Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: Book Review

Excerpts from TheCEO Magazine

I read Sheikh Mohammed’s Flashes of thought because it is a diverse book that combines personal experiences with ideas about leadership and life from a successful Arab leader with many years of experience. It also claims to answer two great questions: How did UAE achieve high growth and vast development in such a short period of time? How did they develop a tourism industry in the ‘hot desert’ region with the biggest man-made island in the world? I’m pleased to share that Sheikh Mohammed, a true leader of the UAE, delivers clear and meaningful insights on how governments could make their services more effective, more efficient and more citizen- centric.
This book is very compelling, I must agree. While he shows how he transformed Dubai into a global city, in a concise and fascinating way, I noted many great points.
Positive energy and Positive thinking: Sheikh’s book does a better job than anything else I’ve read of articulating the importance of positive thinking and optimism. He wrote that if we see the world around us as filled with misfortune, troubles, worries and sadness, so it will be. However, if we see the world as abounding in opportunity, adventure, happiness, comfort and achievement, it will be that way. He adds by explaining that it is the mind and the way of thinking that creates our reality.

Conversely, he says, leaders should use their positive energy to raise the team’s morale. It is the key to victory, just as low morale can spell defeat. Optimism and positivism reciprocates with achievement and creativity.
The Victory sign: Why should we express our happiness in the language of others? Why can’t we have our own distinct personality and that we should take pride in our language and heritage? The victory sign is a symbolic gesture Sheikh came up with where he raises two-fingers V for victory and thumb finger for success. The three fingers express three things: success and victory. He added that creativity should be deliberate. It should be integral in everything we do. It should be intrinsic to our personality, if excellence is what we seek.
He makes a strong conclusion that if we accustom ourselves to creativity in small things, creativity on a large scale will follow. It is a way of thinking.
We shouldn’t be a passive part of life. To be creative is to add something new to life, so that the products of our creativity can leave a legacy long after we are gone.
Number one: When Sheikh was asked about his continued insistence on being number one, despite the difficulty in achieving the overall vision, he answered by saying ‘Nobody remembers the runner up’ He continued by saying: Who remembers the second person to climb Mount Everest or the second person to walk on the moon? – Nobody.
Sheikh adds that no one should be less than number one. Whoever convinces himself that he is not worthy of first position has doomed himself to failure from the very beginning. Your determination and energy is proportionate to your goal. Therefore, set a high goal for yourself and do not settle for anything less than the very best.

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