We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Rachid Akiki and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachid, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
call it the bed to the floor.
I wake up and hit the ground.
Pushups, situps, squats.
The holy trinity.
It is my morning deal with myself.
No music. No warmup. No drama.
Just reps.
It wakes my mind. It sets my day.
It reminds me that if I can win the first 90 minutes,
I can win the rest of the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Rachid Akiki. I am a doctor and a builder.
I turn ideas into systems that work.
I run teams, grow brands, and fix hard problems.
I built Thyme Machine, a food truck that feels like home.
I built Bookzdoctor, a place for second opinions and real care.
I help companies scale with clear plans, smart tools, and simple systems.
What makes my work special is the mix.
Medicine meets business. Heart meets logic. Speed meets care.
I love making things that help people live better and work better.
Right now I am building in the insurance space, new tech tools, and new ways to bring more value to those who need it.
My story is simple.
I love big vision. I love real work.
And I love building things that last.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I thought I had to wait.
Wait to grow.
Wait to be ready.
Wait for someone to say yes.
Now I know the truth.
No one comes to give you a pass.
No one comes to tell you it is time.
You choose the time.
You choose the move.
You choose the life.
I no longer wait.
I build.
I try.
I learn.
And I make my own doors.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain the day I saw it had a job.
Pain was not there to break me.
It was there to wake me.
I learned that the things I tried to hide were the same things that made me move.
Made me build.
Made me fight for a better life.
So I stopped running from it.
I started using it.
As fuel.
As focus.
As a kind of fire that keeps me sharp.
That was the day the story changed.
Not because the pain left.
But because I did not fear it anymore.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire people who stay kind when life is not kind to them.
The ones who keep their word.
The ones who work hard even when no one sees them.
I think of my family.
I think of the people who left Lebanon to build a new life.
They had no power.
But they had heart, courage, and grit.
I admire that more than any title or fame.
Because power can fade.
But character stays.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I am building things that take time.
I am training my mind.
I am training my body.
I am building systems, brands, and teams that can live without me.
None of this pays today.
But it will pay later.
In freedom.
In impact.
In a life where I can choose my time, not chase it.
I plant seeds now so my future kids can grow under their shade.
Seven to ten years is not far.
It is tomorrow for people who think big.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachidakiki.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachidakiki
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachidakiki
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/rachidakiki
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/r.akiki
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/rachidakiki
