In times of crisis, one must seize control of the narrative.
With three apprehend violence orders against him, several court battles to fight, his marriage broken down and a public inquiry into the local council he used to lead, controversial Sydney property developer Salim Mehajer has released his own inspirational video.
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Salim Mehajer's new dream
The troubled Sydney property developer has a new dream and he wants to share it with the world.
Published on his Facebook page overnight, Dream - Motivational Video features stirring music, a rousing narration, plenty of slow motion and stock footage, and the word "dream" over and over again.
"Do you dream of being successful? Do you think you will ever make it to the top? Do you dream of becoming an inspiration to millions of people out there? Or are you just one of them?" the narrator asks over shots of a blue-suited Mr Mehajer stepping out of his white Ferrari and walking through a crowd of people.
"Well let me tell you … if you don't dream ... then you're setting yourself up for failure."
A climatic moment in the two-and-a-half minute YouTube clip comes when a latte-sipping older woman reads a newspaper headline about Mr Mehajer before looking at him, shaking her head and walking away.
"Not everyone will like you. Some people will try to put you down. They will discredit you. They will back stab you," the narrator says, before Mr Mehajer chases after the woman to return her lost mobile phone.
"Just be yourself, stay genuine, and dream."
![A stills from the motivational video posted by controversial Sydney property developer Salim Mehajer.](/web/20160824014342im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/x/j/6/r/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqxhrb.png/1471749212555.jpg)
The clip is directed by Manuel Abdo, whose True Dreams Media company was also behind Mr Mehajer's now infamous pre-wedding video.
It was the extravagant wedding, which shut down a public street with helicopters and a cavalcade of luxury cars, that threw Mr Mehajer, then deputy mayor of Auburn Council, into the headlines.
![A shot from al video posted by Salim Mehajer.](/web/20160824014342im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/x/j/6/q/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gqxhrb.png/1471749212555.jpg)
It also drew the spotlight onto Auburn Council, which was ultimately sacked and is now the subject of a public inquiry.
Mr Mehajer's latest video appears to be only the start of his video ambitions. On his Facebook page he wrote that the clip was just a teaser trailer with a "full episode" to be released on October 21.
But it seems Mr Mehajer might first be the unwitting star of another video.
Television show A Current Affair has been running promo advertisements featuring a video of Mr Salim losing his temper during a telephone call.