Ep: 91 From Pool to Profit: Building a Business Around Your Passion
Send us a textWhat happens when a lifelong passion collides with entrepreneurial drive? Faris, founder of the world's first swimming app for Apple Watch, takes us on his remarkable journey from childhood pool sessions to building a seven-figure business centered around his love for swimming.Born to Syrian immigrants in America, Faris found freedom and control in the water from an early age. "I love the feeling of being weightless in the water and completely separated from the world," he explains. "You can't take your phone with you, no one can bother you, and you're just alone." This sanctuary became the foundation for both his athletic pursuits and eventual business venture.The entrepreneurial path wasn't without significant challenges. Faris candidly shares his biggest regret—waiting a full year before implementing a subscription model: "We went a full year not making any money." This hard-learned lesson shaped his advice for aspiring founders: focus on profitability from day one. The COVID pandemic dealt another devastating blow when pools worldwide closed, threatening his swimming-centered business with extinction. Through perseverance and adaptation, he maintained his team despite burning through substantial resources, proving that "startups only die when founders give up."Beyond business strategy, Faris offers profound insights on avoiding burnout, maintaining authenticity while building a personal brand, and the power of complementary partnerships. Despite struggling with reading as a child, he's published multiple successful books on swimming, including his latest, "How Not to Drown"—addressing the shocking reality that one in two people worldwide cannot swim. His story reminds us that our greatest challenges often reveal our most meaningful opportunities for impact.Ready to dive deeper into your own passion? Subscribe to hear more conversations with entrepreneurs who've transformed their unique skills into thriving businesses while staying true to themselves.Support the show
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Ep: 90 From Rock Bottom to Empire Builder: Mark Coles Unplugged
Send us a textMark Coles takes us on a riveting journey from his early struggles to becoming a fitness industry titan in this deeply personal conversation. After abandoning a seemingly secure path in his father's property business, Mark followed his passion for fitness despite uncertainty about his future. "I said I don't know, but I need to be happy first... whatever I do that I'm happy, I'll know I'll be successful," he reveals, highlighting the courage required to pursue authentic fulfillment.The transformation wasn't simple. Mark candidly discusses his battle with substance abuse and the pivotal moment that changed everything: "I sat on the end of my bed after doing coke... and I went 'you're done.' Never done it since." This raw honesty unveils the power of decisive self-leadership that has defined his approach to life. What followed was a five-year period of intense isolation where Mark rebuilt himself completely—his body, his business, and his mindset—describing it as "probably the loneliest five years I've ever had." This deliberate retreat from social life formed the foundation for his future success.Whether you're struggling with personal transformation, building an online coaching business, or seeking to optimize your physical and mental performance, Mark's hard-won wisdom provides a blueprint for authentic success. His journey demonstrates how our greatest challenges, when met with courage and determination, can become the foundation for extraordinary achievement.Check Mark out on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/markcolesm10?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode, Dm on : https://www.instagram.com/sophiadelavari/Support the show
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EP 89: Who Are You When No One is Watching? Dr. Shaheem
Send us a textWhat happens when you leave home and recreate your identity in a new place? How can you break free from people-pleasing patterns that no longer serve you? And what does it really take to design an authentic relationship that thrives long-term?In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Shaheem draws from her extensive experience as a psychologist and researcher to explore the architecture of our identities and relationships. Having studied diaspora experiences and personality development across cultures, she offers a unique perspective on how we can deliberately design our lives rather than operating on autopilot.The discussion introduces powerful concepts like "roaming" – moving through life with wrong programming installed by others – and explains how deepening self-awareness can become your secret weapon for navigating life's transitions. Dr. Shaheem challenges the quick-fix culture of social media advice, offering nuanced insights on everything from cultural adaptation to relationship dynamics.Particularly illuminating is her evolution-not-revolution approach to personal change, especially for recovering people-pleasers. Rather than abruptly cutting people off (as often advised online), she suggests becoming a "people easer" who values their needs equally with others while maintaining genuine generosity. For relationships, she dismantles the myth of finding a perfect partner, instead describing love as a verb – something you choose daily – and relationships as third entities that require intentional nurturing.Whether you're contemplating a major life change, struggling with career identity, or seeking more authentic connections, Dr. Shaheem’s wisdom provides a blueprint for redesigning your life at any stage. As she reminds us, "What gets you here may not get you there" – but with curiosity and deliberate design, you can create a life that generates joy rather than anxiety and depletion.Ready to pull up your personal blueprint? Listen now and discover how to architect a life that truly reflects who you are.Check out Dr. Shaheem here : https://www.instagram.com/drshaheem/Support the show
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EP : 88 From Drug Addiction to Crypto Influence: One Entrepreneur's Raw Journey
Send us a textEver wonder what's really happening behind those flashy crypto promotions and million-dollar influencer deals? In this raw, unfiltered conversation with crypto entrepreneur James, we strip away the hype to reveal the uncomfortable truths about blockchain technology, cryptocurrency investments, and the often-manipulated world of digital assets.James pulls no punches as he shares his journey from ambitious 19-year-old recruitment company founder to successful crypto influencer. With refreshing honesty, he explains how blockchain works as "an online ledger that tracks transactions" and why it's revolutionizing payments and property transactions worldwide. But he also drops a bombshell that most won't admit: "95 percent of people lose money in crypto" because they don't understand what they're buying or when to sell.The conversation takes fascinating turns as James reveals the inner workings of meme coins (he was involved in over 100 last year alone), the truth about paid promotions, and how top crypto influencers can earn 1-3 million dollars monthly. We explore the dark underbelly of the crypto space, including scams, botted accounts, and paid awards that create an illusion of credibility. His advice for newcomers? Invest time in education before investing money.Perhaps most compelling is James' personal revelation about overcoming cocaine addiction, a struggle that transformed his outlook on life and business. "When you wake up every single day and the first thing you think of is when you're going to do drugs, once you get through that, the hardest battle is with yourself," he shares. This experience shaped his disciplined approach to business, relationships, and purpose—a philosophy that every challenge after addiction seems manageable by comparison.Whether you're crypto-curious, already invested, or simply fascinated by the psychology of success, this episode offers valuable insights about wealth, freedom, and the relentless pursuit of growth. What limiting beliefs or habits might you need to detach from to reach your full potential?Support the show
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Ep: 87 Mastering Your Intuition with Keyen Lage
Send us a textWhat if the key to unlocking your full potential lies not in chasing external validation or rigidly following someone else's system, but in truly listening to your own intuition? In this profoundly illuminating conversation, ex-NFL player turned elite mindset coach Kian reveals how disconnection from our deepest intuitive wisdom creates the conditions for anxiety, depression, and a life governed by others' expectations.Drawing from his extraordinary journey from professional football to spiritual awakening, Kian articulates the crucial difference between superficial emotional reactions and authentic intuitive guidance. "When you learn how to connect deeper to that inner feeling inside of yourself, separate from just an external feeling or emotion, it allows you to be able to get really clear about what truly is right for you or not," he explains. This distinction becomes the foundation for a life of genuine fulfillment rather than endless striving.Perhaps most provocatively, Kian challenges conventional wisdom about masculine emotional expression. While advocating for men to become more emotionally connected to themselves, he presents a counterintuitive perspective on vulnerability in romantic relationships. "I don't believe men should be more emotional to their women or their significant others," he states, suggesting instead that men process their emotions with other men before communicating their needs clearly to partners – a refreshing view that honors both masculine nature and relationship dynamics.The conversation delves into fascinating territory around plant medicine, nutritional foundations for intuitive clarity, and the concept of "emotional sovereignty" – Kian's term for maintaining integrity with your authentic desires regardless of external pressures. His approach to life without rigid discipline may seem radical, yet it stems from a deep connection to purpose and inner guidance that many seek but few achieve.Whether you're struggling with people-pleasing tendencies, seeking to strengthen your intuition, or simply curious about a different approach to personal development, this episode offers profound insights that will challenge your thinking and potentially transform your relationship with yourself.Find Keyen here : https://linktr.ee/keyenlage?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeZ0-543i7P5-3pO8O4pogFBCpMWcC5C1tSV96dD3_TI4i0rZuw5U-M5v1AHQ_aem_kYs8Fo1a1XTNxmumSsH3qAIf you liked this episode feel free to reach out to me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiadelavari/Support the show
Welcome to the podcast. This is a space where I get to vocalize my thoughts and dive deep into conversations with some truly remarkable individuals. It’s not about surface-level chit-chat—this is where we get into the real stuff. We talk about the things that matter: health, fitness, relationships, and the process of breaking free from the limitations we place on ourselves.I don’t believe in small talk, because nothing meaningful ever comes from it. So, let's dig deep into the topics that can actually change your life. I want to bring you value, provoke your thinking, and help you see the world differently.If you resonate with these conversations, I’d love for you to share the podcast with others. Your support means everything.Let's get into it.Sophia
Ireland