Meet Amanda Muhammad, MA

We recently connected with Amanda Muhammad, MA and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
When I first launched my company as a full time entrepreneur I actually felt really confident and optimistic about my work. I just knew I was going to land a ton of contracts with schools. But it didn’t take long for me to learn the amount of red tape and barriers that came with the consulting industry. This came with an overwhelming feeling that I made a mistake and that I wasn’t supposed to be in the rooms or on the stages.

I got caught up in this belief that they weren’t hiring me because I was black, or because my last name was Muhammad, or because I’m a woman. My money was running out and I started shifting into a pretty intense survival mindset. I had to have an honest conversation with myself because at that point in my life, none of that was changing. I also didn’t view giving up as an option. So I made a decision to reframe my perceived “limits” as strengths and focus on what I knew was my truth. I knew I was a black woman with the last name Muhammad who had also proven myself to be a great trainer. So I began telling myself that obsessively. “They are hiring me because I’m amazing at what I do”, “They are hiring me because I know how to deliver this content in easy and digestible ways” “They are hiring me because I’m an energizing and inspiring speaker”.

These were just a few affirmations, but I can definitely say speaking positively about myself and my situation made a big difference and helped me to maintain my confidence as I continued to put myself out there.

I also really dove into editing my content, rehearsing and just being really consistent in the things I was doing that were helping doors open up. I found that my confidence followed my consistency so when I stayed in motion and kept refining the areas that needed attention, I felt more confident about myself, my product, and my business.

Lastly, I began putting together a brag box. 7 years later, it is now a brag container! But I hold onto all the sweet notes, gifts, testimonials, conference pamphlets and swag and it just grounds me and reminds me of how far I’ve come as an entrepreneur. I take time to celebrate my progress often by treating myself to the things I desire, making sure I have the great meals I want, and letting myself have new experiences.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Amanda Muhammad, MA and I am a Mindfulness Based Stress Management & Psychological Safety Consultant in Dallas, TX. In undergrad at the University of Kansas, I just knew I was going to graduate from the Business School and go on to pursue a career in Human Resources and climb the corporate ladder. When I first entered the workforce there was one thing I quickly learned, most folks around me were pretty stressed and not much was being done about it. Throughout my corporate and education career, I continued to notice a similar trend of people going through the motions and having what appeared to be a low satisfaction with their day to day.

Throughout my time in college and as a working professional, I quietly studied the power of positive psychology, mindset, and mindfulness-based healing modalities. I also loved the psychology of the workplace and went on to receive a Masters in Organizational Leadership and am currently pursuing my PhD in Business Psychology. With time, I noticed a sweet intersection between the two. What I realized was that most folks I interacted with spent more time at work than with their own family and loved ones, and yet, the work environment was more than likely the most stressful thing they had to navigate.

I began teaching the practices I learned to my coworkers and students, and began receiving great feedback. I also picked up some gigs from other companies that were doing the work of going into other schools and teaching these practices to Teachers. I quickly learned that this was what I wanted to spend my days doing, teaching others how to tap into the power of their mind, body, and soul. And so 7 years ago, I quit my job and started this company full time, Mako Mindfulness.

Mako Mindfulness is a boutique professional development company supporting schools and organizations globally. Through innovative training and resources, we serve employees with the tools and training necessary to better manage their stress and create psychological safety at work.

What I love most about the practices that we teach and our philosophy is that they are quick, actionable things that are accessible to anyone and can make a big difference when practiced with consistency. I love that experience of seeing the lightbulb go off in peoples heads that there actually are things they can do to influence the way they feel and the outcomes in their lives.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Mindset, Focus, and Consistency have probably been the three most impactful things on my journey. My mindset is what convinced me that I was capable of pulling this off. You really have to have a strong mind to keep going in the face of adversity and obstacles that may present when you’re trying to figure something out from scratch. I was obsessive about taking in content that I knew was going to shape my view of the process for the better and I was also relentless about my environment, meaning, who I surrounded myself with, conversations I was having, what I was reading/watching – I stayed really intentional and mindful about that in my early years.

Focus had to come into play when I had all the energy in the world to do all the things. I had endless ideas of ways to make this work. But none of them worked well because my focus was split across so many ideas. When I went all in on one thing, which was my trainings/professional development, that’s when I really started to find my groove. I started to become known for something and that began to carry some weight.

Lastly, consistency. Whether it was my morning routine, posting on socials, the quality of my work, or following up with leads – consistency made a huge difference. I noticed that when I was on top of things, the positive momentum just followed. Life has brought me seasons where I’ve had to slow down drastically, but the momentum from the last 7 years has carried me through. My mantra these days has been “stay in motion”, even if it may not be the same speed or volume as before.

For those of you looking to develop in any of these areas, I say never underestimate the power of community. I went too long thinking I had to figure it out on my own. With time, I’ve put myself in environments that have connected me to ambitious and brilliant women who not only understand what I’m trying to do – but help me get there. Who you surround yourself with matters. I feel really grateful to have so many people around me who encourage me, pray for me, hold me accountable, have my kind of fun, and help me see things from a different perspective.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
I’ve always appreciated how much my parents valued our education and encouraged us to explore our interests. They made sure we lived in areas that gave us access to quality education and opportunities that planted many of the seeds that got me where I am today. I was a dancer, first chair violinist, played basketball, did karate (at our family dojo!), played tennis, ran track, was involved in DECA, my High School Junior Achievement club – the list goes on. This left me with a wide range of interests, a very creative mind, a healthy amount of confidence, and the ability to build and cultivate relationships/network. I couldn’t have done that without their progressive vision and working hard to make a way. I can’t say I always appreciated it, but the older I get the more I recognize how much of a role that played in my current interests and the woman I’ve become. Thanks Mom & Dad. Love you.

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