Brainz Magazine Exclusive Interview
Farrah Smith is a certified Life Coach, CIJ Instructor, and Director at a world-renowned charity. She is also a proud alumna of Brendon Burchard's world-renowned High-Performance Coaching Academy. Farrah regularly contributes to Entrepreneur as a member of the Entrepreneur Leadership Network, and her advice on personal and professional development has also been featured on Forbes. Farrah is a contributor to Arianna Huffington's wellness and performance platform Thrive Global and is one of her Thrive Stars, where she takes an active role in inspiring others to be their best self through healthy daily habits. She founded Farrah Smith Coaching as part of her commitment to empowering teens and young adults in leading happier, more intentional, purposeful, and productive lives. Yahoo Finance named Farrah one of the Top 10 Life Coaches Who Will Elevate Your Life in 2021 and Prime View named her one of The 10 Most Influential Leaders to Follow in 2022. Farrah is also a TEDx speaker.
You’re a Certified Life Coach for Teens, TEDx Speaker, Writer, and Activist.
But who are you behind all these titles? Who is Farrah Smith?
I am an impact-driven person who wants to help shape the younger generation, inspire people to be better stewards of the planet, and encourage as many people as possible to live their best life.
I genuinely believe that the more confident, compassionate, purpose-driven people we have in the world - the better place it will be to live in.
In what way do you help your clients, and do you have any current goals for your business?
People wonder why I post so much "self-help" content when I'm an animal rights and environmental activist. It's because I believe knowledge is a superpower, and I want to shorten other people's learning curve by sharing all the wisdom I have acquired as a lifelong student of personal and professional development.
"I want to teach people how to get better results in everything they do. My goal is to liberate people from their limiting beliefs and awaken them to their infinite potential."
Basically, my deepest desire is to inspire teens and adults to pursue their dreams and accomplish more than they ever thought possible.
This April, you are releasing a new masterclass called "Mindset Masterclass for Teens", who is this masterclass for and what topics will it cover?
It is a powerful course with essential life skills, tools, and techniques to help teens foster and develop their highest potential.
My course focuses on five key areas of personal growth and success: confidence, brain science, mindfulness, purpose and passion, and resiliency.
I help them identify their core limiting beliefs and reframe their critical thoughts so they can shift to a more empowered way of thinking. I guide them in developing a growth mindset around learning and improving talents, skills, and abilities. I teach them to recognize triggering thoughts and better manage their emotional responses. I give them tools to reduce stress and overwhelm using mindfulness and meditation techniques. I support them in identifying their core passions and purpose for more direction, motivation, and inspiration. And I encourage them to be resilient when they experience setbacks, failure, and rejection.
I provide them with what they need to live happier, more productive, successful, and purposeful lives. It is everything we find ourselves saying as adults - "if only I knew this when I was younger".
Being a teenager is not always a dance on roses, and raising one isn't easier. What's your biggest tip for all parents out there struggling to motivate their teens?
Every teenager just wants to be heard and accepted for who they are. I encourage parents to stop trying so hard to force their children to be who they want them to be and instead accept
their children for who they are and aspire to be. This will result in a much closer relationship.
Also, many parents try to appear perfect and hide mistakes from their own childhood or past. But unfortunately, they don’t realize that being relatable makes teens feel more open to sharing their struggles, which creates an environment to provide important life lessons for their growth, happiness, and success.
I am a successful mentor and coach because I am an open book, and I create a safe, judgment-free zone for teens to talk about whatever is happening in their lives.
It is clear that you have been a role model for many, but do you have any role models of your own?
I have a lot of role models, but I would say the four I rely on the most are Brendon Burchard, Arianna Huffington, John Paul DeJoria, and Brene Brown.
Brendon motivates me to be a better leader and inspires me to be my best self. Arianna is a constant reminder that I need to take care of myself and have healthy habits while striving for my goals. John Paul DeJoria is a continual reminder to be resilient in the face of failure and rejection. Finally, Brene Brown gives me the strength to ignore any naysayers trying to make me doubt my abilities while reaching for my dreams.
Mindset has meant a lot to you throughout your life. What are your tricks for developing a strong mindset?
Your mindset is the lens through which you view your worth, your ability, your relationships, and the world around you.
Like the motivational author, Denis Waitley wisely pointed out, "It's not who you are that holds you back. It's who you think you are not." I could not agree more, so I believe having the proper mindset is the foundation for all personal growth and success.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of unhappy and unfulfilled adults in the world because nobody taught them how to be more self-aware, to question their limiting beliefs, or how to shift to a more empowered way of thinking. As a result, they aren't confident because they believe they have certain innate strengths and weaknesses, and there is no room for improvement. The truth is, we can cultivate and develop almost any quality or skill we need to thrive. Therefore, the key to creating the proper mindset is believing you can learn, grow, and improve if you work hard, believe in yourself, ignore the naysayers, and never give up on your dreams.
Developing a growth mindset changed the trajectory of my life when I was younger, and I know the outlook others adopt will profoundly impact their lives. I became unstoppable once I knew my natural abilities weren't a lifelong sentence for mediocrity.
But people must remember mindset is not a destination. It is a daily practice of being mindful of your thoughts and course-correcting when you get off track.
Can you share your best tips for becoming a successful leader?
True leaders make people want to follow them not by intimidation or manipulation but by their unwavering commitment to the company's primary goal, whether that is a philanthropic cause or the mission behind a large corporation. Leaders are not driven by ego and power. Instead, they encourage and support others in rising to their highest potential. When people are inspired, they want to work hard and do an excellent job for their employer and boss. So, everyone wins - the company, the manager, and the employee.
You also devote a lot of time to charity, above all, you help to protect the ocean and save marine wildlife. How did this passion grow?
I am an animal-rights and environmental activist for several reasons. First, I love animals, and I do not want to contribute to their suffering. Second, I care about climate change, and animal agriculture is the third leading cause of climate change. Third, I care about human health, and eating animals, and animal products cause heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, among other health issues. Fourth, I care about the ocean because it provides food, oxygen, and regulates temperature - all things essential for our survival. Finally, I also care about human welfare, and many of the fishing boats engaged in illegal activity are known for their severe labor abuse. Some even use slave labor.
I have devoted the last decade of my career to the charity Sea Shepherd because I am an impact-driven person. Raising funds for this particular ocean conservation organization allows me to protect the planet, animals, and people.
