The STORY and the WORK
Stories connect, so here is my story
Born in 1980 to a Geologist and Homemaker in the city of oranges – Nagpur, India. Geography became the favorite subject unknowingly during school and eating great food a hobby. I believe the credit should be given where it is due, my parents. Just as I reached high school, I caught the drift. Studies became a chore and playing cricket, the most important thing. But as was the wish of universe, I figured losing focus on studies and not being any legendary in cricket as well, costed me dearly on both fronts.
Luckily enough had some great friends and with their support somehow managed to get through another 6 years of studies post schooling and acquired a Master’s in Computer Applications. But the journey wasn’t smooth, I had failed multiple times in different subjects before eventually getting the degree. In the meantime, I also applied for Armed Forces twice and was rejected on both occassions. All these setbacks in my forming years created set of “limiting beliefs” – I am not good enough, I cannot do this, this is too good for someone like me – which held me back even when I was doing better in my life. Even after when I joined my first MNC in 2010, after clearing all interview rounds, I still felt – am I good enough for this job.
This self-doubt, this limiting belief has a name. It is called – Imposter Syndrome. When I first met my coach about a decade ago, that’s when I came to know about it. My coach helped me see it, with clarity, that because of my past setbacks, I still doubted my competencies even though there was enough evidence to show otherwise.
Coaching, changed me. It gave me clarity on my thoughts, helped me rediscover myself, overcome my limiting beliefs and design a life that is balanced, intentional and fulfilling.
If I can, so can you!
My coach introduced me to the keyword – “YET”. He always says yet is the most powerful word. He told me, every time I find myself using any negative sentences for myself, I should end those sentences with yet. This single word changed me and my thinking patterns. Now every time I feel stuck, I close my ideas with a yet. Earlier, I would say – I can’t solve this problem, I do not know this programming language – now it changed to – I can’t solve this problem yet or I do not know the programming language yet. I realized the power of Yet.
As I worked with my coach over the years, I understood and experienced the immense benefits of coaching. For me one of the most amazing benefits was to become part of an elite group of professional trainers. This also helped me create financial independence for myself. With my own rewarding journey it was no brainer that I was inclined to become a coach myself. Having my coach in my corner, I started my rewarding journey of coach education and training. This education opened two more interesting subjects for me – Neuroscience and Neuro Lingusitic Programming (NLP). NLP provided me the language to understand and communicate coaching. One common beliefs in NLP, which also is now a cornerstone of my coaching approach is, If one person can do it, anyone can learn to do it.
This is such a profound learning for me and my coachees. If I, who was having so many of limiting beliefs ingrained in my personality, can overcome them to create a life of my own choice, then you can too.
My work now revolves around coaching exceptionally talented individuals who are quitely ambitious and willing to design a purposeful life with balance and fulfillment.
I also truly believe that any change requires a lot of courage, a lot of deliberate and intentional action. To get to that courage and intentional action you need to be vulnerable, you need to become aware that you need support. Your coach is your support system on whom you can fall back when the going gets tough. Your coach is your accountability mechanism, who would hold you true to your action plan.
I am grateful everyday that I found my coach and I remain grateful for many things that the universe provides us in abundance.
To end this part of my story I would quote Brene Brown –
Courage over Comfort
If I can so can you!
My Vision
Help people improve their thinking patterns so that they can bring a positive change in their lives.
My Values
Courage
Be Accountable for self growth and the growth of the coachee. To trust the process. To believe in outcomes and to believe in coachee, even if they don't.
Passion
Be passionate about the purposeful life that can be designed and lived.
Integrity
Be my true self. No inhibitions. Be vulnerable. Because change is hard and can be sustained only if the uncomfortable truth can be called out without hesitation.
Perseverance
Steady, intentional, small actions to create beliefs of success for self and my coachees.
Patience
To hold space for growth. To tread the path amongst challenges. To cultivate long lasting results over short term gains.
Milestones of my Learning
A Bit more about myself
You just explored one part of my story. A part that was marked with challenges, setbacks and limiting beliefs. I could overcome those challenges because of the second part of my story. The personal side, the side that gives me strength, the resilience to challenge myself and keep moving forward.
It is more private, though a quick glimpse doesn’t do any harm to me and probably might inspire you too.
When I am not enabling my coachees in their journey then my life is governed by PODS.
Poetry: I am an ardent lover of hindi and urdu poetry, and I read from Ghalib to Gulzaar and almost everyone in between. I do read poetry, stories, novels in English too, but at times it requires me to keep a dictionary handy.
Orinthology and Photography: I am not going completely scientific into birds here yet, but birdwatching and bird photography keep me grounded and connected to nature.
Drama and Daughter: Seven years ago when I started my coach journey, I also started my journey of being a father. When she is around, there is a lot of drama to expect. But this drama is one which keeps me happy and at peace even on challenging days.
Self-Work: Growth is continuous journey. There isn’t a full-stop to it. Even as a Coach I need to keep improving myself relentlessly so I can be of help to my coachees.
Let's Begin
Are you ready for your change?
Let’s hop on to a 30 minute call to discover what is possible and if we are a fit.