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 just lately stop 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 the direction of this aim with a give attention to productiveness, transitioning out of a 9-5 and naturally, parenting.

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

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

The most important factor I’ve realized in January is that what you give attention to, grows.

In January I made a decision to cease freelancing as my key supply of revenue, and give attention to 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 lots 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 transferring ahead with intention.

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

• I began to imagine 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 relatively than lack.

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

  

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

Having spoken to so a lot 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 ponder?

Nonetheless, realising that freelancing shouldn’t be sustainable – because it makes me commerce my time for cash – and that doesn’t align with my aim of time and monetary freedom, has helped me shift my mindset and give attention to 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 give attention to and see the distinction it makes.

This part is the favorite a part of my publication as I get to share the journey of unbelievable 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 glad to be lastly sharing it with you!

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

I’ve recognized Fatima for over a decade (perhaps 2 many years!). Now we have labored on some difficult tasks collectively and I believe going by these challenges collectively again then, has stored us linked in a roundabout way.

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

Her kids going away to college gave her the motivation, time and vitality to consider her personal future and what could possibly be subsequent for her.

In her search to seek out new goal 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 ladies entrepreneurs to whom she presents methods to boost their management expertise, enhance particular person and crew 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 every time I’m requested about myself I at all times say that I’m a mom first.

Motherhood has actually 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 purpose to offer again from all my experiences.

Q.How has your position developed 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 promoting.

And in reality, I entered the promoting house on the age of 30, when folks normally exit the trade! I used to be doing advertising 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 folks did not perceive, to then turning 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 folks in my crew. Some are new and a few are working remotely throughout the globe and assume it is superb as a result of there are such a lot of totally 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’s 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 high school, 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 not less than two hours to teaching, after which dinner and go to mattress early!

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

Additionally, I believe as a mother, that position or job would not ever swap off. When my youngsters have 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 start out teaching and what’s your teaching focus?

Having spent 20 years within the company world, you begin questioning lots of issues round you. Are you doing sufficient? Are you the place you ought 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 communicate to me about this. And she or he requested me to discover the world of teaching. I truthfully began that journey extra for myself, to know what’s teaching and the way it can have a constructive affect on me. I studied for two months, I attended lessons 6 hours a day on the weekends, did a couple of submissions, and bought myself licensed as knowledgeable coach. I noticed the affect of the method on me and now I’m giving it again. I work with all types of purchasers within the teaching house however my forte is in skilled teaching.

Q. What’s your final aim along with your work and training?

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

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

Q. The place do you discover your inspiration?

I believe primarily from my all my girlfriends! I am actually blessed to have some superb girlfriends. Once we hear discuss in regards to the circle of affect, and in regards to the circle of mates and the affect they will have on you, I am a testomony of that.

For those who encompass your self with constructive, ahead pondering, unbiased and assured ladies, you are sure 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 greatest your greatest 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 bottom line is focus.

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

Q. What’s your parenting mantra?

Embrace and adapt. Embrace no matter comes your approach as a mom. You realize, good, unhealthy, glad, unhappy – adapt to it. And realise that on the finish of the day, it is solely to deliver 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 the moment’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 make it easier to?

So, I am fairly an previous soul. So I take pleasure in my previous music – 70s and 80s. And in addition, I do artwork. I’ve began to take pleasure in 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 believe we nonetheless battle itemizing priorities and setting boundaries. Figuring out what’s necessary, after which what are the boundaries that we have to put in place for folks to know once I’m out there, what’s okay, and what’s not.

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

Q.What recommendation do you’ve for brand new mothers or these planning to start out working once more?

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

And I believe for ladies who’re taking a look at 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 is rarely simple. It is a daunting process.

Once I launched into this teaching journey at first 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 anyone was to take my pulse, they’d assume I used to be hyperventilating! So my recommendation could 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 employ to make your life simpler?

This would possibly sound a bit boring and cliche however my calendar on my cellphone is crucial. It helps me construction my day and hold observe 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 would like to organize.

Q. Neatest thing you’ve learn or watched currently

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

Extra just 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 power of the wolf is with the pack and the power of the pack is with a wolf” – Rudyard Kipling.

Select your pack rigorously 🙂

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A lot of knowledge there 🙂 In order for you 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