I have always listened to my mind and trusted my upbringing so I was ableto make my own set of choices. In life, it is important to know where you are going. Chasing a shadow leaves you lost when the spotlight turns on you. I think you must build a strong foundation for your life and be sure of your values.
It is also important to examine your values constantly because it helps you root out all errors and contradictions. It allows you to more easily acquire knowledge and to think in concepts rather than concretes.
I come from a large business house (the Thumbay Group in Karnataka) and I understand only too well that my name is a responsibility in itself, but I think it was my inquisitive nature which brought me to where I am.
I joined my father's timber business in 1978 when I was 21. My foray into the world of business began with the purchase of a sizable estate in Mangalore in 1980 and subsequently making a handsome profit when reselling it. It was a rather bold step at the time, not one that my own father approved of, but I followed my adventurous spirit and came out successful.
Over the years, my ventures started becoming bigger and I started taking more risks. I had to work harder to realise my ambitions and I did. I found as much thrill in little winnings as I did with large profits.
To my absolute delight I was able to buya small hill by the river at a relatively youngage. The hill, purchased in 1989, measures50 acres and is on the outskirts of Thumbay in Mangalore. I built my dream home on top of this hill.
When I came to the UAE, my plan was to set up a timber business but over the years I diversified and set up a medical education institute in the region. This is how the UAE's first private medical college, Gulf Medical College, was established in Ajman.
Today, I am happy that the Thumbay Group has evolved into a major health-care player in the region. The group now has interests in other sectors of business - education, health care, medical research, coffee shops, health clubs, trading, construction and real estate. Havinga presence in these fields is a responsibilitywe take very seriously.
I rarely have the time to look beyond my work but my family means a lot to me. My wife Zora has been a pillar of support all through. She has raised our children, Akbar and Akram, well. (Akbar manages the Thumbay Group's hospitals as the director, while Akram is studying Business Administration and Finance at the American University of Sharjah.)I value her opinion very highly. She paints as a hobby and her art adorns the walls of our hospitals and offices. I appreciate her ability to understand the beauty of art and translate it. She taught me the valuable lesson that life is not just about the next milestone, it is more about being in the moment and taking our place in the scheme of things. Only when you fully know where you are, can you move ahead to where you want to be.
As a son, I have received a lot from my father and I have paid it forward to my boys. It was always important to me that they understood the worth of what they have. It is easy fora family to go astray in the strong flow of power and money, which is why we have stayed close to our roots. I encouraged the boys to accompany me to work since they were 16 but they were not given any responsibilities until they were intellectually capable of handling them. Education moulds the man and only when a mind is properly moulded can we truly use it to its fullest aptitude.
We must occasionally reflect on what has been so that we can do better with what we have. My education and experience were very small in comparison with the goals I set out to achieve. I come from an insignificant town, studied ata regular institution but I believed in my worth. I have done my best to live up to my name.
Quick questions
Who or what has been your greatest teacher?
My travels. AsI ventured out into the world I realised how vast it really is. Visiting new places, dealing with different cultures, understanding their way of doing business and lifestyle adds to one's personality.
How would you define success?
A man's success should be measured by the number of lives he touches; the amount of respect he earns, not just in society but also in the eyes of his children and his subordinates.
- Who: Thumbay Moideen
- What: Founder-president of the Thumbay Group
- Where: Ajman
