At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring to our community some of the finest stories from India and around the World. As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate author – April Strong for an exclusive interview with us. April is a Life Transformation Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Empowerment Coach, Productivity Hacker, Inner strength and Well-being Expert. Let’s learn more about her inspiring journey, background and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with April:
We are aware of your contribution to the startup ecosystem, but tell us what do you love most about your profession?
So I am an International coach and a public speaker. Love everything about it. When it comes to coaching, witnessing the transformations and the value I am able to create is addictive, to say the least.
But like any entrepreneurship what you see is just a part of the effort while a lot of effort goes behind the scenes.”
And lucky for me I love that part as well like creating a brand value, creating content, making videos.
But what sets me apart from others is unlike other coaches I do not only ask questions, I am a transformation Strategist and a productivity hacker so I strategize with them I share ideas I do research for them, with them to see what is going to work on the ground level.
I help people become more productive and lower their procrastination.
Is April Strong your real name?
It is not my legal name but for me yes, it is as real as it gets. Just when the caterpillar thought its life was over it became a butterfly.
I was the caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
I found my Inner strength in April 2020. So there you go April Strong. I guess I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me. 😊”
What made you passionate about coaching?
Passionate is an understatement. I think I am passionately obsessed with it.
When you see the magic of your words, your faith, your genuine intentions can create in someone’s life nothing’s going to stop you from creating that transformation. I went through some extremely cruel times in life not saying my pain is bigger than someone else’s.
But what, when and how it happened did make it intolerable. I suffered from major depression, anxiety with suicidal tendencies which also led to extreme procrastination and today I am the most productive person I know. But it showed me if I can do this absolutely anyone can.
What is your “why” that drives you?
I went from being a SAHM whose only identity was being a mother to one fine day being abandoned and homeless in a foreign land without a work permit, without my children and with a huge debt.”
And would not say I pushed through the tough times with strength. In fact, in that phase of life, I was scared to death, I was the weakest woman I have ever known.
But in spite of all the fear all the pain I pushed and I found my true Purpose, my “Why” and that “WHY” is to have my children turn around and say “Mommy I am proud of you” my why is to inspire people that your background, where you started, your years of experience, your past nothing matters.”
What matters is your willingness to change and make an effort. If I go from being in debt while going to major depression, anxiety disorder and suicidal tendencies to helping others create a life they want in such a short time then anyone with a normal life can very well do it!
Today you help people but was there ever a time when you needed help? If so, who were the people who helped you?
Well, we can never forget the people who decided to stand by you when everyone else was busy making excuses.
My family, my parents especially my brother Mahesh who showed me everything that I was doing right.
My cousin Ganesh Shanmugam helped me in the US while I was all alone and had nowhere to go. In Spite of all his priorities, he was there for me every single day.
My friend and Colleague Shashi Regmi and her beautiful family offered me her basement and welcomed me like family.
My cousin’s friend Chitra Dhayalan helped me in every way. She showed me how a woman can be extremely kind, helpful yet super strong. Her tough love helped me become who I am today.
My cousin’s friends TC and Bhuvana, a couple who supported me in every way they could.
My friend and neighbour who offered me food when I had nothing to eat who gave me the strength to live.
There are some other friends and family members and I will always have a lot of gratitude for everyone.
What are some of the characteristics that helped you grow in this field?
1) A genuine interest in people’s life
2) When I see pain I see potential, it is always tougher for a brilliant student to understand the below-average student. But when you were the procrastinator, the not good at anything person and you become someone people start to look up to then you become the living embodiment of the power of possibilities.
I think my adversity, my failures have helped me stay truly compassionate to people in a similar situation. It is natural.
3) My love for learning every day and my attitude towards investing in my growth, so I can give my best to the people who trust me. I think that has really helped me in every way.
4) My commitment and dedication
5) I am solution-focused and not problem-focused.
What would you say is your secret that helps you bring out the transformations and sets you apart from other coaches?
I think I have extreme compassion for people for a simple reason that in most cases I know I have been in a much worse scenario with respect to my negative mindset, my procrastination, my financial condition, my self-esteem so I already know that if I can anyone can.
So that has helped me have so much love, affection and patience for people who are just not able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And when it comes to a coach and coachee relationship nothing is more important than your connection and your rapport. And lucky for me people connect with me with a lot of ease.
What are the things that set you apart from others in your industry?
I wear every hat with a lot of dignity and I own it.
So when I am your coach listening to your past struggles I am a compassionate listener, when I am strategizing for my brand I am a true entrepreneur. When I am taking business decisions I am analytical. When I am working on my craft I am a true learner.
I believe my extreme clarity on what I want what I do not want helps me the most. For example, I don’t care about having 10k Instagram followers but I do care about real results.
When I am expecting you to become the person you truly deserve to be, I am showing you, tough love, as a mentor.
What are some of the things you do some habits that have helped you be successful?
a) Extreme clarity on what I want and what I do not want.
b) Never scared of working hard, ready to do what it takes.
c) Investing time, energy and money on my personal growth. When I am better I create better results.
d) Focusing on what is important and not on the clutter
Advise –
Take ownership, stop blaming others and work on yourself because your voice is the only one that’s going to live with you forever. If your voices are not saying the things you need to hear, help yourself by changing that voice.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
(i) Pay attention to the data you are consuming on TV, social media or any other platform. if you consume brilliance you will dwell in excellence.
(ii) Invest your time and energy into the things you want.
(iii) Shift from a problem-focused mindset to a solution-focused mindset.
(iv) Focus on being productive, not busy.
(v) Start your day with setting intentions.
(vi) Plan and strategize your steps to achieve your outcome because wars won in the general tent and not on the battlefield.
(vii) Give yourself 6 months of focused attention to your goals and life will be completely different.
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.
