Are you feeling stuck in your career? Do you find yourself daydreaming about exploring new possibilities in life? Many of us have been there, feeling unsure about what’s next and how to make a change.
In this episode, Shira Ali and I dive into the topic of navigating career transitions and finding the courage to take the first steps towards your next chapter. Shira shares her personal experience of embracing the transition of leaving her corporate job and starting her own business
LAUREN And Shira ALSO SHARE...
asking the question of who they were outside of their job title
the importance of trusting and listening to one’s body when it comes to career changes
the C5 framework that focuses on taking courageous action to build confidence
About Shira
Shira Ali is, a highly experienced What’s Next Strategist based in the Washington DC area with a proven track record of success in the high-pressure high stakes corporate real estate industry with a career spanning over 20 years. Shira has held key leadership positions in distinguished property management firms, including Corporate Training Manager and Regional Manager. During her career, Shira honed her skills in talent development, helping individuals navigate their career paths and achieve their professional aspirations. Shira founded Shira Ali & Associates, a consulting and advisory firm that empowers women to answer the question, “what’s next” through her proprietary C⁵ Method™. Her extensive expertise provides her clients with clear paths to unlock their potential and confidently move forward, gaining momentum toward their goals. Shira is a member of the International Coaching Federation, ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and results.
Connect with Shira
Email: Shira@shiraaliandassoc.com
A GIFT FOR LISTENING TO THE EPISODE
Begin Visualizing a Life You Love with this Free Hypnosis Audio!
Shira’s Free Workshop: https://masterful-union-455.myflodesk.com/
Episode hightlights
Shira’s Career Journey [00:02:06] Lauren introduces Shira Ali, a “What’s Next” strategist, and they discuss her career journey and transition to owning her own business.
Importance of Asking “What’s Next” [00:07:04] Shira and Lauren discuss the importance of asking oneself the question of “what’s next” and how it can lead to personal growth and fulfillment.
Leaving Corporate Job [00:10:00] Shira shares her experience leaving her corporate job and starting her own business, including the fear and uncertainty that came with it.
Realizing the Business You Want [00:12:00] Shira talks about how she realized the business she was in was not the one she wanted and how she expanded her thinking to find the right fit.
Finding Yourself [00:18:27] Shira discusses the process of finding herself after leaving her corporate job and stripping away all the titles and external validation.
Clarity and Confidence [00:27:47] Shira explains her C5 method, which helps people gain clarity on their vision and build the confidence to take the next steps towards their goals.
Recognizing the Need for Change [00:21:04] Shira talks about feeling numb and unfulfilled in her corporate job, and how she knew there was something else she wanted to do.
Trusting Yourself [00:23:48] Shira emphasizes the importance of trusting yourself and listening to your body when it tells you that something isn’t right, using her sister’s experience as an example.
Building Confidence [00:28:41] Shira talks about building confidence through exercises and finding a supportive community.
Free Workshops [00:31:04] Shira mentions free workshops to support people in different areas of the C5 method.
Private Hypnosis Happy Hour Sessions [00:33:36] Lauren offers a buy one get one offer for private hypnosis happy hour sessions to help people with their goals and desires.
*Click on the arrow below to expand the transcript
Lauren Best (00:00:08) – Welcome to Provoking Possibilities where we reflect on pivotal life moments, ask thought-provoking questions, and dream up new possibilities for living a life you love that may be a little out of your current reality. I’m Lauren Best, a certified hypnotherapist and provoker of possibility, and I’ve created this podcast for people who are curious about exploring new ways of living, who are looking to connect deeper with their bodies, their intuition, their hearts, and then known, and who are really ready to just embrace their most authentic selves to move into flow and into alignment. There is just so much that is possible for us when we open ourselves up to exploring new possibilities beyond our wildest imagination. So if you’re ready and curious to begin exploring new possibilities, join me every week for a new episode of Provoking Possibilities on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Let’s dive in.
Lauren Best (00:01:09) – Welcome everyone to provoking possibilities where we reflect on pivotal life moments, ask thought-provoking questions, and dream up new possibilities for living a life that you love. That may be a little out of your cur current reality, but we’re gonna dive into some things that might spark a little bit of curiosity and invite more possibility to play in your life. I’m Lauren Best, a certified hypnotherapist and provoker of possibility, and I’ve created this podcast for people who are curious about exploring new ways of living, who are looking to connect deeper with their bodies, intuition, hearts, and that unknown, and who are ready to really embrace their most authentic selves to move into flow and alignment. There is just so much that is possible for us when we open ourselves up to explore new possibilities beyond our wellness imagination. So if you’re ready to explore new possibilities, thank you for joining me today.
Lauren Best (00:02:06) – I am so excited to have a very special guest, Shira a Ali, who has been on my radio show before, and you might see a replay of that episode again on the podcast as well. So Shira and I have connected, gosh, it’s been a few years now that we’ve been in the same coaching community together, and we’ve been collaborating together and supporting each other. So it is such a treat because Chira has made a beautiful pivot. More recently, she is a highly experienced what’s next, strategist based in Washington, DC area with a proven track record of success in the high pressure, high stakes corporate real estate industry. It’s amazing, <laugh> with a career that she’s had for over 20 years. So Shira has transitioned into being a business owner, and she has before that held key leadership positions in distinguished property management firms, including corporate training manager and regional manager.
Lauren Best (00:03:07) – So she has, you know, really paved such a way in her career and during that career, honed her skills and talent development, helping individuals to navigate their career path and achieve their professional aspirations, and now has founded her own company, Chira Lee and Associates, a consultancy and advisory firm that empowers women to answer the question of what’s next, which I love that she is calling herself this What’s next strategist? It’s so, so fitting. And she has also designed her own proprietary C5 method, which ooh, I see a little trademark beside very well done Chira <laugh> and her extensive expertise provides her clients with clear paths to unlock their potential and confidently move forward, gaining momentum towards their goals. So Shira is also a member of the International Coaching Federation, and that has been something that ensures the highest standards of professionalism and results. So whether you’re making a career change, want to advance in your current role or explore new opportunities, Shara is your girl and she’s here to help you navigate your path confidently and purposefully as well. And that’s something that we so, so resonate with each other and really connected over when we first met. Um, as always, so Shara is here today. She is going to be, we’re gonna be dug, like digging into some really fun stuff about what’s happening or what’s next. I was about to say what’s happening next. Same. Also, welcome Shira, and thank you so much for joining me again.
Shira Ali (00:04:47) – Oh, Lauren, I’m happy to be here. Oh my gosh. Yeah, this is gonna be a good conversation. We always have fun when we talk. Um, one thing that stuck out as you were doing your intro, I love, it’s like provoking play. When I heard you say that right, was it provoking? Is that the line? Is that the tag like provoking play in your life? Did I
Lauren Best (00:05:09) – Hearing possibilities, but the playfulness, is the playfulness something that’s super important? So <laugh>
Shira Ali (00:05:17) – Yes. No, and I know it’s provoking possibilities, but I heard something with play and that just lighten when just hearing that, right? Because we so often we are in this mode of like, oh, I have to do this, I wanna do this. I to just have like, oh, just like, play around with it, try it mm-hmm. <affirmative> and see what happened. That the light, like the the light feeling that I was just smiling when you was, when you read that, because it just, ugh. Yeah. Oh
Lauren Best (00:05:47) – My gosh. I love that. And you know what? Play wasn’t even in there. So I think it’s like very, um, intuitive that you picked up on that feeling. So I’m so glad you shared that with me because this is what our conversations, I feel like, are always about all of the conversations we have that aren’t recorded because we’re like helping each other connect the dots and like pick up insights when we listen to each other speak. So that, oh, I love that <laugh>. So cool.
Shira Ali (00:06:14) – Yeah. I, I’m hearing things are, they’re not even there, but <laugh> <laugh>.
Lauren Best (00:06:19) – Oh my gosh. Welcome to our world, everyone. <laugh>.
Shira Ali (00:06:22) – Yes.
Lauren Best (00:06:23) – Uh, well, Shara, I’m so glad that you’re here and you have pivoted into this beautiful new world of coaching and y I mean, you were always doing it in your job, in your corporate world beforehand, but now this is like you and your company as your own boss, and you know, you have this beautiful just journey of leading yourself to this place where now you’re a what’s next, strategist. So I would love to hear, and I’m sure everyone else is curious to hear how you got there and like how you got to this place of what’s next.
Shira Ali (00:07:04) – Yeah, I think that’s something that has come up throughout my career. I’m always that person that I do one thing and then you’re always like, okay, what’s next? What do I do? I bought this property, now what’s next? I’m in this role in my job. What’s next? I would always think about that. Um, and I know people as they are, especially women today, realizing I want, I’m not fulfilled with what I’m doing possibly, or maybe I am, but I wanna take it up to the next level, what’s next for me, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we’re always planning and trying to think of what that looks like, but many times we stop because we’re thinking, I, I don’t know enough to go to that next level. We don’t feel like maybe we belong in that next, at that next level, whatever it is. There’s always that, um, that fear. Think about even when you decided to make your transition
Lauren Best (00:08:02) – Mm-hmm. <affirmative>
Shira Ali (00:08:03) – Like, oh yeah, I’m ready to go. I I got it, I got this. No, right. What were you gonna say?
Lauren Best (00:08:10) – Oh, I was thinking like, oh, I was like, what the hell is next? Like, really, like, oh my gosh, yes. Yeah.
Shira Ali (00:08:18) – That maybe that’s the whoa, whoa, was first thought, like, what the hell is next? Was that the first?
Lauren Best (00:08:28) – Yeah, definitely. I’m just like, oh, like, what? Yeah, what’s, what the hell’s gonna happen next? Like, really <laugh>. So I think everyone can really relate to that of just like, whether it’s your world comes crashing down, or maybe it’s not so dramatic. Maybe it’s something just like really small, like a, that first inkling of unfulfillment or curiosity or, you know, it can show up in so many different ways for so many people, but I think that line of what’s next can resonate so deeply with so in so many ways for, for almost anyone. So I love, I love that.
Shira Ali (00:09:07) – Yeah. And, and really supporting you to think about it. And, and you had to ask that question to start thinking about, okay, like, let me expand, like, what is my vision? What is, what do I want? Right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative> like that, asking yourself that question alone is giving you a signal that you’re ready for something else, even if you don’t feel it like a hundred percent inside, you’re asking that question for a reason.
Lauren Best (00:09:33) – Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So what would you say to people who first get that inkling that first, whether it’s a download into their head or their intuition, or that gut feeling of like, I need to know what’s next. Like, what did that look like for you? Actually, I wanna go back to you and like what that looked like for you when you, when you really, when it got too loud for you to ignore it that very first time.
Shira Ali (00:10:00) – Oh, my goodness. Okay. So I, I shared a little bit of my story of when I left my corporate position. It was a, it was a, it was a troubling time, let me say that. <laugh> mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it was troubling. It wasn’t, um, I was, I had my business, I was kind of doing more consulting at that point, um, and I knew I’ve, I just always had that kind of like, nagging what’s next. Like, I always just very ambitious, very much trying to level up all the time mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, and, but that the time when I just could not ignore it. I said, you know what, you’re gonna start something. I was working at my, you know, corporate job, and I just said, you, you’re just, you’re gonna start. You, you, I didn’t have it all figured out, right. But I just said, I’m going to, I’m gonna start, let me go with what I know. And I did that. That’s how we started. I started working with Lydia. Right? Right. Because I, I was ready to like, let’s do something. Stop spinning your wheels, like do something. And that’s when I started taking action, right. Uh, left my corporate position in 2022, March, 2022, um, and went into this phase of doing, continuing to do what I know
Lauren Best (00:11:11) – Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, right? Mm-hmm.
Shira Ali (00:11:12) – <affirmative>, I just went into real estate. I was still doing just consulting on my own, because that’s what I knew. I’ve done that for 20 years.
Lauren Best (00:11:20) – Yeah.
Shira Ali (00:11:21) – It makes sense. Right. Um, so I have small ears and this thing keeps going outta my ears. <laugh>,
Lauren Best (00:11:28) – Oh my gosh. I can relate to, I have small ears too. Oh my. For those who might see this video one day, <laugh>, I get it. <laugh>
Shira Ali (00:11:38) – Okay. Getting off track, but back on track. I, I, I, I did that. I, I went into that because that’s what made sense. Yeah. Uh, later that year around, uh, September or so, I realized, I said, you know what, I had someone call me out. She called me out. Yeah.
Lauren Best (00:12:00) – I dunno if I know this.
Shira Ali (00:12:01) – Oh, yeah. She called me out, she called me out, she called me out, and there were certain things that I was not doing for my business. Mm-hmm.
Lauren Best (00:12:10) – <affirmative>.
Shira Ali (00:12:10) – And she really kind of, what did they say? Put your feet to the fire or <laugh>, whatever the, what the, whatever the saying is. Yeah. It really made me reflect and say, why aren’t you doing this?
Lauren Best (00:12:24) – Mm-hmm.
Shira Ali (00:12:25) – <affirmative>, why are you not making the steps? Why are you not doing the things you said you wanted to do? Right. Your business. And I came to the conclusion, it’s because that is not the business that I wanted to have.
Lauren Best (00:12:39) – Right. Wow.
Shira Ali (00:12:41) – I went into that because of really fear and that mm-hmm. <affirmative>, that I allowed myself to expand my thinking and to understand that I can work and do this outside of the real estate space.
Lauren Best (00:12:55) – Right.
Shira Ali (00:12:56) – It changed, it was a game changer. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, that was a game. That is when you saw, I mean, I started, you know, when I connected in meetings and different things, people are like, oh my gosh. Like, what are you doing <laugh>? Yeah.
Lauren Best (00:13:11) – You’re
Shira Ali (00:13:12) – Having so much fun, because now it is very light for me. This is the, what I’ve done in my corporate position was yes, I worked with people and that is where I lit up, helping them to develop. Right. But I also had the managing the asset part and the other part of the things that you didn’t, you I can do very well, but didn’t mm-hmm. <affirmative> actually light up my spirit. Right. Right. So being able to just 100% focus on the piece that I love, that is the game changer. That’s the game changer.
Lauren Best (00:13:47) – Wow. Wow. That’s so beautiful. And I think, you know, one of the beauties that I know you mentioned Lydia, and for everyone who’s listening, Lydia Lee from Screwed the Cubicle, um, is both our business coach and where Shara and I connected through her community. And I think the beauty of that program too is like, take what, you know, like, yes, your business can change, you can change, you can learn new skills, but like the whole kind of premise of how she wants to support people is like, you know, using the skills you already have to transition, like easily, you know, in a way where it’s going to make sense, right. Like Right. For right now. Right. So I think it’s just a beautiful part of that evolution now that, you know, that was a comfortable way to take those first steps in screwing the cubicle <laugh>, so to speak, um, to shout up to Lydia again.
Lauren Best (00:14:43) – Um, but to also see how, like, you know, you were able to, and I, I know I struggled with this and you know, I see it a lot in, in other, you know, entrepreneurs in their first few years is this like identity crisis of like, I was this in my past work life, and so people know me as this, or they know me within this industry, or they know me because I, you know, have this experience. So there can be this feeling of like, if I change that, I’m gonna confuse people and people won’t catch up with me, or I might feel like I’m leaving parts of me behind, or those people behind, or those communities. So it really is, it might, it might sound easy to be like, okay, yeah, we can keep learning and we can learn anything and pivot and we can change our business and how we show up.
Lauren Best (00:15:38) – And that’s always gonna be a part of the journey. But to say that part, um, should be or could be really easy. I think sometimes there is so much of that, you know, what am I leaving behind? And that emotional or that mental like, subconscious attachment that we have to our former selves or these comfort zones, so to speak, in our, in our past careers or however it is that people, we believe people see us as, or like the identities that we tie ourselves to. So I just wanna like, applaud you again for being brave to do that and say, Hey, like, there’s parts of that job that have taught me a lot about myself, and it’s also taught me what I don’t even wanna do anymore. And like the little pieces where I feel so empowered and feels light and easy, like you said, I think that’s so, so important for us to like, listen to our bodies and our minds when we find these really light and fluffy pieces. Because I think we’ve been taught so much to like, you know, persevere or chase the, you know, what’s next, but what’s next can also feel light and it can feel ease, useful, and it can feel like different than it has in the past. Right? Like, it doesn’t have to feel the same, that same tie to what’s next can look different from what it has in the past.
Shira Ali (00:17:10) – Absolutely. Absolutely. It can, it’s all about how you, how you structure it, and it doesn’t have to look like anything that you’ve seen. Maybe you haven’t seen it done. And I know you touched on, you touched on really finding out who you are. That’s a big piece, right? Of like uncovering finding that out to help you. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> put that into place because for me, leaving that, I remember just last year after I left my position and I, you know, the, oh, you know, like I have this freedom and all of that, right? You have all of that and mm-hmm. <affirmative> that started to, after that first excitement wore off for me. Yeah. I remember being on my deck <laugh> just like asking myself, like, who am I? Like literally, who am I? Who am I? Yes, I know my name is Shira. Okay. But aside from that, at no title, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, no. Giving me these pats on the back. Yay. Congrats. Good job on that project. Good job on that client. Yeah. None of that. Right? That high dollar salary that I had gone mm-hmm.
Lauren Best (00:18:26) – <affirmative>,
Shira Ali (00:18:27) – All of the, the just all of that that went along with kind of boosting who I thought I was. All of that was stripped. Yeah. I literally felt, I told myself, like, the analogy I came up with was I felt naked. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I felt naked, I felt like, and when you’re naked, you don’t necessarily feel presentable to the world.
Lauren Best (00:18:48) – Right. <laugh>. Right.
Shira Ali (00:18:49) – You don’t necessarily just wanna go out to everyone. So I had to go through that of really finding out like, who am I aside from all of that. Like, take away, strip everything away. Who are you, what do you stand for? What do you believe in? What do you like, what, what do you enjoy? What makes you happy? All of those things. I really had not taken time to figure that out. Yeah. I was working <laugh>,
Lauren Best (00:19:19) – You were busy.
Shira Ali (00:19:21) – I have a daughter. I was doing that. Like, I was doing all of those things. Yeah. That wasn’t a high priority on my list. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and why, why did I need it? I had everything that I wanted. I thought, yeah.
Lauren Best (00:19:34) – Right. <laugh>, you thought, oh my gosh, ARA, that’s like the best little clip hanger there. So we’re gonna, I wanna like, wanna ask more about you more about this because this idea of thinking, you know, there can be this difference between being in a corporate job or any type of job and feeling like there’s a sense of like unfulfillment or, you know, like, this isn’t where you’re meant to be type of deal. But from your lens feeling like you thought you had everything you ever wanted. How did you, you know, make, like, like, does, was that a different feeling than this feeling of unfulfill fulfillment? And if it was like, how would you describe that to people in terms of like, if they’re in these, these places in their lives where it’s, it’s, you know, the job feels easy and great and they’re having that success like you did, and you know, they’re may be a parent as well and they’re, you know, in that mode of like parent mode and job mode and there’s like all this success coming to them, but then it’s like, oh wait, wait a minute, <laugh> like still what’s next?
Lauren Best (00:20:46) – But it’s not that unfulfilling feeling, it’s just like the universe or something happened or is going to happen, or there’s this little inkling where it’s like, oh, maybe, maybe this isn’t it. Even though I, I think it is what I want.
Shira Ali (00:21:04) – You can feel it. I think everyone’s body feels it different. I think, you know, when you, for me, I, I felt really nothing. I was pretty,
Shira Ali (00:21:19) – Yeah. I was pretty numb. I was going through, I was like programmed, like, wake up, right? Go to the office, get on this. And like, when I did my work, I did very well. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Okay, now what do you do next? What do you, okay, your weekend, you, you like recharge and then you get back to it. It was kind of like, I was just going through. Yeah. I feel like I have come, I, I, I, I, after I left my job, I went through as, you know, I went to like, I was doing my yoga. I went to like a yoga retreat. Yeah. I had to really cleanse myself and find myself. I was really like, when people say find yourself, it’s serious. It’s a real thing. Yeah. I think it’s a real thing. People kind of like laugh it off, but I think everyone knows, you know, you may not want to admit it. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you may not wanna, um, recognize it, but if you take time, once you have that time and space
Lauren Best (00:22:18) – Mm-hmm. <affirmative>,
Shira Ali (00:22:19) – It’s gonna hit you. Oh
Lauren Best (00:22:21) – Yeah.
Shira Ali (00:22:22) – Many times in our positions that we have enough time. The longest I had taken on vacation is a two week, like two weeks back to back. That’s the longest I’ve ever had.
Lauren Best (00:22:32) – Right. In 20 years.
Shira Ali (00:22:35) – Yes.
Lauren Best (00:22:36) – Yeah.
Shira Ali (00:22:36) – And I only started doing that the last maybe two or three years. I wasn’t doing that before. Right. So two weeks and I took that during the holiday time. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, that’s really not enough for you to have that. Like, by that second week, you’re really just starting to relax and getting yourself ready to go back.
Lauren Best (00:22:53) – Yeah. Yeah. And I’m
Shira Ali (00:22:54) – Not saying it’s a bad, not everyone, not everyone, not everyone is gonna experience that. Not everyone is, um, pushing, maybe pushing themselves to that limit. Some people have mm-hmm. <affirmative> very, I I think it’s, that was a lot of it was on me. It was my boundary. Right. And how I push myself mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it’s, you go to work, you, you are done five o’clock, you mo move on, you’re, and it can work, right? Yeah. If that’s what you wanna do. But when, for me it didn’t work that way, it didn’t work that way. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But I, I knew, like I said earlier, I knew there was something else. I knew there was something else, but just had to kind of put my finger on it. Yeah. But I’m, are you out there listening? You know, you know, you
Lauren Best (00:23:44) – Know, and that’s, oh, sorry. Go ahead Sha
Shira Ali (00:23:48) – I was just gonna say trust yourself. Trust yourself. Yes. Believe yourself. Listen to yourself and believe yourself. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> that when, when your body is telling you, this is not right for me, like my sister. Right. She had this job. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> every time she had to go to work, she was like, she was, she was being sick. She was getting sick. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, she was getting sick. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, this went on for weeks. Her body <laugh>. So that’s why I say it’s gonna look different for everyone.
Lauren Best (00:24:17) – Yeah. Yeah. I think for me, it manifested in, um, my appendix, um, <laugh> wanting to explode. And truly, I feel like we can get stuck in such survival mode. And this robot mode that you did talk about is a, and so that when we feel some of these things in our bodies, in whichever way it is manifesting for us, there can be a lot of mistrust because we also think, okay, my body might be telling me something, but if I got myself in this position, then how can I even like trust myself anymore? If I, if I let this go on for so long, how could I possibly trust myself? You know? I think there can be where the confidence that you need or maybe once had in the past before, you know, this, this journey or experience of societal pressures like overwhelm, you know, not only our time with these jobs that are like, show up for 20 years.
Lauren Best (00:25:25) – Right. And only take two weeks of holiday here and there. Or like, is so performance based. It can be really hard to just be like, oh, okay, I’m just gonna listen to my body now when it’s been a buildup. Right. Of over time. And so I would love to, and I would love for you to share a little bit more about, you know, for those who are listening and how it will look different or feel different for them. This piece on confidence, because I think that’s a big thing both, in both you and I resonated with each other with, is like building back that confidence to trust yourself. And also, you know, many things. Put yourself out there to use your voice to start talking about different things that you didn’t talk about before in your past professional life, whatever it may be. I know you have created your own like, signature framework for this, because it was really based on the experience of you rebuilding yourself.
Lauren Best (00:26:25) – But I’d love for you to share a bit more about that and how through this growth in yourself, you’re really translating that into the work that you’re doing with some of these amazing women who perhaps are feeling stuck or unsure and are ready to take those first steps to like build back their confidence to, you know, I’m just gonna let you let you talk about it. But it’s, it’s, I’m so excited to learn more about it because I’ve seen it. But to see that you’re practicing it and guiding people through this is incredible. Like, so incredible. So tell us all about it. Shera. <laugh>.
Shira Ali (00:27:03) – Yeah. So I’ll just, I’ll give you a high level overview of what the C5 method is and what it means. So it’s really the first piece to start with is the clarity piece. Really understanding what your vision is and then expand, helping you to expand that past what that fear is. What you don’t even see in yourself. Right. Other people may see it, people tell you, but you’re like, ah, no, that’s not for me. That’s not me. I can’t do that. Yeah. You know? So really helping you to really clarify and we, there are different things that we work through to get to that place, right. Different assessments. And we do a whole lot to get, make sure that we get that clarity. And then you are going to, after you have that clarity, okay, what do you need for that next step? Right? So now you’re gonna move into that competence piece.
Shira Ali (00:27:47) – A lot of people feel, I don’t know enough, right? Yeah. What are the core pieces to this that you need? Not all of the other things, because I don’t want you to get stuck in that trap of looking out for the next shiny object that you’re purchasing because you just feel like, I don’t know enough and I wanna suck it in. Hello. Been there. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> been there. I told people I could actually put a down payment on a home in the United States, <laugh>. But with all of the money that I spent on programs, courses, support in many different ways, been there, what do you actually need to move forward? Right? Let’s be very clear about that. And then it’s the courage piece. That’s the really, the prelude to the confidence, right? Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, the courage is taking that first step. The courage is what builds the confidence.
Shira Ali (00:28:41) – When you took your first step as a baby, you didn’t know, you didn’t have the confidence. Like, oh, I’m just, you know, like you took that step, right? Yeah. You did. Took that step. Courage. Then you start as you do it more, more, and we work through different exercises, you build that confidence, like, yes, I feel confident in that mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And then you’re gonna go to the community piece, who are gonna be the people that are gonna surround you, that are gonna support you. No judgment, just space. Sometimes you need to vent, sometimes you need to helping you find that community, the community that is aligned with you.
Lauren Best (00:29:17) – Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we’ve
Shira Ali (00:29:18) – All been in communities where, where we felt like, oh, I wanna, I wanna be there. But you get there, it doesn’t feel right. Yeah. Right. So helping you to really look at who you are and a space that’s gonna support that. So that’s the, that’s the C5 method kind of wrapped up in a few, like two minutes. <laugh>,
Lauren Best (00:29:37) – I love it. And you’ve just, like, your face has lit up as you’re sharing that. And I know you could probably talk on each point forever. Yes. So if anyone is interested to meet with you and check out, you know, understand more about what that method could really look like for them in their contexts, within their lives, within their career, within their transitions, how can they find you? How can they work with you?
Shira Ali (00:30:09) – So, um, you can find me, find me on LinkedIn. Let me just be real about it. Yeah. I’m not a real, I’m not a real Instagram girl. I’m not a little social media person. <laugh>. So find me on LinkedIn <laugh>. I think that’s, I’m gonna be real about it. Yeah. So, um, I’ll, I’ll, I should have that link for you. Um, LinkedIn, and then I am doing a workshop. I’m not sure when this is going to air, air. Sometimes the New York comes out, so I have to <laugh>
Lauren Best (00:30:38) – <laugh>. You don’t have to hide the New York Shira <laugh>
Shira Ali (00:30:41) – Trying to like, present it. But, um, in the, in the, I should, I’m, I, I think I believe I sent you the link for Yes. A workshop. Even if you missed that date, if you put your information in there, I will receive it and I can let you know when the next workshop is. And these are
Lauren Best (00:31:02) – Fantastic
Shira Ali (00:31:04) – Free workshops for us to really spend time digging into. Usually it’s gonna be, um, parts of the C five method and different areas that can support you.
Lauren Best (00:31:13) – I love that. I love that. Well, thank you for making those accessible and available to people. I think for anyone listening, join Chira, she, I in one of these workshops or reach out to her because she’s been a light in my life. I like, I can’t even, I don’t even know what other words to say <laugh> to describe how impactful Shara has been in my own journey and being a part of my own community and a mirror back to myself and just like, so supportive and to know Shara is, you know, I just feel so, so lucky. So if anyone has really, you know, resonated, I think anyone can resonate with p bits and pieces of Shira’s story, whether or not you were in the corporate real estate world or not. There’s bits and pieces of, you know, coming back to ourselves and figuring out who we are and connecting back to our values.
Lauren Best (00:32:11) – Um, that, that either, you know, we go through and we, we face or we don’t, but there’s never, you know, it’s never too late to do that. I think it can be really, um, intimidating for those people perhaps who have had careers for 20 years plus who are just like, you know, I’ve been in this career for so long, I’m invested, but it’s never too late to go after what you love or listen to your heart, listen to your body and just, you know, pivot your own life and, and design that life that you really love. So thank you so much, Shara. Is there any last little tidbit you always drop like the wisdom bombs and like beautiful things. Is there anything you wanna leave the audience with?
Shira Ali (00:32:52) – I wanna leave with a quote. I love quotes. <laugh>. You don’t know. Yes. I love quote. So Henry Ford’s quote, whether you believe you can or you can’t, you’re right. So what do you wanna believe? That’s, that’s it. That’s it. That’s what I have for you.
Lauren Best (00:33:07) – Gorgeous. Oh my gosh, that was gorgeous. Thank you so much Shara, and thank you to everyone who tuned in today and listened. There will be much more where this came from, and please do checkout Shira and Chira, what’s your website? Let’s drop your website in here as well.
Shira Ali (00:33:24) – Yeah. Shira ali and associates.com.
Lauren Best (00:33:29) – Perfect. Find her there. Thanks everyone. Thanks Shira.
Lauren Best (00:33:36) – I am so excited to bring this little treat to you because right now I am offering a buy one get one offer for my private hypnosis happy hour sessions, which for two sessions is just $222, which is the price of one session on its own. So right now you can buy one, get one for the price of one, just $222 for two sessions. And within these hypnosis happy hour sessions, we can focus on whatever it is you want to show up with, whether you have a goal in mind or some sort of desire, and you feel like there’s just blocks and limiting beliefs that are stopping you from actually going out there and following your intuition. Or whether you’re struggling to manage your time, your energy to set boundaries, or wanting to show up in the world a little bit differently than what you are right now.
Lauren Best (00:34:28) – We can also figure out how to connect back to your intuition a little more. Listen to the whispers of your mind and do some work with your nervous system and just feeling comfortable and safe in your body. We can focus on letting go of old stories, rewriting your beliefs, reprogramming those beliefs, and just really visualizing what your idea of success could look like in whatever it is you’re going through at the moment. So do know that there will be a limited amount available, but you can book these sessions all the way through to the end of the year. So right now, you can visit my website, lauren best.com and book those sessions through there, or follow the link below and you can get access directly to that BOGO offer for private hypnosis happy hour, which will be two sessions for $222. So make sure you don’t miss out, and I cannot wait to support you to really connect to your subconscious mind and see where the session might take you.
Lauren Best (00:35:37) – Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of exploring new possibilities and embracing your most authentic self. I appreciate you and your willingness to open your mind and your heart to new ideas and ways of being that are beyond your current reality. So if you found value in this episode, please take a moment to leave a reading and review on Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to this podcast. Your support helps us to spread the message of compassion, self-discovery, and personal growth to more people who may benefit from it. And if you’re looking for additional support on your journey of self-discovery and transformation, I invite you to visit my website@laurenbest.com where you’ll find resources, courses, and coaching services to help you navigate life’s challenges with more ease and joy and confidence and support. So please check that out. And more than anything, I hope you’ll remember that you’re not alone on this journey. We are all in this together. And by embracing our most authentic selves, we can create more compassion and connection to the world. So please keep dreaming, keep exploring, and keep provoking possibilities with love and intuition. I’ll be back soon with more thought-provoking questions, inspiring stories and powerful insights and conversations to support you on your journey. But until then, take care of yourself and others and remember that you are worthy of love and possibility.
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