Today’s tip: WELCOME, CLASS OF 2020 [I know it is already 2021, but it applies all the same!] Today, I looked at UNICEF’s Executive Director’s message to the Class of 2020 and realized that, in several parts of the world, this is a week of graduation and celebration. After years of study and sacrifice, a new…
LAUNCH YOUR ROCKET, GET TO THE MOON!
Today’s tip: LAUNCH YOUR ROCKET, GET TO THE MOON! Yesterday I celebrated Father’s Day and -although I missed my children a lot- I was blessed to share it with good friends. However, I ate more than I should; more than I said I would, and way more than I needed, especially if I am to…
BUILD YOURSELF -AND OTHERS- UP!
Today’s tip: BUILD YOURSELF -AND OTHERS- UP! It was September 2002 -a year after 9/11- when I moved to NYC. I was living in the Big Apple, and my brain struggled distinguishing reality from fiction. Have I been here before, at this very corner, or is this familiar only because it is in my memory…
FORGET ABOUT WINNING, FIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!!
Today’s tip: FORGET ABOUT WINNING, FIGHT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!! This past weekend -Saturday and Sunday- was Indian weekend: tandoori chicken, murg makhana (butter chicken), garlic naan, rogan josh (red lamb), palak paneer, etc. Along with good food, there’s always good conversation, particularly when you have a cultural mosaic of Bangladeshis, Ugandans, Egyptians, Indians, Brits, Sri…
WORK IS A BLESSING, ONLY IF YOU SO DECIDE!
Today’s tip: WORK IS A BLESSING, ONLY IF YOU SO DECIDE! One of the many advantages of my job is that I have the privilege to interact with you, international civil servants, at a very personal level. I am always humbled and inspired by your impressive CVs, your movie-like life experiences, and your contributions towards…
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO WELL
Today’s tip: FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO WELL, not what you don’t, JUST DON’T OVERDO IT! The music had started playing a bit earlier, but for once, I had managed to go to bed at a decent time, and it took me a while to wake up, understand what was that ‘noise,’ and realize where…
TOUCH ME, PLEASE!
Today’s tip: TOUCH ME, PLEASE! She is intelligent, witty, sensitive, and cheerful. She is knowledgeable, professional, and successful. She is a caring and loving daughter, and I barely know her. But I was privileged to be the first person, outside of her very immediate family, to hug her after several months of strict self-isolation established to…
FORGET THE PARANOIA, EMBRACE THE PRONOIA!!!
Today’s tip: FORGET THE PARANOIA, EMBRACE THE PRONOIA!!! Not long after arriving in Nigeria, I had the honor of being invited to a wedding. As Nigerian weddings are, this one had all the fanfare, the beautiful matching dresses, and the glamour of a red carpet event. There I was, almost on my way to church,…
FOLLOW THE WATER!
Today’s tip: FOLLOW THE WATER!!!! She was born at a time when women could not vote, study the careers they wanted, or in general, make the life choices they thought to be better for themselves. Some years later, with a revolution in between, laws changed, women vote was allowed, and things -including health for women,…
WALK THE TALK, NOW!!!
Tip of the day: WALK THE TALK, NOW!!! How was your night? How was your weekend? I sincerely hope it was restful, joyful, and recharging. Unfortunately, mine was crap! Well, not really. I am melodramatic, so let’s nuance it and say it was ‘crappy,’ and it could have been ten times worst, so I grateful.…