MAZ IFZAL

POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG) INTERVIEW WITH:

MAZ IFZAL (MI)

PGMAG: Maz, welcome to today’s interview with Lady Anita.

MI: Hi, it's an honour and privilege to be here Lady Anita.

PGMAG: Please introduce yourself to our readers.

MI: My name is Maz Ifzal and I am a public speaking and communication skills expert. But before all that I am a daughter, sister, wife and a mother to 2 children. I studied at the London School of Economics and went on to study masters in economics. I became a stockbroker at Goldman Sachs, earning a six-figure salary very early on in my career. Fast forward from when I was a stock broker to becoming a wife and a mother. I am the founder of make a point. Make a point was born through a healthy blend of passion, frustration and curiosity ignited by a genuine desire to make a difference. The difference revolves around connecting: not simply presenting. Making a difference is what drives us today. A difference to how organizations inspire, influence and engage people through the way they present ideas.

A difference to the way presentation skills are taught and a difference to the way in which professionals think about and develop there public speaking skills. I have a philosophy that I follow in a nutshell it is that “connecting is everything”.

PGMAG: The global pandemic has impacted our lives in various ways, and so many people are struggling to maintain a good psychological balance. What would you suggest to the people who are finding it difficult to cope with the situation?

MI: I would say Social connectedness matters – relationships affect our health and opportunities to thrive in society. Loneliness and social isolation make us sick. We must thus practice "physical distancing", not "social distancing", because we must remain connected — as recently acknowledged by the World Health Organisation. Technology is helping. In the past weeks, we’ve heard about people sharing mealtime over video calls, or joining online group activities such as dance classes.

Despite the toll of this pandemic, it's giving us a chance to realise the power of social connection. It’s providing a window into how pernicious loneliness and social isolation are. It’s forcing us to talk about it. It will create more awareness towards lonely older people and to each other – and show that we can take a more active role in combating loneliness.

The novel coronavirus is also allowing us to explore the role of technology in helping maintain social closeness, regardless of age. We'll become more critical about our digital skills and practices, and will have a renewed insight into the limitations of technology and into digital exclusion.

PGMAG: As a leader, what could be done to create more opportunities for the youths?

MI: This is arguably the most pressing question facing policy makers across the world today, given turbulence in the global economy and the vocal discontent expressed recently in countries where employment opportunities are scarce.

Type the word ‘leadership’ into an internet search engine, and you will be faced with 469 million results on what it means to be a leader, what defines a leader, famous leaders throughout time – in addition to thousands of quotes, tips and comments on leadership skills, and why it’s important to possess them. Yet there is little to explain leadership to young people and why it’s so important for schools and organisations such as ourselves to develop leadership skills in young people.

For me it’s all about serving the youth, through the process of sharing my experience and knowledge. This allows to spark a conversation where the youth have an opportunity to reflect and peer in to a mirror of seeing a view of there future by me providing a perspective through the conversation and sharing process. Through this process I am inspiring, motivating and enthusing them to not only become creative but also awaken them to the opportunities that are potentially sitting under their noses and current blind spots for them.

PGMAG: Please tell us more about your business.

MI: Due to the pandemic we are running the communication bootcamp virtually. It’s a 3 hour boot camp which is run as a 121 and in groups of 5. It extends far beyond informing and engaging its about standing out in a world that’s right now filled with so much noise. One of the most common challenges we help people to overcome is the fear of public speaking. Many clients tell us they are absolutely fine speaking on a 121 basis But Put them in front of a group of people and everything changes. Whether our clients have the fear of speaking or find the experience uncomfortable we help them.

The boot camp gives you the tools to manage your nerves and anxiety. Speaking with confidence and clarity, knowing how to craft and deliver a presentation with ease. We use very effective and powerful techniques that help the most nervous speakers conquer there fear. You’ll discover how to get your message across and influence others with presentations that make people want to listen. The bootcamp will help you, Connect with any audience and make them care about your message, Get your point across without rambling ,Master the art of sounding natural and conversational (while secretly being wellprepared),Organize your ideas into easy-to-remember frameworks ,Think and speak on your feet, even in stressful situations and Make your body and voice work for you rather than against you. Our Communication bootcamp is meticulously crafted to help our clients connect and engage with their listeners not just intellectually but also emotionally. Public speaking and the ability to present with impact is the most important skill in the world today. Every presentation is an opportunity to tell your story and to inspire and lead change. With our approach, our clients learn exactly how to consider, craft and deliver persuasive presentations that change lives.

PGMAG: What is your message for world leaders?

MI:

Leaders need to Lead/rule with empathy. many people think leadership is about rank, power and privilege. But the ability to recognize and share other people’s feelings— should be the most important instrument in world leader’s toolbox.

A great example is Jacinda Arden – You may think What is it that makes Ardern such an exceptional leader? It’s been a subject of discussion for many during the Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen governments, including the UK’s, struggle to settle on a decisive strategy to tackle the crisis. Maybe it’s because throughout the outbreak she has acted swiftly, while effectively communicating the thinking behind those actions to New Zealand’s five million citizens. Maybe it’s because she’s taken a 20 per cent wage cut, a gesture of solidarity with those who have lost their jobs or been forced to accept a reduced salary as a result of the turmoil caused by the lockdown. Or maybe it’s because Ardern has given us a glimpse of a different kind of leadership, one that puts kindness at the top of the agenda. As the world continues to face the uncertainty of the pandemic, perhaps there is something we can all learn from the trailblazer. After all, empathy delicately balanced with strong leadership is what the world needs right now.

Raw vulnerability, authenticity and simple kindness separate Jacinda from dusty history books filled with stories of former politicians, and attract a loyal following.

As Jacinda in he own words says ““You can be both empathetic and strong.”

PGMAG: What are the top three books that changed your life?

MI: Books shape who we become. A book is like a friend. The right book can re-educate us and inform our lives for the better. A book can be a mentor when we have none or entertain us when we have no one.There are a few books that have stood the test of time and are so good I reread them once a year when I’m feeling off track. I find new revelations of meaning. I skim through their pages and read highlighted paragraphs and sentences that resonated with me during the first pass.

The following three books I revisit at least once a year to keep my noblest impulses alive and remind me of what is essential for living well while amid a world that is chaotic.

The Gift of Fear — by Gavin de Becker I couldn’t put this book down as soon as I read the first sentence, “He’d probably been watching her for a while.” I’m fascinated with human behaviour. Even though this book explores the dark side of human dysfunction, it teaches you how to listen to your intuition after culture, trauma, family, and training teach us (especially women) to override it constantly. It is a page-turner. The book teaches you to relearn trusting your “gut,” intuition, a mechanism we’re all born with.

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle Reading A New Earth gave me something that all the years of yoga and meditation didn’t. It taught me that I’m not my ego. I’m not my thought; I’m the awareness behind my thoughts and ruminations. Eckhart Tolle gives lessons on acceptance, letting go, and enjoying right now. That is all we have. Once you get out of the mind and let go of anxiety, worry, and fear, you can live in the present. Many of us try to control parts of our lives that are outside of us, thus, outside of our control. We do this to mitigate fear and anxiety, but only when we realize we can’t control anything, except for our moods and how we respond to events — our reactions can life be easier to manage. Leave expectations behind and enjoy now. It is all there is. And the final book is, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill A classic. If you have not read this book, I HIGHLY recommend to read Think and Grow Rich. The book’s main focus is on increased income and wealth and the psychological power of thought to money and success. Napoleon Hill is responsible for my favourite quote of all time, Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve. The books main idea is - You are the master of your destiny. “An intangible impulse of thought can be “transmuted” into its physical counterpart.” The starting point of all achievement is desire. “A burning desire to be and to do is the starting point from which the dreamer must take off. Dreams are not born of indifference, laziness, or lack of ambition.” I would recommend to read the chapter on “Persistence” every day for 30 days at least twice a year and see how your life changes.

PGMAG: What is your message for women who are struggling with low selfesteem?

MI: First of all I would like to say tthe good news is a low self-esteem is not a life sentence. Since your low selfesteem developed over time (no one is born with low selfesteem), you can trade it in for a higher one. Here are a few ways to do it:

Forget Perfection – Focus on Accomplishments - Perfection only happens in Hollywood (and even there it gets a lot of help from plastic surgeons and airbrushes!). The truth is, you will never have the perfect body, the perfect house, the perfect kids, or the perfect relationships. Perfection simply doesn’t exist in human nature. It is better to focus your attention and efforts on your accomplishments. And, when you achieve them, don’t de-value them by saying something like, “Oh, anyone could have done that.” Maybe, but then again, maybe not. The point is, you set a goal for yourself and you reached it. Celebrate your achievements and keep track of them in a journal so you can always refer to it and see how accomplished you are.

Set Realistic Expectations - Of course, when you’re setting goals, make sure they’re realistic. Having unrealistic expectations of yourself or how the world works in general is a sure fire way to kill your self-esteem.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others - Nothing hurts self-esteem quicker than unfair comparisons. Others may make more money than you, have more Facebook followers, but they don’t have your mind and experiences. Though it’s a tough habit to break, it’s important to stop comparing yourself to others and, instead, celebrate how unique you are.

And finally - Sport and exercise can really help boost morale. Many of us avoid sporting activities because we don't like what we look like in a leotard or running shorts - but that's all in our head.

Find the activity you enjoy - swimming, yoga, zumba, tennis, dancing or karate - and there is great reward when you see yourself making progress.

PGMAG: Finally, what would you say to your younger self?

MI: I have had many twists and turns in life. I believe I have come to a good place, and I hope to keep going because I am enjoying the journey more than ever. And I know I would not be where I am now without all the varied experiences I’ve had.

Even so, I often find myself wishing I could tell my younger self some things about how life really works, about what’s real and true, and thereby dissolve some of the harmful preconceptions and assumptions I had way back then. That is a frustrating impossibility, but it’s worth thinking about.

So I would say to the younger Maz - Believe in your abilities – It would be impossible to achieve success or even small wins for that matter if you do not have faith in yourself in the first place. You eat the same food as Steve Jobs did. Like Bill Gates, you also sleep for eight hours. Whatever the highly successful people can do, you can too but you have to believe that first before you can start your journey towards success.

PGMAG: Thank you for your time.

MI: Thank you for having me.

PGMAG: Please share your links with us.

MI: www.makeapoint.co.uk