As part of our ongoing quest to get you meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur and Coach – Kamini Bhasin for an exclusive interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is a Leader, Coach, Trainer, Mentor and NLP Master Practitioner. Kamini is the Founder and CEO at Kamilife. Let’s read more about her inspiring journey and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Kamini:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I come from Kashmir and after my schooling, I joined Hindu College, Delhi University for Honors degree in English literature. I finished my Post graduation in English Literature at J&K University. I topped my school and University in academics and was an all-rounder. I was active in theatre, sports and cultural activities in school and the University.
My first job was in the hospitality industry for about 3 years. During the end of that tenure, to add to my skills I took an evening Diploma course in Journalism with Bennett and Coleman. I met my husband while I was still working with The Oberoi Group and moved to Calcutta with him. I had realized during my tenure in Oberoi Hotel that I was very independent temperamentally and preferred to be Financially independent.
I loved designing clothes and had spent my college years designing outfits for myself so it was exciting when I decided to start my first venture in women’s casual and workwear, as soon as both my children started their schooling.
I planned every move instinctively in my business before I took any steps – right from market research to finding my niche and test marketing with friends and family. Three months later I held my first exhibition. My marketing strategy worked – I had sold 70% of my collection and received fresh orders as well.”
My business was on the roll! I also started getting orders for formal wear and was invited to hold an exhibition in a prestigious club in Calcutta to represent Punjabi ladies! Unfortunately, I had to put off my exhibition since we decided to shift to Bangalore.
In Bangalore, I found the climate was not conducive to block printing on Cotton fabrics – this had been my mainstay in Calcutta. Besides, the market was more conservative. I had to rethink my business idea and after settling down, I launched my 2nd Business – a kidswear label called “Cubs Wear” with a friend as a partner. Bangalore mothers loved our offering since at that time there was only one shop – Kids Kemp, that sold children’s garments in Bangalore. We had a great run. Looking back I realize now that I had found the recipe for starting and sustaining businesses.
After 3 ½ years, I sailed alone and started supplying children’s wear to the Little Kingdom, a franchisee of Mother Care, UK. My clothes were selling well in all of Calcutta, Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai. Two years later I opened my own Boutique. I had built a good clientele and reputation by now as a business owner. My reputation for quality and trust with my bank and customers helped.
After 9 years, I was planning to expand my business but my husband needed help with his business and I decided to set aside mine for a while. He had started a business of designing, manufacturing and retailing and exporting high end Bespoke wooden furniture.
He needed a trusted person to share part of his responsibilities. It took me a while to decide but finally, I joined him in business. The interior design had always been another passion of mine and I decided to introduce it as another stream of revenue to the furniture business. I also started aggressive marketing with exhibitions and other mediums. Our son joined us and the business started growing fast.
It was a challenging, yet very satisfying journey – I managed the retail customers, execution of orders and deliveries. Between the three of us, we ensured smooth working of the factory, retail outlet and exports. Our customers have been who is who of Bangalore in the corporate world.”
My learnings and experience have been huge. Creative businesses have their own challenges, which need constant attention and are best resolved by training. I am proud to say we (East Distribution, now East Lifestyles) have built a wonderful reputation in the market for Bespoke furniture but I yearned to go back to apparel – my first love.
As I planned to withdraw from the family business, I launched a label of a designer cocktail sarees brand called “Smaran” with my daughter. We retailed our saris from a boutique called Mogra at The Leela Palace, Bangalore. After a year, I took forward the sari business alone and continued for another 7 years.
I created an online Shop in Shop called SMARAN and had several exhibitions. But the retail landscape was changing with the growth of eCommerce and I found that I wasn’t equipped to manage this transition alone. I took a sabbatical for one year and turned to my new passion, Training and coaching.”
What made you passionate about ‘Coaching’?
This is my time to give back. Helping others gives me a lot of satisfaction. I find validation of what I am doing when I am able to put in my best and add value to others’ lives with my guidance. To do justice to my new passion of training I got certified in a prestigious training course.
I avail myself every opportunity to add to my repertoire of knowledge. I continue to sharpen my skills so that I can add adequate value to the lives of my clients.”
I have just finished a very enriching Master Practitioner Course in NLP. My goal is to guide my clients to live their life to the fullest potential.
‘Kamilife’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving?
Kami in Japanese means a Spirit or Guiding Force. I look at myself as a guide to aspiring Entrepreneurs in how to lay a strong foundation for a business, how to sustain it and scale-up. Kami also refers to the entrepreneurs own role in shaping his or her business
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I challenge myths. My curiosity and my passion drive me. I feel great satisfaction in helping people.
My conscious decision to get into training to help those who need continues to motivate me to keep moving despite challenges. I feel inspired when I see my clients transform.
I believe everyone is capable of change. It is important to understand people are shaped by their experiences and circumstances.
As a yoga enthusiast and a regular meditator, I get insights and guidance from connecting with my inner self.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My family. As a teenager, my parents encouraged me to make my own decisions after thinking through its pros and cons.
That made me take responsibility for all my actions. And I must admit now when I meditate my motivation gets strengthened.
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
(a) I like to understand the needs of my clients. I also like to get to know their plus and minus points.
(b) I motivate them with life and living examples.
(c) I like to remind them that each one of us has unique talents and that each one of us has the resources to become the best version of ourselves.
(d) I show them how not to take their deficiencies too seriously. By working on their minuses they can turn them into plus points.
(e) I like to bring a little humour in such situations for my clients to open up to me.
(f) I also use NLP techniques if the situation demands it.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
There are a few:
1) Being mindful and compassionate.
2) Thinking of others first.
3) Always being resourceful and solution-oriented.
4) Taking ownership and responsibility for my actions
5) Courage and fearless attitude
6) Ability to take calculated risks & venture into uncharted territories.
7) Seeing that I work through the decision I have taken after weighing all the options.
8) Reading and reflection
What about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
It is truly gratifying when people are inspired through my social media content, through my coaching sessions/programs. I want to deliver maximum value to them. Seeing shifts in them and in their journey makes it satisfying. I find it very exciting when my clients experience their breakthroughs.
As an entrepreneur when my customers placed orders for the designs I created for them, It always felt great and satisfying. It felt so good when my first two live sessions as a trainer got an excellent feedback. It also feels very gratifying to see that my digital sessions have been transforming, well received and appreciated.
When around 50 underprivileged aspiring entrepreneurs called me back for a second and third session I found it very gratifying. When I finished my training course and received a Master Practitioner Certificate in NLP, I was thankful to the universe for the opportunities. I recently attended a global NLP summit to listen to stalwarts in the field and imbibe their learnings, it was indeed a gratifying experience.
I am also very thankful for the support and love I get from my immediate and extended family and my friends.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
My motivation always comes from my work. I have been very fortunate that I thoroughly enjoyed doing all my business. I draw my energy from people. When people give me validation for all my work it propels me further to do my best.
Training is my new passion. Learning new things satisfies my curiosity. It gives me a sense of joy when I share my learnings and experiences with others. My client’s success is my own success.
Like others, I have also had challenges in my life. And I believe after every sunset there is dawn. Meditation gives me a lot of positivity and I believe we create our own Destiny depending on how we respond to each challenge in life.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
I feel the key elements for success are:
> Accept & love yourself.
> Have faith in yourself
> Respect others
> Own responsibility for your actions
> Be resourceful
> Disciplined
> Curious – open-minded
> Positive attitude
> Accept change and be solution-oriented.
> Update your skills to remain relevant
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Become aware of your own particular talents and skills. Question yourself as to why you are taking a certain step, certain profession or a career.
Each one of us has our own unique traits suitable to a particular kind of work and profession. Find out what your skills and natural proclivities are and what you can inculcate. Take help from career professionals or your mentor.
~ You must love and be passionate about whatever you do.
~ Your passion for your work is the biggest motivator for you to achieve your goals.
~ Reading is the best source of knowledge and inspiration.
~ Remember there are no failures, there are only learnings.
Think for yourself. Think on your feet. Or else someone else will take responsibility to take decisions for you and you will lose control over your life.
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.
