“I started a movement to help change makers start the journey of bettering the world starting with themselves” With Author Sara Delpasand
“I believe you can bring awareness and clarity to this world only once you have brought it to yourself. My purpose is to provide a platform for change makers to gather and start the journey of bettering the world starting with themselves.”
I had the pleasure to interview Sara Delpasand. Sara is an entrepreneur and the author of the self-help book “the i in life”. This book targets “purpose seekers”, those in the quest of creating clarity on who they are, where they are going and how to get there. “the i in life” is available in 47,000 bookstores around the world.
Thank you so much for joining us! Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path?
I dedicated my twenties to working hands on with at-risk youth. My passion for working with youth derived from the sense of responsibility I felt towards building on a society that would be of service to all. My mindset was that if I wanted to have a better society for all, then I had to help create it. So I developed youth facilities and arranged projects to help stimulate and assist in the personal growth of the millennials.
To complete the circle of my knowledge and experience, I decided to write a book based on the last project that I did for the youth facility, which was a “find your purpose” workshop. The youth that attended the workshop experienced more clarity on their path and there was a shift in their awareness and outlook on life. Knowing how life changing that shift in awareness could be, I felt responsible to share that experience and knowledge with as many as possible. So I dedicated that message to a book that I named “the i in life”.
Can you share the most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career?
○ During the time I set up the “find your purpose” workshops, I never expected so many of the at-risk youth to attend. Surprisingly, given the opportunity to do a soul search, they showed up. When they did show up, they brought their pessimistic outlook and their sassy attitude which gave me an opportunity to grow as a coach and as a leader. By working diligently to build and create clarity on their path of who they are and what they’re meant to do, we were working like architects, building for the future, and not minding the pasts. Building for the future provides hope and knowing what you have to offer, gives you meaning in life. Finding that purpose made them believe that they can survive and overcome almost anything. As they were finding their purpose, so was I. I became more sure then ever of my role as a leader and what I was meant to give. Moral of the story, I thought I would be helping at risk youth find their path and purpose in life, but in turn, they helped me find myself as a leader and challenged me to rise up to the occasion.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting?
○ The first year and a half of working with youth, I did everything in my power to provide endlessly to fulfill their needs. I had a platform (the facility) and I had access to about 70–100 youth per day, and a generous budget that was aimed towards activities that would stimulate youth. I started asking what they wanted, to help give ideas on projects I could arrange for them. My intention was to get them involved and develop the youth facility based on their needs. I provided to them free food and snacks, created a music studio with the newest technology, I arranged free music festivals, etc. They asked, and they received without ever having to take initiative. I turned into a “genie” that could grant their wishes.
Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
○ Initially when I started working with youth, I believed that I could fix and assist in their happiness in life. I became a people pleaser, and I tried to give them what they wanted, not knowing that “wanting” is lust and always ever changing, so it would never be good enough and it would never fill the void of what the “wanting” wanted to fill. Coming to the conclusion after years of trying to do the work for them, I realized that the only way for me to assist in their growth and happiness is to provide a forum with the right tools and exercises that would help stimulate their minds to find their true happiness which relied on their purpose and meaning in life and understanding their journey.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
○ I’m trying to provide the same concept of coaching that I once did with youth now to the corporate world. I believe that the same foundation we need as individuals to build on is of the same importance for the corporate world. Meaning we must have a clear purpose and understand our “why”. It brings clarity to company’s culture and helps align everyone within their hierarchy. When everyone feels included and strives for the same purpose, the company becomes successful.
Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?
○ Ultimately anyone that is aligned with their true purpose and calling in life. You can tell by the way they serve diligently to provide for the greater good. Everyone from Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King Jr, Albert Einstein, Joan of Arc, Da Vinci, doctors, caregivers, teachers, artists, and all others who have had some kind of positive impact in the world had one thing in common: they were all aligned with their soul’s purpose and shared it with existence.
Which literature do you draw inspiration from? Why?
○ I spend my time reading philosophy and spiritual books, but my passion derives from reading poetry. Philosophy and spiritual books give me insight to the connection, poetry makes me feel it.
How do you think your writing makes an impact in the world?
○ My intension with my writing is to provide an easy read so that anyone can pick up my book and get an opportunity to connect with its message without being overwhelmed by the content. I hope my book inspires people to read and also shows that the depth and quality of the book is not based on the quantity of its pages. “the i in life” provides an easy approach to a complicated search which is of our purpose.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming an author like you?
○ Do it. Being an author, meaning a writer, provides not only good insight and growth for yourself, but also for others. You will grow and come to fruition with your book. Your story and message matters regardless of how big or small you might think it is. It’s not up to us as authors to anticipate the outcome or the impact of our book. Our role is to write our message and allow it to take its own path. What happens next is not in your hands, so focus on sharing your story and enjoy the journey.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
○ I offer a seminar that provides hands on coaching based on my book “the i in life”. The intention with this seminar is to provide a forum for people in search of their purpose in life, and provide exercises and tools that will help assist them in their search. I believe you can bring awareness and clarity to this world only once you have brought it to yourself. My purpose is to provide a platform for change makers to gather and start the journey of bettering the world starting with themselves.
● What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
○ There is no right or wrong — your message will attract the audience its meant to serve
○ When you have a writer’s block, stop writing — go to places that inspire you and helps your flow of creativity
○ Stop doubting yourself — this is not about you, it’s about your message and you are not in a position to judge whether or not that message is important enough for your readers. Give them the opportunity to experience and get insight to your message
○ Talk about your book and its message with those around you — it will help you get empowered by their support and also give you valuable insight and advice to how you can improve
○ Write from the heart, dare to be you — people connect to authenticity. The more you dare to be yourself, the more people will connect to you
● Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them 🙂
○ I would love to have breakfast with Oprah Winfrey. I would ask where and how she finds the connection to people’s stories regardless of class, gender, ethnicity, and background. How and where does she find that connection within herself. I believe it is that particular connection that we all have to feel or be aligned with in order for us to grow closer and connect to our families, community, nation, and the world.
● How can our readers follow you on social media?
○ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saradelpasand/
○ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsaradelpasand/
For more information on Sara Delpasand, her business and life coaching services, and her book “the i in life”, you can visit http://www.saradelpasand.com/