Yasir Yousuf - If The Mindset And Focus Are Clear, Then Rest Everything Will Eventually Come In Place (Writer)

Keep in mind about the end goal; whether you're writing for just passion or as a career option or both. Accordingly, you have to set the right priority. Always believe in yourself, ignore the noise around you, have the courage to be disliked and constantly work towards being a better version of yourself. 

1. Tell us more about your background and journey.

I was born and brought up in Kerala. Grown in a typical middle-class Indian family, like anyone else, I also have faced many struggles especially around financial stability. There had been serious ups and downs, but at the end of the day, you need to keep moving. 

I completed my Masters in Business Administration in 2017 and since then, I've been working as a Project Manager in Bangalore.


2. When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

If I recollect correctly, I started writing when I was about fourteen or fifteen. Then I began blogging. For 7+ years, I wrote poems and short stories, not frequent though. But in between, I'd been to different streams of passion such as acting in plays, film reviews, writing lyrics, food blogging etc. 

But there had always been an underlying wish to become an Author. However, I always had an issue of not focussing on what I really wanted. Perhaps due to the same reason, even though I had the manuscript ready years ago, I didn't go ahead and publish the work. 

The biggest challenge I faced would be overcoming the differences in thought process between my younger self and the current self. I had to make sure, I didn't make significant changes to consider the thoughts of my younger self in its purest form.

It was during this lockdown when I'd been going through a tough period both physically and mentally, I had an introspection which helped me thinking about a healing process for myself. 

Then to satisfy my inner self, I made up my mind to publish the work and have at least a single copy of my book in the shelf. I did it as I wanted to boost myself up, and considered it as a self-gift for my birthday, a much-needed breakthrough. Now I feel like I am back where I belong to.


3. Is it a financially stable career?

Definitely, I feel so. After all, there are many successful authors who have shown us the path. So if you're willing to invest your time and effort with full focus, self-belief, patience, perseverance and commitment to learn, I believe you'll reap the benefit out of it. This applies to any career you choose.


4. Who is your favourite writer and why?

I love poems/stories which are thought-provoking and can stay close to the heart which can ultimately be a life-changing experience. Choosing one person as a favourite writer would always be a tough ask. 

From Poets, I love Maya Angelou's strong words, as well as William Wordsworth's, feel-good poems. From novels, I love Benyamin's (a Malayalam novelist) style of writing. His novels were translated into different languages.


5. Where does your inspiration lie?

Our life revolves around different aspects or traits. So for different traits, I would have different people as inspiration. My father has always been inspirational in the matter of commitment. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has always been an inspiration for me in terms of Humility and Humbleness. 

But above all, if I am looking for some serious inspiration, I would divert my thoughts to the experiences and struggles I'd been through and the way I've come out of it. It gives me the courage to go ahead and face more challenges.


6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring writers?

Understand the purpose of writing. 

Keep in mind about the end goal; whether you're writing for just passion or as a career option or both. Accordingly, you have to set the right priority. Always believe in yourself, ignore the noise around you, have the courage to be disliked and constantly work towards being a better version of yourself. 

Be flexible to accept the mistakes, learn, adapt and emerge. Trust your instinct. It plays a huge role. Have patience, enjoy the process, be ready to face any challenges. If the mindset and focus are clear, then rest everything will eventually come in place. 

7. Which is your favourite book and why?

It depends on the genres. From Novels, Benyamin's Goat Days (the translated version of Malayalam novel -Aadujeevitham), Man's search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl were two of my favourite books I've ever read. Those tell the stories of survival and stay close to my heart. 

In recent times, Good Vibes Good Life written by Vex King was also a good read; it's a self-help book and can change the way you perceive things. Agatha Christie's crime novels used to be my favourite picks as well. Looking forward to read as many books as possible, especially the latest trendsetters.


- Yasir Yousuf (Writer)

Born in Kerala, the southern state in India, Yasir is a passionate writer. He is the author of the book, " The Ecstasy of Life "; a collection of poems and short stories written over a span of ten years. Holding a Master's degree in Business Administration, Yasir is a Project Manager by profession. Besides from being a writer, he is a film reviewer, lyricist and a food blogger as well.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoryasir
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasir_yousuf_
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/author_yasir
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20566065.Yasir_Yousuf
Book Link: https://www.amazon.in/Yasir-Yousuf/e/B08FCRPQSB

Interviewed By Tuhina Rana