Zaid Hisham, design strategist and coach to solopreneurs, shares his journey of overcoming stuttering and personal challenges. Topics include the relationship between stuttering and trauma, identifying personal triggers, high blood pressure and kidney health, stoicism vs. emotional suppression, ADHD management, entrepreneurial turmoil, releasing childhood judgments, conquering perfectionism, and entrepreneurial lessons from personal challenges.
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Quick takeaways
Stuttering can be addressed as a design problem, allowing individuals to overcome speech challenges.
Past traumas can manifest in physical and emotional challenges, emphasizing the importance of addressing the mind-body connection.
Self-exploration and personal growth are valuable in understanding and overcoming limiting beliefs.
Challenges and self-discovery contribute to personal growth and the development of a growth mindset.
Trusting intuition is crucial, as it leads to positive outcomes and allows individuals to make decisions based on their own beliefs.
Deep dives
The Power of Split Testing in Marketing and User Experience Design
Split testing or AB testing is a powerful tool used in marketing and user experience design. It involves testing two variations against each other to determine the better performer. This method is applied in various scenarios, such as optimizing the user experience on websites like Expedia.com or improving game discovery on platforms like Xbox. User experience design is centered around refining and innovating the user journey to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable experience. This iterative process involves constant testing, user feedback, and technological advancements.
Understanding the Impact of Stuttering on Communication and Self-Doubt
Stuttering, a speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the flow of speech, has profound effects on communication and self-expression. The podcast episode explores the challenges faced by individuals who stutter and the impact it has on their daily lives. Stuttering can erode one's confidence and create feelings of self-doubt, making it difficult to express oneself effectively. The episode highlights the situational nature of stuttering, where certain situations or words trigger increased speech turbulence. By considering stuttering as a design problem, individuals can work towards addressing and overcoming their speech challenges.
Exploring Complex PTSD, Childhood Adverse Experiences, and the Mind-Body Connection
The podcast delves into the concept of complex PTSD and childhood adverse experiences, shedding light on how past traumas can manifest in physical and emotional challenges. It discusses how these experiences can lead to a dysregulated nervous system and affect overall well-being. The conversation draws connections between emotional stress and its impact on physical health, highlighting the psycho-neuro-immunological system. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing the mind-body connection and seeking therapies that address trauma and integrate the body's responses. By exploring new perspectives and modalities, individuals can better understand and care for their mental and physical health.
The Impact of Childhood Experiences on Self-Perception
The podcast episode explores the speaker's journey of self-discovery, uncovering the impact of childhood experiences on their self-perception. The speaker shares how their doctor's diagnosis of ADHD and later bipolar disorder shed light on their behaviors and thought patterns. The realization of being bipolar helped the speaker understand their periods of extreme productivity and subsequent crashes. Additionally, the speaker found relief in a low dose of a mictal, which provided a calm baseline and reduced impulsive tendencies. The speaker reflects on the frustration of not receiving an earlier diagnosis and expresses the importance of these conversations in helping others. The episode emphasizes the value of self-exploration and working towards personal growth.
Challenging Beliefs and Unearthing Unconscious Judgments
The podcast episode delves into the process of challenging deeply held beliefs and unconscious judgments. The speaker shares their experience in a course that helped them uncover hidden judgments and beliefs that shaped their self-perception. They discuss the impact of childhood programming and traumatic events on their outlook and behavior. The course encouraged them to explore these limiting beliefs and consider alternative perspectives. The concept of 'being' is discussed, emphasizing the ability to create oneself and purposefully embody desired traits and mindsets. The episode emphasizes the power of self-awareness and personal transformation in overcoming negative beliefs and living a more fulfilling life.
Using Challenges and Drives for Personal Growth
The podcast episode highlights the value of challenges and personal drives in fostering personal growth and development. The speaker shares their pursuit of understanding entrepreneurship and creating their own business. They reflect on the various courses and books they explored to overcome self-imposed limitations and gain a growth mindset. The speaker discusses the importance of slowing down, self-care, and adopting new thinking frameworks. The episode emphasizes the transformative power of embracing challenges, learning from past experiences, and utilizing self-discovery to move towards one's goals and aspirations.
Importance of Constructing Your Own Systems and Processes
Constructing your own systems and processes is crucial for success in business. By combining different elements and approaches that resonate with you, you can create a unique system that works specifically for you. It's important to recognize that not every course or book will provide the exact solution for your needs. Instead, view them as tools and resources that you can selectively choose from and adapt to fit your own goals and personality.
Embracing Play and Intuition as a Superpower
Embracing play and intuition can be a powerful tool for creativity and personal growth. By tapping into your natural inclinations and finding joy in the process, you can unlock hidden insights and discover your true passions. This approach allows you to bypass the fear of failure, perfectionism, and the need for external validation. By treating each experience as a source of inspiration and utilizing your own creative DJ-like abilities to blend different elements, you can create innovative solutions and find fulfillment in your work.
Trusting your intuition and not feeling guilty about it
The key takeaway from this podcast episode is the importance of trusting your intuition and not feeling guilty about it. The speaker shares personal experiences of listening to their intuition and the positive outcomes that resulted from it. They emphasize the need to trust yourself and your instincts, even when others may try to convince you otherwise. The speaker encourages listeners to trust their own judgment, make decisions based on their own beliefs, and not let fear of judgment or criticism hold them back.
The power of dialogue and connecting with others
Another main idea explored in this podcast episode is the power of dialogue and connecting with others. The speaker discusses the benefits of engaging in conversations and actively listening to different perspectives. They emphasize the importance of being in dialogue with others to expand your own understanding and gather insights from a diverse range of individuals. The speaker believes that having meaningful conversations can help them discover patterns, deepen their understanding of themselves and others, and ultimately contribute to personal growth and the development of a strong support network.
For session 34, we sit down with Zaid Hisham, a design strategist and coach to solopreneurs, with an inspiring story of overcoming personal challenges.
Zaid delves into his journey through stuttering and its deep-rooted connections to past traumas, exploring the intricate relationship between physiological responses and psychological experiences.
Zaid has a world-class resume as a user experience strategist at companies like Intel, Apple, Microsoft, and Expedia.com. He's harnessed his expertise in design to reshape his life, confronting and overcoming his challenges one layer at a time. And now, he's on a mission to empower others to do the same.
This episode delves deep into Zaid's transformative journey and design thinking in personal growth. Not only his past but we explore his current daily battles, including the ever-present specter of imposter syndrome.
[00:00:00] Introduction [00:09:17] Stuttering & Authority Figures [00:19:55] PTSD vs. Complex Trauma Differences [00:28:01] Identifying Personal Trauma Triggers [00:40:22] High Blood Pressure and Kidney Health [00:50:41] Stoicism vs. Emotional Suppression Debate [01:02:16] ADHD Management with Adderall [01:19:02] Root Causes of Stuttering Unveiled [01:35:22] How Past Trauma Shapes Perception [01:46:40] Entrepreneurial Turmoil: Personal Experiences [02:03:33] Releasing Childhood Judgments for Growth [02:19:18] Entrepreneurial Lessons from Personal Challenges [02:32:16] Conquering Entrepreneurial Perfectionism [02:44:52] Growth Mindset: Beyond Searching for Cures [03:00:18] Applying Artistic Process to Life [03:11:46] Breaking Dysfunctional Family Patterns [03:35:35] The Importance of Trusting Your Intuition [03:42:45] The Power of Dialogue and Connection
Zaid's story is one of empowerment and resilience. His insights aren't just inspiring—they're a call to action for anyone ready to take the driver's seat in their life's journey. It's a testament that with effort, we can rewrite our stories. But it's a continuous journey.
