Nayla Feghali -

This year [2024] has been a year of major transformation for me. After a fulfilling 29-year career in the corporate world, primarily within large organizations, I made the decision to launch my own consulting and training firm.

While I have confidence in my skills and expertise, this decision was not made lightly. As you can imagine, it came with its fair share of worries, self-doubt, and moments of second-guessing.

When I shared my plans within my network, I was overwhelmed by the incredible support and encouragement I received. These weren’t the generic, obligatory reassurances that can sometimes feel hollow. Instead, they were heartfelt and specific, affirming that this was the right path for me.

This leads me to reflect on the many acts of kindness I’ve been fortunate to experience this year—each one profoundly impacting my journey. Before I acknowledge these moments, I want to highlight two important points:

1. I’ve received far more encouragement and support than I can recount here, and I am deeply grateful for every single gesture. However, my focus is on the acts that came at the very start of this journey, as they were pivotal in helping me make the decision to launch. And…
2. The people I want to recognize didn’t just offer words of support. They went further investing their time, energy, and ideas without expecting anything in return.

 

As the year draws to a close, I plan to personally and privately reach out to eight specific individuals to express how their acts of kindness have profoundly impacted my life. Here, I want to reflect on the collective influence of their support:

• They reviewed my content and ideas, encouraging me to refine my focus on areas where my most significant experiences and skills could shine.
• They generously opened their personal networks, introducing me to people and organizations who have become clients or promising prospects.
• They offered invaluable advice on enhancing my social media presence and online visibility, as well as on building a strategic approach to networking and exposure.
• Most importantly, they instilled in me the courage to recognize and trust my own skills, abilities, and resilience—fundamental elements for starting and growing a business.

 

Their support has not only guided me but also strengthened my confidence during this transformative journey.

The heartfelt support and help I received from these specific individuals affirmed my decision and became a source of profound inspiration. Reflecting on the journey, I am particularly grateful for these acts of kindness that played a crucial role at the outset, where individuals went beyond words by investing their time, energy, and resources with the sole purpose of helping me achieve my dream and my goals, and in living up to my full potential.