Shadman Zafar’s Post

Maybe it isn’t your business or offer, maybe it’s you. One of the most challenging things to do is take radical self-responsibility and acknowledge that we haven’t been putting in the necessary effort. As the Taylor Swift song goes  “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem it’s me” Saturday was the Lunar New Year - the Year of the Dragon has begun. I decided it was time for some radical change within my own life. As a highly sensitive person, we feel DEEPLY and our energy can be extremely up and down. It can be significantly harder to make ourselves do things when we don’t feel like it. To be completely transparent? I often tell myself “I don’t feel called to do that right now, not inspired, doesn’t feel aligned” and every other excuse in the book to not do something… Sometimes, it is genuinely not the right time. Most of the time? It’s a cop out to continue playing small. Avoiding the hard, scary or new thing seems more reasonable when you’ve attached an excuse that COULD be valid to it....right? 👀 Only you know the truth. You are your own judge, jury and prosecutor. For the next 75 days, I’ve committed to a challenge where my main focus is creating mental discipline by doing 5 non-negotiable tasks related to mindset and fitness daily. The positive effects will ripple into my business. I’m confident that strengthening my mental discipline will play a monumental role in accelerating my business growth. No more not doing important business tasks because “I don’t feel like it” or “It’s not aligned today”. If it’s on the to-do list that day, it’s getting done. Emotion plays a huge role in decision making, especially for highly sensitive people. However, when we’re not achieving the results we desire, or being the person we want to be - It’s time to focus on logic and realize that nothing changes if nothing changes. The habits and limiting beliefs we had before? Time to make them turn into ash. The year of the Dragon is a new game with new rules. 

When I stumbled upon the concept of a #giveandtake mindset. A few years ago, I used to believe that success was solely based on #individual efforts and competition. I always thought that in order to get ahead, one had to be solely focused on their own goals and disregard the needs of others. However, my perspective shifted when I came across the idea of a give-and-take mindset. The first time I delved into this concept, I realized that success can also be achieved through #collaboration and mutual support. By embracing a give-and-take mindset, I discovered that helping others and building strong relationships can actually benefit my own growth and progress. It was a transformative experience that changed the way I approached both personal and professional endeavors. With this newfound understanding, I started actively seeking opportunities to give back and support others. I realized that by offering my knowledge, skills, and resources to those in need, I not only made a #positive impact on their lives but also created a network of support that reciprocated in times of my own need. This shift in mindset not only improved my relationships but also opened doors to new opportunities and collaborations that I would have never encountered otherwise. Embracing a give-and-take #mindset has been my biggest win. #success #relationships #growth #opportunities #winning

I used to ask: “Hey, could I bother you for five minutes?” (Now, I say this instead) “Hey, I've got a great update for you 😃 . Do you have five minutes?” Why the change? Asking to "bother" someone sets a negative tone right off the bat—it’s almost like saying, "Prepare to be annoyed." Not exactly the first impression we aim for, is it? Changing just a word (or two) can shift your interactions from feeling obligatory to being eagerly anticipated. “Hey, I've got a 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 update for you. Do you have five minutes?” ↳ Turns the request into an opportunity. You're immediately offering value. ↳ Shifts the expectation. Suddenly, they're curious and engaged, not bracing for a bother. ↳ Enhances your credibility. You become associated with good news, not inconveniences. Aim for your questions to lead to an enthusiastic "Yes," positioning you as a credible and positive influence in your professional network. How do you frame your requests to be more inviting? Do you have examples where a small change made a big difference? Share your insights below!

Break Away From Your Comfort Zone Now! Think you need a fancy degree or a billion-dollar idea to grow your career or start a business? You might believe: - You need a prestigious degree - You need a truckload of money - You need a revolutionary idea - You need a vast network of influential friends In reality, these are myths! All you truly need is: - Persistence: Keep going even when the going gets tough - Adaptability: Learn and adapt to the ever-changing business landscape - Creativity: Find unique solutions to common problems - Courage: Step outside your comfort zone and take risks That’s all folks! It's way simpler than you think. The comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing grows there. To truly flourish and make strides in your career or business, dare to step outside of it. P.S. How are you pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone today? 

Have you ever shared a brilliant idea, and someone else claimed it as their own? It happens to me. I felt like second place, unworthy, and not taken into consideration. I felt others were taking advantage of me. But It wasn't a coincidence. I was attracting those kinds of situations. If you tell yourself: ❌ "I'm not smart enough." ❌ "My ideas aren't that good." ❌ "I'm not capable of defending my work." You're sending a message to others that you are vulnerable to them taking credit for your work. Changing the way of thinking can change your reality: ✅ Trust your talent and abilities. ✅ Recognize the value of your ideas. ✅ Defend your work with confidence and determination. Remember: your mindset is a magnet that attracts what you experience. Choose to attract the best for yourself! ✨ Have you experienced something similar? I'd love to know your story in the comments! 👇

Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Work: When to Consider a Change 1. Explore Fun Money-Making Options: If your current job doesn’t spark joy, why not consider exciting alternatives? Imagine playing and testing pre-release video games, creating engaging online courses, starting a YouTube channel filled with your passions, selling your photography, designing stunning graphics, or launching your own Etsy shop. The possibilities are endless and can bring both financial rewards and personal satisfaction. 2. Recognize the Signs to Move On: Feeling miserable at work? Pay attention to the warning signs. It might be time to leave if you’re facing a lack of growth opportunities, ethical dilemmas, challenging leadership, a dwindling passion, or if it’s taking a toll on your mental health. 3. Learn from Others: Remember, life is too short to make all the mistakes yourself. Glean wisdom from the experiences of others to navigate your career path more effectively. 4. Plan Your Exit Thoughtfully: Deciding to quit? Do it smartly. Update your resume, inform your network, and start your job hunt with a clear strategy in mind. 5. Embrace and Learn from Mistakes: It’s natural to make mistakes. What’s important is to learn from them and not repeat the same ones. Every error is a step towards growth. 6. Aim for Balance: Ultimately, strive for a balance between financial stability and enjoying your work. It’s not just about making money, but finding joy in what you do every day.

Change is not the enemy, it's your secret tool. Many avoid change out of fear and insecurity - believing in their static ability. Contrary to popular belief, the real danger lies not in change but in stagnation. Change is fuel to personal growth and becoming better versions of ourselves. It allows us to reinvent ourselves, explore unseen directions, and reveal dormant potentials. Especially after experiencing setbacks like a job loss, utilizing change can lead you towards pursuing what you love most – be it your latent business ideas or unique teaching methods. 1. Embrace change - adaptability strengthens resilience. 2. Identify your hidden aspirations - then seamlessly pivot. 3. Utilize your past experiences – convert them into strengths. 4. Don't worry about failure– view it as feedback instead. 5- Connect with new networks – open a world of opportunities. So remember, when life nudges you from the expected path, use this shift as a catalyst for grand transformation rather than having a setback control your career course. The hardest part of your side business is knowing how to start. Subscribe to my newsletter to cut the time to your first client by 90%. See profile.

What difference do you make? We ask this question to everything we encounter. What difference does this product make? Or this purchase? Or these people? And what if you ask this question to yourself? What difference do you personally provide to others? I often ponder this question, and I find it difficult to find a single, obvious, "sellable" answer. From the closest answer I can find - I help bring about change in being more honest and kind to oneself. A person's transformation can occur at such a depth that they may not even realize it themselves. It may occur something like this: I thought differently on my own, a new solution came on its own, or "suddenly" new events started happening. As if there is no connection with what was so deeply touched or changed in our work... So when a person consciously sees the connection between our work and subsequent changes, it is a gift for me. Otherwise, I rejoice in the fact of change itself - it means that the process is initiated in any case 🔥 I have become an input into the changes that a person was seeking. I take joy in working with people and creating change. I see the best in everyone - not just believing, but seeing with my own eyes that each of us has access to the best within us 🙏 . And though it is difficult to explain in human language in this era of consumerism, it is precisely in this difference that makes our society better from person to person. And what about you? Do you ask yourself such questions? What difference do you personally make and that your business provides?

☛ If you're around age 50, here's another thing that happens with work and your career. And I'm giving you 3 things to create options for yourself. Someone described it like this to me: ➤ "My priorities are evolving. It's not just about the grind anymore. There's more to life. I want to spend more time outside of the routine of work. It's not that I don't want to work. I do! But I want it more on my own terms." Yeah, it's things like family. Grandkids (weird for me to think about that - I'm 60 in a few months, my kids are 18 and 21, reality is: I'm in the frame!) Then there's just stuff you've always wanted to do. Like, for me, I've got this artist streak in me. And, little known fact, I'm a great welder. So making metal furniture, copying great 'lines' of famous art, architecture is a passion. You've got some resources. But no time. Now, there are 3 things I've identified that need to happen to allow you to make this shift and create options. Or at least to explore what's possible. ➤ One is your mindset. ➤ Two is thinking more like a business, "businessYOU". ➤ Three is how to market "businessYOU". Three is the toughest. Not many people are comfortable promoting themselves. Fortunately it's the easiest to get help with. Much of it can be done for you.