Produced By - From Freelance to 10K Projects: How She Built a Global Design Career | #108: Sana Arif

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

Sana Arif is a senior designer, branding expert and co-founder of Si-Tech, a creative studio behind over 10,000 design projects worldwide. With seven years of hands-on experience and more than 500 clients, she’s helped founders and creators turn their ideas into brands that actually stand out. From carousels to packaging, logos to infographics, Sana knows how to make a message look as good as it sounds.In this episode, we talk about branding, confidence, growth and what it takes to build something from scratch. Sana shares how she found her voice, how she attracts loyal clients, and why showing up consistently beats chasing trends every time.Connect with Sana:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanaarifofficial01/https://www.fiverr.com/users/hayaali4321/https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ESB1hF5ro/ Timestamps:00:00 - The advice that changed everything01:14 - From Kashmir to global design work03:13 - Childhood dreams and helping others04:07 - From medicine to chemistry04:23 - Burnout and building her own academy05:35 - Discovering the online world06:11 - Using her skills to help others07:36 - Learning design and first client08:41 - Finding success on Fiverr10:19 - Growing with Facebook ads13:44 - Getting banned and starting over14:25 - Building a personal brand on LinkedIn16:44 - Storytelling and honest content21:24 - How she approaches posting24:20 - Using AI for design and content25:22 - Favourite tools she swears by26:48 - Her role models and mentors29:01 - Mentoring and giving back30:45 - Avoiding burnout and staying creative31:29 - Life beyond LinkedIn32:01 - Her core motivation33:37 - Time management secrets35:03 - Dreams for the future36:05 - From no clients to global growth37:27 - Advice to her younger self37:52 - Final message: start messy38:47 - What inspires her40:34 - Branding vs marketing42:52 - Closing thoughts Connect with Tomas:X: https://x.com/TomasLoucky⁠⁠⁠Stan: https://stan.store/TommenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomasloucky/⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisistommen/⁠⁠Unproduced:Newsletter: https://unproduced.substack.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unproducednotesSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033Ddo8ibDlLYoaP7FFLIWMore:Links: https://linktr.ee/produced_by⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://producednewsletter.substack.com/⁠The Podcast Club: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/25420030/Tools & gear that support the show:Metricool: https://f.mtr.cool/HRJBZKRiverside: https://riverside.sjv.io/vDnDodFavikon: https://www.favikon.com?fpr=tommenRa Optics: https://ra-optics.myshopify.com/discount/TOMMEN?rfsn=8803777.591d19JamX: https://jamx.ai/podcasters-offer?ref_id=e02d48af-ef66-4e76-b804-c2e8d282a8bfSome links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you find them useful, using these links helps keep the podcast running. Thank you!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Then one day I was sitting with my friend and she looked at me and said something that truly touched my heart. She said that when you are so educated, what the use of the studying if you can't do anything for your country? Those words hit me hard and I felt sham at that time. Like not the kind of where you are embraced in front of the people, but in that sense that sham in front of me. Like I can't do anything. So when you know that you have a potential to do something, but you can't do anything. When someone's believe in you

more than you believe in yourself, that kind of sham you make you wake up. I feel like why I'm not doing anything? So she didn't just give me an advice. She also gave me an computer and said, take it and do anything. So that day, I started my online journey.

Before I came here, I didn't know anything about that. I told her I will return it. It is a loan, not a gift. Before we dive into today's episode, please hit that subscribe button. Your support helps us grow and inspire more people on their journeys. Thank you. Hello, Sana.

Thank you for Jadina's today and welcome to the show. Thank you so much, Thomas, for inviting me and giving a respect and value. The pleasure is mine and Sana, for those who don't know you, can you please introduce yourself? Yes, sure. I am Sana, Sana Arif, and I'm also a co-founder of that, and I'm a senior graphic designer, as may you know that, branding and logo expert with over six to seven years of experience now. And can we start maybe with a bit of your background because you are quite a big name on LinkedIn, but I'm sure that people would like to know more about yourself, such as where do you come from,

maybe what you're interested when you were younger and just something about you? Yeah, sure. Actually, before I got here, I missed a lot of challenges and unexpected tons, and maybe you can say that some truly life-challenging lessons. Basically, I am from Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, Azar Kashmir, a beautiful and truly a beautiful place. I truly love. My mother was from Punjab and my father from Azar Kashmir, and now we all live here.

And I really like my area because there is no any traffic and no noise, and because no factory smoke. Everything is clean like fresh mountaineer, flowing river and greeny all around. And I feel lucky to have in my place that offer a peace, nature and fresh here. And I probably say that I love Azat Kashmir. And is that place where tourists go to or is it not touristy place? What is it like? Yeah, mostly people visit this place. I will have to Google after. I'm not sure what it looks like, but based on what you said, it sounds great. Yeah, you can Google it because most tourists come here and visit our area. Yeah, and so then as you were growing up, were you interested in design, arts, or any creative fields from young age? Yeah, even since

I regained consciousness, I mean from the moment I become self-aware, I have had one desire to have someone to help the people around me and to do something valuable for my country. That has always been my purpose and my mission. And to be honest, I get happiness from giving from helping, maybe because I have seen a lot of pain around me. So I know how it feels. My childhood and my earliest were all around the inner drives. And that's why, and that is still pushed me to do something and to move me power.

every day. I like it. I think there should be more people like that who are such a mission and especially desire to help others and give back to the community. Yeah. Then as you were younger, what is it that you actually studied? So actually I was a medical student. I love to do basically something for my country and for my people around me. So that's why I really worked hard for this. And why didn't you study like design, graphic design or any art? To be honest, I didn't even know about the online world before. And I never even know I had this school inside me. My first dream was to become a lecturer.

I studied hard and got my master's degree in chemistry. And teaching was something I loved deeply. I even started a job in a college where I taught my students, from like 7am to 2 p.m. every day. And I remember I had to give up six back-to-back chemistry lectures to different classes. But over time, I felt like I was losing my mental pace. When I got home, I was just exhausted. I had no time left for myself.

And that's when I decided this is not a life I want. So I quit my job. But I didn't leave my passion entirely. I started my own home. academy where now I teach about 30 plus students. Is that online academy or is it in person? No, it's a physical academy. Wow.

So what are your plans with this academy? Do you do it like on the side of graphic design or do you do both or what is it like? Actually, I was not to be a become like graphic designer because I have no idea about the online platforms and about the freelancing. So even the single social media platforms, I didn't. know anything about all these platforms. So before I jumped here, my mission is I want to just become the lecturer at that time. Yeah, when I joined the social media, so I realized it's a really huge platform.

We can do anything here. So that's why I started this journey. Do you remember how did you discover social media or what was the moment when it clicked? Yes, there was a time when I had to left my job. and was completely confused. And I didn't know that what to do, which failed to choose, and how to start again. I was just confused at what I need to do. And then one day I was just sitting with my friend, and she looked at me and said something that touched my heart.

She said that when you are so educated, what the use of the studying if you can't do anything for your country? Those words hit me hard, and I felt sham at that time. Like, not the kind of where you are embraced in the front of the people, but in that sense that sham in the front of me. Like, I can't do anything. So when you know that you have a potential to do something, but you can't do anything, when someone's believe in you more than you know, then more than you believe in yourself, that kind of sham, you make you awake up. I feel like, why I'm not doing anything?

So she didn't give me a, she just, she didn't just give me an advice. She also gave me a computer and said that, take it and do anything. That day, I started my online journey. And before you came here, I didn't know anything about that. I told her I will return it. It is a loan, not a gift. So at that day, I started working. I will give this back to you. And I meant that that moment gave me a reason to move forward. That's when push. me into the online world. My mission was always clear to do something for others and to do something meaningful for the people around me. So when I come to the online social media platforms, the online space seems like the best way to scale that impact. I started so unexpectedly. I didn't even know how to use a computer properly. You can take the idea from there. Even when I bought the computer, I didn't even know the name of the parts of the computer properly. Because I was a medical student and I love chemistry, but I had big purpose in my heart to build something meaningful. And I decided to explore online world.

And my sister-in-law helped me to install the software and then I started learning by myself. I remember I used to lock myself in a room and practice day and night. No mentor, no classes, just me and my crazy dream, learning through the trials and errors. and I also started uploading my practice work on Facebook. Facebook is my first social media platform. Because I know about the Facebook, but little bit, not too much. So you can't even believe within just 2.5 months, I got my first client. That was a really turning point for me.

So because I didn't expect all these things. Once I entered to the world of the freelancing, I met Mr. Sohail Hbal. Maybe you have heard of him. He is my business partner, and we decided to launch our assessment. site deck. We started from the Facebook and then we want to explore our businesses. So that's why now we have enough experience about the meta businesses like ad and campaigns and then we move to the Insta. Insta also a good platform, no doubt. Insta also gave us a very potential client. So after that we just wanted to explore our services more. That's why we began exploring on Fiverr and no

out it took a lot of time. Maybe you can say the 1.5 year. But finally, but finally after that five were started working and I must say that five were gives us our big bin. Yeah, I think that or at least me or the majority of the audience knows you from LinkedIn where you are a big name, very popular creator, but I guess many people don't know that you've got such a big presence on other platforms as well. So maybe as you mentioned that your following or Facebook is maybe the biggest one. Do you know what the number just to give us an idea? Yeah. Now I have maybe our in our company page maybe 8K followers there on Facebook because we done complaints here and after that clients come to us and when I started from the Facebook we didn't have any much idea about the

Facebook. But Mr. Soheelikbal knows about how we run that ad campaigns and then we started to run the campaigns and then Mr. Sohailik ball set up all these ads because they have idea about how we sell the product and how we do the marketing. And then when we get work from the clients to the campaigns and we started working even though you can't even believe we do eight to nine logo per day, logos per day at the time. That's why I have a lot. huge, like you can say I have a huge logos to share and present from past six to seven years. We do a lot of work, me and Mr. Sohailukbal, no doubt. Yeah, I always see what you share on LinkedIn and those are like galleries of so many logos.

And I usually wonder, where did she get all those ideas? Yeah, basically, I show my previous work. I share my previous work on a LinkedIn. Yeah, mostly I shared my previous work on the LinkedIn. LinkedIn and because I I really do hard work too much you can say I do too much hard work before I got here and first we work on the Facebook and after that we move to the Instab and also we run campaigns then we set up our Facebook and Insta joined together by the meta business meta suit and after that we run the campaigns they are also Instagram and

on the Facebook too and By the passage of time, I get a lot of ideas that how we work on the other social media platforms. And then after that, I moved to the fiber. And no doubt, fiber is a really great platform. But almost 300 plus reviews I got on the Fiverr platform. Fiverr is a very professional platform. It's not like the Instagram and the Facebook because FIVER is a serious platform. But in the same time, I'm sure that there are many people.

offering similar services. So have you got any advice how to stand out or how to compete with others for clients on platforms like that? Yeah, we just need to be just set their title, their gig images and their description and their tags, that's enough. And once we set up our Fiverr profile, we need to just share that link all other social media platforms. Like we can share the gig link into the like Instagram also.

and Facebook also and then LinkedIn also. When more people visited our LinkedIn profile, Fiverr give the boost to that platform, which actually get a lot of impressions and clicks. This thing really matter in the Fiverr. When more people come to their like Sam has a LinkedIn. No, it's not like the LinkedIn. Because when more people come to their profile on the Fiverr,

then Fiverr promote that person. Because Fiverr considered it as a talented person, so that's why Fiverr considered it as a talented person. So that's why Fiverr promote that gig and then rise to the top pages. And then what's your primary platform now for clients? Now I'm working with the different freelancers also. And now my main platform is LinkedIn because I didn't find any other platform just like the LinkedIn. Because LinkedIn is a very positive platform.

I found a very serious people here because on the Facebook and the other Instagram and non-serious people come to us. but and I don't like this thing, but LinkedIn is very like positive platform according to the business. Yeah, I agree. And it was actually one of my next questions. How did you start with LinkedIn? Was it kind of natural that you were exploring other platforms and LinkedIn was one of those? Or how or why did you start with LinkedIn? After working on five or three to four years. And unfortunately in 2024, like you can say past year, our Fiverr account got banned. Everything was gone overnight. Oh, why did it happen?

Because due to different internet connections, like Sam internet Wi-Fi connections. So that's why. So it was a really heart-wrecking moment. I felt like the end of the story, but it became the reason I joined LinkedIn. And they didn't give you a bag-day account? No, FIVER even didn't give you any warning. One thing I learned from the FIVOR that he didn't promote. seller. They always promote buyers. So very like a serious platform you can say even they didn't

care about the seller. So that's why I think Fiverr in this sense because we do a lot of hard work but they don't care about at all. And especially if you consider that you've been a big and successful or popular creator there. Actually if we are really serious about their business and if we do work consistently, then I think Fiverr should be understand this thing. I agree. Yeah. Then after banning the Fiverr, then my business partner suggested me that I should join the LinkedIn. And at the time, I had no idea how to work and no idea about the content format, post size, or anything else.

No strategy. But I made a promise to myself, I wanted to build something. for my own, I must show up. So that's why I joined the LinkedIn. And that when I did, I started without overthinking, without waiting to be perfect. I didn't have any plan, but I choose consistency of a perfection. Like I started posting every day, even when I was not sure. Because I believe showing up matter most than the being perfect.

At first, I thought maybe I could just take the content from the Google and post onto the LinkedIn. but I learned quickly that it doesn't work here. And people don't connect with a copy-paste content. So if they actually find this type of content or data from the Google, then they don't need to be engaged with your content or they don't need to even read your post. I think our audience want you, your voice, your feelings and your truth. So I started sharing my journey, my thoughts, my lessons and my mistakes.

And that's when something changed. People started connected with me. I think so your journey is your content and when you share it with the honesty, people feel it. And mostly people dams me and ask me that how you hunt the client and I just want to say one thing that if you come to the LinkedIn only just to get the clients, it becomes very stressful for you. So I made a decision early that I am not here to hunt the client.

I am just here to just like build my personal brand and butter. my mindset. And when you do that, client automatically comes to you. And to be honest, to me, LinkedIn is like a baby. Need attention and care. Sam like a baby. So I give it an Amazon baby. If you give it honesty and time, it grows. It supports you. It support your voice, your brand and your growth. To be honest. I like it. And I like what you said, because as I've been following you, I've seen how you've been growing and got a great engagement and definitely one of the biggest inspirations and people that I would encourage others to follow. And people often look for shortcuts or speed it up or something like that.

And now they heard it from you that it's about time showing up and being authentic. Yeah, actually, sometimes I just experimenting this type of post work for me or which type of post not work for me. Sometimes just experiment with a different type of post on a living. then brought unexpected result like I have gotten 100k plus impressions and sometimes maybe 200k plus impressions on my post and it shocked that it's too much and it's all just trying learning and improving I just say one thing and now I can proudly say that I am also a content writer for myself I never thought ever that I'd say that one day but this journey taught me that when you keep showing up, you keep growing.

I agree. Even if you don't feel like it, you still show up and you see over time that it pays off. Yeah, actually consistency and honesty really matter on the LinkedIn. I didn't copy paste content and I didn't over thinking. Like, I shared my journey, my thoughts, my voice. And that's when people started connecting with me. I think so your journey is your superpower here on LinkedIn. And when there was a small thing that I do, and I do. and I think so it helped me a lot

to grow on LinkedIn. Like I always send the connection requests to those creators who engage with my content regularly basis. Because for me, they are my real audience because they are daily engaged with my content. And if someone is showing interest in your post, that means they actually care.

So I try to build connection with them. And I also pay attention to the people who visited my profile again and again. So I think this is a little secret that helped me to grow on a LinkedIn so fastly. Those are great points. And I agree. I think it also shows importance of building your community, such as the people who show up regularly to support your content,

whose content you support, and just building those relationships. Yeah, literally, if you have passion to do something, you can do anything. I found this thing, you're very, like, I feel this. If you have passion to do something, you can do anything. It doesn't matter if they are linking Fiverr, Instagram and Facebook, anything. It doesn't matter if you must have your passion. Like, it's very important. I always say that you should find something that makes it more fun for you

because if there is something that you are excited for, have fun, or you are just looking forward to it, makes it easier to show up. Are you struggling to stay consistent on LinkedIn? Fanpost helps you create high quality posts in minutes, so you can write faster, show up more, and stress way less. Built by creators for creators is the easiest way to grow your presents without burning out. Try it free at fanpost.com. And now when it comes to your, let's say, posting strategy, have you got like a set postage

posts per week, set time in, or do you post when you feel like it? Or what's your strategy like? Yeah, strategy about the strategy, maybe or maybe not. Because I don't follow any strict strategy. I post what I feel right. But with the consistency, this is the very most important thing with the consistency. I share my lessons and my experiences, but yes, I focus on clarity and storytelling. No fluff, no filters, just truth.

To be honest, I have seen a lot of other creators and who grow really fast on LinkedIn, even though they don't follow any LinkedIn rules or strategy or algorithm. Even I saw that they don't have a proper CTA, they don't use a PS, they don't even post proper time, but still they are growing. And you know what? Why? Because they show their own story. They speak from the heart. They express their own thought and honestly, this is the most powerful strategy that I can say that anyone can have. That's why I always try to share my own strategy, my own thoughts. This is really mattering the LinkedIn and now in just eight to nine months I grown my LinkedIn community over 31,000 people, but not with the strategy, with the story. I think this is the reason mostly people engage with my language.

content and by 2025 everything changed I had put my strong personal brand and to be honest LinkedIn brought me a client I once dream of and it helped my business grow beyond the platforms and most importantly it helped me find my voice I like it I think you summarized it perfectly sometimes I also feel like that you see all kinds of secrets or tips on how to grow on LinkedIn, but then you've got other people who don't really follow anything like that. So I think it just proves the point that find your unique voice, be authentic and something that makes you stand out and people will resonate with that. It helps to remember you and just to stand out. It was a great message. Yeah. This type of content really work for the LinkedIn that

like mostly I saw the people just use the AI tools. I know. I know everyone's use AI tools. I know everyone's use AI tools. But most people just put the emojis just same as the AI tools like rocket fire emojis like I think it just burned your brand identity. Like it just burned the brand. We know because we can't be perfect in every niche. We know everyone using the AA here. But don't give the proof that you are using the AI, please. Yeah, don't be lazy. Don't just copy and paste. But use it, improve it, make it sound like you and benefit from it but don't see it as a short scot. Yeah. Yes, like I also use.

But I use like chat, GPT and fan posts, deep seek, easy gen for my content creation on the LinkedIn. And no doubt, they help me a lot. But I always add my personal touch because AI can assist you. But it's your human voice that make it powerful. And make sure never let tools speak for you. you must speak through the tools. And I also use different tools. As you know, that upcoming futures,

we can't survive without AI. We must be mastered in it. I also use the other AI tools, like ideograms, copilot, and me journey for my design's inspiration. And these AI tools help me, you can think so that. Help me to think outside the box

and bring a new concept to life. Actually, I use different tools for different purpose. You can say like that. And you mentioned a few before, but can you say maybe what are your most favorite ones and why? For the design, ideas and other things, I use ideogram and for creating the prompt, I use deep seek and chatypd. Like according to my designs and according to my niche, I will say that these three platforms gives me a lot like you can say, I make a prompt through the chatypT and put it in the eye. ideograms, stare GPD or deep seek.

These two are my most favorite. And then make a prompt, these two. You can say I make the prompt for the designing through the deep seek and tap GPD and put into the ideograms. And then artograms give me a lot of like inspiration for their designs. And then I make it myself. And then since you are pro graphic designer, what design-related tools or software do you use? Yeah. I use copilot, mid-turny and ideograms.

3A tools I use for my designing. But no, I use these, but get the inspiration. The tools I use, which is Adobe softwares, like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and I use these tools, Adobe softwares for my work. What about Canva? You don't use Canva? No, I'm not familiar with the Canva,

because I think we need to explore. Kenva is also good, but I'm not familiar with it. Yeah, of course, I understand. And then when it comes to Link, Who are some of your inspirations, like any other profiles or people that you follow? Honestly, when I joined the LinkedIn, I found a lot of like the creators who showed up daily and with their real voice. And I really like to read their post. And honestly, the creator who showed up with their real voice and especially from the who speak from the heart.

And I like to read that post. And I found some amazing people also, no doubt there are a lot of other talent. but as I am a hijabby girl, so I found Aisha MIR here as Sam like me. So when I joined LinkedIn, maybe she had at the time maybe 40K followers, maybe. So I really get inspiration from him. So I was just thinking that one day, one day, inshallah, I will do this. So Ayesha Mir was my first inspiration from, as we can say, from the hijabi girl. big girl and no doubt there are a lot of other creators like Charlie Hills

Daniel like a lot of Costa Jasmine Eric and you too also and there are a lot of many other like creators I really get inspiration from all the other creators and now you are inspiration for others oh I am I didn't even think so that you've got great content as you said you show up always quality and you've been growing like crazy. Oh, thank you. Thank you. It's a sure thing.

When I joined LinkedIn, I didn't even imagine that I cut this type of community, to be honest. And you've been growing very consistently and quite fast because I'm always surprised that, you know, week by week you hit a new milestone. So what's your next goal, such as next number that you want to achieve or when? A number? No, I think so. actually it's a community like if you are asking about my next goal so i will say that like i wanted to just build my personal brand like that actually impact on lives like i want to mentor more people and maybe you can say someday start start a platform for women in design oh that will be nice yeah and of course

good luck with that it's powerful mission and i'm sure that you are doing great already and you know because I think so. Like, I'm also giving the like a session to the girls. You can say that I set up more than 50 plus LinkedIn profiles and also give the strategies about the LinkedIn and other because people ask me that what you are doing here, that you are growing so fast. So I give an inspiration. Basically, I share my learning that what I am doing here.

So it may be helpful for the others. Of course, like you've started learning by showing up. So it's good to share experience with someone else to make it easier for them to show up and start. If you want to, can share it in your language, I will not understand. But maybe there are any listeners who might understand? I don't know. Yes, my most community from Pakistan. And I know that you always text me and send me that you are our inspiration.

and that's all. So I get, I feel like that, oh, I am. I can't even imagine that I become the inspiration for someone. So most people dance me and said that I get a lot of inspiration from your design and I learn a lot from your design. So it's really like in a moment for me that I work for someone. You can say that. You inspire and motivate others.

Yeah, we can say. And Sana, how do you manage to prevent. for example, burnout, because it's a big topic as well and it's not always easy to show up. So what helps you? Whenever I feel like Dren, I don't force myself. I pause and remind myself that why I started, I switch things up, play with the new ideas or like simple take over to breathe. Because creativity is not a machine, it's a feeling. And when I take care of my heart, the idea always redone.

out. Yeah. I like it. And don't underestimate it. If you see any signs, try to prevent it. And don't be afraid to take a break because we are not robots or at least not yet. Yeah. So then speaking of this, what is it that you enjoy doing outside of work or outside of LinkedIn? Outside of the LinkedIn. Sometimes I'm doing teaching and mentoring and spending time with the people I care about and I love helping other to grow, like whether it's a student at my own home academy or fellow

creative online. My biggest reason to start this journey is just to help other or nothing else. It's a beautiful mission, of course. Or you can say what's your why? Very popular copy connecting as well or driving question. What's your

why? This is a question that mostly people ask me that my biggest motivation. It's the people around me, the ones who are struggling, who can't speak up, who cry silently. Even I couldn't, I close my eyes at night when I felt like someone is in pen. They are basically my wife. And every late night I work and every early morning I showed up, this was because of them. So they are my biggest motivation. Yeah, I like it. And then the question that I asked after is, what are your hobbies if there is something else that you haven't mentioned on top of chemistry? Sometimes I just like reading also books and as you know that I'm a teacher.

So I'm just exploring my new things that can help my students like when you can say that's a chemistry maybe. And then sometime I'm learning new skills like. I just want to explore my like branding into the top level. So that's why you can add this into my hobby. And have you got any favorite books or any books that you recommend? Because I don't have enough time. To be honest, I don't have enough time to doing my other work because I am busy with my work. And almost I'm managing really hardly all these things like with the academy and with my online business.

So that's why in my spare time, I play with the child and spending time with my family. And that's all. I was going to say that you must have good time management doing all of these things. Yeah, time management. I actually, I just divided my time. Sometimes I just fixed my time, like this time for my client, this time for my work, or I just set up my time. Like, this time is for posting and for commenting and engaged with the others.

And this time especially I took the time in the day. Like I help with the other people in my dams that always ask me. Yeah. Yeah, I think I understand. And it's great that you show that you've got time to help people. And for example, respond in DMs because it's something that even Charlie mentioned in our recent episode, that even though you are busy, you are a big creator, you may get overwhelmed with all the messages, you still have time to be there for the people to be helpful.

and for example, respond, which is really nice. Yeah. To be honest, I got a lot of dams and I don't know how to reply very fastly, but even though I try to reply every comment and even all the dams area mix up with that, I didn't even know where is a client and where the helper. So it's all mixed. Like you can say, it's hardly to find a client from there if the client comes to the LinkedIn. Yeah, yeah.

And, Sonal, for the future, what are your goals or any other dreams? Yeah, my first dream to do something for my country and for the people around me. This is my biggest goal. That's why I start this journey. And now I'm taking part in competition, which is from our country. And hope so I will do my best. And let's see what I want. Yeah, fingers crossed and good luck.

Thank you so much. This is my biggest dream. That's why I started. I didn't start this journey for me. Basically, I don't need anything. I just want to do something for my country. I don't know. I have a crazy dream to do something.

At the time, I didn't know that what I need to do, but I start my journey because I have a passion to do something. So that's why I started this journey and that's why today I'm here. And I think you're on a good thought, so you're doing right. Yeah, my first class came through the, like, Facebook. after I uploading some practice logos and branding world because I was only using the first book at that time and I have no idea about all social media platforms. That's validation gives me a lot of confidence. And then slowly work started coming and not because I had a strategy,

but because I kept showing up and I was sharing just what I was learning. And al-hambol-al-al-law, yeah, now things have completely changed. Like I have a lot of potential clients now all over the world. Like I have a client from United Kingdom, Germany, China, Australia, Bangladesh, and even USA. And many of them are my returning clients who trust my work again and again. And when I look back at that day sitting with a friend and confusing that with empathy, handed. And then I look at where I am now. So I just wanted to say one thing, if you have passion,

if you truly want to do something, you can do anything in your life. No matter how you stuck or helpless, you feel. Like if you stay sincere, take the first step and stay consistent. The word open up for you. I like it. And I think you are just perfect example of someone who's growing, inspiring, motivating. So you're doing great and thank you for that. I just try to give my best or nothing else.

Is there something that you would tell to younger yourself? I just wanted to say one thing that you are enough. Don't wait for someone to validate you. Just start and you will find your way. I like it and I only agree. And Sanas, we will be approaching the end soon. Is there anything that you would like to share at the end that I haven't asked you or any final message or anything?

Yeah, I just want to say that start messy. You don't need to be perfect. You don't need expensive tools. Just start with what you have and keep improving, trading your journey. That's what people mostly related, most related. And don't like expect fast results. They take time. And I have learned something so powerful.

One lesson is enough. One reason is enough. You don't need it. And you don't need to be like perfect. And if you literally want to do something in your life and you just need to fix your one dream. And I'm sure, just one powerful way can move you forward. Just focus on it, hold onto it even when it get hard because that one reason can carry you through anything. I like it and I can only relate.

Sana, and it's not always easy to stay inspired. So where do you find inspiration? My inspiration has changed with the passage of the time. for example, like back in college, I was truly inspired by I'm a principal and my teachers. Their dedication and personality left a deep impact on me, and that's why I wanted to become a lecturer. And then later, when I jump into the online world and design and branding, I found amazing inspiration from the Pinterest and the Behance. My mostly fellows, they are a designer. They can find inspiration from the Pinterest. I can say that they both platforms are great,

but for me, Pinterest really stand out. Whatever it's designed or any creative idea, Pinterest is my go-to-source. And then when I come to the LinkedIn, after joining, I was inspired to many, like, top creators who work consistently and share values. I learned a lot of things from them, and especially about that being consistent and showing up.

And I believe your story is the biggest, inspiration just pay attention to yourself and you will find your way I like it interest is amazing as well although I don't use it as much there's so much to this inspired by I want to say Sanad that I assume there is going to be audience that understands your language so if you want to share anything in your language I won't understand but they will yes I want to give the message to my audience in my language. If Allah Allah

has you this is utilize to it's not do you know to give them to your love for

your mother and for your life and just that they can you feel for meh

soh I'm a professional can you tell us what branding means to you what a

great question actually branding to me simply means identity I want to to explain it with an example, like you can take me as an example. Like eight to nine months ago, I had zero followers on the LinkedIn, literally zero.

And today my community has grown to over 31,000 people. And no, it didn't happen because I went viral or I hacked the algorithm. It happened because I made one major mindset shift. That whenever I talk about the branding, I have to talk about the marketing. Because marketing is the most important part for the branding. Like I have seen so many people chasing likes, views, sales, vanity metrics, but they totally skip the foundation. And here is the truth I learned.

And it changed everything for me that you can't market a brand you have not built and you can't sell an identity that doesn't exist. Like branding is your identity. but the marketing is how you communicate that identity. Printing is how people see you. It's a perception form. It's the vibe you gave up your voice, your visuals, your personality or your energy. But the marketing is the strategy behind your message.

It's the platform you choose, the way you feel your story, like how you turn attention into like connections. Like I have one example. my mind like look at the Nike, they know who they are and they know how to share that story across the platform. And that's why they stand out and they dominate. So if you truly want to be seen as a professional in your niche, you need both. Number one, clear branding to define who you are and smart marketing to share that identity with the world. And the best part, that something anyone can do as long as you start with the foundation.

Awesome. I think, Sana, we can finish it for today. I thank you so much for our time. I really enjoyed it. It was amazing to meet you outside of LinkedIn. It was very insightful conversation, really inspiring. It was nice to find out more about you, even outside of LinkedIn. So thank you so much for joining me. I'm sure audience will find it very helpful. I will share any links that we discussed in the show notes,

so I encourage everyone to have a look, follow you, support you, because it's really worth it. Thank you so much. And we'll be happy to catch up anytime in the future again. So thank you. Thank you so much, Thomas, for listening to listening to Broaddivide with Tom and check the show notes for all the links. And don't forget to subscribe, like and share your feedback.

Speak soon. You know,