George Shafazand is a property manager with years of experience under his belt. George became part of the Happy Homes Partners Group in August 2016. With 28 years of experience in real estate development, it is not strange that his reputation precedes him. His experience spans various areas of property management that include multi-residential housing, construction administration, commercial retail, economic development, and project management. George Shafazand also serves as an expert witness in many court cases involving investors/owners and their management firms.

Why is he so sought after? George has an amazing sense of predicting and resolving problems quickly and singlehandedly transforming strategic plans into proven results. He stands out for being an excellent communicator and negotiator who thrives at solving problems and meeting project deadlines on time and below budget. George spent 12 years of his career gaining experience as a Project Manager and Owner’s Representative for multi-family and commercial and retail space development projects he supervised the process from pre-development, land development, and construction phases.

Serving as Happy Home Partners’ Vice President, George is in charge of coordinating and overseeing all areas concerning housing management, and development. His responsibility includes but is not limited to entitlements, feasibility analysis, due diligence, funding applications, construction management, contract negotiations, and turnover to occupancy.

George holds a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, with a Master’s in Property Management. He is also an active member of the California Bureau of Real Estate. Despite his many responsibilities as Vice President of HHP, George finds the time to teach many seminars, workshops, and classes on hospitality, and multi-residential. To that effect, he has received many honors and designations that include but are not limited to the National Compliance Executive and Property Management Masters.

To conclude, commercial property managers, and residential property managers, have the capacity to provide property owners with great results. The responsibilities of a property manager span across but are not limited to those listed in this article. We advise that you consider the key factors when choosing a manager to handle your affairs. George Shafazand has made a name for himself thanks to his work and personal ethics. His years of experience make him sought after in the hospitality industry globally as one who can turn businesses around and provide investors with the results they need.

So great to meet you! Please tell us a little about yourself and what business did you start?

Great to be here today, I am a Hospitality and Property Management Consultant both in commercial and residential. I do consult in US and abroad (Asia, and Europe mainly). I have been consulting for over 15 years and currently I am the VP of operations for Happy Home Partners in the East Bay Northern California.

What’s your backstory and how did you come up with the idea of HELPYOURBUSINESS?

I started in commercial management that included hotels in 1993 and residentials in 1995 and continued managing and got involved in acquisitions and selling real estate properties.

Describe the process of launching the business.

Every business has a different lunch process, whereas mine is based on reputation and proven results. Once I put the word out that I now consult both open and confidentially, I started getting clients.

Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?

Reputation and proven results. Once I get the client out of Red and into profitability, clients continue to work with me.

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers? How did your business stand out?

Usually the word of mouth, many hotels are franchised and when I bring one up the other ones that need help will follow. On the commercial or residential properties, usually the local brokers or agents refer their clients to me.

How are you doing today and what does the future look like?

I am super busy. I have 3 clients 2 in US and 1 in Europe now and have 4 more clients waiting for me to help them. I never overwhelm myself so I can give 150% of my undivided attention to my clients.

Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?

Yes. I first study the client and his or her ability to be able to accept change or process in doing their business. I have had some tough clients that resisted to change but once they saw the forecast, they accepted the change in their process of doing their business and got very happy that they did.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

I use many different software’s but usually I use Excel Sheet when studying their P&Ls and their bank statements.

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?

My preferred books are “Build a Rental Property Empire“ by Mark Ferguson and as far as for podcast, I listen to Property Management Mastermind

Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting?

My advice is ((Know your market))

Where can our readers keep up-to-date with you?

For now, they can reach me at [email protected] They can send a question and I will answer. I am in developing my own weekly webinar.

João Ferreira is 22 years old, of Portuguese origin, single. He immigrated to Luxembourg at the age of 7, along with his family. Together with the family, he created his first business (Kindergarten & Day Care) in 2019, a project studied for a few years before. His first business is focused on the well-being and inclusion of children.

The success is largely due to the fact that it comes from a family of 5 siblings, in which the youngest has special needs (Autism).

João attributes his path and way of being in life, due to the experience and education lived in his childhood. The fact of having a special brother brought him the will and need to help children, focusing on the inclusion and well-being of children.

We recently sent down for a brief interview here are some of our conversations.

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

My name is João Ferreira. I am the founder of Royal Kids & APDF Luxembourg. Royal Kids is a family kindergarten and daycare with the idea of adding (inclusion) for all kids and nationalities.
APDF Luxembourg is a communication agency for high businesses. We are currently based in the heart of Luxembourg-Belair.

Where did the idea for ROYAL KIDS & APDF LUXEMBOURG come from?

The idea to open the kindergarten (Royal Kids) came when we got the youngest member of our family in Luxembourg, my little brother. When he was 2 years old he was diagnosed with autism and unfortunately the people in his day-a-day life did not accept it at all, kindergarten, school, and after-school.

I mean I was studying to become an architect but my family is the only thing I have and seeing the situation he was put in was making me feel unable and powerless to help him. So after changing and changing schools and kindergartners we decided to make our own with the inclusion of kids with special needs. A second home.

The idea for APDF Luxembourg came when I started noticing that I had lots of 50+ messages asking for services in real estate, cars, clients, etc.. so that’s when the idea came.

I said not to create a communication agency or a private business group that allows new connections between 2 or more people. But by helping young or in need people to earn as much as I do by helping me.

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

It’s very simple, me and my team I know that no matter the business we need to maintain our quality of service, ear, understand, have a connection with our clients. Especially in Luxembourg (very small).

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

I think that not only for us but worldwide the biggest challenge unfortunately was and still is COVID-19. We opened in July 2019. The first week that the kindergarten was full, the world stopped and we closed of course like everyone. So yeah for me the biggest challenge was and still is COVID-19 cause as you might know the cases are always going up and down so we are always afraid to close.

To overcome them we needed to use my own personal money to pay loans, salaries, insurances, etc.(that for me is always important to have in case of an emergency). But I mean when opening a business this is a thing that we had in mind cause things might not always go as planned.

As an entrepreneur, what is it that actually motivates and drives you?

To see that my team and clients feel happy, safe, and at home in our work environment.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness and why?

Mostly Instagram, google business, and our personal website.

What is your experience with paid advertising, like PPC or sponsored content marketing campaigns? Does it work?

I have a lot of experience in paid advertisements since before I had lots of web jobs for collaboration of brands, hotels, newspapers, etc.

So once I opened my own (something) I used my own contact to promote my brand for free, and it worked very well.

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

This is a great question, we had the opportunity to open a 2 kindergarten very recently but instead, we choose security in case something like COVID-19 happens again.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

That I should have been more firm with some of my employees. I have the feeling some of them, in the beginning, were taking advantage of the kindness and liberty we gave them. I don’t regret going through that but it would have been nice to know more about it or how to ask in some situations.

What excites you most about your industry? Where do you see it heading in the near future?

For sure the fact that we are working with people, kinds. For my team and me, it’s a blessing to be able to work in something where you can be yourself. Share love, emotions, etc. We are rolling them in their most important first steps of life and I think that’s beautiful.

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

Maybe be more prepared in case of an emergency.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

To be able to open 2 businesses at 22 and that it’s going pretty good so far.

What inspired you to start you to become a model?

I was always super interested in the fashion industry and even if in Luxembourg there is or was really something dedicated to people with the same passion as I do, I have been very (lucky) to be able to go to NY, Paris, Portugal, Dubai for modeling.

What is your brand’s philosophy?

The inclusion & the well-being of the children.

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

Even if your idea is great, please check it a million times, show it to friends, family, or someone from work.

It might show you something that you did not think about it and it might prepare you better for it. And of course, have savings in case of an emergency.

So great to meet you! Your story is very very impressive especially being as young as you are. Please tell us a little about yourself and what got you started.

My name is Noah B. Swiderski and I’m the Owner and Founder of Briton Media LLC, the leader in podcast solutions dedicated to connecting Podcasters to the resources they need to excel their Podcasts.

These resources include Podcast Editing, Podcast Marketing, and Content Creation.
I first noticed my love for business early on in my life when I built a website selling football cards in middle school. (2005) Fast forward to college, I often found myself building side businesses in my dorm for extra money.

This included producing beats for local music artists in the area and using the money to reinvest into another business. My marketing and economics professors saw what I was doing in the e-commerce space and gave me feedback that I would soon be “supersonically successful”.

What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?

Growing up I was confident I had something in me that was special, and that I could use to build something big to help people. The hardest challenge I had was getting rid of the people that weren’t great for my success.

I used to associate with people who would waste time, spend money, and talk about the same things that wouldn’t be productive and help them expand and be successful. I’m someone who is always finding new ways to grow, new ways to be more efficient. I think that was the game-changer for myself and my business was finding the right mentor, and people to surround myself with.

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

I wish someone told me at the beginning that it would take months and years before you would see the success. If you just tough it out as hard as that may be in the moment and fall in love with the hard work. The work others don’t like. You will be successful. You will get anywhere you want in life if you just don’t give up.

And relentlessly push for your dreams every day. There were times in life I didn’t have it figured out, I worked at CVS pharmacy, I was broke, I spent the only money I had on partying at clubs. I would be physically, mentally, and financially drained. If you just use that obsession, and gift you have. You will find the right vehicle and truly change your life.

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

The greatest success in my life is graduating from Southern New Hampshire University and starting my LLC.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

A typical day for me looks like following up on scheduled calls for potential clients and working on Podcast sessions for clients. I make it productive by setting up my day the night before by writing what I need to get done in my notes app on my phone. (Got this idea from my girlfriend India).

How do you bring ideas to life?

I bring ideas to life by putting my energy and confidence behind them. I truly feel like I can bring any idea to life and have crowded around it just by believing in it fully. That’s what I do with Briton Media LLC!

What’s one trend that excites you?

78% of Americans are Now Familiar with Podcasting This is approximately 222 million people and an increase of 10 million in one year — a 4.72% increase. That is HUGE for us!

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I get things done even if it’s late at night and I have a million other things to do, I think that one habit has generated so much success for me. Just putting in the work longer than anyone, I find myself getting closer to where I want to be.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell myself to cut all the bad friends off, get a mentor, find the right vehicle to use that special gift in me that works harder than everyone. I would also tell myself that the girls you are dating don’t see the vision you see, and to focus on yourself.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

The Colts are the best team in the NFL and going to win multiple super bowls. (Living in New England) Almost nobody agrees with that statement given their rivalry.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I recommend reading! I never used to read, until recently and I’ve learned so much not only about business but other things that help me be a better business owner. Currently reading “Good to Great” by Jim Collins.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.

I know exactly what I offer, I’m confident we deliver the highest quality services/products for Podcasters, and I know where to find and market to the ideal clients that we want to have. Know what you offer, know who you want to do business with you, and know where to find where they are.

Use relevant hashtags to find your ideal client, find the accounts they follow, think like your ideal client. Put yourself in their shoes, this helps you market to them to perfection.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

There are many that I have had, however the biggest one I think was not believing in myself and not being confident. That comes with time, and many small wins to get to the point where business chases me. Now I get the opportunity to accept or turn down business that I don’t feel like is helping us grow.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers? (this should be an actual idea for a business, not business advice)

This one is easy; I would suggest listeners to start selling stuff on Facebook Marketplace that you don’t use or don’t need. This can include literally anything, football cards, couches, TVs, anything! And stack that money and invest it. Either in stocks or a business/asset to grow more money.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why? (personal or professional)

The best 100 dollars I recently spent was on a pedicure, it’s great to give back to yourself. To re-invest it back into yourself allows you to grow faster and feel better about yourself.

Asta Jakubson is the founder of Asta Fashions, through which she offers custom-made apparel ranging from bridal attire to matching face masks.

 

So great to meet you! Your story is very very impressive, especially being as young as you are. Please tell us a little about yourself and what got you started

I always loved creating unique designs plus it is in my blood to do as I am a 3rd generation dressmaker! One of my favorite shows as a child was Dynasty. I loved all of the female characters & how the clothes they wore made them so powerful & almost iconic!

They looked successful before they even spoke. Their presence when they walked into a room was clearly noticed. “ You only get one chance to make a first impression”

 

Who or what inspired you?

From a very young age starting school I noticed how when we are all wearing our uniforms, we look the same, you can’t see anyone’s personality. It inspired me to create clothes where people can express their true self, stand out & be unique.

 

When and how did you develop an interest in fashion?

Watching my Mum cutting her fabrics, she would give me little pieces to play with as a child. I used them to make dresses for my dolls! They were the best-dressed dolls in the town!!! My friends started asking me to make dresses for their dolls so that’s how it all started!

 

And how have you noticed it in the fashion industry?

In my opinion, every designer should be distinctive. You should be able to recognize their designs immediately. Take Chanel for example they have a signature style which is what I want people to see when they look at my designs.

 

Why are you passionate about fashion?

I am a hugely creative person & I love what I do especially when I see my clients happy & feeling beautiful while wearing my designs.

 

How do you define personal branding?

Branding is all about who you are. When people wear an Asta Jakubson design they know they are wearing a quality design specifically made for them to complement their own individual personalities. You will definitely be noticed & photographed by the press.

 

How do you develop your personal brand?

By working hard & making sure that I am meeting my customers’ needs which is most important. It’s not about me or making money, it’s about the Bride, Mother of the Bride, the Celebrity on the red carpet, whoever I am dressing by making sure they will feel special & different.

 

How do you decide which brands to partner with, and how do you ensure that your fans are receptive to sponsored content?

Everyone knows about fashion week!. Milan, Paris & New York etc. When I was in Paris Fashion week I was chosen to be one of 10 of the 100s of applicants from all over the world.

 

Now tell us about your experience as a fashion influencer?

My collection was shown at Paris fashion week. I recently showcased at the Cannes Film Festival & now I am going to dress a celebrity in the Venice film festival. I have also been invited to New York & Dubai Fashion Week.

 

What do you think makes you different and so popular compared to other fashion influencers?

When I make an outfit for someone they know it will never be repeated. They are wearing their very own “haute couture”. They will be photographed & noticed in a crowd. This is what makes my designs so special. Everyone is special in their own right so what they wear should highlight that!

 

What were the biggest challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them?

I have faced many challenges in my life. I lost my dad to suicide when I was only 11 years old & I lost my Mum to covid in 2020. When I lost my Dad I had to become an adult very quickly, I was his little princess.

This huge figure in my life who made me feel safe & loved was gone. It really had an impact on my love life & I ended up in an abusive marriage. I left my home country in search of a better life in Ireland & faced many challenges as a migrant.

I worked 5 jobs while studying business at night & all the while being a mother to my young son. It was only when I started to work on my own mental health & forgave my Dad for leaving me that I noticed a change in my life.

I let go of the past & the anger that comes with losing someone to suicide. When my Mum passed in 2020, a healthy woman who never drank or smoked in her life it really devastated me.

I couldn’t be with her when she died because we were on lockdown. There was so much I still wanted her to see me achieve & be there with me through the proud moments of my career. I did however open my heart & grieve by giving her love.

In fact, she inspired my latest collection, I don’t want anyone to feel the loss of losing a loved one. We can control many things in this life to try to lead a healthier life like our sugar & alcohol intake but we cannot control this invisible killer that surrounds us every day in the form of electromagnetic rays which are found in all electronic devices like our phones, computers, wifi & even our microwaves.

This collection is made from 99.9% silver fabric which blocks these harmful rays & protects us & our loved ones.

 

What do you see as your greatest success in life?

I have achieved many monumental moments in my career as a designer & I am very proud that they have been recognized by all of the awards I have won, however, for me my biggest success is continuing to serve & having my repeat customers.

This is when you know you are the best at what you do! Making my clients feel special which everyone is & designing outfits that bring out their own personality is truly my biggest success.

Mr. Dfouni began his career when he left native Lebanon to resume his studies in England, where he earned a master’s degree in hotel management and catering. Fluent in English, French, Arabic, and Italian, Mr. Dfouni joined the Sheraton Corporation.

There he became Assistant General Manager of the Sheraton Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Shortly following, Mr. Dfouni moved to the Sheraton Center Hotel and Towers in New York. From there, he had a successful career at the Essex House, The New York Vista Hotel, and The Mansfield.

Mr.Dfouni was named Chief Operating Officer of Amsterdam Hospitality Group in January of 1999 after serving as Vice President and General Manager for three years at Amsterdam Hospitality Group’s Ameritania Hotel where he was responsible for the hotel’s renovation and revitalization.

Mr. Dfouni brings over 24 years of hospitality experience and a passion for elegant design, customer service, and streamlined operations to the group and its portfolio of hotels, residential and commercial properties.

As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Dfouni oversaw all aspects of Amsterdam Hospitality Group, which consisted of eleven existing boutique hotels, two residential properties in New York City, one residential property in Miami, and one commercial property in Tampa, Fl. In this position, Mr. Dfouni was involved in every step of the design and construction process of all properties, staff development, service programs, and operations.

In September 2015, Mr. Dfouni resigned from his position at Amsterdam Hospitality to seek other new challenging opportunities.

George Dfouni, also known as GD, a Lebanese American artist. His Passion growing up in Lebanon and England was music. in 2009, GD decided to turn his passion and dream into reality, and he started singing. GD recorded numerous songs and music videos.

In 2018, George Dfouni, wrote and published his memoir Hard Lessons. A privileged childhood in Lebanon marred by his parent’s divorce and his father’s murder did not deter George Dfouni from following his dream of making a name for himself in both the hospitality and the music industry.

Beginning in London and then moving to the United States, George became known for turning lackluster or failing hotels around with innovative ideas and strong leadership.

Unfortunately, his business associates in these hotels and real estate enterprises skirted the edges of the law, dragging George into their shady deals.

When his associate’s scheme fell apart, he became their scapegoat. George holds nothing back in this cautionary tale of the American dream becoming the American nightmare.

 

How did you get started in your industry?

While finishing my studies, I was working as a housekeeping floor supervisor at a hotel in London, that’s where I had the honor to meet the legendary hotelier, John Kapioltos. He was taking notice of my work and my presence at the hotel.

I was courageous enough to walk up to him and introduce myself. He appreciated the move. I kept in contact with him, and when I graduated, I reached out to him and the rest is history.

 

What are the biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

When you are an independent hotel and real estate consultant, and you don’t have the financial backing that larger firms enjoy, you have to work 10 times harder to get an account.

The difference between myself and the others, besides the obvious, is that I work so hard to not only meet but rather exceed my client’s expectations in a gracious, professional, and profitable manner.

I will not stop until I achieve my goal. I provide them with white-glove service and will adapt to their needs without any red tape.

 

As an entrepreneur, what is it that actually motivates and drives you?

I have 6 ways that keep my motivation going.

 

1. I set personal goals for myself.

2. I leverage triumphant entrepreneurial stories, I use the success stories of others, learn from them.

3. Maintain a healthy routine, eat healthy, engage in regular exercise, and get some time to be away from work.

4. Create a morning routine, and this one is my favorite. To make sure I have a productive day, I need to start it properly. Once I have woken up, showered, and gotten ready and had my coffee, meditate for few minutes, get in the car and create my list of goals for the day on the drive to the office.

I try and make three-quarters of my goals business-related and one-quarter personal. These will help me stay focused and organized.

5. Making a difference in this world. When Bill Gates acted on his dream of putting a computer in every home and on every desk, he had no idea of the fortune it would bring to him since he wanted only to make a difference. Extrinsic motivations often work against entrepreneurs by leading them to set unrealistic and overwhelming goals.

6. Helping people around me achieve their goals. If I want to achieve my own goals I need to help others achieve theirs. It’s the team around you that can make you reach the stars.

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness and why?

I basically use all of the well-known platforms. As an artist, I lean on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. LinkedIn and Twitter for my consulting and management firm.

Having my accounts officially verified helps you build your brand with your customers, fans, and community.

Do you have any regrets?

Of course, I have regrets, but regrets come from bad choices I made in life, and they ended up being a mistake, some more costly than others. My biggest was trusting business associates for 20 years.

I cannot go back in time and change things, what’s done is done. The key is to learn, move on, and stop feeling sorry about these mistakes.

 

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Coogan Kornya is a young entrepreneur in the field of Day Trading and Real Estate. He is still in college, studying computer science in the AI Technology and Advances branch, but he says he plans on dropping out very soon.
Coogan used to be a verified TikTok star with over 460k followers on the app. He retired from TikTok in January of 2021 to focus on his businesses and side hustles.

 

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

My name is Coogan Kornya. I am the founder of Market Aspects, a forex trading community that is dedicated to teaching beginners the correct way of trading the forex exchange market.

Our mission is to highlight the importance of physiology and strategy while trading forex, and we do this in the simplest process.

This company is run by myself and my partner Brandon Winslow, we thought it would be a perfect idea because we both have different trading strategies and we trade in different sessions, so this way we could give the most knowledge for the price of one.

 

Where did the idea for Market Aspects come from?

It started when I decided to get serious about actually dropping out of college and deciding I want to be financially free in the upcoming years. I texted my friend who is now my partner, and said, “Let’s take our knowledge to the next level”.

After I said that, I explained the idea and he was all in. We spent the next month making all of our social media accounts and websites and we launched on March 1st, 2021.

 

Describe the process of launching the business.

I had an idea, I thought it would be best to bring my friend who brought me into forex as my partner in this project. I pitched the idea to my friend and he was 100% with me on it. We spent a whole month on the project making our social media’s and websites and then launched it on March 1st, 2021.

 

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

I’ve always been good at marketing, but I really don’t like the idea of ads. Ads to me just feel like a company is asking for too much and it just seems scammy to me.

My partner and I are in a bunch of Forex Groups and we post our results there and people dm us questions and we answer their questions and then we pitch the idea to ask them if they were interested in joining our free telegram and discord group.

 

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness and why?

We use most platforms, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, and Discord. These platforms all have different audiences and they are the main access points to the internet.

 

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers? How did your business stand out?

We want people to realize that knowledge is power. We preach that you can do anything that you put your mind to. We want people to understand that just because they in our channels and chats, doesn’t mean that we are superior to them. At the end of the day, we all are destined for success, it just sometimes takes longer for others depending on their situations.

Our business stands out in many ways, We do homemade adveriting and we want people to join us because they see our results, not because they saw an ad that says, “Let’s get rich quick”. This is not what forex is, it’s all about compounding and building your empire.

 

Where can our readers keep up-to-date with you?

I am very active on all my social media, keeping everyone updated with my lifestyle and business. You can follow my Instagram @Coogancoogan and subscribe to my Snapchat, my username is coogan.kornya. You can also follow @MarketAspectsfx on all socials to keep updated with the community.

Giovannie Espiritu, who is known as the genderqueer lothario role of Gin in the LGBTQ series, “Dyke Central” on Amazon, is also a sought-after top Hollywood audition coach who started teaching actors in a small one-room studio in San Bruno, CA.

After the success of many students (including William Lipton of General Hospital fame and the Espina sisters who hosted the Dreamworks show, “Life Hacks for Kids”), Giovannie herself moved down to Los Angeles as the Bay Area rental prices were escalating.

 

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

In my business, appearances and what you look like is a major factor in your success. I started getting tired of people saying “no” to me just because of what I looked like, so I had to shift into more of a behind-the-scenes production mode in order to get the stories that I want to see made and told.

I’m glad that the industry is changing and that we are starting to see more diverse stories and different types of beauty represented… but it can still go further.

 

What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?

I think that I had to really lean into what and who my audience is and stop trying to reach people outside of my target audience. In the beginning, I would get a little bit offended because even though I had more credits and experience than most of the teachers that had schools in the Bay Area, some people only wanted to listen to older teachers that “looked” the part.

So I focused my marketing on kids/teens and their parents. My mistake was trying to reach a broad market instead of nicheing down and really focusing on those that I didn’t have to “fight” for.

 

What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

I wish someone had told me to not be afraid of self-promotion or advertising. It is a business, and businesses and businesses advertise. I think there was such a weird judgment about mixing art and commerce that I fell into.

 

What excites you most about your industry? Where do you see it heading in the near future?

I love that filmmaking and storytelling have the capacity to change hearts and impact society. Like the Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media says,” You have to see it to be it.” I’m really encouraged about seeing more women and people of color in leading roles.

 

What is one piece of advice you still remember and that has practically changed your life?

I met showrunner Kit Williamson at a film festival and he said: “Talk about the thing, like it’s a thing, until its a thing,” and it really made me think about how we do speak things into existence. I know it’s a little woo-woo, but “Abracadabra” means, “As I Speak I create.”

 

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I probably would have gone back to school and not joined a cult. LOL. But then, I wouldn’t have my amazing kid and the life experiences that I have had.

 

What’s your daily routine? How do you achieve work-life balance?

I generally make a list of things to do when I get up, have coffee, read and then start my coaching sessions for the day. I try to spend some time with my kid and then go back into teaching and having creative meetings with producers and other department heads of the film projects that I have on the board.

 

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I hope to be making more films and traveling. The great thing about technology is that I can coach actors and have pre-productions meetings anywhere.

 

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I use the YouCanBook.Me service to streamline my coaching calls and zoom to run my meetings.

 

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

My life changed when I read, “Manifest Your Destiny,” by Wayne Dyer. I know I had a pretty challenging upbringing, but reading that book made me realize that I had the power to change my circumstances no matter what kind place I started in life.

 

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Wendy Alane Wright, who is a Hollywood manager and entrepreneur herself gave me this mantra: “I am independent of anyone’s opinions of me, good or bad.” That really helped me in a business that is built on opinions and judgments. It helped me realize that I am still an artist, regardless of anyone else’s approval.

 

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

I would advise new entrepreneurs to do something that they actually love and find their strong “WHY.”. You might as well spend your time doing something that you enjoy – because if you are going to strive for excellence and it is going to take up a good portion of your life force, your reasons behind it will sustain you when the going gets tough.

Sean Seah is a highly sought-after speaker and is the 1st Singaporean to have a foreword written by Mary Buffett, an internationally renowned investment expert.

He is also the youngest speaker at National Achiever Congress 2013 and 2014 which stages speakers like Robert Kiyosaki, Richard Branson, Donald Trump, Tony Blair and Antony Robbins. He speaks at several other conferences and is a frequent Securities Investor Association Singapore (SIAS) speaker.

 

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

In the year 2005, I graduated from a local university and got my dream job to become a military officer. I worked really hard because I wanted to get promoted. But my boss, a female military officer, told me I will not get the promotion because I am not an overseas scholar. She then passed me a book, “Creating Wealth” by Robert G Allen and told me to learn how to create income other than my salary.

I was extremely disappointed but I took her advice and started to learn about investing and business. After exploring and building for years, I left my job by the age of 30 to run my own investments and manage my income streams.

I then got invited to share how I achieve my financial success and that was then I realized I loved sharing and educating. After all, it was my ex-boss who educated me otherwise I would still be in a job which I hoped to have huge prospect but would have never happened. So I started a financial education business in 2015 conducting physical classes in more than 20 cities around the world.

 

What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?

When I started building my education business, I was adversed to the idea of sales as I had experienced hard-selling sales people. But I come to realise that sales is simply a professional explanation of the services we render.

 

As an entrepreneur, what is it that actually motivates and drives you?

One thing that motivates me is to that my services which is financial education, can change lives. I know of many people who can and want to do a lot more in life but are stuck due to financial constraints.

 

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness and why?

For paid ads, I use facebook and Instagram more as their targeting is more effective for me, For organic, I use facebook group and youtube channel. I have been exploring tik tok as well. I believe we need multiple channels and continuously learn new ones to be ahead.

 

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers? How did your business stand out?

I believe a lot in content marketing. That’s the reason on my facebook and youtube channels, I teach real, practical strategies, I believe this is not only paying it forward, it builds up a lot of good will too.

 

What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?

When covid first became something really serious, I had to make a decision, to be defensive in the business, or to be aggressive. To be defensive means to cut cost, freeze hiring and stop expansion. But I decided it is not wise to pay defence. So my team pivoted from physical to online classes. We then market aggressively for our online programmes. The bet paid off and we broke records in 2020. We didn’t lay off anyone and even expanded our team.

 

Where did your first six figures come from?

My first 6 figures in business came in very quickly within less than 3 months. It was in classes that I conducted.

 

What excites you most about your industry? Where do you see it heading in the near future?

I am really excited about what I call “real world” education where we share practical financial skills such as investing and entrepreneurship. Unfortunately as per every industry, there some negative aspects of it like people over promising the idea of being able to get rich quick.

But overall, more people are getting aware of the need to learn more real world skills in finances.

 

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

I would have more self confidence. I think it was my lack of self confidence that makes me make a lot of mistakes. I partnered with people I shouldn’t have because I thought they were better than me. But most of such partnerships didn’t turn out well.

 

What’s your daily routine? How do you achieve work-life balance?

I wake up at 5am daily. I sleep early so I can do that. I start with prayers and meditation. I also schedule my calendar so that I block out time with my family!

 

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Happier, healthier, wealthier!

 

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I really love trello. It helps to organize my thoughts and my projects.

 

 What piece of advice do you wish someone had given you at the start of your career?

Actually, someone did give me the advice. My exboss told me to build multiple streams of income. Building additional income stream is an important skill. Continue

 

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

Have the attitude of Testing And Learning. Treat it like a computer game and know that we may take a few tries to pass a stage. But each time we hit into an obstacle, we realized there is something there we need to either avoid or overcome. Enjoy the game and eventually, we will get the prize.

Could you please tell our readers a brief background about yourself and how you started your business?

My name is Natasha Ickes-Saman, In my late teens, I did the expected series of jobs- retail, sales, a movie theater, and even a gas station. I hated it and that was one of the biggest blessings of my life because I learned that I simply could not spend every day doing something I do not fiercely enjoy.

I had been doing hair for some time, loved the time and connection with clients, and decided that could be my career. After a few years in the business, I opened my own salon, which is still successfully running today. I was working diligently in the hair industry for over a decade.

I enjoyed taking classes, working bridal events, doing hair for runway shows, and even having my work published in magazines. I am heavily involved in the charity Haircuts With Heart where we go into the community providing free haircuts for homeless men, women, and children. Then I reached a point, where my soul was called to do even more.

I wanted to give back on a deeper level. That is when I founded Unstoppable Woman Inc. I speak at various events, host workshops, and work with women to pinpoint their passion, create a life centered around their purpose and create the life of their dreams no matter what challenges may arise.

 

Where did the idea for Shear Passion Salon come from?

For my salon it was simple, hair has been my passion for some time. The feeling you give to a client when you transform them is something I love. Shear represents hair-cutting scissors. So Shear Passion was formed.

For my coaching company, I toyed around with different names. But at the end of the day, I am trying to empower women to be unstoppable in every avenue of their life and Unstoppable Woman Inc was born.

 

What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?

My hair salon has been around for so long that it is self-sustainable. There is no marketing involved, in fact, I am booked out for weeks. I have to show up with impeccable customer service and the skills to back it up, and from there it is all good.

For the coaching company, I take a different approach since it is a newer company. I actively speak on podcasts and radio interviews, at as many seminars as possible, and just continually get my name out there so people know what I do.

 

As an entrepreneur, what is it that actually motivates and drives you?

My passion for helping other women internally (through the coaching) and externally (through the hair). Being able to make a positive change in people’s lives day in and out, motivates me even through the difficult moments.

 

What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness and why?

I use Facebook and Instagram. Honestly, Facebook is the easiest for me. I have been using it for the longest. My friends on there are all people from my life (high school friends, old coworkers, family, and clients). It is a network of people I care about.

I have been open and honest about my journey and because of that, it is a natural place to build brand awareness and receive support. Then Instagram is a must. I built my first website at 19 so that there was an online gallery client could go to see my work.

But now everyone just checks you out on Instagram. So by having a page for my salon @n_shearpassion and by having a page for my coaching @natasha.ickes.saman, you can go and quickly see what it is that I am about.

People take different approaches to social media. Some keep their pages strictly about brand content. While I absolutely always keep it professional, I can’t help but be open and honest. I am not the type to post what I am eating for every meal, but you will see a few pictures of children and family vacations sprinkled in there.

And on Facebook I am transparent about wins and struggles, I think it is important to see both sides and to understand that success has its ups and downs. I want to be authentic in expressing my journey.

 

What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers? How did your business stand out?

Authenticity. We are each unique because of our story. No business is the only one of its kind, but your story is what makes you stand out. I struggled with depression since I was young, leading to a suicide attempt which left me hospitalized.

From there I went through years of homelessness and addiction before I had a radical shift in mindset. Through the lessons I learned, I was able to turn my life around. By sharing my story I connect with the people I am meant to.

 

Where did your first six figures come from?

It came in my 3rd year of working at a salon before I even opened my own place. I worked really really hard. I was the first to get there and the last to leave. I even came in on Sundays for over 5 years.

I would leave to get my daughter from school and bring her back to work with me. Luckily salons are fun so she did her homework while I worked on clients and a lot of evenings she would fall asleep at the shampoo bowl while waiting for me to finish. I was determined to change our lives and hard work was the only way I saw to do that.

 

What is one piece of advice you still remember and that has practically changed your life?

One day in the salon I had a really rough day and I remember an old-school barber who had been in the industry for more than 50 years looked at me and said: “Some days you have to work for it, baby.” That simple sentence sums it up. Most days are a lot of fun.

However, no matter what the situation, life is not always going to be easy. Some days will be smooth sailing and some will be some choppy waters. You don’t hop off the boat because it got rough, you stay the course and see it through. To this day when I have a rough day at work, I think back to that phrase.

 

If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?

No. I learned so much along the way. Your character is built in the trials, you learn the lessons through the mistakes. Everything happened to get me to where I am right now.

 

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself hosting wellness retreats a few times a year, speaking at seminars, and continuing to run my salon.

 

What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?

Get ready to work hard and be prepared to pivot. Too many people expect instant success, especially in this generation. It won’t happen overnight. You have to be dedicated, work hard and learn from the wins and losses. So make sure it is something you are completely passionate about, that way you enjoy the ride.

 

Final Word:

Natasha Ickes-Saman Opened A Hair Salon at 25, Became an Empowerment Mentor After 30, and Still Found Time to Write a Book and Give Back to the Community.

Star Dust, from heaven to Earth we fall. We recently got the opportunity to sit down with author J. M. Pozon and discuss her new book poetry “Star Dust”; which was dubbed as one of last year’s most prolific reads?

You can check out the full interview below.

 

Please tell us about your latest book, “Star Dust: From Heaven to Earth, We Fall.” What made you write it?

Well, I wanted to use my words, poems, and quotes to take women on a journey of spiritual Awakening and self-enlightenment.

 

Can you tell in more detail, what Star dust is about?

Star Dust is a call to action, prompting women to remember who they are. Encouraging them to operate in their truest forms.  I would like to think that the poems and quotes contained within the book serve to remind women of their worth.

And help them to see themselves as more than flesh and bones. For we are soul, spirit, and energy, limited only by our earthly bodies. The aim of star dust, is to teaches women to acknowledge themselves as spiritual beings, accepting the fact that within our fleshly domains, an entire universe resides.

See, once we understand the power, we hold within us, we can draw it out, use it to manifest all our heart’s wants and desires.

 

 What’s your best piece of advice for readers who desire to find success in their life?

Find your purpose, operate wholeheartedly within that purpose. Don’t dip your toes, instead dive in headfirst and give it everything you have. Have unwavering faith in your dreams, refrain from internalized judgment, skepticism and doubt. You have to truly believe in your dreams before anyone else will.

 

Speaking of success, what does the word mean to you?

For me, it is about using my God-given talent and gifts, using them to inspire others. I don’t measure success by how much money I have made but instead by how many lives I have touched.

 

What’s next for you?

As of late, I’ve been doing much more screenwriting and acting. So, you can definitely expect to see some of my movie projects in the near future.

 

Finally, how can people connect with you if they want to learn more?

People can find out more about me and my book by visiting my Amazon author page.  amazon.com/author/jmpozon