Kareem Abou Ghali, co-owner of Regina Company for Pasta and Food Industries: Each week, My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Kareem Abou Ghali (LinkedIn). Edited excerpts from our conversation:

I'm Kareem Abou Ghali and I am a businessman in the pasta industry. I represent the owning family of the Regina Food Group, which is co-owned by my brother Moustafa Abou Ghali and myself. I'm also a member of the Egyptian Businessmen’s Association, and the Chamber of Grain Industries, and a board member in the Committee of External Affairs and Exports. I'm also a very active member of the Food Export Council, as we're the largest exporter of food to Africa.

I received an international baccalaureate degree from the American International School in Egypt and graduated in the top 5% of my class. I was “diagnosed” with a photographic memory when I was in the eighth grade, which has been of great benefit in my life. It has helped me become fluent in seven languages. I speak Arabic, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and get by in Italian, French, German, and Greek.

My daily routine involves waking up at 7am and going to the gym, where I work out for 1.5 hours. I'm a firm believer that you can't have a strong mind without a strong body. Money means nothing if you don't have your health and a good body.

After working out, I follow up on all my entrepreneurial activities, usually between 10:30-11:30am. I'm a board member of more than 10 companies, including our family auto business, the Regina Food Group, and I also own a company called Kult Creative Productions.

I stay focused and organized by delegating tasks to my management team, who organize my agenda, then I stick to my schedule. I make quick decisions and don't dwell on small issues. I focus on strategy and problem-solving, and I don't like repetitive tasks. I enjoy taking risks and having the right team to handle day-to-day tasks.

The origin story behind Regina is quite a journey: When I returned to Egypt after university, my father's auto and hotel businesses were in trouble due to 9/11 and its impact on tourism. My brother and I embarked on what felt like a suicide mission and together we managed to save the family legacy and turn the business around. Today, we manage and own one of the largest private investment groups in the country.

The journey wasn't easy, and I had to work hard, be aggressive, and not take no for an answer. I faced a lot of pressure and experienced a dark place, but I didn't break. Now, I appreciate every second of success and make sure not to repeat the same mistakes.

We recently launched Golden Mills Pasta, which has been a 20-year dream of mine. I've had this drive and vision to produce high-quality pasta since I began my business career and joined the pasta industry. I'd always wondered why Egyptians couldn't produce pasta as good as the Italians, despite having excellent machinery, education, and resources. So, 20 years later, I'm finally able to produce the high-quality pasta I've always dreamed of.

We source a very high-quality, selective type of wheat called Canadian Western Amber Duram and extract only 40% of it, which is more expensive but produces the highest quality pasta. The remaining wheat is used for our other product, Regina, which is still of high quality. The feedback we've received from big Italian restaurants has been impeccable, placing our product in the top 10% worldwide.

Giving back to the community is a crucial aspect of both my personal and professional life. My office has a "Give-Back Team" that helps those in need. For me, making money and helping others are equally important. This is very important for business leaders, as it creates positive energy. Helping others has been my life's purpose, and it has also contributed to my success.

I do not believe in work-life balance, because I am free to be anywhere, anytime, and I love what I do. I don’t need to take time off from something that I love. I enjoy the stress and challenges associated with being a business owner and manufacturer. Work is like a game that I enjoy all the time, even when I’m on vacation. I believe I’m a professional gamer, and I play by the rules. Success in business is about playing smart within the rules.

The one constant in my day is ensuring the stability and progression of my business so that I don't go back to a dark place, giving back to others, and working on being a better version of myself.

I enjoy listening to David Goggins' podcast and Joe Rogan's interviews. I'm passionate about learning new things, and I usually pick a field that is interesting, such as psychology, and I dig deep into it. For aspiring entrepreneurs, I suggest reading Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s The Black Swan. But I don't believe you need to read 90 books a day to be successful in business. I have attention deficit issues, so I prefer other activities such as watching football and staying informed about world events.

The best piece of advice I've received in my life was from my older brother, Moustafa, who helped me a lot,especially at my lowest points. One time when I was going through some personal financial troubles, I had this asset and I wanted to rent it out to a bank, but the bank president said no after a series of meetings. So I called my brother, and he told me “No means yes. No does not mean that it's over. It means that you keep going at it, and you can still get it done. Don't take no for an answer.” I rented the place to the bank in the end, and ever since, that has become a motto of mine. Don't give up, and be persistent.

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