Majeed Mogharreban is a professional speaker, author and entrepreneur. After starting five businesses before he turned 21, Majeed now helps companies succeed faster with the entrepreneurial mindset. He is known for being an energizing keynote speaker who empowers audiences to take action. His unique perspective on business leadership has taken him across the globe; guiding organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Toyota, Vanguard, and Loblaw Inc. to achieve more, faster. His story-filled talks demonstrate how to use an enthusiastic start-up spirit to improve the working climate in the corporate world.
Contact Info
Website: MajeedM.com
Facebook: Majeed.Magharreban
Twitter: @MajeedM
Linked In: MajeedMagharreban
Instagram: @Majeed411
Most Influential Person
My wife. She is a model of blissful presence; contentment in the moment.
Effect on Emotions
Mindfulness has allowed me to use my emotions as information signals and data by being curious and present.
[It takes me to the place of 'oh, I'm experiencing anger right now', instead of having the instinctive reaction of, "I'm angry, I'm going to go break some dishes", or "I'm going to go yell at somebody".
Just that split second realization of, "Oh, I'm experiencing an emotion, this is information for me. What should I do with it?" [This] versus allowing my emotions to control my body.
I think mindfulness gives me that power.
Thoughts on Breathing
I learned this thing about breathing. It's amazing.
When we're being hunted by a predator, as cavemen, we drop our breathing really shallow so we can't be heard and so we can hear better.
When we're totally cool and relaxed and the birds are chirping and the water's going by breathe deeply.
So when we breathe deeply, we telling our body there's no predator there and I believe that's the fastest and easiest and cheapest way to get instantly mindful.
Take a deep breath and you're already there.
Suggested Resources
Book: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
App: Calm
Bullying Story
I don't think that I was bullied when I was a kid. I had a pretty strong mindset; a pretty strong attitude.
I think what is really more of a present feeling in my childhood and now, is the pressure to be normal; the pressure to be like everybody else.
When you're an outlier; a high performer, you are by nature different than most people and you make other people uncomfortable.
So what I was able to do successfully was find other highly driven people so that I was normal amongst my peers.
But what I found I received some criticism for was ambition and drive and being teased for being so focused on accomplishment and not doing what I thought the cool kids were doing.
They were skipping class, doing drugs, being bullies, and being jocks, and I was kind of envious of their coolness while I was studying and getting good grades.
What I've always felt, that the pressure is to try to be normal, and what I found the solution is, to make my normal high performance. I do feel normal amongst my tribe.