Afeef Hussain

Small actions add up. This Earth Day, let’s each do our part — reduce, reuse, recycle!

“Confidence comes from preparation.” — Kobe Bryant

Sweden is committing more than €100 million to a sweeping classroom overhaul: replacing tablets and screens with traditional printed textbooks to help reverse falling student performance and sharpen focus. After more than a decade of embracing digital-first education, Swedish authorities are now pivoting back to paper-based learning. Official data and recent studies cited by the Ministry of Education show that prolonged screen use in class has been linked to shorter attention spans, weaker reading comprehension, and reduced critical-thinking abilities. Research consistently finds that reading on illuminated screens requires greater mental effort and invites more distractions compared to the calm, linear experience of physical books—factors believed to have contributed to declining academic outcomes in recent years. Under the new plan, every student will receive printed textbooks for all core subjects, restoring books as the central learning tool. Digital devices and online resources will remain available as supportive tools, but they will no longer dominate daily instruction. This bold €100+ million investment signals Sweden’s leadership in rethinking the role of technology in education. It underscores a broader, growing recognition worldwide: while screens provide speed and access, the hands-on, distraction-free engagement of physical books supports deeper concentration, stronger memory retention, and more effective long-term learning. By choosing paper over pixels, Sweden is charting a path toward a more balanced, evidence-informed classroom future—one that puts proven pedagogical principles ahead of unchecked digital trends.

“Stay focused on what really matters.” — Tim Cook

🔴 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔 ⚪️ 🆚 Manchester City 🕟 4.30pm (UK) 🏆 Premier League 🏟️ Etihad Stadium 🤝 @airwallex

Forward as one ✊

8 habits of highly effective people, by Stephen Covey: 1 be proactive 2 begin with end in mind 3 put first things first 4 think win-win 5 seek first to understand, then be understood 6 synergize 7 sharpen the saw 8 inner self growth and development 1 be proactive: proactive people carry their own weather with them - their honor, values, principles, commitment and dedication are much greater than their moods. 2 begin with the end in mind; do things by design, not by accident - execute every spoken word with an “end result” in mind. 3 put first things first: do the important things first –because where you are headed as well as the clear direction that you are taking is far more important than how fast you are going and when will you get there. 4 think win-win: win-win is a belief in the “third alternative” - it is not your way or my way; it is a better way. We need not only do the right thing, but rather what is right for business, locally and globally. 5 first understand, then be understood: the key to clear understanding is listening well, listening with our eyes, our mind, our soul and our heart (this is the hardest habit to develop) 6 synergize: one plus one equals three or more - synergize your life and business so you can be a multiplier for all. 7 sharpen the saw: renew, develop, evaluate, assess, energize, polish, refine and enhance the greatest asset you have – you. 8 inner self growth and development: the importance of finding your voice and inspiring others to find theirs to be effective is not everything, you have to move from effectiveness to greatness to be the best The biggest influence in life is habit. To get better results, develop better habits.

KOBE BRYANT’S 10 RULES: 1 Get better every day 2 Prove them wrong 3 Work on your weaknesses 4 Execute what you practiced 5 Learn from greatness 6 Learn from wins and losses 7 Practice mindfulness 8 Be ambitious 9 Believe in your team 10 Learn storytelling

Bill Walton, one of greatest college basketball players of all time, shared timeless wisdom from @UCLA Coach John Wooden

“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch but on its own wings. Always believe in yourself.” Tom Brady on the importance of believing in yourself when no one else does

Managing egos is one of the biggest strengths of a leader. Whether in football or politics, if you handle personalities well, you give a real chance to win. Managers like Ferguson & Ancelotti show it’s not just tactics, it’s about creating balance & keeping everyone aligned.

Focus on lock 🔒

Tim Cook on how Steve Jobs believed that small teams could do amazing work.

Post–Election Day reflections. I often take time to pause, observe, and reflect on the lessons we can carry forward—both for the future and for our own leadership journey. 1. Sometimes you win; sometimes you learn. 2. Every vote is a vote of trust and belief. 3. When people trust you with their vote, use it not for your advantage, but for the people’s. 4. Don’t blame the opposition when you lose. 5. Learn, reflect, and ask why you lost. 6. Every candidate must take time to reflect. 7. If you compete because someone asked you to, it’s the wrong reason—you must stand on a belief you truly hold. 8. In today’s world, people don’t just vote for benefits; they vote for a just cause. 9. A leader’s inner circle matters—whether in victory or defeat. 10. Every miss tells you a story. #maldiveselectionday2026

KOBE BRYANT’S 10 RULES: 1 Get better every day 2 Prove them wrong 3 Work on your weaknesses 4 Execute what you practiced 5 Learn from greatness 6 Learn from wins and losses 7 Practice mindfulness 8 Be ambitious 9 Believe in your team 10 Learn storytelling

Only following people who agree with you is a recipe for confirmation bias and groupthink. Critical thinking depends on listening to people who question your assumptions and challenge your conclusions. Learning is the product of engaging with a range of thoughtful views.

In 2018, Stanford professor Matt Abrahams gave a masterclass on why most people fail to communicate well.

Max Dowman makes Premier League history with a special goal 🤩 🔴 @Arsenal

End to a superb Saturday. #excellence

This 50-minute lecture by Jeff Bezos will teach you more about business than a 2-year MBA program: