14-days to Small Town Bigger Dreams -Live Book Review by Rahul & Devi

Hello and welcome to another day. Today is day 8 of 21-day live challenge, and I can't believe it's only 2 weeks. Yeah, 14 days to go before the launch of the paperback edition of Small Town Bigger Dreams. Those who do not know, I have taken a small challenge of going 21-day live on various social media Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and occasionally Instagram, uh, to talk a little bit about books, to talk a little bit about other things, just to have fun with you guys. So yeah, if you are having fun, feel free to put it in the comments. And as I said, I've been trying different things, so today I thought I will do some more things, some different things. And I've got two special guests with me today. Uh, fortunately they have read the Kindle edition and they provided uh, some reviews. So I wanted them to be here and talk a little bit about the book, and then we'll have some more fun. So let me first introduce my first guests. Now, those who do not know, author Rahul Sharma is a marketer. He's done so many things. He's a part of a startup, he's a marketer, he's Toastmaster, he's author of 7 or 8 books— I don't even remember the count— and, and he's part of the Phoenix Literature Festival. Actually, the one one of the founders of Vinny's Literature Festival. So help me welcome Rahul Sharma. Rahul, thank you so much. So grateful that you're able to join today's live session with me.

Thank you, Haritosh Srivastav. Thank you so much. It's an honor to be on your show, and it's always great meeting and talking to you virtually or in person.

Absolutely, absolutely. I'm still looking forward to meet in person. We have met so many times virtually. Now my second guest is equally special. She and I have been interacting for last few months and I'm really amazed by her intellectual abilities, her way to articulate, and also the way she does the book reviews. So let me welcome Devi D. Devi, thank you so much for joining. Thank you once again.

Thank you so much, Haritosh Srivastav. Thanks for inviting me for this book review and I'll be reviewing my favorite book, that is Small town, bigger dreams, and really grateful for this opportunity. So looking forward to the session.

Thank you, thank you both of you. So once again, so as audience who are watching this, I've got two very, very special people. And when I say special, they've actually read the book on the Kindle edition. They could not wait for the paperback, uh, and I wanted to hear their firsthand, uh, experience and what they thought about the book. Including things I could have done better. Yeah, I'm being totally honest. You guys have the full freedom, you can talk whether the book is, uh, yeah, it's not making any sense or book is good. Go ahead. Uh, so let's start with Devi. Uh, Devi, what— so you have gone through the book, uh, you've read end to end. Uh, so what was your first impression of the book? What did you like and/or do not like about the book?

Yeah. First, I would like to say that these 21 lessons, this is so apt for anyone, anyone who is going to start their, you know, professional journey, or they want success in their personal life. These, you know, lessons are so apt. And I, after reading the book, I felt this was the exact lessons that I was looking for, especially on mentorship, on podcast. And I was just thinking, why didn't I get a similar book when I was in my early 20s, then I would have come a long way after reading the suggestions. And trust me, after reading Haritosh Srivastav's book, I started listening to podcasts. I knew about podcasts, but I never tried it out. I started listening, and to date I'm listening every day. My schedule is I go for a walk, I switch on maybe Financial Times podcast or news podcast or some self-help podcast, and it's really good use of time instead of listening to music which you don't understand. I felt podcast has really changed like 1-2 months of my life, and I even write down what I learned. So that was a really positive influence, and I would suggest all the viewers who are watching, really read it for the wonderful lessons, nuggets. You can read it quickly and There's no, you know, beating around the bush. Everything is given to the point. And you, you— and there's also an example given that how Haritosh Srivastav experienced that, the lessons, and what he learned from the situations. So it's a must-read, and it's a quick read as well. You don't have to, you know, have so much flowery language, or, uh, you can say a big vocabulary. Simple and easy to understand language Haritosh Srivastav has used. I hope more people who are listening will go out there and pick it up.

So thank you so much, Devi. Thank you so much. Just for the record, Devi was not paid for this advertisement.

I'm just kidding.

All right, uh, so let's move to Rahul. And, uh, one of the theme of this book was that, no, my journey from when I started from Jaipur to now why I am in Basingstoke, UK. It was more about the small town guy. And Rahul, I know you also come from a small town town. So my question to you is, were you able to relate anything that is there from small town, or was it like all the bluff or anything? You, you can be totally honest.

Uh, I think in your chapter you talk about mentor, and I, I still remember when I was in my village, I was looking for a mentor. Reached out to my uncle. Uncle, can you teach me how to speak better? How I can be better at speaking? I mean, in communication, mastering language of English. And he mentioned, you are studying in D.A. school, right? And you are not able to speak very well. Go somewhere and find someone else. You can't help you. And that time I realized, okay, maybe I need— I looked up to him. He was a well-educated, well-learned person. So the mentor can guide you, can, can help you find your path. So I lacked that mentor in my life. So I felt if you have a right mentor— I think your book, that created very well— from a village to town, things would have been better. And that's how I felt, like if I know something, I would love to share, like, okay, do this, do that. I really love to people Bina bhat ki, like, okay, just do it. And they will say, why you are doing so? Just, I feel, because I lack that mentorship in my life. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I love that chapter.

Thank you, thank you, Rahul. Yeah, and one thing that I've really, really treasured, and yeah, if I've talked enough about Toastmasters, please excuse me, but yeah, one of the biggest benefits I feel is that we get those mentors where we could connect to mentors even beyond the communication and leadership things. And I have had my mentors, which I still get connected after so many years for anything and everything that I do. So absolutely agree. Thank you, Rahul, for that. Now I'm going to ask a little tough question, and I don't know how it will go. But Devi, if you had to suggest one thing I could have done better, and I'm being totally honest, one thing I could have done better, or one something that you should have seen in the book and you didn't see, I'd like to know that live honest opinion from you.

One thing if I have to say, maybe I would have asked for more lessons, probably more lessons, because the 21 lessons kept me hooked and I was thinking, okay, maybe, maybe in the next part Haritosh Srivastav will come out with more lessons. Maybe if I had more, if you had come out with more Lessons, I would have happily read the lessons and whatever was written. 21 lessons, it's really a treasure trove. And just that, that suggestions, if you had written a little more, probably I, I personally would have read it, read it.

Thank you so much, Devi. Yeah, to be honest, I think when the book started, it had about 26 or 27 chapters. Then I squeezed some of the chapters inside. And there were a few chapters I thought maybe this probably may not be the right time. There was a chapter on imposter syndrome, which was actually inculcated in various chapters where, you know, whether it's about being connected to the root, whether it's about giving back to the community that you come, it was integrated to those chapters. But I do agree to some point. Yeah, there were a scope of a few more chapters. And yeah, you never know, maybe next time.

Part 2, maybe.

Part 2, yeah. So Rahulji, uh, it's time for your turn to say the honest thing, uh, what I could have done better, except I know in Kindle there are a few spelling mistakes. So yeah, maybe, maybe more than that.

I think, uh, Devi already pointed out, like, when you are reading a story and you can connect to it, you look forward to more stories, more stories with more examples. And I feel that you shared few stories of your own personal stories about how you felt, how you feel about going to roots, how you feel about having a mentor, how you feel about getting away from the bad company. And then I feel you could have shared one more story or more stories which could have— like, I could see, okay, this is my story, okay, this is your story, my story. Again, Being from town, I can— from village, I can feel it is very close to myself. But if someone else is not from village, again, this is my perspective. Again, uh, and second thing, as you already pointed out, uh, in my review, you have shared few names of the book as well. So if you can just consolidate in the end so that we can read afterwards, which is the book Haritosh Srivastav mentioned we should read. So that would be— I would look forward to go and read more. And okay, it's having accountability and giving more ways to discover beyond the words you have written.

Okay, I think I know, agree, I agree. I have referred to many books and and quotes and all. And I've given enough credits, it's not that I've stolen someone's material, I've given due credit. But yeah, if, if I could have compiled all of them in form of an appendix. And yeah, you know, the books, the number of books I keep reading keep, keep on increasing, so it could be a running list or something. So, uh, now let's move to the favorite chapter. I know you both of you mentioned some other chapter, but what has been your favorite chapter? If you have already talked, maybe the next favorite chapter of the book that you want to talk about today. So let's start with Rahul this time.

Only one chapter. I even posted on Facebook as well. It's about go and visit your roots, find your roots, how you get connected with them. It's my favorite chapter. I mean, it made me push to go to my village and feel it and feel good about it. Early I had a different perspective. Okay, kaha kaha te aaya hai, kaha jayein gayi hai, like that. So after reading it, I feel proud of my roots. I had a different perspective. I feel I can give back to community in my village. I can guide them. I feel empowered. So I feel that this is my favorite chapter. I can talk a lot about it. This is my favorite. I love this chapter.

Thank you, Rahul. Again, it's very close to my heart as well. I, uh, love to be connected to the community. I'm proud of where I was born. And there is a story of one guy who tried to fake and then had to undergo some experience. I mentioned in the book Uh, so let's, uh, move over to Devi. So what is your favorite chapter apart from the one you mentioned where we have podcast that you listen?

Yes, yes, one chapter which I really liked was the first chapter which you spoke about, be mindful of association, because that's very important in all phases of your life. Whom you are associated with, that creates your personality. So maximum, even I try to follow this aspect by being associated with people who have like-minded passions, like now public speaking, writing. So if you want to be, uh, want to achieve something in life, you want to, you have to be with like-minded people. That will really boost and strengthen the energy that you absorb or energy that you give. So that was very apt, and I think this is a very relevant in present-day world, though we need to have friends from all, you know, circle. But more, you need to be associated with like-minded people to actually grow in and boost you up. And one more chapter which I really struck me, really struck me, was Help Others But Don't Let Them Abuse You. Because I remember from childhood, I had this experience that, uh, like most of the time I used to help people. I never bothered about the, you know, what people react or how, how they behave. But The chapter really pointed out that yes, you need to draw that lines, you need to, you know, maintain our self-respect as well. Yes, we need not let others abuse us, but at the same time help people. That is really needed. Sometimes we really become, you know, too giving that we fail to protect ourselves. So that was also a very relevant chapter. So I think these two really stood out from my perspective.

Thank you so much, Devi. Thank you. All the chapters are very, very close. So if I say that this chapter is not close, that would be a liar. I— and that's again based on my own experiences. In all the chapters, I've tried to put my own experience, and that's how it became a learning. So now we are coming towards the end of the flow. I don't want to take all of your time. I know both of you are extremely busy. So first of all, thank you so much once again for joining. Now, if you have to give a message to anyone, regardless of whether it's a small town guy or or a big town, B-town, A-town guy, or whether it's a guy or girl, whether it's a young guy or old chap, what would that one message be? And doesn't have to be from the book or anything. It's Rahul Sharma's message to the audience listening or watching this. What is that one message from you, Rahul?

Dream. You should dream big. Your dream should be so big. It excites you, and it also makes you think, how I will going to achieve that dream? This is it. And trust me, when you have the faith in yourself, time will— universe will unfold its plan, and you will find moving yourself, achieving that dream, being— becoming an author, becoming a speaker. Founding of PLF or other things planned. They just went like on their own. Like I saw them happening this seminar. It is possible. Dream big, that's all. Dream big.

Thank you so much, Rahul. Dream big and don't worry about how it will materialize, but dream big. So that's message from author Rahul Sharma. Now let's hear it from Devi. Devi, what is your message from someone who's watching or listening this episode? What do you think, and what is your one message to them?

Taking a cue from Rahul, I would like to say dream big and believe in your dreams, and don't let others' opinion overpower your dreams. Believe— yeah, don't let others' opinion affect you. If you believe in yourself and work hard you can really achieve any dreams. It's just the opinions. The opinions will come anytime. The way we react to the opinions, that matters. Instead of reacting, respond calmly to the situation. Let the opinions come, but don't lose belief in yourself, because every individual has the potential to grow, dream big, and achieve their dreams.

Thank you so much, Devi. Thank you. So Dream big, dream, dream. It's all the message from both of the guests today. And thank you all for watching this. Uh, link to order the book is there. The book is back in the stock. Like I said in Facebook and the places, I was a little bit happy and disappointed because the stocks were out. But thanks to the publisher White Falcon and Mr. Gaurav for pulling it all together so fast. Within a few hours, the stock is back. So if you want to or go and pre-order. It is available on Amazon. So thank you all, thank you everyone for watching, and a special thank you to my dear friend Rahul and my dear friend Devi. Thank you so much, both of you. It was great interacting with you as usual, and I'm looking forward to collaborate more with you.

Thank you, thank you, Haritosh, and I wish it becomes the number one bestseller, your book becomes the number one bestseller, and All the best for the future journey.

Thank you so much. Thank you, Haritosh Srivastav. Thank you so much again. It is bestseller already in the list, and we hope it continues to soar high and keep climbing more charts of bestseller state for weeks and months to come. All the best for your book.

Thank you so much, Rahul. So that was my two guests, Rahul and Devi D. Let's see what is there in store for tomorrow. So until tomorrow, keep learning, keep growing, and keep going out of your comfort zone. This is Haritosh Srivastav, and I'll be back with day 9 of 21-day live challenge. Until next time, stay blessed, stay happy. Thank you so much.