CEO/Founder of YMag®, a Multi-International Award Winning Mentor, Keynote Speaker, Author, Mum and Nani.
The ‘Answers to Thriving' is an interview series that takes a look at the women who have created a life of self-success. We uncover key moments, lessons and habits that have influenced the life they lead today.
You can’t start the day without:
Reading my affirmations and intentions and revisiting why I do what I do.
A favourite quote is:
I have two. One is our hashtag, “Just do you". It’s so powerful in so many ways and it embodies everything we are at YMag®. My second is from Mark Twain: “The two most important days of your life are when you were born and when you know why".
One wellness ritual you do regularly:
I love sitting in the sun, by the water. I find it really calming. We live in such a technology-driven world so I really need to reground myself with nature.
A recommended read for personal growth:
We have a book called, “Your Life Your Purpose” and it pushes a lot of buttons, brings up a lot of home truths and it challenges a lot of people. Also, Simon Sinek’s book, “Start with Why” really was the catalyst to help me shift onto my purpose and gain more clarity around it.
How do you go about self-development personally?
We can tap into self-development at every corner, if we’re open to it. People think they need to physically go to an event or a classroom situation to do that, but I don’t believe that’s the case. We can all develop ourselves by being open and aware and in-tune with what’s going on within us.
The two most important days of your life are when you were born and when you know why - Mark Twain
Which business or person inspires you right now?
I’m inspired by a lot of businesses and a lot of people, but honestly, I’d say anyone who is out there living their 'Y' and pushing boundaries. I’m most inspired by people who have fought through their own adversity and faced really challenging situations or obstacles on their journeys, but who didn’t give up, when it would have been so easy for them to do so. The people who dug deep at times when most would have just surrendered, but didn’t because they knew their 'Y'.
Do you feel that your previous businesses all helped contribute to you finally living your 'Y'?
One hundred percent. Our 'Y' is a journey and we evolve. I had many businesses in 15 years and at each turn, I pivoted closer to my 'Y'. When life is tumultuous and things aren’t going to plan, we’re unhappy, we’re grumpy and disheartened, often it’s because we’re not actually doing what we’re born to do, we’re not living out our soul fingerprint. Whereas when we find that we’re living life in flow, opportunities and people come into our lives.
What can make people turn away from their 'Y'?
Fear of judgment. Sometimes, the people around us who love us want to protect us, keep us within our comfort zone - or often their own comfort zones. Most people don’t step up to fear and it’s not fear of failure, it’s actually fear of success and judgment – what will people think? We need to make sure we surrounding ourselves with positive people who reinforce our belief in ourselves. Find a mentor who believes in you and actually cares enough to help you find and live your 'Y'.
Who has helped you progress in your career the most and what did they do to support you?
I’ve had many mentors in my business journey, but actually you can learn from everyone. I’ve invested in mentoring programs, like Dale Beaumont, listened to people such as Ali Brown, Brené Brown, Oprah. I’ve also had mindset mentors, wellness mentors, spiritual mentors. I still have them when I need them and I think for people who want to live a bigger, bolder, thriving life, you are kidding yourself to think you can get those results without a mentor. We are so close to our own story and our own life that we can’t see what needs to happen. We all need a mentor who will push us because they will see things that we can’t. It’s absolutely key in my opinion.
What has been the most defining moment in your career to date?
In my business career, my most defining moment came as I was lying on my bathroom floor at 2 ‘o clock in the morning after the Queensland Floods, with two businesses facing bankruptcy. I’m Indian, born in Thailand and although I grew up in Victoria, I had traditions placed upon me that shouldn’t have been. I had an arranged engagement from the age of 11 and my whole childhood I was told I would never amount to anything, I could only hope to become a good housewife. I didn’t finish my education.
Laying on that floor I realised that if I didn’t get up and grow my business big enough to give a percentage of the profits to help young girls who still face that sort of adversity – those girls who get sold off into prostitution, or married off as young as six years of age – then they would continue to face these issues. I needed to be able to contribute towards educating these girls to better their lives and I realised that was my 'Y'. That was what picked me up off the floor that night and was my pivotal, defining moment. I now know it doesn’t matter what happens, what gets thrown at me, I will never go down to that place again because those girls rely on me. And that’s where your 'Y' has to be bigger than your fear.
What fear have you had to overcome to pursue your ambitions?
One of my biggest fears was instilled in me at a very young age. I was told that I wasn’t good enough, that I was “just an Indian girl”. That was the label I was given and it became the voice in my head, telling me I had nothing important to say. That was my biggest fear when I started keynote speaking. Ironically, I'm now paid to speak all over the world. I definitely struggled with imposter syndrome - what if they then found out I’m just an uneducated Indian girl who was married at 15. One day when I realised that I mattered and I was making a difference in other people’s lives, I made a conscious choice to no longer listen to that story. I did mindset and energy work to unhitch all of those beliefs within me and I started my daily affirmations and my intentions.
Life doesn’t always go to plan so you’ve got to constantly be sharpening your mindset and putting yourself back into a positive energy space. Everyone has fear and our own negative language – it’s about how we choose to control it. The pen is in your hand, you choose your story.
Everyone has fear and our own negative language – it’s about how we choose to control it.
Life/career advice you wish you’d been given in your early 20s?
I wish someone had told me, “You matter. You have a purpose in life. Your soul fingerprint needs to be stamped on everything that you do. Go out there and live your 'Y'.”
For women who want to make a positive change in their life but don’t know where to start, what advice would you give them?
Find a mentor who’s passionate and living the life you want to live, someone who resonates with you. Look at them, watch what they do and how they do it – learn from them.
What does thriving mean to you?
Thriving is like you’ve popped the cork on your own champagne bottle and every day, you’re living your life with this bubbly, enthusiastic energy and effervescence. You’re sinking your soul into your absolute purpose in life and you just can’t make a wrong turn. You attract positive people who want to be a part of your movement and contribute to the beautiful bubbly energy surround you.
Anything else you’d like to promote/share with the thrivhers community?
Just do you. Don’t worry about the opinions of others, don’t worry about what they are saying. Find your own tribe of powerful women, one that suits you. Surround yourself with the right people.
I do mentoring within my online community, so if anyone needs anything, reach out. Find me on Facebook, have a conversation with me, it could just cause a shift in you and change your life!
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