As part of my quest in trying to figure out the best methodologies on how to kick start a career and create breakthroughs, I decided to do a series of interviews with successful kick off stories from various fields. Most of these rather invasive interviews took place with people who are still junior, yet they have managed to create something in their somewhat short time in the field. For my first interview though, the premier, the uno, I wanted to start with someone who I thought had a start that is similar to most millennials I have met. He is a friend and someone I was lucky to be exposed to at various occasions in different settings, most of the time on a rather one on one space.
Before we commence the interview allow me introduce my guest. Bahaa Abou Zeid started his career at CCC as an engineer in his field, a similar approach to most graduates. He then decided to quit and start his own startup that helps launch applications for rising startups. His company works on three different angles and these are: measure market interest, development ready-product design, and get to market. We interviewed Bahaa to see where he gets his drive from and how he managed to get to where he is today.
Interview:
Q1) Hello Bahaa and thank you for being with us. Tell us a little about yourself & what did you study:
My name is Bahaa. I graduated with a BE in Mechanical Engineering back in 2014. Straight out of university, I got a job offer from CCC, one of the biggest contractors in the Middle East. After spending about 4 years with them as a planning engineer, and after getting my business off the ground, I decided to quit and focus on my business full-time.
Q2) How did you decide to be a tech entrepreneur / developer?
I didn’t really decide; it kind of just happened. I don’t think anyone decides they want to be anything, right? Your heart just leads you, you listen to it, put in the work, and you become who you’re meant to be.
Since I was a kid, I was always interested in technology, mainly video games; I even recall telling my parents that I wanted to work on developing video games. That was back in 2005 or something. It was very uncommon in the Middle East at the time, my parents advised against it, and this is how I ended up in engineering.
Anyway, back to the question. Soon after I joined CCC, I realized I wasn’t in the right place – there was no way I was going to do this for the rest of my life. So I started exploring my options and reading anything I can get my hands on. I soon found myself thinking about an app idea. Not long after, I hired someone to design it then hired a developer on equity basis to build it.
The app failed – we didn’t even launch really; but I am where I am today because of it.
Q3) What is your secret sauce to getting to where you are (please tell us the steps)?
Discipline. Passion. Doing something bigger than yourself and for the greater good.
It’s hard to give steps really. You need to dedicate your life to a cause bigger than you, a cause that lights a fire in you and makes you cry. Then you need to have the discipline to follow through with your commitment. It’s not easy at all.
Personally, I have dedicated my life to help shape a more productive Middle East through technology and the power of the internet.
What would you advise people that want to be developers?
I’m not a developer, so I wouldn’t know.
But whatever you want to be, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. And no, getting paid at the end of the month is a very wrong one.
You know what’s one of our biggest problems in the region? Everyone tells us to go get a degree to “eventually find a job”. I’d rather they tell us to go get a degree so that we can become people of value, capable of pushing our societies forward.
Q4) Who is your biggest inspiration?
I don’t really know, I never really thought about it. Many people inspire me.
Einstein.
Elon Musk.
Steve Jobs.
People who figured out how to make money while sleeping – not because I want make money all the time. But making money while I sleep will free me from any financial burden and allow me to focus more on what I really want in life.
Monks inspire me. Letting go of worldly pleasures. I’m not sure it’s sustainable though. I imagine there’s a not-so-bright side to it.
Q5) Could you tell us what skills people need to have to be where you are?
Design is very important – it allows you to communicate more effectively online.
I think being organized is another important one – in the early days of running a business, you have to do everything. From accounting, to business development, to hiring. Everything. If you’re not organized, I’m not sure you can make it.
Eventually, and as money starts coming in, you can and should hire people that are better than you at a certain set of skills. For example, I am currently looking for a business developer because I know I can never be a very good business developer.
Oh, this reminds me of a very important skill: self-awareness – you need to know what you’re good at and what you’re not. Don’t be delusional. You can’t and shouldn’t do everything yourself.
Q7) If you would go back at high school & college today what would you do different that would help you in your career right now?
Care less about grades, more about learning. Students are obsessed with grades. This needs to stop.
Check out Bahaa’s startup https://www.ideatoapp.io/#Our-Mission and follow his Instagram page @ideatoapp
themillennialstage.net 