Omar Al Busaidy wants you to Just Read It

Dubai - Author, entrepreneur and speaker Omar Al Busaidy is passionate about influencing a whole generation to be the absolute best they can be. City Times had a frank discussion with him about writing his book, why age is just a number and his advice to young people.

To Say Omar Al Busaidy is passionate is an understatement. His book Just Read It is an entrepreneurial guide to self-development that has a unique light-hearted approach - pretty perfect for Dubai, a city filled with entrepreneurs and young people who want to make a name for themselves. Omar's passions though go beyond just educating the youth on their potential. He's interested in shifting mindsets no matter what age you are.
"Have you ever heard the expression, 'youth is wasted on the young'? Well, I want to change that perception and help all people realise that they have the ability to change their lives, enhance their human experiences and/or change their paths,' Omar told City Times.
The UAE national who has more than 13 years of experience in various sectors across the UAE and the region, is part of the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers community, a network of hubs developed and led by young people who are devoted to making a contribution to their communities. Since 2010, he's been invited to mentor several students and host youth discussions focusing on entrepreneurship and leadership at various universities across Abu Dhabi and Dubai such as AISEC, Khalifa Fund and Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, as well as Georgia Tech in the United States. He is also the founder and Managing Partner of a gentleman's salon enterprise, W Gent's Salon. We told you he was passionate.
City Times got to chatting with the charismatic Omar about his passions, what makes Dubai so interesting and his advice to young people.
Tell us what your book Just Read It is about. How did the idea of the book come to you?
On a random day in 2012, I was giving a lecture on entrepreneurship to a group of women at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. I made my usual request to the group of aspiring students and told them 'please take notes'. One outspoken student turned to me and said, 'why don't you write a book? I tend to read more than I write, and since you have so much to say I would love to read your book.' So on that day out of that thought Just Read It was born.
What was the process of writing the book like?
It wasn't difficult for me to write the book because all of the content existed in the lectures I gave my students. When I made the decision to write the book, all that I had to do was compile everything in a way that would be appealing to the reader. Because the content came from my lectures, I wanted the book to be both literary and visually appealing to the reader. The difficulty, or rather the task in this instance, was to get my book to inspire the reader. I didn't want them to just read it, but actually use it - my advice, that is.
Why is your work and passion focused on young people? Why do you think young people are so important in Dubai and the UAE?
Young people are important globally. But, let's look at the UAE as a great launching pad as there is so much diversity. You have a demographic of youth from every part of the globe finding ways to work together. In my book I wanted to provide every single person with some kind of advice that they could follow and make practical use of, no matter their race, gender, culture, religion, spirituality and so forth. The UAE is a metaphorical representation of the world as a global village advocating tolerance and showing hospitality to different cultures through good service. This is why it's an important place for young people, our great leaders inspire this vision of inclusiveness and make it possible for the youth here to live in peace and realise their potential. However, what you need to understand is that my focus is not just on young people. My focus in on a generation of thinkers, young in thought, seeking to reinvent themselves and improve as society advances and opportunities arise.
Can you elaborate on that?
Have you ever heard the expression, 'youth is wasted on the young'? Well, I want to change that perception and help all people realise that they have the ability to change their lives, enhance their human experiences and/or change their paths. Get out of your safety net! Be creative, independent, committed, focused, ambitious - does this advice have an age limitation? No, age is a feeling and Just Read It is a day to day guide on self-development and social intelligence for everyone.
What is a key piece of advice that you would like to give young people ? What piece of advice would you give your  younger self if you could?
Research, research, research. An informed decision is a good decision, prevention is better than cure.
How would you define what an entrepreneur is?
A person who is young in thought, yet wise in experience, can take on any challenge presented by life and/or business, agile and compassionate - focused on realising his/ her dream.
Why are entrepreneurs important to Dubai?
Dubai is the land of opportunities and the city of the future. The future and advancement is dependent on the cultivation of new ideas. Who better to keep this market alive than a brave entrepreneur. The relationship between Dubai and the entrepreneur is symbiotic, Dubai fertilises the soil through a variety of entities, for example The Dubai Future foundation and Accelerators; the entrepreneurs plant the seeds and tends to the land! 
Who have been your role models growing up? Both in your personal life and on the international stage?
My uncle, Issa Al Rawadhy, he lives in Oman and technically he qualifies for both! I have told people his story repeatedly because it is more to remind me than them. My uncle started with nothing and now has everything: good health, a great family, a sustainable business, determination and drive!He is happy and unfettered by minor issues, I absolutely adore him and will be a very lucky man if one day I can say I am like him.
Explain to us your typical day.
There is no such thing in the life of Omar Al Busaidy! Sometimes I set the intention to have a routine day of exercise, fitness and time to myself in the evening. However, this never ever happens. I am a 'people and experiences magnet'- they find me and I cannot resist altering a plan or finding time to see someone spontaneously.
Are you planning on writing another book? If so what?
What is your Unique Future Power (UFP)? People need to understand their role on earth will never be redundant. Each and every one of us has a unique future power (UFP). We need only collectively work together and connect with one another to determine which work will be for humans only, how technology can assist our advancement, and what can we learn to teach our machines to do.
Tell us about your three favourite spots in the UAE.
The Youth Hub, it's an incubator for new ideas and proactivity.
Stomping Ground for the coffee!
Al Seef because that's where old meets new Dubai.

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