As part of our relentless pursuit to identify and share with our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem, this week we invited yet another passionate women entrepreneur Karishma Chhatrapati to understand more about her inspiring journey, her vision and the way forward. Karishma is a Coach, Leader, Author, Change Enabler and Psychologist. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Subject Expert at Fitza Pvt Ltd. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey so far!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Karishma:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
My professional journey so far, spans 30 years. I began early, fresh out of the 10th Grade. My father told me that he would not be giving me pocket money, but a salary.
Every day I would not put in my required hours and efforts, my salary would be deducted. While most consider this cruel, I was motivated. I did not want to be given easy money, just because I am his daughter. I loved the thrill of working and earning.”
While in college, I gave my 100 %, as I wished to excel and make something of my life. I was nominated for inclusion in “Who Will Be Who in the 21st Century”- (International Biographical Centre Cambridge). The questionnaire made me dive deep to figure out what really I wanted from life. The reply was loud and clear – to inspire people to live their best life.
Undoubtedly, life throws many curve balls to challenge you. Well, even though at times I wanted to give up; which I almost did 3 times, something within reminded me that I am here for others and not just myself.
Through all the confusion, two things remained constant, my gift to inspire through writing, and verbal communication. After graduation, I dropped off my father’s wagon to discover what I am meant to do.”
I dabbled with the media. Worked in one of the leading publication houses, and pursued my Masters in Psychotherapy and Counselling. I thrived in the hustle. Counselling, Training, Editing, Writing, actively volunteering with the Art of Living Foundation… there never seemed to be enough for me to do.
In 2016, I got married and went on a sabbatical. It was time to hang my boots and indulge in all that I missed through my years of constant hustling. Early 2021, when the pandemic began, I felt I was needed, as here was the beginning of more than just Covid 19. It felt like the Age of Inner Transformation had begun.
I decided to return to my career, transformed, fresh from the oven, with a vision to inspire others to transform from within. So, I founded Being Spiritual with KUC, a community I envision will inspire people to dive deep within and return inspired. I am also Co-founder and Chief Subject Expert (Mindset & Wellness) with Fitza Pvt Ltd.”
I use my social media presence to inspire people to bring about an inner transformation so that they lead a life driven by purpose and passion.
What made you passionate about ‘Coaching’?
Through Coaching, I feel people are empowered to dive deep within and explore their purpose and passion. I believe we are all spiritual beings on the human journey; and not human beings seeking spiritual experiences. When people realize this they are uplifting from their negative mindset.
Purpose and passion are drivers of life thriving in wellness and wellbeing.
“When walking on the path of purpose, we realize there is more to life than our limitations. We strive to go beyond our limits and be useful to ourselves and our world.
Wars destroy the world, and only Love Heals My World. It begins with the self and extends out into the world.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
“Pain is inevitable and suffering is a choice.”
These lines remind me that being here on this human journey, there is pain, struggle, strife; however, suffering through it is a choice we make.
The suffering we go through stems from believing that our pain is the maximum. However, when we look around, our pain seems insignificant. When we choose to be useful for others, our own intensity of pain diminishes.
Why get stuck in a rut of “poor me” “why me”? Instead, we need to be productive in helping the world around us heal. We need to be the change we desire. Every person is born with the ability to be a change-maker. We simply need to lift ourselves and recognize our purpose.”
The purpose is not about size, but about influence and inspiration. Waking up in the morning and saying “Thank you for another day to live my life of purpose,” is what keeps me going. Touching lives, spreading smiles, unlocking people from their own imprisonment, being in the moment, so many things keep me going, even when I may be shrouded in darkness. For at the end of every tunnel is the light.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My purpose and passion are my biggest motivation. If I am motivated to thrive in wellness and my purpose, then only can I serve my family, near and dear ones, and my world with a smile. People’s minds change. If I have to depend on others for motivation, I am making myself a slave of others’ moods, emotional struggles.
Others can push you, however, unless and until inspiration and motivation do not come from within, you are stuck, or even if you do move ahead, you return to the same spot. You can take a horse to the river, but you cannot force it to drink water.
So, for me, motivation and inspiration are the flames within me. Turning inwards, meditating, exercising, eating food the nourishes my body, breathing into the pause, motivating me and inspiring me to keep going, and balancing my family and professional life, effectively.
Please share with us a unique challenge you faced in your early career?
The biggest challenge I face in my career was when I was working with a leading publication. I had just joined them and in 2 months my boss told me that he wanted to launch his own in-house book publishing division and wanted me to head it.
While I was excited, he told me he wanted 32 books in 8 months, printed and published, and along with that, I had to continue my responsibilities as Copy-Editor and writer for three in-house magazines.
To add to this, I was to compile a series of 8 books, as well as do a coffee table book on Sri Sri Ravishankar.
Just to let you know I have been living with Type 1 Diabetes since over 30 years. However, I never allowed it to come in the way of my purpose; my career. However, during this phase, I went into overdrive, and eventually, my health took a beating. That is amongst my regrets.
However, in spite of every challenge, along with cerebral malaria mid-way, I managed to complete 38 books, including my own contributions. It was a surprise for everyone. My boss confessed that he expected around 15 to 18 books, including those assigned to me.”
Within a few months of this achievement, my body broke down and I had to leave the job, and I shifted from then on into full-time Coaching and hobby writing and editing.
What are some of the strategies that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
There are a few:
1) Getting enough sleep. For me it is 7 to 8 hours, rising early and following a morning ritual that comprises sitting at the window, watching the sunrise and journaling, planning my day.
2) Daily morning exercise – moving the body, moves the mind too.
3) Eating foods that nourish my body, on time
4) Meditating and taking pauses through the day to reset the mind and body
5) Maintaining discipline – Work only during working hours
6) My hobbies of reading and creativity
7) Keep learning, for the more I learn there is even more to learn
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
Wake up with a smile, walk through the day inspired and sleep on a pillow of gratitude.
Let your purpose and passion drive you through each breath that flows through you, for you are a spiritual being on a human journey and not a human being seeking spiritual experiences.
Please share with us – what has worked well for you so far?
The journey of life is an integrative system of choices that you make for your mind-body-spirit.
Nurture healthy habits, and make yourself useful. Let your purpose and passion drive you, as you mindfully play through each day. Life is to live, and not to waste it in misery. Keep moving, keep walking, for success is not a destination, but the journey.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
My motivation comes from the sunrise, the exercise flow, the nourishing food, meditating, spreading smiles, bringing laughter, inspiring others. Being self-motivated to bring others to their source of inspiration and motivation – their purpose and passion.
I am primarily motivated by my purpose-driven passion to leave back a legacy of my presence.”
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Success is not a destination, but a journey, built into a system of positive habits, and a lifestyle thriving in mind-body-spirit wellness. Based on this, below are a few keys that I have on my keychain…
(a) Early to bed, early to rise
(b) Regular exercise and nourishing food
(c) Mindfulness and meditation
(d) Self Awareness
(e) Spontaneity and creativity
(f) Emotional Intelligence embedded in empathy and understanding
(g) Positive Mindset
(h) Purpose and passion are driven by vision and self-leadership
(i) The ability to pause
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Let your purpose drive you. Spend time daily practising mindfulness, journaling, pursue a hobby. Indulge in all that keeps you healthy in your mind-body-spirit. Health is your biggest wealth. Knowledge is the foundation, experience the teacher and wisdom are in the pause.
Wisdom cannot be imparted by others, but it is what you gain from the merging of knowledge and experience.
Don’t compare your life with others, and compete only with yourself. If you walk the path of comparisons, you’ll never enjoy the fruits of your labor. Be courageous, and know that you are a powerhouse within yourself. Be your own inspiration and motivation. You are born for greatness, shine your light.
There is no purpose to small, nor any too big. When you recognize your usefulness, there is no space for self-pity.
Life will throw challenges, but take each one as an opportunity to rise in your won greatness.
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.
