They say overnight success takes about 10 years. Well, in my case, it's been 15...and counting.
Fifteen years of conversations, handshakes, shared meals, and countless flights between Newcastle and key global destinations. Fifteen years of building relationships, earning trust, and proving that the North East is a serious player on the world stage. And now, after all this time, we’re finally launching ISS Airview – an international gateway at Newcastle International Airport, designed to drive investment, innovation, and trade.
It’s a moment of immense pride, but also a lesson in patience, perseverance, and the power of positivity.
If I had a pound for every time I thought, “This deal will be done in six months”, I’d probably own an airline by now. The reality is, anything truly worth doing takes longer than you expect. Plans change, priorities shift, and unexpected roadblocks appear.
There were times when the vision for ISS Airview felt so close I could touch it – only for the world to change overnight. Economic downturns, shifting policies, global disruptions… every setback required a recalibration. But here’s the thing: if you believe in something enough, you don’t quit – you adjust.
Fifteen years ago, when I started fostering these international relationships, there were no guarantees. Some people told me to focus on ‘easier’ wins, stay closer to home, or scale down my ambition. But that’s not how progress happens.
As Sir Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
And so, we continued.
I’ve learned that your mindset is the single biggest factor in whether you succeed or fail. When doors close, when plans unravel, when yet another ‘sure thing’ gets pushed back another year – what keeps you going?
For me, it’s optimism. It’s knowing that every ‘no’ brings me one step closer to a ‘yes’. It’s believing that the right people, the right partnerships, and the right opportunities will align if you keep showing up and doing the work.
There’s an old saying: “When nothing is going right, go left.” I’d add: When nothing is going right, keep your head up, keep moving forward, and stay positive – because things always shift when you least expect it.
And now, with ISS Airview, we’re taking that same spirit of patience, perseverance, and positivity to the next generation of regional scaleups.
For businesses ready to take their first international steps – or those already making waves globally but looking to scale 10x- you don’t need to do it alone. ISS Airview provides all the support you need to grow global, leveraging the government and ground-level relationships we’ve built over the last 15 years.
Success isn’t just about talent or timing. It’s about resilience, playing the long game, and surrounding yourself with the right people.
As the great Napoleon Hill once said: “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”
Now, it’s your turn. Let’s take your business beyond borders. Let’s grow global. Let’s scale. And together, let’s make the next 15 years count.
(To find out more about our growing global plans, and how you can be part of them, reach out to grow.global@issairview.com)
Ammar Mirza CBE is Chair & Founder of Asian Business Connexions, Executive Chair of the AmmarM Group, Honorary Colonel of 101 Regiment RA and holds various positions across the public and private sectors with a deep interest in Inclusion, Innovation and Internationalisation.