Conversations with Najib Zahedi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Najib Zahedi.

Hi Najib, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I recommend watching my YouTube channel and the interview I did with a nonprofit organization five years ago.

I was born in Afghanistan and grew up in Iran. Because of Iranian law at the time, I was not allowed to attend school. Instead, I had to work to help support my family and my two younger brothers.

I chose wood carving because I loved the craft and the tools were affordable. I worked long days, from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 or 9:00 p.m., developing my skills. By the age of 18, I had started my own woodworking business in Tehran despite government restrictions and strong competition from other businesses.

At the same time, I taught myself English and basic computer skills at home. Learning both took me several years, but I was determined to improve my future.

In 2001, I returned to Afghanistan. After being unemployed for a couple of years, I was hired as a translator and cultural advisor for the U.S. military, where I worked from 2009 to 2014.

Later, I immigrated to the United States through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and settled in Atlanta, Georgia. With the support of several nonprofit organizations, I started rebuilding my life. I worked for different companies while continuing to grow my woodworking skills and business. After five or six years, I became fully self-employed.

This is the short version of my journey—nearly half a century of hard work, perseverance, and determination to build a better life for myself and my family.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Here are the areas where I want to improve my business knowledge:

* Understanding U.S. business laws and regulations.
* Learning how to manage money, including budgeting for tools and equipment using income from my work.
* Marketing and promoting my business effectively.
* Learning how to grow and manage my business.
* Building relationships and networking with people and companies that may need my woodworking skills.
* Improving my English communication skills so I can better explain my services, justify my pricing, and show customers the value of ordering from me.
* Learning how to use AI and business software to improve productivity, customer service, marketing, estimating, accounting, and business management.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Ariana Wood Carving, we complete every woodworking project in one place—from design to the finished product.

Our slogan is: “You imagine it, we make it.”

Many businesses accept a job and then subcontract the work to other shops. That never happens in my business. Every project is crafted in-house, allowing us to maintain the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail from start to finish.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
For most of my challenges, I should hire professionals to help me. Their knowledge and experience can make a big difference because I don’t always have enough income or savings to pay for these services. For example, I may need professional help with advertising, SEO, or finding business opportunities through a broker

Pricing:

• Please do not compare handmade craftsmanship with industrial production and machinery. Handmade work requires skill, time, creativity, and attention to detail that cannot be measured the same way as mass-produced products.
• Please do not compare prices with overseas costs. The cost of doing business in the United States is different, including labor, materials, insurance, taxes, equipment, and operating expenses. Handmade craftsmanship in the U.S. requires time, skill, and quality that should be valued accordingly.
• Please remember that the piece you choose to have in your home is unique. It is created from your own idea, and there is no other copy of it. It is a one-of-a-kind work of art—an original piece that you love, appreciate, and can proudly own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://arianawoodcarving.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianawoodcarving?utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18pexQbWpX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@arianawoodcarving3388?si=r8tXguByM60rx89Y