Mahara Wayman [00:01:10]:
Welcome to the art of badassery. I'm your host, Majara Weyman. And today, we have a remarkable guest joining us, Amani Savary. Amani is a mindset and business coach based in New York City. Her journey has taken her from India to Hong Kong and eventually to the United States. Where she spent over a decade shaping her career and embracing new experiences. Amani's multicultural upbringing brings a unique perspective to her coaching practice. Having been born and raised in Hong Kong while attending a British school, she learned to navigate diverse environments and adapt to different cultures. Her background has fueled her passion for understanding the human mind and its potential. When she's not coaching, Amani is an adventurous soul who enjoys exploring the world around her, whether it's discovering hidden gems at home in the wall restaurants. Getting lost in the pages of a captivating book or immersing herself in the beauty of nature through hiking and picnics in the park, Amani sees as every opportunity to try new things and create unforgettable memories. Join us today as we delve into her fascinating journey her insights on mindset and business and the powerful strategies that she employs to help others unlock the true potential. Get ready to be inspired, folks, and motivated by her wisdom and infectious zest for life. Amani, welcome to the show. It's so good to have you here.
Amani Zaveri [00:02:34]:
Yeah. Thank you so much for having me, Mahara. So excited to be here and talk.
Mahara Wayman [00:02:48]:
I think is a is a number 1 thing that you've learned from I I alluded to it, but I'm curious. What's the number 1 thing that you've learned about yourself having had that opportunity?
Amani Zaveri [00:03:02]:
I think the power of observation is probably my number 1 thing that I would share. You know? We're so focused on the doing and sometimes just leaning back and listening and observing how people move and speak has actually given me so much more value. So that served me really well throughout my my whole life and just traveling and living in different places. So
Mahara Wayman [00:03:29]:
is there, when did that first start? Because I don't think that's an inane, an inane. I don't think that's an innate skill of ours because for the most part, we've been born into a society that's very fast-paced, go, go, go, do, do, go, go, go, get, get, get, But what I heard from you was you've actually learned to slow everything down and observe. Can you -- when that first happened? When did you first learn that lesson?
Amani Zaveri [00:03:55]:
Yeah. I think, for me, honestly, it's 1 of those things when you know, because I'm from India, I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I've always felt like a fish out of water to some degree. And so because of that, I really had to learn how to observe things so that I could feel more comfortable in my environments when I'm communicating with others. So I think it I I can't pinpoint a specific memory, but I know it started sometime when I was in Hong Kong where I was just like, I don't look like everyone else. I don't act like everyone else. And so really learning to just take a backseat and observe. And then and then I think I just carried that with me throughout.
Mahara Wayman [00:04:38]:
It almost sounds like a bit of survival instinct.
Amani Zaveri [00:04:43]:
Yeah. Yeah.
Mahara Wayman [00:04:45]:
Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. So tell us a little bit about the journey back to the United States because You were born in India, went to school in Hong Kong. How old were when you how old were you when you came to the states?
Amani Zaveri [00:05:02]:
So I was 18, so I graduated from high school in Hong Kong, came to the states for college, and then stayed on and started working in New York. And honestly, when I did, I thought I'd be in New York for a year or 2, and now it's been 11 years. So, yeah, I've been in the states for a while, but college was the segue, and then life has kept me here ever since. What did you study in college? I studied psychology. Ah. Yeah. Yeah. I love just exploring the human mind and I THINK IT'S FASCINATING.
Mahara Wayman [00:05:35]:
It's interesting my youngest daughter is studying psychology and it's the most popular course or degree at university that impacts some of the courses she can't even get into because it's so popular. Do you think that the state of the world, shall we say, because I think we are we've moved into a phase where there's a lot of growth, a lot of learning But do you think that is the cause for such an interest in all things psychology that I'm at least noticing in Canada?
Amani Zaveri [00:06:09]:
Yeah. I think people are more interested in learning and growth. And just I think there is a much bigger emphasis on awareness these days, right, being self aware, being aware of others. And so I think people have really realized the value of understanding both ourselves and others. To just create a richer life. And also just be able to navigate life's ebbs and flows, right, with more ease. So definitely. So is that what got you into being a coach? Because they're not ex they're they're collected, but I'm curious -- a little bit. About how you became a coach today. Yeah. Yeah. It was quite a journey. So I actually had been in the luxury travel world for 9 years before I decided to pivot and become a coach. And I had actually had never really heard of coaching. I didn't know what it was. And the reason I actually got into it was because I started working with a coach because was really frustrated with my dating life. So I've been in New York. I've been dating for the same way for 9 years, and, you know, I think 1 of the narratives, you'll hear a lot from people here is how dating is so tough. And all the men in New York are terrible, which was the story I had as well, I'll be honest. And then I really then COVID hit, and I had time to really pause and reflect. And, you know, it kind of it kind of hit me like a ton of bricks, and I was like, well, I'm the common denominator as well, so maybe there's something I need to look at in myself. And so I started working with a coach and Only a couple of days later, I met my now husband, and my life literally did a 1 80 as a result of that coaching. And so it just really inspired me to be able to help people on their journeys and make those changes. Because I think sometimes it can feel like we're pushing a boulder up a hill, and then you're actually willing to look at yourself, it can be so much easier than we think. So was not part of the plan in any way, but that's what got me here.
Mahara Wayman [00:08:15]:
I love that. Well, that's kind of like life. Right? So often we we have plans or we think what life should be. And I know that from my experience, I did everything I was told, expecting a certain result. And there was some disappointment along the way, but I really I appreciate that you brought up the story that you told yourself about dating. Very true. Most of my clients and myself included, we tell ourselves stories all the time and they don't always service. So I think it's great that you learned that, that you learned that when you did. So what happened next? You so this was a date you had a dating coach or a relationship coach. But business mindset coach.
Amani Zaveri [00:08:56]:
Yeah. So I so I decided to become a business coach because the same thing actually happened when I worked as a business coach. So I worked for the business coach, And then in the first 3 months after working with her, my return on the investment tripled. So I just saw how much coaching had an impact in my life, not just in dating, but in business too. And so and I think also when you're when you sign up to have your own business, there's 2 things. You have the business itself, and then you have all the management around your mind, which no 1 really tells you about. Right? Right? But it's almost like 2 jobs rolled into 1. And so I felt really inspired to help other other women with that because I feel like it's a piece that's often overlooked, and that's actually so important if you wanna create a long term profitable business that really feels good. Right? Because people don't become business owners to make it hard. They they do it to create an easier and more peaceful life. And so that was what inspired me to to focus on mindset and business. So
Mahara Wayman [00:10:06]:
So so important. I learned as most entrepreneurs do, that success is an inside job, the quote, Gabby Bernstein, which I do a lot. And I almost wish I could go back a couple years on the first course that I took. I almost wish I could have known ahead of time. You know what? Anybody can Google how to set up how to set up a Instagram page, for example, but you can't Google how to deal with the inner dialogue or the stories or the mindset to use your word your words so so important. So what's 1 of the biggest surprises that you've had as a coach?
Amani Zaveri [00:10:42]:
Oh, that's a good question. I think 1 of the biggest surprises that I've had is Well, I have to think about this. This is a great question.
Mahara Wayman [00:10:59]:
Think about it. I'll tell you to what 1 of my biggest surprises as a coach because I was coaching for many years in my corporate world without realizing that I was coaching. But in the last couple years as I've focused on my business, 1 of my biggest surprises is how badly I need coaching. -- hear people. I was very I've always had a great life. I'm a happy person, lots of friends, great family. I hadn't realized the amount of stories that I was telling myself until I had coaching and learned that, wow, before I can expect it from others, I need to understand how to go deep myself. And so on the surface, I had and still continue to have an amazing life, I still have work to do. So everybody can benefit from coaching. And that was a surprise to me because I thought I'M HAPPY. I KNOW WHAT I WANT. THEREFORE I CAN GET IT. I WAS SO OPTIMISTIC So it's been a beautiful surprise. And I say beautiful because now that I understand what's going on, when stuff comes up, I can I can look at it with love and go, okay? That's interesting. Well, that's interesting. I become very III have become a great observer of my own behavior. At my own body, what because I understand that my body holds everything. So when I get triggered and I'm like, oh, that doesn't feel good. I now can question it. So that's been my biggest surprise as a coach, is how badly I need coaching.
Amani Zaveri [00:12:33]:
That's such a good 1. And I I love that you have that awareness of how the journey is never ending. Right? So I love that. I actually have an answer. For you, if you're ready for it. So the thing that I've learned and very similar to, I think coaching can benefit everyone. It's so powerful. I've literally seen it do a 1 80 on my life. But the thing that I've learned is we can't want something more for someone than they want for themselves. And I think as a coach, you know, I so badly want to help everyone, and I see their potential and hold them to that highest vision. And at the same time, it's up to them to do the work and the heavy lifting. And so wanna do coaching to really make those shifts. You know? But I've learned that I can do my part. I can take care of my side of the street. And you know, the other person is responsible for their side of the street. And that's been that has been quite a journey for me, but I would say that's probably 1 of the biggest things I've learned in being a coach.
Mahara Wayman [00:13:36]:
And that's such a good observation as well. You know, I made the assumption that even for myself, if I'm going to, you know, do this, then obviously I want to do it. And you're gonna tell you're gonna help me. And if I don't do it, you'll do it for me. You know? The conscious thought. But I remember saying to my business coach, no. Just tell me what to do. No. No. What do you think, actually? What do you think I should do? And god bless her. She's like, Maharaj. I just want you to take a deep breath because I was getting a little agitated and fretting. And we had this great conversation, and she gave me permission to trust myself, which I think some many of us struggle with because that's why we're in the place that we're at is we don't we haven't learned to trust. It's all been a great component of being badass. It's trusting yourself. Whatever it is that you come up with -- Hundred percent. -- coming up for a reason. But I have to learn I have to learn that as well. I have to learn that as well. So I'm wondering Can you share a couple or at least 1 key moment from your life that you think really led you to doing the work that you're doing today? I'm curious.
Amani Zaveri [00:14:44]:
Yeah. I mean, I think, you know so 1 of the things as I talked about was seeing how coaching impacted my dating life. You know, now I'm happily married, have this really amazing partner. But the other thing too was, you know, I had always wanted to have my own business, and COVID, I think, for, like, for many people, it was really the catalyst to take that step. And, you know, it all kind of hit me once where I was like, okay. This life was great. Very similar to what you said. Right? Like, I'm happy. I know what I want. And there was still a gap between where I was and where I wanted to be. And so then it was like, now I need to close the gap and take action. And I remember there was, like, a very Pacific Day where I'd made that decision, and I was I was sitting on my friend's porch in Santa Fe and just, like, overlooking the mountains. And I was like, yeah. This is what I need to do. And you know, I think sometimes we'll have an idea and it's percolating for a while, but then actually taking a step is the hard part.
Mahara Wayman [00:15:51]:
I agree a hundred percent. I've grown up with ideas. I've you know, I'm a very creative person, and ideas are always there. But really, it was only until very recently that I felt comfortable enough to act on the idea. And I used to say I wrote a blog about this once where I was a great daydreamer because I'm very creative daydream all these amazing things. But I categorize it as a daydream, I e, not possible for me. The only way I could experience to put it in the category of That's just a dream. And then I I had a I met a coach, a dreaming coach, actually. She taught me how to dream. And she mission to stop using it, stop saying that it was a daydream versus that's my intention. And it was a big mindset shift for me. It was like, wow. If I can dream it, then I can be it. Of course, I lost myself in quotes and read all -- like what many of us do. And I think it was Dale Carnegie that said, if you dream it, you can be it. And and that's just from a business point of view. So it important to to actually act on it. Why do you think that's so hard for many of us to do, though, to to close that gap? And I love that phrase. You used. Why is that so hard?
Amani Zaveri [00:17:06]:
Well, I think our mind in general is designed to keep us safe. Right? So it wanna keep us on our comfort zone. It wanna it wants to keep us small. Right? It wants to be in that familiar territory. So by default of that, when you're closing the gap between where you are and where you wanna be, it often it often represents the unknown, right? And our brain doesn't like the unknown because we don't we don't know it, right? It's a completely -- it's a blank slate. And the other thing too is, with that comes fear, right? So fear is such a strong undercurrent a lot of the time when we are taking that step. And so for me, III really think fear is is always gonna be there, but it's about letting it be the tailwind and not the headwind. Right? So it's kind of like when you're sitting in a car and there's, like, a really annoying passenger next to you. You're like, okay. You can go in the back seat. It's not about getting rid of it. It's just about changing your relationship to it.
Mahara Wayman [00:18:03]:
That's powerful. That's powerful. So would you think then that most of us allow fear to dictate our actions versus acceptance dictating our actions or excitement or love.
Amani Zaveri [00:18:19]:
Yeah. I think fear is a primary driver, but a lot of people aren't aware of it. And even if they're aware of it, it takes a lot to change it. You know, I think people tend to think in a very dichotomous manner, it's like an all or nothing. So it's like, you have to get rid of the fear before you do the and it's not about that, it's just about turning the volume down on the fear, you know, and relating to the fear differently like and really just like dancing with life. You know? Oh, I love that. I love that visual. And I think to your point,
Mahara Wayman [00:18:51]:
relating to fear differently is so, so powerful. And I know that some of our listeners are gonna be thinking, what the hell are they talking about? How can you relate differently to fear? Fear is fear. Right? The minute you feel it, your heart rate goes up, you start to panic, and it probably triggers -- happened in the past. And 1 coach that I worked very closely with when I got my certification, she really, Alyssa Nobrega, she really shared that, you know, fear is normal, and the best way to navigate your relationship with fear is to listen to it. And get curious about it, and then just a bunch of love at it. Not to sound to woo woo and out there, but really going back to your your comment earlier about learning how to observe, when we can learn to observe fear in ourselves. And I'm talking, you know, the fear of of, you know, an animal in the woods. Like, that's that's based human fear like back of brain fear. I'm talking the fears that come up in everyday life, the fears that we have that come up that we know come up to keep safe, but actually are holding us back from our dreams. When we can look and observe those fears with curiosity and go, well, where is that coming from? Oh, why do I feel that way? It's okay. It's okay that you're here. And to your point, rather than try to ignore it or not have it, hold its hand and show it some love and understand or try to understand that it's there to help you. But you're right. It's not easy. It is not an easy thing to do at all.
Amani Zaveri [00:20:21]:
Yeah. I mean, I think there are so many things. Right? It's it's easier said than done, but III actually love what you said because it's about approaching it with curiosity and really trying to see all emotions as not just neutral, but as data points. Right? So as you said, getting curious, it's like, okay. What is the fear trying to tell me? And then really unpacking it versus trying to push it away or, you know, just stuff it down because then we are able to coexist with it and be like, okay. Fears in the room. That's fine. And I'm not gonna let it stop me from doing the thing that I want to.
Mahara Wayman [00:20:59]:
Yeah. It's 1 of the biggest lessons that we can learn for sure. What are some other big lessons that you've learned through your journey to being a business mindset coach? You'd like to share with our audience?
Amani Zaveri [00:21:11]:
Yeah. I think the I think 1 of the biggest ones is how you relate to failure is so important. You know, I think when you're when you're a child, right, it's like when you're learning to walk, you fumble and you fall and you just yourself back up and you do it again. Right? And that's what so many things, whether it's riding a bike or learning how to ride. Like, we pick ourselves up so much more quickly, but then when we're adults and we fail at something the first time, we make it mean something about us. We make it mean something about our potential, our, you know, our future prospects. And so I really think seeing failure as a stepping stone success is really important, but also using it as a data point. And, honestly, I think failure is never a failure if you choose to learn from men.
Mahara Wayman [00:22:01]:
So true. It's 1 of my that's 1 of my favorite concepts to talk about with clients is, guys, it stops being a mistake the minute you decide to learn from it. 10 percent. Why did that happen? Oh, wow. Okay. The minute you do that, it's not a mistake. It's not a failure. It's like, wow. To your point, it's just a point of data. It's just an opportunity for growth. And I think we have a long way to go where we can learn to have that happen instantly. Because to your point, children They don't understand failure because they're encouraged. Like, we encourage our kids to learn how to walk. Mhmm. Okay. Get back up. You did a great job. But as we get older, we we stop telling ourselves that, and we, you know, we expect it to be perfect of ourselves. Hard thing to get over, though, but very true. So 2 things that you've said that I think are worth repeating. Yeah. So the first 1 is
Amani Zaveri [00:22:54]:
Fear is always gonna be there. And this is cliched, but you gotta feel the fear and do it anyway. And, really, just the reminder is to let fear be the tailwind, not the headwind. And the second 1 is failure, just really choosing to relate to it differently, seeing it as a stepping stone to success. And the other thing I'll say about failure is that it is the fastest way to success because our default is we wanna learn, we wanna keep consuming, and you know, consuming until we're ready to do the thing. But when you learn from failure, that is actually the quickest way to success.
Mahara Wayman [00:23:29]:
Okay. I wanna talk about that a little bit more because my initial my visceral reaction when you said that was what? Incredibly successful, and I don't wanna go through all the failures. So could you talk a little bit more about that? Because I suspect people that are listening have the same reaction or similar reaction?
Amani Zaveri [00:23:48]:
Yeah. I mean, look. I'm I'm speaking from personal experience. Have definitely been that person who wants to consume all the books and do all the courses and just do all the things before I really get out on the court, right, and take action because I don't I don't wanna fail. But every single time I've done something and I failed or I haven't done it perfectly, that's when I've learned so much quicker because I know what I need to do differently, what I need to refine, what worked, what didn't. And so I I really think the more you're willing to take action and reframe failure as experience and a stepping stone to success, it's gonna it's gonna collapse time for you so much more quickly than reading a book or doing a course ever will.
Mahara Wayman [00:24:33]:
Okay. I had a vision of years ago, I took a course on quantum physics. Well, let me be clear. This was a motivational course. It wasn't a quantum physics course, but the motivation is all about understanding the the energies of the universe. And this that it is possible to, like, sort of leapfrog into a space of energy that's very productive So I loved what you said, recognizing that that's all that's all that's what success is. Success really isn't overnight. I hate it when people say that, especially in being a an entrepreneur or an online an online business coach, for example, this idea of overnight success. Nothing's overnight. There's a lot of learning that goes into it, and recognizing failure quote, and I'm gonna put that in air quotes for those of you that are listening. Failure in air quotes, really, as we said earlier, it's not a failure if you learn It's just a learning opportunity. And it may be the opportunity that you have to leapfrog to the next level of your growth and the next level of your business?
Amani Zaveri [00:25:41]:
A hundred percent. I remember hearing this this thing, and it said baby steps are quantum leaps in disguise. You know? And it and it's it's on that same thread of, like, we discount those things or will sometimes see someone at a certain point in their journey and think, like, yeah, they just had it all together, but we didn't know we didn't see the back end of what happened. And so, yeah, I I just really encourage taking taking action and learning from it.
Mahara Wayman [00:26:08]:
I think something that you just said really sparked an idea in me or a recognition that part of my challenge has definitely been this I compare comparison. You know, whether or just growing up. Have you found that that's been an issue for you or your clients, this idea of, well, the world is an open book because of social media. We see everything, but are we seeing the truth? Are we seeing what's real? And if so, or if not, how do we navigate that? Because this comparison, whether it's in business or just in life, is a really slippery slope that we all fall into. Has that ever happened to you?
Amani Zaveri [00:26:50]:
Yes. I am I'm human. So I definitely do compare myself to others. And What's been really helpful for me is being very cognizant of my mind food. And I can I can elaborate on that a little more? But you know, essentially kind of treating, like, my mind, like a garden, right, and pruning it. So I noticed, for example, when I'm on social media for extended periods or on Instagram. Like, I would just come off and feel really bad about myself, honestly. And so I've just learned to be very intentional with what I'm taking in. Right? So whether that's on following certain accounts maybe or muting certain things or, you know, choosing to, you know, just basically choosing to take in things that serve me. And so, for example, for me, I have now built my business primarily on LinkedIn because I realized, okay. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are not my flavor, and that's okay. And this is actually gonna allow me to show up better every day without feeling that comparison. And so I think it's our responsibility to really just shoes our mind food very carefully so that we don't fall onto that comparison because you're gonna be you're gonna be in a more, like, high value cycle, so to speak.
Mahara Wayman [00:28:10]:
Yeah. I love it. It makes me think years ago, I remember my mom telling me that perhaps I shouldn't watch the news. And I'm like, what? And she's like, sweetheart, it's so depressing. Haven't you noticed they only talk about the drama and the pain that mind is experiencing. And so I hardly ever watch the news now. And it's interesting because I have family that will rush to the phone, phone me, and tell me of some of a disaster. And I'm It's not that there is glee in their voice by any stretch, but what I'm getting is this need to feel connection and people feel can feel connected through drama. Yeah. Like the family great find, oh my god, so and so this is happening or that's happening. And just like you said, I I just wanna step away from it. I love the the alliteration or the the comparison of your mind to a garden. Because I'm an avid gardener. And it's so true. Challenge, I think, is that we fall into habits. For example, it's a habit of watching the news at night. What I like about where this conversation is going is you've highlighted a few things that I think really speak to your being badass. Now, of course, this podcast is called the art of badassery, and my goal is that women everywhere and men who listen understand that true badassery is being yourself. What are some things that you do on a regular basis? To remind you to be authentic every day.
Amani Zaveri [00:29:48]:
So the first 1 is I really tune into my body. You know, I take some time in the morning to see how I'm feeling, adjust my to do list if needed, and show up in a way where I feel authentic and I can give myself fully to the things that I'm to the things that I have. And the other thing too is I take radical responsibility for my life, you know, which is very new, I think still for a lot of people. And, you know, even for myself, that's that's been only in the last couple of years, but Learning to be responsible for your life means that you actually have the power to change it. Right? It's not about look at situations or people or context and putting the onus of change on them, it's about taking it into your own hands and figuring out What do I need to do? What's my part in this? How can I shift it?
Mahara Wayman [00:30:49]:
That is so powerful. I think I want a t shirt that says radical responsibility makes me badass.
Amani Zaveri [00:30:55]:
I will buy 1 too. If you make them, please do.
Mahara Wayman [00:31:00]:
Well, you know, what I love about that is this understanding that so many of us put our worth in the hands of outside. Forces or outside people or just other people versus I'm intrinsically worthy because I'm here. And when you take radical responsibility, and I just love the alliteration of that, but when we -- responsibility for our life, we are basically saying, I have the power. If I'm responsible, then I have the power. You know? Just because you act like a jerk, does it mean I have to feel hurt? Can look at you and go, my god. You're really acting like a jerk and not take it personally.
Amani Zaveri [00:31:43]:
A hundred percent. It's like you know, like, I go back to the example of my dating, it's like, when I was blaming people, things, they didn't serve me. Right? But then when I looked at myself and I okay, I'm the problem. The great news is that I'm the solution too. And so when you choose to be personally responsible,
Mahara Wayman [00:32:02]:
that's what happens. You're willing to make the changes and look at yourself and see what needs to shift to create the result that you want. So here's my question, and We've mentioned it a couple times, this idea that, you know, we're human. I I believe we're spiritual beings that have chosen to have a human existence. That said, if we are going to be radically responsible for our lives, how do we balance that with our spirituality, whatever that looks like for you. Because to me, I see that it's it's a constant battle because there have been times where I was like, oh, my God. I don't know what's out there. Could but could you please just give me some help
Amani Zaveri [00:32:40]:
versus do this myself? So I'm just curious. What do you think about that? So the balance between radical responsibility and spiritual value, I think it's a great question. So it is it's definitely a delicate balance of them, and I and I do think that they go hand in hand. I think with radical responsibility, it's about taking care of your part. Right? So we are in control of everything, and I think it's really important to cultivate a relationship with your higher power, whether that's spirit, God, universe, you know, mother earth, whatever you wanna call it. But it's just about knowing that you did what you could to create the outcome that you want and really also trusting that if it's not this, it's something better. You may not understand the timeline or why, but it's it's about going through life with more ease and knowing that you did what you could you know, to to create the life that you want So yeah.
Mahara Wayman [00:33:46]:
I like that. I like that. I know the way that I think about it is that I'm in partnership. I agreed to come and have a life and learn some lessons and do my very best. The idea of trusting that there is something else whatever you call that regard you know, it could be spirit, god, Jesus, universe, that doesn't matter. But in that level of trust, I think, is key. And how I picture it is I have a flock of energy, spirit guides, ancestors that are just watching me and waiting and giving me opportunities to grow. And when I do something, when I step up or when I yeah. When I step up, I picture them all going, oh my gosh. She did it. Yes. Maher is ready for the next 1. Perfect. Hey. Remember? Yeah. Let's get let's give her this. Let's give her this opportunity. So I feel like I'm in partnership with my spirituality. And which means they do stuff and I do stuff. I can't just sit back in my beautiful purple room and expect my beautiful life to unfold just because I want it. I actually have to step up and do the work, whether it's inner work or outer work. You know, whether I have to work on my inner child and get do do some forgiveness, Or I actually have to go out there and, you know, knock on doors and talk to people about what I do for a living. Or if I actually have to sit down and write a book. I can't dream about being an author. If I don't actually pick up a pen and start writing or typing as it were. So it is a delicate balance, but it is possible. And I think everybody there are times when I'm gonna rely more on my actual actions that spirit. Another times I have to just sit back and trust that whatever comes to me is coming to me for a reason.
Amani Zaveri [00:35:35]:
Yeah. I I love what you said, and it it made me think of something, which was which is the idea and this kind of goes with the responsibility piece is that everything is happening for you. Right? And then when you choose to trust in your higher power, it's like you trust that they are giving you what you need right now or what's gonna set you up for the next thing. And I don't know if you heard of this quote, Steve Jobs said it. He said, you can only connect the dots when you're looking backwards, and that has like, I have seen that play out so many times in my life, like, even with my husband. Right? Like, 9 years of dating and showing me what was not the right fit and then meeting him, but it was like, it all made sense, but I couldn't have known that in the moment. And so just really trusting that what's happening is for you and that it's it's setting you up for the next thing. And having that trust
Mahara Wayman [00:36:29]:
Yeah. So would you say that when you're working with your clients to help them unlock their true potential that you spend that there's a component of teaching them how to trust themselves?
Amani Zaveri [00:36:42]:
A hundred percent. Yes. Because I think I mean, you mentioned this with your with your business coach. Right? It's like you can have someone give you all the answers or tell you what to do, but learning how to trust yourself is priceless. You know, because you save yourself so much of the mental energy of the decision making and the fretting and the drama and it is 1 of the most powerful tools you can have. Honestly, not just in business, but in life. So what does that look like though? Because to people that just, you know, got the shivers at the thought of trusting themselves.
Mahara Wayman [00:37:16]:
What do we say to them? What do you say to your clients? Like, What's the actual tool if there is 1 to just trust yourself?
Amani Zaveri [00:37:25]:
Do you think? I think a big part of it is figuring out what their saboteurs are. You know? So for me, that's been really helpful because and and for my clients as well. I've I've seen it literally changed their life in terms of how they show up to their business, to dating. I mean, everything, and and the dating is more a byproduct of working on the business stuff. But, yeah, I think understanding your saboteurs are there to protect you until, like, again, they want to keep you in the safe, familiar, comfortable zone. Being able to recognize them and recognize the voices that come with them. And so then when they come up, you can be like, oh, okay. That's my mind. Trying to keep me safe, and I'm gonna trust my intuition and do it anyway.
Mahara Wayman [00:38:15]:
Oh, I love that. So beautiful. It it really comes down to, I think, right back to what you said at the very beginning, getting curious and being an observer. And when we can observe the different conversations that we're having, the different stories that we tell ourselves, and not be upset, angry, afraid, embarrassed, ashamed by them, then we can embrace them and learn to trust whatever it is they're trying to say to you because to your point life happens for us, not to us. So yeah, that's great. That's awesome. So I just want to recap a few things here. You define bad ass as taking radical responsibility for your life. Observation is key. Clarity is everything. You have honed your skills of observation and brought it into your new business as a business and mindset coach. And really helping your clients to understand. First of all, they're not broken. I don't know if you'd used those words, but really what I heard was they're not broken by having these stories. And you help them to see them and recognize that every story that comes up is coming up for a reason to to help you. But if it's no longer serving you, then let's look at changing the narrative and taking action anyway. You also about the importance of actually taking action on your dreams, right? And that was how you bridge the gap from where you were to where you wanted to be was to actually take action. And the more action you took, the more -- you made, the more you learned from it, and you actually got to where you wanted to be quite quickly. Is that am I right so far?
Amani Zaveri [00:39:59]:
Yeah. Spot on. Hit the nail on the head. Brilliant.
Mahara Wayman [00:40:02]:
So as we tie this all up, is there anything else that you'd like to share with the audience about either your business or what you do every day to feel badass because in case you guys haven't figured it out yet, she is some kind of badass. Totally a great example of why you laughing. You're laughing so hard. But it's true. So is there anything else that you wanna show us about your business or your badassery?
Amani Zaveri [00:40:32]:
Yeah. I think so I'll I'll answer both of those points. So in terms of being a badass, just remember that your thoughts are not your truth. You know? Really just like, seen them as clouds in your mind that pass, but they do not represent the truth and not to tie them to your identity. I think that is the biggest thing. Like, we collapse our thoughts with truth. And when you do that, it really stops you from being a badass and living your best life. And then in terms of my business, I love helping you and aspiring entrepreneurs with learning how to make more money without exchanging time. I think there's this misconception that the more money you make, the more hours you have to work, and that's just not true. I have built 2 businesses now, not following that, and it is very much possible. And really helping people, again, just prune their mind like a garden and tending to it so that they have the best mindset to really set themselves up for success in a business. And and be able to create a long term business where you don't where you don't burn out is so important.
Mahara Wayman [00:41:41]:
Oh, so beautiful. I can't thank you enough for joining me today. I've loved our conversation. And for those of you that are listening, check out the show notes for all the different ways that you can connect With Amani, she's just a wealth of information and would love to help you on your journey if you are an entrepreneur or even a seasoned entrepreneur that's looking to put some jazz into your business. And I love your desire to help us create a business that is sustainable and gives us you know, more time and fun and energy and play and flow in our day because as entrepreneurs, we can get caught up in it and work 24 7 not pointing fingers or anything, but, you know, thanks very much. I hope you enjoyed today's episode. And we will see you next week. Thanks again, Amani. Great chatting with you. Thank you so much, Tamara.
