How do you define personal growth and fulfillment
Conversations have always been front and centre at the Your Time Matters business networking events events and we have certainly met some interesting people and benefited from their knowledge and experience, thus expanding our horizons and learnings from diverse perspectives.
Introducing Sara Shams, a START foundation Grant recipient and instagram account holder - “No Legs No Worries”
YTM was introduced to Sara through the START foundation, one of our 2022 Charity Partners. Some of you may have heard of them, others maybe not. Since the initial meeting, we have been keeping in touch with Sara via social media and following her Instagram page No legs No worries.
In 2019, Sara Shams was our Guest speaker at a YTM Progressive Dinner and shared her thoughts on “Teamwork and Collaboration”. At that time we recorded the conversation from the interview with Serpil Senelmis from Written and Recorded.
Our founder, Kerryn Powell, recently invited Sara on her podcast, and invited her to share the story behind her social media page:
“ Certainly - there is a perception that having a disability, being an amputee, is essentially a negative thing, a constant challenge to accept and overcome. However, even though being born without legs has its challenges, but it isn’t necessarily something I have had to overcome. Yes, it may be a little harder to reach certain goals (such as the Bridge to Brisbane fun run!) but we achieve these goals in spite of our disabilities, not because of it.”
Sara came across the START foundation on Instagram when one of their grant recipients posted about receiving a running blade. After a bit of research, she learnt that START Foundation have grants that help amputees achieve sporting goals and decided to apply for a grant. She was unsuccessful the first time , but with a goal in mind, and encouragement from Michelle Jelleff, Director and Chair of START, she reapplied and was successful. YTM and START collaborated on this grant and Sara participated in the Bridge to Brisbane 2019, a sporting dream of hers.
Goals and intentions
The start of a new year is always a time when we think about goals and intentions for the coming year. In fact, at the end of the month the YTM Business Connect Community will be having conversations about their goals for personal growth and fulfillment.
How do you define personal growth and fulfillment?
During the recent podcast episode “Ëmbrace your quirks”, Kerryn asked Sara, to define, growth and fulfillment
Sara’s response:
“For me - growth and fulfillment is when I set my own goals (and often re-set them), goals that are for me and not what I think other expect me to do. Fulfillment is a continual process of exploring my capabilities, improving on my skills and remembering to celebrate the achievements (no matter how small!).
Have you set yourself some goals, personally and professionally for 2022?
As the conversation continued, Kerryn noted that Sara now has over 10k followers and asked her i she had set herself some goals moving forward.
“Growing up as an amputee, I never saw people like myself in the media, on advertising campaigns or on TV. This negatively impacted my self-esteem, which stayed with me until my late 20s. Today, even though there is increased representation and diversity, I believe it can be done better. I want to be part of that change - to normalise diversity and inclusion. I want to work towards the day that when mainstream brands include 'different' models, it will no longer be a ground-breaking story! I sincerely hope that by contributing and having my quirks on display will mean other children and adults like me will feel less 'different'.
Kerryn asked Sara: “How do you decide what to post?”
“With my content on Instagram, I try to make it at least one of 3 things - educational, enjoyable, and relatable. I had started the page because growing up as an amputee, I felt quite isolated. This led to self-doubt, not being comfortable within myself or with my disability. I spent a lot of time and effort hiding my legs, but in 2018, I came to the realisation that embracing my quirks is liberating! So, I started the page as almost a documentation of my journey - in hopes that it will help even just 1 person experience the same situations as me. “"
Sara’s approach aligns well with YTM mission which is to start a ripple effect and help to influence and change outcomes for business owners and professionals by providing them with a community where they can create connections that generate business, stimulate meaningful conversations, provide knowledge and support, while driving opportunities for growth and fulfillment.
At YTM we feel privileged to have connected with the START foundation and Sara Shams.
As the year progresses, we will watch on as she works to increase representation of people with disability - different bodies - in the media, on the images at your local gym, on your TV and in leadership roles. Worldwide, there are 1.5 billion people with disabilities - that’s 15% of the global population believing all should be represented. and am working towards increasing diversity and inclusion.
You can listen to more of Sara’s podcast HERE or follower her on her instagram page HERE.
What is your vision for 2022? Does it include personal growth and fulfillment?
Perhaps you would like to join us Online on 22nd February and consider how your business can be a catalyst to helping you experience/ achieve personal goals of growth and fulfillment this year.
It is sure to be an evening of thought provoking conversation with business owners and professionals, where you will hear short stories and insights from our panel on what benefits they gain from their connection with a diverse network, and how they are able to use their experience to make a difference.
More details HERE
We would love you to let us know how you define “growth and fulfillment” and whether you have ever considered pro bono work? Please comment below.
