transforming oneself. A very inspiring narrative to learn from in pursuit of the betterment of one’s life.”
-Dr. Soloman Almadi, Toastmasters District-79 Director, 2016-2017
“The author is a young, ambitious, and truly dedicated Saudi, who passionately developed himself to serve and support his society and his nation. Mohammed’s internal drive to become the best he can be is profound. This book is a must read for the new generation, to learn from Mohammed’s successes and failures, and most importantly, learn how to pursue their passion in life. Given that our region is 70% young male and female, this book should be read by both genders.”
-Mohammed Ali Al Khalfan, former Saudi Aramco HR consultant and lifelong learning specialist
“This is a book of pain and pleasure. It is full of stories that recount Mohammed’s experiences from where he was to where he is. What really adds value in this book is the way Mohammed evaluated all his experiences and learned from them. This provides a base of learning for any person seeking to transform him or herself. There is much to be gained from this book. I encourage you to grab a copy of this book. You will not regret the investment!”
-Abdulla Abandi, Professional Speaker, Trainer and Coach
“Mohammad Zawad is an amazing success story. Since I knew him back in 2009, I have been watching him march very steadily and excitedly towards his passion. I saw the great improvement and the quantum leap he made in polishing his skills in leadership and in public speaking.
He was so dedicated not only to improving his skills but also to helping others find their passion and achieve it. At one point, he was the president of three Toastmaster clubs at the same time, Division M Governor, and an officer in other clubs simultaneously. I was one of those who was pushed by Mohammad to obtain my DTM, Distinguish Toastmaster Award.
Mohammad strongly believes in self-development and spared no effort in developing himself. He attended dozens of relevant courses and workshops, and read tons of books. The impact of such effort created a distinguished leader out of Mohammed.
Mohammad’s actions speak volumes of his true leadership. He really walks the talk. Immediately after attending John Maxwell’s courses, he started to train others and conducted many Mastermind sessions that changed so many people’s lives.
Mr. Zawad has the capacity to make visions and dreams come true. If I were asked to describe him in one word, it would be “passionate.”
I couldn’t wait to read his book about finding one’s passion as I knew that each word in that book would be authentic and meaningful because it came from a real success story, lived by a very sincere and true leader. If there is one word I can use to describe this book, it would be “honest.” I’m sure this book will help many people find their passion and achieve their dreams.”
-DTM Mohammad A. Al-Issa, Five-Time District Champion of Humorously Speaking
“There are no words that can describe the joy of inspiring others to make major changes in their lives. When I first met Mohammad Zawad a few years back I was really inspired by his dedication and commitment to Toastmasters, and how he spared no effort to help and support others to achieve their goals. His meticulous efforts and attention to detail was clear, and the way he lead meetings and groups was very inspiring.
I had the honor of meeting Mohammad several times since then, and our friendship grew stronger, through joint meetings and projects, mainly related to Toastmasters. I remember that we had a couple of talks related to moving beyond public speaking into professional training. And I shared with him my own experience and some tips on how one can gradually enter the field of training, by building experience step by step.
I’m now humbled to know that these small talks inspired Mohammed to write his first book and document his experience in training and in public speaking, and it’s once again my privilege to be part of this experience. To inspire others and be inspired by others is an ongoing cycle that we live in. That’s what keeps us motivated and generates the energy and drive for us to move forward.”
-Samer Younis, Professional Trainer and Consultant
DEDICATION
TO MY DAUGHTER AND SON
Dear Mariam and Rida:
I’m not sure what the future holds, whether I’m going to leave you millions of dollars, or even be around to watch you grow into adulthood, but consider this book my gift to you.
I believe this book is invaluable since it consists of many of the insights and life experiences that helped shape my life over the years. By reading this book, you’ll understand how I utilized life’s lessons to develop my values and raise you. I hope my loving attention and guidance has left you with your own well-defined set of values.
Every time you find yourself missing your father, read the book. I promise you’ll find his spirit on every page, hugging and lifting you up. Both of you are the apples of my eyes, and you’ll hear my voice in each experience, guiding and motivating you to become your absolute best.
I don’t care what you want to be in life - whether astronaut, garbage collector, or ditch digger. What’s important is that you are passionate about it! Just take note of all the great technological inventions that are at your fingertips. People who dragged themselves to work each day, doing the bare minimum, didn’t create them.
The individuals who’ll one day discover a cure for cancer, seldom reflect on their paycheck. They go far beyond their job description and devote countless extra hours looking for a cure. The world is desperate for passionate people to cure disease, create peace, improve education, and protect the environment.
Passionate people see, think, and do things differently. A passionate garbage collector looks for new ways to recycle waste and protect the environment. A passionate ditch digger will find new ways to build a drainage system that is both efficient and environmentally friendly.
My ultimate wish is for the both of you to find your passion, and be two of the great people in this world who live their passion, while remaining true to their values.
My beloved children, please remember what Roy Disney (older brother of Walt) said, “It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.”
SPECIAL THANKS TO MY TEAM OF DEVIL’S ADVOCATES
The book that you hold in your hands was initially much larger in scope and content. The initial plan was to have three major sections: “How to discover your passion,” “Balance your life as a passionate person,” and “How to pursue your passion from A to Z.” This would have created a final book of some 250 to 300 pages. A great concept, but then when do plans ever turn out the way you first envisioned them?
I’m a firm believer in what Ken Blanchard said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” It may sound sadistic, but I crave it, and the more harsh the better! I first learned it in high school. One of my classmates would criticize me daily, and as a coping strategy, I began to focus on what he was saying. I found that if I switched off my feelings and pride I could actually learn to become a better person. In doing so, I managed to improve on my shortcomings. My tactic eventually paid off as graduated with honors, and received the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Award for
