My Vision - HHS Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

My Vision: challenges in the race for excellence

By

HHS Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

            Book review – SUJITH BALAKRISHNAN

A leader with profound vision and mind full of creativity, that’s how Sheikh Mohammed transformed himself to be the leader of Dubai over the decades. Possessing a poet’s creative psyche, he paved the path and nurtured the lives of multilingual, multicultural citizens from around the globe. Sheikh Mohammed has created an aura, such that anyone close to him becomes similarly inspired. Sheikh Mohammed is Dubai and Dubai is Sheikh Mohammed; that’s the extent his visionary roots had seeped into every nook and corner of Dubai.

            “My Vision – challenges in the race for excellence” was first published in 2012 and has been continually reprinted ever since. The book parallels the Lion and Gazelle proverb:  The Gazelle wakes up every morning with a conscious knowledge that it must run faster or it will be killed. The lion wakes up knowing, it must outrun the gazelle or it will starve to death. Everyone remembers the winner; the runner-up is invariably forgotten. To ensure success, we need to join the race and win.

The straightest way to a bright future is through pioneering and creative approach. In this fast paced world, you have to take lead or you will be left behind. At this stage of falling behind, someone less capable and creative will take the place. In the race, stumbling is common, but valuable lessons cane be learned that helps not to repeat mistakes. In forging our own destiny, we must take lead even though the future may be daunting with unforeseen challenges.

Sheikh Mohammed points out the necessity of appropriate delegation that if the leader fails to delegate, he will find himself entangled in so much detail that eventually distract him from his primary task, to such an extent that he will lose sight of the bigger picture. He further clarifies what exactly is the bigger picture?

The bigger picture is one of survival, life’s driving force that cannot be merely achieved by wishful thinking but requires huge effort, complete attention and being alert to potential dangers. In spite of living in the midst of a civilized society, the business world remains in a jungle. There is no room for error or sentiment, and any error leads to bankruptcy, recession and death. 

Sheikh Mohammed had responded firmly on the real aspect of progress in the first chapter. “If our sole goal is to attain the level others have reached, then we are setting our target too low. Do not fool yourselves believing we are moving forward when we are only keeping up with the general trends, while the real opportunities are slipping away”.

   The main revolution that happened to the Arab nations as per Sheikh Mohammed is when it embraced that one word that summarizes the spirit of our entire civilization “Pioneer”. This idea filtered into every aspects of life – in peace, war, administration, science, architecture, trade, medicine, history, industry and diplomacy, becoming the philosophy that guided the way. Arabs invented the triangular shaped lateen sail that helped their dhows to sail more efficiently in the absence of favorable winds. As a result, Arabs were successful in shipping their goods to several ports building substantial fortunes.

Sheikh Mohammed praise the concept of globalization, as it is the way forward and embracing its positive aspects. The pioneer will be those who are able to benefit from the opportunities presented by the new economy. Latest technologies were introduced into Dubai economy by creating the Middle East’s first electronic free trade zone, accommodating Dubai’s Internet City and Dubai Media City inaugurated in 2000.

Speed is the one thing nobody can ignore because the fastest overtakes the biggest. In this age, information travels at the speed of light, ideas also can travel at the same speed. Without wasting time, we must tool practical ideas, if not, others will and reap the rewards. Overwhelming the contests in the struggle for excellence is the mantra of success, failing to do so is the cause behind downfall and trailing behind others. As Sheikh Mohammed Quotes “Choice is ours”.

            Sheikh Mohammed analogies the struggles of life as a scuffle in the university of life where everyone especially great leaders go through and get refined. It cannot be attained just based on the academic universities. He enlightens one of the key incidents that made him to envisage the real meaning of “Vision” foresaw by a visionary leader.

            Many years ago, when Sheikh Mohammed was young, some merchants approached him to tell his father Sheikh Rashid on their behalf to inform the needlessness of building a new larger harbor as the economy was in recession and Dubai already possessed a large harbor. As requested by the merchants, that evening, he informed his father. But his father didn’t give any reply, then he busily engaged in examining the harbor site with the engineers. After some time, he asked Sheikh Mohammed to drive him home. His father said, why he couldn’t respond at that time was, because the engineers were nearby them and they could eavesdrop their conversation. His father said, there will come a time when you will not be able to afford building such a gigantic harbor, that’s why I am building it now.    

            Sheikh Mohammed elucidates nine elements of true leader’s vision and the feature of a true leader’s vision. However, in order to implement true leadership vision, its compulsory to have an implementation phase, mobilization of resources, a winning team and of all the perfect timing. With all these aspects and approach visions could be transformed into realities.

            “Vision is a race for victory in a bloodless battle for development”, as he sees development is not at all a trend in today’s world scenario, but it’s a full-blown industry. Shaping the future is an endless one and development is an accumulative process. He dedicates the road paved to development, progress and creativity to his father, Sheikh Rashid, and it is up to the new generation including him to continue in the same direction pushing ahead on the road to excellence.  

            Along with his father, Sheikh Mohammed considers Sheikh Zayed as the zenith of true leadership. He single-handedly transformed Abu Dhabi into the world’s largest oasis. He esteems Sheikh Zayed along with his father as the astute individuals who ushered UAE to the present status. As far as leaders are concerned, Sheikh Mohammed expresses, there is no mould in which human traits can be injected to yield a true leader.

            In the book, sixteen traits of successful leadership are expounded like leading from the front, empowering others, setting clear goals, symbol of a society and a living example to the younger generation etc. that makes the statue of a leader so concrete.

            The major task that Arab world faces is not related to money or morale but the management. He points out to discern the sycophants from the real advisers. Capable managers are the need of the time not politicians who can deliver lengthy speech. He plainly states no lenience towards malfeasance, hypocrisy, corruption and nepotism.

            Sheikh Mohammed, in spite of being a global leader still believes in the socialist concept of making the public sector stronger and shares his dream to make the public sector services, its efficiency and performance better that the private sector. In such sense and philosophies, he collides that to a true socialist.

            Sheikh Mohammed confesses his love for horse and the religious, cultural and traditional importance of horses in the Arabic culture. Once a western journalist asked him why you are not appearing in our races if you are really the best jockey? Sheikh Mohammed shared his experience of winning 160 kms endurance championship and said your races are too short for me.

Dubai, once upon a time a desert, today welcomes six million tourists a year. Jebel Ali port is the world’s largest man-made port which can be viewed from space. It possesses the largest media city, the largest free zone, most attractive airport, tallest building. Sheikh Mohammed speaks on the Dubai way where the visions are crystallized, set reasonable time for implementation, mobilize resources and signals the implementation for the project.

On the final chapters he voices on the road to future, where he stresses the importance of peace, democracy, globalization, Developments of skills, talent and youth. Dubai has become a land of dreams where fortunes are made, legacies are built within a short stint. He envisions Dubai will be the center of business world and the growth of Arab world as the super power. Sheikh Mohammed regards what his forefathers taught that pearls do not float on the sea, waiting to be scooped, but we have to dive to great depths to harvest it, for that you have to be prepared for the worst no matter how hard this might be.

    On every single page, Sheikh Mohammed continued to maintain consistently the mood of inspiration in the most compelling manner with an honest mind. It’s an easy read book to get a detailed picture of U.A.E and in particular about Dubai along with the visions of a down to earth visionary leader. The narration at many places could be formatted to poetic lines.

It’s a must read for anyone who dreams, or who is at his low morale as the motivational words could assuredly inspire your buried leadership. Concocted with various ideas from business and management, authenticated with true stories, this will be a monument for any business and management students across the borders. His words will reverberate inside with full of energy and motivation that could carry forward one and all with courage and strength.   

Time is passing

Clock is ticking

The world is racing

No one will wait for us

Reality is not the present

But the one we feel should exist.