Nouman Jaffar

Sometimes I wish I could cancel the past couple of years. But mostly, I am thankful for them because they are the years I think I became the most woke.
In fact, I am slowly starting to get into gear for the holidays,
I’ve started _______ (prepping bundles for gifting sales that will kick off on Cyber Monday /organizing staffing for my booth at the holiday fair / brainstorming treats for our 12-days of Christmas giveaway / redoing the menu etc.].
I know this holiday season will be more low keyed than before, we are going through tough economic times, but I’ve got my health, I’ve got my family. I’ve got love.
What are you most thankful for as you head into the holidays?

Do you journal? I’m obsessed with it.
I record everything.
I write every idea, every dream, every wish that I have for myself and my business into a notebook.
I remember when I first started the idea for _______ (insert your business name) I felt as if my brain was on fire. Ideas would flash across my mind, in and out, in and out.
I used my notebook to put all the pieces together. It was the one space where I literally built _______ (insert name of business) from the ground up.
Writing things down made me feel less afraid (more in control, more intentional about my dreams).
So tell me about you, mobile device or a notebook? How do you keep track of your ideas?

Can I be honest?
It’s not easy to be always passionate about business. Now don’t get me wrong, I love what I do but sometimes _______ (the hours can be long, the time away from family is hard, not having enough money to do everything I want can be draining).
On those days I want to _______ (stay in bed a bit longer, wish myself away form the present, disconnect, spend a lot time doing something else) but those feelings are fleeting. Thankfully.
To snap out of hum drum I think about my _______ (customers/clients) who really believe in (the services /products your client loves.) Then I move s into a space of joy.
Everyone needs a break now and then. It’s ok to acknowledge when you do, and take what you need to go again.
What do you do when you need a refresh?

Friend, I have a question for you. Why do you do, what you do?

Raise your hand if the holidays always gets you in a mood? I get reflective. I think about what the year has brought. My wins. My losses. My learning.
I can’t lie this year has been rough but I’m grateful that I survived it. I am so much more than the past 9 months
When I think back, it seems like just yesterday I _________ [ opened my Etsy shop/ did my first Facebook Live, booked my first coaching client etc)
When I took the leap of faith I kept thinking [would anyone purchase my clothes / listen to my Live / buy my course)
And now, here I am, _______ [4 months / 4 years/ 14 years] later, and time has proved yet again that as tough as things get, I will survive.
So yes, this year has been tough and yes, the approaching holidays always gets me in a mood.
But here’s something I want you to know, if you are not in such great a space, give your self grace and time. Both of them can change everything.
Do you agree?

Want to hear about my toughest lesson?
__________ [At 9, I went up to the mic and forgot all the lines of my poem in my school competition / in University I forgot the date of my last exam and had to repeat the entire year / my first business flattened after just 12 months at it.]
But you know what?
That hard knock taught me_______________ [not to over rehearse things and be more natural / to never rely on memory but write everything down / I am tougher than I think.)
When people ask me about my why I (insert what you do), I turn to the lessons of my life but I don’t think about the #FAILURE, just the #LEARNING.
Here is what I know for sure. In every failing there is learning, and in every learning there is a blessing. Do you agree?