It is time to celebrate the achievements of Omani women as we approach October 17, Omani Women’s Day, the day marked for women. Women have always been contributing members of society, but the modern Renaissance saw the move towards equal opportunity in education and other development so much that women stand shoulder to shoulder in taking responsibilities towards the development of the nation and society.
For sure, women and men think differently and probably solve problems too in a unique way, and that is probably why we complement each other. The guarantee towards the safety of women has made them take up careers of their choice quite differently when you look back into yesteryears.
The beauty of Oman’s Renaissance is that development came with this security. Omani women are strong contributors in the workforce, and that means women enjoy financial independence. Nothing can really stop them from achieving their dreams and ambitions.
There is something special about having ambitions and the will to achieve dreams and convert them into accomplishments. Another beauty of this year’s celebrations, which I have already attended, is that we are seeing women entrepreneurs who have sustained and grown their businesses for at least two decades and more. Some have worked on their startups, and others have built on their family businesses. It would be wrong not to recognise the support they must have received, but the fact remains that they mean business, and one of the businesswomen who is into the transport sector, Najjar al Harthy, said: “In business, there are no relations and no special treatment. If you do, you will sacrifice your business.”
There have been women who have been in business for years and silently growing from small to medium. This also means providing employment opportunities. For instance, Shatha al Jabri began with her sisters a project that involved dates of different flavours. Today, the five sisters are involved in the tourism sector. Other women have come forward as customers. Customers, as we all know, are the biggest support for any business.
Not to forget are the women in various professions and others who are waiting for their right break to begin their careers. Yet again, now we don’t see young women who wait for their ideal job; instead, they are proactive in taking up jobs that come their way and begin to earn. Women in banking, education, art, architecture, medicine, agriculture, law and the list goes on.
It is a dream come true for the visionary who visualised this goal. October 17 is the celebration of those achievements. Each year we reinforce that dream to expand towards new directions for the generations to come. And if anyone feels the flame of inspiration is diminishing, get inspired on this day and revive to ignite a whole new journey.
However, all successful women have certain qualities that lead them to achieve what they want. Often, they receive criticism for being aggressive, but the true fact is they know what they want in life and in their profession; after all, quality is everything.
So, the number one trait is confidence. Knowing yourself makes all the difference and gives you the freedom to accept criticism, which, when it is constructive, gives us the opportunity to grow, although it might be slightly painful. The optimism is almost a medicine that helps you bounce back each time you trip. And for this, we need a mindset that is ready to accept and move on. We lose a lot of time when we are triggered by something and get stuck in that mode. A waste of time is indeed a waste of money.
And no matter what, we have to be go-getters because what we might think is our exclusive idea could be very much on the wavelength of others too. That is why it is important to make the move when it inspires you. There is no point in complaining that the idea was stolen when we did not take the initiative to build it up.
Finally, it is important to know what you stand for and to know your true self. The essential part is not to be affected by what people say and to hold onto your dreams until you achieve them. Enjoy October 17 and follow your dreams.
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