From 9-5 to Freedom: Starting Your Own Business with Style and Purpose!

In today’s fast-paced world, the journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship is one many contemplate, yet few embark upon. If you’ve ever felt stifled by a rigid job structure or dreamt of turning your passions into a thriving business, then you need to tune into the latest episode of The Designer’s Plants and Coffee Podcast featuring the inspiring Juwariya Abdul-Karim.

Discovering the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Juwariya’s story is one of transformation. After grappling with anxiety in her corporate role, she took a leap of faith, fueled by her husband’s encouragement. The podcast dives deep into her evolution from the high-pressure environments of well-known brands like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie to the freedom and creativity of entrepreneurship. With a background in architecture, Jawaria draws fascinating parallels between design and fashion, emphasizing that aesthetics are just as vital as structural integrity.

The Reality of Fast-Paced Environments

As Juwariya reflects on her experiences in corporate settings, she reveals the hidden challenges that often come with fast-paced environments—where creativity can easily get lost amidst deadlines and demands. She candidly discusses how these challenges prompted her to seek a path where she could thrive, not just survive. This journey resonates with anyone who has felt trapped in a role that doesn’t align with their true passions.

Transitioning to Wellness-Oriented Consulting

One of the most relatable aspects of Juwariya’s journey is her transition to wellness-oriented consulting after starting a family. Influenced by her child’s struggles with severe eczema, she channeled her frustrations into developing a line of body products and founded the Mojo Design Wellness Collection. This innovative approach not only highlights her expertise in architecture but also showcases her commitment to holistic well-being, helping homeowners navigate construction projects with an eye for both aesthetics and health.

The Freedom of Entrepreneurship

What sets this episode apart is Juwariya’s emphasis on the stark contrast between corporate employment and the autonomy of consulting. She passionately discusses the importance of respecting personal time and finding joy in work. As an entrepreneur, she defines happiness as the ability to choose daily activities that bring fulfillment, challenging the common misconception that relentless hard work is the only route to success.

Encouragement to Network and Experiment

The podcast is not just a tale of personal growth; it’s a call to action for anyone considering a leap into entrepreneurship. Juwariya advocates for networking, experimentation, and the courage to make bold decisions. She emphasizes that while concerns about healthcare and financial stability are valid, the rewards of following one’s passion can outweigh the risks. Join the Conversation If you’re ready to embrace change and explore the intersection of creativity and wellness, don’t miss this enlightening episode of The Designer’s Plants and Coffee Podcast. You can also visit Juwariya’s website at moju.design for more insights and resources. In a world where the traditional paths are often glorified, Juwariya Abdul Kareem’s journey is a refreshing reminder that the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment can take many forms. Join us in exploring this dynamic conversation, and perhaps, you’ll find the inspiration you need to embark on your own journey of transformation!   We want to hear from you! If this episode inspired you in anyway take a screen shot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag us @designersplantsandcoffee   Links mentioned: Juwariya’s Website Instagram @mojuwellnesscollection Instagram @moju.center4being My reflection matters village Deep Lounge Place

00:00 – 00:01 It’s all about who you know.   00:01 – 00:04 Once you get into the network, people understand what you do, and the calls just come in.   00:04 – 00:07 You don’t just be on the Internet looking for a contractor.   00:07 – 00:09 You wanna know someone who knows someone.   00:09 – 00:14 Welcome to the Designer’s Plants and Coffee podcast where we discuss how to succeed as a designer   00:14 – 00:19 while staying true to yourself, finding peace in the process, and making money doing what we love.   00:19 – 00:22 Subscribe on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast.   00:22 – 00:24 We have a guest, Jawaria Abdul Kareem.   00:24 – 00:28 Today, we’re talking about the transition from corporate to entrepreneurship.   00:29 – 00:31 What made you decide to go into entrepreneurship?   00:31 – 00:35 I think my best friend’s mother passed, and I was working on this project.   00:35 – 00:40 And it was just some weird stuff going on, and I was just like, I’m just too short for this.   00:40 – 00:43 Why am I coming to work and with anxiety.   00:44 – 00:47 I was getting married at the time, and my husband worked for himself.   00:47 – 00:48 And he was like, you don’t need these people.   00:48 – 00:50 Come work come work with me.   00:50 – 00:53 I’ll I’ll introduce you to my network. And, that was it.   00:53 – 00:54 I put in my notice. I quit.   00:54 – 00:58 Warrior did do, like, store layout and stuff like that for the fashion industry.   00:58 – 01:02 You can speak about that and then the transition from that into what you do now.   01:02 – 01:06 Well, I mean, architecture and fashion are very similar. Right?   01:06 – 01:10 Because, one, the garment needs to stay on, and the building needs to stay up.   01:10 – 01:12 How can we do those things and make it pretty?   01:12 – 01:17 You can have a garment that stays up for a very short period of time and is really cheap, or   01:17 – 01:23 you can have a garment with the finest materials and all the structure and it lasts you for ages. Same concept.   01:23 – 01:27 And all the money goes into things you don’t see, but it stands up. The functions is comfortable.   01:27 – 01:30 But with that, I’m working on large projects.   01:30 – 01:33 You just become someone who does one thing.   01:33 – 01:38 So you just become the bathroom designer, or you just become the the the one who designs the   01:38 – 01:41 curtain wall or the the skin of the building.   01:41 – 01:45 And I didn’t wanna get pigeonholed into just doing one thing.   01:45 – 01:48 I wanted to understand more about the industry in general.   01:48 – 01:54 So I started from these big firms and kinda work my way down, and then I ended some way in, retail.   01:54 – 01:57 So I worked for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie.   01:58 – 02:01 We did the revamp for McDonald’s, which is now McCafe.   02:02 – 02:04 It’s very, very fast paced.   02:04 – 02:08 And it’s like you finish with 1 storm and you’re on to the next. There was no breather.   02:08 – 02:12 It’s just, you know, they kinda drain you of ideas and all your energy.   02:12 – 02:14 But it was it was a lot of fun. Right?   02:14 – 02:18 Because you get to see your creations happen real time and fast.   02:18 – 02:20 Like, a store has done in 3 months.   02:20 – 02:23 Gotcha. And just by the way, Juwari did design my kitchen.   02:23 – 02:24 So that’s just an that’s a side plug.   02:25 – 02:29 So you started in architecture. You made the transition. You did retail.   02:29 – 02:36 You did a lot of that type of thing, and that’s when you decided to move on and start your own business with your husband. And what was that?   02:36 – 02:39 I I interned my way through college.   02:40 – 02:43 And so when it was time for me to graduate, I got a job right away.   02:43 – 02:48 I was going back and forth between be between being a corporate hire and being a consultant.   02:48 – 02:50 When you’re a corporate hire, you work salary.   02:50 – 02:51 You don’t get paid over time.   02:51 – 02:55 They work you till you’re done, and then you gotta come back the next day.   02:55 – 02:57 And as a consultant, no, man.   02:57 – 03:01 You pay me for hours, so you need to organize how you want to spend my time because after a   03:01 – 03:03 certain time, it’s double time.   03:03 – 03:04 And I can say no.   03:04 – 03:06 I can leave when I want. You know?   03:06 – 03:10 You have a lot more autonomy, and people respect respect your time a whole lot more.   03:10 – 03:14 Like, you can’t just have me doing something and change your mind. You know? It’s 9 o’clock. I have a home.   03:14 – 03:19 And so when I left corporate through that, I worked with Kate Jackspade, and they were trying   03:19 – 03:21 to come up with a new brand for the outlet stores.   03:21 – 03:22 It’s all about who you know.   03:22 – 03:26 Once you get into the network, people understand what you do, and the calls just come in.   03:26 – 03:32 Even though it’s a digital age, in construction, it’s still a word-of-mouth industry.   03:32 – 03:34 You don’t just be on the Internet looking for contractors.   03:35 – 03:39 You wanna know someone who knows someone and still don’t have a big online presence because   03:39 – 03:41 I get most of my clients to work.   03:41 – 03:46 My building up that network through my husband’s network was is what kinda established me and   03:46 – 03:49 also consulting on the side, taking gigs here and there.   03:49 – 03:54 So how did you transition from architecture to the wellness?   03:54 – 04:01 Having kids. So living my life by myself, I can I can stay at work till 9 o’clock and then wake   04:01 – 04:04 up and, you know, be back at 9 o’clock in the morning? I can do that.   04:04 – 04:07 But once kids hit, it’s like, this this ain’t gonna work.   04:07 – 04:12 And if you know the New York City hustle with, you know, day care, and then you gotta pay for   04:12 – 04:14 early care, and then you gotta pay for after care.   04:14 – 04:16 I’m working to have someone else raise my children.   04:16 – 04:20 You know, the world is backwards. I’m not crazy. The world is backwards.   04:20 – 04:24 Everyone says that children are the best thing, the most important thing.   04:24 – 04:26 So I’m not spending time with them.   04:27 – 04:29 What exactly is your company now?   04:29 – 04:35 I am transitioning from purely architecture to more wellness in general.   04:35 – 04:38 You know, the wellness of my mind, my soul, my environment.   04:39 – 04:41 How do you like to run your life?   04:41 – 04:44 And then we can design your house around that, making you feel better.   04:44 – 04:48 I mean, like, if you’re a person that hates the sun, let’s not put your bedroom where the sun   04:48 – 04:49 rises early in the morning.   04:49 – 04:50 You know what I mean?   04:50 – 04:51 If you’re not a horny person.   04:51 – 04:57 Through my children, I’ve gotten more conscious about the food I eat and just the things I put on my skin.   04:57 – 05:01 My son has really severe eczema, so I started making my own body products.   05:01 – 05:04 So what is the name of your company, and what do you sell?   05:04 – 05:09 So the name of the company is Mojo Design Wellness Collection.   05:09 – 05:11 So it’s several different things.   05:11 – 05:17 So instead of producing drawings for people, I’m moving more into architectural consulting.   05:17 – 05:22 So if you have never worked on a construction project before and you’re just a homeowner, you   05:22 – 05:27 might benefit from my service in terms of, you know, what to expect when dealing with a contractor.   05:28 – 05:29 You know, you’re doing this big renovation.   05:29 – 05:31 Is that something you’re gonna need to do?   05:31 – 05:33 Do you need to invest that money in this house, or do you need to move?   05:33 – 05:38 You know, things like that that can help people live a better life within their spaces.   05:38 – 05:41 And then I also make body products that I sell. What was   05:41 – 05:47 your, fear making the transition from corporate to, entrepreneurship?   05:47 – 05:48 Health care. Oh my god.   05:48 – 05:49 I don’t wanna get sick.   05:49 – 05:50 What do I wanna do?   05:50 – 05:53 I’m in a car accident. Oh my god. I can’t afford it.   05:53 – 05:56 Like, you have to understand. I I’ve consulted before.   05:56 – 05:59 So if anything, I can always pick up a consultant job.   05:59 – 06:00 So but it’s like, hey.   06:00 – 06:04 I gotta pay if anything happens, I gotta pay this this health care bill.   06:04 – 06:08 As long as I don’t get into some major accident accident, I’ll I’ll be okay.   06:08 – 06:10 So if anyone wanted to basically get into   06:17 – 06:19 their own business, like, what advice would you give them?   06:19 – 06:24 Don’t be afraid to try new things and, try to get into a network.   06:25 – 06:29 My my first internship came from Sahin. That started it all.   06:29 – 06:33 So how would you define, like, happiness now?   06:33 – 06:37 Happiness is waking up and doing whatever I feel like doing.   06:37 – 06:41 Would you say that that you’ve had any setbacks, and how did you overcome that?   06:41 – 06:48 My biggest obstacle is thinking that I need to work 10 times harder to get half as far. That’s not my story.   06:48 – 06:53 That’s my parents’ generation, their story, and it served them, but that’s not my story.   06:53 – 06:55 Is there anything that you wanna add that we haven’t spoken about?   06:56 – 06:57 Don’t be afraid to experiment.   06:57 – 06:59 I mean, this is what life is about. Have fun doing it.   06:59 – 07:03 Where can people find you if they want to reach out for you for your services?   07:03 – 07:10 Well, I have a website, moldju.design, where pretty soon you can purchase whatever products   07:10 – 07:15 that I come up with and also book consultation services for architectural design.   07:15 – 07:23 These 2 communities that you’ll probably see me in is the My Reflection Matters Village and, Deep Lounge Place.   07:23 – 07:26 It’s on Teachable, and it’s also on SubStack.   07:26 – 07:32 So these are all other mothers and parents, caregivers that understand the importance of children   07:32 – 07:34 and the liberation of children.   07:34 – 07:39 Like, if we can’t keep using tools of oppression and think of that, we’re gonna raise liberated kids.   07:40 – 07:45 And that takes a completely rewiring of how we do things, how we think about education.   07:45 – 07:47 So these communities really help me.   07:47 – 07:50 How do you approach tough decisions in business?   07:50 – 07:53 Honesty. And that and that took a lot of growth.   07:53 – 07:56 Because in the beginning, it was like, oh my god. I’m a professional.   07:56 – 07:58 I don’t wanna make a mistake.   07:58 – 08:01 So I have to now start thinking for people.   08:01 – 08:05 And that’s always got me in more trouble than just saying, hey. Look.   08:05 – 08:07 I’m inviting you into this situation. Yes.   08:07 – 08:11 I’m a professional, but, no one knows everything, and I’m still growing.   08:11 – 08:14 And I don’t know everything about architecture. And, hey. Look.   08:14 – 08:17 This is a little beyond my realm of understanding.   08:17 – 08:19 We might need to hire someone. Alright.   08:19 – 08:26 I’m LaTisha Winston of Keeping You in Stitches along with Zahiyya Abdul-Karim of Cover Me Chic and Regent Design Lab, Naima Dozier of Fearless Threads, and our guest, Juwariya of Mojo.Design.