June 20, 2025 • 21 mins
Cut The Tie Podcast
Episode 272
What if your personal story—full of family, faith, neurodivergence, and creativity—was your greatest business advantage? In this episode of Cut the Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Averi Drummer (aka Siena Averi Feruzi), a womanist author, coach, and special education advocate who is building a life and business on her own terms.
From Spelman College to poetry, coaching, and special ed classrooms, Averi shares how cutting ties with perfectionism and self-doubt opened the door to confidence, creative ambition, and the launch of her new Bag Lady Financial Wellness coaching series. If you’ve ever waited to feel “qualified” before taking action, this episode is for you.
About Averi Drummer:
Averi Drummer is a Christian womanist author, coach, special education assistant, and founder of the Bag Lady Financial Wellness series. A graduate of Spelman College and the eldest sibling in a neurodiverse family, Averi brings lived experience, compassion, and creativity into everything she does. Whether she’s helping women with special needs families navigate identity or coaching aspiring creatives toward confidence, her mission is clear: to uplift others by using her voice and platform for change.
In this episode, Thomas and Averi discuss:
- Cutting ties with perfectionism and imposter syndrome
Averi shares how she overcame the belief that she needed years of experience or accolades before she could coach or create. - Building a purpose-driven business from scratch
From nonprofit roots to affiliate marketing, Averi walks through her journey to financial freedom and creative leadership. - Representing neurodivergent and Black women in business
Averi opens up about growing up in a neurodivergent household and how Spelman College reshaped her identity and mission. - Manifesting abundance through mindset and community
Affirmations, coaching programs, and spiritual practices have played a vital role in Averi’s entrepreneurial path. - Launching books, building confidence, and helping others grow
With novels, poetry, and coaching on the horizon, Averi is designing a future that empowers both herself and her community.
Key Takeaways:
- You don’t need permission to start.
Stop waiting for credentials or approval. Start where you are—with what you have. - Perfectionism is a trap.
It's a form of procrastination rooted in fear. Action beats overthinking, every time. - Representation matters.
Being a neurodivergent Black woman in business is a powerful act of leadership in itself. - Coaching is about connection.
You don’t have to be “perfect” to help someone else grow—you just need to show up authentically. - You are the brand.
Whether you’re writing poetry or building a movement, your voice and lived experience are your biggest assets.
Connect with Averi Drummer:
🌐 Website: siennavferuzi.gumroad.com
📧 Email: sienna.v.feruzi@gmail.com
Connect with Thomas Helfrich:
🐦 Twitter: @thelfrich
📘 Facebook: Cut the Tie Group
💼 LinkedIn: Thomas Helfrich
🌐 Website: www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: t@instantlyrelevant.com
🚀 InstantlyRelevant.com
Serious about LinkedIn Lead Generation? Stop Guessing what to do on LinkedIn and ignite revenue from relevance with Instantly Relevant Lead System
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Cut the Tie podcast.
I'm your host, thomas Helfrich.
I'm on a mission to help youcut the tie to whatever it is
holding you back, so you canbecome the best version of
yourself and maybe just becomethe best entrepreneur you can
become.
And our mission here is foundthrough listening to guests on
their missions, of what they'vedone and how they've gotten
through it.
And today I'm joined by SiennaAvery-Ferruzzi.
(00:21):
You're the longest, coolestname I think we've ever had in
the show, sienna.
Thank you so much for joining.
Why don't you take a momentintroduce yourself and tell us
what you do and a little bitabout who you are?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Okay, it's good to be here.
I'm a Christian, publishedwomanist, author, coach, creator
and educator, and I likestanding up for ethnic women and
children with special needsrights.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, and tell me a little bit more, like, get into
that a bit.
How did you develop the passionfor that, Like you know?
How did you become the personyou are from that journey?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I help teach special ed right now.
I'm the oldest of four and allof us are neurodivergent and my
brother has Down syndrome, oneof my sisters has autism and we
all have a different perspectiveon things.
My sister and I have ADHD and Iwent to Spelman College.
(01:20):
It's kind of a family schoolfor us.
It's in Atlanta, georgia, andit's a women's HBCU, so it's a
historically Black college.
It's the top HBCU in thecountry and, after going to a
mostly white high school andbeing around a lot of
Eurocentric ideas, it was veryeye-opening and very supportive
(01:45):
going to Spelman because therewas a lot of Black beauty and
Black pride campaigning andeducation going around.
So it helped me like have abetter understanding of how
diverse and talented and amazingBlack people and Black women
are.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Yeah, and at least in the U S right, for for many,
many, many, many years no oneknew that.
And right, and and his in therecency of history it's only
still pretty recent, so by youknow, it's a great school it's I
mean, I'm in Atlanta here.
It's a fantastic place to giveopportunity, potentially where
it wouldn't have been otherwise.
I'd say it that way way becauseit's it's has a focus for who
(02:24):
it's promoting and who should beparticipating, and I think
that's I love that stuff whereyou see opportunity actually
create itself and and peoplehave created this or any other
opportunity.
So in your world, like you said, you teach special needs.
You have a book.
Tell me why people maybe workwith you, or, and do you work
with people privately?
Or tell me kind of how your,maybe your side, hustle your
(02:45):
business or just what you doevery day works okay.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So every day I'm a full-time teacher's assistant,
um, and when I'm at home I writeand learn a lot more about
business and I'm improving mypretty new website and I've
started teaching someindividuals more about writing
and how it can help them impacttheir resume or brand and
(03:12):
overall brand and identity.
And I've worked a lot withdifferent nonprofits growing up
and I want to apply that here.
I want to start working soonwith different companies and
nonprofits, especially ifthey're involved in helping
women, especially women who havespecial needs, family or kids.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Who are you going to be five years from now?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Five years from now.
Five years from now.
Five years from now.
I want to be a much morewell-known author and coach and
I want to have a lot more timefreedom and be able to work more
with different organizationsand have commemorated several
(04:01):
different organizations withmagazines or books each year,
several different organizationswith magazines or books each
year.
And I want to have more poetrybooks and my first novel or
novella out, because I'm workingon a novel that's going to be
sci-fi and related to likealiens and a novel that's going
to be about Black people in thenear future getting reparations
(04:25):
and like the drama between themand their families and different
white people and their familiesand communities you know I love
is the wizard of oz and themetaphors of color and being
different in the show it would.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
they made it so well done in such a poor way.
I really did, I knew I just wecan go down that path if you
like, but in a 15 minute podcast.
I want to come back tosomething first.
We'll do that one offline andpeople have to pay extra to hear
that.
But I have a question for you.
In your journey through school,what was, or just today?
And I always ask this questionlike this where go back to any
(05:03):
time in your journey here.
What tie did you have to cut?
What was the one you identifiedthat I've got to start doing
this or stop doing that?
Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That's what I wrote down.
So I've learned I need to cutties with the idea that I have
to have different accolades oryears and years and ages of
research to be qualified enough.
I've already done plenty ofresearch over time and I need to
just step out on faith.
It's still a work in progress,though.
(05:37):
Step out on faith.
It's still a work in progress,though.
That's why almost every morningnow I'm doing more affirmations
related to my health and likemoney manifestation and
abundance, and I'm listeningmore to different coaches on
YouTube and Spotify anddifferent websites related to
that, because I know like sinceearly childhood, I've had like
(06:02):
negative, automatic thoughtsthat can still, like affect the
way I look at money or businessand things today.
So that's why now I'm creatingthe series the Bag Lady
Financial Wellness ebook seriesand starting to do the coaching
and helping raise awareness ondifferent issues, and I recently
(06:26):
joined Amoya Shante's affiliateprogram as well, since she's a
money manifestation coach I'vebeen following for several years
for several years and you cangain access to her three
different new academy programsthrough my link, which I can
send to you.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Nora, I like affiliate marketing.
You got to make money.
I like it, you got to do it.
I mean, listen, one thing youtalked about in the future is
what you want to become.
What was missing from that isyou want to be financially free.
You want to be able to havework option as you see it, not
as someone tells you.
You have to report up, and Ithink that was like an
underlying vision was you wantto be successful enough on your
(07:05):
own to have the freedom tocreate what you want to Free.
That's a big piece.
You got to make enough money toget there.
So it sounds like today you'realready doing that.
You're like thinking okay, Ineed to get some abundance
mindset.
I need to change my thinking.
I need to surround myself withindividuals who know how to
think like this and be like this.
Uh, even you just come into thepodcast.
(07:26):
So you got.
I want to start promotingmyself and getting comfortable
talking about what I want to be,and that manifests once you
talk about it.
So I love, I love, I like whatyou're doing a lot and I love
the fact that you've taken theinitial steps.
A lot of people miss.
They focus on the altruisticand forget you do make money
along the way.
What was your moment?
I always ask the question likewhat's the aha moment?
(07:47):
When you're like, yeah, I don'twant to be working as a
teacher's assistant five yearsfrom now.
I want to.
I want to get in and be me andbe known as an author, a
successful author that makesmoney, want to get in and be me
and be known as an author, asuccessful author that makes
money.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I think it's just been a progression.
I mean, I grew up already beingvery inspired by different
authors like Octavia E Butlerand Maya Angelou, but the last
few years I've been listeningmore to different podcasts and
successful creators and they'realways saying it's okay to start
kind of in a mess and startwithout having a dozen different
qualifications, as long as youstart putting yourself out there
(08:29):
and have a team or mentors toguide you.
You can figure out along theway, which has helped me because
I'm still trying to get rid oflike the perfectionism and
realizing like it's okay to nothave it all perfect and together
when I'm starting out.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
There was.
I'll give you a moment ofperfectionism, and perfectionism
is a form of procrastinationwhich is tied to these fear
excuse cycles of life where youmake a fear.
You're like, oh, it's gotta beperfect for I will.
But there really is.
You're afraid of something.
There's someone judging you.
You're afraid of whatever it is.
There's math that's funny andancillary to this that exists.
The math is the Schwartz childratio and if you look it up, it
(09:11):
is the math that determines theevent horizon of a black hole.
It says, hey, now you're in theblack hole and the closer you
get to that is analogous to thecloser you are to being a
perfectionist.
And the problem is, once youenter the black hole, no one can
save you.
It slows down and it's endlesstime.
You'll never get out.
So avoid going inside the blackhole and avoid it at all costs,
(09:32):
because there's no coming back,no one coming back, no one can
save you.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I didn't know.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Okay, it's Neil Degrassi Tyson.
I think was the, was the leadnerd in charge of getting me to
think through that one a littlebit.
But you should look him up.
He's amazing and he's coming toAtlanta to speak on science.
He's one of the best speakersin the world.
He's going to be the Fox heater.
I recommend it.
I don't an affiliate link, butI should because he's awesome.
All right, um, he's a scienceguy, he's a nerd.
(09:57):
Um, yes, hope you know him.
I mean he's pretty cool.
Hey, so what's been the impact?
Since you kind of realize inyour moment you see the tie you
needed to cut, the perfectionism, you know other things that the
path you wanted to go, what'sbeen the impact in your life,
your business, your family, yourrelationships?
Describe it.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
I think it's allowed me to do more networking and
outreach and I think that'shelped set an example for my
siblings and cousins, becausethey're doing more outreach over
time and I'm trying to justgrow my website and podcast of
each out here that's the impact.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Like is the impact?
Then let me ask you differentlyand then re-answer places, the
impact being more like I've hadmore clarity, more purpose, um,
less stress, like you know,you've like, I want to so think
about someone listening to this,who's like, who's like you.
You're trying to help tell themwhat it did for you, what it
freed for them, for you fortaking the steps you've.
I want to so think aboutsomeone listening to this, who's
like who's like you.
You're trying to help Tell themwhat it did for you, what it
(11:03):
freed for them, for you fortaking the steps you've taken to
improve who you are and whereyou're going.
So let me I'll ask the questionagain what's the impact been
since identifying, you know, thetie and having that moment?
What's been the impact of thework you've done to improve
yourself?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
to improve yourself.
Oh, I think it's definitelybeen.
I've become wiser and moreconfident in what I have to
offer and who I am, how Iidentify as an artist and a
leader.
So it's given me the chance totake on more leadership and to
(11:36):
network better.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Yeah, you're finding success.
It sounds like you're takingthe first steps of finding
success.
The success doesn't happen.
You got to build it through anetwork.
You got to build it throughknowledge and people and
execution, and I won't call themfailures, but learnings.
You know, that's how you do it.
Okay, let's do some rapid firequestions, but first I want you
(11:59):
to give advice to someone who'slike you in as many ways as
possible.
You'd like it to be, butsomeone listening to this, who's
five years ago.
They're basically you.
They are where you are now.
What advice would you give?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
them.
Don't be afraid to ask alltypes of questions, like there's
no dumb question, and try totalk one-on-one with different
influencers as much as you can,whether it's in the chats or
with Zoom.
If you can get a Zoom or phonecall a couple times at least
with the main influencers youlook up to, that can give you a
(12:35):
lot more guidance and clarity onsome things that's really good,
I just timely yeah, just pretty, pretty consistently, and
things will come around.
Some things take longer thanyou'd expect, but they will come
around you can't lose sight ofit can't be aimless rapid fire.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
okay, yes, all right who gives you inspiration oh
gosh, oh, so many people, um, Iwould say, the main ones right
now are amoya shantae ashley,shepherd with shut publishing,
and portia mystique steel, whoalso is um a writer and speaker
(13:21):
and creator.
You strive to be like them yes,they're very wise, but still
like down to earth about theirbusiness savvy and their
creativity, and they've had alot of outreach on youtube,
facebook and different platforms.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So, yes, I'm trying to get to be more like them just
be like them, because, remember, they're already taken, so you
only can be yourself.
Yeah, definitely.
What's the best advice you'veever received?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Okay, I would say the best advice I've gotten in a
while has been to start big withwho and what you reach out to
for funding.
But start small with your nichebefore you start to um spread
out and grow it.
You want to get pretty definedwith your niche I agree with
(14:13):
that.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Definitely, definitely.
Don't own a space so you canprove a model.
That's, that's, very goodadvice.
Who gave that to you, by theway?
Oh, thank you who gave you thatadvice?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
oh, um, it's been multiple influencers, I think,
um, it's been l.
It's been a couple of mymentors yeah, I'll have to give
that to you, but it's beenmultiple podcasters and creators
(14:50):
that have been in this live andonline.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Good, you bind to the influencer.
I like that.
You listen, you read, youconsume a lot of information, so
which book do you think is amust read for an entrepreneur?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
10X is easier than 2X by Dr Benjamin Hardy.
I'm finishing reading it rightnow and it's really good.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
What's the, what's the main thing you got from from
that book?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Oh, I mean, he just says it again and again, he just
rephrases it that 10x is goingto get you to where you want to
be quicker and more efficientlythan trying to hustle and work
your butt off, like doing itonly at like one and a half or
two times the size or speed.
If you find different tools andleaders who are able to get you
(15:47):
to 10x or 100x it, you're goingto reach your goals a lot more
quickly and easily.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
I haven't read that one.
I will put that on my list ofpeople to listen to.
Do you have technology rightnow?
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Do I have technology I rely on?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Or your favorite one.
What is your favoritetechnology?
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Honestly, I just I use my phone.
I use a combination of Google,youtube, what Zoom, spotify and
Cloud.
My AI has been Claude lately.
I'll go there to answer alltypes of questions about
(16:31):
relationships and differentadvertising or business steps I
need to take.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
I like that.
If you had to start over today,any time period, you pick the
time period what would you dodifferently?
Speaker 2 (16:47):
If I started over, I would learn how to reach out to
people more in my own uniqueways and how to better heal from
and manage that ADHD and talkone-on-one more often early with
influencers and mentors insteadof being shy and waiting in the
(17:10):
shadows, and I would look intomore investors and funding
opportunities earlier on.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
If there was one question I should have asked you
today, but I didn't.
What would that question havebeen and how would you answer it
?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Why do I want to do coaching along with the writing?
I guess?
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That's a good one.
Why would you want to do?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
both I enjoy also encouraging people and helping
them grow, and I want to improvemy networking and time
one-on-one and with groups ofpeople.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I have a follow-up question.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Why aliens?
Why not?
Oh, I haven't really donesci-fi before, but I I like
watching some sci-fi movies andreading some of the books.
Um, yeah, I love octavia ebutler and I was like, okay, I
want to do something like her,but not not exactly the same
(18:21):
yeah, you can't because she'staken.
Yeah, she's taken and from whatI've seen, she writes more so
from a historic and slaveryperspective, and I don't want to
focus necessarily on the dayswhen we were enslaved.
I want to talk about today andthe future more often.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah Well, tying a historical piece to a fictional
novel helps make it seem realright and it helps ground it's.
You know, it helps create agrounding of it.
My final question, maybe beforewe do a shameless plug for you,
is do you think we came frommars?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
oh no, you never know we could have come from mars as
bacteria oh no, no we came fromhere.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
You never know, we could have come from Mars as
bacteria.
Like you know, mars had waterblowing, probably, and then I'm
a fear.
Maybe we're like oh, we got toget off this Plants dying and
they said we'll just shoot thebacteria and see what happens.
Shot it over Landed here, takeout those dinosaurs later.
It's probably not not gonnamake the final cut.
Just be fair, all right,shameless plug for you how, who
(19:27):
should get a hold of you and howshould they do that?
Speaker 2 (19:31):
okay, um, I would say um, young ethnic women who
enjoy learning from differentperspectives and reading poetry
should check out my website orreach out to me.
My email is siennavferuzzi atGmail, sienna with two N's and
(19:54):
Feruzzi's F-E-R-U-Z-I and anyorganizations that like
supporting causes for ethnicwomen in need, especially women
or family of those with specialneeds.
I would love to do acollaboration or create a book
or artistic project with them,and I have some links and my
(20:18):
website here I can text or emailto you.
My main website now is onGumroad.
It's siennavferuzzigumroadcom.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Awesome.
Sienna.
Thank you for joining today.
I appreciate it.
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Thank you.
Do you want my complimentarycoaching?
Call link.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, absolutely, and we'll put all these in the show
notes, but go ahead and give it.
What is your con you know?
So this is.
This is another one.
So how should people get a holdof you and who you know?
Where do they do that?
What's what's yourcomplimentary offer for them to
do?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
$13 to $28 on up for more time on the call.
This is on the Gumroad website.
It's cnavferuzzigumroadcom.
(21:13):
Slash L slash E-R-G-X-C-H forthe complimentary call.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Awesome.
Thank you for coming on today.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
You're welcome.
Everybody listening.
Listen, get out there, go cut atie to something, hold new back
.
You know.
Take a moment to follow thepodcast on Apple Spotify and if
you do this YouTube thing, hitthe subscribe.
Get out there, go unleash yourentrepreneur.
Become the best version ofyourself.
Listening to the Cut the Tiepodcast.
Welcome to Cut the Tie podcast.
I'm your host, thomas Helfrich.
I'm on a mission to help youcut the tie to whatever it is
holding you back, so you canbecome the best version of
yourself and maybe just becomethe best entrepreneur you can
become.
And our mission here is foundthrough listening to guests on
their missions, of what they'vedone and how they've gotten
through it.
And today I'm joined by SiennaAvery-Ferruzzi.
(00:21):
You're the longest, coolestname I think we've ever had in
the show, sienna.
Thank you so much for joining.
Why don't you take a momentintroduce yourself and tell us
what you do and a little bitabout who you are?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Okay, it's good to be here.
I'm a Christian, publishedwomanist, author, coach, creator
and educator, and I likestanding up for ethnic women and
children with special needsrights.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Well, and tell me a little bit more, like, get into
that a bit.
How did you develop the passionfor that, Like you know?
How did you become the personyou are from that journey?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
I help teach special ed right now.
I'm the oldest of four and allof us are neurodivergent and my
brother has Down syndrome, oneof my sisters has autism and we
all have a different perspectiveon things.
My sister and I have ADHD and Iwent to Spelman College.
(01:20):
It's kind of a family schoolfor us.
It's in Atlanta, georgia, andit's a women's HBCU, so it's a
historically Black college.
It's the top HBCU in thecountry and, after going to a
mostly white high school andbeing around a lot of
Eurocentric ideas, it was veryeye-opening and very supportive
(01:45):
going to Spelman because therewas a lot of Black beauty and
Black pride campaigning andeducation going around.
So it helped me like have abetter understanding of how
diverse and talented and amazingBlack people and Black women
are.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Yeah, and at least in the U S right, for for many,
many, many, many years no oneknew that.
And right, and and his in therecency of history it's only
still pretty recent, so by youknow, it's a great school it's I
mean, I'm in Atlanta here.
It's a fantastic place to giveopportunity, potentially where
it wouldn't have been otherwise.
I'd say it that way way becauseit's it's has a focus for who
(02:24):
it's promoting and who should beparticipating, and I think
that's I love that stuff whereyou see opportunity actually
create itself and and peoplehave created this or any other
opportunity.
So in your world, like you said, you teach special needs.
You have a book.
Tell me why people maybe workwith you, or, and do you work
with people privately?
Or tell me kind of how your,maybe your side, hustle your
(02:45):
business or just what you doevery day works okay.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So every day I'm a full-time teacher's assistant,
um, and when I'm at home I writeand learn a lot more about
business and I'm improving mypretty new website and I've
started teaching someindividuals more about writing
and how it can help them impacttheir resume or brand and
(03:12):
overall brand and identity.
And I've worked a lot withdifferent nonprofits growing up
and I want to apply that here.
I want to start working soonwith different companies and
nonprofits, especially ifthey're involved in helping
women, especially women who havespecial needs, family or kids.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Who are you going to be five years from now?
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Five years from now.
Five years from now.
Five years from now.
I want to be a much morewell-known author and coach and
I want to have a lot more timefreedom and be able to work more
with different organizationsand have commemorated several
(04:01):
different organizations withmagazines or books each year,
several different organizationswith magazines or books each
year.
And I want to have more poetrybooks and my first novel or
novella out, because I'm workingon a novel that's going to be
sci-fi and related to likealiens and a novel that's going
to be about Black people in thenear future getting reparations
(04:25):
and like the drama between themand their families and different
white people and their familiesand communities you know I love
is the wizard of oz and themetaphors of color and being
different in the show it would.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
they made it so well done in such a poor way.
I really did, I knew I just wecan go down that path if you
like, but in a 15 minute podcast.
I want to come back tosomething first.
We'll do that one offline andpeople have to pay extra to hear
that.
But I have a question for you.
In your journey through school,what was, or just today?
And I always ask this questionlike this where go back to any
(05:03):
time in your journey here.
What tie did you have to cut?
What was the one you identifiedthat I've got to start doing
this or stop doing that?
Oh, okay.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That's what I wrote down.
So I've learned I need to cutties with the idea that I have
to have different accolades oryears and years and ages of
research to be qualified enough.
I've already done plenty ofresearch over time and I need to
just step out on faith.
It's still a work in progress,though.
(05:37):
Step out on faith.
It's still a work in progress,though.
That's why almost every morningnow I'm doing more affirmations
related to my health and likemoney manifestation and
abundance, and I'm listeningmore to different coaches on
YouTube and Spotify anddifferent websites related to
that, because I know like sinceearly childhood, I've had like
(06:02):
negative, automatic thoughtsthat can still, like affect the
way I look at money or businessand things today.
So that's why now I'm creatingthe series the Bag Lady
Financial Wellness ebook seriesand starting to do the coaching
and helping raise awareness ondifferent issues, and I recently
(06:26):
joined Amoya Shante's affiliateprogram as well, since she's a
money manifestation coach I'vebeen following for several years
for several years and you cangain access to her three
different new academy programsthrough my link, which I can
send to you.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Nora, I like affiliate marketing.
You got to make money.
I like it, you got to do it.
I mean, listen, one thing youtalked about in the future is
what you want to become.
What was missing from that isyou want to be financially free.
You want to be able to havework option as you see it, not
as someone tells you.
You have to report up, and Ithink that was like an
underlying vision was you wantto be successful enough on your
(07:05):
own to have the freedom tocreate what you want to Free.
That's a big piece.
You got to make enough money toget there.
So it sounds like today you'realready doing that.
You're like thinking okay, Ineed to get some abundance
mindset.
I need to change my thinking.
I need to surround myself withindividuals who know how to
think like this and be like this.
Uh, even you just come into thepodcast.
(07:26):
So you got.
I want to start promotingmyself and getting comfortable
talking about what I want to be,and that manifests once you
talk about it.
So I love, I love, I like whatyou're doing a lot and I love
the fact that you've taken theinitial steps.
A lot of people miss.
They focus on the altruisticand forget you do make money
along the way.
What was your moment?
I always ask the question likewhat's the aha moment?
(07:47):
When you're like, yeah, I don'twant to be working as a
teacher's assistant five yearsfrom now.
I want to.
I want to get in and be me andbe known as an author, a
successful author that makesmoney, want to get in and be me
and be known as an author, asuccessful author that makes
money.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
I think it's just been a progression.
I mean, I grew up already beingvery inspired by different
authors like Octavia E Butlerand Maya Angelou, but the last
few years I've been listeningmore to different podcasts and
successful creators and they'realways saying it's okay to start
kind of in a mess and startwithout having a dozen different
qualifications, as long as youstart putting yourself out there
(08:29):
and have a team or mentors toguide you.
You can figure out along theway, which has helped me because
I'm still trying to get rid oflike the perfectionism and
realizing like it's okay to nothave it all perfect and together
when I'm starting out.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
There was.
I'll give you a moment ofperfectionism, and perfectionism
is a form of procrastinationwhich is tied to these fear
excuse cycles of life where youmake a fear.
You're like, oh, it's gotta beperfect for I will.
But there really is.
You're afraid of something.
There's someone judging you.
You're afraid of whatever it is.
There's math that's funny andancillary to this that exists.
The math is the Schwartz childratio and if you look it up, it
(09:11):
is the math that determines theevent horizon of a black hole.
It says, hey, now you're in theblack hole and the closer you
get to that is analogous to thecloser you are to being a
perfectionist.
And the problem is, once youenter the black hole, no one can
save you.
It slows down and it's endlesstime.
You'll never get out.
So avoid going inside the blackhole and avoid it at all costs,
(09:32):
because there's no coming back,no one coming back, no one can
save you.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
I didn't know.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
Okay, it's Neil Degrassi Tyson.
I think was the, was the leadnerd in charge of getting me to
think through that one a littlebit.
But you should look him up.
He's amazing and he's coming toAtlanta to speak on science.
He's one of the best speakersin the world.
He's going to be the Fox heater.
I recommend it.
I don't an affiliate link, butI should because he's awesome.
All right, um, he's a scienceguy, he's a nerd.
(09:57):
Um, yes, hope you know him.
I mean he's pretty cool.
Hey, so what's been the impact?
Since you kind of realize inyour moment you see the tie you
needed to cut, the perfectionism, you know other things that the
path you wanted to go, what'sbeen the impact in your life,
your business, your family, yourrelationships?
Describe it.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
I think it's allowed me to do more networking and
outreach and I think that'shelped set an example for my
siblings and cousins, becausethey're doing more outreach over
time and I'm trying to justgrow my website and podcast of
each out here that's the impact.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Like is the impact?
Then let me ask you differentlyand then re-answer places, the
impact being more like I've hadmore clarity, more purpose, um,
less stress, like you know,you've like, I want to so think
about someone listening to this,who's like, who's like you.
You're trying to help tell themwhat it did for you, what it
freed for them, for you fortaking the steps you've.
I want to so think aboutsomeone listening to this, who's
like who's like you.
You're trying to help Tell themwhat it did for you, what it
(11:03):
freed for them, for you fortaking the steps you've taken to
improve who you are and whereyou're going.
So let me I'll ask the questionagain what's the impact been
since identifying, you know, thetie and having that moment?
What's been the impact of thework you've done to improve
yourself?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
to improve yourself.
Oh, I think it's definitelybeen.
I've become wiser and moreconfident in what I have to
offer and who I am, how Iidentify as an artist and a
leader.
So it's given me the chance totake on more leadership and to
(11:36):
network better.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Yeah, you're finding success.
It sounds like you're takingthe first steps of finding
success.
The success doesn't happen.
You got to build it through anetwork.
You got to build it throughknowledge and people and
execution, and I won't call themfailures, but learnings.
You know, that's how you do it.
Okay, let's do some rapid firequestions, but first I want you
(11:59):
to give advice to someone who'slike you in as many ways as
possible.
You'd like it to be, butsomeone listening to this, who's
five years ago.
They're basically you.
They are where you are now.
What advice would you give?
Speaker 2 (12:13):
them.
Don't be afraid to ask alltypes of questions, like there's
no dumb question, and try totalk one-on-one with different
influencers as much as you can,whether it's in the chats or
with Zoom.
If you can get a Zoom or phonecall a couple times at least
with the main influencers youlook up to, that can give you a
(12:35):
lot more guidance and clarity onsome things that's really good,
I just timely yeah, just pretty, pretty consistently, and
things will come around.
Some things take longer thanyou'd expect, but they will come
around you can't lose sight ofit can't be aimless rapid fire.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Are you ready?
Speaker 2 (12:55):
okay, yes, all right who gives you inspiration oh
gosh, oh, so many people, um, Iwould say, the main ones right
now are amoya shantae ashley,shepherd with shut publishing,
and portia mystique steel, whoalso is um a writer and speaker
(13:21):
and creator.
You strive to be like them yes,they're very wise, but still
like down to earth about theirbusiness savvy and their
creativity, and they've had alot of outreach on youtube,
facebook and different platforms.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
So, yes, I'm trying to get to be more like them just
be like them, because, remember, they're already taken, so you
only can be yourself.
Yeah, definitely.
What's the best advice you'veever received?
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Okay, I would say the best advice I've gotten in a
while has been to start big withwho and what you reach out to
for funding.
But start small with your nichebefore you start to um spread
out and grow it.
You want to get pretty definedwith your niche I agree with
(14:13):
that.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Definitely, definitely.
Don't own a space so you canprove a model.
That's, that's, very goodadvice.
Who gave that to you, by theway?
Oh, thank you who gave you thatadvice?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
oh, um, it's been multiple influencers, I think,
um, it's been l.
It's been a couple of mymentors yeah, I'll have to give
that to you, but it's beenmultiple podcasters and creators
(14:50):
that have been in this live andonline.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Good, you bind to the influencer.
I like that.
You listen, you read, youconsume a lot of information, so
which book do you think is amust read for an entrepreneur?
Speaker 2 (15:06):
10X is easier than 2X by Dr Benjamin Hardy.
I'm finishing reading it rightnow and it's really good.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
What's the, what's the main thing you got from from
that book?
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Oh, I mean, he just says it again and again, he just
rephrases it that 10x is goingto get you to where you want to
be quicker and more efficientlythan trying to hustle and work
your butt off, like doing itonly at like one and a half or
two times the size or speed.
If you find different tools andleaders who are able to get you
(15:47):
to 10x or 100x it, you're goingto reach your goals a lot more
quickly and easily.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
I haven't read that one.
I will put that on my list ofpeople to listen to.
Do you have technology rightnow?
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Do I have technology I rely on?
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Or your favorite one.
What is your favoritetechnology?
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Honestly, I just I use my phone.
I use a combination of Google,youtube, what Zoom, spotify and
Cloud.
My AI has been Claude lately.
I'll go there to answer alltypes of questions about
(16:31):
relationships and differentadvertising or business steps I
need to take.
That's good.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
I like that.
If you had to start over today,any time period, you pick the
time period what would you dodifferently?
Speaker 2 (16:47):
If I started over, I would learn how to reach out to
people more in my own uniqueways and how to better heal from
and manage that ADHD and talkone-on-one more often early with
influencers and mentors insteadof being shy and waiting in the
(17:10):
shadows, and I would look intomore investors and funding
opportunities earlier on.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
If there was one question I should have asked you
today, but I didn't.
What would that question havebeen and how would you answer it
?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Why do I want to do coaching along with the writing?
I guess?
Speaker 1 (17:35):
That's a good one.
Why would you want to do?
Speaker 2 (17:36):
both I enjoy also encouraging people and helping
them grow, and I want to improvemy networking and time
one-on-one and with groups ofpeople.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
I have a follow-up question.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Why aliens?
Why not?
Oh, I haven't really donesci-fi before, but I I like
watching some sci-fi movies andreading some of the books.
Um, yeah, I love octavia ebutler and I was like, okay, I
want to do something like her,but not not exactly the same
(18:21):
yeah, you can't because she'staken.
Yeah, she's taken and from whatI've seen, she writes more so
from a historic and slaveryperspective, and I don't want to
focus necessarily on the dayswhen we were enslaved.
I want to talk about today andthe future more often.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Yeah Well, tying a historical piece to a fictional
novel helps make it seem realright and it helps ground it's.
You know, it helps create agrounding of it.
My final question, maybe beforewe do a shameless plug for you,
is do you think we came frommars?
Speaker 2 (18:59):
oh no, you never know we could have come from mars as
bacteria oh no, no we came fromhere.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
You never know, we could have come from Mars as
bacteria.
Like you know, mars had waterblowing, probably, and then I'm
a fear.
Maybe we're like oh, we got toget off this Plants dying and
they said we'll just shoot thebacteria and see what happens.
Shot it over Landed here, takeout those dinosaurs later.
It's probably not not gonnamake the final cut.
Just be fair, all right,shameless plug for you how, who
(19:27):
should get a hold of you and howshould they do that?
Speaker 2 (19:31):
okay, um, I would say um, young ethnic women who
enjoy learning from differentperspectives and reading poetry
should check out my website orreach out to me.
My email is siennavferuzzi atGmail, sienna with two N's and
(19:54):
Feruzzi's F-E-R-U-Z-I and anyorganizations that like
supporting causes for ethnicwomen in need, especially women
or family of those with specialneeds.
I would love to do acollaboration or create a book
or artistic project with them,and I have some links and my
(20:18):
website here I can text or emailto you.
My main website now is onGumroad.
It's siennavferuzzigumroadcom.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Awesome.
Sienna.
Thank you for joining today.
I appreciate it.
I loved it.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Thank you.
Do you want my complimentarycoaching?
Call link.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, absolutely, and we'll put all these in the show
notes, but go ahead and give it.
What is your con you know?
So this is.
This is another one.
So how should people get a holdof you and who you know?
Where do they do that?
What's what's yourcomplimentary offer for them to
do?
Speaker 2 (20:51):
$13 to $28 on up for more time on the call.
This is on the Gumroad website.
It's cnavferuzzigumroadcom.
(21:13):
Slash L slash E-R-G-X-C-H forthe complimentary call.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Awesome.
Thank you for coming on today.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
You're welcome.
Everybody listening.
Listen, get out there, go cut atie to something, hold new back
.
You know.
Take a moment to follow thepodcast on Apple Spotify and if
you do this YouTube thing, hitthe subscribe.
Get out there, go unleash yourentrepreneur.
Become the best version ofyourself.
Listening to the Cut the Tiepodcast.
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