Tell us a bit about yourself and your family?
I was born and brought up in Mumbai and have been enjoying my stay in Pune for the last 10 years. I am the eldest in my family and have two younger brothers. My dad was involved in business, and my mom was a homemaker.
I attended a co-ed school and pursued my college education in Arts and Economics. Later, I completed my post-graduation in Business Management. Economics was always my favorite subject, and I started studying it from class 9.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I also ventured into Computer Programming and became a Certified Web Master from WWW. I further honed my skills as a Usability Consultant from HFI. I engaged in self-learning and took part in training programs based on the requirements of the jobs I pursued.
Have you had any formal training or family business?
There is no formal training for being a solo entrepreneur; it's all about learning and gaining experience.
How did you come up with the idea for your business, and what was the process of turning that idea into a reality?
I have been working as an employee for the last 30 years. During that journey, I took a break and worked as a consultant, doing freelance work for 2 years.
When I turned 50 years old, I felt a strong desire to start something new. I had a clear vision in my mind that I would begin a new venture, which could be a company, a coffee shop, or a library.
I wanted to learn how to start a new company or enterprise. I kept visualizing how I would manage my personal and work life, knowing that I would have to devote a lot of time and energy.
In 2011, I had the opportunity to become a Co-founder, Vice President, and Director of the Company Global Operations.
I was fortunate to be involved in setting up a software development company in Pune as a Co-founder of a US subsidiary, and this marked the beginning of my journey as an entrepreneur. Each step was a great responsibility and a learning experience. I feel very fortunate to have received knowledge and support from my contacts, and this has enabled me to become a part of a vast network of entrepreneurs.
I have been involved in various aspects of the business, including Company regulations, Operations, Marketing, Finance & Legal, and HR responsibilities.
How have you grown as a leader since starting your company, and what have been some of the key lessons you've learned along the way?
There are lots of lessons I've learned, and the most important one is to be clear about what exactly I want to achieve. I break down my goals into achievable steps, especially when I find myself doing things for the first time in my life. Taking baby steps and monitoring my progress towards my destination is crucial.
I also make sure to enjoy the journey, embrace the risks, and celebrate once I achieve my goals, always staying prepared for the next challenge. Every day is a new opportunity for growth.
Instead of asking, "Why is this happening to me?" I focus on what I can do to make myself feel good. When I am in a good state of belief and faith, I can face all challenges and achieve success. I firmly believe that staying in a calm state of mind is essential to handle any situation, as it allows me to receive guidance and help when needed. I trust that the universe understands and supports me, but this only happens when my thoughts are clear about What, Why, and How.
"My life isn't perfect, but I am thankful for everything I have."
I believe in and experience this firsthand.
Can you tell us about a time when you faced a major setback or failure in your business, and how you overcame it?
During such situations, I did my best to think practically and spend more time looking at all aspects peacefully.
Simply having a conversation about it always helped, and giving myself time to go through that state without jumping to conclusions. Also, I learned not to have too many expectations from others, as that can hurt the most.
Instead, I choose to have complete belief and faith and focus on thinking of better things to happen.
How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals, especially during challenging times?
I believe in embracing good times and positive vibes. I focus on envisioning the good things that can happen rather than dwelling on negative thoughts. Moreover, I keep myself open to learning, unlearning, relearning, and co-learning in every task I undertake.
When things don't go as expected, I remind myself to be patient and persistent. I strive to understand others' perspectives and remain confident that we can overcome any obstacle.
The most impactful experience has been learning and applying Neuro-linguistic Programming to myself, which has allowed me to evolve as a human being.
My approach involves a cycle of learning, understanding, interpreting, and applying the knowledge gained. I then share my learnings and findings to help others along their journeys.
How do you balance your personal life with the demands of running a business?
I stay in touch with my family and friends, and I make sure to regularly talk to my childhood friends, as they are non-judgmental.
What are your plans for the future of your business, and how do you see yourself evolving as a founder and leader?
I will continue doing things the way I am currently doing and remain open to what the universe presents to me. As always, I strive to maintain balance amidst the ups and downs, and I consistently check my emotional state to ensure that I am not getting demotivated or feeling unwell.
I ask myself questions to understand if I am tired, hungry, or upset, and I know my motivational strategies to help me get back to a resourceful state.
If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Nothing... I am happy and deeply grateful to be in my present state now. I am always blessed by God, my teachers, and my parents!
What is the most unconventional thing you've done to grow your business, and what was the result?
I listened to my heart instead of being too practical and calculative, using my passion to drive the purpose of my business. I am very clear about my WHY - my passion is to help others find their "Purpose" in their lives.
Warren Buffet once said, "Without passion, you don't have energy. Without energy, you have nothing." This quote resonates with me, as my passion fuels my drive and determination.
For me, the most valuable treasure I possess includes my friends, family, and colleagues, with whom I have worked closely. Witnessing their happiness and success in life is my greatest achievement and brings immense joy and celebration.
I firmly believe in myself and have faith, which has led me to live a happier and healthier life in every way. This affirmation is a guiding principle in my journey.
What's the most important lesson you've learned from a failure, and how have you applied it to your business?
I keep doing my best and remain non-judgmental. This approach helps me immensely, especially when starting from a state of not knowing anything. It allows me to view situations from different aspects and remain open to inputs and suggestions from others.
Every individual in this world has a unique model of their own world - this is the first NLP presupposition.
What's the most meaningful compliment or feedback you've ever received from a customer, and why did it resonate with you?
“Your patience and understanding of our situation, as well as your willingness to work as a team, have been remarkable. Your contribution and commitment towards the tasks you take on have exceeded 120%.”
“You have always been proactive, continuously pushing forward, and providing others with opportunities to improve their prospects through what you are currently establishing. Knowing you, connecting with you, and receiving your updates and insights is a significant blessing! May your endeavors continue to prosper as you reach out to one and all.”
“Having conversations with you is incredibly encouraging and motivating. Your understanding and responses make it easy for me to comprehend and manage various situations. You have a way of making things sound so simple and achievable.”
If you had to choose one thing that makes your company truly unique and sets it apart from the competition, what would it be, and why?
I take full responsibility for first understanding my client's requirements before sharing what I can do for them. I give them time to think, and if necessary, I have more discussions with them until they are fully committed and clear about their desired outcomes.
This way, I can effectively assist them in achieving their goals.
The programs I offer are highly flexible and cater to everyone's individual requirements. I firmly believe that any engagement with a client should be mutually beneficial, creating positive outcomes for both them and myself.
Hope you enjoyed reading Gita Sethi’s story!
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