On most days, I have a to-do list that includes researching for videos, recording, editing, adding subtitles, analysing the channel analytics, responding to emails and comments, and spending time on my personal growth too. It may look like a lot of things but once you start doing them over and over again, they take lesser and lesser time.
1. Give us a brief introduction about yourself and your
background.
My name is Shweta Arora, I’m 25, a
content creator on YouTube & Instagram, my content is mostly around MBA
preparation and self-improvement. I hail from Jalandhar, Punjab, have done my
graduation in B Com (H) from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University, and my MBA
from IIM Ahmedabad. I’ve worked in the sales and marketing domain for 1.5 years
at Mondelez (Cadbury) before choosing to create content full-time.
2. Since you are an alumni of IIM Ahmedabad, so how did you
prepare for your CAT exam, what difficulties did you face during the
preparation phase and how did you manage your prep studies, college, and
internships simultaneously?
Though you can find it in detail on my YT channel, I’d just say that I kept my priorities very clear from the beginning. When I entered UG, I knew I had to take the CAT exam in the final year, so accordingly, I focused more on academics & profile-building in the first 2 years and solely on CAT preparation in the final year.
The biggest
challenge for me was a lack of guidance, so I had to experiment my way around
the resources, attempt strategies, and also had to keep myself motivated. Nowadays,
you have the right guidance from several sources, so spend some time before you
begin learning about this exam and the journey, it prepares you for it.
3. When did you first decide that you wanted to go for an MBA
and land into that corporate world?
This may sound funny, it was
actually when I used to help my maternal uncle as a kid (around 11-12 years
old). I used to give him ideas to grow his business but he often brushed them
away (and rightly so). At that time, I got really fascinated by businesses
around and wanted to do something of my own, the thrill of growing a business
really excited me. I didn’t know which career path would lead to fulfilling
this dream, but that’s where this dream of learning about businesses and
marketing, in particular, was born.
4. When and how did you think of content creation? Where do you
find inspiration to churn out content?
I was the first MBA in my family, so I had to work my way around finding the right information. Having no one to reach out to for guidance can be truly discouraging, but since things worked out for me, I thought of giving back to the community by answering questions on Quora.
Then, I started my own blog and YouTube Channel upon the recommendation
of the readers. It all happened as a result of listening to what the students
wanted. And that’s where the inspiration to churn out content also comes from.
Just listen to the students and their needs.
5. Is vlogging and YouTube content creation a financially
sustainable career?
It’s been 6 months for me creating
content full-time. Like any other business, there are ups and downs in the
content creation space too. But, if you’ve been true to the viewers, the brands,
and yourself, you can surely earn enough from content creation. It mostly
becomes possible because of brand collaborations - it’s rare to see a creator
relying only on ad revenue in India.
6. What does your typical day look like?
On most days, I have a to-do list
that includes researching for videos, recording, editing, adding subtitles,
analysing the channel analytics, responding to emails and comments, and
spending time on my personal growth too. It may look like a lot of things but
once you start doing them over and over again, they take lesser and lesser
time.
7. What piece of advice would you like to give to students who
are preparing for CAT 22 and other MBA exams and have started their preparation
recently?
As I had shared before, there’s enough information and resources out there for you. But, at the same time, there are lots of distractions too - there are random conversations in Telegram groups, lots of repeated videos on YT, validation in the form of whether you can crack CAT in 3-4 months, and what not, please stay away from them.
If you
wish to do an MBA this year, devote the next few months to 1. Finishing the
basics 2. Strengthening your weaker areas 3. Taking ample mocks to experiment
with the attempt strategies. Set a deadline for each of these tasks and make a
weekly schedule for yourself. Stay disciplined and believe in your own
abilities rather than seeking validation externally.
8. How can people practice mindfullness and peace while and
after preparing for crucial competitions or even while working for long hours?
You rightly said that mindfulness is a practice, you need to practice it every day whenever possible, for however much time possible. The process is pretty simple actually - you just focus on your breathing, what makes it harder is our inability to be with ourselves for even a minute.
Just keep at it and you’ll come around. I also used to imagine
the attempt strategy of each section before taking a mock. Visualising the
attempt strategy while deep breathing helps prepare yourself for what’s gonna
happen when the exam begins. It calms your nerves because you become more
certain of your actions.
9. Which is your favourite TED talk or motivation speech ever and
how did it change your life?
Recently I’ve been watching videos
of Thich Nhat Hanh (was a Vietnamese monk). Before going to bed, I watch one
video of his and remind myself to be peaceful and mindful in my daily life.
This was the first video I saw of him - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMoRtJhVoxc After watching the video, my
first thought was - I want to smile this gracefully in life :)
Another video that has truly inspired me is by Radhi Devlukia (interviewed on Women of Impact) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlJhHpyE-tE This video felt like I’m home. It was very relatable and gave the courage to fight my inner battles when I was going through a tough time.
10. What are the best public speaking tips that have worked for
you?
I’m still trying to get better at facing the camera, I’ve been camera conscious for many years now. I think what helped me the most was accepting myself and remaining true to the audience. When I look into the camera while recording, I just imagine some students sitting right in front of me and that helps me be my natural self in front of the camera.
Story-telling is an art and I read books to get better at it. But,
at the end of the day, it isn’t the story that matters, it’s the people. So, if
you’re not you in the story, it’s not as effective as it could have been. You
could also try practicing in front of the mirror, that helps as a beginner.
11. Which are your favorite books in the genre - academics,
self-help, and fiction respectively, and why?
Academics (marketing) - Purple Cow
by Seth Godin, Pandeymonimum by Piyush Pandey, Contagious by Jonah Berger
Self-help - Think Like a Monk by
Jay Shetty, The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, The Miracle of
Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
Non-fiction (I don’t read a lot of
fiction) - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Atomic Habits by James Clear
12. What are the 3 life lessons you would like to give our young
audience?
● There might come a time in your life when you don’t know how to
help yourself. The feeling can be described as being trapped, lost, helpless -
as if it’s the end of the world. At the exact moment when you feel like there’s
no way out, remember that there always is. Seek out help from a professional if
needed, not all battles need to be fought alone. It’s okay if you’re not being
understood, as long as you understand yourself, as long as you’re there for
yourself, you’ll heal and bounce back better than ever.
● Kindness and compassion are two beautiful words that you can
practice on a daily basis. Not only with others, first, be kind towards
yourself. This is coming from a person who often pushed her limits to achieve a
goal in the past. Just be mindful that while being passionate and ambitious,
you’re also kind and compassionate towards yourself. At the end of the day,
you’re doing whatever you’re doing for yourself, right? Make sure not to lose
yourself on the way.
●
Just because it hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean it’s the
wrong thing to do. I’ve made some unconventional choices in life. Before every
decision, I was warned that I’d regret it. To date, I don’t regret any of them.
Listening to my heart has helped me sleep more peacefully at night and there’s
nothing I’d like to trade for it. Listen to your heart, be yourself and the
world will adjust (someone on my channel said this to me, it was so beautiful).
.jpeg)
){kind=link}
0 Comments