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 Raksha Joshi for an exclusive interview with us. She is a Financial Mentor and Coach, Leader and Founder and CEO of Raksha Joshi Coaching & Consulting. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Raksha;
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
I have a very eclectic background. I am of Gujarati descent. I was born in Jinja Uganda (Source of the River Nile), moved to England and grew up there, later I moved to the USA.
I am based out of Miami FL. My journey has been very much like the River Nile, flowing upstream instead of downstream. I have faced many challenges and somehow always managed to land on my feet. My formal education is in early child development.
However, I ended up in the travel and hospitality industry by accident. Today I am an International Life and Business Coach and much more.
How did you discover your passion?
It has been a journey. While I am spiritual I am also very analytical. After my divorce, I had to learn on the court how to take care of everything in my life. It was also a time when I was facing major health issues. So I became a sponge and an avid student of life.
Lots of peaks, valleys and dark caves. Luckily no monsters (haha) I was too busy surviving to notice them, You know the normal story. I invested a lot in coaches, gurus and books and got certified in the process.
I used my newly gained knowledge to volunteer at an NGO in my spare time and that is where people started to approach me to work with them 1 on 1 and the rest is history as they say. I love what I do. And the best part is it allows me the freedom to contribute to communities globally.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I don’t see challenges, I threw that word along with some others out of my life. There are only opportunities, there is no room for anything that puts a limit on someone’s positive growth. I focus on educating, elevating, and empowering people through my programs.
My goal is always to meet people where they are. Our life has been shaped by our experiences and circumstances, however, they do not define who we get to be. We always have a choice.
I always strive for conscious, sustainable and organic living. It breaks my heart to see so much dysfunction in the world. My vision is a world where people build thriving communities in all realms.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
This is a no-brainer, It has to be Krishna and the Gita. When I am stuck he has always shown me the way. Next would be my parents, who always encouraged me to never give up. Followed by both my daughters, their husbands and my grandchildren.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
Ah! Where do I begin, besides my S.O.S. method of creating structures that will support me in executing any task, making sure I am organized to work at my highest level, and finally having systems in place that will automate much of my life and work.
Other things that contribute are:
> Mindset
> Innovation
> Integrity
> Courage
> Listening
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
I would start with my S.O.S. method:
– Having a plan
– Embracing failure
– Belief in yourself
– Resourcefulness
– Be curious
– Have a growth mindset
– Stay in action consistently.
– Don’t be afraid to ask for help,
– Be open to change and pivot.
What advice would you give to our readers?
Do your research, and create a plan even if it is a one-page plan. Know your numbers, life and business both are a numbers game. Take time to align your life goals with your professional goals. Educate yourself by either getting a coach or mentor, and if this is not possible read books.
Social media is a great place to learn from but protect yourself from getting sucked into the glitz and glamor, things are not always what is shown. Seek out someone who is already in the industry of your choice. I always say 1 minute of planning will save you 10 minutes in execution.
Be kind to yourself. Identify the key skills and personality traits required to succeed in a particular field and see if you have them and what it will take to acquire them. Your life goals have to match your professional goals. It makes life that much easier. Always make informed choices.
There are way too many nuggets to share and I have limited time. I work a lot with referrals but you can always reach out to me on Linkedin if you have specific questions.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
Seeing someone who has worked with me thrive and live their dream. Great testimonies, and referrals, don’t hurt either from those who have been inspired and found success through working with me in my workshops and programs.
I get energized by the work I do with NGOs in Latin America, and Africa offering Mindset, Entrepreneurship and Leadership coaching. I am always looking for opportunities to grow my reach.
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.
