Success Mantra - Mr Shivaram Kumar | Entrepreneur | Motivational Speaker | Success Foundation

Anchor: It is said that success comes with destiny but believe me Success Foundation makes sure that success comes to your doors. Success Foundation is an NGO with the mission of empowering people with right kind of skill sets that would help them face the world in a more confident manner. Success Foundation believes that given the right kind of environment to grow every person has the potential to make it really really big. They believe in creating the right kind of mindset, first for carrying out the business as well at work for which they have taken initiative to change for good. Hi, this is Kanika, in conversation with a very successful entrepreneur, outstanding orator, motivational speaker and a volunteer for Success Foundation. I am talking about none other than Mr. Shivaram Kumar. My pleasure to welcome you Mr. Kumar on the show. Mr. Kumar: Thank You. Thank you very much Kanika. Anchor: So before we discuss anything which is common between both of us and that is films, let's talk about success. What does success mean to you? Mr. Kumar: Well Success is relative. Many people have different definitions, but to me - what is important? First is health. Success in health, then peace of mind, then great relationships - this is the priority in our home, then joy and laughter that's very important, I need to laugh every day and then pursuing a worthwhile dream or a goal. Because, happiness is in the process of accomplishing a goal, even more than accomplishing the goal itself. So to me this is what constitutes success. That is my definition of success. Anchor: As you said, everybody has a different definition of success, but I will take this as a piece of advice that success means good health, good relationships and your self-esteem. That is simply brilliant. But why do individuals, why do you youth fail in achieving success? Mr. Kumar: We can differentiate between youth and older people and generally it could be said that youth are reckless while making their decisions. When I was in my 20s I felt I knew everything but failure; I believe that if you ask why older people fail it's the same reason why older people fail. They don't know what they don't know. It's a blind spot. Experience is the best teacher provided it is somebody else's experience. Anchor: That means that you need a mentor. Where do you get a mentor? Mr. Kumar: I really believe that if you ask you shall receive. Most people are afraid to ask. Most successful people are approachable. Anchor: When the student is ready.... Mr. Kumar: The teacher appears. Of course it won't be handed in a platter, there will be challenges, at times you'll have to wait a few hours to get in touch with someone. But I believe that people that have achieved success are willing to give away their experience for free to others.... contd Anchor: So as you said that in your 20s you were very confident that you knew everything. How did you achieve success and how many problems did you face? Mr. Kumar: You achieve success by failure. People ask me how do you make the right decisions? Its by making a lot of wrong decisions that you figure things out. My first significant achievement was when I was applying for my scholarship in the U.S. I did something very unique. I applied to the universities and showed up on a concession airline ticket and I went from university to university in a grey hound bus and talked to the graduate advisors and may be 11 of them said no but finally somebody said, "Yes, I will give you a teaching assistantship and full scholarship." So unless you are willing to fail you cannot succeed. Anchor: Try Try Try until you succeed. Mr. Kumar: Unfortunately, failure has a taboo atleast when I was in school in Mumbai, the guy that failed was always at the last seat. I am not saying that people should specialize in failing but in real life, unless you are willing to fail you cannot succeed. Anchor: So what is important is, 'How do you take your failures?' Mr. Kumar: You gotta learn -- failing time is learning time. Anchor: I am looking forward to read one of your books. Are you writing? Mr. Kumar: I have started 4 books but I haven't really gone into it. Anchor: Is it an autobiography? Mr. Kumar: One is a biography of somebody else. Couple of them are books that come right from my heart. I don't want to write just another motivational book. I know every author says so, but I want to provide something unique something special there. I want to give enough life lessons there which I feel would benefit others..... contd