It is always our endeavour to share with our community some of the compelling stories on entrepreneurship. This week we invited Sanjay Kapoor for an interview with us to understand more about his journey so far and his advice for the startup community. Sanjay is a Successful Leader, Mentor and Business Consultant. Let’s read more about his inspiring journey, his background and his advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Sanjay:
Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and your story, please;
Over the past two decades of being associated with Oriflame Sweden, we’ve been asked a question “Why Oriflame, this industry and how’s the experience been like so far? I’d start by sharing the answer to the latter the former should pretty obvious to understand.
Back in 1996, we joined Oriflame at our brother-in-law’s recommendation and my wife’s sheer love for the quality products that the company had back then and the portfolio has been only improved ever since.”
What started as a self-use initiative in the family has not only turned into a full-time business for us but has transformed our lives in unimaginable ways over these years. Yes, major earnings, cash rewards and fancy cars have come our way and words won’t do justice to the amount of gratitude you feel being recognized globally, but beyond all that, one thing which pushes us to strive harder each day, month, year and motivate our leaders to do so themselves — Travel and the Global Conferences.
How did you discover your passion?
As a Brand Partner in Oriflame, We get to meet some ten to hundreds of people through the course of the day, connect to their lives and work with them towards a unanimous goal i.e. Growth for All. Earlier my work demands of me to travel frequently, meet and motivate new people which is something I love about what I do. And now new ways i.e. getting connected to more and more people through digital ways is more exciting.
Most of the time, I am accompanied by my partner in both professional as well as personal life, Suchita. We have been to some of our dream destinations like France, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Spain, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, UAE many more with Oriflame.
I am passionate about travelling and meeting new people.
With so much going on, how do you start the day to keep your passion alive?
A typical day in my life as an entrepreneur is never the same as the previous day. Every morning brings with itself a new challenge waiting for me to be grabbed as an opportunity.
Having said that, this ever-changing environment doesn’t mean I face them head-on for it takes a huge amount of planning and discipline to be able to do what you do best.”
The day for me starts at around 6 a.m. which is followed right away with a 30 minutes virtual exercise with my team and walk followed by some motivational songs/lectures that help me stay focused and determined about what I am about to do. Praise to the almighty follows the early morning proceedings before I am ready to start my day on the professional front.
A vital part of being an entrepreneur is I get to decide what time this would be which generally ranges between 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
What about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
Our passport got stamped with visits to many countries that we’ve visited through the Oriflame opportunity. As much as having been to the places such as Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, UAE, Turkey, Vatican, Japan, France, London, Nepal widened our horizons as individuals, helped us learn and grow from their best practices, the way we have been pampered with all the luxury while abroad is something.
For its one thing to visit Dubai and another to stay at The Atlantis for a week. It’s one thing to roam around Sweden trying the best coffees & pastries and another to dine in the same hall as the Nobel prize winners do. It’s one thing to book a cruise and another to have aircraft fly over it and enthral you with an air show while you enjoy a party at the deck and the Oriflame knows how to really treat its leaders the best way.
Over the past 15 years, I’ll admit we’ve been spoiled with some of the best places of stay, unfathomable gala dinners, business class travel and some of the most surreal views to enjoy like the Table Top Mountain while it rained, watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night with a glass of wine in hand and navigating our way through the Vatican Churches.
With all the materialistic and more importantly the experiential gains that we’ve had over our journey over all these years, every time someone asks me Why Oriflame? I just show them our travel pictures and videos and ask Why not?
Sanjay Kapoor with her fiancé
What are some of the strategies that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
There are a few:
1 – Change: I strongly believe to change with the changing world for the betterment.
2 – Choice: I also think to make the right choice around values and ethics.
3 – Acceptance: Accept the challenge differently and show the results
4 – Courage: To take ownership and responsibilities, courage to support others without fear.
5 – Being mindful
6 – Always being resourceful
7 – Taking extreme ownership and responsibility for my actions Courage
8 – Ability to take risks & venture into uncharted territories.
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
Today the market has totally changed. People trust people’s recommendation and we entered into a new phase that called Social Selling. So for that one should be aware of the product story.
We need to understand the need of customers and offer the best range that gives value for money as well an impact from the usage. It’s very important to highlight features of your product or services that encourage and motivate clients.
And decent follow-ups are good to build long term relationships. If one is able to build trust that may build a good relationship. I believe we must build trust, trust build relationships and relationships build revenue.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
Getting the right opportunity and performing to the best of your capability when you get that opportunity.
To get that opportunity, I present myself as a brand. I prepare myself to give in my best shot at each and every opportunity that comes my way.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
But since life isn’t a cakewalk for any of us, challenges do come our way when people start to lose faith in the business model and get impatient when they don’t see short term results coming their way. This is the time our will is put to test and we have to ensure we guide them through and mentor them the way we have been guided by our mentor.
I strongly believe that do whatever you want to do, with hard work, ethical way, stay focused and also do believe that we all work for quality food, so can not think of missing any meal at the right time.
Throughout the day, I make sure I abide by one of my favourite Napoleon Hill’s adage “Even if you don’t do great things, do small things in a great way.”
Because my work demands to motivate, encourage and keep my team positive, I try to guide how to overcome hurdles and keep going and moving with new hopes, possibilities and opportunities.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
I think success is not rocket science, all we need to do
a) Plan
b) Action
c) Passion
d) Focus
e) Consistency
f) Discipline
g) Patience
All said should be well knitted with never give up mindset. The more we practice the more we get connected to our dreams.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Having spent 25 years in Network Marketing Industry with one of the leaders in the space, while self practising and following Global top Network Marketing Leaders, I want to share my personal experiences and findings this may help someone to understand growth, potential and get non stop results in the network marketing business.
I took this industry as a full-time career option and when I am saying career, remember career take its own time to reach heights. And digital platforms helping in a better way.
Once you opt for any career, your WHY should be clear along that your purpose of doing it. With clarity, one can perform better and never try to find shortcuts.
When experience and young collaboration the results are going to be great. You focus on building health, skills, self-esteem and that build your career. Wishing you all the best for a better and progressive career.
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.
