Hello.

I was an Entrepreneur (of sorts).

For about 14 years, I built a cluster of businesses specialising in technology and communication.
In January 2010, our businesses retired.
I lost everything I had made.
Except a few lessons.
10 lessons from my life
10 lessons from my life
Ima Hassen
They just happened. These experiences were not planned.
Just like everything else in life.
Passion
1
I was passionate about computers since I frst saw one in 1989.
In 1994, I got my frst computer. A 386SX with 640kb RAM.
Windows 95 had just shipped.
I was very inspired by the OS revolution at the time.
In 1996, together with 2 other friends, I worked on a DOS clone.
It was called iDOS.
It started up.
Then crashed.
We still wanted to work on great ideas.
So, we founded a start-up named Ciliconsoft.
Dulwich High School of Visual Arts, Dulwich Hill, NSW Australia
We were 12. We had no idea what we were doing.
But I was determined to build a tech company that did groundbreaking things.
Ciliconsoft formed the foundation to 4 specialised business units,
which operated through the next 14 years.
As the business grew, we saw that our biggest motivator was the passion to kick ass with great work.
We were a bunch of guys, who loved to deliver.
And, we rarely fell asleep.
So, what did this mean in our business?
Every company has a business statement it makes.
Most start with a vision.
deliver wow in everything we do
PASSION
acclaim for innovation
recognition for our passion
VISION
direct our energies towards perfection in all our eforts
whilst always raising the bar of our expectations, and
embedding the values of honesty in our endeavours
MISSION
a cluster of communication businesses
Our passion, and values were embedded in every element that represented us.
We werent just another shop.
We really delivered wow.
Our customers liked this about us.
VICTORIAS SECRET
Rotary International
District 3220
MAS Intimates
The power of passion
Apple has continuously and passionately transformed
the technology landscape across almost 4 decades.
Lesson
If youre passionate about what you do, your work stops being just work.
Belief
2
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.
The belief in myself to do
anything I chose to.
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
I am the master of my fate.
I am the captain of my soul.
The belief in myself to do
anything I chose to.
Belief in steering a business
that ofered great products
and services, while being
a great place to work.
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
When I was 19, I moved out of my parents home.
I learnt the diference between ego and confdence.
The reality of a dream vs a fantasy.
If you truly believe in something, dont be afraid to get out of the comfort zone.
Moving out prepared me to sharpen that vision thing, and stay focused.
So, what did this mean in our business?
In 2006, Apple announced its shift to Intel processors.
These products were moving beyond their traditional markets: creative professionals
We wanted everyone else to hear about them!
Within 2 years of its existence,
Ontwo became the fastest growing reseller for Apple in Sri Lanka.
In 2009, Ontwo closed the single largest sale of iPods.
Ever.
The power of belief
Bill Gates belief in software drove Microsoft to become an industry pioneer.
Lesson
Believe in your ability.
Ignore the noise.
March forward.
Know the shop foor
3
I started 4 business ventures.
platforms and technologies
content and design
cluster management
I had to know everything about every business that we managed.
On a daily basis.
Why?
When you are too small, mistakes cost a lot. Usually in reputation points.
I didnt want to simply believe anyone else excuse on how and why things worked, or did not work.
To steer a business through its course, you must have complete awareness.
How could we truly innovate without accurate knowledge of what goes on?
Some may hate paying attention to the little details.
But it works.
You could have asked Steve Jobs.
Obstacles
4
Factor them in
They arent really obstacles,
if you factor them in early.
I dropped out of college.
I wasnt emulating idols. I just couldnt aford it.
Nelson R Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.
It didnt change his goal.
Neither did mine.
Lesson
Calculate your strengths. Factor in the obstacles youre likely to face.
Accept them. Work around them.
See the positive in every negative.
Youll see opportunity.
Being myself
5
Stop following the mainstream
At 19, I was still a kid*
And, I knew it.
* to a lot of traditional business people, and to competitors who just couldnt stand me.
But I did not want our businesses to appear immature.
Chairman Managing Director CEO
Chairman Managing Director CEO I skipped these.
Chairman Managing Director CEO They didnt truly capture me.
Chief Visionary Ofcer
Speitra Worldwide
This, was me.
Chief Visionary Ofcer
Speitra Worldwide
Dare I say it, I was not overstating myself either.
Chief Visionary Ofcer
Speitra Worldwide
Chief Visionary Ofcer
Speitra Worldwide
Chief Visionary Ofcer
Speitra Worldwide
Guy with Ideas
Ontwo
Chief Visionary Ofcer
Speitra Worldwide
Guy with Ideas
Ontwo
This wasnt just about titles or positions either.
It truly defned the way I engaged with our businesses.
Stepping out of the mainstream
Apple opened its frst retail store in 2001.
It was an industry-frst for a tech company to go retail.
Today, its sales churn has set repeat records.
Not just for tech, but for retail in any industry.
With the announcement of the iPhone in 2007,
Apple changed its name from Apple Computer Inc to Apple Inc.
It has continually moved away from the mainstream.
Lesson
If you are serious about what you do, dont be afraid to step out of the mainstream.
Eventually, the mainstream will follow you.
Be renowned
6
Spread the word
If you have something great to ofer,
the world will listen to you.
But you must tell them how super cool and renowned you really are.
We became our customers preferred source for technology
Their colleagues, family and friends heard about us.
This is how Ontwo became successful.
We ofered value, before they made a purchase.
It made Ontwo the best place for switchers to buy Macs from.
Customers were confdent when they spoke to us. We were renowned.
I learnt about sales and selling,
from Geofry Gitomer.
He taught me to establish
confdence in customers.
Customers then bought,
instead of being sold to.
Lesson
Understand how your customers perceive you.
Show them that you are an authority in your trade.
Keep marching forward.
Manage failure
7
Recession. Depleting capital reserves. Competition.
In mid-2009, Speitra Worldwide decided to shut shop.
But, we still had customers on contract.
We informed every customer about our decision to retire.
Gave them peace of mind by supporting their transition.
Despite our closure, we honoured every contract.
Speitra Worldwide reached graceful closure with its customers.
They still have great respect for us.
What did closure mean to me?
Handing over the keys to our ofce space,
was probably one of the most difcult emotions I have ever experienced.
Closest representation to our actual ofce at IBM Building
Then I remembered
Professor Randy Pausch had 6 months to live.
He presented the infamous Last Lecture.
You cant control the cards youre dealt, just how you play the hand.
Professor Randy Pausche
Lesson
Be graceful.
Make notes. Remember the lessons.
Move forward.
Continuity of Confdence
8
I was a failure.
An embarrassment.
I was rejected, but I still loved what I did.
Ironically, Steve Jobs used the same words.
I was an employable failure.
I was an employable failure. The lessons from my past were useful to many.
I leveraged the skills and experience that had accrued through the years.
Today, I help customers plan and execute business and technology strategies.
Business and Technology Strategist
Business and Technology Strategist Photographer
facebook.com/imahassenphotography/
Despite many brand extensions under Virgin which failed,
Richard Bransons perseverance continues to drive confdence in the brand.
Virgin Galactic is the world's frst spaceline.
It ofers to take you to space. How much more do you want?
Space is Virgin territory.
How to Succeed at Failure
Read the article by Richard Branson
Lesson
When failure strikes, the frst value to get hit is your confdence ~ belief.
Restore your confdence. Others will follow.
Continue the march forward.
Choose good partners
9
Im yet to come across someone
whos not made this mistake.
I am as guilty as accused. But I learnt a few lessons.
Dont hire bozos
Steve Jobs
If youre an A-player, hire only A-players.
Your partners must share the same core values as you do.
Your partners must share the same core values as you do.
Passion. Belief.
Your partners must share the same core values as you do.
Passion. Belief.
Your partners must commit to basic qualities.
Passion. Belief.
Your partners must commit to basic qualities.
Passion. Belief. Focus. Integrity.
Do not entrust your vision
in the hands of those who dont truly share your values.
Lesson
Understand what you truly seek in your partners.
Listen to your gut. Do you trust him/her/them to fully drive your vision?
Hire only A-players. Dont hire bozos.
Accept faults
Uphold your values
10
Nobody wants to accept where things went wrong.
Very few will want to believe that
things could have been done diferently.
Today, I believe that I was one of the biggest contributors
to the fate of our businesses.
But if I had the slightest inclination to accept them sooner,
the damage caused would have been far less than what they ended up being.
These points Ive shared today, form the basis to my values.
Most of it, is about how a bunch of businesses rose to their prime,
yet, collapsed due to many oversights.
And how I should learn from what worked,
and what wont.
Moving forward
Make the most of what youve learnt
Experience is what you get, when you dont get what you wanted
Professor Randy Pausche
Why these 10 lessons?
They remind me that I am still alive.
I am not invincible and mistakes can hurt.
Be truthful towards everything I do,
and do so with respect and honesty.
Most importantly: The belief that I can do this again.
Why these 10 lessons?
These arent just lessons I share.
These are lessons I keep learning from.
#thankyousteve
thankyou @refreshcolombo @nazly
@imahassen ima@imahassen.com facebook.com/imahassen