Ep. 123 From Addiction to Building a Café in Dubai by 28: Your Past Does not Define You

What if the only thing standing between you and your dream life isn't your past, your addiction, or how many times you've failed — but the willingness to let go, trust the process, and rebuild your identity from the ground up? In this episode, I sit down with Saifa, the founder of The Cookie Dealer Dubai (formerly The Drunken Cookie Ireland), who went from seizures in A&E, screaming in pain, and accepting she'd be dead by 30 — to building a thriving business in Dubai and opening her second location within a year. Saifa's story isn't about overnight success or lucky breaks. It's about a girl who self-harmed at 12, drank alcoholically from 15, built a business while battling addiction, and finally hit rock bottom hard enough to choose recovery. It's about going to rehab at 23, getting sober, and realizing she had no idea who she was without substances. It's about moving to a new country, starting over, and learning to be authentic in a world that demands perfection. But here's the truth most people miss: You don't need to know who you are to start. You just need to let go and trust the process. Your rock bottom can become your foundation. Too many people think they need to have it all figured out before they take the leap. They think they need to be healed, confident, and ready. But Saifa proves that's a lie. She moved to Dubai not knowing who she was outside of addiction. She opened a café while still figuring out her identity. She's building a second location while navigating sobriety, authenticity, and the fear of being too much or not enough. Here's what we dive into: How Saifa went from self-harming at 12 to drinking alcoholically at 15 — and why escapism became her only coping mechanism Why she was convinced she'd be dead by 30 — and how building The Drunken Cookie gave her a reason to live (but couldn't save her from addiction) The year of seizures in A&E — passing out after coaching classes, collapsing on the street, and the insanity of going back to the pub the same day How a neurologist asking "Have you tried stopping?" led to rehab at 23 — and why she didn't think she was "that bad" until she heard other people's stories Why getting sober was just the beginning — and how the first year out of rehab was harder than being in it The power of 12-step programs and having a sponsor — and why protecting your sobriety is non-negotiable How she's rebuilding her identity without substances — and why she's still figuring out who Saifa is outside of escapism Why moving to Dubai and starting The Cookie Dealer was easier than expanding in Ireland — and how money loves speed The difference between being kind vs being nice — and why people-pleasing is inauthentic and burns you out How she's opening location number two within a year — and why reinvesting every penny back into the business is the only way to build generational wealth Why authenticity is her unfair advantage — and how showing up raw and unfiltered in a polished Dubai market makes her stand out The mindset shift that changed everything: "Let go and hand it over" — surrendering control to breathe again This episode is for anyone who's been told they're too broken, too messy, too much. It's for the person who's struggling with addiction, mental health, or just feeling lost. It's for anyone who's ever thought they'd never make it out alive. Because here's what Saifa knows: Your past doesn't define you. Your decisions do. You don't need to know who you are to start. You just need to let go and trust the process. If Saifa can go from accepting she'd be dead by 30 to opening two cafés in Dubai by 28, what's your excuse? So ask yourself: Am I holding onto stories that no longer serve me? Am I people-pleasing or being authentic? What would happen if I just let go? Tune in, take notes, and get ready to stop waiting for permission and start rebuilding your life. P.S. Saifa is living proof that your rock bottom can become your foundation. If you're struggling, reach out. There's always a way out. . . . ⚡️ Apply for the 1% Club to access Live Calls, Mindset Mastery and Sales training and our Social Media Playbook https://www.skool.com/the-1-movement-7592/about