Thanks to My Enemies… Because They Are the Reason for My Success - Short Story Written by: Salah Alfazazi - March 2020

Thanks to My Enemies… Because They Are the Reason for My Success

Written by: Salah Alfazazi - March 2020

The young host sat opposite the program’s guest. This was a special episode, featuring the director of a company that had achieved remarkable, world-astounding success in a remarkably short time.

The company itself was unremarkable in its field—just another among many operating in the same market. But what was the secret to its outperformance? Questions swirled in the young host’s mind as he eagerly anticipated delving deeper and uncovering the answers.

He finished adjusting his attire, preparing for the interview. Meanwhile, the setup team put the final touches on the studio’s appearance, arranging the cameras and conducting final microphone checks. Others attended to the program’s guest: a simple yet elegant man who sat quietly, thanking each team member who assisted him, a faint smile of confident humility playing on his lips.

When the director called “Ready,” the crew seamlessly snapped into action, each member taking their place with impressive professionalism. A brief silence fell as the lights dimmed, focusing the spotlight on the host and the guest.

The interview began…

In his introduction, the young host welcomed and introduced the guest:

“Dear viewers and listeners, peace be upon you. Welcome to a new episode of your monthly program. Today, we have the distinct pleasure of hosting the esteemed founder, owner, and CEO of a company that has achieved extraordinary success in just a few short years. Please join me in welcoming our guest.”

The spotlight shifted to the guest, who appeared calm and composed, a gentle smile on his face as he spoke in a deep, resonant voice:

“Welcome, my dear brother, and greetings to all the viewers and listeners of your esteemed channel. I’m delighted to be a guest on your successful and engaging program. Thank you all.”

The host responded gratefully:

“The pleasure is all ours. Thank you for accepting our invitation despite your busy schedule.” He added with a lighthearted chuckle, “And, of course, a special thanks to the coronavirus, which curtailed your travels and made this interview possible.”

The studio filled with laughter.

This program had earned its reputation through two key elements: meticulous guest selection and concise programming. Like a well-crafted tweet, each episode conveyed the essence of an idea with impactful brevity, a perfect fit for our fast-paced world—neither tediously long nor disappointingly short.

The host began the engaging conversation with the composed guest:

“Tell us about yourself and your beginnings.”

“I was born in a small town and moved between several cities due to my father’s work.”

“What did these moves teach you?”

“Like the fingers on a hand—similar yet distinct—each city possesses a unique character, reflected in its inhabitants. Moving provides valuable insight into human nature and diverse perspectives. People are like archetypes; the more you encounter, the more you learn how to interact effectively.”

“Didn’t these frequent moves disrupt your academic progress?”

“My father ensured our relocations coincided with school vacations whenever possible. However, the constant adaptation to new environments—new neighbors, teachers, classmates—was challenging psychologically. With time, repeated experiences, and maturity, adaptation became easier. Moreover, these moves offered advantages: breaking the routine and facing new academic competition, classmates whose intellectual abilities were unknown.”

“That’s fascinating. I didn’t experience much moving around during my childhood.”

“You haven’t missed out on much. Humans have the remarkable ability to learn from the experiences of others.”

“That’s reassuring. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“To our viewers and listeners, we’ll take a short break and return with more of this insightful conversation. Stay with us.”

The first segment concluded, the studio lights came up, and the host rose, retrieving two bottles of water. He sat beside the guest, offering him one.

“I once left my hometown at nineteen. I was struck by the sheer scale of the country. My friends, who were more seasoned travelers, found my reaction amusing, pointing out that I’d only experienced a small portion of it. I can only imagine how I’d react to seeing the farthest reaches of the nation!”

“Have you since traveled extensively?”

“I’ve visited nearly every city and many villages.”

“That must have been a profoundly enriching experience.”

“And now you’re interviewing me. The roles have reversed.”

They shared a hearty laugh, which was then cut short by the director’s call for everyone to resume their positions.

“Ready!”

The call came again. The crew returned to their places, and the lights dimmed once more, focusing on the host and the guest.

“Welcome back, viewers and listeners. We are continuing our engaging conversation with our esteemed guest.”

The host turned to the guest, picking up where they left off.

“Let’s talk about your career. How did you get started?”

“I began working in my field of study during my first year of university.”

“That’s quite remarkable. How did you manage to balance your studies and work?”

“I came from a modest family with limited means, so I needed to work to contribute, even if it was just to cover some of my own expenses.”

“Was the work lucrative?”

“Thank God, it was sufficient. My phone was my office. Companies would contact me when needed. There were periods of inactivity, of course, interspersed with busy periods that required me to leave lectures to address urgent matters. Overall, it was a positive experience.”

“How did you catch up on missed lectures?”

“Thankfully, I had wonderful colleagues—more like brothers and friends. They would summarize the lectures I missed and patiently explain anything I struggled to understand. They were an invaluable support.”

“That’s wonderful. A salute to your supportive friends and colleagues.”

“My sincere thanks and appreciation to them all, both here and abroad. I wish them continued success and prosperity.”

“Returning to your career… What happened after graduation?”

“I joined a small company immediately after completing my national service. It was a small operation, but it undertook a surprising amount of work. I gained about 60% of my practical experience there.”

“How many companies did you work for before founding your own?”

“Four—both local and international.”

“That diverse experience must have significantly shaped your current perspective.”

“Absolutely. Exposure to diverse work environments, both local and international, brings you into contact with a wide range of managers and colleagues. There’s also significant variation in organizational structures and policies. While the broad strokes may seem similar, the details can differ dramatically from one organization to the next.”

“Could you elaborate on your experiences with different policies, managers, and colleagues? I know our time is limited, but please share as much as you can.”

“Well, there’s often a noticeable difference between, say, a local manager and a foreign one. A local manager might demonstrate greater understanding of local customs and traditions, which can be challenging for someone from a different background. Conversely, a local manager might prioritize formalities like punctuality over performance or employee well-being. A foreign manager, on the other hand, might prioritize employee welfare and compensation, sometimes placing undue strain on the organization, or focus excessively on performance, creating a stressful work environment, especially when dealing with locally accepted practices that might seem unusual to someone from a different cultural context.”

“How did you leverage these experiences as a founder, owner, and manager?”

“One thing that helped me withstand the pressures of work was frequently adopting the perspective of an observer, analyzing actions and reactions from all levels of the hierarchy.”

“From all levels?”

“Yes, from management to departments and vice versa, and also between managers and employees.”

“I see.”

“I made sure to learn from every situation, applying the positive lessons and avoiding the negative ones in my own organization.”

“A very insightful approach.”

“Thank you. I believe everyone should adopt this mindset if they aspire to success. How can you build upon an experience without learning from those who came before? How can you expect different results by replicating the same failed policies? Experiment, by all means, but always consider the lessons of the past. Even your mistakes can offer valuable insights to others, guiding you away from unproductive paths.”

The guest paused, taking a deep breath before continuing:

“Building a successful organization requires a solid foundation. Before you even begin, you must ask yourself some fundamental questions.”

“Such as? What questions did you ask yourself before you started, if you don’t mind sharing?”

“Not at all. I asked myself: What do people need right now? What skills and abilities do I possess that can fulfill those needs? Do I have the necessary resources and capabilities? Once I had a clear idea of my options, I began studying both successful and unsuccessful ventures in the same field, analyzing the factors that contributed to their respective outcomes.”

“What has made you such a well-liked manager? I noticed this when I visited your company to extend this invitation.”

“A well-liked manager? I wouldn’t presume to say that. We’re all human; we make mistakes and have our successes. And pleasing everyone is an impossible task.”

“That’s very modest of you.”

“Not at all. It’s simply the truth. However, I did admire certain qualities in my previous managers and have strived to emulate them in my interactions with my own employees. Conversely, I’ve avoided the behaviors I disliked.”

“Perhaps that’s the key to emotional intelligence we’ve been searching for! Finally, my esteemed guest, to whom would you like to express your gratitude?”

“Above all, I thank God. I thank you for this opportunity. I thank my family, both immediate and extended, for their unwavering support. I express my gratitude to all my esteemed teachers who nurtured our education from elementary school through university, and to all my colleagues from both my studies and work. I especially thank my colleagues at our current company; our present achievements are the fruits of their dedicated and sincere efforts. And finally, a message of thanks… I say thank you to my enemies.”

“Your enemies?!” the host exclaimed, surprised.

“Yes,” the guest affirmed. “Enemies are the ones who scrutinize your mistakes and weaknesses most diligently, effectively providing you with free review and audit services!”

“That’s… that’s a truly fascinating perspective!”

“Think about it this way: you can’t consistently think outside the box on your own, but they can. Your friends might hesitate to point out your flaws or shortcomings, or they might soften their words, diluting or distorting the message. Your enemies, on the other hand, have no such reservations. They deliver their observations directly, without any concern for your feelings or sensitivities.”

“Hmm… yes… that’s true.”

“Therefore, I consider my enemies’ opinions about my products, services, and even about me personally, as one of the most effective ways to identify areas for improvement.”

“So, we could say: listen to your enemy more… succeed more!”

“Precisely. That’s absolutely correct.”

The interview concluded, the studio lights came up, and the crew began moving about, buzzing with activity.

The young host rose and approached his guest, who also stood and shook his hand. A broad smile lit the host’s face as he said:

“I truly enjoyed meeting you today.”

“The pleasure was mine,” the guest replied.

“I don’t just say that out of politeness; I genuinely mean it. I truly valued this conversation.”

The guest simply offered a heartfelt smile that spoke volumes—a smile from a man of great presence and profound humility.

Written by: Salah Alfazazi

Bahri - Shambat

March 11, 2020