It’s strange. For as bad as my life has been over the past four years…its that good now. Im on a high…that seems to just go on and on. Though I do hit a lull every once in a while when I miss my kids. It just reiterates the faithfulness of God in my life. I was so racked with emotional pain, I didn’t think I’d ever be happy again. But here I am…just getting off a great day both at work and from a dinner party. Lets go chronologically.
There is a bit of a cash flow concern at work. Arabs generally don’t pay on time, so we have this huge back log of cash still owed to us. Nader is a very smart and astute businessman. He sees the financial forecasts for 2009 and is already preparing for the storm. We are hoping the financial crunch won’t hit the entertainment and advertising industry. Historically, movies have always fared well in economic downturns. People need to escape. Some moreso now than ever.
With the crunch in mind. I visited a retail shop the other day, a fine art gallery that had old pictures but few of Bahrain. I made a few inquiries and the manager requested that I set up an appointment. We brought in a few samples and he was blown away by the quality. He really thought the pieces were magnificent. He wants to set up another appointment with his General Manager and the Owner of the Gallery. They own 15 high-end galleries throughout the Middle East. He wants to see all our pictures…every single one of them (we have 1.5 million in our archive). He was interested in doing a straight buy out of the prints (no revenue sharing…whew) and he was interested in purchasing at least 1,000. Khalifa didn’t want to do the happy dance but I sure did. If this gig comes through, they would pay upfront and that would certainly help with any cash crunch shortage. Im just blown away. God is so faithful. It like I’m finding his good favor wherever I go. It certainly makes me not want to stray from the passionate faith that I have in following him now. He is so faithful as long as we are faithful to him.
I dropped by another advertising firm we might be using for a client. The client could go directly to them to make it cheaper…but they aren’t. So we’ll be the middle man. While I was there I realized they were a subsidiary of a larger group that also owned a company called the Film Factory. They are our biggest competitor and really the only viable production company on the Island. I asked to see the GM and he came down to talk. He was from the UK. We had a great chat for about 30 minutes, about production in Bahrain, the past and the future. I wanted to share my vision of bringing Hollywood and Film Production to Bahrain. He didn’t want to temper my enthusiasm, but he also cautioned me about being realistic. He was like…if you can pull it off…more power to you, and I’ll do whatever I can to help. I think I can pull it off…because I believe its part of my calling here. God is seemingly setting up everything I do for success or so it seems. I am going to make a global impact, not by might, not by my power…but God through his spirit will open up all the doors I need. Like the door for these pictures to be sold. Before I arrived on the scene KSDI never considered going the retail outlet. But some of these pictures are simply breathtaking. So much character. Khalifa is an artist.
After work, I was able to go work out for an hour then off to Mo’s for a party. This was the who’s who of Bahrain under 40 crowd. I barely fit in age wise…but Im immature for my age, so that helps. There are so many great people. Im going to enough of these gatherings where I really am starting to get to know quite a few faces, and remember their names where they remember mine. This whole party thing is kind of important. I was kind of apprehensive at first about social engagements. Most divorced people will tell you that lack of self-confidence is a huge result of a divorce. My self-esteem was very very low. It also didn’t help that My ex told me as we were going through the divorce process “I don’t believe in you…your parents don’t believe in you, your friends don’t believe in you…No one believes in you.” Those words were piercing to my spirit at a very difficult period of my life. But you know what…God believed in me. That’s why I was so appreciative of going to Lakewood Church where verbal affirmations of self-worth are so vital. I needed that in order to start believing in myself again. I didn’t believe it, but I said it anyway. Fake it till you make it. Its just a surreal experience all due to God’s faithfulness. I have sooooo many people that believe in me now. That need me to succeed for their sake. Its an incredible honor and opportunity.
So tonight at the party, I was full of confidence…and I didn’t drink. So there was no liquid courage at all. I met some amazing people. Pilots, bankers, flight attendants, that’s about it …but there were a lot of pilots and bankers. Some very interesting people. This was the cream of the crop, the most influential under 40 crowd in Bahrain. I am making connections with the over 40 crowd as well through the Shaheens. So I’m getting to know so many people on the island. You are always asked what you do here. When the subject comes to me, I invariable talk about my time in Hollywood, the pain of my divorce, starting over in Bahrain and being filled with hope. The Hollywood thing really excites most of them. To me its another city, but to them its an ideal. I have to honor their curiosity and amazement. Still its pretty cool. I met another beautiful flight attendant today…This one is from Australia. So now…I just have to meet a beautiful girl from South America, and I will have all five continents covered. I’m very very blessed. There are lots of people that believe in me now. I’m good enough….I’m smart enough….and doggone it, people like me.
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