For thousands of years, the concept of one’s life’s purpose has been discussed in culture and philosophy. In Islam, the first word revealed from Allah upon Prophet Mohammed was Iqra’, or read, emphasising the importance of pursuing learning and knowledge in our daily lives. Long before that, Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle, have also sought to shed light on life’s purpose and often questioned what we are meant to do on this earth.
If we think about it, many Muslim inventors, for example, have worked with a sense of community purpose hundreds of years ago, before this became something that entrepreneurs aspire to nowadays. They invented things that we take for granted today such as algebra, optics, and the flying machine. As they went about inventing, they did so with the goal to better the livelihood of humanity, and not for their sole benefit.
Today, many entrepreneurs are adopting this purpose-driven mindset. Dubai based Arab-American entrepreneur Sahar Wehbeh is a good example. Her doll-making business, Dumye, founded in 2013, is built on the model of buy-one and we will donate one. Dumye is all about giving back to the community. The dolls are manufactured by underprivileged women in North India, who through their work are provided with a chance to better their livelihoods. And with every doll purchased, a doll is gifted to an orphan or another child.
TOMS is another example of a successful international business with a strong sense of purpose. Founded in 2006 by American entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie, the footwear and sunglasses brand is dedicated to improving lives. Through customers’ purchases, TOMS help provide shoes, water, prescription glasses and bullying prevention services in over 70 countries worldwide.
Emirati artpreneur Noor Shamma, started the Postcard Initiative in 2015. It all began when she was frustrated with how she was constantly glued to her phone, and she longed for the old school way of communication. She announced on her Instagram that she would send a postcard to those who were interested. Shortly after, she received hundreds of addresses from people worldwide. This tempted her to start her Postcard Initiative. Noor now sells stacks of postcards with illustrations by artists from around the world with 20 per cent of profits donated to Noor Dubai Foundation, a non-governmental, non-profit organization with the goal to eliminate blindness everywhere. By doing so, Noor is not only supporting a charity, but also empowering artists worldwide by showcasing their work.
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These are all powerful examples of entrepreneurs who incorporated purpose into their business mission, and who developed business plans with the stakeholders - the community - in mind.
When your business has a strong sense of purpose that is clearly communicated, the benefits will begin to multiply, beginning with your customers. A study by Cone/Porter Novelli reveals that 79 per cent of Americans are more loyal to purpose-driven brands and 67 per cent of them feel that purpose-driven brands care more about them and their families versus other traditional brands. The study also revealed how 78 per cent of Americans would endorse and tell their peers to purchase from purpose-driven brands.
Here are some ways you can take today to incorporate higher purpose in your business or organisation:
Define your purpose
Work with your team to set and declare a higher purpose that is serving your community. A survey by Deloitte revealed how purpose-driven organisations have higher employee engagement. This should be publicly stated and your corporate culture should revolve around it. Embrace your purpose. Make sure it’s highlighted everywhere: in your email signatures, in your company’s reception, newsletters, website and even plastered in your pantry. Assign some employees as your brand ambassadors, who can communicate your business’s goal to the community.
Learn from non-profits
Non-profits provide a great learning opportunity and you can get a front row seat by serving on the board of a non-profit or by setting a meeting with a non-profit leader you admire to see how you can learn from their approach. Examine the way they set their strategy and how they are involved in the communities they serve.
Ask your clients to participate in your purpose
If your brand serves a community or a cause - whether by building schools, helping refugees or donating clothes - chances are, many of your customers would love to take part. It would also provide them with an up-close and personal connection to your brand, to learn more about your work and communicate back to their social circles.
When it comes to developing your business, and setting its purpose, it wouldn’t hurt to think like the Greeks and early Muslim inventors.
Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati journalist and entrepreneur, who manages her marketing and communications firm in Abu Dhabi
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
German plea
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the German parliament that. Russia had erected a new wall across Europe.
"It's not a Berlin Wall -- it is a Wall in central Europe between freedom and bondage and this Wall is growing bigger with every bomb" dropped on Ukraine, Zelenskyy told MPs.
Mr Zelenskyy was applauded by MPs in the Bundestag as he addressed Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly.
"Dear Mr Scholz, tear down this Wall," he said, evoking US President Ronald Reagan's 1987 appeal to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Company%20Profile
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Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech, micro finance
Initial investment: $1 million
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
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if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km