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#111 Quiet Freedom w/ Youssef Assad
34 Plays1 month ago
Raised in Egypt, Youssef grew up deeply curious about the world and determined to build a life beyond the limits set for him. Traveling in his early twenties opened his eyes to what freedom truly looks like — and to how borders, passports, and systems can quietly define one’s destiny.
After military service and the pandemic forced his life plans to pause, he made a bold decision to reclaim control of their future. Through years of persistence, exams, and setbacks, that journey eventually led him to Canada — not with fireworks, but with the quiet relief of finally breathing freely.
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Transcript
Youssef's Journey to Canada
00:00:32
Find A Way Podcast
Welcome everyone. This is episode 111, Quiet Freedom. And today our guest is Youssef Assad. Raised in Egypt, Youssef grew deeply curious about the world and determined to build a life beyond the limits set for himself.
00:00:46
Find A Way Podcast
Traveling in his early twenties opened his eyes to what freedom truly looked like and to how borders, passports and systems can quietly define one's destiny. After military service and the pandemic forced his life plans to pause, he made a bold decision to reclaim control of the his future.
00:01:04
Find A Way Podcast
Through years of persistence, exams, and setbacks, that journey eventually led him to Canada. Not with fireworks, but with the quiet relief of finally breathtaking breathing freely.
00:01:16
Find A Way Podcast
Welcome, Youssef.
00:01:18
Joseph
It's a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much for the intro.
The Birth of PASU
00:01:21
Find A Way Podcast
Thank you. Before we start, Yusuf, I'm curious to hear can you share more about your business?
00:01:28
Joseph
So our startup is PASU. PASU is a hybrid model between AI and instructors to help international students and immigrants to pass language exams.
00:01:39
Joseph
In order to come to Canada and have a PR, you have to pass certain exams such as ILITS or TCF. And these exams are very challenging. Personally, i spent three years trying to learn French and pass English exams to come to Canada and I realized this is a massive challenge.
00:01:58
Joseph
not just for me, but for millions of immigrants and international students out there. And that's why I decided to build PASU, a very innovative platform for exam prep that combines all the solutions under one platform, PASU.
00:02:13
Find A Way Podcast
That is amazing. I'm curious to try it out. I do not speak French, but I know I had to do IELTS a few times and it is a pain, you know, to to go through with it.
00:02:24
Joseph
Thank you, Cindy.
00:02:24
Find A Way Podcast
um And I'm curious to to understand what makes Passu's approach to language exam prep different from the traditional platforms, let's say, for example, Duolingo.
00:02:35
Joseph
All right, so i would like to share like how I was able to prepare personally when I was trying to pass EILS exam, as you as you mentioned, and learn French.
00:02:46
Joseph
And how was that experience through three years shaped how PASU should be, how is how its it's going to be different.
Overcoming Language Barriers
00:02:55
Joseph
So when I tried to to pass I think them as you mentioned I said this is quite easy or everybody said oh you just need to pass this exam and you're gonna have the CRS score and you're gonna have a PR and how Everything is gonna be complete within three six months.
00:03:09
Joseph
I was like, okay, that's that's amazing. Okay, and I when I started the
00:03:12
Find A Way Podcast
Oh.
00:03:15
Joseph
preparation. Unfortunately, COVID hit hard. And my exam was postponed for nine months. And I took this opportunity, all right, okay nine months, I'm not allowed to do anything. So let's have the opportunity to study to get the maximum score.
00:03:33
Joseph
And that's what I did every day. i was using all type of resources that I could, including I had a preparation course at the British Council, ah materials over Internet, YouTube channels, numerous resources, online teachers. So I was preparing for almost nine months.
00:03:54
Joseph
And when I tried it to sit for the exam for the first time, I paused it at each skill except writing. And I got only 6.5 out of seven. and just I just needed half a point.
00:04:05
Joseph
I was like, oh, God.
00:04:05
Find A Way Podcast
Thank you.
00:04:07
Joseph
OK, so no problem. Let's just try again. okay so I did some sort of evaluation and decided to sit the exam again.
00:04:17
Joseph
And that was two months later, the same result, 6.5. And I was shocked, OK, now this is seems serious. okay It seems like I have a ah disaster in writing, and I don't know what exactly the problem.
00:04:32
Joseph
So I tried to take private courses in writing specifically. And I was shocked there is not nothing out there. Like the institutions that education institution that create the exam, they don't provide writing courses specifically.
00:04:46
Joseph
So I tried it with different instructors, I sent them for the first time, same problem. Then I tried to find ah an instructor who was able to achieve a really great score in writing and specified on your writing.
00:05:01
Joseph
And the first time i was able to do it, I was able to get the saving, but because of an anxiety, I couldn't get the score in listening. So I had to do the whole exam again.
00:05:09
Find A Way Podcast
Thank you.
00:05:11
Joseph
My my issue was, how my challenge was, I knew that half a point was my challenge and I couldn't sleep. So I tried many different things and instructor said, all right, you have written more than 500 essays. This is insane.
00:05:27
Joseph
okay And there is nothing I could do for you. You are 100% competent to pass the exam, but you have a challenge which comes to anxiety. So what I did was after three times to try to pass the exam, no success, I tried it to prepare myself to pass the exam under extreme conditions of anxiety and lack of focus.
00:05:50
Joseph
So what I would do is I would stay awake for 16 hours, then try to take the exam for three hours. Or when where I'm trying, i'm I'm very tired, just woke up and couldn't sleep except two hours, three hours.
00:06:05
Joseph
And I take the exam another three hours. And I can do it just for one month.
00:06:07
Find A Way Podcast
Oh. Oh.
00:06:09
Joseph
I was inspired by the book, The Power of Habit. It's an example of how they were training for the Olympics in the swimming. And the the story that got that really inspired me that That athlete was training under extreme conditions, such as if the goggles during swimming somehow water got in, he has to swim blindly.
00:06:38
Joseph
He did this in China, and he won.
00:06:38
Find A Way Podcast
Okay. Okay.
00:06:42
Joseph
And i was like, OK, if that is the the secret of success is to train under extreme conditions, then I would do it. So I kept the training for months. making sure that to spot all the mistakes I would usually make when i' I'm full of anxiety and not able to focus.
00:07:00
Joseph
And the first time I took the exam, the SIFSA exam, I got the maximum score in all the skills, despite I did not sleep, not even 20 minutes.
00:07:11
Find A Way Podcast
That is crazy. oh my gosh. That is, well, um talk about testing your limits. I remember taking, I took it twice and i have a funny story because I didn't know the structure when we were talking about, oh, English.
00:07:24
Find A Way Podcast
Okay, I speak English. Let me just go and, you know, because I did have the privilege of learning English at a young age. So it came easier to me. So I went to take the the test thinking that I was just like, okay, snap your fingers, I'll do it.
00:07:36
Find A Way Podcast
And I remember in the eye of the question that's like, oh, do you live in a house or in an apartment?
00:07:36
Joseph
Yes.
00:07:41
Find A Way Podcast
And not evenly from my part, like I'm very naive of myself. I didn't know that the longer you were talking to show your vocabulary, how much, how many words, you know, all of that.
Immigration Challenges during the Pandemic
00:07:51
Find A Way Podcast
So I was just like, I i live in an apartment and I just sat there and smiled at the instructor instructor. And, you know, I didn't respond too long of sentences. And then when I got my my score back, I'm like, but why?
00:08:03
Find A Way Podcast
But I know how to, you know,
00:08:04
Joseph
Yes, exactly.
00:08:04
Find A Way Podcast
I know how to speak. I know how to communicate. But then I hired ah an instructor and they said, no, no, no, you have to be talking for the length as long as they, it's it's better that they stop you rather than you just put a sentence there and let it be.
00:08:07
Joseph
Yes.
00:08:15
Joseph
Yes.
00:08:18
Find A Way Podcast
So then I, next one, i was like, oh no, I live in on ah an apartment. It's on the whatever floor it has this many bad bedrooms and bathrooms so then you go on and you engage more so there's a lot of tricks and tips to do these and I'm glad you're doing something to make other people's lives easier because it's a pain this process is a pain
00:08:39
Joseph
Indeed, I completely agree. like It was frustrating when I got 6.5 and I was like, why?
00:08:44
Find A Way Podcast
yes exactly
00:08:45
Joseph
And and like how how to improve? Is it grammar? Is vocab? What exactly is the issue? And this is what makes it very difficult because you don't get the chance to know what are your mistakes to progress.
00:08:58
Joseph
And with our feedback, how I'm supposed to know what exactly are my mistakes or my weaknesses to work on it.
00:08:58
Find A Way Podcast
Exactly.
00:09:06
Find A Way Podcast
angry agree.
00:09:06
Joseph
ah so So, after that experience, all right all my friends were celebrating, oh, it's been two years. you I was studying full-time for two years, ah five exam attempts, and i was so I was waiting for the PR invitation because my CR score was 474.
00:09:24
Find A Way Podcast
Wow.
00:09:24
Joseph
However, that during the COVID, Canada and started to invite immigrants from inside, not from
Success Stories of PASU Users
00:09:33
Joseph
outside.
00:09:33
Find A Way Podcast
Yes.
00:09:34
Joseph
And they started to invite international students here with scores load as 350 and 330. And I was waiting outside of Canada with 474.
00:09:46
Joseph
So a month, two, three, four, five, six, seven. And who might doesn't know that the certificate is only valid for two years. So if you don't start your immigration process quickly, all the progress I have done is is gone, okay?
00:10:02
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:10:03
Joseph
So, I started then, okay, what I'm supposed to do, because while I was learning, while I was preparing for the IELTS exam, I started French, because I wasn't really sure when I'm going to pass the exam and how long it's going take. So, I didn't want to risk everything with IELTS.
00:10:21
Joseph
So, I started French and IELTS at the same time.
00:10:21
Find A Way Podcast
Oh
00:10:23
Joseph
So, I was studying three hours French and let's say 10 hours IELTS. Okay, so when I got the score IELTS, I was told, okay, now we don't have to pursue French anymore. My level was just but between A1 to a two However, after nine months, no invitation whatsoever.
00:10:43
Joseph
And now figured out, okay, this is not good, okay? And my work for two years in in passing IELTS, I'm not able to get invited. And I saw my colleagues or my study partners who...
00:10:58
Joseph
worked on french and get the screen first they were invited but i was in fight and i was like okay now i have to work on french i cannot risk everything with iris so i started learning french and the challenge was in egypt you don't get the to decide when to take the exam i want it to to sit for the exam what i mean in iris whenever you feel lady you can book the exam next week next month but in egypt the exam is only done five times a year
00:11:19
Find A Way Podcast
Oh.
00:11:23
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah. Oh,
00:11:28
Joseph
So I had to choose the exam even I knew that I wasn't really ready.
00:11:30
Find A Way Podcast
man. All right. and
00:11:35
Joseph
And the first attempt, I got all the scores that I needed except in writing also. and And the second attempt, I got the score. But I would say my experience in IELTS has led led me to get the score that is needed in a new language quickly.
00:11:53
Joseph
and
00:11:53
Find A Way Podcast
Okay.
Facing Visa Rejections
00:11:54
Joseph
And my score with French was 540.
00:12:00
Joseph
So that was in within just a week, I got invited by Quebec and Ontario and Alberta. It was like so many invitations and choose Express Entry and I got my PR processed in 45 days.
00:12:13
Joseph
And just because French and English together.
00:12:13
Find A Way Podcast
Wow.
00:12:17
Joseph
So that's basically my journey with French and and English TCF and IELTS. And because of that, I decided to build Basru. When I landed here in Canada two years ago, I realized this is ongoing challenge and it's going to be always this way.
00:12:30
Joseph
And all the exam ah languages are similar.
00:12:31
Find A Way Podcast
yes
00:12:36
Joseph
TOEFL, IELTS, TCF, they have the the same... same troubles, are with our same same challenges, no feedback, it's two years validity when it comes to the certificate. and However, it's it's different from one exam to to to another a little bit, but they have, I would say, generally the same challenges.
00:12:55
Joseph
So that would lead me to start PASU. So I thought about, okay, what ah what were my problems? What were my challenges? The first challenge was there wasn't a concrete study plan based on my weaknesses and my goals.
00:13:09
Joseph
So I needed something that customized and personalized for me.
00:13:09
Find A Way Podcast
Mm-hmm.
00:13:13
Joseph
The second challenge was when I had instructors to help me, some of them, they claim to be is instructors. ah For instance, before I set the exam for the third time, I did writing evaluation online through Australian website, as very known.
00:13:32
Joseph
And i it said that i'm I'm going to get nine out of nine in writing. But when I had to take the exam, I got 6.5. So I found out there are so many claims about what what it score you might get versus actually what you would get.
00:13:40
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:13:48
Find A Way Podcast
yeah
00:13:48
Joseph
So we we we had to solve this challenge by only allowing certified expert instructors to do the writing evaluation and the speaking evaluation as well. And because of writing and speaking are the main two skills that usually most of the instructor, social students have to retake the exam, we focused on that through AI and instructors as well, because we understand there is not any AI out there that you can completely rely on 100%, especially when it comes to a language exams for immigration for instance and i didn't get 6.5 i got 7.5 for writing above than that i wanted but i knew that the margin of error that you ha you can have is just one percent one percent is spelling or grammar or punctuation it's just one percent
00:14:36
Find A Way Podcast
Wow, I didn't know that.
00:14:37
Joseph
That's how this exam is at a very high stake.
00:14:37
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:14:41
Joseph
So we introduced instructors our platform. for We understand that model answers are very important to know how to write, how to speak. the The challenge was model answer that out there, oh yeah, this is band nine model answer, but why it is band nine?
00:14:54
Joseph
Like how it was the structure? but So we introduced structural layer for every model answer, how to write a topic sentence, in introduction, conclusion, and also powered by flashcards.
00:15:05
Joseph
So we can easily understand how you can form a specific model answer for specific questions and easier for you to memorize as well.
00:15:16
Joseph
A certain vocab, as you mentioned, idioms. the search so The first solution that we have worked on was the community. It is very challenging journey. And through my journey, I had 12 study partners.
00:15:32
Joseph
Finding a study partner that is committed and willing to study with you every single day, it is not that easy. So on our platform, we have a community to match study partners to be able to engage with each other to study.
00:15:45
Find A Way Podcast
That's amazing.
00:15:46
Joseph
And lastly is the AI for writing and speaking. And I would say this is the most ambitious feature that we are building that is based on collecting a lot of essays, is specifically customized for prompt for the exam.
00:16:00
Joseph
So when you write an essay in chat GPT and hit enter, or is this going to pass seven or not? You say, yeah, everything is perfect. If you start a new conversation, it's just the same answer.
00:16:12
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:16:12
Joseph
This is not going to pass. There is no inconsistency in that. So the challenge right now we are having is to solve this problem and we only gonna do this through a large data set to train our models.
00:16:16
Find A Way Podcast
yeah
00:16:24
Joseph
to So we every time the students will able to ah submit essays or oral transcript for evaluation, they will have a high accuracy rate because the the models are trained from instructors and as well prompts and the essays are for the specific exams.
00:16:42
Joseph
not non generic. So these are the five sources. So it would be study plan, model answers, and instructor plays for live sessions, and community and AI evaluator for writing and speaking. That is Basu.
00:16:54
Find A Way Podcast
That's amazing, Yusuf. I'm excited to see the, um I'm excited to just give it a shot. Of course, i luckily I went past that phase already, so I don't need to take the test, but I'm sure, do you have it for other languages as well?
00:17:08
Joseph
So we only have a right now for studies French and last three months with eyelids. But I would say one of the most amazing things that happened is a few of our early testers in eyelids, they passed the exam in 28 days.
00:17:25
Joseph
What I was able to achieve 28 days.
00:17:25
Find A Way Podcast
28 days.
00:17:28
Joseph
And we have a testimonial over YouTube. what i What I was able to achieve in in in that in a year and a half, ah I was was able to help students to do that in a very short time.
00:17:39
Joseph
One is specific student, she said, I'm um i'm trying to learn French. spent six months. I'm really tired. And I don't want to take ILS. I know that people will have to do it multiple times. but like You you you ah know are not really thinking this through.
00:17:51
Joseph
give it a shot on platform. We have designed everything from scratch. And you have no inexperience on iOS. That is OK. And it was her first time. And she got the score in 28 days.
00:18:03
Find A Way Podcast
That's incredible. I'm going to referring this platform to many of my friends for sure. So thank you for sharing. um You know, i'm I'm curious as well, you said, because in one of your bios or I was reading about how you grew up with some invisible walls and later facing the real ones through borders and visas. Can you share, ah you know, ah the story looking back?
00:18:28
Find A Way Podcast
How do you see it? If you see a direct line between those early experiences and the problems that you're solving today and your like liked life decisions?
00:18:36
Joseph
Okay. I would say I've always been a believer in in the dream of everybody should get the opportunity to travel around the world. Everybody could should get the opportunity to to sub explore a different country or become a resident in a different country.
00:18:54
Joseph
And that dream, when I was 12, I told my parents, I want to go to North America, Canada, or United States. And nobody, unfortunately, from my entire family has left Egypt.
00:19:08
Find A Way Podcast
Wow, you're the only one?
00:19:09
Joseph
OK, I'm the only one. OK, so I was always curious ah about exploring what it's like to be out there.
00:19:12
Find A Way Podcast
Wow, you're
00:19:17
Joseph
What is what is out there? So my first attempt was going to Europe when I was 22 years old and I wanted to pursue a master's degrees in in in Poland.
00:19:29
Joseph
And after one year studying at the University of Warsaw, I was rejected three times to get my temporary residency. And eventually I got the decision of deportation and i had to be i had to leave the country.
00:19:45
Find A Way Podcast
Really?
00:19:45
Joseph
Yes, and I i was shocked. i was I had an immigration lawyer, and it she was responsible for my entire
Invisible Borders and Global Mobility Constraints
00:19:53
Joseph
situation. And I told her in my class there were many different nationalities. Why? or And I paid 20,000 euros. So the tuition fees and the accommodation, so everything was which basically i had to pay it.
00:20:08
Joseph
and it was a very frustrating uh experience and she said i i truly don't have havet have no any answer for you except some countries from middle east they uh it's not the easiest countries out there uh they are not easy contracts they are to to immigrate or to travel and that was the first time i realized there are hidden walls
00:20:29
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:34
Joseph
hidden in ah borders that I don't see them, okay except through experience. So I had to go to Egypt. And after that, I got the opportunity to start a company in China ah for manufacturing smartphones and tablets.
00:20:51
Joseph
And I said, OK, right now Europe might be not the best decision to go again and let's try a different continent. Let's try different path than than being a student to go as an entrepreneur.
00:21:05
Joseph
And quite and interesting, I faced the same challenge as well. I said maybe because i have a we have a company, I was a co-founder, so we have we can issue bank statement with thousands of dollars, so it wouldn't be a problem.
00:21:19
Joseph
We faced the same issue. Visa are not granted easily to us, even we are entrepreneur entrepreneurs. I remember one situation, I had a a colleague leaguegue from United States and we went to immigration agency to apply for a business visa and we paid the same tu tuition safe fees, same application procedures, everything.
00:21:38
Joseph
And he got 10 years business visa in China and I got two weeks.
00:21:43
Find A Way Podcast
Two weeks?
00:21:44
Joseph
Two weeks. and And he was like, and it was Steve, he was like, Youssef, did you do anything wrong with your application? I said, no. He's like, we made the same thesis. He said, like, okay, how did I get 10 years you got only two weeks?
00:22:01
Joseph
don't know, because you have a different passport. You have a ah you have a developed, effort yeah I would say, developing countries versus developed countries are being treated differently completely when it comes to freedom of movement, freedom of traveling.
00:22:16
Joseph
And that was the second shock that I re realized later.
00:22:16
Find A Way Podcast
Thank
00:22:19
Joseph
I was like, OK, maybe maybe it's a problem is is that like I'm a student or maybe it's a problem with capital. If I show enough capital, that problem would be easy. But no, it would contain.
00:22:30
Joseph
And I mean, it it stayed with multiple countries. And I traveled 17 countries around the world, but I was rejected more like 55 times. And my passport was full of rejections and pi to these visa, visa rejections.
00:22:42
Find A Way Podcast
Upon eight entrances, like when you're trying to visit and then there both visas.
00:22:47
Joseph
Visa rejections, yes.
00:22:49
Find A Way Podcast
Wow.
00:22:49
Joseph
Okay. And
00:22:50
Find A Way Podcast
Any specific one that you would like to highlight that really marked you, like that really, yeah, that you were rejected, that you still haven't digested it?
00:22:54
Joseph
I was rejected from...
00:22:58
Joseph
So the rejection, so rejection were, okay, so for instance, I was i was in in in Asia and I wanted to to go to Europe and I was invited to attend an event.
00:23:10
Joseph
And but back then, I i was i was in Egypt for two years. So I sent about 40 emails to all the embassies in Europe. I told them, hello, i'm I'm an Egyptian citizen.
00:23:19
Find A Way Podcast
Okay.
00:23:21
Joseph
um I've been traveling for two years. And I have a meeting or whatever a conference after two weeks. And I need to get a visa just for a week. And I get 40 replies back with rejection.
00:23:34
Joseph
You are a citizen of a developing country. You are not allowed to apply for a different or a visa or tourist visa from another country. You have to go back home and apply. There is no way I could get that.
00:23:47
Joseph
So this is just an example how I was being rejected.
00:23:49
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah. That's
00:23:50
Joseph
at Many, many, many opportunities I couldn't be in a specific location a specific time just because I couldn't enter the country. uh the same thing happened i was in southwest korea and i wanted to go to japan for also a conference and the flight was just an hour and it was 20 but they refused they have to go back all the way to egypt like it's impossible it' it's it's it's almost a 17 hours flight uh so these are some of the rejections that i had some of some of them already i upload i i i give you another example and was germany in germany i applied it for um
00:24:11
Find A Way Podcast
ah crazy
00:24:25
Joseph
a work permit and I had a contract and after they processed my passport, three months later they rejected for the same reason. You have to go back to Egypt and you have to apply.
00:24:35
Joseph
and like Okay. Even after they started processing the passport.
00:24:41
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:24:41
Joseph
so Some of them I got rejected when I applied and some of them before even I got appointment apply.
00:24:49
Find A Way Podcast
It's funny how we can transform some painful chapters of our lives into something empowering for you and others. And I'm i'm curious about the journey. Like, how did you come across? Why Canada?
00:25:03
Joseph
So when i was
00:25:04
Find A Way Podcast
I'm curious to get there to learn, you know, how did that take you to Canada? um
00:25:08
Joseph
so I was having a shit chat conversation like this with somebody in India. And after I traveled two years in India, ah I met a gentleman. He said, you know what? Canada is your destination.
00:25:20
Joseph
I was like, what? He said, after the troubles I have heard as being a student, as a being entrepreneur and and so on, you need to go to Canada.
00:25:21
Find A Way Podcast
Wow,
00:25:27
Joseph
And that was in 2017. I was like, okay. so I was 25, 26 years old. Okay. So i said, okay, what do i need to to go to Canada? I said, oh yeah, you have to go back, if finish your degree, finish Isles.
00:25:41
Joseph
It's a piece of cake. and and just come
00:25:43
Find A Way Podcast
wow.
00:25:46
Joseph
And that's how ah how how things got unfolded from India to china to Canada.
00:25:49
Find A Way Podcast
well well
00:25:54
Joseph
Obviously did this the the the duration was six years. ah
00:25:58
Find A Way Podcast
Okay.
00:25:58
Joseph
But that's how I was able to figure out what ah which country should I ah go. And that was Canada. And I don't regret my decision.
00:26:08
Find A Way Podcast
No, yeah.
00:26:08
Joseph
either yeah it's even it's very challenging but i don't regret my decision so i always share that my decision to come to canada was merely merely based on freedom and the struggle that i had was freedom freedom to be student i couldn't be student in what i wanted i couldn't run a business where i wanted i couldn't leave and come as easily as i wanted so for me i always
00:26:12
Find A Way Podcast
and
00:26:32
Joseph
mentioning that, I mentioned that PASU is about unlocking barriers because I feel like that these barriers were for me for many many years.
Personal Growth and Adaptation in Canada
00:26:42
Find A Way Podcast
No, I can see that. um I'm also curious to learn more about you because immigration usually changes how we see ourselves, right? Now I'm curious, who did you have to become to survive this journey?
00:26:54
Find A Way Podcast
And what part of yourself did you have to let go?
00:26:59
Joseph
who I have to become and what led to go?
00:27:03
Find A Way Podcast
part of you that you had to let go?
00:27:06
Joseph
Oh, that's a very tough question.
00:27:08
Find A Way Podcast
yeah not meant to be a trick one, I'm sorry, but.
00:27:13
Joseph
Very good question.
00:27:16
Joseph
I have never had a time in my life where I felt like there is a challenge that I cannot overcome. And that was the time, three years passing language exam. I was like, how is that even possible? I couldn't even accept defeat.
00:27:36
Find A Way Podcast
Uh-huh.
00:27:36
Joseph
I couldn't. I never tried it seven times to to do something in for over three years. And it was so difficult. like I remember a family member told me, you know what? I got engaged and I got married and i have I got a kid and you still studying in Europe.
00:27:52
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:27:55
Joseph
So that's how far like like it's I had no plan B, i like it's only plan A. And for that goal to be achieved, I had to sacrifice many things. I shared the story before that during my, I would say, 31st birthday, my parents wanted to celebrate my birthday.
00:28:16
Joseph
So they knocked on my door said, oh, Yousef, we brought you a birthday cake. I told them, thank you so much, but I'm not willing to send and celebrate. There's nothing to celebrate. Once I passed language exam, I would celebrate my birthday.
00:28:26
Find A Way Podcast
Really?
00:28:27
Joseph
Yes.
00:28:28
Find A Way Podcast
God.
00:28:29
Joseph
so So what I did in order to pass this exam, I had to sacrifice many things. And everybody told me, like, we never knew that you, that person, we never knew that you would be so determined. so So, like, this is something everybody was shocked.
00:28:47
Joseph
Like, even my mother, and she's a math teacher, she's like, couldn't imagine they could stay every day 16 hours studying. This is, like, what kind of revision do you have to do this? So this is something that I always knew that was it was in me, but it was the first time to shine, like how how determined and how persistent that I was.
00:29:09
Joseph
And to what extent I'm willing to sacrifice everything for it that goal.
00:29:09
Find A Way Podcast
la
00:29:13
Find A Way Podcast
And now the cherry on top is pastu being there.
00:29:16
Joseph
ah Yes, exactly.
00:29:16
Find A Way Podcast
Everyone helping others on doing that. so
00:29:19
Joseph
Exactly. that That's what I had to do before coming to Canada. What I had to let go here in and Canada is a different story.
00:29:28
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:29:28
Joseph
I think but the the the most difficult thing when I started my my journey here in Canada was how to survive. I remember I was talking with multiple business advisors like, okay, now I have this great idea starting a platform for international students and immigrants, but I need to survive.
00:29:45
Joseph
I did still a monthly bill, rent, and this is was something that I would, out back in Egypt, I had my own apartment, so I didn't really care about that except just studying.
00:29:47
Find A Way Podcast
It's hard.
00:29:57
Joseph
Now it's a different level of challenge. And i say that I had to get a lot of ego.
00:30:01
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:30:04
Joseph
I had to accept many casual jobs that I never thought that I would do.
00:30:07
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:30:10
Joseph
I was okay with bare minimum. I was okay with living extremely, extremely minimalistic. So i would say, i always say to students or immigrants who come for consultation, I say like, Canada will break your ego first.
00:30:27
Find A Way Podcast
For sure. little Krakadopa.
00:30:29
Joseph
Then, yes, I wouldn't lie. The first four months, and i had I came to Canada with $17,000. dollars That's the amount that you're going have to become a migrant here.
00:30:42
Joseph
i was like, I'm not going to work at any job. I want to work only on my company, and I'm not going to accept any casual job. And always say all this internal struggle was my ego because I never worked anything except software engineer.
00:30:54
Joseph
ah
00:30:54
Find A Way Podcast
Thank you.
00:30:55
Joseph
But I say it was a character building experience to go at the place.
00:30:59
Find A Way Podcast
For sure. I love that definition. I think it is a character building experience, the whole migration journey. And that's why I'm so passionate about this platform and sharing because we when when we look at LinkedIn, we only see the triumphs and the victories and the things that do work out well. But then the everything else that takes you know for us to get here, everything that we have to deconstruct and rebuild, it's such a huge process. But I honestly am passionate about it and I think we become better individuals, right? So our previous guest, he had left a question for you, which I'm pretty sure you partially answered, but feel free to compliment. What beliefs or mindset did you have to change with immigration?
00:31:44
Find A Way Podcast
I think we already covered that coincidentally, but is there anything else other than the the character building, ego breaking process that you would like to highlight?
00:31:57
Joseph
i say Part of my ego and coming from a country where title is very important, engineer, doctor, and here you you you got to survive by working anything.
00:32:10
Joseph
I think the idea that everything everything that I knew, all the experiences that I know, I had to consider them like I'm starting from scratch.
Defining Freedom and Success
00:32:18
Joseph
Okay.
00:32:18
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:32:18
Joseph
That was challenging that everything that I know, all the experience that I mentioned to you, I feel like, okay, this is a different country. The Canadian experience matters a lot.
00:32:29
Joseph
Canadian degree matters a lot. And so it's a different mindset. though i had to adjust this. okay i'm I'm a completely beginner here and I have to start from the scratch. And I find this very challenging because most of immigrants are have a lot of resentment towards Canada because they were like CEOs and they were holding very high positions in Emirates and and Middle East.
00:32:50
Joseph
And when you they come here, they have to start from scratch or they have to downgrade their their titles.
00:32:55
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:32:56
Joseph
And I see that that's what a lot of people are thinking. having resentment towards Canada because of that. For me, I was okay. I'm okay. um'm i'm ah I'm a junior. It's okay. I don't have to become a senior. It's okay.
00:33:09
Joseph
And that is something that had changed. I had to accept that it's okay to start from scratch. It's okay to have a different mindset. It's okay to ah to consider yourself always as you you know nothing.
00:33:24
Joseph
You always know nothing.
00:33:24
Find A Way Podcast
True. We're always in a position to learn and to explore and to gain context from everything and everyone around us.
00:33:30
Joseph
that's That's correct.
00:33:32
Find A Way Podcast
I love that. If freedom, you talk a lot about freedom. If freedom had a sound, smell, or feeling for you today, what it what would it be?
00:33:36
Joseph
Yes.
00:33:44
Joseph
Have a sound, smell, and sounds or feeling.
00:33:47
Find A Way Podcast
Or a feeling. Yeah, what would it be?
00:33:52
Joseph
What would be? Wow, that's another.
00:33:57
Find A Way Podcast
Profound, they're going deep.
00:33:57
Joseph
i' got So deep, I mean, I love freedom. I always think of freedom, but...
00:34:04
Joseph
You know, George Erwar, 1984, he said, if you could say two plus two equals four, then that's what really matters. Okay?
00:34:14
Joseph
And for me, freedom, every day I woke up, the freedom to choose who I am, the freedom to choose what kind of religion if I wish to pursue, The freedom to be in a country I know is challenging, but if I want to be an entrepreneur, entrepreneur I can be an entrepreneur.
00:34:32
Joseph
The freedom to help others and the freedom to speak, this is what makes me very, very happy and have a sense of gratitude every single day when I wake up in Canada.
00:34:44
Find A Way Podcast
Amazing. I can definitely relate to that, Yusuf. Thank you for sharing that.
00:34:49
Joseph
You're welcome.
00:34:49
Find A Way Podcast
Now, if you could have dinner with any person, alive or dead, who would that be? Any person.
00:34:59
Joseph
Jim Collins, is his he's an author of a multiple business books, Good to Great and Built to Last. yeah
00:35:05
Find A Way Podcast
Okay.
00:35:06
Joseph
So i would love to have a and meeting with him.
00:35:10
Find A Way Podcast
per Perfect. Perfect. And what is success to you? If you could define it in one sentence.
00:35:16
Joseph
One sentence.
00:35:17
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah.
00:35:19
Joseph
Success to me is
00:35:22
Joseph
to be able to create something that reduces suffering for others and have a sense of gratitude that I have built something meaningful while my time on Earth is back.
00:35:38
Find A Way Podcast
That's beautiful. Thank you for sharing that. I love this podcast. We get to learn about people and and, you know, I get to meet such incredible individuals like yourself. So thank you. Thank you for this time. Okay.
00:35:48
Find A Way Podcast
We're moving to rapid fire questions. I'm going to give you two options.
00:35:50
Joseph
Okay.
00:35:51
Find A Way Podcast
You choose whatever, you know, is more your, your vibe.
00:35:52
Joseph
Okay.
00:35:55
Find A Way Podcast
um Work from home or office vibe.
00:36:03
Joseph
Work from home.
00:36:05
Find A Way Podcast
Okay, public speaking or one-on-one chats?
00:36:09
Joseph
Public speaking.
00:36:11
Find A Way Podcast
Okay, karaoke or trivia night?
00:36:14
Joseph
Karaoke.
00:36:16
Find A Way Podcast
I wish I was good at that. I love karaoke, but then I just ruin everyone's, you know, hearing. ah Airbnb or hotel stay?
00:36:27
Joseph
Hostels. Yes.
00:36:29
Find A Way Podcast
Neither one. Neither of them. Okay. Perfect. And now we always ask for book recommendations. I know you shared a few great titles throughout the the episode. Is there any one that you, any specific book you like to leave to our audience?
00:36:44
Joseph
Yes, so there is a book that I have read about seven times. It's called Man Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
00:36:51
Find A Way Podcast
I know that one. Okay, that's perfect. Thank you. um And before we close the episode, we would love to see which question you'd like to leave for our next guest.
00:37:00
Joseph
Yes.
00:37:05
Joseph
Okay, there's a question that I asked to my friends yesterday, and it was, what have you learned in 2025? And what would you like to continue learning 2026? Yes, definitely.
00:37:18
Find A Way Podcast
Perfect. I just wrote it down here for our next guest. And I just want to say how um incredibly thankful I am. Grateful for you being here with us today. Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for your time, Yousef. It's been a great pleasure getting to know you more.
00:37:34
Find A Way Podcast
And a great recommendation that connected us. So a great referral. Thank you, Gaurav, as well for facilitating this connection between me and you.
00:37:39
Joseph
ah definitely
00:37:41
Find A Way Podcast
It's been great. And i am really thankful that you accepted to be in this podcast. So hopefully your story will inspire many other people. It will you know create this connection, which is what we're all about.
00:37:56
Find A Way Podcast
So is there anything you'd like to add to our audience, to our you know listeners before we close the episode?
00:38:02
Joseph
Well, first, i'm I'm really happy to be here and i'm for this opportunity and to answer these amazing questions that that I never said about.
00:38:09
Find A Way Podcast
I'm glad you liked that.
00:38:14
Joseph
I would say something to anybody who might listen to this podcast who is outside of Canada, who is trying to come to Canada, who has maybe be been in ah in ah in a period of depression or ah felt like, okay, I'm i'm giving up.
00:38:31
Joseph
I have been there and I knew all the doubts. Okay. Was it, is it really worth to fight all these years for a country that I have never even been and all the stories that I hear.
00:38:43
Joseph
And I would, I would say I have never met a single individual who regretted immigrating to Canada. Yes, you can come and give it a shot.
00:38:51
Find A Way Podcast
Amen.
00:38:53
Joseph
If it's not if it's that great, get your citizenship and you can of start your life somewhere else. But is the it is the most fundamental investment taken you have your life. So if you have any doubt, if you have any 1% sense of hopelessness, it is very important to know why you want to do this. For me, it was freedom.
00:39:18
Joseph
And if you if you, I would say, If freedom matters to you, and
Canada's Kindness and Immigration Experiences
00:39:23
Joseph
I think there is nothing more important than freedom, then you are in the right path. Canada is waiting for you.
00:39:28
Joseph
I would be waiting for you. Okay, thank you.
00:39:30
Find A Way Podcast
Yeah, no, me too. i'm i Thank you for saying this. This is beautiful, Yousef. And i can definitely agree. i always say that one of the things that ignited a spark in me and had this like, you know, epiphany moment of like, this is the place I want to be. This is the place I want to raise my daughter. And you know, create bonds is the incredible amount of acts of kindness I've had in like a single trip that I came here on vacation.
00:39:56
Find A Way Podcast
i was just overwhelmed with kindness. And that's what i I hope we never lose, especially with and I think the all the immigrants and people that are helping um build the story in Canada and the Canadians as well, everyone together.
00:40:11
Find A Way Podcast
This is one thing that no one likes to lose. The Americans can make fun. People can you know make fun of the Canadian and kindness and all the trademark, but the trademark that I always think it's something to be proud of.
00:40:23
Find A Way Podcast
And that's one thing i want um many people, and I keep spreading the word, you know the trademark, the Canadian trademark is the kindness. And that reflects across everyone that has that gets to experience this living here.
00:40:38
Find A Way Podcast
So I also do not regret. It's not easy. We're not going to lie. It's not going to say it's easy.
00:40:43
Joseph
It's never been easy.
00:40:44
Find A Way Podcast
But it's worth it, right?
00:40:45
Joseph
Yes, this is for us. Yeah.
00:40:48
Find A Way Podcast
Thank you so much, Yusuf, for sharing this.
00:40:49
Joseph
Thank you so much.
00:40:51
Find A Way Podcast
Well, this was our episode 111, Quiet Freedom with Yusuf Asad. We'd like to thank all of our listeners and would like to remind you that we will be posting one episode bi-weekly, always with a different guest. So make sure to subscribe on your favorite streaming platform.