Have you ever thought about the correlation between a weight loss journey and entrepreneurship?  I've recently connected the two.  If you spotted the correlation yourself, then awesome and I'd love to hear how you see them syncing up.   So summer 2016 for me is about 2 key objectives, a) starting my business, and b) weight loss and getting my fitness back.  To achieve both I've been spending the first part of the early morning on the treadmill where for one hour I walk and run to achieve around 9000 steps. My aim is to average around 12000 daily steps.  This morning effort really boosts that number to achieve my daily step count. It also helps with the 2nd objective of starting my business by helping me get clear, having a healthy mindset and achieve my daily 'to do' list about what I need to get done.  Apart from this morning exercise boost, the majority of my day is very sedentary. I spend a chunk of time in front of the computer or in meetings, a car or just relaxing. Its pretty hot outside so going out really isn't advisable so getting my exercise done first thing is crucial. I'm not a afternoon gym person nor an evening person so the mornings gets it done.  

​anyway....

So during these sessions I've been listening to a podcast called 'Tips of the Scale'.  It's a great podcast and community about people sharing their weight loss journeys.  I have found all these stories inspirational and really help boost my own weight loss journey.  Me and weight loss have always been at odds but I know I'm healthy and fit.  I don't have an issue running a 10km run and so I do pride myself on that achievement.  This coming winter I plan to get some more runs under me. I'm even contemplating doing the 42km Dubai marathon as opposed to the usual 10km - which I've been doing for 6 years. Still not sure. The distance does bother me!!!

I was listening to a particular podcast with a lady called Elizabeth Benton and she spoke about how alot about how weigh loss and motivation is a mindset thing.  I heard her loud and clear. There are times on the treadmill where I just want to stop and give up but I try super hard to not listen to that inner voice and tell myself that this is awesome and my body needs this fitness. 

But as I listened and ran I thought about my other key objective and that was starting my social media business.  I realised as Sam (the host) and Elizabeth chatted that there were similarities between a weight loss journey and entrepreneurship.  I'd never made the connection before.  But here it was. So I wanted to share with you these connections and so when you are next at the gym or know someone on a weight loss journey you can totally relate to them.  Only the topic is different. 

Entrepreneurship is an all immersing experience

The other day I interviewed a very smart and astute business woman called Saana Azzam - she is the founder of MENA Speakers and she said, 'Entrepreneurship is an all immersing experience'. I couldn't agree more with her statement.  The whole subject of passion for your idea, creating it and making it happen just totally takes over your life. You eat, sleep and breath the subject and are constantly fired up by the energy that this passion it creates.   You spend your time talking, sharing, building, thriving and trailblazing all in the name of your idea so you can see it become the vision you had in your head.  Weight loss is very much the same.  It is an all immersing experience. With weight loss its an all or nothing experience.  You have to exercise, pay attention to your food, educate yourself, stay informed, read and just embrace it, in its totality otherwise you will not break old habits or achieve the goals you so want to see and feel.

Isolation

With both weight loss and entrepreneurship there is a heavy sense of isolation despite in both cases you will have the support of family and friends around you.  When you are building your business you spend a lot of time in front of the computer reading, building and strategizing. A lot of this time can be on your own or quite lonely.  Unlike in a large corporate office you have teams or individuals that are involved in the same projects or tasks as you.  The same with the weight loss journey. It can, a lot of the time be done in isolation. You go the gym but folk rarely speak or interact, you go to dinner and you are having internal conversations with yourself about the menu.  What looks good, what's off the menu for you, how can you compromise so  you can still enjoy yourself but have something yummy!  You do these conversations in isolation too.  Well I do!!  Ultimately you have to make the effort yourself, you have to take responsibility even with community and friends around. That is what isolation can be.

Endless Courses and Diets

Elizabeth spoke about the number of different diets she had done during her life to lose weight. All promised weight loss and all promised a new level of confidence.  She would lose the weight and then as soon as the diet was done she would see the weight return. An endless cycle of torcher for her mentally as well as physically.  Entrepreneurship is very much the same.  How many of you have bought the, 'I went from $0 to a six figure dollar sum in 4 months - and my life change forever' courses?  Who has done it?  I have.  Eventually you learn schemes and quick fixes NEVER solve the problem long term nor do they deal wit the fundamental space in your head which makes all of this effort happen.

The Emotional Journey

Weight loss and entrepreneurship are both emotional journeys.  You've seen that classic iceberg picture where it dissects the iceberg so you can see the tip and what goes on under water and that truly is a mental and emotional journey.  There are great days, awful days, give up days, I'm done days and the best days.... oh the cycle goes up and down like the stock market.  Its the same with your weight loss journey... those days when you've worked out all week, you've kept to your plan and then you get on the scales and nothing has changed or you've even put on a pound. Those days are the worst.  Then there are days when you eat a burger and you are having an 'off' day and you lose weight!!! what is that all about!!!  Anyway the key thing is, is that that too is an emotional journey. For both entrepreneurs and those on their weight loss journey they all have to constantly stay aware of their thoughts so they don't impact your feelings and land up creating a negative day or experience.  I find this correlations the most fascinating!

Have to Find Like Minded People

Finding people like yourself really is crucial to your growth and your confidence.  I find that when I speak to non like minded people they can often question my intent or direction and then land up causing me confusion and mental misdirection in my head.  That really does annoy me particularly for both my journeys through weight loss and entrepreneurship.  I have to remind myself that I'm dealing with their fears and reckless attitudes, not mine!  When I was younger found myself to be more easily persuaded by someone else's ideas and thoughts. Today I still have that a little bit but i do make sure I remain in a questioning state as best I can. Its a muscle I have to keep training I suppose.  Its the same with both entrepreneurship and weight loss - find people that relate.  Find people that you can connect with and 'get' where you are coming from. Its so easy to be sucked into negative non-like minded people who might think they are coming from a place of caring and sharing but for you its all wrong and it you don't nip it in the bud you could fall pray to negative thinking and falling from your objectives and mission. Find your Tribe.

So, what do you think? I'm sure you can see the correlations yourself and probably a lot more like I mentioned earlier.  Both journeys are filled with hurdles, bumps, detours all sorts of moments and you just have to forgive yourself when the negative stuff comes around and just push through. Both are long term goals that require consistency, energy, positivity and mental strength.  I'm working on both and its without a doubt tough  They are both heavily intertwined and not separate objectives for me - they both feed from the same source and if I can keep the power up hopefully by the end of year I would have lost the stone I'm hoping to lose, ran a number of 10km or further distances that i wanted and my business is pushing through to it s 6 month anniversary.  Its a social media service for women in business, business if you are interested.  

Thanks for listening or reading, which ever way you consumer your knowledge.  Do let me know where else you see a correlation in your own journeys. It might not be weight loss and business start up but that's ok. I'm looking for patterns.  Have an awesome day.

Failure and mistakes are not a bad thing!! That is the resounding message I'm getting from the ladies I have interviewed.  They wouldn't be doing what they were doing if they listened to the negative self talk or were self conscious about what they said or did. When they fail or make a mistake, they just stand up, dust themselves off and travel on to the next 'to do' item from their business plan.

I think that is very powerful feedback and one that I'm slowly coming to terms with myself.  At school you are taught to not make mistakes but when you fail your exams or tests, we are taught mistakes and failing are reflections of you not paying attention or studying hard enough. Think of the times you got a big fat red 'F' - on your paper.  Its totally demoralising - What do we do with that feedback? We start the negative self talk....'we are not good enough, we are useless, I'll never go to University, my parents will be so disappointed' and there begins the cycle of negativity. From a young age we start this negative self chatter and so we hide away from new things, new ideas because we clearly failed at something similar!  I remember my dad saying he was awful at maths. But was he awful or did he have a bad teacher or the class was too big or he was too shy to speak up??  Who knows. But those circumstances meant him blaming himself for not being good at maths.  OK.  So we do need to be accountable but 50 years ago there wasn't learning support. You were just expected to get on with it but it still leaves you stained with negative messages ringing in our ears.  I heard Robert Kiyosaki say recently, 'rubbishing failure and mistakes in school is so anti learning'. And I couldn't agree more.

I've been plagued by my own failure and mistake demons.  You know the things you have said or done in the office and you think the whole office is still talking about it months later..... when they are not!!!  Or my own negative self talk that I'm not good enough or feeling nervous or inadequate because of my fears of failure or mistakes.  Its seriously painful and so overwhelming.  It can suck you in and hold you tight for minutes, hours or even days.  I'm sure you can all feel your own negative feelings when you think about your mistakes and failings.

But come on... lets changed that tune!!  Science and cognitive psychology has shown us that what we say to ourselves impacts our emotions.  To 'get' this yourself, the best time to understand this is the morning, when you wake up.   If you start thinking negatively in the morning your tummy might start to get butterflies or you feel your stress levels rising and your just irritated ....and you have just woken up.  I've been that person and I hate getting butterflies in the morning!! I hate that wobblying feeling in my tummy that just hangs there.  In my head I'm stressing about the day ahead, meetings, projects, deadlines...and I've only been awake 30 minutes!!!!  So instead now I get up in the morning and I exercise - and watch a ted talk - that works for me. It totally raises my energy levels, changes my mindset to a 'can do' attitude and gets rid of those butterflies. I've become more aware of my thoughts and work heavily on being resilient constantly.  So how did I get there?  Well this is where I tell you what I learnt from the many interviews I've done with Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East and how I think you can accomplish whatever you want if you put your mind in the right frame and use your failures to your advantage.

Head to your Treasure Box of Passion & Strengths.

Through all my interviews with my women entrepreneurs in the Middle East, I've learnt that they have recognised their strengths and their weaknesses.  They have sat down and really clarified their values, their vision, who they are and what strengths they have that they can use.  Their primary strengths is the passion they have for a subject, industry or idea.  They've taken that passionate energy and just ran with it.  When they hit a hurdle they return to their treasure box of strengths, take up more of their passion and reasons for the businesses.  Knowing the why to their quest and multiplying that by their strengths, they rekindle that fire and push forward.  Mistakes and failing for them is learning. They place it where it should be *in the learning section* and carry on. They will turn to this process over and over again.  I know I have.  Creating a podcast around women entrepreneurs in the middle east is new, different and very niche.  I'm passionate about these conversations I have and want to share how the women of the Middle East are trail blazing and bringing economic growth to their countries but also 'Making a Difference with Lots of Valuable Experiences (MAD LOVE)*. I use my strengths of relationship building, listening and constructing comfortable conversations to really help me connect with these ladies and help share their story.  Remember to tap back into your passion and strengths - I'm sure you will give your confidence a nice needed boost.

Collaborate and Partner Up

I always ask my ladies in the interview how important has collaboration and partnerships been to the success of their business and 99% of the time, they respond with a YES!  Every business can't grow in isolation just like people can't grow in isolation. You would never learn anything. So when things aren't great and you've hit a wall think about how you could reach out to a complimenting business or a mentor group or even your mum and dad just to help get you some perspective. In that perspective lies your resilience.  When you reach out, get clear about what it is that you need to move forward, how you would like them to help you and how you can help them. Give yourself workable and flexible targets and just ask.  Use your strengths and your values to work out a new plan. See if your values and their values align and start a new collaboration or partnership.  It doesn't have to be monetary it can be as simple as a barter deal or cross promoting one another.  These actions will have you heading down your success route once again. We've all scene that image of success as a windy road and it totally is.  So don't hit that wall and feel failure looming, see it as an opportunity to learn, talk to people and take action.  Be resilient. 

They keep growing their knowledge bank and learning

I interviewed May Khizam yesterday and she said a really cool then.... she said, ' Entrepreneurship looks so glossy on the outside but its not' and she is so so right.  *here come some negative self talk* - its a life of hardship, its brings difficulties, chaos, questioning yourself and your business, money worries and fear.  There I have said it!  Now lets move on!  To be an entrepreneur you need to be resilient. Be able to turn all those fears into actionable positives but we need to put ourselves in mindset of wanting to be a learning person.  Tricia Evans and Cherine Kurdi both called themselves 'Learning Junkies' and I loved that.  They make time to learn, they make time to read and listen to what the latest developments are in their industries aswell as complimenting industries. They've also become really good listeners. Listening for the message that will help them marry that information with their business so they can move forward.  They are open to ideas and all this new information empowers them and improves their confidence.  So when they do have a set back, they can fall back on their knowledge bank, their goals and recognise their achievements and push forward.  They are resilient.

Through out all my interviews I think the key to all of these ladies efforts has been resilience.  There are peaks and troughs in their journeys which create challenges and excitement.  I think the trick is to recognise when things are going great and make sure you recognise those moments and be thankful for them.  Show some gratitude. When things are not going great, turn to your resilience.  Even create a resilience list so you have a go to list of activities you can turn too when your brain is not engaging and you are feeling demoralised. The online dictionary I used to define the word failure has two definitions, a) 'lack of success' or b) 'the neglect or omission of expected or required action'. hmm.... it should say 'failure is a blip in your learning and you haven't looked at your resilience yet. Go to resilience'.

*I credit that brilliant Acronym MAD LOVE to my awesome friend and awesome author Jules Miles Lewis. She's written a book on Moving Mountains. All About helping you move forward, discovering your inner mountain and finding your path foward emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically... in business and in life 

So last week  - I had a new 'first' in my life!  I walked across the desert from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi.  We were supposed to do 120km but unusual stormy weather across the UAE cancelled 2 days of our journey.  The experience was such a mix bag of emotions. From exciting and nerves at the beginning, too 'I don't want to do this anymore' in the middle, too feeling overwhelmed and teary that we had achieved our objective at the end.

The Women Heritage Walk
The Women’s Heritage Walk (WHW) from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi honors the women of the United Arab Emirates who made this journey twice a year not so long ago.  Forty-four women retraced this historical trek. Expat women accompanied Emirati women walking in the footsteps of their ancestors who helped sculpt this country. This experience was a celebration of the past and an invitation to shape a vibrant future.

My 'Sand sisters' and I took on the dunes of the desert and during the whole walk I was able to assimilate many feelings and thoughts that I could relate back to daily life for women as entrepreneurs!  Women pushing forward, making change and taking action to evolve and grow.  Through this journey I noted words and phrases said by the ladies that reflected life and our work life and how it doesn't matter what you are doing there are key skills that apply everywhere!

Skill 1: One step at a time

​​'I love it when people come passed in the Mall or in a cafe and say thanks for helping me find a job'.  Its for that reason Elsbeth loves what she does.  She strives to connect Women to jobs in Qatar and further their career.

Elsbeth is the Founder & CEO of Global Women Qatar, Qatar’s first and only recruitment agency to focus exclusively on the recruitment of women.  Elsbeth and her partner recognised a gap in the market for a service focused on the recruitment of women.  A very niche area but they discovered that companies were looking to employ more women in Doha to diversify their workforce. Read More & Listen

How many podcasts do you listen too? I bet the number is either none, some or loads!!!  Its really fascinating when you talk to people about podcasting and they are either totally into them or haven't got a clue!! Often the cluelessness is based around the 'Why would I listen to them?' or 'Where do I get them?' or quite plainly 'what is a podcast'.  Living here in the UAE I have to say the latter of those questions is the most common, but then weird things happen like, I get the opportunity to be part of The National newspaper on podcasting. That was awesome by the way! :) So it really is a 'learning curve' when it comes to podcasting!  

So if you are one that sits of the fence as a listener or as someone that could see the medium as a tool then here are my 4 superpowers of podcasts that 'hopefully' will help you jump off the fence to downloading a couple to listen to some or start your own.  Really there are thousands of podcasts. I am part of 4 communities on Facebook where there are podcasters producing shows and episodes and nearly everyday we see a new show launching around another niche area.  From health & wellness to fly fishing, there are literally thousands of podcasts out there!  Check out ITunes or Stitcher and Im sure you will find something you like.

They Can Educate - Don't stop Learning!

A recent guest of mine Rana El Chemailly said to me 'if you stop learning you will fail'.  She's right!  Just because we have finished school and got that degree doesn't mean we need to stop learning. To move forward and be successful at whatever we do, we need to be learning all the time.  

But the big issue to learning is time! We are all so busy with our lives with work, kids and trying to have fun ourselves, when do we schedule in learn?  I've recently starting asking this question on my podcast because it was something I was struggling with too. How are these ladies still continuing to grow and learn and still run a business? Good question right?  The answer was simple. They all made time to learn. Some were up early and studied and some added it as a 'to do' item into their schedule.  I'm still bartering time and learning I have to say but one tool I know I can do is learn and be on the go!  I have the school runs, I have traffic jams, I have walk training and I have trips to Dubai. All these trips equal time and that is when I can learn.  I can download my favourite podcasts and get myself plugged in and while I either exercise or just 'get through the journey' I can listen, learn and question.  This is what a podcast can do, it can educate you. There are soooo many great podcasts out there from educators, consultants, facilitators or councillors who are keen to share their knowledge and insight to help you with your journey.  You can do the same.  Show off your insight and knowledge.  Create that thought leader persona that is inside you and help build your business and drive your career.

They Can Entertain - Find a podcast that fits your mood!

We all need to be swept out of our daily life and just be entertained.  Much like Friends of the 1990's or 'How I met your mother' in the 2000's - its nice just to be entertained. Take us away from our daily chores or work and just sit back and let the story unravel in-front of us.  Podcast can do that too!  I don't know about you but when I get on a plane I want to zone out, be undisturbed for the duration of the flight.  Much like a good book or a movie, listening to a podcast is just another form of engagement and you can binge listen much like you would with a TV series or a good book.  But the cool thing is you can physically be doing something while you indulge in your favourite episode.  So you can de-clutter your closet, clean out the car, paint a picture or weed the garden all while you are being entertained. Things we would all rather NOT to but have to do from time to time. So use the time productively and be entertained at the same time.

They Can Inform - Give yourself An Edge

Being informed has many advantages.  Being informed helps you build informed opinions, helps you get off the fence and help influence a line of thought at work, at home or on a cause you are passionate about. Being informed helps you learn about other cultures outside of your own.  Being informed sparks engaging discussions, positive debate and helps grows awareness about issues around you. Being informed helps you travel, it supplies you with useful and insightful knowledge to help you get from A to B.  Being informed gives you an advantage.  Just this week a friend of mine did an interview and she had to make a presentation based on the case study presented to her for the interview.  She used some right up to date knowledge she had learnt via a podcast making part of her presentation bang up to date. She came across as knowledgeable, informed and forward thinking!  Great eh!  So this could be you too.  As a podcaster you can share your views, opinions or be a content curator and really give your audience the information they need to support their career or business. As a podcast listener, the work is done for you. You get information in structured setting, you are able to articulate it and go away and do further work around it.  You are informed.

They Can Inspire - Give yourself a daily dose of goodness

You have probably heard these expression. 'You are who you surround yourself with.  Well here is another, 'You are what you listen too'.  I've read alot recently from thought leaders that say 'weed out the negative people' or 'hang around with smarter people' or 'be the person you want to become' and I do believe there is a lot of merit to this.  The power of the mind to cling to negativity is magnetic.  Its so much easier to be negative than it is too be positive so we need to really work at keeping a positive mindset so why not be inspired.

Listening to Podcasts really can inspire you.  From exercising to commuting or working you can be inspired at any time.  They are some GREAT people out there just driving positive change and energy. They are fiercely fighting the negative, weeding out the sh&t and helping you be better you, or better at your job or be a better member of the community.  Yes I know its easy to go down the negative path but when so many great people are just offering you up daily doses of inspiration, why fall for the dark stuff!  Get yourself on ITunes or Stitcher and type in your keyword and be inspired. 

So where do I start?

I am very much a person who has a wide interest in many things.  I am a people explorer and a subject geek. Podcasts give me quick access to themes, ideas, stories, people and topics which can be absorbed in 30 minutes.  I am a slow reader and I don't have much time these days to sit an enjoy a movie or many documentaries.  Podcasts offer up these superpowers and I love to listen to stuff that will give me that edge, keep me informed or use as a reference when I need it.  And the best part of all is I get to update my knowledge bank without spending a penny because Podcasts are free knowledge.  I don't by magazine anymore, I just head over to ITunes or Stitcher or use one of the podcast directory apps and research keywords or topics. Then I download.  If I don't like it, there is a delete button!  There is no clutter, no mess and if I want to refer back to something, I can just upload that episode again and find what I need.  

I really recommend you give it a go!  I know its new and will definitely feel weird to start with but you will find a library of topics that you love and be on your way to the super powers of podcasts.

Nicholla xx

ps. I have no idea what you like and rally thre are thousands of podcast but here are a few links to some good articles on podcasts. You may like.

http://www.vulture.com/2015/12/10-best-podcasts-2015.html
http://www.lifehack.org/308519/you-are-what-you-listen-11-podcasts-inspire-yourself
​http://dailyburn.com/life/fitness/best-podcasts-running/​
​https://www.richer-poorer.com/blog/art/podcasts-to-entertain-you-while-you-clean-out-your-closet

The Learning Curve Podcast - THE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East.
​
Yes.. Everyday Leen goes home feeling happy she is making a difference in a young persons life.  She's the founder of the Algerian connection for Injaz Al Arab, is a non-profit organization that drives youth education and training in workforce readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship across the Arab World.

Leen has been with the organisation since 2000 but it was her move to Algeria in 2010 that took all her skills and training to the next level when she decided she wanted to start Injaz in Algeria. Read More & Listen

How many of you would like to see your kid or nieces or nephews or even your friends kids step away from the ipads or computer games and engage in activities like robot building, science, technology, engineering, mathematics and renewable Energy. Interested?  I know I was. I like IPads but they offer no physical interaction, my daughter just sits and stares at it and it offers limited sensory interaction because you can' smell or touch what you are working on or viewing.  these thoughts are very much similar to Rana, the Founder of The Little Engineer.

Read More & Listen

November has been the BEST month EVER for The Learning Curve Podcast.  We had a total of 4600 downloads.  This is a spectacular result and I'm so delighted the podcast is finally getting the hits it deserves. Most months I was seeing an average download of 800 - 900 downloads.  We are only a week into December and Im already at 1300 downloads. WOW.  Look at these stats for November 2015.

Clearly the US has the largest share but that will be because of the growing podcast community that is there.  My show is connecting with many different countries I didn't even think about.  France, Singapore, Slovakia & United Kingdom are high downloads zones for the show.

These results are exciting and I can't wait to see where the show will be in 6 months from now.  There is a strong interest in hearing about women entrepreneurs in the region and other women are keen to hear from more women taking the plunge and following their passion.

​Watch this space. :) I'll let you know how my downloads are next month.  

Onwards and upwards right? :) 

Its the weirdest thing when you take the microphone and do a solo podcast.  But in the words of Barney stinson, (from the TV series, 'How I met your mother)' .... 'Challenge Accepted!' I decide to go pretty verbally naked with this broadcast.  I decided I wouldn't practice or rehearse. I just wanted it to flow.  Here my own thoughts come out and see if 'off the cuff' is something I can do.

So.... see the episode as good or crap this really was just a challenge. I decided to answer the same questions I usually ask my guests. It seemed a logical way to create a path through a solo episode.

So through this episode I share my journey of how I am where I am, my thoughts on how i face my universal challenges and what's next!  Go......