I used to love waking up at 4 a.m., having my morning coffee, and sitting in silence before the chaos of the day began. But that peace always disappeared the moment I stepped into the car.
My goal every morning? Beat the traffic. An hour-long commute to the job site wasn’t just draining — it was expensive. Some weeks, I spent nearly $300 on tolls alone, eating up almost a quarter of my paycheck just to show up to work.
I was raised by a single mum who worked double shifts to make sure my older brother and I never missed out. Her sacrifices taught me resilience. But still, I found myself stuck — grinding, not growing.
School, Study, and a Sudden Detour
In high school, I was curious. I loved subjects like law, biology, and economics. I was an introvert with a close circle of friends and a simple life in Sydney. I never imagined I’d end up in university — honestly, I thought I’d take up a trade and that would be it.
But I did get into uni, and it felt like a chance to do something big. I chose a degree in construction management because it made sense — I was already on job sites, so why not climb the ladder?
Two years in, I was sitting in a lecture hall with 300 people, completely lost. I had no idea what was going on. Right then, I walked out, straight to the admin office, and dropped out. No second thoughts.
Driving home along the M4 that day, I was 19, directionless, and stressed out.
Learning Through People
After dropping out, I landed a job at Woolies. I eventually worked my way up to being the second-in-charge of the grocery department. That job taught me about people, management, and how emotions drive a workplace.
Then I got lured back into construction — better pay, but no passion. I knew I didn’t want to grow in that field, but I kept going. The money was good, but I felt stuck.
Sometimes You Don’t Find the Job — It Finds You
While working construction, I picked up weekend security shifts to improve my people skills. As an introvert, I knew I had to push myself into uncomfortable spaces to grow.
Surprisingly, most people don’t see me as introverted. I can speak confidently, express opinions, and connect well. But I know how exhausting the wrong environment can be.
One weekend, I stayed home and started browsing careers. I was 23, and something inside me said, “It’s time to move. Or you’ll stay stuck.” The parties and distractions had lost their appeal. My happiness came from progress — from building something meaningful.
The Coffee That Changed My Life
I had always been interested in finance, economics, and property. I remember meeting with a mortgage broker, thinking I was ready to make my first investment. But my income wasn’t stable enough. Over coffee, we started talking careers.
He said: “You’ve got potential. I think you’d make a great broker yourself.”
That conversation stuck with me. He noticed something I hadn’t — I had untapped skills. Construction taught me how to build someone else’s home. I wanted to build myself.
Ironically, I turned down the job offer. I needed time to process it. (I never even thought through my degree choice — so this felt huge.)
But the idea lingered for a whole year.
One Year of Obsession
I couldn’t let it go. I began researching the mortgage industry, learning the ropes on my own. I already had an interest in finance and knew a fair bit about lending and property. I even hated debt — and often found myself warning friends about financial traps and how to structure their businesses better.
On April 11, 2022, I started a job as broker support. Within two weeks, I felt at home. Within three months, I felt reborn. Not because of the job, but because of the challenge. It forced me to build — myself, my relationships, my brand.
Building from the Ground Up
In 2023, I launched my own brand as a finance broker, Zahr Financial. Over two years in, and I’m still just getting started.
I knew the price of entry: at least five years of grinding, with no guarantee of success, in one of the toughest industries out there.
But today, as I write this, I feel peace. Because for the first time, I’m building me — not with tools, but with purpose.
In just three years, I’ve shattered limits I didn’t even know existed. I’ve developed transferable skills that are valuable in any industry. The growth I’ve experienced is worth far more than money.
I meet incredible people every day. People I never would’ve crossed paths with if I had stayed in construction or retail.
The Lesson: Chase Your Peace
This life isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your peace won’t come looking for you. You have to chase it. Hunt it down. Create it.
I’m grateful for the failures, the stress, the toll roads, the lecture halls I walked out of. Because they all led here — to a life I’m proud to be building, from the ground up.
