Kirti needed to update her profile photo for her website and asked me to do it for her. Since she lives in London it took us a while till we could meet up, but when I went to London for a wedding it was a great opportunity to book a session.
I asked Kirti if she can suggest a nice place to go for pictures. She recommended this beautiful park called Valentines Park.
The weather was a dream. Sunny and bright and altogether a wonderful day for outdoor pictures.
We walked around the park and took photos while taking and enjoying the weather.
Have a look at Kirti’s ‘before’ photo in her kitchen as well as these lovely ones I took in the park.
As always, I like to ask my clients some questions to hear their perspectives on life. We can learn so much from hearing other people’s opinions!
Here are Kirti’s answers.
What problem does your business solve?
There comes a point in life where we are not sure of what we want in life and the direction that we are headed in. I help people to get clear on their WHY (their purpose), who they are, what they really want and how to get there. I introduce them to tools and techniques to get clarity, beat procrastination, be more present and boost their confidence and productivity.
More specifically, I help people who have been made redundant to get back into securing their next employment opportunity.
I also help people to transition into new careers and support those that are looking to start their own businesses.
What was your mission at the start of your company?
I initially came into coaching to coach teenagers. When I look back at my life, my teenage years were the years I would have really benefited from having a coach. I currently coach teenagers in school. Most of this work is voluntary and very rewarding.
What is your biggest fear?
Biggest fear perhaps would be to lose those around me that are the dearest to me. Knowing full well that I can never really lose them.
Fear is a very natural emotion and can show up in different ways and for different reasons. I used to be afraid of failure, of getting things wrong, these things affect me less now. Whenever fear comes up for me I allow myself to feel this emotion without becoming overcome by it.
How do you balance between home and work?
By being organised, but super flexible when needs arise.
What motivates you to work hard?
Knowing that there is someone out there that I can help.
What is your favourite thing about your career?
That it is mine to choose which direction to take it,
If money was no object, what would you do all day?
I would still work as it gives me purpose. I would also continue to work on myself. Maybe spend more time doing things that I really enjoy like yoga, swimming, travelling and gardening.
How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
It has given me time flexibility.
How do you define success?
There will always be ups and downs in life. That is life. Success is when you can remain internally stable through all the ups and downs. When you can connect to who you really are and remain unaffected by things happening on the outside whether things are going well or not. This can apply to any area of one's life.
If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I use to be an accountant before I came into the coaching profession. I often think where I would be had I chosen my current career much earlier on before I chose to be an accountant. It probably would have been really helpful to me. But thinking about it now. I would change nothing. All the people I have met, the work experiences I have had to date. Everything has been useful to me now.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Resilience - to keep going when things don't appear to be working.
Communication - being able to communicate your message with authenticity and connecting with others.
Self Reflection - regularly reflecting on how far you have come, what is working and what is not working. What you can do differently.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
Pandurang Shastri Athavale whom we lovingly refer to as Dadaji (Elder brother). He has taught me to see the divinity within each human being regardless of background, religion, race, caste or colour. To treat another human being with the same love and respect that I would want to be treated.
If you had a magic stick, which are the three things you would change in the world?
I would wish for more love upon the world. That in itself will help solve most of the problems.
What is the part of your life experience you would alter if you had the chance to?
I have been through some really hard times in my life but I would not change them for they have helped shape who I am today. I am stronger and better because of them.