Sometimes you meet someone who you just know could pull almost anything off, and make it look effortless. The kind of person who looks at a problem, or a need, and figures out the right team of people to get the job done. The kind of person who gets up at 4:00 am and advises others not to waste your mornings because they’re usually the quietest and most productive part of the day.

I recently had the opportunity to interview just such a person. Michael Payano is Chairman and CEO at Al Thuraya Holdings. With over three decades of experience, starting in military and security and evolving into energy, consulting, and everything else worth engaging in, he oversees a global conglomerate consisting of seventeen subsidiary companies. With a solid foundation built during his thirty-one year experience in the US military, where he rose to the rank of full Colonel, he transitioned into the private sector, founding Al Thuraya Consultancy in 2009 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Under his leadership, Al Thuraya Consultancy swiftly became a leading provider of risk management and security services, paving the way for the expansion of Al Thuraya Holdings into the globally sought after provider it is today. These days, Mr. Payano describes Al Thuraya Holdings as the figurehead for seventeen different companies that he has driven from inception to impact.

After leaving the military, Michael returned to the United States and started a consulting company. He worked with law enforcement agencies, provided tactical and SWAT training, and trained military organizations throughout the Caribbean.

Although he enjoyed that work, he always wanted to return to the Middle East. An opportunity came along in the United Arab Emirates, and he took it. This decision changed the direction of his career.

The first company he started was Al Thuraya Consultancy, and it’s still operating today.  He never planned to build other companies and expanding businesses operating across different industries. It happened because their clients kept asking them to solve different problems.

One client needed security consulting. Another needed logistics. Another investigations. Others needed executive protection, travel risk management, intelligence support or strategic advice.

Michael Payano supplies solutions.

Sometimes that solution is security. Sometimes it’s understanding social risk, investigations, logistics, technology, executive protection, automation, travel risk management or strategic advisory services. The service changes because the problem changes.

Instead of trying to force everything into one company, Michael built specialist companies that could work together while remaining experts in their own field. He explained that that’s really how Al Thuraya Holdings evolved. It wasn’t built from a business plan. It evolved because their clients trusted them to solve problems, and each new challenge pushed them to build another capability.

Michael didn’t build Al Thuraya Holdings around industries. He built it around solving problems.

Throughout his military career and later in business, he kept seeing the same issue. Clients weren’t looking for another security company or another consultant. They were looking for someone who could understand the problem, bring together the right people and solve it.

The Human Factor

Everything comes back to people.

Whether it’s a government, a corporation, an investor or an individual, every decision is made by a human being. Every fraud case, every security incident, every compliance failure, every crisis and every successful negotiation starts with human behavior.

That is really what Al Thuraya Holdings is about. They help organizations understand complexity, reduce ambiguity where possible and make better decisions. Sometimes that means putting boots on the ground. Sometimes it means providing technology. Sometimes it means advising a CEO or a government minister.

Michael believes that success isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to deal with failing, getting up, and ambiguity. To adapt and keep moving forward.

Throughout his military career and later in business, he learned that no plan survives first contact exactly as you imagined it. The organizations and the leaders who succeed are the ones who adapt the fastest without losing sight of who they are and what they stand for.

Michael explained that Al Thuraya Holdings wasn’t built because he wanted to create a large company. It was built because clients trusted them with difficult problems, and every time they solved one, the clients came back with another. The business grew because they continued to solve problems, not because growth itself was the objective.

For younger leaders and entrepreneurs, Michael’s recommendation is to build your reputation before you build your company. Your reputation will open more doors than your marketing ever will. Verify before you trust, keep your word, treat people with respect and never stop learning. There will always be someone smarter than you or with more resources than you, but integrity and consistency are things you control every day.

Finally, never lose sight of why you started. Titles, revenue, and success come and go. What matters is whether you’ve made a positive difference in the lives of the people you’ve served, the people you’ve led and the communities you’ve worked in. At the end of the day, that’s the legacy Mr. Payano hopes to leave behind.

From security to logistics, helping people navigate a country they’re unfamiliar with, understanding local customs, avoiding unnecessary issues and making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, to ease of movement, Al Thuraya Holdings has their clients covered.

When everything works well, nobody notices. That’s usually the sign they have done their job properly.

If you would like to learn more about Michael Payano and Al Thuraya Holdings, please visit www.michaelpayano.com and www.althurayaholdings.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

I sometimes say, “You either have money, or you have time. Not both.” It seems whenever I’ve had the most money coming in, I have very little time. But when I’m broke, I have all the time in the world. But what if there was a balance? What if you could have both, and be able to actually enjoy the money you are making and cross some of those bucket list items off of your list at the same time? Nicole Middendorf has the answer – it’s called a Live It List.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Ms. Middendorf. Nicole is described as a money maven, knowledge junkie, mentor, and a born coach. She is an entrepreneur who has run her own wealth management firm since 2003. She is the author of five books, mother of two phenomenal children, a world traveler, philanthropist, and an accomplished public speaker.

Nicole explained that she feels more like a therapist most days. She helps people find their happiness with their life.

She started the Live It List™ after her now ex-husband was arrested for domestic violence in 2010. Her children were very young and she needed something to lift her spirits and give her something positive to focus on. She began by writing twelve things that she wanted to do down, and committed herself to do one thing a month. She decided not to call it a “bucket list”, instead calling it a Live It List.

Fast forward to today and she has a Facebook community, she does a lot of public speaking, people join her on trips, she also has a journal as well as vision board making kits that people can purchase. Her Live It List Foundation helps teach victims of domestic violence to not just be survivors, but thinkers. Nicole truly helps people live life to the fullest. The Live It List is all of those bucket list items people put on a list but never find time to do because life gets in the way.

It’s all about balance.

Nicole helps people find the time and the resources to enjoy today while planning for the future. Her philosophy is that one should seize every moment, to not take any of the time we are given for granted, to Live It now instead of waiting. The most common activity that Nicole finds that people put on their lists, but never do, is travel with extended family. She also finds that most people think of things they want to do, but never write them down and do them. This is the beauty of the Live It List. The whole point is to help people to not have regrets.

Nicole’s biggest challenge in life has been being a single mom and business owner. Her advice for living a life of balance: Get up early. Find the things that you love and do them. Schedule things out. Make sure your health is a priority.

Through Nicole’s writing, public speaking, coaching program and work, she wants to be the one who supports them on all levels. The Live It List changed her life and she believes it is a tool to change other people’s lives. Nicole is currently working on launching the Live It List podcast and her goal is to have people say Live It List versus bucket list.

If you would like to learn more about Nicole Middendorf and the Live It List, please visit theliveitlist.com.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.

“AI will make your job as a writer obsolete.” “You know you can use AI to generate your books. You don’t even have to write them. You could have one hundred books out in a year.” I have been told all of these things many times when someone discovers that I write for a living. I have never found these ideas to be true; I’ve actually had the opposite experience. The more automated and generic things have become, the more my skills as a writer are in demand. In a world filled with AI-generated content, people are yearning for a more authentic experience, not only in the writing world but in many different types of industries.

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Liz Capants, President & Founder, Global Executive Search, EBC Associates & Erudites Networking Group. I first interviewed Ms. Capants in 2023 and wanted to get an update regarding the new hot topic of AI and how it might be affecting her business.

Liz launched EBC Associates, LLC in 2008, a global specialized executive search, business consulting, and referral networking services firm. Since then, the business has grown to a global network of affiliate partnerships to drive growth, and Erudites Networking Group was formed as a subsidiary.

EBC Associates & Erudites Networking provide four areas of focus: human capital and executive search services, business referral networking, branding and marketing, and social impact, community give-back.

Liz explained that since 2023, AI has absolutely accelerated the pace of business, but interestingly, it hasn’t replaced the core of what her company does. EBC Associates has always been a “people first” organization, and AI has actually reinforced that positioning rather than disrupted it.

They leverage AI to streamline processes, business and candidate sourcing, initial screening insights, market research and mapping, but the real value still lies in human judgment, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building. Clients don’t want boiler plate commoditized information; they want trusted advisors who can bring sound advice, understand data and nuance, and deliver the right resources.

For the Erudites Networking Group, AI has made networking more intentional. People are more aware that transactions can be automated, but relationships cannot. As a result, Liz has seen a stronger demand for authentic, strategic high-value connections and curated communities. AI is disrupting tasks, but not the business approach and creativity.

What’s happening is a shift: repetitive, process-driven work is being automated, while strategic, creative, and interpersonal aspects of roles are becoming more important. The workplace is moving toward a model where humans and AI collaborate.

Employees who embrace AI as a tool are becoming significantly more productive and valuable. Those who resist it risk falling behind. So the disruption isn’t just technological—it’s behavioral.

In today’s world employers are prioritizing a blend of technical adaptability and human-centric skills. Liz shared the most in-demand capabilities that she is seeing. These include critical thinking and problem-solving, communication and storytelling, emotional intelligence and relationship management, adaptability and learning agility, and AI literacy—knowing how to use tools effectively, even if you’re not technical.

Liz believes that in many ways, the more technology advances, the more valuable “human” creativity skills become. Networking has shifted from being helpful to being essential. With AI making it easier to apply for jobs, generate resumes, and mass-produce outreach, she says there is more noise than ever. Relationships are what cut through that noise.

Opportunities are increasingly coming from trusted networks, referrals, and communities—not job boards – they are broken. People want to work with individuals they know, trust, or are connected to in a meaningful way. That’s exactly why she has continued to grow Erudites, because curated, intentional relationships create real opportunity in a world that’s becoming more automated.

AI is making certain approaches obsolete, not entire skill sets. For example, purely transactional writing, basic data entry, or routine administrative tasks are being automated. But Liz explains that doesn’t mean writing or operations roles are disappearing, it means they are evolving.

The human touch is more valuable than ever. AI can generate content, but it can’t replicate lived experience, perspective, or authentic voice, which are becoming premium skills. AI is amplifying roles that require strategy, creativity, and decision-making. Liz is already seeing growth in areas like AI integration and operations roles, prompt engineering and AI optimization, data interpretation and strategy, human-centered leadership roles, and talent strategy and workforce planning. Liz believes that AI will also create entirely new hybrid roles—people who can bridge the gap between technology and human outcomes.

 What is most important right now is mindset.

Liz believes that there is a lot of fear around AI, but the real opportunity lies in how we choose to engage with it. The individuals and companies that will thrive are the ones who combine technology with humanity—not choose one over the other.

At EBC Associates, they believe the future of work isn’t AI versus people—it’s AI powered by people.

At the end of the day, no matter how advanced technology becomes, trust, relationships, and human connection will always be the differentiators.

If you would like to learn more about Liz Capants, EBC Associates, and the Erudites Networking Group, please visit www.ebcassociates.net and www.eruditesgroup.com.

A person I admire very much once said, “I only want to surround myself with smart, happy people”. This is sometimes easier said than done. During my adult life, I can honestly say that I have met a few of the most miserable people on Earth. The type who, when I am smiling, asks very critically, “Why are you smiling?” The type who always finds fault, many times belittling others simply because they are jealous of that person. As I grew older, I learned to distance myself from the miserable ones as much as possible. But what makes so many people so miserable? Why can’t they find “joy”?

I may well have found the person who can help them. I recently had the opportunity to interview success coach, author, and speaker Laura May Culver. Laura May is the creator of the Joy Journal©. As the owner and founder of Knowself Services, she is dedicated to offering personal exploration through speaking, coaching, and consulting. Laura May is enthusiastic and optimistic, motivating, inspiring, and empowers others to live their very best lives.

Laura May explained that she is a therapist of more than twenty-five years and says she has helped people live the way they want to with every session. She believes we are successful just as we are. She explained that a success coach helps people live authentically from what is truly a success according to them. A person experiences success in life by working toward a goal that is authentically their own. A worthy ideal (or in other words, a goal) can be anything that brings forth a person’s JOY. An example of this is a person that wants to be a wife and mother and feels authentically themselves doing it. Another example is a carpenter that builds tables and wakes up excited to build, create, and share their tables with the world, or with themselves. If a person considers their goal as an expression of self and experiences joy in doing, pondering and/or sharing, and they are working toward it, that is success.

She explained that a success coach encourages and gives clarity, holds space for, and holds one accountable to, what their client deems to be success – for them. A person can have one or multiple worthy ideals in their lifetime. Laura May specializes in partnering with ambitious individuals to optimize their strengths, unlock their potential, and accelerate their professional and personal growth.

The Joy Journal

Laura May believes that we all have the light of joy inside us, it is a light in our hearts, and the Joy Journal is a tool to bring forth the light of our JOY. She explained that from a very young age she was encouraged to keep a journal. She did – she wrote everything down, with mostly negative events documented. She rarely wrote about what she wanted or what was good or going right in her life. She didn’t realize that the written word is actually creating further of the same. It was not until after fourteen years of clinical experience and decades of keeping personal journals that she came across information that changed her life.

Focus on the good in life in order to create more good in your life

The business program in which she was studying at the time pointed out the importance of focusing on the good in life in order to create more good in her life. The coaches kept telling her to “write down what you want and focus on the good. There is power in focusing on the good, the joy of life”. They said: Do you have a goal? Write it down. What do you dream of having? Write it down. What do you really want?  Write it down. Do you have things in your life that you are grateful for?  Write it down. Do you dream of wonderful relationships, travel, and adventures? Write it down in all its detail. Well, she did! She did not allow any negativity in any of the numerous notebooks.

One day, in the fall of 2014, while reviewing the process with a coaching client, she heard herself say out  loud,  “Write it down in a book that holds only the good stuff—like a  journal for your joy—and let’s call it your Joy Journal”. That day, The Power of The Joy Journal© was born.

Laura May has also created something called The Red Telephone Booth Meditations https://theredtelephoneboothmeditations.bandcamp.com/ She has found that these meditations have been particularly helpful with teenage groups with which she has worked. She describes the teen years as such a powerful time in life, full of adventure, change and challenge.

Unfortunately, many youth do not have a fun time during high school or in their first years of post-secondary. If anything, their lives are stressful, and they are filled with deep emotional pain, insecurity and fear. In an attempt to feel better and handle their painful lives, youth will model adults. The idea that a ‘quick fix’ is a solution to life’s problems is prevalent in our culture. Laura May says we see this in the use of drugs, alcohol, excessive online scrolling, prescriptions, sex, self-harm and toxic relationships for pain relief. Popular glorified ‘solutions’ are destructive, and our children are the most vulnerable. She has many examples of sharing her meditations with youth groups and how they have helped them ‘wake up’ and to remember their power, their connectedness, and their truth. She has taught them that they can take certain actions to live amazing lives. She has seen amazing results with youth who have learned destructive coping habits but with her help and meditation practices, they found relief and feelings of peace.

Remember Who You Really Are

Laura May has many such meditations that can help one re-focus their attention away from the mainstream messages that keep us ‘half alive’ and living ‘half true’. She suggests finding your own way to take time out of your busy day and just ‘be’, to ask yourself, Who am I? What do I want? What am I willing to practice and cultivate to live my best life?

So, are so many of us fussy because we forgot who we really are?

Laura May is available for customized speaking engagements and is willing to travel. Companies, businesses and organizations benefit greatly from her talks and this is a great way for her to share her message with more people all at once. Book a call with Laura May and she will set it up.

If you would like to learn more about Laura May, please visit www.hotforsuccess.com. To learn more about Laura May’s more recent version of The Joy Journal Guided Joy, please visit https://a.co/d/09P44YeW.

This article was originally published on OpsLens.com.