An Inspired Chat with Jude Kamal

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jude Kamal. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Jude , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
I am always finding new ways to learn and expand my thinking and my unique self.
This month I have read 3 powerful business books that have changed my entire perspective and shifted my thinking, in a way, they are making me go a bit crazy as I am so eager to implement some of the tools and systems plus controlling my wild ideas that come with that.

These books are:
1. buy back your time
2. 10x is easier than 2x
3. What got you here won’t get you there

Essentially, I find that as an entrepreneur there are many scary moments that require so much courage and guts to take that leap forward. I tend to be an impulsive person but sometimes I am an over thinker (weird I know). I am learning to balance my impulses with ways that are systematic and more strategic so that our company can excel, and while it is not always a bad idea to be impulsive – I have learned that being true to your vision wins above all!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I always like to introduce myself as Jude – like the Beatles song and 99% of the time people will start singing Hey Jude. It keeps it exciting and they never forget my name.

My journey to starting a business has been a very interesting ride, full of many adventures and ups and downs. I started Sansa Interiors during the pandemic and have determined that I am going to grow it no matter what. Our interior design firm is different – in a sense where we focus on creating buzz-worthy spaces that flow with intention (specifically coffee shops and restaurants). I love a good challenge and a complex project. I love colours, textures and a space that is exciting, fun and far far away from boring.

I have always been intrigued by art and architecture and interior design is our expression of these worlds but better!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was diagnosed with Beta Thalassemia major when I was 2 years old (which is a story for another day), but as a kid I always saw it as the thing that held me back and stood in my way of achieving my dreams.

My family from my parents to my grandparents were all extremely supportive, and never treated me any less, in fact they always told me this is what makes me special and unique, even when I didn’t think so. I did a lot of self reflection and asked so many questions at an extremely young age.

I clearly remember the moment that I felt so powerful.. I was 6 or 7 yo in our beautiful garden that my grandpa took great care of, and I was climbing one of the lemon trees we had, and I had reached pretty high up, I looked down onto the street and the rest of the garden and thought to myself “wow the world is so big, so there has to be a greater purpose for me here on this earth beyond having this “blood disorder” and I started thinking of all the things that I loved to do like make art. In that moment, I did break that barrier I had of feeling ashamed that I am different or feeling less human and I felt a greater sense of freedom that I still am proud of until this very day.

Whenever I feel down or defeated I always go out in nature and try to connect with nature (or climb a tree) because it just frees me and brings me back to that moment.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Yes! Last year I had a baby, it was 360 change to my life to how I do things as a person and a business owner.
Being a new mom, and running a business full-time is a lot to take on at once, so of course there are a lot of things I miss, but also there is beauty in the compromise for my son.

I do miss having free time to paint and doing super random things in my down time as it was my way of recharging and coming up with new ideas. I now am more limited in this time and it is almost feels scarce. While I do feel guilty at times for missing this, I acknowledge that it is part of life and with time I will be able to make more time for this.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Cultural values are so important to me, because I was born and raised in Jordan and moved to Canada so it helped me be and live in two very different worlds.

I would say individualism is a big one, just because I love seeing people have the freedom to be who they want to be. I love learning about them and their backgrounds. Plus it is really important for each one of us to have rights, goals and the confidence to be free thinkers as this all will contribute to a greater collective.

For me it is also important to be approachable as a person and a business owner who runs a team. No matter how big my business gets, I value being a down-to-earth approachable person that is pleasant to speak with.

It is also funny because I also learned to adapt really fast, for example in Jordan people valued being a lot more than doing and while I am all about go-go-go and getting things done like how we have learned here in Canada, when I go back to Jordan I shift back to more of a being mode as if it is a switch that goes on and off.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Always.

It is important for me to continually elevate my being, my life and my business. As humans we want what we want and when we get it we are like mmm I still want this or that.

I have a rule though now, that when I get something I really wanted and worked hard for is to stop and celebrate that win, be grateful for it and give myself “slack” before immediately feeling meh and moving to the next want.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Sansa Interiors

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