Ramy Murad, is the interim managing director of Carmudi, an online marketplace for new and second-hand vehicles. Mr Murad, 31, started his career in his native Syria as a sales manager and consultant in his field after earning a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications engineering. He moved to the UAE in 2011 to work as a telecoms engineer with Abu Dhabi Police before joining Carmudi last year. He lives in Dubai.
What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?
I study and work, as I am finishing my master’s degree in information technology management. There isn’t much free time left, but I try to reserve my evenings for meeting with friends and family. Pursuing physical activity and sports is the best thing to do on a weekend.
What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?
I have several activities I enjoy doing, such as swimming, basketball and table tennis. I’ve been playing basketball for the past 12 years and I join my university’s basketball team anytime they’re on the court. When I feel like being a little lazy I read, catch a movie or watch comedy shows. I’m still dreaming of having regular free time to do a specific sport. Individual sports such as tennis or squash help refresh thinking and develop mental finesse and discipline, which is then reflected in your work life.
What can’t you live without?
Friends, passion and, ironically enough, stress. As long as you perceive it positively, stress can be a major motivator and it always makes me feel alive. I can’t live without my friends because with them I never feel alone. As for passion, it keeps me moving forward.
What do you consider the secret to your success?
Hard work, time management and believing in myself. These are the most important keys to climb the ladder of success. Once combined, anyone can achieve positive results. One way I motivate and remind myself of my abilities is by repeating “I am the master of my faith, I am the captain of my soul” whenever I reach a dead end. I first heard this from Nelson Mandela and I’ve used it ever since. It helps me realise that I need to stop letting things happen to me and to start doing things myself.
What advice would you offer others starting out in your business?
The saying “patience is a virtue” holds true for both personal endeavours and business ventures. E-commerce requires hard work and dedication. However, the results tend to come in faster in this industry, so all you need to do is be patient and consistently give your best so you can keep going. If you, as a founder, truly believe in your product and its worthiness, convincing the rest of the world will be a piece of cake. But you have to be able to feel it deep in your gut.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
It is really hard in this type of rapidly expanding business. Nevertheless, with good time management it is still doable. You have to pick one or two things that you know make you happy and help you feel relaxed, and make sure you do them at least once a week. The people around you can also help keep you in check when it comes to overworking. There are days when I am dragged out of the office so I don’t end up sleeping on the company sofa. I also plan a short trip abroad every few months. Travelling to new places is a great way to let off some steam.
How do you relax after the working day?
I catch up with a friend, listen to some music or watch a late movie. Movies relax you and let you escape to a new world where you live a new story away from the worries of real life. You can sometimes find me at The Beach in Dubai’s JBR as well. Having dinner with a great view and then later walking by the water is the definition of relaxation.
If you weren’t running your business what else would you be doing?
I would be searching for the next big new idea and start a new business. For me, life is best when passion and learning are at their peak. We all need to feel interested and excited about something to keep going.
dsaadi@thenational.ae
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