Tushar Mehta - Planning Is My Core Competence and I Never Want to Fail at It (Orthopaedic Surgeon, Motivational Speaker from India)

I do believe in one thing: To reach a particular goal or height in life isn’t that difficult, to be hanging on the top persistently is difficult and that makes you a champion.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I come from a city in Haryana called Bhiwani. My Father is a renowned doctor over there and has been the first inspiration for me to pursue medical science post, 10th class.

Though I was academically excellent in Biology I had a keen interest in Mathematics as well which prompted me to take up IIT Entrance as well but Biology was my calling and I entered into a Medical College to unravel the facts of the Human body.

After a span of five and a half years, I realised that there is still a long way to go as Post-graduation had become a necessity by then. Thankfully, my passion for Orthopaedics drove me through those tough times and I joined DNB (Diplomate of National Board) Orthopaedics in Delhi.

During these three years of my PG in a metropolitan city, not only I came across a lot of struggle but got a lot of exposure too. The city with its cutthroat competition taught me a lot of things but also took a promise that I will never leave it and then started multitasking where I entered into the field of Medical Education teaching thousands of PG aspirants to make their dream come true while running from pillar to post as a freelancer surgeon right from Noida to Gurugram.

I was told that the curve in the graph of an orthopaedic surgeon goes up very slowly and one has to be patient and persistent in that journey. My only motto in the early part of my career was to make this curve go up swiftly in a steep manner.

2. What inspired you to become an orthopaedic surgeon?

A very early infatuation with the locomotor system that I read in Biology in 11th standard was the first stimulus. Thereafter, in my UG days, a Professor of Orthopaedics in my Medical College inspired me as well. To be honest, the machoism of the branch was palpable and I fell for it.

3. How did you develop an interest in being a motivational speaker?

I attended a seminar in 2010 where a question was asked which was ‘Is Immortality Possible? ‘to which the speaker replied ‘Yes, if you say something, do something or write something that people remember you even when you are gone will make you immortal since you must have touched those lives somewhere’

This prompted me to write and speak about the mistakes I did and How I was trying my level best to learn from them so that they can help others. Definitely, I was growing through what I was going through.

4. What challenges did you face in the initial days of your career and how did you overcome them?

I will be very honest in saying that my initial days were full of challenges but maybe I was brave enough or blessed enough that I used to smile at each and every problem that I was facing.

It's only now that I realise that being an entrepreneur with involvement in tens of things and managing them is a task. I take them as a blessing that probably I am capable of handling them and that’s why I am being given those challenges.

I do believe in one thing: To reach a particular goal or height in life isn’t that difficult, to be hanging on the top persistently is difficult and that makes you a champion.

5. How do you keep yourself inspired and motivated?

I wake up every morning thanking Almighty to give me another day to live and lead. I smile at myself while brushing my teeth thanking my stars and setting up the plan for the rest of the day. Planning is my core competence and I never want to fail at it.

6. Which is your favourite book and why?

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki is my favourite book of all times as it opened my mind towards investor mindset and entrepreneurial skills with value for work and money when put together.