Crossroads: Trusting the Road You Cannot See

Dear Ambitious Readers,
When we hear the word crossroads, we often imagine a moment of choice: a life-defining decision, a pivotal turn, a silent pause before an uncertain path. But crossroads are rarely neat or simple. They can be messy, heartbreaking, and hopeful.

Is there a prerequisite to a Crossroad in life?
Our answer is yes. A Crossroad will not present itself if you are standing still. In fact, you must be moving, dreaming, striving, or trying.
A Crossroad is evidence of progress, even when that progress feels messy or confusing.

At Al Jalees, we are here to remind you: you always have a choice. Simply ask yourself, Which path is mine?
We don’t always carry enough courage and wisdom to make the right choice. But emotional, beautiful stories like Ahmed’s remind us: never give up.

Last Saturday, we had the privilege of hearing Ahmed “Scotland” Khader’s story during our monthly participation with CreativeMornings Riyadh. Here’s a glimpse into the journey he shared.

A professional race car driver and entrepreneur, Ahmed’s story unfolded like a novel filled with loss, grit, heartbreak, and relentless hope.
He spoke about the tragic loss of his first love, the devastating loss of his friend, and facing financial collapse — and yet, standing again, time after time. Ahmed’s journey, from a 12-year-old mechanic to an internationally competing driver, wasn’t smooth or privileged. It was rugged, raw, and filled with collapse, grief, broken contracts, and shattered dreams.
Every setback, however, brought with it a decision: surrender to defeat, or trust the unseen road ahead.
Ahmed chose trust.
He showed us that racing isn’t about racing.
It’s about marketing. It’s about relationships. It’s about resilience.
It’s about convincing people to believe in you — sometimes even before you fully believe in yourself.
It’s about building an “Alloy Army”: a support system of friendship, community, and mutual growth.

What was his ultimate crossroads?
After years of perseverance and personal loss, Ahmed reached a point where he could choose: continue chasing personal glory, or embrace a new chapter rooted in love, mentorship, and legacy alongside his loving wife.
He chose to build others up, guide new racers, and live with gratitude for the journey that shaped him.

Ahmed powerfully reminded us that success isn’t always what you imagine. Sometimes, the greatest success is simply becoming who you were meant to be.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, describes major life changes not as grand moments, but as a “plateau of latent potential.”
You are building, grinding, showing up, and nothing seems to happen. Then one day, a tipping point. You break through.
Ahmed’s story embodies this perfectly.
Each small action — training alone, building proposals, fixing cars without money — built up a hidden reservoir of strength.
James Clear also reminds us:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Ahmed’s system wasn’t just about racing. It was about community, persistence, creativity, and refusing to quit when the lights went out.
“Even the painful paths,” he said, “led me exactly where I needed to be.”
His words are a powerful reminder: when you choose resilience, no experience is ever truly wasted.

As we carry this spirit of persistence and unseen growth into May, we are excited to invite you to our next literary social event on May 14th. With Atomic Habits, we will continue to explore the hidden power of choices, habits, and small moments that shape our lives.

Exclusive Answers from Ahmed “Scotland” Khader:

1. This single line captured the soul of the Crossroads experience “searching in the dark.” What advice would you give to someone stuck in that phase today, feeling lost and unseen?

“Time changes everything. Good times and bad times both pass — nothing is forever. We come from a lineage of survivors. Deep inside you, there’s more strength than you realize. Challenges reveal it. When life is easy, you don’t notice it — but when hardships come, you’ll be surprised how tough and adaptable you truly are. Keep standing up. Keep adapting. You are tougher than you think — and you will find your way out of the dark.”

2. Looking back, was there ever a choice you regret — or did even the painful paths lead you exactly where you needed to be?

“No regrets. Every loss, every hardship shaped who I am today — and I like who I’ve become. Without the pain, I might not have chased my dreams so hard or grown so much. Hardship taught me to see people differently, to judge less, and to be stronger with money and life decisions. Everything that happened, led me here — and I’m grateful.”

3. Now that you are building a team for the future, what core values do you hope to pass down to the next generation of racers?

“People need space to grow, to adapt, and sometimes to fail — because real strength comes from struggle. Resilience already lives inside people; they just need the right environment to discover it. Building a lasting team means facing challenges together and standing back up, every time.”