From Execution to Elevation: Lessons From Books, Breakthroughs, and Becoming

It's been months of overcoming...

Hello 👋🏽

The last two months have been nothing short of transformative. Between interviews, offers, onboarding, and deep personal reflection, I’ve found myself navigating new oceans—both literally and figuratively.

In April, I completed Blue Ocean Strategy, a book that reshaped how I think about competition, innovation, and value creation. It made me realize that winning doesn’t always mean fighting harder—it often means moving smarter, where no one else is looking. This idea challenged me to rethink my entrepreneurial and engineering decisions: What am I building that’s truly different? What market am I serving that’s underserved?

Currently, I’m immersed in Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek—a powerful dive into the psychology of great leadership. It's teaching me that the best leaders don’t rise by stepping over others, but by lifting others. It’s the kind of leadership I want to embody in my work and relationships.

Alongside the books, I’ve been fortunate to receive multiple job offers, go through exciting interviews, and officially onboard into a role that aligns with my long-term vision. It’s been a whirlwind of calendars, meetings, NDAs, and first impressions. But through it all, I’ve kept one thing constant: growth is the goal.

Also, one of the offers I got that happens to be three months contract, got terminated within two months, let's keep that for another day

On my desk now sit two more hardcopy books—waiting patiently for their turn. I’ve made a quiet vow not to open them until I’ve fully digested the current one. No rush, no pressure. Just intention and focus.

This season has reminded me that growth is a decision. One book. One opportunity. One brave yes at a time.

Thanks for reading.

Till next time,

Ilyas