We recently had the chance to connect with Simone Ispahani and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Simone, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been tapping back into my creative side. I grew up loving art in all of its forms so I’ve recently started painting and writing again. Just creating to create rather with a purpose or end goal in mind and that’s been rejuvenating and inspiring for me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Simone Ispahani. I’m the founder of Social Brew, an e-commerce coffee company where I sell primarily Hawaiian coffee and tropical flavored pancake mixes and donate 50% of my profits to fighting human trafficking which is a cause that’s very close to my heart.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was a dreamer, I just loved to daydream as a kid about all of the ways my life could go and what my future would look like. I had that child-like wonder so anything that helps me connect with that part of myself I find very important because I feel like it directly impacts how I navigate life today.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve gone through suffering specifically with my health both physically and mentally and it has forced me to slow down and look inward at times. I’ve realized that you have to define “success” for yourself because there is a format for what “success” might look like in the world but I’ve found it never fully satisfies. I’ve met people who’ve had it all and who’ve had nothing in the worlds eyes and you start to realize it is a personal journey you have to choose to go on. I always tell myself I don’t want to just let life happen to me but rather for me and seeing suffering as a wise teacher over anything else.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
If I’m talking about entrepreneurship at large I would say that one of the biggest lies is that you need to have it all together to start. The people that inspire me the most with what they’ve created often speak to just started where you are with what you have. Two things can be true at once: we’re all messy, imperfect human beings and your voice matters. You don’t need an MBA or a certain amount of followers on Tik Tok or Instagram to pursue your dream or in my case be in full health and self-realized to go after something bigger than you, you just have to be willing to take some big swings.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I think that our bodies and abilities are a gift. Before I got sick and started my health journey almost 10 years ago now I used to take all of it for granted. I would get up, hop out of bed, I’d eat whatever I wanted, I didn’t have to budget my energy and so on. After I started struggling with health issues the most menial things became the most important, being able to eat, breathing properly, being able to shower or walk my dog. There have been seasons where I’ve struggled physically with one or more of these things and I’ve been so grateful when I’ve been able to do them with ease. It’s helped me see what’s really important and that everything else I do flows out of that. That type of gratitude has changed my perspective on life. I’ve realized we’re not entitled to these seemingly small abilities but that they are a true gift.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://socialbrew.us/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sipsocialbrew/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-ispahani-65bb76ba/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sipsocialbrew
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheConsciousCupPodcast
Image Credits
Kelton Mattingly
Melody Minagar
Jon Blea
