained consistent in their conversation was their passion for what they do.  If you are reading this and thinking that they have it easy, THINK AGAIN.  None of them have achieved the success that they have with out working very hard.  Whether it be remembering lines or that live performance/show that they cannot afford to mess up. 

TIPLINE:  “Even glamour requires hard work”

CASHEW SHELL:  Success does not come easy in this day and age.  We really have to put ourselves out there to make things work for us.  No one gets paid to just dream things into existence, it requires an enormous level of dedication, sacrifice and in some cases blood sweat and tears.  Work hard and remain strong in your roles and remember keep being the cashew you are…!

Sabr… (Patience)

Back from leave today (09.01.2012) I had a relaxing break and ready to take this year to the next level. 

In saying that the past two weeks have been inspiring in so many ways.  Since my last post I joined my friend on location where he did a photo shoot in Constantia.  I then witnessed first hand what art and a passion for photography was all about.  It is not just the pose and snap like I do with my digital camera or cellphone. 

TIPLINE: “Seek inspiration in people and their passions.  This will make you value your work and get the necessary motivation you need to make your role your passion”

I have become involved in so many things over the last two weeks, and when I took a look back at my achievements I saw this was just the tip of the iceberg and that I could do so much more. 

TIPLINE: “Keeping busy is important – but do not forget about the more important things in your life!”

I have – even though I did not realise this – set a boundary for myself.  I always felt proud when I got to the next level in my position or when I got the accolade as recognition.  This should not be enough as I have decided it not to be for me.  We need to push ourselves, as the sky is the limit in everything we are currently doing or what we still want to achieve.

TIPLINE: I am going to use yet another saying you may have heard before, “Go big or go home!”

CASHEW SHELL:  So you are probably thinking what am I trying to say by heading this post as “Sabr… (Patience)”.  That is exactly what it takes to get to where we need to be.  Do not push yourself too far as you may just miss the path you want to be on or that you have planned to be on.  Remember there are reasons why main highways have speed limits so if you go too fast you may just be fined by the speed cops of life.  Lets all (and I say this to myself as well) have the necessary sabr not to lose focus yet still achieve great things…

Motivational workshops coming soon!

For more info:

Facebook:  Mo Saliem Amlay 

Twitter:  @mo_amlay

E-mail:  saliem_amlay@hotmail.com

Failure. What is the Definition…?

According to “http://www.thefreedictionary.com” failing means, a flaw or weak point…

Be that as it may, I believe that one should look at failing as a learning, not a weak point.  Failing should be taken as a mistake that you can learn from.  

Failing in general is an extensive de-motivator.  This post will be about coming up from the “fail”.

Lets get to the good stuff…

Some of you may say: “I have failed matric”; “I have given up hope”; “I hated school anyway!” - Yet in the back of your mind you still want to do something with your life, get that expensive car, that dream home… 

TIPLINE:  “Get those subjects done ASAP and move on! - There are way too many second chances and bursaries and internships out there not to take hold of at least 1 of them”

Others, “I failed a deliverable at work, and I am going to get disciplined for it!”

TIPLINE:  “Take the discipline, if it is legit that is, and ask your question(s), take heed, and know, next time I CAN DO BETER!”

In our various roles (when I say roles I mean ANYTHING that you do) we want to give the best and make a name for ourselves.  This is relatively achieved when you know what is expected of you.  For the most part all of us have an idea what do, when, and how to accomplish a given task.

How does that saying go again, “People always see/notice the bad but disregard the good!” or “You are only as good as your last failure”.  I think, to cancel out the above “sayings or statements”, lets use the other common one, “sticks and stones will break my bones but WORDS can never hurt me!”  That is initially what they are.  People can criticise all they want, but its your work.  You should feel proud of the initial attempt and achievement whether good or bad.

CASHEW SHELL:  I have had many failures in my life – personal and professional – to get over it I muster up my gratitude (yes it can sometimes be difficult to do even that) I thank Allah (swt) (God) for the fact that I am here, ready see another day, another breath, another challenge!  Get up and face the world daily as if it were your last.  This will take you on a journey of lesser failures and SO MUCH MORE successes…!

Motivational workshops coming soon!

For more info:

Facebook:  Mo Saliem Amlay 

Twitter:  @mo_amlay

E-mail:  saliem_amlay@hotmail.com

2012 - Is it your end or your beginning

At the end of every year don’t we all say, “This is going to be MY Year!”  

I have heard that ever so often, however what effort did we make to make it OUR year?

 

More history about me?, I think yes – this will give you a better understanding of what drives me…

2009 - I decided that I should go above and beyond my best, I then got my duty manager role.

2010 – top team for the year and then decided to move on…

2011 – top team for the year (being a new manager externally), oodles of initiatives and the visibility of it made me proud…

 

I am going to say this ever so often, it is the self motivation that got me to the top and to stay there…

TIPLINE:  “Patience and perseverance is what will get you to the required status you deserve…!”

As I was reading back, those lines just looked like a brag book - but it is the truth.  We all can achieve greatness if we just find the right recipe.  And no it is not an easy task. 

TIPLINE:  “Learn, learn and learn some more! BAD or TERRIBLE Personalities do not teach, business acumen does…!”

The more you steal with the eye the more you will learn, whether you are a retail employee or a professional of industry.  You are not too old to learn.  You can see the right and the wrong in people based on your belief system or moral ethic.  This will surely give you the upper hand and allow further personal and professional growth.

TIPLINE:  “Know the difference between business and pleasure – Master that and you will stand out loud and proud!”

CASHEW SHELL:  Move into the New Year with a vision. Sit down put pen to paper or PC to Google.  Do your research on various fields whether you are employed or unemployed.  Write down your top 10 options and then jot down the pro’s and cons (consider everything!).  Then make your decision based on that.  I wish you all well for the new year and may you all find that motivation to give it your all in you current or future roles…!

For more info:

Facebook:  Mo Saliem Amlay 

Twitter:  @mo_amlay

E-mail:  saliem_amlay@hotmail.com

ON AIR with Saliem Amlay…

What an enriching experience! My self-motivation could not have been boosted more Alhamdulillah (Thank God).

Funny story, My father used to tell me all the time – “stop talking so much, you should be on the radio”  with a laugh from friends and family in our conversation… 

Lo and behold! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be ON AIR…!

The topic of discussion was aimed at matrics with the ever pending question that haunts most of them, “Where to from here?”

I have predominantly worked in the contact centre industry and this will most likely show throughout most of my future posts…

Getting started in the industry:

I was working as a casual in retail while I was studying.  I got my first opportunity to get into the contact centre environment when my principal, and soon to be boss asked me to work for him. Oh and I was casually walking from the study room in the institute when he called me into his office for the news. At this point I was excited and ready to get into the workforce (this being my first contract employment).

TIPLINE: “Be enthusiastic no matter how crabby your life is. You never know what opportunity is around the corner, or in an office…”

Working for the three months doing outbound calls built more confidence and I had to brush up on my conversation skills.  Getting the students to come for interviews, and the student advisors securing them with the institute, was my main metric.

TIPLINE: “Work hard at perfecting your current role so that you can achieve excellence and move… The movement – UP!”

My “UP” movement was a floor up in the building and a permanent position with another contact centre.  I accepted the position, as this would be good exposure in customer service.

TIPLINE:  “Is the job suited to you…? No? MAKE IT SO…!”

CASHEW SHELL*:  Getting the job is the first step – send out your CV’s - be patient only Allah (swt) gives rizq (sustenance) and will grant you the job suited to you.

*You may think why cashew shell? A cashew, as you know, is a delicacy and exclusive and really does not have a shell… Metaphorically, like each and every one of us, we are delicate and special with no shell. We should not set any boundaries for ourselves.  So remember next time someone calls you nuts, think of them as the “monkey nut” and you are a cashew…!