Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Abdullah Mohammed Al Salmani, Jiu-Jitsu player, Co-founder of the “Hand by Hand” initiative and Founder of LM Talks.
Please tell us something about yourself.
I am a 20 years old Electrical Engineering student who has lots of dreams. Throughout my life, I always tried to work hard so I can get the chance to succeed in what I do and give back to the community.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey.
After completing high school, I decided to become a dedicated volunteer, and I planned to join Jiu-Jitsu. Getting the chance to join a well-known club such as Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu club was one of my dreams, so I dedicated 2 hours daily to train, and I spent the rest of my time studying and volunteering. Volunteering is the thing that makes me forget all the tiredness of the day, as a smile from the person who I help, means a lot to me. During the process of completing more than 1000 volunteering hours in different fields during the last three years, I have learned lots of things and lived lots of moments of joy.
Who are your role models?
My role models in life are Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, and Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. Both of them were ambitious young men who had worked so hard to become two of the most successful businessmen nowadays.
What inspires you?
I am usually inspired by the stories of successful people trying to balance their work and the time and effort they give to the families and the community.
Please tell us more about what you do.
In February 2019, I decided to demonstrate what I have learned through my volunteering period and built an initiative that serves people of determination and chose “Hand by Hand” to be its name. I have also gathered a team of experienced, young volunteers so we can serve the community, which included people of determination who are a crucial part of the society, by conducting events and campaigns to entertain people of determination and spread awareness among the society. During the last two years, we have conducted more than 25 events and represented Abu Dhabi University, Al Ain campus in the two editions of the UAE Red Crescent’s Aoun volunteering competition, were had won the second and third place, respectively.
What’s your most memorable experience?
My most memorable experience in volunteering was during the FIFA Club World Cup 2018. I have lived lots of moments of joy and faced lots of challenges as a youth program volunteer. I was responsible, along with my team, to take care of the player’s escorts and train them to do their job perfectly during the pre-match ceremony.
Which social media channels work best for promoting your work? What exactly do you do on the social media channel that makes it work for you?
I usually use Instagram to highlight my work and achievements, where I aim to inspire other young people to reach their potential and what’s beyond it, as I was inspired by my role models. Therefore, I have recently introduced my “LM Talks” Instagram live series, where I invite successful people to know more about their stories and their keys to success.
What’s your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is reaching a day where young people no longer like volunteering or serving the community.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
Honestly, I totally believe that the mistakes that we make define who we are today. But if I had to choose something that I would have liked to understand better before I started, it would be events management. Since I have faced lots of issues until I figured out the secret recipe for conducting a successful event.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Several strategies have made me reach where I have reached so far. The first is time management, which is a crucial element when a person is multitasking. The second would be choosing the right people you would like to hang out with, where my friends influenced my way of thinking positively. They always encouraged me to work harder to succeed. The final strategy is planning things ahead and setting plan B for everything because it would really save a lot of time and effort compared to a situation where a person only has a goal. Then that person starts to seek it without a plan.
What keeps you going when things get tough?
The moments of joy that I feel when I succeed and my family’s happiness, usually give me the power to keep going, whatever is the situation.
Any message for our readers.
I would like to advise every dreamer to get up, minimize their sleep, plan things ahead, and start running after their dream. The journey to success is not like a tour in Disneyland.
How can people connect with you?
I would be more than glad to listen to people and connect with them. They can connect with me through LinkedIn or Instagram.