At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring to our community some of the finest stories from India and around the World. As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur – Shilpa K Bhagat for an exclusive interview with us. Shilpa is an accomplished Leader, Entrepreneur, Change Enabler, Mentor, Coach and Image Consultant. She is also the winner of Mrs. India World 2013 title. Let’s learn more about her truly inspiring journey, her background and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Shilpa:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I grew up in a very conservative loving Marwari family in Kolkata. I didn’t want to live up to the tradition of getting married at an early age and being financially dependent on my future family so I decided to break the law legally.
I studied very hard to go on to top my university, do my MBA and get a job. I found the most incredible life partner and had the privilege to mother my adorable twins.
I was on a sabbatical when my friend applied for Mrs India on my behalf and as destiny would have it, I won the crown in 2013 and represented India in Mrs World where I was in the top 10. Here I was ..literally, from a geek to a Beauty queen.
This journey of self-discovery was so incredible that I decided to pursue image consulting to help others become the best version of themselves.”
What made you passionate about ‘Coaching’?
Coaching has the magical ability to transform lives positively. It provides you tools in your life journey which simplifies the roadmap and makes it wonderful.
The satisfaction of making a positive difference in someone else’s life itself stirs the soul, so the flow of passion is automatic.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I am not sure if there was a life before or there will be a life after, I firmly believe that the life we have today is precious and limited. I want to make the most of it.
The world is enormous and the experiences waiting to be explored are infinite. This awareness of living every day in gratitude and the itch to make the most that life has to offer keeps me going.”
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
I usually like to seek inspiration from everyone around me. I believe no one is purely black or white. We are all shades of grey which is what makes each one of us so interesting and unique. So I keep looking for positivity and motivation in everyone.
Having said that, the few people who have constantly motivated me are my mom and my better half, Karan.”
They both are extremely large-hearted, non-judgemental people and they both love me unconditionally. This has given me a lot of strength and determination to go after whatever gives me happiness and a sense of identity.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
I firmly believe there are no shortcuts to success, however certain habits and attitudes can get us what we want.
My three big pillars are dedication, discipline and determination. They have got me through almost everything in life.
However, they have to be complemented with the following:
(a) Be respectful and loving to your own self.
(b) Say no to whatever drains you emotionally.
(c) Organise yourself and your day – that way you will get more done in less.
(d) Have a solution-oriented approach.
(e) Have an attitude of gratitude and a growth mindset.
(f) Don’t overthink. Treat every second of the day as a gift that you embrace with love.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
My motivation comes from my zest for life and various incredible experiences. I have been blessed with some really amazing people around me who are always there to lift me up in case I go through some low tides.
It’s very important to invest in yourself and good relationships because that anchors you.
I truly feel that we all have a purpose in life waiting to be discovered and carried out. I want to leave behind a positive legacy long after I am gone. That really drives me hard and strong!
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Success in my definition is being the best version of yourself. It’s not just material but also the balance that we have to strike amongst various roles we play i.e. mother, daughter, spouse, career, hobbies, health, social upkeep.
I try to achieve it by:
1) Positive mindset – journaling / listening to Ted talks, podcasts, not overthinking.
2) Taking complete Responsibility for my actions – no blame games ( neither on situations nor people) / putting in my best effort.
3) Laser-sharp focus on the task at hand.
4) Consistency.
5) Being Solution-oriented.
6) Accepting what is and letting go of what is not in control.
7) Prioritise.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
My key points for them would be:
~ Be open-minded.
~ Focus more on the learning curve and skill acquisition rather than monetary compensation alone.
~ Take initiative – the more responsibility you take the steeper will be your learning curve.
~ Be patient – at the start, things might start slow before they pick up momentum.
~ Think out of the box – there is always a solution / more efficient way of doing something
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.
