Meet Innovative Woman Nafissa Shireen, award winning Master Coach, experienced multi -7 figure businesswoman, and founder of Living Forward Business & Lifestyles Inc.
1. How/why did you begin your business?
After spending over 20 years climbing the proverbial corporate ladder, I found that even though on the outside I had achieved success – a VP in the mining industry, a woman at the top in a “man’s world” – I was never home, 60 to 70 hour weeks were the norm. The constant pressure of what was happening in the markets that affected our daily decisions, was a roller coaster of emotion and uncertainty. I was burned out, and tired. I really missed working with entrepreneurs, and the favorite part of any of my roles was the mentoring and coaching of my team members.
So in 2012, I left a role that I never should have accepted, and decided to stop building other people’s dreams and to build my own. I went back to school, and fell in love with coaching, and have pursued multiple certifications at a master level and continue to do so.
It was a natural move for me to combine my business expertise with my coaching passion. I haven’t looked back.
2. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
Believe it or not, despite the fact that my corporate roles had me negotiating up to multi-8 figure contracts when it came to my business and my clients, my biggest challenge was asking for money!
When it comes to valuing your work and contribution, in a corporate environment there are industry benchmarks and guidelines that make those decisions for you. When I left that structure behind, and it was up to me to decide, I was paralyzed.
It’s amazing how much self doubt came up at that time. I worked for free at first and my very first client I only charged $25. Realizing that there is no way I could grow my business and maintain my life that way, I reached out for help. I overcame it by doing the internal work necessary, getting the coaching I needed, and really learning how to value the results I create and now I teach my clients to do the same.
3. How do you define SUCCESS?
To me success is living each day of your life, the way you want, where you want, and with who you want. I’m all about experiences and it’s the little everyday luxuries that mean the most to me.
The fact that I can work from wherever I want with amazing and inspiring clients, travel with my husband, or when at home, to consciously end my day at 3:30 or 4:00 pm daily to spend time with my horse, are blessings that I never take for granted. To me, I’ve hit the success jackpot.
This lifestyle on my terms didn’t happen by accident, it is a daily conscious choice, and I do believe it’s possible for everyone to do the same.
4. If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business, what would that be?
I had a lot of experience and expertise in business. I thought I was set. Well I learned pretty quickly that business expertise and knowing how to BE an entrepreneur were two different things. And I had no knowledge or preparation for the latter. If I had known that I would have invested in the right mentors much earlier!
5. What makes you an innovative woman?
I believe in designing your ideal life first, THEN building the business model around it. I love to blend the purposeful with the practical so that anyone can be, do or have, anything they desire.
To find out more about Nafissa visit www.nafissashireen.com or connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.