At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavor, we invited Nimish Desai for an exclusive interview with us. Nimish is a Leader, Entrepreneur, Mentor, Author and a Business Coach. Let’s learn more about his incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Nimish;
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I’m a proud Indian and a qualified Civil Engineer with over 33 years of experience in the Real Estate industry. Worked at big companies in Mumbai like Hiranandani Group, B.E. Billimaoria, K. Raheja Construction, Talati & Panthaky Associates for 16 years before going solo.
Started my own gig, a Project Management Consulting firm called Mancon (MANagement CON-sultant) and grew it into 5 Private Limited Companies involved in Real Estate Industry as a contractor to turnkey contractor. In 2018, founded another firm, Prescient Strategist, a Business Coaching & Consulting setup, with Dr. Kalyani Kamble as my co-founder. Also, proudly hold a franchise of a global mastermind community called TLC Mastermind.
Now, I’ve handed over the reins of my contracting companies to my son Vedant. These days, I’m all about Business Mentoring & TLC Masterminds.
How did you discover your passion as a ‘Coach’?
Honestly, I’ve never intentionally sought out discoveries in my life. I simply take each day as it comes, with the grace of GOD. I’ve found myself in the right place at the right time, and things just seem to fall into place. Making a positive impact in people’s lives is something I deeply enjoy—a trait I’ve inherited from my mother. Maybe that’s why I ended up becoming a coach and mentor.
The Real Estate Industry in India, especially in residential and commercial developments, is quite disorganized. I’ve always been a fan of systems and processes. My vision is to see our industry become more organized and driven by systems rather than just people.
I crossed paths with Dr. Kalyani in the BNI Pinnacle chapter. While chatting with her, she suggested I become a keynote speaker, given my wealth of experience and ability to captivate an audience. This suggestion evolved into actually mentoring young entrepreneurs in the Real Estate Industry, contributing to the shift towards a more system-driven industry.
There’s immense satisfaction in witnessing these young entrepreneurs implementing those systems and processes. It’s rewarding to see them strike a balance between their personal and professional lives, a crucial step in creating a lasting business legacy.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
Being a Scorpio, I thrive on challenges. My rule is pretty simple – “If you try something, there’s a 50-50 chance of success or failure. The swing in percentage depends on your skills and perseverance. But, if you don’t try, it’s a guaranteed 100% failure.”
I’ve crafted a keynote around this philosophy called “Jump Without Thinking.” You can catch a snippet on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NimishDesai
It’s straightforward – if you consider the task or challenge important, you’ll find a way. Otherwise, you’ll find excuses. Now, to the second part of your question, honestly, I’m not driven by anything specific. I just want to take life one day at a time.
However, I make sure that whatever I do, I give it my best shot. Why? Because only then can I enjoy a peaceful sleep. Otherwise, I might end up tossing and turning in the middle of the night, thinking about how I could have done a particular task more efficiently and executed it better.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
Three groups of people have been my constant motivation, and you’ll find them mentioned in all three of the books I’ve authored:
1. My Industry Guru – Late Mr. A.P. Remedios (Tony Remedios): I owe a huge part of my entrepreneurial journey to Tony Remedios, my Industry Guru. Over our more than 10 years of association, I learned invaluable lessons that shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today.
2. My Personal Guru – Morari Bapu: Morari Bapu holds a special place in my life, even though we’ve never met in person. Our relationship is like that of Drona and Eklavya. I’ve absorbed his teachings and strive to give back to society as much as I can.
3. My Parents: Without my parents, I wouldn’t be in this beautiful yet imperfect world. Their influence on my life and thought process is immense. My father always emphasized living with integrity and holding my head high. This principle is why money has never been the driving force for me.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
Always Ask WHY: The first and foremost principle – always ask WHY. Everything in this world has a reason, a WHY. I’ve noticed that many young people today don’t ask enough why questions, whether to themselves or others.
Have an End Result in Mind: Always have a goal in mind and be prepared for setbacks. Expect to face failures but persevere as if you’re destined to be the winner. This way, even when you fail, you won’t feel disheartened. Instead, you can candidly analyze the situation and learn from those failures.
Embrace Self-Belief: Self-belief is a quality I proudly possess. I’ve never lacked it. My default mindset is, “If someone else can do it, why can’t I?” While I do consider the required skillsets before attempting something new, I never say NO outright.
Be Happy with Who You Are: Embrace and be content with who you are and where you are. Your current position is a result of conscious or unconscious choices. If you’re not satisfied, work towards changing it, but don’t complain or harbor bitterness.
Never Compare Yourself or Your Company: Lastly, never compare yourself or your company with others. Everyone is unique and plays a crucial role in society. Each of us is an important cog in the big wheel called the world.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
I have just said in the previous question that each person is unique, motivated by different emotions and needs. As for me, here are the keys to my success:
Perseverance: The ability to persist through challenges and keep going, no matter the obstacles.
Honesty: A commitment to truthfulness and transparency in all dealings.
Integrity: Upholding strong moral principles and being consistent in actions.
Fearlessness: A lack of hesitation to explore the less-traveled path or try new things, unafraid of failure.
Authenticity: Being true to myself and working with, rather than against, my limitations.
Living One Day at a Time: Planning for the foreseeable future is important, but living in the present moment is crucial. If you live your today right, tomorrow will take care of itself. It’s not about the distant future, but about making each day count.
What advice would you give to our readers?
If you’re looking for an advice to becoming a successful entrepreneur, check out my second and third books. The first one is specifically tailored for civil engineers and those in the Real Estate Industry, while the other two are for everyone on the entrepreneurial journey.
“5 Hour Workday“: This book is packed with insights on how to be a successful entrepreneur. It breaks the myth that you have to work long hours to be successful. I personally have never worked for more than 5 hours a day for a better period of last 15 years. It talks about how to balance personal & professional life to be more effective and impactful at both the fronts.
“What Not To Do – To Be a Successful Entrepreneur, My Life’s Learning“: In this book, I delve into my own failures and the valuable lessons I’ve learned from them. It’s a guide on what pitfalls to avoid if you want to be a successful entrepreneur. Learn from my experiences to steer clear of mistakes that can hinder your success.
Why do you think a coach or a mentor is a must for everyone?
Let’s clear something up for the readers right away. When I talk about a coach or a mentor, it doesn’t necessarily mean a professional you have to pay for their services. It’s someone you can connect with, use as a sounding board, or seek advice from.
For instance, Morari Bapu is one of my gurus, and even though I’ve never met him, his teachings have profoundly impacted my life. I believe everyone should have a coach or a mentor in their life.
In both personal and professional spheres, there will be times when you need the services of a professional coach or mentor to navigate challenges or propel yourself forward.
My strong advice is to never view this as an expense; it’s an investment in yourself or your company. You won’t always find people around you willing to provide free advice or invest time in listening to your problems.
Regardless of the form it takes, make sure you have relevant coaches and mentors in your life at all times. Remember, they are an investment, not an expense in your balance sheet. Having the right guidance can make a significant difference in your journey toward personal and professional growth.
Last but not least, what about your journey that makes it satisfying/exciting?
As I mentioned before, Money has never been a driving force for me. What truly motivates me is making a positive impact in people’s lives, guiding them on a safe path in their professional journey.
I often tell my employees and anyone willing to listen that I don’t know whose blessings and good wishes fuel the flame on my kitchen stove, putting food on my table. I genuinely respect and care for everyone I meet, always seeking ways to make a positive difference in their lives.
Witnessing that positive change is the most satisfying moment for me. I see myself as akin to the character Rajesh Khanna played in the movie “Bawarchi.” If you’re interested in my latest book, scan the code. Especially for Brilliant Read readers, I’ve got a special discount as a token of gratitude for patiently going through the whole article: https://nimishdesai.in/WNTD-PO
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