EO Series #6 - Lessons in Anti-Fragility: Strategies for Thriving in Adversity - Hasan Fadlallah

My First Business

Becoming successful doesn’t just “happen.” 👀 There’s always forces moving against you that are outside your control. That’s what Hasan faced - just two years into his business journey, the 2008 financial crisis came knocking on his door. He was young, had a family to support and had left the corporate world behind - but opportunities were running dry. 🤷 Today, Hasan Fadlallah runs an award winning brand agency (Brand Lounge), launched a socially-driven incubator (Fullmoon Experiments), started an F&B venture (Against All Odds) and serves on the Board of Trout & Partners. If you knew Hasan in 2008, you would know that he’d be able to pull it off, solely because of the principles he lives by. 🙌 To get here, Hasan had to counter the external forces with those of his own - resilience, determination, and a dogged desire to improve his circumstances. The man doesn’t give up! When most of us are scrambling for the fastest fix, Hasan uses his setbacks as an opportunity for reflection and introspection, and gets stronger with every crisis. 💪 If you want to know how he has created this anti-fragility in his business, you will want to listen to this episode from the EO Series of the My First Business podcast. Here are some highlights from my conversation with Hasan: 🐥 His mini-business in his teenager years 💸 The importance of cash-flow in times of crisis 📈 Joy of meeting targets and building relationships ⚪ Impact of brand strategy and positioning in business (and why no one cares about your logo) 💼 The differences between an entrepreneur and a CEO 📉 Facing risks in starting Brand Lounge 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Building a team, that ends up building your business (you’re not alone) ↪️ Pivoting the business model 💲Understanding value-based pricing and evolving pricing philosophy 👂The value of experience sharing with other entrepreneurs 🥤Landing Red Bull as a client and the importance of ethical behavior …and so much more! If you’re in the place of uncertainty in your business, I do suggest hanging out with Hasan for the next hour or so, by listening to my latest episode of the EO series, on the My First Business podcast. Links in the comments below! Where to find the podcast: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrbr87_ZSPICaDoTcCebyw 🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6B5JdkAWrGSd927rZquJz7?si=4802c936a51f418c⁠ 🎙 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/my-first-business-with-naeem-parvez/id1615535576 🎙 Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTE1MjA1LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjk_8SnuPD5AhUBGRoKHZ-DAxMQ9sEGegQIARAC⁠ Where to find Hasan: 💼 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasanfadlallah/ 📸Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hfadlallah/ 💼 Business LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-lounge/ 📸 Business Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/BrandLounge ▶️ Business YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Lj-ZyH3PqmxQMNsbqvBGw 🌐 Business Website - https://brandloungeme.com Where to find me: 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/the.naeem.parvez⁠ 📸 IG: http://www.instagram.com/myfirstbusinesspodcast⁠ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nparvez⁠ 🖥 Website: https://www.nparvez.com My First Business is a podcast based in Dubai, hosted by Naeem Parvez. In each episode, Naeem (co-founder of Digitalina) interviews successful, but under-the-radar entrepreneurs in the city. The guests share valuable lessons they've learned on their entrepreneurial journeys, making each episode feel like a conversation with a mentor you never had. Love From My First Business, a Dubai Podcast.