We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nureen Bhimani a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nureen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
The best investment i have ever made is in myself. When it comes to time, you can never get it back unlike money which comes and goes. I have realized that time put in myself and in my loved ones have left major impressions that have molded my life, my decisions, my self talk, my confidence, and my pursuit to achieve my dreams and goals. When covid hit, I was forced to confront my demons such as anxiety, denial, and self worth. I learned the hard lesson of letting go of the things that are out of my control and only focusing on what i can control. With the help of my mentors, self help books like “What to say when you talk to yourself” by Shad Helmstetter and “7 Habits of highly effective people” by Stephen Covey; I was able to learn and practice what i was most afraid of which is the breakage of bonds between loved ones. I would think of the worst case scenario in the most exaggerated way in my head when in actuality it really was not. I have learned that life is not complicated and nor are the situations we face. It is the human mind that makes it as such and I tend to fall down that rabbit hole which then hinders my progression of success in anything throughout my life. So I decided, with the help of my mentor, to take a step back, make it simple and less emotional to start the process of confronting fear and facing problems with solutions in mind. I noticed it started to lead me to less anxiety, more peace, genuine happiness, less offense and anger towards others, simply because I am choosing to accept things in its nature. This has also allowed me to be more bold and intentional in my goals to build a better life for myself and the people I care about. It has also allowed me want to connect with others on a deeper level without letting my ego get in the way. It’s still a work in progress and i welcome the process as I would with making art.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I come from a South Asian background with a Kenyan nationality and now a US citizen. I first began art by being inspired by the Disney princess books I received from a relative when i was just a little girl. I loved the dreamy, fantasy world and the beauty that was illustrated in these texts. I enjoyed the story telling process and also the creation of these characters in the “behind the scenes clips” after the movie ended on the VHS tapes. My art mostly reflects my emotions and dreams but also my desires however in a more indirect form. It was not easy to choose this path to pursue since it was considered unconventional in a household of business and healthcare individuals. Though it was a struggle, the accomplishment was worth it. I learned very early on that i had to fail multiple times in order to succeed in what I loved and cared about. Even though it was not easily accepted by people i cared about, they eventually supported me as they saw me succeed. I realized that I did not need to please others for the sake of my own happiness. I feel humbled to have gone through failures and rejections in order to get to where I am and I have still a long journey ahead since I am not yet where I want to be. What may set me apart may be my experience that i have had from childhood to now, however I think everyone being unique in their experiences is reflected in his/her/their work will set them apart from the “norm”. In fact, I intentionally use unconventional methods to create art like using a twig versus a paint brush. With a twig, I can draw and paint simultaneously to create what I want that bring action and movement to the piece. I enjoy the rawness of texture that is surfaced from the paper which allows me to appreciate it all the more. I prefer watercolor and ink mediums since it fits well with the nature of my style of art making. In the past, I have been criticized for making art that it too “dark”, “gothic”, or just unpleasant but if i cared about everyone’s opinions, then i don’t think i could make art at all. I have been down the road before so i have learned what to do and what not to do. The best advise I have given to myself is to simply be the best version of myself and everything else with fall into its rightful place. When I make art, I make it for myself and when i get commissioned, my clients know that i do not compromise with my style because that is what makes me different from others. Even though I have a specific style, I am constantly exploring different ways to make art along with different mediums.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
That’s a good question. Firstly, I want to say that I thought i would not need to read after completing school so that was a misconception. Learning is life long especially when growth needs to happen and that applies to all fields. I benefited tremendously from the 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey and another one would be the Go Giver by Bob Burg. I’d like to highlight these two books right now however i have a long list of other amazing self growth books in my library. Based on my learnings, I have found that developing good habits with a sharp focus will lead me to self discipline and self confidence. I realized that I needed growth in all areas of my life versus just in art or business. It also provided perspective on valuing time to myself, people i love, and my dreams. I may not be able to catchup to time but i can definitely accept it and do what i need to do in order to receive what i worked hard to achieve. Challenges and difficulties will always be part of life but how i choose to respond to them will determine my successes and failures. One major thing that has proven to be true has been the fact that failure is the stepping stone to success and long term happiness so it is all worth it.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Honestly, i have lost my way in stabilizing my goals and mission. I began making art for self expression and because it gave me some sort of clarity. I then knew nothing else that i wanted to do so i made it into a profession but soon realized that the goal had changed into a monetary perspective. As that influence rose, the doubts on my ability increased, thus the creation amount slowed and so did the inspiration. Now, I am focused on a mission to tell a story that can relate to everyone because we all feel the same emotions, only through difference lenses. I hope to connect with people internally, speaking to them intangibly so that they can have a space to either have some awareness or solace for what they are going through.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nureenbhimani.com/
- Instagram: nureenart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nureen-bhimani-3b413b59