At BrilliantRead Media, it is our constant endeavour to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this, we invited Jimmy Devi Thokchom for an exclusive interview with us. She is a Career Counselor, Parenting Coach, Corporate & Soft Skills Trainer, Public Speaker and Founder and Director at Your Future Star. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, background and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Jimmy:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My professional journey started in the year 2000 in New Delhi. From that period till early 2007, I considered that phase a ride on a roller coaster as it wasn’t aligned with any of my career interests or personality. It was totally on the situational demand based on a basic need which was survival.
One breakthrough happened in August 2007 when I got an opportunity with a reputed HR consultancy that works for the health and development sector. Assignments from the state government and the WHO-RNTCP project have shown me a ray of hope to grow in my career then. Being associated with the organization for almost 5 years was incredible regarding professional and personal growth.
As I started my career during my final year of graduation from Delhi University, (the then circumstance is quite evident from this statement). During my stint with the HR consultancy firm, I pursued my MBA in HR from SMU. So, my education and my profession always went parallelly.
However, I would like to include that whatever experience despite any industry I was in, it was always a learning and probably unknowingly these learnings have made me more efficient and stable today.
Currently, I am the Founder-Director of my establishment “Your Future Star” where I firmly stand to make a difference in the lives of many students and professionals by counselling, educating, and enabling them to make the right decisions at the right time for their careers.
Several opportunities and diverse experiences have groomed me well in my life and I am grateful for every such instance that has only added excellence to stand tall in this competitive world today.
How did you discover your passion?
After December 2011, due to an unexpected and sudden tragedy in my life I was totally out of the worldly material, roles, and responsibilities resulting in a long pause in my professional life. If I have to put in a record, it was a gap of 10 years. As a mother, I couldn’t even imagine coming out of that incident. But yes, time heals everything.
One fine day in 2022, I attended a webinar of an Internationally renowned personality (my mentor Mr. Ron Malhotra) where I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to ask a question directly to him. The answer was satisfactory, and that was the beginning of my introspection phase.
I forced myself to think and rethink, repeatedly questioning what am I looking for in my life. Was it to start from scratch or continue with what I had been doing for 10 years?
A remarkable paradigm shift happened while going through a self–development program for 6 months from Ron Malhotra International. The fog in my mind was getting cleared and finally, I got answers to my every question and started unfolding the chapters of my career and life.
The journey from 2012 wasn’t easy at all which in literal terms is a long sabbatical phase however I would like to thank that it all happened and happened for good. Today with all the support, learnings, and massive action taken, I have become a successful career analyst and counselor along with a certified soft-skill trainer and facilitator and a passionate parenting coach.
Despite the challenges, what keeps you going when things get tough?
The challenges only remind me that I must continue my journey with more effort, hard work and perseverance. There was a time and not once but many times I felt left out and stuck in the dark swamp and yes there was no one to hold my hand and pull me out.
Of course, moral and financial support from my husband was unconditional but other than him I couldn’t find anyone who could empathize with my situation and create a space to press the restart button.
My passion, vision, and keenness to give back to society ultimately keep me going, no matter what comes.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
1) There is no substitute for hard work, avoid shortcuts as they won’t last long.
2) Be brave enough to take responsibility and thereby accountable.
3) Don’t be a victim of circumstances, be resilient.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
To my belief and experiences gained so far undoubtedly, I strongly stand with the below-mentioned key elements which definitely establish and play a vital role as a key to unfolding many success stories in an individual’s life:
– Introspection
– Self-Belief
– Resilience
– Consistent Discipline
– Continuous Learning
– Positive Attitude
– Doer (Action taker)
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Who doesn’t want to be successful in fact everyone wants to be successful be it students, professionals, entrepreneurs, or homemakers. A Successful career means achieving what you desire. To desire is limitless hence, success is never-ending. Both act as motivators of each other in life’s journey. With time, hard work, name, and fame you long for it more and more.
Anybody who wants to be successful must be self-disciplined first. Self-discipline brings in all the elements and projections like setting up a goal, staying focus, being consistent, continuously learning, clarity of vision, and thought process.
So, work on yourself first, your habits and self-governance, and rest will fall in place simultaneously.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
From identifying to understanding my passion, having a vision, clarity of thought and purpose of my life, following it, working on it, sharing knowledge, gaining wisdom, making an impact on someone’s life, contributing towards the prosperity of an individual and thereby our country’s development.
Making my life worth living by justifying the creator’s creation or sometimes just a small note of gratitude from the people who got inspired by me, my life, my teachings or a speech, all these give me a sense of satisfaction and make it more excitement for my journey to continue every moment.
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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.
