From Startupper to Cancer Fighter: The will to do things

by Hamza Aboulfeth, Mehdi Dahmane (Illustrator), Emily Safrin (Editor)

I consider myself one of those lucky people who are blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime wild idea that completely changes their life. When that idea hit me, I didn’t hesitate or fear the possibility of failure—I just made the decision and walked right toward it. I was unlike my peers, hacking into servers and making the World Wide Web my home before most people even owned a computer. From a young age, I followed my gut and passions even when everyone around me thought I was a failure or a misfit. I’ve never been afraid to do things my way. By taking risks, I’ve made irreversible decisions and faced my fair share of stumbling blocks. It’s also thanks to those risks that I’ve enjoyed the taste of success. I started my first business at the age of seventeen, only to fail high school the next year and drop out of college a few years later. Every decision I’ve made and every act of fate that’s happened to me has led to another opportunity unfolding in front of me, just waiting for me to take it. As unconventional as some of my decisions have been, I still own that thriving business today, along with a few other side projects born of my twin passions for food and technology. This book will take you from my childhood home and cybercafes in Marrakech, Morocco; to Paris and Lille, France; to the halls of Harvard and back, with plenty of side trips along the way. Not only I will open up to you on a personal level, I’ll also share my secrets for success, many of which stemmed from failures. Through the anecdotes and lessons in this book, I hope to encourage you to take your own risks and open the doors you chance upon in the great maze of life, if only just to see what’s behind them. You don’t have to do things perfectly. In fact, if you ask me, perfectionism is one of our greatest flaws. Indeed, those who seek perfection are destined to stay right where they are. Reject perfection. All you need is the will to do things. Don’t be afraid—open the door. If you don’t look to see what’s there, you’ll never know.

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2020

Reviews

[Majd · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to start.. what to say...

Should I review the book or the person ? Question I have been asking myself since I started the book !

Is this a biography? Is this a Self-help book ? Is this a novel ?

My answer : It all 3 combined !

Hamza (the author) has surely been lucky enough in his life (as he says it himself in the book) to be the successful entrepreneur and grateful father that he is today “Mashallah”, but life is not always about luck... whoever says that shall be calling penalty shot-out in football “luck”, NO! it is also “skills” “ practicing” “self confidence” “emotions” and on top of all “perseverance”. And that’s how Hamza’s life resumes from the book.

I got very inspired by several quotes and situations from the author, but the overall book was a very pleasant weekend read and surely another good life lesson for me. Totally deserved the 5 ⭐️

Wait for Hamza ! He did this book in three months time ONLY ! Just like many other things in his life accomplished in record times... I am already waiting for the next one !

I wish the author a healthy and prosperous life, and I hope he is and will be an example for the youths.

[Anas AIT BAHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given life from birth to death is like a tree with many branches. Many people are considering familiar paths with known risks to lower the burden.

Rarely are people having the courage to take decisions that lead them to explore new branches of the life tree.

For sure, life comes with advantages. But Hamza's life is one of the unfamiliar circuits. All checkpoints are specials.

Reading the book will expand your knowns also as much as your unknowns around your circle of knowledge.