1. Let us start by acknowledging your vastly versatile profile. How did you identify your talents and explore career options based on them?
Curiosity.
Ever since I was a kid, in high school, I have catered to my curiosity. If at all I see something that I didn’t know about, and it was something that I wanted to know about, I would dig to the deepest levels to know more about it.
From going and searching about it on google on my mother’s Nokia 4280 (which took forever because of how slow that cellphone and the internet were back then …) to being the shameless kid who’d walk up to Photographers, Videographers, Speakers, or Musicians and ask them more about their art.
Although I was a huge introvert, big enough to do anything to escape ‘CONVERSATION’ with another Homosapien … yet, it was the curiosity for ‘Art’ that would make me step out of my comfort zone and do what I did. And that continued … to a level that it helped me nurture my interests and turn them into what you termed ‘talents’.
To date, I don’t know how it ended up giving me ways to make this my career. I just know how to cater to my interests. And it’s that curiosity that has always led me to keep climbing further steps into this ladder.
2. Who were your childhood role models and why?
I have always been fascinated by people who have MADE IT HAPPEN ALL BY THEMSELVES.
Risen from rags.
No backups, no connections, no family finances … just sheer Hard work, Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Their stories have filled me up with enough fire from within to wake up every day and chase my dreams.
Michael Jordan, Kevin Hart, John Mayer, Shah Rukh Khan, Kobe Bryant … are a few names on that list. Forever legends.
3. You are identified as an entrepreneur, a content creator, a motivational speaker, an influencer, a musician, a storyteller, and as the co-host of one of India’s highest-rated podcasts! Which one of these identities do you prefer the most?
Storyteller.
This one-term winds up almost every bit of who I am and what I do. Be it an Entrepreneur, Content Creator, Speaker, Musician, or Podcaster ... All I’ve ever wanted to do is tell stories. Those stories have helped me bridge the gap between Emotions and Visuals - which helps me stand out as a Creator.
Products and Consumers - which helps my services stand out as an Entrepreneur. Value and Entertainment - which helps me stand out as a Speaker and a Podcaster. It’s stories all the way. That’s the identity I want to be known for.
4. You were once a part of NDA and decided to quit and pursue your dream. How would you describe that phase of your life?
Quite tricky, honestly.
It was (still is …) close to impossible for people to digest whenever I told (tell …) them that I withdrew from the Armed forces to do what I am doing today. I was socially boycotted, isolated, imposed upon with a huge amount of hatred.
I was called a Coward, an Anti-Nationalist, and so much more by people who knew me and by thousands who had no idea who I was, or what I wanted to do. It was that phrase that made me realize that PEOPLE DON’T CARE. And ‘People’ include both, your knowns, and unknowns.
They don’t care and they’ll hate on you for what is WRONG according to THEM. They don’t care about you, your dreams, your vision, and your goals, for the simple and sole reason that they don’t see your dreams the way YOU DO. They don’t see the visions you have for your life, your purpose, the way YOU DO.
So, I stopped caring about a point. I knew I wanted to do service to my country but in a different way. I wanted to empower individuals and inspire them to become leaders that would shape the future of the Nation, and I am super happy to be in the process of being able to do that today.
5. What are your key takeaways from your journey so far? Which one of those do you think would have helped you when you were younger if you had known it earlier?
I’ll keep it Short and Simple … Believe in yourself, no one else will do it for you. Be Patient, everything Special is always worth the wait. Do it for the Love of the Process, not for the Destination. Don’t expect anything out of the Results, just close your eyes and keep putting in the Work.
Trust the Process. Don’t Stop, no matter how slow you get, just don’t stop. Keep taking those tiny little steps forward as it's these tiny little steps that will make all the difference in the bigger picture. I can’t really choose one and say that I wish I knew this earlier, It’s very subjective to Mood.
I could pick any one lesson right now and feel it to be more important than all the others, and it could change 15 minutes from now. That’s the pace with which our mind evolves. On the contrary, though, I don’t wish to have done anything differently I don’t wish to have learned anything differently.
The things that have happened have happened in a unique way to land me where I am today, so yes … I don’t wish to have known anything at all differently. I am glad I stepped into the fire to know that it's hot.
6. You are currently writing your first book. Would you like to spill some beans regarding that?
Yes, sure! It's more than enough to blow your minds and change your perspective about ‘Dreams’. That’s all.
7. What are your other interests and passions?
I love to sleep. I’d call it the only passion I have currently which is not churning me any money! Haha Other than that, of course, I love reading books and listening to people that help expand the horizons of my mind and perspective, Watching sunsets, The night skies, Long drives …. Gives me peace, helps me stay sane.
Paritosh Anand | Tedx Speaker | Storyteller
Interviewed By: Aparna Ponnaluri
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