Badr Berrada is a successful entrepreneur & international best-selling author. As a Founder & CEO of BBN Times, he manages a team of more than 150 renowned industry experts. His first book co-authored with Parul Agrawal & Rohan Chaubey has been ranked amongst the best entrepreneurial books on Forbes. Badr lives in London, United Kingdom with his wife.
Where did the idea for BBN Times come from?
Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Jack Dorsey inspired me to launch BBN Times. They have turned dreams into reality, forging our life as we know it. Their success didn’t happen overnight. It took them longer than you think before everything clicked into place. I have always wanted to start a company and grow it. My main aim with BBN Times is to educate people all over the world by providing them thought-provoking content that they can relate to. The battle is long and arduous, that’s a given, but with commitment and determination, no obstacle will ever be insurmountable.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I usually start my work at 7:30 am. I plan my day by making sure that the most urgent work gets done first. I check my emails, calendar and meetings to organise my schedule at least 30 minutes before my breakfast. In this way, I can avoid any delays. Then, I sit down and plan my tasks. I try to make sure that all the work is moving forward without any glitches. I oversee and coordinate my developers’ progress on the various projects that are assigned to them. I negotiate advertising deals, keep in touch with our experts and work on new updates.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I consistently reinvent myself by adopting emerging technologies and introducing new processes. I always make sure to concentrate on high quality content. I am not afraid to admit mistakes. I fix problems by building a stronger relationship with our audience. I am always here for our readers. I give them peace of mind by listening to their feedback. They know they can rely on us. We frequently update our platform to provide a better user experience for our readers and contributors. Our Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) specialists guarantee that our articles remain on top of the Google News and the search engine rankings.
What’s one trend that excites you?
As artificial intelligence advances, we will rapidly forget there was ever a time it wasn’t with us. Artificial intelligence has managed to save businesses valuable time and resources. It facilitates a huge part of various everyday activities. The future might make humans completely dependent on artificial intelligence. For example, self-driving cars are being developed to replace taxi drivers. There is no limit to this technology if it wants to make the human experience easier. Robotics will completely change the healthcare industry, by curing anything easily. The future can be infinite and the changes can be unpredictable. Although, one thing is for sure artificial intelligence will change the dynamics of our lives.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
I read books and let my mind wander. I schedule more time to plan ideas by brainstorming. The secret to innovation doesn’t lie in natural ability, but in deliberate practice. Being world class at anything requires practice. I am always on the lookout for possible solutions by becoming more aware and practicing mindfulness. I recommend people to engage with people who are different from you. We hang out with people who are like us, and while doing so may be comforting, it’s not stretching. Everything can always be made better by listening to other perspectives.
What advice would you give your younger self?
My advice would be to never give up. Worry less and enjoy every day. Life is unpredictable.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
My successor will never share the same passion for my work, but can do things better. Knowing when to step down is important to take your company to the next level. Business legacy requires setting up a winning culture led by the right leaders. Having a strong management team is crucial to continuing the success of your business over the years.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Stay honest and authentic by ensuring that your customer service is exceptional. Satisfied customers are more likely to refer other people to you. Make sure to strike the right balance between nurturing existing customers and finding new ones. Invest time to build a strong network and use social media to find out what people are saying about you. Identify trends to improve your customer service. Keep up with the latest trends and focus on improving your products and services. There is always a room for improvement. Don’t be afraid of new experiments, refine your approach to achieve better results. Deliver value to your target customers, and you won’t be one of the choices, you will be the only choice.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
Daily conversations with successful business leaders helped me grow my business. Relying on a vast number of experienced professionals from different sectors is beneficial to grow as an entrepreneur. When you are on the right path and continually learn how to condition your mind to do better, then things begin to improve significantly in your business.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
As a CEO, it is my duty to oversee across all departments. It is my job to inform our developers of system updates via meetings and emails. 2 years ago, I sent an email about a new system update, but forgot to include some key details. Because of this, our developers were confused, and endured several months of back-and-forth. Because of this, our harmony and workflow was disrupted. As a leader of my company, I called an emergency meeting to clarify the changes made. I also apologized to my team for the errors, ensured any mistakes made would not be counted against them and promised to update everyone accurately moving forward. I also let my team know that if they have any other questions or concerns, they can observe my open door policy and express their thoughts with me anytime.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I recommend starting an online grocery business. In times of crisis, people typically turn to essential items, hence the surge in demand for food and groceries.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I have recently bought 3 books to expand my knowledge on artificial intelligence, 5G and internet of things. Reading books is one of the best investments you can make to become a better person.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Focus Booster improves my focus and productivity. It is a free desktop app based that helps people accomplish project goals, which divides work sessions into 25 minutes intervals. By setting fixed sessions, you can actually write with more creativity and enthusiasm.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Zero to One is one my favourite books. It provides relentless improvements for companies and entrepreneurs.
What is your favorite quote?
“Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Key Learnings:
• Surround yourself with successful individuals
• Believe in your people to create a legacy
• Stay humble & curious by reading books
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.