A Lebanese table is never complete without tabbouleh, a colorful salad made with love.
But preparing this “simple” dish is an art form.
✅ Parsley for resilience, vibrant and strong like your core values.
✅ Tomatoes for creativity, adding color and fresh perspective.
✅ Onions for honesty, they bring depth even if they make you tear up.
✅ Mint for innovation, that unexpected note that makes it memorable.
✅ Bulgur for stability, the foundation that holds everything together.
Then comes the magic:
✨ Drizzle olive oil for harmony and unity.
✨ Add salt for accountability, subtle but essential.
✨ Finish with fresh lemon juice, the challenge that sharpens everything.
Mix. Taste. Adjust.
That is leadership too.
You combine different strengths, balance them, and keep testing until everything works together.
In my family, I was always the taster. My mother would call from the kitchen:
“Jamal, come taste the tabbouleh. Tell me if it needs anything.”
I would drop everything and run. She would scoop a portion into a crisp lettuce leaf, hold it up, and say, “Open your mouth.”
One bite was a taste of life itself. Sweet, salty, sour, minty, crunchy, soft all at once.
She would watch my face, waiting for the verdict:
“Does it need more lemon juice?”
Because in tabbouleh, just like in life and leadership, without the right amount of sour or challenge the flavors fall flat.
And every time my answer was the same:
“No Mama, it is perfect.”
She would smile, laugh as I reached for more, then hand me the bowl:
“Khallas, go put it on the table. Wash your hands. Call your sisters. Yalla, come eat.”
Tabbouleh served. Love served. Leadership served. Life served.
So next time the universe gives you lemons, do not just make lemonade.
Be bold. Bring the right mix together and create something unforgettable.
What is your recipe for turning challenges into something beautiful?
