My eldest son was doing his first year of engineering program when he consulted me regarding a scholarship that was offered to him.

“If you start right, you will continue right. Look for a company that offers you the best development program. Trust them for five years and don’t bother with your designation, grade or salary. ” I told him and added:

1.      Be thankful for the opportunity offered as in "[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds" Quran 1:2.

2.      Appreciate the mistake friendly environment as in "The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful," Quran 1:3.

3.      Exceed your annual objectives as in "It is You we worship and You we ask for help." Quran 1:5.

4.      Respect the codes even if not watched as in "It is You we worship and You we ask for help." Quran 1:5.

5.      Follow the right ways as in "Guide us to the straight path" Quran 1:6.

6.      Seek the best ways as in "The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor" Quran 1:7.

7.      Intentional mistake is deal breaking as in "not of those who have evoked [Your] anger" Quran 1:7.

8.      Unintentional mistake is still damaging as in "or of those who are astray." Quran 1:7.

As any father, I desperately wish to share my experience, granting my loved ones a better chance in life. When you value someone, you want him/her to start from where you ended.

But in doing so, we have to remember that all we got to offer them is nothing but our personal interpretation of success and that our loved ones are entitled to experimenting life on their own. Unless you are extremely good in convincing, chances are your loved ones would rightly insist on reinventing the wheel.

Be happy if they stick around to consult you and pray to Allah that whatever their hands touch shall change to gold.