Fatima Sheikh, media skilled, coach and mum of two

Welcome to all the brand new subscribers of this text!

I’m a working mum of two who lately give up her 9-5 to pursue redesigning her life to have a satisfying profession that additionally offers her time and monetary freedom.

On this publication, I share my journey in direction of this purpose with a deal with productiveness, transitioning out of a 9-5 and naturally, parenting.

I additionally share loads about rising expertise (like AI, web3, no code) as I consider that will probably be a key enabler for us in attaining our objectives within the minimal time doable.

I’m so comfortable you’re right here! I’m a author at coronary heart and I hope you get pleasure from studying this text as a lot as I get pleasure from writing it 🙂

The most important factor I’ve realized in January is that what you deal with, grows.

In January I made a decision to cease freelancing as my key supply of earnings, and deal with my long run plans of constructing my very own enterprise on-line.

One which I hope will give me time and monetary freedom in the long term.

And solely in 1 month of doing that, that is what occurred:

• My viewers grew.

• My enterprise mission grew to become clearer.

• I spent a variety of time talking with the ladies I need to serve.

• I validated the demand for the issue I’m trying to clear up.

• My vitality shifted from ‘unsure’ to assured! This has fuelled me with extra vitality to push forward.

• I realized to hearken to my intestine and proceed shifting ahead with intention.

• I realized to cease if one thing wasn’t feeling aligned.

• I began to consider extra in what I’ve to supply, as a result of I’m seeing it come to life.

• I began working from a spot of abundance fairly than lack.

  I’m excited to see what the remainder of the 12 months will carry! I have to maintain the main focus.

  

I’ll admit although, as somebody who has at all times had a gradual and substantial earnings, I nonetheless battle with not having that.

Having spoken to so lots of you recently, I really feel that could be a frequent feeling for these beginning their very own enterprise, or in a transition. The place does this root from, I’m wondering?

Nevertheless, realising that freelancing just isn’t sustainable – because it makes me commerce my time for cash – and that doesn’t align with my purpose of time and monetary freedom, has helped me shift my mindset and deal with the long run.

So, in case you are stalling on one thing you need to obtain, or spreading your self too skinny, take a step again and select what you need to deal with and see the distinction it makes.

This part is the favorite a part of my publication as I get to share the journey of unimaginable mums who’re working dream companies OR are on the trail to transition into one thing extra aligned with their future.

This interview has been lined up for some time and I’m so comfortable to be lastly sharing it with you!

Focus has been her key hack to getting issues accomplished too. Extra in her interview beneath.

I’ve recognized Fatima for over a decade (possibly 2 a long time!). We’ve got labored on some difficult tasks collectively and I feel going by these challenges collectively again then, has saved us related not directly.

Fatima is an promoting and communications skilled, and extra lately an ‘empty nester’ (yikes, I don’t know if I like that time period!).

Her kids going away to school gave her the motivation, time and vitality to consider her personal future and what may very well be subsequent for her.

In her search to seek out new objective and a path to probably transition out of her 9-5, Fatima determined to pursue teaching and bought licensed as a private {and professional} coach.

Thus far, on the aspect of her full time job, she has coached over 100 girls entrepreneurs to whom she gives methods to boost their management abilities, enhance particular person and group dynamics, and drive efficiency.

Q. Are you able to inform us a bit about your self

I have been working in media and promoting for over 21 years, however I each time I’m requested about myself I at all times say that I’m a mom first.

Motherhood has really been my most defining position. I began as a younger mother, balancing a brand new job and household. Now, as an empty nester, I discover extra time for myself and have embarked a journey to be a coach for people and professionals, with the intention to offer again from all my experiences.

Q.How has your position advanced in your skilled profession?

I even have a grasp’s in finance. So I ought to have been working in as an funding banker! However life had its personal plans, and I used to be introduced into advertising and marketing and promoting.

And actually, I entered the promoting area on the age of 30, when individuals often exit the trade! I used to be doing advertising and marketing and gross sales earlier than that.

It has been a curler coaster: I’ve gone by the whole spectrum of media – offline, TV, and print to when Fb was simply launched and content material was a phrase individuals did not perceive, to then changing into Head of Content material, and now residing within the ocean of content material! So yeah, that is, that is been my journey.

I’ve round 15 individuals in my group. Some are new and a few are working remotely throughout the globe and suppose it is superb as a result of there are such a lot of completely different views that every one among them brings to the desk.

Q. How do you handle your time between work, teaching, and household?

Changing into a mother at a really younger age taught me some beneficial classes. The secret is that we have to have a timetable. As a lot as I want to freewheel into issues, we want a schedule!

My day nonetheless begins at 545am. Even when I haven’t got to ship youngsters to highschool, the morning is about exercises, it is about getting the meals so as, the home so as earlier than you hit work at 930am. After which after 6pm, I attempt to give at the very least two hours to teaching, after which dinner and go to mattress early!

I’m very centered throughout weekdays, and if I’m very trustworthy, it’s actually all about work, work and work.

Additionally, I feel as a mother, that position or job would not ever change off. When my youngsters had been with me, they wanted me extra mentally and bodily. However since they’ve left for college, I am unable to even start to inform you how a lot your youngsters want you emotionally!

Q. What impressed you to begin teaching and what’s your teaching focus?

Having spent 20 years within the company world, you begin questioning a variety of issues round you. Are you doing sufficient? Are you the place you need to be? And is that this what you need to do for the following 10-15 years?

I used to be fairly blessed to have a really senior coach converse to me about this. And he or she requested me to discover the world of teaching. I truthfully began that journey extra for myself, to grasp what’s teaching and the way it can have a constructive influence on me. I studied for two months, I attended courses 6 hours a day on the weekends, did a couple of submissions, and bought myself licensed as knowledgeable coach. I noticed the influence of the method on me and now I’m giving it again. I work with all types of shoppers within the teaching area however my forte is in skilled teaching.

Q. What’s your final purpose together with your work and training?

I feel one emotion that has been very near me is that about empowerment. About 4 years in the past, I began working with girls entrepreneurs, supporting them with private branding, advertising and marketing, and the right way to get their enterprise going.

After which I began working with college college students. Additionally, curiously, in my present group 70% are beneath the age of 30. So that they’re actually early of their careers. So I see myself as a mentor; as any individual who’s there to allow individuals to maneuver to that subsequent step of their careers and of their lives. And I feel teaching is that transition I’m prone to make from promoting.

Q. The place do you discover your inspiration?

I feel primarily from my all my girlfriends! I am actually blessed to have some superb girlfriends. After we hear speak concerning the circle of affect, and concerning the circle of pals and the influence they’ll have on you, I am a testomony of that.

Should you encompass your self with constructive, ahead pondering, impartial and assured girls, you are certain to develop. As a result of they are going to encourage you, inspire you, they are going to stroll alongside you. After all additionally my household, my husband, and my two youngsters, are my largest cheerleaders!

Q. What’s your finest your finest productiveness hack?

I tie my hair up in a pony, roll up my sleeves, shut the door, and it is simply me and my work. So simply focus. There are such a lot of issues you are able to do, the hot button is focus.

Retaining my cellphone on silent and even higher, in a distinct room! This manner I am not tempted to go on social media or verify my messages, , as a result of once more, I am in content material, proper? It is the best excuse. So maintaining my cellphone away is a big hack for me.

Q. What’s your parenting mantra?

Embrace and adapt. Embrace no matter comes your manner as a mom. You realize, good, dangerous, comfortable, unhappy – adapt to it. And realise that on the finish of the day, it is solely to carry pleasure to you.

Once I grew to become a mother, the fabric that was out there was Dr. Spock. There was no web. There was no social media. And naturally, my mother-in-law and my mom.

You realize, in at present’s time and age, the web is our village, truthfully, it’s so useful in elevating our children.

Q. What do you do in your free time, and the way does it aid you?

So, I am fairly an outdated soul. So I get pleasure from my outdated music – 70s and 80s. And likewise, I do artwork. I’ve began to get pleasure from actually mandala artwork, I discover it meditative. It is simply so calming.

Q. What challenges have you ever confronted as a working mother?

As each a mom and a lady, I feel we nonetheless battle itemizing priorities and setting boundaries. Figuring out what’s vital, after which what are the boundaries that we have to put in place for individuals to grasp once I’m out there, what’s okay, and what’s not.

I discover that prioritising is an inner course of and setting boundaries is exterior. So I feel that is at all times been my largest problem.

Q.What recommendation do you may have for brand spanking new mothers or these planning to begin working once more?

Belief your intuition. And belief your instinct. No person is aware of it higher than you.

And I feel for ladies who’re getting again to work, as cliche as it might sound, it is at all times about taking that first step. Getting out of the consolation zone isn’t simple. It is a daunting activity.

Once I launched into this teaching journey originally of 2023, I used to be scared as hell, I did not know the place I used to be going with it.

Once I did my first company workshop, and I have been working in company for 21 years, if any individual was to take my pulse, they might suppose I used to be hyperventilating! So my recommendation can be to only take that first step. Probably the most that can occur is you’ll fail, however you are failing at that first step or the second step, there may be not a lot to lose. So simply take that step.

Q. What instruments do you utilize to make your life simpler?

This may sound a bit boring and cliche however my calendar on my cellphone is important. It helps me construction my day and maintain monitor of priorities with out surprises. I plan my complete week prematurely as I’m not good with on the spot or advert hoc occasions, I want to arrange.

Q. Smartest thing you may have learn or watched recently

So I am very huge on Korean dramas. I’m an enormous Ok-drama fan!

Extra lately I chanced upon Indian Idol and I am in shock with the expertise that I noticed on that present. I imply, they’re all between 17 and 23 of age and have some loopy expertise.

Q. Greatest Quote

“The energy of the wolf is with the pack and the energy of the pack is with a wolf” – Rudyard Kipling.

Select your pack rigorously 🙂

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A lot of knowledge there 🙂 If you would like have any questions for Fatima, you may remark beneath, or e-mail Fatima on coachfatimashaikh@gmail.com

Depart a remark

That’s all for now. Have an exquisite week!

Love,

Abha