By Khalid Dalal
As we look at the challenges of our turbulent century, we would do well to benefit from the profound lessons of great men such as Tawfiq Fakhouri, who passed away four years ago - God bless his soul - and who, throughout his life and work, overcame adversity to become an industry titan.
اضافة اعلان
We remember him with admiration, pride, and the realization that perseverance leads to great triumphs in life.
As we pay tribute to him today, on the fourth anniversary of his passing, we have his towering achievements speak for themselves.
His family business, Iqbal, has contributed hundreds of millions to the Jordanian economy over the years. This might seem a familiar story until we realize that Fakhouri started his life with a meager daily wage of only JD1 at the age of 17, when he left high school and traveled to Saudi Arabia to find work, determined to pay his father’s debts.
Having succeeded remarkably, he decided, in 1979, to invest in Jordan, where he acquired a significant share in the Bank of Jordan, established a tobacco company, and continued his construction business.
His group is still thriving, chaired by his son, the visionary Shaker Fakhouri who is dedicated to preserving his father’s legacy. The “like father, like son” adage is indeed true in the case of the Fakhouri family.
In a dire economic situation like today’s, many young people feel desperate, but stories like that of Fakhouri and others like him will always inspire them.
The lessons are simple: Start somewhere, regardless of the pay or benefits, figure out your passion, and press on with perseverance, consistency, strong will, and faith that will lead you to success.
Let us honor Fakhouri’s legacy. The country needs to learn from the spirit, vision, and determination that led to his success. Books to tell such extraordinary rags-to-riches stories should be written to inspire and show the way.
After all, in humanity’s journey, heroes serve as our best examples. The late Tawfiq Fakhouri is one such hero, and we remember him proudly for showing us that, with hard work and vision, dreams can indeed come true.
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