In this episode of the Passion Struck podcast, host John R. Miles interviews Maha Abouelenein, a strategic communication and personal branding expert. The conversation centers around the theme of how small actions can lead to significant success, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance, creating value for others, and building meaningful relationships. Maha is the author of “7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself, and Own Your Future.“
Maha shares her personal journey, highlighting her experiences growing up as a minority in Minnesota and later moving to Egypt to care for her parents. She discusses the challenges she faced and how they shaped her understanding of self-reliance and the value of hard work. Her father’s teachings about the importance of knowledge and reputation play a crucial role in her philosophy.
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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Listen Notes, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube below.
Maha Abouelenein on Own Your Future by Creating Value for Others
In this episode of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles delves into the transformative power of creating value for others and the long-term benefits it brings. Maha Abouelenein emphasizes that it’s not just about what you do, but how you do it. By playing the long game, building a good reputation, and fostering a strong network, you can make a profound difference in both your business and personal life. Their discussion highlights actionable rules from our guest’s book that can help you practice these principles effectively.
- Intentionality in relationships: Building a good reputation and a strong network is crucial for personal and professional growth.
- Embrace a growth mindset: Cultivating self-reliance involves being open to learning and adapting in new environments.
- Small actions lead to significant outcomes: Consistent, small efforts can lead to substantial success over time.
- Long-term thinking is vital: Focus on long-term relationships and value creation rather than immediate rewards.
- Work for free strategically: Consider opportunities that allow you to learn and grow, even if they don’t pay initially.
- Creating value for others is essential: Focus on how you can provide value to others, which in turn creates value for yourself.
- Curate connections: Actively seek to connect people and create value through introductions and networking.
- Self-awareness is key: Understanding different cultures and contexts can enhance your ability to navigate various situations effectively.
WHY IS THIS A MUST-LISTEN?
This episode with Maha Abouelenein is a must-listen for several compelling reasons:
- Expert Insights on Self-Reliance: Maha shares her expertise as a strategic communication and personal branding expert, providing listeners with practical advice on cultivating self-reliance and resilience in today’s fast-paced world.
- Transformative Personal Story: Her journey from growing up as a brown girl in Minnesota to moving to Egypt and building a life from scratch is a powerful testament to overcoming challenges and using them as stepping stones to success.
- Valuable Principles: The episode delves into key practices from her book, “Seven Rules of Self-Reliance,” including embracing a growth mindset, becoming a value creator, and managing your reputation in the digital age.
- Real-World Applications: Maha emphasizes the importance of creating value for others, illustrating how this approach not only benefits those around you but also enhances your own personal and professional growth.
- Networking and Relationship Building: Listeners will learn how small actions can lead to significant opportunities, as Maha shares her experiences of networking and building relationships with influential figures like Gary Vaynerchuk and Mark Martin.
- Long-Term Thinking: The discussion highlights the importance of playing the long game in business and personal endeavors, encouraging listeners to focus on consistent efforts rather than immediate rewards.
- Inspiration and Motivation: Maha’s story and insights are not only informative but also inspiring, motivating listeners to take charge of their lives and pursue their goals with intention and purpose.
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The Importance of Creating Value for Others
In the episode of Passion Struck featuring Maha Abouelenein, Maha emphasizes the importance of creating value for others. This principle is not only a cornerstone of her approach to business but also a key driver of her personal success.
Creating Value as a Core Motivation
Maha explains that while some people are motivated by money, her primary motivation is creating value for other people. She states, “Creating value for other people is like the tenet in my DNA.” This intrinsic motivation to serve others has been a guiding force throughout her career, influencing how she approaches her work and relationships.
Long-Term Benefits
One of Maha’s significant points is that creating value for others ultimately creates value for oneself. She shares, “One of the benefits of creating value for other people is it actually creates value for you.” This reciprocal nature of value creation means that by focusing on helping others, you also gain experience, build relationships, and enhance your reputation. These benefits can lead to personal and professional growth, opening up new opportunities and avenues for success.
Practical Examples
Maha Abouelenein provides several practical examples to illustrate how creating value for others has benefited her:
- Networking and Relationships: Maha talks about how she met Matt Higgins and offered to help him explore business opportunities in Dubai. By providing value through her knowledge and connections, she built a strong relationship with him, which eventually led to business collaborations. This example underscores the idea that small acts of value creation can lead to significant long-term benefits.
- Working for Free: Maha mentions that some of her most financially lucrative business deals have come from initially doing work for free. She explains that working for free can provide opportunities to learn, gain access to new networks, and build relationships. This approach has allowed her to work with high-profile individuals like Gary Vaynerchuk, where she initially offered her services without charge to demonstrate her value and build trust.
- Curating Experiences: During the NBA All-Star Weekend, Maha went the extra mile to create value by curating a table of influential people for Gary Vaynerchuk. By doing her research and making strategic introductions, she enhanced the experience for everyone involved, demonstrating how thoughtful actions can create significant value.
THANKS, Maha Abouelenein
If you enjoyed this interview with Maha Abouelenein, let her know by clicking on the link below and sending her a quick shout on Instagram:
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RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW WITH MAHA ABOUELENEIN
Please note that some of the links on this page (books, movies, music, etc.) lead to affiliate programs for which The Passion Struck podcast receives compensation. It’s just one of the ways we keep the lights on around here. Thank you so much for being so supportive!
- Maha Abouelenein’s Website
- Maha Abouelenein’s Instagram
- Maha Abouelenein’s LinkedIn
- BUY Maha Abouelenein’s book: https://a.co/d/5ebc35u
- Passion Struck Core Value System: https://passionstruck.com/the-passion-struck-core-belief-system/
- Listen to Passion Struck’s interviews with New York Times bestselling authors Gretchen Rubin and Seth Godin.
- Check out Passion Struck’s Episode Starter Packs on Spotify or Passion Struck starter packs to get started with the podcast.
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About Today’s Guest, Maha Abouelenein
Maha Abouelenein brings over 30 years of global communications expertise, advising corporate giants, high-growth startups, governments, and high-net-worth individuals across the U.S. She is the CEO of Digital & Savvy, a strategic communication consulting firm with offices in the U.S. and Dubai, and she serves on the Board of Directors for The Associated Press.
Maha has been instrumental in launching some of the world’s largest tech companies in the Middle East, providing expertise in communications, policy, and business development for brands like Google, Netflix, Udacity, and Careem (Uber). She played a key role in supporting Egypt’s largest IPO and acquisition at Orascom Telecom and built major sports marketing programs for events such as the Olympics, NASCAR, NBA, ATP Tennis, Golf, and the NFL while at General Mills.
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