As part of our quest to identify and share meaningful stories from around the entrepreneurship world, we invited Amar S for an interview. Amar is one of the popular stand-up comedians and also a prolific writer. He is the author of ‘Happiness in Your Skin’. Let’s read more about his journey so far!
Excerpts from our exclusive Interview with him:
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your journey and your book
I am a writer and stand-up comedian. I am an MBA by qualification and worked in the corporate world for about 10 years before quitting to pursue writing and comedy. I have performed stand-up comedy across the country and aspire to perform internationally.
My mission in life is to make the world a visibly inspired and happier place. This book is a part of my mission.
Why did you choose entrepreneurship/stand-up comedy as a profession over a job?
There is nothing wrong with a job as long as you like it and if it allows you the freedom of creative expression along with financial rewards. However, that is seldom the case. I am a creative guy. After MBA, I realised that none of the jobs I held till then allowed me to explore my creativity to the extent I wanted to.
At the same time, I bumped into a guy who used to be a comedian. I saw a show and never looked back.
What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation?
Like I said, I have a mission. Everything I do is connected to the larger mission of making the world a visibly inspired and happier place.
The happiness I see on people’s faces when I make them laugh in comedy shows, or when they tell me that reading my book made them happier, it kicks my spirit. You make people happy using your gifts, that’s how life ought to be lived.
What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far?
Oh, myriads of them. To be able to live life on your own terms is the most difficult thing in the world. Look at the world around. Most people look like clones of most people.
So, my family doesn’t approve of what I do. They feel, that I should have stayed in the job as most of my peers have, and live a normal life. I am questioned on an everyday basis by well-meaning people multiple times about my motivations, and how I survive considering I gave up a lot of materialistic pursuits and objects to live my life my way.
So, yeah, this is part of the journey.
Tell our audience more about your failures? How should one bounce back?
This is kind of counter-intuitive. What is the other option? You would rather stay down? That would be stupid. You live one life and you are trying to attain certain goals. You fall down, you get up, and repeat if needed, till you breathe.
If you don’t give up, you are not a failure.
Share with our audience a few tips on happiness?
You want to be happy? Read my book. That is my first tip. I guarantee that the book will make you happy.
For the purpose of this interview, you need to move from a “have to life to a want to.” Stop doing things because you have to do them. Start doing the things you want to do, starting with choosing your favourite colour, living on your schedule, doing things you like etc. When you start doing things you want to do, you will start feeling the happiness you lost somewhere.
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
Life is short. Even if you live for 100 years, there are 36500 days. It was given to us. We did not earn it. No matter what we earn/lose in life, we cannot be in the negative in the profit and loss account of our lives. Do you feel lighter?
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Believe in yourself. This is the game. Even if nobody believes in you, you must believe in what you are doing. If you can’t do this, don’t start. You are going to be challenged on your convictions every single day, by people and by circumstances. Stand tall, get hit, fall down, get up, and keep walking. One life. ONE LIFE!
Book – http://bit.ly/AmarHIYS
Youtube – https://bit.ly/2HxfXZk
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem. Stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
