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Through this lighthearted Q&A, we are granted a personal glimpse into the heart and mind of Mohamed Bahmishan, the chief creative officer at Publicis Communications KSA.
What gets you up in the morning?
I am generally a morning person. Mornings are the best part of the day. I do not wake up lazy; I wake up jumping out of my bed and food hungry. Sometimes I wake up because of hunger. This is the physical side of my waking up. Sentimentally, 10 years ago I learnt a priceless lesson from a relative who was a cancer survivor back then. When he was under treatment, he daily posted this sentence: “today is a gift; let us see what it brings us”. This energizes me in the morning, the power of today’s potential.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Challenges and brainstorming and a talented diversified team.
Who do you ultimately want to become?
The best version of me.
What is your greatest extravagance?
What does extravagance mean? I looked up on Google; I do not relate to any of those meanings at the moment. I have come to realize, the older I get, the less I need in my life. I have become a minimalist. I only keep what I use. I still keep hunting for ideas, designs and art, but I carefully select what I relate to.
What’s your motto in life?
I have several mottos: I remember a few:
أكتفي بالأقل لحياة أغنى
دنيا فرنتَكَسْ .. تزرع خيار .. يطلع عدس
P.S. do not ask me what does the word “FARANTAKAS” mean! Because it is a flexible word. You can use it in whatever meaning you like.
What keeps you in the game?
Challenges. Challenges are the carrot.
What keeps you up at night?
A song. A beach. A friend.
What would be your worst nightmare?
Negative people.
What inspires you most?
A beach. Values. Reading. Travel. Music. A bicycle. Winning.
What music have you been listening to lately?
I listen to all types of music. But lately I have been listening to Arabic classical music: Afaf Radi; Sayyed Makkawi.
What is the gadget you cannot live without?
Nothing. I can live naked on the beach.
What can we find on your phone?
Jokes. Words of wisdom. Family pics.
What quality do you most look up to in a woman?
Freedom. A free woman is a strong, honest and trustworthy; and reliable too.
What quality do you most look up to in a friend?
Kindness, humor, and trustworthiness.
Who would you like to sit next to on a seven-hour flight?
Absolutely no one. Just a book, a movie, a meal, and a long music playlist.
If you could live for one day the life of another person, who would it be?
My father. He is a classical Jeddawi man. Funny. Likes jokes. Kind. Worries about absolutely nothing even when it seems so dark. Never holds grudges. Low voice. Slow motion. Cool. Easy going. Smiley. Today he is 91 and still the same, does not take any type of medication and never visits hospitals. P.S. I just forced him two days ago to take his 1st dose of Corona vaccine, as he had been refusing it. J
If you could have dinner with someone, living or dead, who would it be; and what question would you ask him/her?
It depends, If I have my full energy, then it would be MBS, Elon Musk, Ghazi al Gosaibi, Paulo Coelho, Ghandi, and the Egyptian poet Salah Jaheen.
But if I have no energy, I’d choose Opera Winfrey; because she is like me: loves food and is an emotional wreck.
If you were to be reincarnated, what would you like to come back as?
Myself. I would not change a thing. I love my journey as is.
If you were to change profession, what would you choose to do?
It could be one of the following: surfer, teacher, dancer.
What do you consider to be the greatest headline of all time?
If you mean in communication and advertising, I can not specify one now. Because it varies in ideas and categories. For me, the most important thing is the idea. But for what I recall now: “Just do it” for Nike. “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” for Emirates airlines.
The best lines are the most insightful and relevant to the brand and its target and carries an idea. It should make you stop. The idea should change you a little. But talking only about the headline may sound outdated. The three fundamental pillars of communication today is: digital, technology, and social content that would lead to a change.
What business tip would you give the newbies?
Know the key to your inspiration. If you are inspired, you become the best version of yourself. Your full power boils down to your inspiration. Lack of inspiration makes you bland and dull. Shadow and dust.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having a purpose and working on it.
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
In a family gathering playing with kids.
If you could choose one superhero power, what would it be and why?
Inspiring others. It changes the world.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
I have always believed money should only be spent in three ways (in this order). (1) Education. (2) helping others. (3) travel.
What is the one word you catch yourself saying too often?
Why not?! And wait a minute!
What would you like to be doing five years from now?
I only know what I want to be doing today.
If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
Beach.
What’s the last book you read or movie you saw?
Nebraska. Watched for the third time.
I AM
I am... curious.
I like… beaches.
I want... inspirations.
I have... Inspirations.
I wish... for more inspirations.
I hate... negativity.
I fear... being inside elevators, planes and any closed box.
I Google... People, destinations and technologies.
I wonder... is there another way.
I regret... not being kind.
I love... beaches.
I need... inspirations.
If I ruled the world... I’d give absolute freedom to people to travel and reward moving around and education.
My Favourite…
Dream Destination: Iceland, until I go there.
Restaurant: anything Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Indonesian. Full of flavours and evaporates from the stomach quickly.
Hotel: Fouquet Barrière in Paris
Meal: Vegetable soupe with rice.
Quote: "Today is a gift, that is why it is called present."
Book: many many many. Not fair to specify one!
Movie: (Nebraska), (La Mome), (Out of Africa), (Anywhere but here) and many others.
Flower: Zucchini flower because it makes the best Italian pizza.
Animal: Hoop bird and whale.
Poet: Salah Jaheen.
Music/band: classical Arabic music, electro swing, Beatles and kids songs.
Painter: many many many. And they are different and unique.
Heroes: my parents.
