This Business and Moment...

I very nearly took a role in SA recently, but after a huge amount of real thought couldn't go through with it - too conservative for me, like you I don't drink but am a consumer of various pork related products which would be difficult to give up - but also I feel like SA is the real real real difficult one in all of the ME to go and work for. I turned down a role in Abu Dhabi many years back after they flew me out and I interviewed as I couldn't hack Ramadan which was when I flew out, as there was at the time an expectation that you followed the rules of fasting and considering I was in an office I found it extremely difficult. Give me Dubai or Oman and I'd probably jump at the chance, but SA was a step too far. I'm also single, but it's such a real difference being a female over there I suspect.

Definitely visit though if you can blag it. I'd accept a role in HK today 100% or anywhere in SE Asia.
 
I've been tempted with the Saudi posts, everyone I work with who has been really enjoyed it and even in the public sector the benefits are good (no tax etc + allowances).
A fair few just came up but just bad timing unfortunately. Not ruling it out though, nothing puts me off going there.
 
Jeddah, maybe. Anywhere else…hmm tough one.

eta would love to retire to the Line though as long as the booze rules allow. Full on “Elysium” scenario sounds tempting with the utter shower over here.
 
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Day job is starting to ramp up at the moment. I'm involved in a few projects as the SME and honestly, if I wasn't on this one project I can imagine what they'd end up doing. I class my role as the **** filter between product teams and compliance. Compliance wants to implement some really convoluted change management process in our product teams, which will just slow everything down and it's slow enough anyway. That's a fun one to battle at the moment.
I don't often like to stick my head out the trenches because they're the first ******* shot and I have enough on on the side to want to keep my boundaries but last week I've taken on another massive initiative that has huge visibility. The only reason I did was because no one else would, and it does make sense to sit in my space, and strategically it actually is a good move. Just means a bit more **** to deal with and manage.

Obviously comes at a time where I'm about to launch the Hopium Lab, which is our creative product agency. The blub from our page:
The Hopium Lab is a creative agency specializing in all things product. We partner with startups, SMEs, and enterprises to unlock their product's full potential. Through a holistic approach, we offer services ranging from product validation and strategy to design, development, and market launch. Our focus on outcomes and data-driven insights ensures that we create successful products that drive business growth and user satisfaction.

It's always been the goal between my closest friends here, who are all techie/startup people and all the people I've met and become friends with online. A place where we work on helping individuals, startups, SMEs or Enterprises do anything from validate their product, get product market fit, build strategy, build the right things and measure the impact. Not a dev shop but a real partner in building something of value. Our goal is that we have a core group of people, covering designers, product managers, developers, marketers, even content creators and draw on our network at first to solve the problems we need. The core group gets to also throw product ideas into the pot and can have them validated and launched (or folded) and use the core teams skills to do that, but we all take % and can profit from it. A collective / coop style.

Anyway, that's coming very soon. We're actually working on two projects already. One is a simple online presence and marketing strategy for a acoustic consultancy. The other is a full SAAS tool for an incredibly niche use case. I also have a potential for an SME on the cards (hopefully) of managing their product strategy and development of their platform and mobile roadmap. Yet to close that one yet though, so won't count my chickens.

In my head I justify it as: Someone asked me what I'd do if I have $100m in the bank and I said I'd sit and build cool ****, it's what I love, so why not make that something I do with others and for others? Everything else I want to do falls under this in some way, too.

No point in this post to be fair, just a brain dump, it's been a bit of a week!

As you were x
 
We're struggling to come up with a solid file naming & folder structure system for the business. The new business-only Office365 account is up and running and its OneDrive is synchronised with the business computers. Now I'm drawing a blank. Nothing has been transferred from my personal OneDrive as I don't want to rush into copying everything over and then having to overhaul the system. This feels like an opportunity for a clean operation but still quite far off with planning this new structure.

We need to keep engineering separate from everything else to do with the business - so I can share a project folder with clients, suppliers, subcontractors etc. without them having access to sensitive or financial information. At top level I anticipate the folders will be "Admin" "Accounts" and "Engineering". "Social & Marketing" may need its own space but that could be argued to sit under Admin.

Now I'm wondering if there is a way to set up multiple folders in different directories with the exact same name and both contain shortcuts to the other. There must be a code. Before we are at that stage we need to figure out our business folder structure, project numbering convention and whatever else pops up as we do all of this. Ideally this new system will be a breeze to use and will completely minimise the opportunity for human error to creep in, along with time-consuming manual handling (folder creation, renaming, moving and so on).
 
Freefaller said:
So I've been head hunted and after a quick (very quick) interview, there's a good role in Saudi Arabia... not everyone's cup of tea, and not sure if it's mine (although I do like the middle east a lot). The salary is ridiculous (makes my salary feel like minimum wage), it includes relocation costs and money towards accommodation, healthcare and education (for the kids)....

It's quite interesting opportunity - I think had it been UAE/Dubai I'd be more tempted, SA is still a little bit conservative - though the people are lovely, and we don't drink anyway, but I think I'd miss bacon! :cry:

I've got a month or so to think about it - I might fly over to get a feel for it.
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What area do you work in if you are ok to answer? I understand if not :)
 
Ok need some hive mind input. We all know Intel have the i3, i5, i7, i9 to segment their CPUs. I'm thinking of doing something similar to segment products that I'm looking to bring online for my brand.

Power banks is one sector that I'll have 10,000mAh, 20,000mAh and 30,000mAh capacities...with different model designs within those 3 levels of capacity. I've had a look at Anker to see how they split their product stack up but I don't want to copy it exactly.

10k mAh might have 3 designs
20k might have 2
30k might have 2
60k will have 1 (for now it's on the drawing board but might happen in future)

Any suggestions of a setup that might work for me? or will I just rip Intel off completely and use theirs :D
 
subbytna said:
Ok need some hive mind input. We all know Intel have the i3, i5, i7, i9 to segment their CPUs. I'm thinking of doing something similar to segment products that I'm looking to bring online for my brand.

Power banks is one sector that I'll have 10,000mAh, 20,000mAh and 30,000mAh capacities...with different model designs within those 3 levels of capacity. I've had a look at Anker to see how they split their product stack up but I don't want to copy it exactly.

10k mAh might have 3 designs
20k might have 2
30k might have 2
60k will have 1 (for now it's on the drawing board but might happen in future)

Any suggestions of a setup that might work for me? or will I just rip Intel off completely and use theirs :D
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S, M, L, and X?
 
Freefaller said:
So I've been head hunted and after a quick (very quick) interview, there's a good role in Saudi Arabia... not everyone's cup of tea, and not sure if it's mine (although I do like the middle east a lot). The salary is ridiculous (makes my salary feel like minimum wage), it includes relocation costs and money towards accommodation, healthcare and education (for the kids)....

It's quite interesting opportunity - I think had it been UAE/Dubai I'd be more tempted, SA is still a little bit conservative - though the people are lovely, and we don't drink anyway, but I think I'd miss bacon! :cry:

I've got a month or so to think about it - I might fly over to get a feel for it.
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Not for all the tea in China for me, but really depends. If it was (say) quadruple earnings then maybe might give it a think but even double earnings plus the tax savings I'd not be interested.


There was someone on here that used to work in dubai/UAE



Ive just finished my job and start a new one next week. Very similar role but +20% base and better pension and good bonus :D
 
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Love Dubai. In fact I love most of the middle east other than a few countries.

I actually really like the culture there. Ok it still has a way to go in some countries but they are progressing. I like the fact it's safe (one of the safest countries in the world) and family friendly and the weather is hard not to like!

Don't believe the media and stereotypes, women and mothers are well respected, but it is a patriarchal society, and it is a 2 tier society still. As an expat though in most of the ME you do get a good deal and work experience.

That said it's not for everyone I admit. However I have spent a fair bit of time out there although not directly employed out there so I realise it can be different.

I'm waiting to hear back and see what they offer. I'd want it to be more than just salary, but housing, schooling and healthcare in the package. The number would have to start with a 2 as well.
 
3 weeks into my new role and not really done anything yet, should change this week as I start linking up with some clients.

Still unsure as to how this will go and whether I’ll be massively missing my old role, we shall see.
 
Freefaller said:
Love Dubai. In fact I love most of the middle east other than a few countries.

I like the fact it's safe (one of the safest countries in the world) and family friendly and the weather is hard not to like!

I'm waiting to hear back and see what they offer. I'd want it to be more than just salary, but housing, schooling and healthcare in the package. The number would have to start with a 2 as well.
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I have a friend who moved from Southern California to Dubai. He was able to earn a huge amount of money due to no tax and a higher annual salary. He eventually came back to the USA but said that he enjoyed his time in Dubai.

I couldn't personally handle the heat in the Middle East, but I know that some folks thrive there, and are able to make a ton of money doing it. What's not to love about making 4+ times your UK compensation per year and thus being able to retire in 1/4 of the time that it'd take you in the UK? One of the biggest reasons why I personally moved to the USA was for the ability to make so much more money (doing the same thing) and being able to retire much earlier with much more money (in my retired years) to boot.
 
jon86 said:
I have a friend who moved from Southern California to Dubai. He was able to earn a huge amount of money due to no tax and a higher annual salary. He eventually came back to the USA but said that he enjoyed his time in Dubai.

I couldn't personally handle the heat in the Middle East, but I know that some folks thrive there, and are able to make a ton of money doing it. What's not to love about making 4+ times your UK compensation per year and thus being able to retire in 1/4 of the time that it'd take you in the UK? One of the biggest reasons why I personally moved to the USA was for the ability to make so much more money (doing the same thing) and being able to retire much earlier with much more money (in my retired years) to boot.
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To me it's more than just the money. Of course that's a great draw but it's about creating life experiences for the kids and seeing different cultures. I've lived in a few countries in my life and travelled the world extensively (for work in the past) and it's given me so much extra rounding as a person.

Also doing a job that you really enjoy doesn't really make it a chore. I mean I do long days not because I have to (I don't get bonuses where I am or over time) but because I genuinely love what I do.

Conversely to you I couldn't imagine ever living in the USA. it's fine to visit but I do not like the culture over there one bit!

For me the middle east, Asia or Europe are all places that add a lot of interesting experiences. That said if I'm going to relocate as an experienced person in their 40s with a family I do expect something to draw me there as I earn a very comfortable wage here.
 
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