Many people ask whether it’s possible to achieve academic excellence, build thriving businesses, travel the world, and still maintain strong personal relationships. My answer is: yes—but only through discipline, clarity of goals, and a grounded approach to life. Below, I share insights from my personal and professional journey, including how I’ve prioritised self-growth, raised independent children, and stayed committed to my values.
Commitment to Personal and Professional Development
I am a great believer in ensuring personal and professional development in a systematic and disciplined way. I have over a dozen accredited qualifications, including seven postgraduate ones, and I am currently in the final year of my doctorate research. I have a rollover Professional Development Plan (PDP) in an Excel format that lists all the aims that I must achieve in the next 12 months. These aims have been listed using SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) principles so that I know exactly what I need to achieve and by when. For example, it is my objective to have my first book published by 31.08.2025, and I have already prepared the first draft of it.
Exploring the World Through Travel
I have travelled to over 50 countries, mostly for leisure but also for business purposes. This includes quite a few road tours, the most recent of which was driving through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. The list of 50 includes most European countries, the USA, most of the Arab countries, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, and Russia.
Building a Thriving Business Empire
I have founded over 20 start-ups, around 10 of which form the group of companies that I am currently leading under the banner of Britannia Education Group (BEG). We work with a lot of government and semi-government departments, charities, schools, colleges, and universities to meet the training and development needs of their team members.
Raising Children with Real-World Awareness
As someone who has experienced the worst possible situations in life and is very well educated and well-travelled, I try to raise my children with a very real view of what life is all about. Instead of giving my kids a false impression of how special they are and how lovely they deserve to be treated by the world, I discuss life and its challenges exactly as they are and do my best to educate and upskill them to succeed in life. The results have been exceptional so far, as my eldest two (15 & 13) have demonstrated exceptional leadership and communication skills at school and in the after-school clubs that they have joined. They are able to travel around the city on their own, shopping for their day-to-day needs, and deal with the challenges involved while doing so. They are also very happy kids, and contrary to what a lot of people who know my training style expect, they have a very open and friendly relationship with me.
Conclusion
Success, in all its forms, doesn’t happen by chance—it’s a product of structure, vision, and honesty. Whether it’s academic achievement, business growth, or raising children to thrive independently, my journey is proof that with a strong foundation and intentional choices, it’s possible to live a deeply fulfilling life without compromising on core values or relationships.
