Alex da Silva

Interview with Alex da Silva

How did you begin your speaking career?

I began my speaking career when I first came into recovery for addictions. I would speak at different fellowship meetings, rehabs, prisons and treatment centres. I would tell people my story, what happened to me and how my addictions nearly killed me. I would also deliver hope, by sharing how my life has changed, how I found recovery, what I did and how it is possible for anyone.

I then started working with the Amy Winehouse Foundation as a inspirational speaker at schools. I have since spoken across various different platforms, different audiences and various topics such as recruitment, life coaching, mindfulness, addictions, mental health, well-being and many others.

What are your biggest goals in your life or career currently?

My biggest life goal is to help change the world, one person at a time. That’s my personal and company motto. My career goal, is to grow my Mindfulness Coaching business globally, branch out into others business arenas and help to end world suffering. I’m currently writing a book and working on other exciting business projects, all aimed at helping people achieve healthy mind, healthy body and healthy spirit.

Who or what inspires you most?

My grandmother, she was the most beautiful and most selfless person I have ever met. She raised 14 kids (including me) in poverty and ensured we all had health, love, happiness and we were educated. She inspires me everyday to keep growing and to keep striving for more. My other inspiration is to help people live beautiful lives, to help people stop suffering and to help them live happily and free.

What types of unique experiences have you had as a result of your profession?

I have been so blessed to have met so many beautiful people on my journey so far and my work continues. I have been humbled and brought to tears by so many people who have been suffering internally from years of mental and physical abuse, addictions, suicide attempts, stress, depression, self hate, self harming, the list goes on and to have them talk to me after I have spoken and say how it has changed them, how it has given them hope and then actually seeing them months later and not ever recognise the changes.

Words can’t describe how beautiful that is, to know that I may have saved a life. I’ve had students come up to me and open up about personal issues they are having or a friend who’s really suffering and to be able to help them or get them the right help so they can change and grow up with a chance in life. Teachers, students, clients, brought to tears after a workshop, seeing them change and start living a life they thought was never possible. It’s inspiring, it’s a gift and a blessing to be able to help another person and I hope it continues and that I can share many more experiences.

What do you gain personally from being a public speaker?

I learn so much from speaking, talking to a crowd of people, engaging with them and watching them change internally is amazing. It’s inspiring, it’s fun, it’s emotional and so rewarding. I get to meet and network with incredible human beings and the experience is never the same.

What are 3 habits for success?

• Patience, this for me is huge. I didn’t have any patience in my life. I wanted everything yesterday and I wanted it my way. I learned that I can’t control people, places and things but I can control me, myself and I. So I learned to calm, patient and keep putting the action in because when the time is right everything that’s meant to happen will happen and usually it’s better than I expected.
• Continuous learning or Failing. I don’t like the word failing so I call it continuous learning. In life, in business and in everything we do, we must be willing to learn, learn and learn more. I used to think “I’ve made it”, I would reach the top, I would get complacent, get cocky and lose everything. Then, I would blame everyone else for my mistakes, for me “failing” and never once looked in the mirror to see where I was going wrong in the first place. Failing is the best thing I did in my life. Fail, fail and fail more because you are one step closer to your biggest success.
• Faith, I don’t mean this from a religious perspective but to have self-belief. You must believe in yourself because no one else will. You have to rely on yourself because no one will. You have to trust the process, trust your intuition, your gut feeling and if it feels right, have faith. Even if it doesn’t work the first time round, remember this is only a learning curve, be patient, learn and adapt and try again.