Sandeep Rai - Success Is Short-Lived but the Process Is Permanent


The Journey started way back in school 2013 when I started getting into the world of niche fragrances. When brands like Creed, Tom Ford, Bond no 9, MFK were still alien names in the Indian fragrance market


Tell us about your background and journey.


I am a lawyer by profession, I am also an entrepreneur I run a marketing, branding and legal firm to help companies mostly in fashion. Other than that I am a social media content creator/Influencer.

The Journey started way back in school 2013 when I started getting into the world of niche fragrances. When brands like Creed, Tom Ford, Bond no 9, MFK were still alien names in the Indian fragrance market. 

I started doing my research and started buying samples for those from the UK got them imported to India and started writing about them on my blog since it was an expensive hobby I decided to monetise it by writing articles for various websites and magazines related to fragrances.

Slowly I discovered more about men’s fashion started getting myself educated on it. Most of my knowledge came from the internet, magazines, blogs I never had any formal training but it played a big role in shaping my personal style and personality.

I discovered Instagram very late since then India’s scene of India’s influencer was already very saturated. I was very inspired by some of the pages I saw hence I decided to formally educate myself in production trained myself in photography and editing. Even before I started posting I always knew I have something different to offer to the audience in my country. 

I saw a lot of upcoming bloggers/Influencers were following the same template as the successful ones. Copying their content or making their feed look like the successful people in the industry so I knew I had to do something different. The idea and the values are still the same to this day.


What led you to start your page on Instagram and what is it about?

It started with fascination and admiration when I saw a few pages on Instagram, I saw people do the same thing that I did behind the scenes and a make a living out of it. A tiny part of myself was hungry for popularity too as any young boy straight out of college will be but over the period of time that has subsided and I say this often– “Don’t go for instant gratification” Now I do it because it is my source of joy and a refuge from my other professional monotonous life.

I mainly create content related to lifestyle, fashion and luxury on Instagram and other platforms


Please tell us about your experience as a Lawyer.

A lawyer is a different Jungle, it is not as glamourous as it looks in the TV series such as Suits, Boston legal etc. Legal knowledge separates you from the crowd and it gives an edge in every avenue you want to pursue. 

I wanted to become an International Commercial Arbitrator and I trained for it too but life had other plans now I help the brands to get them established them with all the legal hurdles such as IPR, Branding, Contracts etc.



What is your idea of success or your mantra in life?


Success is short-lived but the process is permanent. Enjoy the process and don’t expect instant results. Take time to build things and don’t go for instant gratification.



How can someone become a successful social media influencer?


People only get influenced by a person when his narrative is authentic and he/she provides them with something of value. Add value to the life of your audience provide them with something they can part with and they will keep coming back to you and they value your input in things.

No matter how small your audience keeps the above things in mind and your numbers will grow.



Which is your favourite book and why?

I did my major in literature before law hence I read quite a lot, my favourite writer is Gabriel García Márquez but in recent years. Amish Tripathi from our own country has inspired me a lot his Shiva Trilogy still remains my favourite specially Immortals of Meluha it is an easy read but the teaching that book provides really changes you as a person, it did change me. 

Concluding with the quote from the book - “whether a man is a legend or not is decided by history, not fortune-tellers.” 


Interviewed by - Ashwarya Jha

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