Pivoting 2023 See Life Different Summit | Impact Weekend Live Recap | Rebranding Media Group

Zaakirah Muhammad 0:04

My name is Zaakirah Muhammad and I am an author of seeing life through different lens. I am a childhood I cancer survivor of a big childhood, eye cancer called retinoblastoma, but I'm the host and the producer, producer of the See Life Different podcast and the See Life Different Summit. So this episode, they did an episode, this is going to be repurposed to the Audio is also going to be just a conversation. You know, I think it's been a whirlwind of a month of Women's History Month, and a lot has been going on. And I think what happens is, it can deflect and reflect and show so we're going to talk about how the See Life different virtual summit went, and some little tidbits, some tidbits and points for you to take away from, especially as you're going through the remainder of the month of March. Okay, so let's see, like different summit with we had our second See Life Different Summit. And so it's for women, marginalized women, to literally see life differently in every area of life, whether it's professional, whether it's personal, whether it's nutrition, whether it's entrepreneurship, or branding. And so with me having over a decade of experience, also as a photographer, and a brand, strategist, it was also a way to have that clarity and that ease of like, okay, there's so many changes going on in social media, how there's so many AI tools out there going on, like how, how way, like how do I you know, make it happen. So, what we wanted to do with very, we got to work on our mindset, first and foremost, in order to even be able to go where we want to go in our business go where we want to go in our life, we had to take a look at the mindset. So we had Pamela D. Marshall, who spoke on value, forgiveness yourself, being at peace with yourself, breathing, and going through, you know, all of the visioning exercises and just taking a breath, you know, before you even start your day, having peace, as your GPS, that's what she said. And then the second speaker with me, I then came in and was storytelling. Now, if you don't know my story, my cancer my eye cancer with detected as a cancer through a photograph, when I was about six months old. And so that had been much to me that he would make me unique. And so what I were talking about what is storytelling, like? How do you not a to a choosing peace every single day as a part of the GPS? How are you now taking all of the adversity that you have gone through my life thus far, and tweaking it and making it a part of the story? And then we had a nutritionist and dietitian, YaQutullah. And yes we have the same last name. But no, we're not the same people. But YaQutullah Muhammad also is a registered dietitian and a nutritionist. And she really was talking about choosing your why, why are you choosing to do the diet that you choose? Why are you choosing to improve your health? She also shared her why she said her why about why she chose to get become a dietitian and nutritionist and manage that. And now that's how it happened, some adversity that we've seen someone else that we love go through, we'll go through, or die from, and nine out of 10 times that are triggered to our purpose. And so she gave a lot of great tips about you know, how to really decide from all these diets and these fads out there. And, and choose to be healthy, which in return is a bit worthy internally. And then last but not least, we had Khadirah Muhammad also speak. And so we got we got as far as realizing that just even knowing understanding that one of her quotes was don't be booked and busy, be productive and paid. And yet, being able to understand and grasp that concept that it's okay to delegate it's okay to outsource it's okay to you know, once you write down every single thing that you already do in your life, any business, you know, make you to do less work for you, that it's, it can work for you. I think what happens is we get so overwhelmed by technology and we'll have all these subscriptions and I don't mean and just you know, the subscriptions to the movie shows, but sometimes we are familiar with the technology out there where we can just say, oh, okay, I'll just pay for the subscription for a lifetime and it'll save me money and save me time. But what happens if we had to be able to do the work? So it was really, really good about doing In the work, and so definitely be sure to check out the replays because this is a good good tidbit for all year long. And especially since the speakers left a, you know, they all had a call to action. For example, Pamela D Marshall is releasing her art of forgiveness book, could they also had a bunch of tools that she'd recommend, and she providing a discounted price on her services, to have a consultation on what it looks like to literally write out every single thing that you do. So that it can be tweaked to that it's automated. So that the same thing that you do repetitively, that also kind of frustrates you, you don't have to do it, right, you can actually utilize technology for that too. And then YaQutullah had a resource for whether you are wanting to be plant based, or you just want to be holistic, or you are a woman of faith, and you are either pregnant or postpartum. Like she had all of the things that no matter what area of life you are, at, even if you're you know, older and you want to really get back to your house. So she has resources too. But make sure that you go to Zaakirahnayyar.com/seelifedifferent so that you can get this information because what happens is these resources are so good that you really got a purchase the replay in order to get access to it. And before then there's me but I think for me the fact that the biggest thing we've been able to provide the platform to really talk about all the things that I talked about in my book seeing life through different lens, survivors memoir, overcoming resilience, aka self help guide to living life more gracefully, aka advocating for yourself and having a sense of community. And so being in a community. One of the things that I also took away from having a virtual Summit is to so you know, I think the biggest thing was, you know, this vision came to me again, I think, you know, this is 2023 I had it virtually 2021 And so the fact that when the vision they come to me to have it again, I was like, Okay, God, we gotta we got do something. And so the biggest shout out, I definitely want to give it that one of the what, as soon as I received the vision, because I'm very intuitive. So tip number one actually should be follow your intuition. Follow your intuition and follow that first thought because it is coming to you for a reason. And so as soon as I knew that, Okay, it's time to have this again. Ironically, one of the first people to reach out to me with also a speaker on 2021. So I want to give a shout out to Lashana West of Pop up and Create. She actually had an event space in Atlanta, Marietta, Georgia specifically. And I was already kind of looking at event spaces. Like I knew I knew the big vision that this is supposed to be I believed in myself, I believed in the vision. And so I knew that I wanted to find a space where we could create, you know, because another one of the aspects of seeing life differently is see how you capture your content differently, too. And so then, I think I started sharing it with the 2021 figure that we're doing this again. And so she was like, Hey, I have a new event space, I think it was just maybe a six month old baby at the time. And she like, Hey, I have a new event space. And once I checked it out, I'm like, it's perfect. Because it's for all the things creative That's exactly why I say all of the creative and so, um, you know, with the statement to say like, okay, great, you know, one one more thing checked off I have now have an idea of a location that we perfect because it was Next to a hotel and so which would have made it super convenient because then the next step was continuing to secure speakers I think it went from I we're gonna I'm trying to remember how it pivot is so much that's just be so grateful for your intuition they did be grateful for with areas because the pivot is so much but it went from I think maybe it was going to be a workshop to now also having having speakers there as well. And so I think one of the first figure that I got to confirm whether the nutritionist because I was already it was the holiday season that the idea came to me and we were already kind of eating whatever we wanted to eat, even if we were actually cheating, though. And so I'm like yes, I've been 95% plant based. Pretty much entire 2018 But I need to bring on the official person so you know, YaQutullah with the fish when they say yes then the next was

Zaakirah Muhammad 9:58

I believe Pamela D Marshall, was next cause we have met, you know, through a different platform. And then I was telling her about it. And then she like, Yes, coming in. And then came Khadirah I think, also one of the other tips to keep keep going, keep going because people see you, right? Although it may feel like no one listening to the podcast, no one's watching this video people do see and hear you. And so I reached out to kudu and so what excited me was also that she had seen and heard about this See life different summit from 2021. And so that was, you know, a great reminder to know that people see and hear you. And so she was originally going to fly into town. So Pamela, we're going to come up from Florida. Today, we're going to come down from Detroit. And I was going to come from Tulsa Oklahoma into Atlanta, we were going to make this thing happen. And so fast forward. Fast forward, I get to Atlanta. Now, planning was planning was I would never not planning. But I think for going forward, what would happen next, because I've been doing too many things like, you know, I, every time I do hear from, you know, friends or family that like I see you do an amazing thing. But I think what happened is I'm doing so many amazing things that in order to let people know that, okay, this is my thing. And I want you to come to it, that people are like, Oh, wait, when is it happening? So I think one of the things that I noticed too, with that, you know, I'm doing so many amazing things. There's so many amazing, you know, more than a lot of startups and creatives, that when it came down to talking about my thing, then it was like, Oh, wait, when is it? Oh, wait, I want to come but. You know. So, you know, I think for for those who are even just starting out with being able to talk about their own thing, this isn't this isn't a thing. But you know, if you are listening or watching and you're like, I have that issue too, like I can be, I can easily talk about everybody else's thing. But I'm so afraid to talk about my own thing and talk about my own, but talk about my own podcast. Make sure you are talking about yourself too. And although this, you know, make sure that if this resonates with you take it if it doesn't leave it. But there's another phrase that I would say the hard way about yourself, right? So sometime, you know for them, but once I'm skipping them out a little bit, that's my creative brain, but I'll come back to it. But so one of the things that happened with once I realized once I got to Atlanta, I realized, okay, this is getting less and less, like the vision that was originally brought to me that I started to worry about all the other speakers they've like, you know, cuz they were, you know, open with me and on me about what they were up against, you know, when it came to making this happen. And so I started to worry about them, like, Okay, how do I make sure that you know, this isn't I get that you either way this is in the video. And so what happened to it, I was so more so worried about them that I, I was forgetting about like me, it's my event, I'm in charge here. So yeah, so I think in a way, worry about yourself, but also continue to build that relationship and build that trust, you know, gratefully, any other. I remember going through the event, hashtag for the event hashtag and the story, but mainly the hashtag seelifedifferentsummit for 2021. And I remember seeing a post about how, you know, gracious, I was that they were this another speaker, I had like 23 speakers in 2021, which was I'm not doing that again, I knew that much. But they were grateful to you know, people have since 2021. You know, two of those speakers created an anthology together. And I'm gonna get into it in a minute. But I also wanted to be the one ended up getting to Atlanta was for a completely different thing. And I get to meet two of those speakers in person. And they were both at the same event. So, you know, I know for sure that the power of the see life different Summit is the community is the networking. And so I don't even know why I got to do that. But I know for sure that building the relationships and I'm grateful Okay, sorry. Now I know what I was saying. I'm grateful that none of the speakers put out like between, you know, it went from we're all coming to Atlanta to this event, to I get to Atlanta and realize, okay, that's not going to work. Because like I said, there were several other things going on in between, you know, the minute I got the vision for the event, the minute I posted the save the day, the minute I gotta have the idea of the venue and the speakers that are allowed, okay, that need to be pivoted to virtual. And so I think I'm gonna go back to just you know, just how amazing you know your lessons that are supposed to be there. You are gonna be there until you actually learn it. And so, you know, one of the things that I am grateful for is that I remember having a book signing in January 2020. And it was actually the other way around, I think I think I may have made a deposit for the venue, and then the main domain we'll do afterwards. And then of course, you know, I had to put that in the remainders in collection, because it's the pandemic it is I'm like, I had to leave my job I had to get I got. Okay, one thing at a time, in 2020 is so many things happening that if it was anybody else, they probably would be like, What am I doing here, but January 2020, I had a book signing, where, you know, maybe five of my close friends and family showed up. But it wasn't enough to sell tickets. And then January 2020, with us, so I was already in a proceeding for a divorce. And so March 11 2020, would actually be divorce day. So I have this summit on divorce that I think that was the most popular question. When people really understood when this was happening. They're like, why is this happening? Or can we move it to a different date? Like, I think that the other thing too, a lot of people like, this is great, I want to come but it's spring break. Is that Yeah, that and so I'm just like, Um, yes, and no, like, one this division was set for March 11. And it's happening. So, you know, gratefully, I did push through and what was also gracious is that the pop up and create event space, you know, literally about to be the next go to space, if you are in Atlanta in one you need a co working space to you need an event space. Go check it out. But was so amazing it that, you know, march 11 stayed open, like, you know, she was gracious enough to hold the event. Like I didn't put anything now, I didn't have to put anything down. But she held that date. But what was so amazing it that, you know, maybe initially came in when and she kept in touch with me. And that day stayed open as though, you know, I'm just like, wow, you know, so that was another kind of, you know, reminder to continue to build your relationship and follow your intuition and continue to show gratitude. Let's see what else. Yeah, okay, so I think what's next for the sea life different video camera, it's not the end is literally the Wii, the Wii, both the Rebbe BK 2021. And then I've kept winning 22. Mainly because I would do on a lot of personal development on my own, you know. And so fast forwarding now to one of the next aha moments, so I get to Atlanta first, to continue my own personal life business development. And I attend a business conference called Impact weekend live by Maya Elious. And if that name is ringing the bell, you probably do know her, she is the current go to for all black woman entrepreneurs, who really want to master their message. You know, and if you have seen the messages, or the Instagram bio descriptions of I help x do Y XYZ. She, she's one of the the, you know, women that are out there, it's really been at a gaggle of entrepreneurs that have you know, you can, you can be successful and still be authentic. So, I've been, you know, a fan of her since 2016. Like, we were both I think proximity is real because, we were both, you know, blogging in 2016, I was doing still an avid traveler. and I was traveling, I've been blogging about my travels. And she was just getting into the personal branding space. And she would blogging about personal branding. And so you know, she's had a couple of digital products here and there, and I've always been supportive. And then End of 2020, there was another woman of faith who actually was not able to go because at the time, it became a conflict, like she shared, you know, over that weekend in Atlanta that, you know, it started out started from the bottom now, we here, she start out very, very small. And then it grew to, you know, a conference at a hotel where, you know, the whole hotel is the same place where the conference is and so you know, I think end of 2020 I would give it a VIP slot because the person could no longer attend. And that really made a huge difference to me because once again, community is real right? When you keep going people see you and so I attended virtually, I would love to attend in person, but

Zaakirah Muhammad 19:55

I don't remember the full actual story of why I couldn't probably finances probably By the way, I attended virtually and that made a huge difference, because, you know, I leave that conference, so empowered, and I actually had the community so strong that I actually got three, you know, new clients from that first one, so much so that I really wanted to attend the next one, the natural bridge between infinity but again, life happened, we moved to Tulsa Oklahoma, and some death in the family and 2022 was just a lot, so graciously, she held my balance for the 2023 conference. And so I was able to attend in person, and it was everything, it was everything, because I have been a digital entrepreneur for over a decade now. And a lot of the other digital entrepreneurs that I connect with, will also you know, we've been in touch with Facebook group, they've messaged each other, you know, digital courses by black woman, and we got to hug it out. We are outside now and we got to really hug it out. And so, you know, I share all that to say of one yes, you know, continuing to invest yourself, but also take action. You know, one of the other thing that was just a reminder is that I am that chick, I am that chick I am that woman. And so now, for me, the next season is really just kind of acting on it. You know, one of the most important things that we did do is, you know, manifest; manifest, speak your vision into reality, going back again, to the ask for help. Because I got the vision that I was reminded actually of how, in 2018 Several things happened at once. 2018 was in January 2018 It actually when I launched my digital marketing agency called focus with the pH focus Media Group. And then later, that month, I started doing in person workshops. So I kind of played it, I wouldn't, I didn't feel very to do both at the same time. So I started with photography, because that what, you know, I've been doing for over a decade and then I had a separate workshop. I think I ended up having it in February 2018. But then I had a separate workshop on social media marketing, which I had been doing for other you know, nonprofits and startups out there for maybe maybe seven years well actually, I'm going to say ten years as well because I started my photography business at Facebook was pretty popular. So I had been doing both photography and social media for over a decade and so I was like, let me just start a digital marketing agency you know, I've always been about women been about us and you know people of color marginalized people actually though in you know, the fact that I'm now even more so as an author Oh, that's the other thing that happened 2018 2018 with actually when the vision for the book was also came out came I just didn't slowly but surely took action. So I would write in the book editing the book so all the things will happen in 2018 But I didn't actually launch the see life different brand until 2019. So the media the media group came in 2018 the see life different podcast came in 2019 but now we are here we are officially five years later that it's time that you know I will be known as the see life different and because the book is out there you know one of the other things that I did I realized I was I was having conversation with people is that you know, when you go to when who would who do you recall if I talked too much about legacy. I talked too much about legacy How do you want to be known? What do you want to be known for? Right? So now that I officially have a book out there with my face on it and my name that's actually the word people know me for I would use you know the word focus and remember, you know, even having some kind of consults it's kind of fall through the cracks and they're like, Oh, I was looking for your name I wasn't even looking for focus what focus how do I spell it and so I realized to the caption when misspell it people fall to do character by habit I the brand name for consultations and follow ups and all that so officially, this is the official I'm saying it out loud right now that the new brand if I'm not, you know, speaking and consulting under Zaakirah Nayyar, the new brand is see like different. Now, there's going to be there's going to be different variation because, you know, of course, grammatically you probably were saying it shouldn't be see life definitely, will also the thing is to make sure that you're not copying what someone else already has out there. And although, you know, I keep looking it up, like there's some dormant brands out there that they see life differently. But, um, yeah, that's the first that's the first you know, what's next, the next where to next is that we're back to doing in person now that we're back to officially doing in person I thrive off in person energy and you know, having been a leader I think that was one of the other flashback that I remember that was pivoting so many different time for just the see life different virtual Summit is that I've been a leader you know, really like impactful leader since I was born actually. So you know, in person energy makes a huge difference. So you know, one of the other visions is that this is going to be city city wide, you know, we're gonna we're gonna get back to our traveling we're gonna get out to you know, in person energy and so, you know, the see like different book and brand and workshop, I've been podcast and Summit is just beginning and that's gonna be the new media group. You know, we are still here serving entrepreneurs, we're still here serving women, women of color, women that are differently abled. But it's going to be under a slight different umbrella. So that's the next thing. Okay, I feel like there is one more thing, okay. Follow your intuition, manifest, worry about yourself, build your relationships, and build that trust and show gratitude, choose your why, okay, I think that's the last tidbit for this, this recap is to your why. Because a lot of times, especially when I was pivoting to anything difficult that was going on just to have this event, I really had to ask myself, why, why, why God? Why, but, um, you have to remember why your why like, what is your legacy that you are trying to grow, that you are building through all adversities? And that's the one thing you got to keep in mind. See, with all of the adversity, what is your why, okay. And so, for me, you know, I've always been, I've always, you know, I've always been, you know, of servant leadership. And so I've always been about impact. And so knowing that I've been blessed to travel to 10 countries, I know that the impact a truly international and so that's what's next. Next is travel next international impact and impact many youth, especially in African countries like Kenya, and a return to South Africa. That's often what's going on next. And so one of the other thing that I wonder the ironic thing that also happened at pivoting from having an event, for to in person to hybrid to fully virtual, is that they're the minute were actually had a shift in like, how to start off like, for a minute, I didn't have access to internet. I mean, I had access to internet. I know, for a minute, I didn't have access to fast internet Fiber Internet when we say that. And so for me, I mean, it could have been easy, kind of like, oh, what's going on here? But actually, it would actually reminded like, what if I was already in Africa if it's happening, there was so many, like, you know, there's so much content that I wanted to upload, but it never really uploaded, there was so many videos that I wanted to upload, couldn't upload. And so it really got me thinking ahead, because, you know, one of my visions is I've always been a world traveler, and I had the opportunity to live in Africa for two months. And so I know that that's my future and so I literally would ask myself what what happened if I was already in Africa, and if it's happening, so we go back to the you know, the phrase of ask for help but actually back to the quote from the See Life different summit where we said diagnose yourself and your business first. And so it was yet another reminder of you know, the lesson that you have yet to pass you still need to pack them. So they're not gonna go anywhere until you pass them so that that this has been a great conversation. Let me know your favorite takeaways by visiting me on social media at illuminate one I ll u m i n o u s o n e and continue listening to the see different podcast. We are also going into the new season season seven Max

Zaakirah Muhammad 30:01

season seven on my podcast. This is the year of seven because if you calculate two plus two plus three, that's seven. I'm looking to definitely serve seven women this year and probably travel to either seven cities or seven countries African country. It did the year of seven. Although I although you know I just turned 30 And at that 30 minute episode they think they have seven. So let me know your favorite takeaways and until then, I will see you next time and continue to see life differently.