Teaching while holding a full-time job? It’s tough, but rewarding

My week doesn’t start with a slow crawl; it starts with a sprint.

By Sunday morning, while the city is still shaking off the weekend, I am already deep into the world of Apex Footwear. As the GM of International Business, my reality is defined by a global clock. One moment I’m analyzing leather market trends, the next I’m on a high-stakes call with a partner in Europe or negotiating a contract that spans three different time zones.

In the office, the pressure is a constant companion. The numbers are precise, the expectations are massive, and the decisions I make carry the weight of leadership. For five days, my mind is a calculator and a compass. The boardroom is my second home, and the pursuit of excellence is my daily mission.

By Thursday evening, I’ll be honest—I’m exhausted. The mental fatigue is real. My body tells me to stop, to retreat, and to spend the next two days in total silence.

But when Friday morning comes, I choose a different path.

I trade the corporate intensity for a university campus. I step into the classroom, not as an executive, but as a teacher. Looking out at a room full of young, eager faces, I see the future of our industry. They aren’t looking for theories they can find in a textbook; they are looking for the truth about how the world actually works.

Is it hard to teach after a 60-hour work week? Yes. Does it require energy I think I don’t have? Absolutely.

But the moment I start sharing a story from a real-world negotiation—when I see a student’s eyes widen as they finally "get" how a global supply chain moves—my tiredness disappears. I realize that while my corporate role is about building a brand, my teaching role is about building people.

I don’t just teach because I have the knowledge; I teach because I believe that for knowledge to be truly valuable, it must be a gift, not a secret. I bring the boardroom to the classroom so these students can stand on my shoulders.

My life moves in two distinct beats:

• Sunday to Thursday: I am a strategist. I build companies.

• Friday: I am a mentor. I build leaders.

People often ask me how I balance both. The truth is, they balance me. One sharpens my mind, the other feeds my soul. I’ve learned that when your work meets your purpose, exhaustion becomes secondary to fulfillment.

My name is Nasrullah, and this is the story of my week. It is demanding, it is loud, and it is tiring—but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because at the end of the day, I’m not just making a living; I’m making a difference.