Break the Resistance - Transformation is On The Other Side | Suganthi's Story

I have discovered the stories. So that actually helped my self-love towards me. That is the key thing I noticed. Though I have done so many technical presentations, but this one was a complete different thing because I have to record myself, seeing myself in the video, and I have to record my own stories, discovering my own stories, and then deliver it. So initially, yeah, I had that struggle, but the way The community has helped me to evolve in the further videos. So I'm a first-generation working woman in a family. So until 36 years of my life, everything went well. A good job, a loving family with 2 kids. So everything went well. With the gratitude we should have for our loved ones, I feel that is very important in our life. Mainly, you know, how I am now articulating my thoughts from my brain to my mouth. So that speed and that smoothness, effortless way of delivery, that is actually increased a lot. We have not done it so far, no? So that resistance always sits in our mind. But one time or twice you have to just break this resistance because immediately you are seeing the transformation.

Everyone, welcome to another episode of Finisher Interview Series where I get the opportunity to celebrate, to learn, and to also make you aware of the journey of the Confidence Storytelling Hub members. So we run this monthly challenge where any member who completes the monthly challenge, which consists of 15, 21, or similar videos creation, And once they do that, this is their reward. So today I have again somebody special with her unique story. So let's welcome Sugandhini. Hi Sugandhini, how are you doing?

Yeah, fine Haritosh Srivastav, how are you?

Doing great, thank you. So tell us, tell the audience about yourself and your journey.

Yeah, myself Sugandhini Draisamy. So I have been software professional for almost 15 years with a bit of career break. So I'm a first-generation working woman in a family. So until 36 years of my life, everything went well. A good job, a loving family with 2 kids. So everything went well with a very good, decent career switches. But then, you know, at one point, because I lacked the vision and the higher goals, in between I have broke my career and then again have to resume after 6 years. So that change of, uh, the, the, the thing that 6 years gap actually helped me to work on myself, especially in my self-development journey. So Then I have resumed my career on my desired role, technology, and the company. And the company I have actually manifested as a vibrational match with my aspirations. So that is how I have landed. And then now, from the past 1 year, because I'm into totally into this, seeing this coaching industry and seeing how I can do a career shift here. So I worked on myself and pursued this life coaching certification also. So that helped me to reach here. All divine synchronicities only helped me to reach here, to Binan, to you. And finally, you know, for the past 1 month in this community, as part of this community, have delivered almost like 15 videos so far and continuing my December challenges also. So it helped me a lot in my growth.

Thank you so much, uh, Sugandi, for being here, for participating. So I want to know about your journey of this particular challenge. Like, now, what was the journey like when you started doing the, the, the first, first video to the last video of the November Mixer Challenge? What has been the experience like for you?

Yeah, experience is so great. When I first recorded the video, right, so though I have done so many technical presentations, but this one was a complete different thing because I have to record myself, seeing myself in the video, and I have to record my own stories, discovering my own stories, and then deliver it. So initially, yeah, I had that struggle, but the way, um, the community has helped me to evolve in in the further videos. Now I am become so confident. After within a month, I would say I become more confident and more friendly just to seeing my— see myself and accepting myself as I am with all my flaws, imperfections, and good things also, of course. So that is the journey I have gone so far with you, with this community.

I have a very cheeky question here. So, and this I'm just started asking in the recent interview. So tell me, how long did it take for you to create the first video, and how long it take for you to create the last video of the challenge?

Yeah, first video almost like 2 to 2 and a half hours, and the last video actually it was only 20 minutes.

Wow, it was only 20 minutes.

Yes, definitely. Yeah, I remember.

Yeah, yeah, I, I do know because I say cheeky because I know this is how most of the journeys are. People take 6, 7, 8 retakes or 2, 3, 4 hours. Some people have taken up to 30, 40 retakes as well because they were not comfortable in their own skin. And by the time they complete the challenge, they're like, okay, give me the next one, I'll do it right here, right?

Yeah. Yes.

Amazing, amazing. So if I ask you, what are some of your top learnings of going through this challenge? Maybe 2-3 learnings, what would you say?

Especially, you know, the way I have discovered the stories. So that actually helped my self-love towards me. That is the key thing I noticed. And lot of frameworks you have given, no, especially the metaphors, analogies, the way that we have to develop the script and to deliver. Because my goal was to become an impactful public speaker. That was my goal, because I want to have a strong foundation first. So really it helped me. And that's what, especially the metaphors, analogies, and the voice modulation techniques that you have taught while we are doing the challenges. So it is from very easy to medium, then to difficult. So that, that way, you know, you have taken us through this challenge journey. So that really helped me not only in this coaching industry but in my career also, because I used to provide many design solutions, but ideas usually stay in my head. But when it comes out, that articulation, you know, I always thought like it would have been better, it would have been better, but After doing all these challenges, this framework helped me there also in my technical presentations and design solutioning also.

Amazing, amazing to know. And I think more importantly, I think what the theme has been for all the 6-7 interviews that I've already recorded is self-awareness to self-acceptance and then towards self-love. So I heard a lot of self-awareness and self-acceptance in the last few inter— interviews, and now I'm seeing self-love. It's like a journey going through. Amazing. And yes, if you are able to articulate better, no matter which career you are, yes, it can make a big difference into your life. Absolutely. So my next question to you is again related to the task. So you went through all the 15 different tasks, and you already mentioned you like that, and you started with 2 hours and come back, come to 20 minutes now. What has been your favorite task out of all the different tasks in the challenge?

Yeah, the task which you gave that what is the change that you want to see in the society or in the workplace. So I have, I have talked about I just want to see how that society or the industry have to welcome the professionals who have taken a career break and then rejoining back. That was very powerful, I felt, because after recording it and then shared to my friends, colleagues, so it was very powerful, that message. I could deliver it very powerfully. But that, you know, that kind of society-related impacts that you are making, you know, that is actually helping us to think in a longer run, in a bigger way, right? That is one thing. And another one is personally, you know, the toast you have asked to raise, to our favorite person. So that is very close to my heart. So before that, I have never done it because usually in our occasions we don't do that, no. It's so— that is one thing I have appreciated my husband and then showed him. It was a very beautiful moment actually, recollecting that. The gratitude we should have for our loved ones, I feel that is very important in our life. That these challenges helped me really.

And I so agree on to that. Like, no, a lot of time we take our dear and dear ones for granted. We don't express our gratitude as much as we should, including myself. I'm not an exception to that. So yes, all of us need to raise more toes, uh, express our gratitude and love for them. Awesome. So my next question to you is about the outcome. Like, of course you love the challenge, you participated, you You really like some of the tasks, you did it on time, you submitted. But the most important thing out of it is the outcome. What is it that you get out of it? What changes in you? So what has been the outcome of you going through this challenge?

Mainly, you know, how I am now articulating my thoughts from my brain to my mouth. So that speed and that smoothness, effortless way of delivery, that is actually increased a lot. So that efficiency, you know, when I am speaking and people around me, especially my team in the office, they are seeing that, saying they are, you know, they want to hear from me all the time. So everything, but my technical side also, my session delivery also, in the weekends I used to do. So everything, you know, has been changed. So that impact I'm really seeing now. And I— and now I'm able to see myself as a friend and then talk in the camera. So I'm loving that.

Really? So now you see camera as your friend and not somebody who's judging you?

Especially. Yes.

Yeah, love that, love that. Awesome. So, uh, what is your, uh, message or tips and tricks for anyone who's part of the community, you know, there are so many people in the community, but not everybody is taking up the challenge, or even if they start the challenge, they are not able to go through the finish line. So what is your message for such people, such members?

Yeah, because, yeah, we have not done it so far, no? So that resistance always sits in our mind, but one time or twice you have to just break this resistance. Because immediately you are seeing the transformation. So the transformation is on the, on the other side, because you have to just take the two steps, then you see that, then you will only tend to record multiple videos, discover more stories of yourself, because those are really needed for outside world, right? So if you just have to have that perception in the mind and then just to do it, then it will be like effortlessly it will come in. Because this will not only help in only in the coaching industry or somewhere where you have to deliver, but even if you are a homemaker, that art of communication with your own relations are so important. And the way you have given the challenge on assertive communication, right, that I feel everybody has to learn. If you are a student or a homemaker or you have relationship issues, these are the things that we have to learn Instead of seeing fault on others, no, what I can do to improve this relationship, or no.

So absolutely, absolutely love that. Thank you for sharing that. Yes, just take couple of steps and you will be able to see the immediate change, and that will give you the glue to go forward. And then also working on different aspect of communication, uh, and, and truly believe in assertive communication where You don't have to be passive, but also you don't have to be aggressive. You're not here to fight, but you are here to present what you stand for and what is it that you do not like without judging others. So love that. So my last question to you has been, when you've been part of this community about a month and a half now, you completed the challenge. Would you recommend A, Confidence Storytelling Hub, and B, participating in these challenges to others outside?

Definitely, Haritosh Srivastav. Definitely, because I would recommend for everyone. Everyone doesn't know, they need not to be in one specific industry or any, anything, even for a homemaker, for, um, uh, technical people. So everybody needs this because just you spend 1 or 2 hours for this challenge, no, and, uh, your, the rate of, uh, your delivery and the final outcome is so transformational. So I would recommend everyone to take up this challenge because it requires only minimal time and then outcome is exceptional, actually, I would say.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate.

And the way you are conducting this life hurdles, though I could not participate in much of those, but still I see that, no, weekly twice that you are conducting this, definitely will help everyone Yes, whoever wants to be a— becoming an impactful public speaker, so within 2 months they could achieve it. That is offshore.

Thank you so much, really appreciate your kind words. And yes, your journey is again a testimony that no, it's not only about the technical aspect of storytelling or the way you deliver, it's also a lot of personal journey of self-growth. So that's what I can take, I can have a takeaway out of your journey. So thank you so much, uh, for sharing your journey. Thank you so much for showing how it is to be done. Really appreciate you. And yes, friends, this was Sugandhi, another finisher from Confidence Storytelling Hub. So if you are somebody who need to have a lot of communication in your workplace, or if you're somebody like, like she said, if you are a homemaker but you want to have effective communication with your loved ones, consider joining Confidence Storytelling Hub, where we have a community of 150+ members. We are, we are here to be accountable to you, to support you, to love you, and to also give you feedback. So as I say every time, until next time, keep learning, keep growing, and keep going out of your comfort zone. This is Haritosh Srivastav. I'll be back with another amazing interview, another unique story sharing with you. Until then, story power to you.