My Learnings & Gratitudes: 2021 Reflections
Here I’m at Bahawalpur Cantonment, on 30th of December, penning down my reflections on 2021, flying through the 52 weeks of 2021 — What a year this has been — THANKS & a Gazillion of Gratitudes to Lord Almighty!
This year I finally learned to embrace pain and embraced stress as a friend. Thanks to Dr. Kelly McGonigal, Kahlil Gibran, Maulana Rumi & Prof Saeed Ahmed for teaching me that: Pain & Stress is a friend.
Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.
Therefore trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity:
For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the Unseen, And the cup he brings, though it burn your lips, has been fashioned of the clay which the Potter has moistened with His own sacred tears.
— Kahlil Gibran
Prof Saeed Ahmed, my spiritual mentor told me that — Baba Guru Nanak Ji said “Darr Thalay Sot Day” meaning “Throw away your Fears/Phobias” — enabled my transition from a troubled 2020 to a bright 2021.
Entered the next life teacher — Rizwan Buttar — When the student is ready the Teacher will appear — then he taught me How to Focus, KPI Driven Growth, ABC of Business — Always be Closing — Shaping up to take new challenges — Keto Diet — and much more… Thanks a million Rizwan Bahi…
Hosting Mr. Amer Hashmi, Chairman STZA, Mr. Zouhair Khaliq, Mr. Wahaj Siraj, Ms. Purush Ch — courtesy CxO Forum was a delight. Thanks wadda sain Kanwal Masroor.
Getting a chance to visit the highest office in Pakistan was an honor of a lifetime. Thanks to some very dear friends.
Getting Innovators Garage (IG) from Zero-to-One raising $150K Investment from Zauq Group was the moment of 2021.
Thanks to the Beaconhouse Group for a partnership with Beaconhouse International College and Innovators Garage for Incubation Programs in Lahore, Islamabad & Faisalabad.
Attending DEEP Ecosystems Accelerator Program EU was a great learning opportunity for Team Innovators Garage (IG)! Thanks to team & mentors of DEEP Ecosystems Accelerator Program EU.
Attending Azerbaijan Investment & Culture Summit 2021 and making new Global Friends was the highlight of year for me — LOVED IT. Thanks to all the amazing organizers and hosts in Azerbaijan! Thanks for your amazing hospitality. Sincere gratitudes !!!
The majestic view at our Zauq Office in Islamabad keeps me at work even on weekends :)
Appearing on the TV Program of Anchor Mr. Ahmed Qureshi for the UNIDO/USAID Clean Energy SME Accelerator Program was a delight. Thanks, Team PFAN! Thanks, my SME accelerator fellows from the US!
Always a delight to meet & learn from my mentor Mr. Faisal Sherjan.
Last professional meeting of the year was with dynamic diplomat Dr Muhammad Adeel, at MoFA for global Innovation Collaborations — sets the pace for 2022!
A big thanks to Mr. Rizwan Buttar, Mr. Nassir Kasuri, Mr. Ahad Nazir, Mr. Noman Azhar, Mr. Adnan Siddiqui, Ch Nabil Shahzad, Mr. Noshad Minhas, Mr. Zouhair Khaliq, Mr. Parvez Abbasi, Mr. Salman Ali, Mr. Rehan Mehmood, Mr. Kanwal Masroor, Mr. Hammad Bashir, Mr. Khurram Elahi, Dr. Sumaira Rehman, Ms. Bakhtawar Mehmood, Dr. Nudrat Nida, Ms. Raana Sarmad, Ms. Tabinda Usman, Dr. Aqsa Shabbir, Ms Fajer Rabia Pasha — to name a few who made 2021 an amazing year! Pardon me if I have missed your name :) Last but not the least the Amazing Team at Innovators Garage (IG) — I thank you all!
Thanks to all amazing professional fellows who touched our lives directly & indirectly — in many ways — I THANK YOU ALL.
I am thankful to my lovely family, all the friends, supporters, mentors — business partners, who made 2021 a great learning & growing year for us! Happy New Year to all of you & We wish you all the success in 2022. My Big Dream: is to make Pakistan a Top-50 Innovative Nation with $500 Billion Innovation Economy by 2030 🇵🇰.
Be humble and the world will open to you. Be a steward and the world will serve you. Be kind with those in need so they will become your most loyal allies. Do not fear the future, be it — Dr Mark Esposito
Fareeda Main Nu munj Kar Niki kar kay Kut
Bharay Khazaanay Rab dey Jo bhaway so Lut— Hazrat Baba Farid u Din Ganj Shakar R.A
About the Author: Imran Jattala is Co-Founder of Innovators Garage — with a mission to build $500B Innovation Economy & to make Pakistan a Top-50 Innovative Nation. He is also Director Innovation, Zauq Group. He tweets at: @ImJattala
