At 34, I look back on my education and realize that my memories of teachers are less about the lessons and more about how they treated me. Formulas, theories, and facts may have earned me good grades, but they don’t stand out in my mind. What I remember most are the ways my teachers influenced my growth, either through kindness or disappointment.

Today, with a deeper understanding of human consciousness, intelligence quotient (IQ), emotional quotient (EQ), and social intelligence, our educational approach should shift. We now know that empathy, compassion, and a positive environment are crucial in nurturing young minds. Yet, the impact of a teacher’s behavior often outweighs the impact of any curriculum.

Memories That Stick: Moments of Bias and Kindness

One of my earliest memories involves a teacher who was about to slap me, but the situation shifted the moment my mother entered the classroom for a meeting. The teacher immediately changed her tone, saying I hadn’t completed my work. I didn’t confront it then, but I realized later how some students were handled differently, perhaps because of biases or favorites. In contrast, I recall a different teacher who praised my mathematical skills in front of the class. I no longer remember the formula, but her words and motherly encouragement have stayed with me, bringing warmth even today.

When Pain Outlasts the Lessons

In two different schools, I had math teachers who resorted to using a wooden compass as punishment. They’d ask a question and, if a student failed to answer, they’d jab the compass with its pointed screw-end into the student’s hand, leaving a lingering pain that lasted all day. Those lessons on formulas have long faded, but the memory of that pain and humiliation remains.

On the other hand, during that same time, my science teacher once awarded me a medal from his personal collection, recognizing my effort in front of the entire class. It was a simple act, but one that reinforced my self-worth and motivation to succeed in a way that no punishment could.

The English Teacher: Lessons Beyond Language

I can communicate in English today, and I’m sure there’s credit due to my English teachers along with my own efforts over the years. However, what I remember most about one English teacher isn’t related to language skills. I remember him for the abusive language he used in the classroom and for showing students ways to cheat during exams. These memories stayed with me, not as lessons in language, but as reflections on the kind of behavior I would never want to mirror

Integrity Over Position

In my government school, the examination team was often lenient, allowing students to cheat so they could pass. I remember classmates sneaking small cheat sheets into exams, using them without hesitation. Although I could have joined them, I chose not to. I ended up with the third position, and to this day, I am prouder of that achievement than any other. The pride didn’t come from the score but from the fact that I stood tall, holding onto my integrity when I could have easily chosen otherwise. A person who resists when given the opportunity to do wrong demonstrates far greater strength of character than one who never faces temptation.

The Memories We Carry

I believe many others hold similar memories—not of the facts and figures we were taught, but of how we were treated, how our classmates treated us, and the experiences we had. These memories shape our character and our values. Teachers, knowingly or not, become some of the most influential people in our lives. They have the power to inspire or discourage, to build us up or make us feel small.

Education as Factory or Nurturing Ground?

If our education system continues to emphasize rote learning and punishment, then it risks becoming a factory. A factory of what, I’m not sure—but one that doesn’t produce what is valuable. Just as junk food provides little nourishment, a system that relies on outdated methods and rigid mindsets fails to truly nurture young minds. This form of education becomes a trend rather than a mindful choice, consumed simply because it’s there, rather than for its potential to enrich lives.

True education should be about empathy, curiosity, and growth. It’s about creating an environment that prioritizes the development of character and values as much as academic knowledge. As Albert Einstein once said, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Let’s make sure what remains are memories of kindness, integrity, and encouragement, shaping individuals who are prepared not just to pass exams but to navigate life with resilience and purpose.

Education isn’t about memorizing formulas or learning the alphabet earlier than others. Real intelligence isn’t defined by how fast a child grasps concepts, nor is it limited to academic knowledge. Any skill, whether intellectual like mathematics or physical like swimming, can be learned at any stage of life, provided the learner’s mental and physical health is nurtured.

For centuries, the education system has emphasized rote learning—building vocabulary, memorizing names, and mastering formulas. Yet, the truly curious and genius minds are those who break free from this traditional framework. They challenge the status quo, explore the world on their own terms, and disrupt the established knowledge base with new ideas, theories, and inventions.

Unfortunately, today’s school system has drifted into a state where business mindsets, materialism, and unmotivated teachers overshadow the true essence of learning. Not all teachers are to blame, but many children face unnecessary obstacles that stunt their growth and development. I’ve observed a few practices in modern education that are counterproductive to nurturing a child’s potential:

1. Suppressing Communication with Parents

We teach our children to speak up—to tell their parents everything. Open communication helps parents detect if something harmful is happening, whether it’s bullying or misconduct. But some teachers discourage this, especially when they themselves are at fault, such as when they unjustly punish a child or take their lunch. These teachers, knowingly or not, erode the trust a child has in their own voice and their ability to seek help from their parents.

2. Materialistic Expectations

In some classrooms, teachers casually suggest that children bring gifts for occasions like Teacher’s Day or sweets for various events. Though the suggestion may be offhand, young children take it literally. When one child brings a gift, others feel ashamed if they don’t, and this comparison can damage their self-esteem at an early age. Education should never be tied to materialism, and no child should feel less valued because they didn’t bring a present to school.

3. Overemphasis on Curriculum

Education’s purpose is not solely to impart knowledge of the alphabet or mathematical formulas. Yet, schools today are laser-focused on how much of the curriculum has been covered. Teachers and administrators often fail to understand when parents express that following the curriculum to the letter isn’t what they want for their child. The obsession with grades and test scores overrides the importance of critical thinking, emotional growth, and personal development.

I grew up in a system that didn’t prioritize the needs of the student. I attended government schools, sat on the floor, and experienced punishments—not for learning but for bruising a teacher’s ego. My disinterest in the curriculum didn’t mean I was incapable of learning. It meant that the system wasn’t designed to ignite curiosity or foster true intelligence.

As a parent, I envision a new kind of education system—one where character-building is more important than memorizing facts, where emotional intelligence (EQ) is valued as much as intellectual intelligence (IQ), and where self-awareness and courage are cultivated instead of punishment.

An Education Manifesto: A Framework for Transformation

Inspired by the values of growth, curiosity, and compassion, I believe education needs a new manifesto, one that redefines how we approach teaching and learning. Just as the Agile Manifesto revolutionized software development, an Education Manifesto can reshape the way we think about schools, teachers, and students. With the help of AI here’s what that could look like:

The Education Manifesto

We are uncovering better ways to foster learning by valuing:

• Curiosity and exploration over memorization and rote learning.
• Emotional growth and self-awareness over standardized testing and grades.
• Student-teacher collaboration over rigid authority and discipline.
• Adaptability and creative problem-solving over strict adherence to the curriculum.

This manifesto emphasizes that the true essence of education lies in nurturing curiosity, encouraging emotional intelligence, and fostering collaboration, rather than simply following outdated systems of grades, tests, and rigid structures.

Principles Behind the Education Manifesto

1. Curiosity drives deeper learning.
   Education should prioritize exploration and curiosity over rote memorization. Students learn best when they are encouraged to ask questions, experiment, and discover answers for themselves, fostering a mindset of lifelong learning.
2. Emotional intelligence is as important as academic success.
   Self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation are key to personal and professional growth. Schools must nurture emotional intelligence, creating well-rounded individuals who can navigate both their inner and external worlds effectively.
3. Collaboration enhances learning.
   The relationship between students and teachers should be one of partnership, not strict authority. Learning is a shared journey where students’ voices are heard, and their contributions are valued. Collaborative learning fosters creativity and critical thinking.
4. Adaptability is key in an ever-changing world.
   Rather than rigidly adhering to curricula, education should encourage flexibility and creative problem-solving. Students should be prepared to respond to changes, challenges, and opportunities, equipping them with the tools to thrive in an unpredictable world.

Conclusion: Reimagining Education for the Future

It’s time for a fundamental shift in how we approach education. Instead of focusing on memorization, rigid curricula, and outdated systems, we need to nurture curiosity, emotional intelligence, and collaboration. Education should inspire children to think critically, adapt to challenges, and solve problems creatively.

By embracing these values, we can create a learning environment where character-building, self-awareness, and empathy take precedence over grades and standardized testing. As Albert Einstein wisely said, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” The future of education should empower students not just to learn but to explore, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing world.

It’s time to rethink how we define success in education, focusing on the whole child, their emotional growth, and their ability to navigate life with resilience and purpose.

A Simple Business Model

Looking back at my childhood, business always seemed simple in my mind. Like many kids, I dreamed of what I could become based on the professions I saw around me. For me, it was becoming a tailor. The business model seemed straightforward: a tailor’s main costs were electricity and time, and in return, they made money. It felt similar to today’s idea of starting a business with zero investment. Of course, in reality, there’s always some cost involved, but the key is understanding how much margin you can create.

Childhood Hustles: Water Balloons and Bad Deals

As a kid, I made my fair share of terrible deals. One of the worst was selling a bunch of flags to a friend for almost nothing. I got a bit of a scolding for that, but the learning didn’t stop there. My next venture was selling water balloons with my older brother during the hot summer days in Karachi.

Almost 25 years ago, we used to buy water balloons in bulk—four balloons for 1 PKR—and then fill them with water and air manually, tying them off with elastic strings to sell them. I remember how exciting it was. At first, we would sell one balloon for 1 PKR, but as demand grew, we sometimes sold them for 2 PKR each. It wasn’t a massive operation, but it felt like we were making real money.

No Financial Education, Just Learning by Doing

Like most kids from the masses, we didn’t have any financial education. A typical upbringing in our society involves enrolling kids in school for modern education and Madrassa for Islamic values. Ventures like these weren’t encouraged. However, my elder brother was always a big part of those early experiences, supporting these experiments and fostering my entrepreneurial spirit.

A New Chapter: Moving to Abbottabad

At age 11, we moved from Karachi to Abbottabad, leaving behind those childhood transactions. But life had more lessons in store. At 13, my uncle passed away, and we moved to our village. In our culture, at least one man from each family stays in the village to contribute both physically and financially to family rituals—marriages, deaths, and crises.

The Grocery Store: A Hands-on Business Education

My uncle had been running a grocery store and working as a tailor. My father decided to continue the grocery store but leave tailoring behind. This brought me closer to the world of business again, as I took on responsibilities in the shop while continuing my schooling. Among my brothers, I was the one most engaged in the store. Each morning, I would open the shop, starting by purchasing milk wholesale and selling it to consumers. Then came the school rush—kids coming in for their daily snacks, some happy and others crying for their favorite treats. After managing that chaos, I’d head to school, only to return in the afternoon to work until nightfall.

Practical Lessons in Profit and Loss

At school, I was learning that 2+2 equals 4, but at the shop, I was learning something far more practical: how to turn 4 into 5 (profit) and how to manage when 4 turns into 3 (loss). These were lessons no textbook could teach, and they shaped my understanding of business, profit margins, and customer relationships.

Over time, I became familiar with both good and bad customers. I remember an old man who once told me, “We have two hands. One is to stop harm from coming from us to others, and the other to shield ourselves from harm coming from others.” This wisdom stayed with me as I dealt with various people and situations at the shop.

Closing the Shop: A New Path Forward

As the years passed, the demands of my education increased, and managing both school and the store became impossible. Eventually, we made the decision to close the grocery store, but I still cherish those 5-6 years of being a shopkeeper. Those years were my first steps into the world of entrepreneurship—learning to manage stock, handle money, and deal with customers. They shaped my business acumen and taught me the value of hard work and patience.

From Groceries to IT: A Journey Fueled by Enthusiasm

As I grew, so did my exposure to technology. With creativity, curiosity, and a strong desire for problem-solving, I invested in my education, pursuing a degree in Computer Science with my family’s support. I completed my MSc. in Computer Science from Quaid-i-Azam University, which placed me in a challenging environment where I had to deal with unknowns, build bridges across cultures, organize events, and simultaneously master programming, problem-solving, and time management.

These foundational lessons helped me in the IT industry, where I found myself working on projects aimed at solving real-world business problems. From developing cutting-edge interfaces to writing algorithms that digitize traditional workflows, I found myself constantly applying the lessons learned from my early experiences in business.

Transitioning into Management: Building on Early Lessons

As I transitioned into management, I found myself leading cross-functional teams and working on B2B projects, helping businesses solve problems and meet their goals. It’s interesting how life comes full circle—from selling water balloons in Karachi to selling Gift Cards across the US and Europe. The lessons have always been the same: understand the need, solve the problem, and create value.

Conclusion: Lessons for Life and Business

Throughout my journey, one thing has remained constant: entrepreneurship and business are about learning by doing. From selling water balloons to managing B2B projects, every experience has reinforced the importance of hard work, problem-solving, and adding value. As Steve Jobs famously said, “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” That curiosity and drive for improvement have been key to my growth, and they continue to fuel my passion for learning and evolving in both business and technology.

To Be Continued…

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll dive deeper into more lessons learned from running a grocery store, handling tricky customers, and transitioning into the fast-paced world of technology and business solutions.

I’ve always been wary of File Manager plugins. From the beginning of my career, I’ve avoided working with clients who don’t trust me with direct server and database access. It’s a slippery slope, and using such plugins adds unnecessary risk. But recently, I broke my own rule and learned firsthand why these tools can be more trouble than they’re worth.

Here’s what happened:

I was working on a client’s website, and the SFTP access provided wasn’t working. Unfortunately, due to the time difference, my client was fast asleep when I needed to resolve the issue. Impatience got the better of me. Eager to diagnose the problem quickly, I made a decision that still makes me cringe: I installed a File Manager plugin to access the files directly.

As I was navigating through the files, I noticed some site redirection issues. The site had multiple factors at play—security plugins, custom .htaccess rules, caching plugins, and redirection plugins. Any one of these could have been the cause of the problem. Following what I believed to be a standard practice, I went straight to the wp-content folder using the File Manager plugin and renamed the plugins folder to plugins-bk to temporarily disable all plugins.

What happened next?

Of course, I had forgotten I was using a plugin to manage the files. By renaming the plugins folder, I effectively deactivated the File Manager plugin, which meant I lost access to the site’s backend, and the entire site went down. Everything came to a halt, and I immediately realized my mistake.

Moral of the Story: A Development Mindset

The lesson here wasn’t just about the technical mistake I made—it was a reminder to stay patient, trust proven methods, and avoid shortcuts when dealing with something as critical as a client’s website. As developers and product managers, we often face challenges where our instincts might push us to rush toward a quick fix. But in this case, my impatience led to unnecessary downtime and extra work.

Mistakes happen, but in the development mindset, the focus should be on continuous improvement. As Steve Jobs said, “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” Keep learning, keep experimenting, but also remember: don’t repeat the same mistake twice. I won’t be rushing into File Manager plugins anytime soon. The next time I encounter an access issue, I’ll wait for the client to fix SFTP access or explore more reliable options instead of taking shortcuts.

Another valuable reminder from this experience is best summed up by Albert Einstein, who said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” The key is not just making mistakes, but learning from them, adapting, and improving.

In the end, development is not just about writing code or managing files—it’s about how you handle the unexpected and keep growing through each challenge you face.

When people talk about entrepreneurship today, it’s often framed as the pursuit of billion-dollar valuations, IPOs, and unicorn startups. But true entrepreneurship has never been about that. At its core, entrepreneurship is about solving problems, adding value, and improving people’s lives. Some of the world’s most successful companies—Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Spotify, Netflix, and Facebook—were not built on the premise of making billions. They were founded on ideas and visions to solve real-world problems.

These companies and their founders started with one mission: create something meaningful. They weren’t chasing a billion dollars—they were chasing a solution.

Google: A Search Engine, Not an Ad Revenue Generator

When Larry Page and Sergey Brin launched Google in 1998, they didn’t set out to create a money-making machine based on advertisements. The original goal was simple: to build a search engine that helped people find relevant information easily. The internet was growing rapidly, but users had no efficient way to find what they needed. Google solved this problem by creating a fast, reliable search engine focused on delivering the best results based on relevance, not profitability.

As Google evolved, it integrated advertisements, but customer satisfaction remained at its core. Their motto, “Focus on the user and all else will follow,” demonstrates their belief that solving user problems is more important than immediate financial gain. Google’s investments, like those in YouTube and Android, further showcased their long-term vision, focusing on creating an ecosystem where users had seamless access to information, videos, and mobile platforms.

Amazon: Making Books Accessible, Not Profits on Transactions

Similarly, Jeff Bezos didn’t launch Amazon to make money from each transaction. In its early days, Amazon was a humble online bookstore aiming to make it easier for people to find and purchase books without trekking from shop to shop. It was a customer-first approach. Bezos was obsessed with solving the issue of accessibility, not the dollar margin on each sale.

As Amazon grew beyond books into an everything-store, the fundamental principle stayed the same: customer obsession. Bezos once said, “We’re not competitor-obsessed, we’re customer-obsessed.” It was always about making products accessible and improving the shopping experience.

Amazon’s expansion into cloud computing (AWS), which now powers businesses like Netflix and Spotify, wasn’t a cash grab—it was another way of solving a new problem: providing scalable infrastructure for startups and enterprises. The interconnected nature of these businesses is a testament to how Amazon’s customer-first strategy created platforms that benefit countless other companies.

Apple: A Computer for the Rest of Us

When Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple in 1976, they weren’t dreaming of market dominance or financial success. They were driven by the idea of building computers for the rest of us—machines that were affordable and easy to use. Back then, computers were seen as tools for businesses or tech enthusiasts. Apple changed that by creating user-friendly, beautifully designed computers that could sit on anyone’s desk.

Jobs often emphasized, “Stay hungry, stay foolish,” a reminder that entrepreneurship is about chasing bold ideas rather than profits. Apple’s success wasn’t just about innovative technology—it was about a commitment to design, usability, and creating tools that would change the way people interacted with technology.

The launch of products like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac redefined industries, and their continuous investments in music (iTunes) and streaming (Apple Music) connected them with companies like Spotify, changing the way people consumed media globally.

Microsoft: Empowering People, Not Just Businesses

Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft to empower people by making computers accessible to everyone, not just businesses or technologists. Their mission was to create software that simplified computing for the masses, starting with the development of Windows, a revolutionary operating system.

For Gates, success was about learning from customers and improving the product. “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning,” he famously said. Microsoft’s contribution to personal computing wasn’t about creating a billion-dollar company; it was about building software that made computers user-friendly and approachable.

Microsoft’s strategic investment in companies like LinkedIn and its focus on enterprise solutions and cloud services through Azure have solidified its role in empowering both individuals and businesses, often creating synergies with companies like Facebook and Amazon AWS.

Spotify: Music for Everyone, Not Just Profits

When Daniel Ek co-founded Spotify, the music industry was in turmoil, rife with illegal downloads and fragmented revenue streams for artists. Ek wasn’t trying to build a billion-dollar streaming empire; he was trying to solve a very real problem: make music accessible while ensuring that artists got paid.

Spotify’s mission has always been about creating value for both listeners and creators. As Ek put it, “Our job is to make the best of our time on this planet.” Spotify redefined the music industry by changing how music was distributed and consumed, introducing freemium and subscription models that allowed users access to millions of songs while ensuring artists were compensated.

Spotify now relies on infrastructure like Amazon AWS to handle its massive user base, showcasing how these companies interconnect to bring services to life.

Netflix: Entertainment Redefined

Reed Hastings founded Netflix not to dominate the entertainment industry but to solve a simple problem—people hated paying late fees for DVD rentals. Netflix revolutionized movie rentals by offering a subscription model that let people rent movies without worrying about returning them on time.

When Hastings transitioned Netflix into a streaming platform, he redefined how people consumed content. It wasn’t about profit margins; it was about improving the user experience. Netflix now delivers billions of hours of content to subscribers worldwide, all while leveraging cloud services like Amazon AWS to power its platform.

Hastings understood that true success comes from focusing on the customer experience, which is why Netflix invested in original content and cutting-edge technology to stream across the globe.

Facebook: Refusing to Sell for Short-Term Gains

When Mark Zuckerberg turned down a $1 billion offer from Yahoo to buy Facebook in its early days, many thought he was making a mistake. Several of Facebook’s top executives even left, convinced that Zuckerberg was getting it wrong. But Zuckerberg wasn’t focused on a quick sale; he was playing the long game.

Facebook was never built for quick profit—it was about helping people connect with each other in ways that were previously unimaginable. Zuckerberg believed in Facebook’s potential to transform communication, which is why he refused to sell early on. His decision paid off, and today, Facebook is one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Zuckerberg’s long-term vision mirrors that of other visionary entrepreneurs like Jobs and Bezos. His acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp further interconnected Facebook with the broader tech ecosystem, much like how Google and Amazon have expanded into various industries.

The Infinite Game: Focus on the Journey, Not the Endgame

All of these entrepreneurs—Page, Brin, Bezos, Jobs, Gates, Ek, Hastings, and Zuckerberg—were playing what Simon Sinek calls the infinite game. They didn’t chase short-term wins or profits. They were focused on solving problems and improving lives. As Sinek put it, “The first criterion to being a leader is you have to want to be one.” These leaders didn’t give up when things got tough—they pushed forward, driven by their visions.

This mindset is what allowed these companies to interconnect and invest in each other’s success, creating a web of partnerships and innovations that reshaped industries.

Conclusion: Chasing Purpose, Not Profit

They got it all wrong. Entrepreneurship was never about billion-dollar valuations. It has always been about solving real problems, adding value, and improving people’s lives. The success stories of Google, Amazon, Apple, Spotify, Netflix, Microsoft, and Facebook are proof that when you focus on creating solutions, financial success often follows.

Entrepreneurship is about the journey, not the destination. These entrepreneurs showed that solving real problems and playing the infinite game leaves a far greater legacy than chasing a quick payday.