About Me
My Early Days
I was born in a Town Called Coimbatore and had a lovely childhood.
Though from a low-middle income family my parents grew me well without the pinch of any needs.
My aim in life was to be a cricketer. Spent a lot of time in the cricket field and that took studies to back seat.I failed in my 12 th Board exams and even after failing in 12 th it did not occur to me the importance of education till below fine story happened.
I finally passed my 12 th from a Private tutorial college and then migrated to Chennai in 1984-85. My family had somehow arranged some influence to get a seat in college.
Life teaches Determination
The person who would recommend me MrS.Ganesan, IG Southern Railways, saw my marks and said this is the lowest marks he has ever seen and he was doing this as a Favor for my family.
Even then it did not hit me the gravity of the issue. The college that this wonderful Gentleman got a seat for me was about 15 kms away from where I stayed and not such a reputed college then.
I shamelessly asked him if he can get an admission in a college near my house so I can spend more time in cricket instead of travelling by changing 2 buses.
He looked at me bemused and challenged me “Srikanth this is the lowest marks that I have ever recommended for a seat. Here is a challenge for you. I don’t think you will even survive this course for the marks you scored. You Score 60% in all subject –No you just come with pass mark in all subjects in the first year,for the second and third year I will get you the admission in the college that is near your house which is a well-known college. I challenge you will not.”
That intimidation challenge hit me like a Thunderbolt. That challenge changed a lot of things in life
Being determined teaches Being Disciplined.
I not only passed in all subjects in the first year of college but also secured First-class in all subjects.
I went back to Mr. Ganesan after one year and said here is the mark sheet now when can you arrange admission to the college near my house.
He was very pleased with my performance and kept his word to get an admission.
Looking back I am so grateful for this experience.
It was rare for a student to move colleges in the middle of the program then moved to do my second and Third year from Vaishnava College from Guru Nanak College in Chennai.
I also did well in Cricket. Playing for my college, for Madras University, and played senior division league alongside of some famous Cricketers. All these successes came because I was FOCUSSED. DETERMINED AND DISCIPLINED TOWARDS ACHIEVING MY GOALS.
Cricket and This episode has taught a lot of things for me in my life.
The Resilience, the grit, the courage, the passion, thecommitment all these were seeded during these years.
I am grateful for this experience.
I was blessed to be the youngest in a family of 2 elder sisters and 1 elder brother. My parents were great teachers, the humbleness, Humility, patience, love, and care for other life lessons they taught me is what has made me the person I am today.
I am so very grateful for my family and my Parents.
I become a Globe Trotter.
1992 I started working for my Brother in Law who had a massive export firm, Deccan was the largest apparel exporter from India learned all the Nuances of the business from here.
This experience would made me to think from an entrepreneur’s mindset all the time. It was a great beginning and foundation to my career.
Cricket slowly faded away of me playing less and less matches but the lessons of team building ,leading, never call lost till the end attitude, all helped me to shape my abilities at work.
Though it was my own BIL office I worked really hard and he was a task master.
Working in exports made me to travel extensively around the world at an young age, It was a great experience working with different nationalities understanding culture and various customer behaviors.
The love for travelling has taught me a lot of life lessons.
The years of 1994 to 1999 was hectic and I was able to work with some best known retailers around the world. It was my good fortune to manage people from varied Nationals and best talents.
I learn Leading through Managing.
I am grateful for this managerial and leadership experience. It gave me tremendous exposure in managing people and creating cultures in workplace that defines strategy and success.
It was during these years I learned how an organization culture plays a crucial role before creating a strategy and achieving success. It’s the leaders and Managers who build this intangible values that creates success.
1999 it was time for me to venture out, there were a lot turbulent times personally. During this turbulent times is when I met my Guru Swami Sukhabodananda,who is also called the Corporate Guru. He was the first one to make me understand living a life of purpose. His tutelage has been a great anchoring and boost to my life.
- I moved to work for many Companies along the way in senior positions.
- ACL 2003-2006
- Hirdarmani (Regency)-2006-2008
- Colorplus -2008-2013
- Raymond 2013-till date.
I am truly blessed to have worked with various teams and Management. Building teams and coaching the coachable has been my pride. It gives immense joy and pride to look at people who have worked with me reaching great heights.
I get Enlightened on that eventful flight to Mumbai
In 2013 I moved to Mumbai reluctantly, My Company moved me from Chennai to Mumbai as part of group consolidation, I did not want to move. Because of the various support systems (call it comfort zone) etc that I had in Chennai.
There were 4 EMI s running and I did not have another choice of job, so no other option but to move. I vividly remember that day, as I satHelpless on that Jet Airways flight moving to Mumbai. As the Aircraft was rolling down to take off, tears rolled out of my eyes seeing my “Sweet home Town” go by. I decided then that I will not be in this position ever again that someone else will decide on what I will do, where I work and where I live and how I live.
I realized that I was good at designing S M A R T goals for the companies I worked in.
I was diligent in making 3 year and 5-year plans for the organization I worked. But never worked on
S M A R T goals for my own life. There no “Self personal” performance evaluation. There were no VISION 2020 for my own life but I was good planning one for the organization I worked.
I got up grabbed my laptop and started typing a series of things that I want to achieve, on a hindsight,
It was I writing my goals then. I wrote what I want to achieve Financial, Health,Relationships, Spiritual, Personal Development, Travel, and Adventure goals.
Why this website and my mission
During these Covidtimes, a lot of colleagues and friends were worried about a lot of things including finance and job. I did not have any major worries on these and found that the goals that I wrote and worked on each day towards it made me to be independent and have the freedom on many things.
When I recently took stock of my goals of 2013 and now, surprisingly, that most of these goals have fructified. I later realized how powerful it is to write down these goals.
I married my wife Poornima in 2001 and have a lovely daughter Ria.Ria is a cricketer and is pursuing active cricket in Mumbai.
I love to have a lot of different experience in life. I am an adventurer, deep into Spirituality, Health, Fitness, and Running Yoga. Love being outdoors and meeting new people.
The Covid Break gave me a lot of time to reflect on many things in my life. I am so very grateful for the varied experiences I have. The upbringing, the travels, the managers and organizations I have worked for,the gurus who have taught me so many things.
I want to be of service to people who are like me when I was 10 years back. Share my experiences so they don’t make the mistakes I did. Today we have internet and digital learning, however the same internet also makes us to be distracted. I have learned in today s world it’s not just time that is precious Being Focused is more precious. To be focused to what we want with disciplined and determined to achieve is not going to be easy for the young generation.
I will fell contributed, if I am able to make a difference to the young Managers and Leaders to stay focused help them to be disciplined, determined and dedicated in achieving their chosen goals.
I am on a mission to Help 100,000 Managers, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, build a great team and successful enterprise of High value Culture.
I am the founder of Goalgettershub.com. It’s a community of high achievers, exchange ideas and help others in the community to live a life of purpose and meaning.
Life is a Celebration, It’s an adventure, it’s a Beautiful journey.
