Mo Gawdat

He either joked all the time, but when you spoke about something serious, he would listen like you're talking to Yoda. And then he would say four words, usually four to eight words that would blow your mind. So I go to Ali after I go back from that trip. And I go like, you wouldn't believe what I figured out. And I start to describe everything to him. And he treats me like a little child.

He must have been eight at the time. And he listens. And then he asks me a couple of questions, clearly just to entertain me. And then he would say what I explained to him, but coming from the heart in a way that would blow my mind. And for the following three years, I work with this tiny little thing, explaining to him what I figure out. And he explains it to me like humans figure it out.

He must have been eight at the time. And he listens. And then he asks me a couple of questions, clearly just to entertain me. And then he would say what I explained to him, but coming from the heart in a way that would blow my mind. And for the following three years, I work with this tiny little thing, explaining to him what I figure out. And he explains it to me like humans figure it out.

And then we build this model, the 675 model. And now suddenly over four months, I'm the happiest person alive. Literally, you wouldn't put a dent in my happiness. I remember at the time I still worked at Microsoft. And so I would have to go to Seattle once a month, which meant that I flew from Dubai to to JFK. Oh my God. And Middle Eastern, born and raised. So I did that for four years running.

And then we build this model, the 675 model. And now suddenly over four months, I'm the happiest person alive. Literally, you wouldn't put a dent in my happiness. I remember at the time I still worked at Microsoft. And so I would have to go to Seattle once a month, which meant that I flew from Dubai to to JFK. Oh my God. And Middle Eastern, born and raised. So I did that for four years running.

Every single time I'd land in JFK and they would give me a big red envelope and treat me like a freaking criminal and take me to Homeland Security. And it's an insulting experience. And if you look to the side, the officer behind you who's holding a gun, guys, like seriously, I've done nothing. Who's holding a gun says, look forward, sir. And then you get into that room, they sit you down.

Every single time I'd land in JFK and they would give me a big red envelope and treat me like a freaking criminal and take me to Homeland Security. And it's an insulting experience. And if you look to the side, the officer behind you who's holding a gun, guys, like seriously, I've done nothing. Who's holding a gun says, look forward, sir. And then you get into that room, they sit you down.

And the officer is literally shouting at me until the guy behind the counter recognizes me. Because he saw me last month and the month before and the month before. And he doesn't remember my name, but he remembers I work at Microsoft. So he would actually out loud, which is really funny. He goes like, oh, Mr. Gates is back. Right.

And the officer is literally shouting at me until the guy behind the counter recognizes me. Because he saw me last month and the month before and the month before. And he doesn't remember my name, but he remembers I work at Microsoft. So he would actually out loud, which is really funny. He goes like, oh, Mr. Gates is back. Right.

And then he would call me to his desk and say, answer the same 10 questions you answered last month. And so I simply would go like, my name is this. I work for Microsoft. Here is my invitation letter. I am there for a meeting. My mom's name is this. My dad's name is this. The same 10 questions, right? And so he would go like, all right, see you next month. And I'm completely, completely chill.

And then he would call me to his desk and say, answer the same 10 questions you answered last month. And so I simply would go like, my name is this. I work for Microsoft. Here is my invitation letter. I am there for a meeting. My mom's name is this. My dad's name is this. The same 10 questions, right? And so he would go like, all right, see you next month. And I'm completely, completely chill.

Sitting there telling myself, think about my upbringing. I'm now a senior director. I was at the time responsible for emerging markets for the communication sector at Microsoft, building incredible solutions, very geeky, very interesting, loved by everyone, loving everyone. It was lovely. I'm thinking to myself, look at me, look at how far I've come. Look at how my kids are safe at home.

Sitting there telling myself, think about my upbringing. I'm now a senior director. I was at the time responsible for emerging markets for the communication sector at Microsoft, building incredible solutions, very geeky, very interesting, loved by everyone, loving everyone. It was lovely. I'm thinking to myself, look at me, look at how far I've come. Look at how my kids are safe at home.

I'm now welcomed into America, which coming from a third world market, you sort of think of that as a big privilege when you're young. I don't anymore, just so that you know. And you can frame it that way. You can remember how amazing life is to you because life is always amazing to you. And I just had no unhappiness in me. As a result, I started to even enjoy working more.

I'm now welcomed into America, which coming from a third world market, you sort of think of that as a big privilege when you're young. I don't anymore, just so that you know. And you can frame it that way. You can remember how amazing life is to you because life is always amazing to you. And I just had no unhappiness in me. As a result, I started to even enjoy working more.

I'm now not tired by my Delta flight from JFK, which makes everyone tired to Seattle, right? I'm basically in my full swing, constantly in my full energy, having the time of my life, joking with everyone, loving everything. But the thing is, you just never stop to recognize how empty that whole thing is. I remember I told myself I would write Solve for Happy

I'm now not tired by my Delta flight from JFK, which makes everyone tired to Seattle, right? I'm basically in my full swing, constantly in my full energy, having the time of my life, joking with everyone, loving everything. But the thing is, you just never stop to recognize how empty that whole thing is. I remember I told myself I would write Solve for Happy

In 2009, so whatever I learned with Ali, which was my first book, I wanted to say in a very clear way, these are 40 tips to happiness. And I just told myself, just sit down. You probably could write it in two months. And just put it out there. And then a customer calls and I forget about it and just travel to Australia and spend a couple of days.

In 2009, so whatever I learned with Ali, which was my first book, I wanted to say in a very clear way, these are 40 tips to happiness. And I just told myself, just sit down. You probably could write it in two months. And just put it out there. And then a customer calls and I forget about it and just travel to Australia and spend a couple of days.

And just deal after deal and customer after customer and tech after tech. And I was very senior at the time. I was just leaving my position as vice president of emerging markets, which probably is the biggest privilege ever. for anyone. So I was responsible for the next 4 billion users of Google, which, you know, it wasn't really opening a sales office.