“What does success look like for you…?”
That is the simple question that Reem asked me but it was one that would provoke hours, days and weeks of thought.
I think, as you look back on your professional and personal life you are able to identify moments. You identify moments where you took a chance, moments where you failed or succeeded, moments that inspired and challenged you, and moments that made you grow. You also identify the critical people that were pivotal to the success that you are today.
10 years ago I branched out into a new career – pharmaceuticals. I was a born sales person but I was unsure of how I could fit into, what always seemed as, such a conservative industry. Being coached by Reem gave me the clarity and belief that I needed to truly know that I could succeed in this role, as well as my bigger career ambitions. Business became like a game to me and I like to think that Reem was coaching me for the biggest game of my life. Reem helped me to stay on track, hold me accountable, consistently meet with me to discuss my thoughts, decisions and actions, and create a plan and timeline that I could follow to achieve my goals.
One of the most important aspects of my time with Reem was the three non-negotiable’s:
- Be true to your values
- Be true to who you are and why you do what you do
- Fail fast and succeed faster
Ten years on from meeting Reem, her three non-negotiable’s have become my daily mantra.Reem saw the potential in me, and for that I owe her everything. My hope now is to inspire, teach and transform people in the manner Reem did for me.
I believe when you look back at your career or life it is easy to identify the people who made a critical difference on your journey.
For me, Reem Borrows is that person.