WEBVTT 00:00:08.330 --> 00:00:11.269 What's going on, Pursuers? Welcome to The Pursuit 00:00:11.269 --> 00:00:14.470 of Calling, the podcast that provides you with 00:00:14.470 --> 00:00:17.370 the strategies and tools needed to successfully 00:00:17.370 --> 00:00:20.949 discover and pursue your calling. Whether it's 00:00:20.949 --> 00:00:23.350 through inspiring stories, thought -provoking 00:00:23.350 --> 00:00:26.269 interviews, or quick, insightful episodes on 00:00:26.269 --> 00:00:28.670 personal growth and development, we've got you 00:00:28.670 --> 00:00:32.490 covered. I'm your host, Thomas Carney. Enjoy 00:00:32.490 --> 00:00:40.750 the episode. Alright, welcome to the episode. 00:00:41.390 --> 00:00:47.189 So, I'm here with Raksha Gopal, and just a quick 00:00:47.189 --> 00:00:51.990 intro from my perspective. We met at the International 00:00:51.990 --> 00:00:57.310 Maxwell Conference, which I've talked about a 00:00:57.310 --> 00:00:59.210 couple times on this podcast already. I believe 00:00:59.210 --> 00:01:02.810 the last episode or two episodes ago was a recap 00:01:02.810 --> 00:01:06.390 on the first day of the conference. recorded 00:01:06.390 --> 00:01:08.390 at the conference when i was in my hotel room 00:01:08.390 --> 00:01:14.409 and i um as reached out and asked a few people 00:01:14.409 --> 00:01:19.409 uh that i specifically had a um had a good conversations 00:01:19.409 --> 00:01:21.689 with at the conference if they wanted to be on 00:01:21.689 --> 00:01:24.629 podcast rock just said yes and like i feel like 00:01:24.629 --> 00:01:27.390 it's uh it was kind of great because i'm going 00:01:27.390 --> 00:01:28.689 to mention we're going to talk about this later 00:01:28.689 --> 00:01:32.950 but we initially met in the elevator walking 00:01:32.950 --> 00:01:38.109 down uh to breakfast And then later we were talking 00:01:38.109 --> 00:01:40.969 about this pre -recording and then later, uh, 00:01:41.170 --> 00:01:44.670 in the same day, I got to see her be coached 00:01:44.670 --> 00:01:49.769 on stage by Valerie Burton, um, for 30 minutes. 00:01:49.989 --> 00:01:54.409 And we got in like, uh, and I was sitting there, 00:01:54.450 --> 00:01:57.790 I'm like, man, I know her. I was sitting there 00:01:57.790 --> 00:01:59.950 and I was like, I just talked to her a couple 00:01:59.950 --> 00:02:02.230 hours ago. And I was like, it was kind of crazy. 00:02:03.209 --> 00:02:05.189 Seeing her on stage in front of thousands of 00:02:05.189 --> 00:02:07.409 people and being as vulnerable as she was being 00:02:07.409 --> 00:02:11.389 was fantastic. But now, let me stop talking like 00:02:11.389 --> 00:02:16.370 she isn't here. And say, hey, Raksha, how's it 00:02:16.370 --> 00:02:21.449 going? Good, Thomas. How are you? It's good to 00:02:21.449 --> 00:02:24.590 see you again. Yeah, it's great to see you, too. 00:02:24.650 --> 00:02:29.400 It's great to see you. Yeah, I'm really happy 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:34.680 for you, Beyond. Thank you for your yes. Thank 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:38.819 you for asking me to be on this podcast. For 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:42.780 sure, for sure. I wanted to ask you, for those 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:45.300 who don't know you, most people that listen to 00:02:45.300 --> 00:02:50.620 this podcast won't know you. So who is Raksha 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:58.259 Gopal? Well... I do wear a lot of hats. So I 00:02:58.259 --> 00:03:02.680 am the biggest pride, of course, is a proud mother 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:06.199 of a 23 -year -old who just graduated from UCLA 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:09.379 and she got into medical school. So very proud 00:03:09.379 --> 00:03:13.699 about that. And also a wife of 35 years, a caretaker 00:03:13.699 --> 00:03:16.460 of a 92 -year -old mother -in -law and an eight 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:19.759 -year -old mom, and a friend that loves to party 00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:24.699 and dance. I'm also an immigrant from India that 00:03:24.699 --> 00:03:27.479 came to US to complete her master's in computer 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:31.180 engineering and since then had a successful career 00:03:31.180 --> 00:03:34.620 for 32 years. And I've been a leader 28 years 00:03:34.620 --> 00:03:41.120 of those. I am a mentor that loves to teach and 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.759 currently a vice president of corporate project 00:03:44.759 --> 00:03:48.159 management at a software company. And of course, 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:57.500 a Maxwell certified team member. Let's go. You 00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:59.900 say you have a career of 35 years. What's that 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:04.319 career? Not career of 35 years. I was your mayor 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:07.560 for 35 years. What was your current career? Actually, 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:15.620 my career has been for 32 years. 32? Yeah. And 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:19.439 what was that in? What is that career? Yeah, 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:22.839 in software. So I graduated with a computer engineering 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:26.259 degree. And my first job was in software development. 00:04:26.579 --> 00:04:30.139 And I've continued in that tech industry. But 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:32.639 I eventually went into project management because 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:38.079 I love planning. And I would say pretty much 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:42.879 like after about four or five years, I went into 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:45.600 project management. And that's been my passion 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:48.660 ever since. So yeah, so I still continue to work 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:51.339 for a software company now. Oh, that's fantastic. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.459 That's actually kind of cool. I'm a web and mobile 00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:00.899 app developer from a full -time career. So it's 00:05:00.899 --> 00:05:02.379 cut from the same cloth. That's kind of cool. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:05.540 I remember we connected over that at breakfast 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:14.060 at IMC. So thank you for that introduction. Thank 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:18.509 you for... telling us telling about all those 00:05:18.509 --> 00:05:23.410 things i think uh it's really cool that i don't 00:05:23.410 --> 00:05:26.029 know i i love that we get one like yeah you like 00:05:26.029 --> 00:05:28.589 you said we made that connection and that we 00:05:28.589 --> 00:05:32.050 even though like um yeah sure we have we have 00:05:32.050 --> 00:05:33.649 that connection around software engineering software 00:05:33.649 --> 00:05:37.529 development and then um but then that's not how 00:05:37.529 --> 00:05:40.889 we connected we we connected through the max 00:05:40.889 --> 00:05:43.029 through the max one network because we both have 00:05:43.029 --> 00:05:46.069 this desire to grow and to grow others yes um 00:05:46.759 --> 00:05:49.980 So I think that's, I don't know. I think that's 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:51.459 really, really, I think, I don't know. I just 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:53.300 find that really inspiring. That's like, that's 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:59.639 how, that's how we met. Yeah, I agree. But with 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:03.980 this, now speaking of that, of how we met and 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:08.160 with, and with this podcast being called the 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:11.420 pursuit of calling, I want to specifically talk 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:13.480 about yours. And this is something I talk with 00:06:13.480 --> 00:06:16.740 all the guests about. From your perspective, 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.319 what is your purpose? What is your calling? Yeah. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:26.860 You know, I think after having worked for so 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:31.079 many years, one of the things that I feel that 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:34.540 I've been really lucky is that I've had the right 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:38.500 mentors in my life. And just dating back even 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:40.680 before that, before I started working, is just 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:44.079 the... thanks to my parents, it's the values 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:47.240 that they had instilled in me that still continues 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:50.839 in me. So a lot of my leadership is based on 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:53.100 the values. And that's why I think I got attracted 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:57.660 to Maxwell Leadership because of that. But having 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:00.660 accumulated so much experience right now, 32 00:07:00.660 --> 00:07:04.920 years of it, I really feel the need now to start 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:07.860 helping others. I feel like I was lucky enough 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:11.120 to accumulate all this good information. that 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.379 has served its purpose. And now I've become like 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:17.759 the reservoir of, you know, experience. I want 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:21.819 to be able to help others either by paying it 00:07:21.819 --> 00:07:25.899 forward with, you know, with upcoming professionals 00:07:25.899 --> 00:07:28.819 who are, who possibly are struggling the same 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:31.920 things I struggled with, but I figured out and 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:34.579 I know what the path forward is. So that's one 00:07:34.579 --> 00:07:36.779 of them. And then second is just with leadership. 00:07:37.300 --> 00:07:41.670 It's like leadership journey is not easy. It's 00:07:41.670 --> 00:07:45.870 not easy at all. And being able to, to be able 00:07:45.870 --> 00:07:48.449 to impart that knowledge and that experience 00:07:48.449 --> 00:07:51.569 to somebody who's up and coming in that role. 00:07:52.149 --> 00:07:55.550 I feel like that's, that's my calling right now. 00:07:55.670 --> 00:07:58.529 I feel like that's where I need to leave my legacy 00:07:58.529 --> 00:08:02.069 and saying, Hey, I've done this now. Let me help 00:08:02.069 --> 00:08:10.720 you. Yeah. And what is the, like, particular 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:15.839 way that you're that you're doing that so mentoring 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:21.819 is one of them right for sure because i do ucla 00:08:21.819 --> 00:08:25.300 has like a mentorship program for students i 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:27.639 enroll in that so that way i can mentor some 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:31.000 of the college students who are you know about 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:33.399 to graduate and trying to figure out okay what's 00:08:33.399 --> 00:08:38.200 next and a few feel about that Then even people 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.620 at my company, there's some people that are mentor. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:44.179 Now, this is besides, of course, leading them. 00:08:44.860 --> 00:08:49.279 So and then with the Maxwell leadership, that 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.200 was the whole reason why I got into it is being 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:57.240 able to focus my coaching on companies towards 00:08:57.240 --> 00:09:00.539 the leadership growth. So leadership development 00:09:00.539 --> 00:09:03.960 and leadership growth, because I think leadership 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.679 is one of the things that. it's a word that people 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.399 use very casually oh that person's a leader but 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:13.960 really not knowing not knowing exactly what does 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:16.679 leadership mean it's like it's not just management 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:20.519 right so i feel that that need is there in many 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.519 companies right now especially software companies 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:29.019 yeah and since you brought before you brought 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:32.879 up um the values that you've gotten from your 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.919 parents, and then you also just talked about 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:38.860 leadership isn't just management. Yeah. I'm curious 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:43.700 what these values are. Like, what are these values 00:09:43.700 --> 00:09:45.360 that cause you to see that leadership isn't just 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:50.539 management? Yeah. I'll tell you, the two key 00:09:50.539 --> 00:09:54.419 things that come to mind is integrity, for sure. 00:09:54.759 --> 00:10:01.529 Because standing the ground based on... integrity, 00:10:01.690 --> 00:10:03.990 like irrespective of how difficult a decision 00:10:03.990 --> 00:10:08.990 is, that is core. That is core to leadership. 00:10:09.649 --> 00:10:12.110 Whereas in management, a lot of times, you know, 00:10:12.110 --> 00:10:16.490 things are done more with a singular focus on, 00:10:16.590 --> 00:10:19.309 like, it's usually about how the company is performing. 00:10:20.429 --> 00:10:25.409 And it's not much about the integrity or valuing 00:10:25.409 --> 00:10:28.250 people even. That's the other thing that I strongly 00:10:28.250 --> 00:10:32.419 believe in is. Everything happens because people 00:10:32.419 --> 00:10:34.980 bring in the value. They are the most important 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:39.659 assets. And when that's the case, and as a leader, 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:41.259 you're thinking about, okay, what is the value 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:43.179 I can bring to the person because they are bringing 00:10:43.179 --> 00:10:46.399 value to me? That's number one. The integrity 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:49.820 part is no matter what happens, you know, stay 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:52.299 true to those principles, to your own principles. 00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.460 Because when you have those two things, I feel 00:10:55.460 --> 00:10:58.580 like, you know, any decision you make will always 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:09.779 be the right decision. I think this is something 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:13.679 I've heard multiple times. I've heard it from 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:17.059 Craig Rochelle, but I've also heard it in the 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:19.940 same sense from John Maxwell that everything 00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:24.580 rises and falls on leadership. Yes. Yes. Like 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:31.679 you were saying, Leadership focuses on the people 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:36.059 because they're the biggest asset to the company, 00:11:36.299 --> 00:11:39.059 biggest asset to a team, obviously, because if 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:41.360 there's no people, there's no team, and there's 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:45.539 no one to lead. Also, I think I'm remembering 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:49.679 John Maxwell saying, if you're leading and nobody's 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:51.179 following you, then you're just taking a walk. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:57.500 Yeah, exactly. Or are they being threatened to 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:00.639 follow? That's the thing, right? If are they 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:04.120 following willingly because they want to, or 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:07.220 are they falling because they're afraid and because 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:17.820 of fear? Yeah. Hmm. Hmm. I'm trying to decide 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:24.820 which direction to go. I, um, Hmm. How do you 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:27.649 make sure people, uh, how do you make sure people 00:12:27.649 --> 00:12:30.250 do want to follow? How do you, how do you incentivize? 00:12:30.750 --> 00:12:33.409 Is it incentive? Is it just through integrity 00:12:33.409 --> 00:12:38.730 of the leader? It's it is the integrity of the 00:12:38.730 --> 00:12:43.889 leader. I think when, when people, it's a couple 00:12:43.889 --> 00:12:47.669 of things. So one is that when people know that, 00:12:47.690 --> 00:12:53.269 that you care about them, right? Like, so let 00:12:53.269 --> 00:12:55.870 me take it from an organization standpoint, right? 00:12:55.950 --> 00:12:59.370 When, When people know, like my team, if they 00:12:59.370 --> 00:13:03.269 know I care about them, and if there is a particular 00:13:03.269 --> 00:13:05.669 vision in mind and we are trying to strive for 00:13:05.669 --> 00:13:09.710 that, they will follow the reason being that 00:13:09.710 --> 00:13:13.429 they know the person, the leader, cares about 00:13:13.429 --> 00:13:15.429 them and would not do anything to jeopardize 00:13:15.429 --> 00:13:18.250 them or to jeopardize anything that will hurt 00:13:18.250 --> 00:13:22.710 them. When that trust is there, they will be 00:13:22.710 --> 00:13:25.879 willing to go out of their way. to be able to 00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:29.179 work with that leader and do what is needed. 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:34.440 Now, on the other hand, if there is any hint 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:39.419 of hidden agendas, then that constant doubt is 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:41.940 going to creep up going, why am I going to follow 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:43.980 you? Why am I going to do what you're telling 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:48.779 me to do? What's in it for me? The moment that 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:50.740 question comes up, what's in it for me? Then 00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.129 you know that the leader is not. successfully 00:13:53.129 --> 00:13:57.149 communicated or expressed or shown that they 00:13:57.149 --> 00:14:07.169 actually care for the people like um before this 00:14:07.169 --> 00:14:09.190 recording i was telling you like i i keep the 00:14:09.190 --> 00:14:13.190 questions kind of like they're open because a 00:14:13.190 --> 00:14:14.590 lot of the time because i already asked you like 00:14:14.590 --> 00:14:16.909 five questions i would didn't have i didn't send 00:14:16.909 --> 00:14:20.129 you and it's like because like i want this uh 00:14:20.129 --> 00:14:23.509 i that's why i love um, just interviewing. That's 00:14:23.509 --> 00:14:25.389 why I, I even love coaching. That's why I love 00:14:25.389 --> 00:14:27.269 coaching. Cause I get to get to have a conversation. 00:14:27.769 --> 00:14:31.929 That's right. Um, and, uh, I, I, I thrive in 00:14:31.929 --> 00:14:35.330 the, in the one -on -one, uh, one -on -one conversations. 00:14:36.450 --> 00:14:40.870 Um, and speaking of those one -on -one conversations, 00:14:41.070 --> 00:14:44.389 like where I want to, I want to go back to, um, 00:14:44.610 --> 00:14:47.049 you, uh, whenever you were on stage, you getting 00:14:47.049 --> 00:14:50.710 coached by Valerie Burton. And I'm wondering 00:14:50.710 --> 00:14:56.250 if you could give us like a quick, I'll say like, 00:14:56.309 --> 00:14:59.210 give us like a quick, I guess a quick synopsis 00:14:59.210 --> 00:15:02.370 or like what, give us a bit of an understanding 00:15:02.370 --> 00:15:04.110 from your perspective about that experience. 00:15:06.330 --> 00:15:09.549 Yeah, that was, first of all, it was like, I 00:15:09.549 --> 00:15:12.090 think an experience that I'm going to cherish 00:15:12.090 --> 00:15:16.649 for my life. It's just a number one being coached 00:15:16.649 --> 00:15:20.389 by Valerie Burton. And then just, watching her 00:15:20.389 --> 00:15:23.549 brilliance come through as a coach that that 00:15:23.549 --> 00:15:26.809 was amazing that was yeah transforming for sure 00:15:26.809 --> 00:15:32.950 the um i know um and i'm sorry i'm gonna have 00:15:32.950 --> 00:15:35.629 you please repeat the question because the moment 00:15:35.629 --> 00:15:37.769 you said i kind of it transferred me back to 00:15:37.769 --> 00:15:42.950 that day no worries no um first i'll say uh for 00:15:42.950 --> 00:15:45.570 those who don't know who valerie burton is uh 00:15:45.570 --> 00:15:48.889 you can look her up but also I'll say that she 00:15:48.889 --> 00:15:55.929 is the, I would say, the lead coach, I guess 00:15:55.929 --> 00:15:58.309 you could say. She is a person that, through 00:15:58.309 --> 00:16:04.090 Maxwell Leadership, she's the trainer who does 00:16:04.090 --> 00:16:07.149 all of the teachings and coaching training for 00:16:07.149 --> 00:16:12.850 the Maxwell Leadership team. And then she's had 00:16:12.850 --> 00:16:15.049 her own coaching practice. She has had her own 00:16:15.049 --> 00:16:20.259 coaching practice, multiple books. And she's 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:22.700 honestly brilliant when it comes to helping people 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:25.639 grow and realize their potential. So if you want 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:28.779 to look her up, find her books, I highly recommend 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:32.240 you do that. But the question to Raksha was, 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:38.820 what can you tell us about that experience? Oh, 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:42.580 sure. Yeah. So I think, you know, one of the 00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:45.179 things obviously being. on stage in front of 00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:51.500 about 2 ,000, 2 ,500 people. Initially, when 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:54.500 it went on, I think I was in there to really 00:16:54.500 --> 00:17:01.019 try to get past that mental block I've had. Because 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:04.660 since I'm working full time, I kind of have been 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:07.799 in the same career for so long, right? So stepping 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:10.339 into this coaching thing and trying to go out 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:13.079 and have the confidence to. talk to people about 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:16.400 coaching. I was having this constant mental block 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.059 about, am I good enough? You know, what are they 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:21.259 thinking? Why will they want to go with me? So 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:24.440 all those questions that I know, it just keeps, 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:28.079 you know, stopping us, right? And it's really 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.519 intense. When I found out that I would get coached 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:33.539 by her, I was like, I really wish something comes 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:35.500 out of this because I was getting very frustrated 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:40.539 with myself. So once we got on stage and she 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:42.960 said, it's just you and me here. You're not going 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:47.599 to worry about anybody else. And I really took 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:50.380 that word for it. I'm like, okay, it's you and 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:51.980 me here. I'm going to focus on you, Valerie. 00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:57.619 But when she started talking, somehow she did 00:17:57.619 --> 00:18:01.339 build that little, like, you know, the thing 00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:05.660 around us that I was. Except when people laughed 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:09.519 or clapped or something that came up, I was really 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.880 oblivious to the crowd. I don't know how she 00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:16.900 did it, but she did it. So that was one. And 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:22.240 then the second is she showed the power of presence 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:25.220 as a coach. And since I'm training to be a coach 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:27.839 now, so that was the second biggest takeaway, 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:34.579 the way she held my attention. The way she held 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:40.119 the moment, like with her presence and with her 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:44.980 eye contact and just the questioning, right? 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:48.779 It was just so intense and it was just so, like 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:51.839 I was in there just like going through my brain, 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:59.660 finding answers myself. And I did not really 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:04.640 expect that being on stage. Yeah, so it just, 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:11.319 I was just, yeah, I was just in awe at what she 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:16.259 was able to have me realize with her questions. 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:20.920 Yeah. What kind of things were that? What kind 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:24.460 of things did you realize? I think the biggest 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:29.220 thing was, you know, it's okay for me to take 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:33.400 risks. I've taken risks all my life. And this 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:35.440 one time, I don't know why I was hesitating. 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:38.680 It's like, what if they say no? And the biggest 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:41.099 takeaway I had is, which I still have in front 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:44.140 of my computer here is, I'm willing to hear a 00:19:44.140 --> 00:19:48.380 no till I hear a yes. That was the biggest thing 00:19:48.380 --> 00:19:51.259 I came away with. And it's still like, it's on 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:55.819 my post -it right in front of me. And every morning 00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.900 it reminds me like, you know, I have a purpose. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:01.319 And the second thing I wrote down. which is after 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:04.180 actually I read this in a book, was get over 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:06.339 yourself so you can give yourself to others. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.539 The whole concept of, okay, what is my why right 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:14.339 now is to bring my value. And there's people 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:20.660 that can benefit, somebody. And if there is a 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:26.099 match, there will be a yes. And if there is no 00:20:26.099 --> 00:20:28.259 match, it'll be a no, and it's okay, which means 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:31.609 they don't. They don't need my, what I have to 00:20:31.609 --> 00:20:36.309 offer. Right. Yeah. So I think it kind of helped 00:20:36.309 --> 00:20:39.910 me detach myself from it in that equation. Yeah. 00:20:40.089 --> 00:20:43.109 As a person and instead kind of look at it as, 00:20:43.269 --> 00:20:47.130 okay, Raksha, your why right now is you've accumulated 00:20:47.130 --> 00:20:50.049 all this knowledge that you want to start giving 00:20:50.049 --> 00:20:54.349 to people. And when that person finds me, when 00:20:54.349 --> 00:20:56.730 I find that person, that match is going to happen 00:20:56.730 --> 00:21:00.480 automatically. Don't force it. So the whole thing, 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:02.619 the pressure is putting like, oh, I need this 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:05.319 business. Like they need to say, yes, I'm forcing 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:08.680 it. I'm forcing it with my own, introducing my 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:11.359 personality in there rather than saying it's 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:15.700 all about value. Yeah. So I think that's what 00:21:15.700 --> 00:21:18.460 it was. I think that's what kind of clicked in 00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:24.700 me during that conversation. And it's just stuck 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:28.390 by me. I'm pretty bold right now. sending out 00:21:28.390 --> 00:21:31.950 what i'm doing it's not with a bated breath saying 00:21:31.950 --> 00:21:35.430 what if what if nothing no i'm just like i send 00:21:35.430 --> 00:21:39.869 it out if i hear back i will that the goal now 00:21:39.869 --> 00:21:47.809 is just add value where i can yeah yeah wow so 00:21:47.809 --> 00:21:51.509 it's actually kind of funny because earlier today 00:21:51.509 --> 00:21:55.130 i was talking with um my coach earlier today 00:21:55.130 --> 00:21:59.880 about working on getting more no's so i get the 00:21:59.880 --> 00:22:04.779 yes and i um for those who are listening i most 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:07.059 people that are listening aren't coaches aren't 00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:10.400 looking for um most people i would say aren't 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:14.619 coaches aren't looking for the uh um like maybe 00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:16.220 aren't looking for those one -on -one coaching 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:18.119 clients or maybe aren't even looking for clients 00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:20.680 they're they're working a full -time job like 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:23.980 i'm wondering if we can have a conversation about 00:22:24.589 --> 00:22:27.210 I'm thinking about it right now because I want 00:22:27.210 --> 00:22:30.150 to practically apply that to other people's lives. 00:22:35.049 --> 00:22:41.150 I'm curious, how would you apply that to somebody's 00:22:41.150 --> 00:22:46.869 life that isn't necessarily looking for that 00:22:46.869 --> 00:22:50.750 one -on -one coaching client? Somebody that is 00:22:50.750 --> 00:22:55.079 like... Well, I have some thoughts, but what 00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:57.740 would you think about that? Yeah. And you're 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.500 talking about what I learned as part of this 00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:03.299 coaching session with Valerie? Yes. Yeah. I think, 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:06.000 you know, it applies in every field, Thomas, 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:09.380 because, you know, even at my work, right? It's 00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:13.240 just as an example. Yeah. At my work, because 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:16.000 I lead a team of people. I'm part of the senior 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.460 leadership team. And previously I used to hesitate. 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:22.900 Like, I'm like. What will they think? Because 00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:25.660 I wanted to introduce some of the concepts and 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:28.519 ideas we are learning through Maxwell, right? 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:31.599 And it's great content, right? All about leadership. 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:35.000 And my hesitation, and I'll tell you, like I 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:39.079 started Maxwell program in October, 2024. So 00:23:39.079 --> 00:23:41.420 in December, I was like, okay, I have this presentation 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:45.700 I want to bring to the team. Never did it. Never 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:49.099 did it. It took me till after coming back from 00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:53.980 IMC. with that same realization that the reason 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:56.279 I was not doing it is because I was constantly 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:59.200 afraid of getting judged, being judged. Now, 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:02.400 why is that coming into my mind? Again, I'm introducing 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:06.339 myself in there as a person to be evaluated rather 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:09.039 than saying, I have something that I want to 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:11.900 share with the team that I know will be valuable 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:15.480 because I found it very valuable. And now that 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:18.619 I have that mindset, I'm like, I had one session 00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:22.160 with our team two weeks back. We meet every other 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:25.059 week. So now I plan to bring in law of connection 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:29.079 to the team to talk about that. And it's just 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:31.339 that now I'm thinking it's just the value I'm 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:33.319 bringing. I have something I'm going to share 00:24:33.319 --> 00:24:38.359 with you. And so I can see even for your listeners, 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:41.420 right? This is nothing to do with coaching per 00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:44.599 se. It's really about the mindset. If you're 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:46.440 doing anything that you're thinking about, I 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:49.559 want to add value to people, then it does not 00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:52.380 matter whether they like me or not, because that's 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:55.420 irrelevant at that point. It's really about, 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:58.259 can they do something with that material that 00:24:58.259 --> 00:25:02.019 I have, that I can provide to you? And whether 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:04.259 they can use it or not, it's really up to them. 00:25:04.299 --> 00:25:08.160 It depends. Some of them might want and use it. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:13.730 Some of them might have no use for it. and some 00:25:13.730 --> 00:25:15.930 of them might have a need for it but might decide 00:25:15.930 --> 00:25:18.250 not to use it so it can be it can go any other 00:25:18.250 --> 00:25:20.710 way but it's up to that person who's receiving 00:25:20.710 --> 00:25:25.970 it at that point yeah like like um yeah like 00:25:25.970 --> 00:25:28.150 wondering like how can i add value to more people 00:25:28.150 --> 00:25:30.890 like how can i add value how can how can i add 00:25:30.890 --> 00:25:33.289 value and not worry about like you were saying 00:25:33.289 --> 00:25:35.529 not worrying about if they disregard it completely 00:25:35.529 --> 00:25:44.460 yeah yeah exactly like i um I think I have, I've 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:46.299 talked with people before, whether it's coaching 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:51.220 clients or not, that they want to be more of 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:53.319 a light in the world. Like that's one of their 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:58.000 big goals is to add value to more people. And 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.980 it's, so I like that you made that connection. 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:04.599 It's like the worry that whenever we, the worry 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:09.059 that we have about how like whether we can actually 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:11.180 add value to people or not it a lot of and what 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:16.579 holds us back a lot is is imposing some sort 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:19.400 of imposing that person's judgment on yourself 00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:25.880 before it even happens yep and yeah so it's like 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:28.279 it's really just being able to go and say like 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.720 you said like i have some i being confident in 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:32.599 yourself and being willing to say like i have 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:36.759 something that will be that is valuable to others 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.940 because it because it was value is valuable to 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:42.339 me first and that it's valuable to me and now 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:44.700 i'm making it available to others so if there's 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:46.920 value for them they're gonna take it and run 00:26:46.920 --> 00:26:53.119 with it yeah yeah because i cannot say some concept 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:56.779 that helped me might help another person all 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:59.420 i can do is present and say here's how it helped 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:03.670 me now the other person might go Oh, I have no 00:27:03.670 --> 00:27:07.329 use for it, right? Yeah. I don't control that, 00:27:07.390 --> 00:27:13.130 though. I don't control that. I like the purpose 00:27:13.130 --> 00:27:16.190 question. One of the purpose questions that Valerie 00:27:16.190 --> 00:27:20.950 gave us during the coaching training. My favorite 00:27:20.950 --> 00:27:25.309 one is, how do people's lives improve having 00:27:25.309 --> 00:27:31.759 crossed your path? Yeah. And I think... that 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:35.519 like that that's like the one that i think i've 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:37.480 asked that to all my clients and that always 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:39.920 opens up their eyes to be like wow i never really 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:42.279 thought about my life that way yeah i'm actually 00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:44.880 adding i can add people value to people's lives 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:47.859 just through the value through the values i already 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:52.319 hold yeah like you were saying before yeah and 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:56.700 it's like i say i've said that I've used that 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:58.700 question a lot on previous episodes of this podcast, 00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:01.700 and I don't think I'm going to stop because it's 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:04.799 one of the most valuable questions I've gotten 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:07.660 out of that training. It's like, how do you want, 00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:12.339 like, I know, like, I have my own personal, my 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:14.220 own personal, like, I don't know what you call 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.759 it, the vision statement, the mission statement, 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:19.599 and like, to provide people with the tools they 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:23.119 need to successfully discover and pursue their 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:31.359 calling. I, and I like what Valerie has said 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:34.700 in previous, in like training that I just listened 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:36.400 to recently. It's like, then like what comes 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:39.279 before that even? Like what comes before you 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:42.019 provide, what comes before I provide the tool 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:44.359 is I actually have to find the tool. And then 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:46.160 I have to apply it. And then I use it. And then 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:48.339 I find the value in it. And then I provide it 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:55.839 to other people. completely resonate with what 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:59.700 you're saying yeah you know that that point you 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:02.900 just made is a great point it's like in order 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:06.039 to offer that value first you have to be able 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:09.799 to collect that information and apply it to see 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:12.359 how it's adding value to you right and then only 00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:14.700 you can then offer it and say here's what i think 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:17.740 it is so going through like even this coaching 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:22.180 program right that that's part of training myself 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:25.039 and making sure that like doing the peer coaching, 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:27.960 being on stage with Valerie, it's like me to 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:33.200 see how coaching and the powerful questions can 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:36.920 be of value. And then in turn, being able to 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:41.099 offer that to somebody else. Yeah, I think that 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:45.059 applying it to self is so critical first. Now 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:47.319 you're doing that right now by taking what you 00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:50.480 gained in that coaching session, and now you're 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:52.740 able to share it with more people here. Yes. 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:56.279 You probably shared it the next day. Whenever 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:57.960 you got back from IMC, you were able to share 00:29:57.960 --> 00:30:03.099 it with other members at the company, other family 00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:08.259 members. It's something that happens that's so 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:11.579 profound. It's hard not to share it with other 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:17.220 people. Yeah, I think the biggest thing that 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.740 I brought back that I've been using is that the 00:30:19.740 --> 00:30:26.200 presence. So being able to, with my coaching 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:28.779 clients that I have and also with peer coaching 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:32.759 is like being present the way Valerie was present 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:36.519 for me. Yeah, that's one of the things for sure 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:42.200 I've carried forward with my clients. Yeah. I 00:30:42.200 --> 00:30:45.539 think that's huge, because it takes a lot, even 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:50.960 in everyday conversations, to be present. I think 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:54.299 this is a good place to end it off, and we'll 00:30:54.299 --> 00:30:56.900 go through the final questions, and we'll go 00:30:56.900 --> 00:31:01.240 from there. So, based off of our conversation 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:07.339 today, and when it comes to personal growth, 00:31:07.640 --> 00:31:10.420 development, pursuing your calling, what kind 00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:14.680 of resources do you typically recommend to people? 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:23.420 So I, I read a lot of books. Obviously right 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:25.759 now it's like with John Maxwell's books quite 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:30.079 a bit. And then podcasts, you know, there's so 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:34.279 many podcasts out there, particularly I, again, 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:38.789 I think. Based on my day, sometimes I'm just 00:31:38.789 --> 00:31:40.750 like, I've got my headphones on and listening 00:31:40.750 --> 00:31:44.130 to Maxwell Leadership Executive Podcast. I'm 00:31:44.130 --> 00:31:47.430 also as part of the John Maxwell program. I like 00:31:47.430 --> 00:31:52.309 their speaking lane. And so I listen to a lot 00:31:52.309 --> 00:31:57.130 of Roddy's also, his podcast. And then Mel Robbins 00:31:57.130 --> 00:32:00.630 is the other one that I enjoy listening to. But 00:32:00.630 --> 00:32:02.849 certainly podcasts because there's so much knowledge 00:32:02.849 --> 00:32:07.220 out there. That's so easy to listen to and try 00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:11.000 to benefit from it. Let's see. The others are 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:14.619 the TEDx and TED Talks. I love listening to TED 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:19.559 Talks. And once again, it's like, be it about 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:23.140 leadership or encouragement, about resilience, 00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:27.200 so many different topics. I enjoy listening to 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:31.500 that. Or self -help, self -improvement. Yes, 00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:36.220 I usually... I tend to, so usually it'll be like, 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:39.940 you know, TEDx talks or podcasts. If I have time 00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:43.059 to sit down with a book, I'm not like an audiobook 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:46.240 person. I have to have the paper in my hand. 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:49.339 So usually reading books means I'm really taking 00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:53.539 time to sit down and read. So I can't do it on 00:32:53.539 --> 00:33:01.579 the go. And well, thank you for those. And like 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:05.710 for the final question. You know, John always 00:33:05.710 --> 00:33:08.809 asks the question, who do you know that I should 00:33:08.809 --> 00:33:12.230 know? Or in other words, I like to ask, who would 00:33:12.230 --> 00:33:14.809 you recommend I connect with or who would be 00:33:14.809 --> 00:33:19.890 great to have as a guest on the podcast? I think, 00:33:19.910 --> 00:33:22.690 you know, I feel like any of our Maxwell team 00:33:22.690 --> 00:33:27.869 members, they are so passionate about adding 00:33:27.869 --> 00:33:32.009 value to people. And I feel like they'd be great. 00:33:33.289 --> 00:33:37.230 Because all of them have, again, in consistent 00:33:37.230 --> 00:33:40.069 to your theme, right, about pursuit of calling. 00:33:40.369 --> 00:33:43.750 I feel any of the team members would be such 00:33:43.750 --> 00:33:48.269 awesome guests for you on your show. The other 00:33:48.269 --> 00:33:52.990 person that came to mind is my first company 00:33:52.990 --> 00:33:55.829 that I worked for. He was the founder and CEO, 00:33:56.190 --> 00:34:01.390 Frank Peters. He's moved since to Santa Barbara. 00:34:02.410 --> 00:34:04.970 And living a retired life there, but a very active 00:34:04.970 --> 00:34:10.929 retired life. So he's trying to work and he's 00:34:10.929 --> 00:34:16.030 trying to get more bicyclists and less vehicles 00:34:16.030 --> 00:34:21.050 in Santa Barbara. And he has this podcast, I 00:34:21.050 --> 00:34:23.710 think it's called Santa Barbara Cyclist. But 00:34:23.710 --> 00:34:26.570 yeah, he would be a great one because talk about 00:34:26.570 --> 00:34:31.760 just having that calling in life. be that single 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:33.820 person who's trying to make that change i can't 00:34:33.820 --> 00:34:35.639 even imagine like having something like that 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:39.519 in mind and going after it but he is and he's 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:41.679 making like you know small difference and in 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:44.840 his own way making changes yeah which i think 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:49.739 is very powerful oh that's awesome well i'm definitely 00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:52.059 gonna i'll look him up and i don't know if you 00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:53.960 have any content information but i'll uh but 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:56.639 either way i'll look him up and reach out um 00:34:56.639 --> 00:35:00.719 well thank you thank you um But yeah, thank you 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:04.360 for being a guest on the podcast. Really appreciate 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:08.519 it. Thank you, Thomas. I really appreciate you 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:12.699 asking me that night at breakfast. And I'm really 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:15.659 glad our paths crossed because I enjoyed the 00:35:15.659 --> 00:35:18.260 conversation with you that day when we were at 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:22.539 breakfast and since then. So looking forward 00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:26.219 to seeing your progress too. Thank you. Yeah, 00:35:26.360 --> 00:35:32.460 no, I agree. meeting at breakfast that day. I 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.639 don't know, meeting at breakfast, meeting at 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:39.199 elevator that morning. It was great. But to all 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:41.159 the listeners, thank you for listening to this 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:43.920 episode of the Pursuit of Calling podcast. You 00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:47.440 know, to go out on all the platforms and give 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:49.880 this episode, give this podcast a five -star 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:52.019 review, share the episode with your friends, 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:54.820 share it with, share it out on all social media 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:58.230 platforms with your mom, your dad. Whoever you 00:35:58.230 --> 00:36:01.650 believe will truly benefit from this conversation. 00:36:02.670 --> 00:36:06.250 And guys, thank you for listening again. I'll 00:36:06.250 --> 00:36:07.750 see you next time. Keep pursuing your calling.