SPEAKER_02 0:02

Have you ever met someone who is incredibly talented, hardworking, intelligent but yet still doubts themselves? Now, why do so many capable people struggle with confidence, communication, self-belief, and clarity? And especially in today's hyper competitive world. See, and in time where everyone is chasing success, what actually helps someone go professionally without losing themselves in the process? So today's conversation is going to answer exactly that. So hello everyone, and welcome to the Kapal Gupta Career Pod Show, the podcast where we explore the deeper side of careers, confidence, mindset, growth, and personal transformation. I'm your host, Kapal Gupta, and today's episode is especially important for students, young professionals, aspiring leaders, and honestly, anyone trying to navigate modern career pressure while still staying true to themselves. Our guest today is someone who works deeply in the areas of confidence, communication, behavioral growth, workplace effectiveness, and leadership development. She's the founder of Vision Void, a corporate trainer, confidence and career coach, and someone who has impacted more than 5,000 lives through her workshops, mentoring, and transformational sessions. And through her work, she helps people become more self-aware, communicate more effectively, build stronger confidence, and grow professionally with clarity and authenticity. And what I personally love about her approach is that she doesn't just talk about external success, she talks about the internal foundations behind success. So please join me in welcoming Riddi Owara. Thank you, thank you on the show.

SPEAKER_00 2:37

Really glad to be here.

SPEAKER_02 2:39

Thank you, thank you. The pleasure is all mine. It's really wonderful to you agree to have be part of my pod show. So thank you. Thank you for coming. And I'm sure the curiosity or the excitement I'm feeling later on that will be shifted to my audience also.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Yes, absolutely. And thank you so much for a lovely welcome and introduction. Really pleasant.

SPEAKER_02 3:05

You deserve it. I've seen your work so much. So it's really wonderful to be to have you here. So uh before you know uh wasting any more time because I know you are a busy person. So let's begin with your own story first, right? So, how about that?

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Lovely, sure. Let's let's get into it. Um so yeah, go.

unknown 3:35

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 3:35

So see, uh, what I read about you, and you know, you have had multiple pivots on your own journey before building Vision Void. So I would love to know that what experiences shaped you personally and what made you choose confidence, communication, personal leadership as your life's work.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

That's a great question. And uh I just feel like uh pivots, if you go out and look online, pivots are really glamorized, but nobody really sees the kind of discomfort that one feels when they are pivoting. So um there were multiple points in my life when I felt like, oh, this is not working, let me just move to the next. Like, so for example, I went to the UK to pursue my master's in entrepreneurship. Uh when I was at UCL, I was building something in the education space because I knew that I I always was very attracted to the education space and I wanted to build something there. So when I was there, a lot of people started reaching out to me uh on my LinkedIn and they said, How did you get into a university like UCL? You know, and I had gotten into a couple of such universities, like top universities there, and then naturally I started helping them with that process. And I started doing that professionally when I was there, like I was still living in the UK, so it all started as an education consultancy. But when I moved to India after my time there, I realized that there's a bigger gap in the market. There's everyone's doing education consulting, but what after they graduate? No one's helping them out with jobs, you know, people are really struggling to get jobs. So then I pivoted to career coaching where I was helping people with their resumes, interview prep, anything that can get them a better job opportunity. Um, but as a coach, my job is to reflect and to sort of, you know, always run towards alignment. So I wasn't feeling very fulfilled in that uh particular role where everything was going right, people were getting jobs, and on paper it looked amazing. My business was doing well, but I wasn't feeling accomplished at the end of the day, or I didn't feel like I created an impact, you know. So, naturally, for me, the biggest thing that I've worked on for the whole life, like since I was a child, was confidence, you know, because growing up I did not have a mentor. Uh, my parents were not too involved in my life or my work, so I had to figure things out myself. And every time I figure it out, I saw a very different reality. I saw opportunities just you know come to me. Like I was a scared little kid. But when I grew, when I put myself into a lot of discomforting situations, I grew so much. The kind of opportunities that came to me, it was crazy, and I wanted people to experience that. So, yeah, that's when I decided to move into confidence coaching, and a lot of leaders, um, especially in corporate environments, really, you know, struggle with confidence issues, communication issues, and this this just felt like the perfect alignment point for me. So, this is how I have personally dealt with civits in my life.

unknown 6:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:51

So true, uh Ridhi, and really resonate with this because you know, I am myself in the career coaching for the past 15 years, and you know, there's a difference between literacy and education. But most of the times we are running after literacy only. But what you are doing right now is actually you are educating the people because only through education can we make maximum out of our literacy, right? So that is definitely a really well thought of career. And I I could sense that you are a person who keeps on raising her own bar, right? And that's a beautiful thing about you, so lovely. And you know, even I have personally observed is that today's generation is like more connected than ever digitally, right? 100%, yes, but emotionally and professionally, many people still feel deeply lost. So, which brings me to this that you work with ambitious students, professionals, leaders across different stages of their careers. Am I right? Yes, when I say that, yes, okay. So, what do you think people are struggling with the most professionally right now, beyond just finding a job?

SPEAKER_00 8:16

I think that's a beautiful question because um not everyone likes to talk about this. Like if you go on social media, people are just posting I'm quitting my nine to five or I'm starting this business, or maybe I'm hustling into my nine to five, but nobody is really asking the deeper question, am I really happy doing what I'm doing? You know, and a lot of people who come to me, they say that I'm stuck, but they don't know why they are stuck because uh the sad part is everything is looking rosy, everything is looking great on paper, like they are a high achiever, right? A high achiever meaning you're scoring like hundred marks. So then when you're uh when your external proof looks so good, how can you really, you know, look inside and say, Oh, something is wrong? So I think that is something that you know, deep down all these individuals know that there is something lacking, you know, there's something missing. Uh, but nobody really has the patience, or nobody really has that kind of awareness to sit with them, sit with themselves and really listen to their gut feeling. Because we all have that gut feeling, you know, like when I knew that career coaching is not the only thing, you know, there's more to it. So we all have that feeling that there's more to it, but we really need to hear that feeling, sit with ourselves and take action towards it. So if we feel like, okay, I'm not happy in this job, okay, then what are my options? What can I do other than this job? If I were to quit tomorrow, then what is it? So I'm not asking people to quit, but while they are in it, it's just about reflection. You know, nobody's so the beautiful part is you can be in that situation, you can have your safety net, but you can also plan for a better life while being there. So I I just feel like uh there's a lack of self-trust that um you know I've observed in most of these people that um when you when you lack self-trust, what happens is you don't take action because uh you don't trust yourself enough to get through the situation if you were to fail. And that self-trust only builds when you take action. So it's like a loop, you know, it's like a never-ending loop that people get into, but that self-trust only builds when you know you take action like a hundred times, it compounds, and then you tell yourself your mind is just like, oh wow, you did it then, I can do it again. So that is the self-trust and the action part that that will bridge the gap for a lot of people, but it's just about having that awareness and going through that reflection journey that you know they will understand the gaps that lie

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SPEAKER_00 10:55

there.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

I fully agree uh with that point, uh Riddhi. And if I want to add to this, what you

(Cont.) Confidence, Communication & Career Growth: Lessons from Riddhi Pobara

SPEAKER_02 11:43

have said. See now building self-trust. Now that is also a pro. There was a time, you know, like 20 years back, 30 years back, people used to say, okay, we have completed our graduation or we have completed our masters, our studies are over. But nowadays it's not the same. You have to be upgrading yourself all the time. And only those people who upgrade themselves, I believe, they can build their self-trust because they know they are still relevant in the industry, isn't it? So 100% that's true. So yes now, because this is what you have just mentioned, it's really interesting for everyone to understand that if you have any mid-career crisis, maybe you are not upgrading yourself, right? So you are just stuck there. So, but internally, because sometimes you do feel some people are really successful, but as you said, internally they must might be doubting themselves, right? So you have worked with many high achievers over the years. So, what patterns do you repeatedly notice in people who appear successful externally but internally struggle with confidence?

SPEAKER_00 12:59

Um, you know, this is this is such a common thing that I notice in most people, be it a junior manager, be it a senior manager, be it a CXO. This is something that I've always observed, and that is misalignment. And when I say like it might sound like a very big word, but when you break it down, it just means that people are so disconnected from their own values, their own strengths, their own definition of success, that they're always looking at other people, they're always seeing, okay, what is working, what is trending, what is success for others, and then they are following that path. You know, instead of having their own definition of success. And usually when people are disconnected from their values, what happens is um, you know, you feel very uncomfortable because you are in a self-conflict, because you are a certain kind of person, but you are put in a different environment that doesn't resonate with the person you are, you are naturally gonna feel uncomfortable. So, like the biggest example could be let's say if someone's values, top three values are freedom, you know, chaos, or someone who really loves building things. And if you put them in a corporate environment, how will they survive? They will be in a conflict, like a self-conflict every single day. So at times it's not that you are underperforming or you're not good enough. At times, it just means like probably you're not very aligned with your values, you're not in the best of environments that you need to be. Now, put the same person in a startup environment, they will thrive, you know, because of their natural instinct to build, take ownership of things. So, yeah, I think it's a lot about again sitting and doing that internal work. What is my personality type? You know, there's the 16 personalities tests that people can take to understand what kind of a personality do I have in my workplace and my life, then uh doing a values assessment, you know, sitting and understanding. I mean, they can go back to their past and make imagine like what kind of decisions did I make based on what? Now, again, a lot of people also feel stuck because they're like, we can't make decisions. How can you make decisions when your values are down? You make decisions, most of the times you make decisions in your life based on your value systems. So I think they are just basically chasing someone else's version of the dream or the success. But when you really, really sit and understand yourself better, it gets easier, it gets like the decision making becomes easier, and that action part also becomes easier. And honestly, the good news is that once you like start doing this reflection, some journaling in the right direction, asking the right questions to yourself, that stuck feeling starts to dissolve, like it starts to go away. So there is a solution, you know. It's not that this is the dead end, is what I personally feel.

SPEAKER_02 15:48

No, that's okay. See, obviously, we always say that every problem has a solution. If there's a problem, there has to be a solution also. But honestly, I think there is, you know, this is something our education system really prepares for people for, you know. We spend years and years building technical skills. So the new education policy talks about the life skills and all, but then there's a conflict with the parents. Parents are always pressurizing, you know, get more marks, get good degrees, and be an engineer, then you will be successful, and without even knowing that even 50% of engineers are unemployed in a country, right? So being an engineer is not a guarantee of job. But then, if you would have seen that parents, even with ourselves, right? When we were getting, you know, studying in schools and colleges, parents were kind of grooming us for good jobs. You know, grow up, yes, get education, and become an entrepreneur, right? Absolutely. It's a very common statement, pallo, achievable. Your future will be secure. So that is like unknowingly, parents are grooming us to be you know employees only, right? Absolutely. So, but so, and additionally, because of that, we have very little time for you know building communications, self-awareness, and emotional confidence. And you know, sometimes, uh, in very rare form or raw form, I would say, uh, I tell the students, TK, you have a degree, uh, you have an engineering degree. Now, that engineering degree is an entry, or you can say the qualification for an interview to appear for the interview. But your communication skill will get you a job.

SPEAKER_00 17:44

Absolutely. And the communication, the exact communication skill will get them to the next level. So if you're looking for a promotion, uh like if you have to be a leader, a leader needs to communicate. That's the primary thing people look for, you know, when you're a leader, can you collaborate? Can you communicate? Can you really come up, you know, with a solution for things? So these are the soft skills that actually take you ahead in life. You know, your technical skills can only get you to a certain level. You're absolutely right to highlight that.

unknown 18:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:15

So, with this thing in mind, if I ask you what role do soft skills really play in a career growth today, right? And in most situations, uh, I would say is communication becoming even more powerful than technical ability?

SPEAKER_00 18:31

Yes, yes. I mean, a lot of people would hate me for saying this, but uh I I 100% believe like uh soft scope skills have a very, very big role to play in um you know getting someone to the next level or getting them a career that's sustainable. Because um I think majority of the people who come to me are people who are so they have solid technical skills, they are subject matter specialists, right? So they can you give them a task and they'll be able to solve, but nobody is ready to promote them. Nobody is, you know, they come to me because they can't become leaders, they want to become leaders, but they can't, they are stuck at that level. So I I just would say that it is super important for people who are in school right now, high school, or even in their early ages or early years of college, you know, first year, second year, or even third year, to really invest in soft skills because the kind of soft skills that you get at this level, because you're starting your career with that habit, you know, of giving equal importance to soft skills and hard skills. Because as and when you grow, it becomes difficult for you to adapt to a different system, you know. But when you walk into the whole career journey with this uh perspective that both are necessary for my growth, then it becomes easier for you to grow as well. So 100% like invest a lot of time into doing internships because they are a they are one of the best ways to learn, right? Like go get your hands dirty. It's not just obviously you should do some courses, but at the same time, for students especially, they should focus on getting a lot of practical exposure before they go for their masters or their further education because this really really makes sure that whatever they are learning, even on those stages, it becomes more relevant, it becomes more application-based rather than just theoretical, you know. So 100% I completely agree with you that soft skills has a very, very big role, and uh soft skills like problem solving, you know, specifically like communication, as you highlighted, problem solving, decision making. Um, I don't just train uh individuals, I also train corporates. So the biggest problem that founders come to me with is just train my team to be better decision makers, train my team to you know be more ownership driven, to be more collaborative. And these are the skills that no university teaches you. But it's something that as an individual, you have to take the lead and you have to go out there and learn these skills because they are very much appreciated, be it the corporate world, be it the startup world, you know, whichever world they want to be a part of.

SPEAKER_02 21:11

Right, right. And see, for being better decision makers, we must have clarity of thought. Until and unless you have that, you cannot decide properly. And talking about communication, I would say it's so important, not only professionally, though both of us are in the career space, but we know that even personal life will be better if we have good communication skills, right? And then we all know that being a topper is not a guarantee for success, right? Many a times backbenches are able to be better uh successfully in careers because they've done all that problem solving from this cool is because they were always in a fix, you know, or they were working on that. But yes, that's such an important point that you have mentioned. And I think one word that constantly comes up in career conversations today is confidence, right? And everyone wants it, right? But very few people actually understand it. And you often say that confidence is a skill, not a personality trait. So, what do most people completely misunderstand about confidence? Please throw like some light on that.

SPEAKER_00 22:33

I love the question. I I absolutely feel like so many people need to understand uh. How does confidence really work? Because while we all want it, we might not really understand the mechanics behind it. It's all science. It's all science. You know, it's all connected. So, the first of all, the phrase fake it till you make it does not work. It does not work in today's world. And I absolutely hate that particular phrase because it teaches people to perform. Um, you know, it just teaches people to perform in a specific scenario, like fake it, and you'll make it to the presentation, to the next level. But how long will you keep faking it for? Like you're gonna keep you're gonna get exhausted at some point, you're going to give up because that's not who you are, that's not who you really are from within. So I think a better way to build confidence is to change your identity, to become someone who's automatically confident, you know, to become a person who does not have to fake it, but is confident. So um, I just feel like this is one thing. And second, is a lot of people, you might have heard people say that I will go on that stage and speak when I get more confidence. I will do that presentation when I become more confident, but that is such a wrong view to have because it works the other way around. The more you do it, the more confident you become. So confidence doesn't come after, like you know, you don't take action after being confident. Confidence comes after taking action. So it's it's actually a byproduct of taking action. So all those small action points, the small um, you know, moments that you're taking, even the discomforting ones, they're compounding. It's compounded risk. So every action you take today, no matter how difficult it is, it's gonna compound. And it gets to a level where automatically you do it four times, five times, the sixth time you're gonna be more confident. The seventh time it's just gonna be like, oh wow, I'm an actual at it. You know, so it's a process, and I just feel like people need to stay with this process. So to build confidence or to build any confidence is like a muscle. You know how you go to the gym every day. So the muscle doesn't grow in like one day or two days, it takes consistency to build that muscle, right? So you go to the gym every day for like say you go consistently for three to four months and you'll start seeing the results. So, same as with uh confidence, you know, the more you practice, the more you put yourself out in those situations, let's say be staged right, you know. If you just go and speak, just register yourself for public speaking events, and you do five such events, and the sixth time you'll naturally be more confident. So, yeah, I think it's all about being at it, being more consistent, and taking action is what is going to help you become more confident at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_02 25:27

Right. So I would say that uh what you have just mentioned, yeah, the most important word in our life actually should be action. Absolutely, yes, right. So if we are taking action, everything will automatically fall in place, right?

SPEAKER_00 25:43

Yes, yes, and uh if I can just sorry, if I can just add to it, um, I just feel like uh that uncomfortable feeling is not a bad thing, it's a good thing because it's it's a sign or it's a proof that you're outgrowing your current identity and you're stepping into a new one with a new potential, you know. That's something that you're not probably ready for, and that's why you're doing it so that you can get there. So if you feel uncomfortable, then you should congratulate yourself and you should be happy and deal it with pride that I'm probably growing, you know, and not staying at the same time.

SPEAKER_02 26:23

Yes, yes, so yes, and this becomes you know very visible, especially in workplaces where we could say highly intelligent people sometimes struggle to express themselves clearly, isn't it? And you must have seen incredibly smart people struggle to communicate confidently in meetings or leadership situations.

SPEAKER_00 26:48

So if I ask you what's usually happening psychologically in those moments, I yeah, yeah, I think uh such a such an interesting question because it's uh I've I've done a little bit of my research in neuroscience.

SPEAKER_02 27:04

And just I want to stop you. I want to stop you. Sorry. But why I asked this because see uh for my audience also, yes, they must they might feel that those people who are every day on the stage, they might be super confident and we are new, so yes, they should understand a certain kind of uh anxiety even in those people. So, with that thought in mind, I have asked you, Vixia. Please.

SPEAKER_00 27:33

No, thank you so much for clarifying that makes it a lot more clear. So um, I just feel like um, you know, first, uh, according to neuroscience, your brain uh listens to what your belief systems are. So if you're constantly believing that I'm not the kind of person who could go on the stage and speak, or I'm not the kind of person who could present, your brain is just gonna give you evidence that you can't do it. So whatever your it's like it's like AI. Whatever you feed into it, it's gonna give you that output. But if you keep telling, even if you're not good enough, but you if you keep telling your brain, you know, I'm probably the kind of person who can do this well, you know, who can speak really well. I I don't know how, but I just know I'm gonna do it well. Um, and they perform so well. And if you see the stats, uh usually uh, you know, it's used in spot signs. So athletes use this technique to improve their performance. So majority of the athletes they visualize, um, you know, even before the match has started, they'll visualize uh putting that goal, you know, they'll visualize winning, you know, their team winning and already uh sort of celebrating the victory, and that what that does to their brain is it pushes them. So when they're actually in the field, it pushes them to perform better because you have already convinced your brain that I'm good and we have won. So, how give me evidence that we can win, and your brain works with you, not against you. So that's just from a neuroscience perspective. But uh, having said that, I absolutely agree with you. A lot of people believe that, oh, she's probably speaking every day, you know, like so it must be so easy for her. But for anything to look effortless, a lot of effort has gone into it, is what I would say. So, you know, um, she has been in situations where she was sweating, her palms were sweating, her legs were shivering, but she still spoke. So, um, you know, people who seem confident, it's not like they don't feel the fear, it's not like they don't feel nervous or anxious, they feel it, but they do it despite that. They don't let this fear decide for them, you know, they don't let this fear take over and control them and be like, oh, I will not go to that presentation. The fear is still there, but they do it with the fear being present. So I just feel like, you know, if you feel that fear, it's natural. Everyone feels it. I feel it. Even now, being a confidence coach, I go on stage, I feel that fear, I feel that anxiety and that nervousness. But there are ways to do it, right? There are ways to just talk to your brain again, you know, like like it's another individual. Like, I'm doing fine, I'm calm. It's just people, you know, it's just a conversation. When you breathe, and I think a lot of it has to do with our breath. So, what I've also noticed is most people when they are trying to compete in a competition or trying to present, they hold their breath. And when I realized that, I was like, like, wow, our breath controls so much. When you hold your breath, you're sending signals to your mind that you're not safe. You know, so automatically the mind panics more, it gets more anxious. So if you if you take deep breaths or if you're taking normal breaths, then again you're giving a signal. So everything essentially you're doing is giving a signal to your brain. So if you're giving a signal to your brain, I'm safe, I'm very calm, I'm not anxious, you will be calm in that situation. It's it works like magic. Like a lot of my clients have you know you use this technique and visualizing or doing box breathing, which is where you count till four, hold for four breaths, and then release for four breaths. I think these techniques have really, really helped them perform like 10 times better, you know, in their presentations or meetings. So it's all about I would say calming the brain. When you do that, even like the performers or the people who seem most confident do that, probably, you know. So that's what helps in these situations.

SPEAKER_02 31:30

Wow, Ridditna, that's a beautiful hack uh of breathing. Obviously, I've never noticed that, but yes, now I'll notice the next time I'll go on stage that what I do in that situation. And yes, adding to this uh this conversation, see, many a times we have tendencies that if I see Ridhi going in a super luxury car or staying in a super luxury apartment, and I would say, oh, she's an achiever, right? So she is more, she has more worth than me, right? And somewhere I think many ambitious people also begin tying their self-worth to their achievement, which can I believe can become dangerous over time, right? So if I ask you, because you have been working with such people, that what's the biggest mistake ambitious professionals make while trying to climb the corporate ladder?

SPEAKER_00 32:30

Um very, very good question. And I think what you are describing is probably imposter syndrome, which a lot of ambitious uh professionals face. You know, you um so when you see someone succeed, you know, when you look at so many successes around you, you feel like an imposter. You feel like, you know, I'm just faking it, and sooner or later they're gonna realize that I'm not that confident or I'm not that good enough. So you're always sort of doubting your own abilities and you're always comparing your self-worth to someone else's self-worth, you know, without even realizing it. And this obviously doesn't happen consciously, it happens at a very subconscious level. So it takes a lot of time to understand what's happening. But I think the biggest thing that we need to understand in a situation like this is to have clarity on our vision. When we have clarity on our vision, no matter what the other person is doing or having, automatically that becomes irrelevant. Because if my vision is A and they're at a point B, why will I even compare to them? But because I've noticed that when people don't have a very strong sense of self-worth, um, and the self-worth is built again from self-trust and self-belief, it's all interconnected. So when you build a very solid sense of self-worth, then what tends to happen is that comparison slowly tends to go away. And when that comparison goes away, a lot becomes clearer. What is my vision? What am I working towards? You know, so probably it could so happen that you're way, way, way ahead in your journey. So the idea is not to compare it with another person, but whenever someone's feeling like this, the idea is to compare yourself with the past version of you. So, what was the version of you one year back? You know, how did she look like? What did she have? What kind of skills or what kind of role she had, and what kind of role do I have today? Then you will understand how far you've come, you know, in this journey, what insecurities you have sort of gotten through, what things you have overcome, so many milestones you have achieved. So it's a lot about just visibility, making everything that you have done visible so that the mind gets proof. Okay, wow, you know, I do belong in the room. So it's all about giving that evidence again that I do belong here. So yeah, I think it's at the end of the day a belief system which can be born from these small, small evidences and also small wins. You know, we we always are running behind this one goal. You know, if I achieve this, if I launch a product like this, I will seven win. That's a very interesting thing. But what about the hundred things you did to those wins? So I would definitely say that you know, having an Excel sheet or whatever is easier for them, keep a track of all the small victories or wins that you get on a weekly basis or a week basis. That's when you this imposter syndrome will start fading away.

SPEAKER_02 35:41

So that's what I and the interesting part is you know the world of careers has changed dramatically. See, uh earlier days, like 30 years, 50 years back, uh, we a family or a person who has been working throughout his life would feel that okay, once I get that retirement money, I'll be able to buy a house for myself, right? Nowadays it's the landscape is very much different. Let's say we get a job by or we get settled by 25, we need a car by 28, by 35, we own we want to own a home, right? And by maybe there are some people who are so meticulous in financial planning that they might want to get even retired by 45, 40 or 45, right? So that is so we can say it's growth is going very fast, and we can say hard work alone no longer guarantees growth, right? So I really want your perspective on this. That what do you think actually helps people grow fast in their careers today? And because clearly it's not just hard work anymore.

SPEAKER_00 36:56

Absolutely. Um, I completely agree with you, and uh, so many of my clients have come to me and they're like, we're putting in so much work, we're putting in so much effort, but nothing is moving, you know, nothing is happening. And uh that makes me realize like it's even more proof that hard work doesn't work, you know. If you really want to grow, then you need to have a different way to look at your careers. I think today, as harsh and as sad as it sounds, it's all about visibility. You have to it you can't just be in this belief that just because my work is good, they will notice it. Nobody will, unless and until you put yourself out there, unless and until you make it visible to others. So I think this is one thing that I would absolutely ask people to do is, as I mentioned in my previous answer as well, like keeping a track of your wins. What this essentially does is acts as evidence of your contributions and other contributions that you have made as an individual. Speaking up in that meeting, no matter how difficult or how challenging it might sound. And also, this is a very small hack, but when you are contributing, when you are speaking, when you're communicating, rather than just giving a solution, give your process to them. Think out loud. When you share your process with someone, it automatically makes them trust you more. Because even it's it's like you know, in your math exam, you're not always graded for the final answer. The final answer has only one point. What do you get points for then? The points are for your process. How did you get to that final answer? So when you start implementing these things, your thought process, your work becomes more visible at work. And when this happens, when your leaders around you start seeing that, they naturally give you more responsibility, they give you more projects, they give you, you know, even a promotion to see if you can handle that responsibility. So I would say it has all come down to just putting yourself out there, putting your work out there rather than just waiting for someone to come and notice how good it is, is what I feel like would you know really change the game for people.

SPEAKER_02 39:10

Yeah, I would say social media has complicated this even further. Yes, because you know there's advice everywhere, everyone is telling people what success should actually look like, and many a times we are looking at success with all the material things in mind, right? So, what's one that one popular piece of career advice that sounds motivating online, but is actually harmful in real life?

SPEAKER_00 39:41

I would have to say uh it's a very cliche phrase, but follow your passion. Um, I mean, I know it sounds very inspiring, like to me it was, you know, when I was starting out my career, but for most people it is paralyzing. Like, what is passion? It's such a vague word, you know, like like they don't have this one single burning passion that they've been waiting to discover. Like, so so when they can't find this, oh, this person has their passion, maybe they have their life together. They naturally feel broken, they naturally feel like something is wrong with me, you know, and then they don't take action and that the loop continues. So the better question I would say is not uh, you know, what's my passion? It's actually what are my values? What am I genuinely good at? Because that's what is going to make you money. And where does that where does the world need what I can build? So the problem. So a lot of people focus on the solution. What can I give? But the the good question to ask, be it you know, an entrepreneur, it doesn't matter if you're an entrepreneur or a working professional, the value that you have to give remains the same. We all have a very unique value to contribute. So the question is what problem am I passionate about solving? You know, one person came to me and beautifully said that I don't like all the toothpaste that are available in the market. I want to uh bring a toothpaste that tastes good. You know, every morning I want to have a toothpaste. So he found such a very unique solution, like a unique problem, you know, that he wanted to solve for. So focus on a problem statement, not giving a solution to the world. You know, so that is what um I would say, you know, would really, really um I and I think passion will naturally follow. Once you start doing that, once you start asking these questions, passion will follow because passion naturally follows alignment. So when you're asking these three questions, you're running towards alignment, not like money or external things that will not sustain. So passion definitely can't be the starting point, but it is a byproduct, it is the reward to actually sitting and doing and getting that clarity to then you know approaching your career, especially for uh young professionals, you know, who think they want to sort of lead with passion, but that can't be the starting point, sadly.

SPEAKER_02 42:08

Right. Thank you, uh Ridhi, for saying that because yes, it's uh a greatly misunderstood word, passion. Yes, right, yes, and yes, as a result, many uh young professionals are heartbroken because of that and face burnout in their lives. So I fully get, and it's thank you for actually mentioning that about passion. Key, we should not focus only on passion and more on like the RK guy, right? So yeah, that would help. And today I want to end with something deeply personal for our listeners, because I know there are many people listening right now who feel confused, stuck, underconfident, and constantly comparing themselves to others. So if someone listening right now feels professionally lost or emotionally exhausted, that's the burnout cases because many a times we leave our personal lives and get so engrossed in a professional life. So, what is the first thing you think they should stop doing?

SPEAKER_00 43:19

100% comparing yourself, like because that puts you in that box, you know, and when you are in that box, you are really just putting this additional pressure on yourself to compete, but to compete with what? You know, someone's someone's A might be your C. So how there is no parameter to compare, you know. So um, I just feel like stop trying to become someone else's version of success. Like, really, like you don't need more credentials to do something, you know. A lot of people tried coming and telling me to be a coach, you know, you need more experience, you need this. I would just say believe in yourself. If you have that gut feeling that no, I can do it, you know, without having going through a very traditional path of having like seven to eight years of corporate work experience and then starting my journey. I think what's important right now is how can you fast track that journey? How can you really sit there, listen to your instincts, listen to your gut? So take advice from everyone, but just listen to yourself. So, really, I would say that also makes you a bit more independent emotionally and in your thought process because when you're constantly listening to people, you are listening to their version of what success might look like. So at the end of the day, It's you who has to, you know, figure it out. So, more than anything, I think the very first skill that you need to build is resilience. So, when you build resilience, no matter how many times you fail, the idea of failure will just become so normal to you. Like failing will just become like, oh, this is just another failure. Let's get up and let's build it again. So, I think that's the attitude that everyone needs to have that no matter what happens, I'm gonna get up again and start again with the same energy. You know, so not attaching yourself to your work, not attaching your worth to your work is very important. Because um, and and I think that also gives you a very positive perspective to live with, because let's say tomorrow you get feedback. So I think the idea is not to take that feedback, and feedback is not given to you as an individual, feedback is given to your work. So if your self-worth is attached to your work, then any kind of feedback will seem defensive. But if you're if you have that clarity and that detachment from your work, you are so secured, you know, in who you are and self-belief, then that feedback will be an opportunity for you to grow and become better. So I would just say that building a solid sense of self is super important and not attaching because really um career can't work in isolation, it's all interconnected. Our lives, our relationships, our careers. So we have to look at it like that. And at the end of the day, you are a human being, and you have to look at yourself more than just your careers or you know what do you do for work. So it's about building that identity that is common everywhere, not just you know, having that work personality or work work. That's what I mean.

SPEAKER_02 46:30

That's really interesting. And now, uh Ridhi, I want to really ask you because you have worked with so many people. Now, out of those many, I want you to pick one. I'm sure it will be difficult for you, but I want to understand about the state of mind when that person approached you for help, for guidance. And when you work with that person, what transformed? What was an achievement for him that the person you know uh came out of that struggle? Can you just because I'm sure our listeners, our viewers would definitely be interested in the kind of work uh you are doing. So just one story, maybe.

SPEAKER_00 47:14

Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. So um I think I have a lot of such stories, it's difficult to pick one person, but uh yeah, so I just feel like uh this one particular person came to me and they wanted to switch careers because they were feeling very disconnected, you know, at work, they were not able to give their 100%. And uh, like as a kid, they used to be like a topper, you know, like the topper of the class, the high performer, and even in the early stages of their career, they were sort of a high performer, so they were not able to understand what's happening, right? In this particular situation, why am I not able to perform? Why am I not able to, you know, I am this capable person, and that naturally they started doubting themselves a lot because in that environment they were not able to perform, and all their life they have performed so well. So, what we did was we sort of sat, and the very first thing was like, forget about job switch, forget about this, the next steps, just say and let's get some clarity on who you are, let's understand yourself better because there seems to be a lot of disconnect even with the self. So, when we understand her value systems and we understand her ikigai, like when we sort of did the whole framework, and a lot of insight we got from um that one session, and in and with those insights, when we actually made decisions based on those insights, turns out she was just made for a very different environment, you know, and that environment was really, really suppressing her personality, suppressing who she was, who she stood for. So she was in a so she was in a fight or flight mod. When you are in a survival mod, how can you focus on work? How can you perform better? You know, because you're constantly just surviving the environment. There's no focus on work happening. So naturally, um, obviously she came with the right solution, but the solution was arrived with a in a you know very uh reasoned way, in a very structured way. We came to the solution that okay, let's switch industries, let's switch jobs. And I think within I would say four to five months, she came to me and she was like, Things are working. You know, I feel I feel like I'm actually growing here. I feel like I'm able to contribute freely here. So uh a lot of times it's not a confidence problem or a communication problem. I also realized with uh her that with this experience, a lot of times it's freedom of expression when you don't feel like you can express yourself uh without being judged, then you will not express, then you'll not communicate. So it's not essentially a confidence issue, but it's an expression issue, and every individual needs to feel like free, needs to feel like they can express themselves. So I think that is something that I understood, and I think these are the kind of experiences that keep me going, even when I have my breaking moments and I want to give up. So yeah, I think that's the story.

SPEAKER_02 50:10

So I would say that you know, when the person came to you, she was looking for answers outside, but you made her look within right and understand herself, and then you took it forward, and that's how she got the solution. So wonderfully amazing, I would say. And Riddit, this has been such a thoughtful and meaningful conversation, and I genuinely believe today's discussion went far beyond careers, you know, because what we really spoke about today was identity, self-worth, confidence, clarity, and what it truly means to grow without losing yourself in the process. And I think one of the biggest lessons from today's episode is this the success is not only about becoming more qualified, it's about becoming more self-aware. And that what you did with that person in the story. So more emotionally strong, more aligned, more authentic. And to everyone listening today, please remember you do not need to become someone else to succeed. You simply need to understand yourself better, trust yourself more, and grow consistently into the person you are capable of becoming. So, Riddi, thank you once again for sharing your wisdom, your experiences, your insights with us today. It was an absolute pleasure having you on the Kapal Gupta Career Pod Show. And to our listeners, if this episode added value to your life, make sure you share it with someone who truly needs to hear this conversation. And subscribe to the Kapal Gupta Career Pod Show for more deep conversations around careers, mindset, growth, confidence, and personal transformation. And if you want to connect with Ridhi, the link will be given in the description below. So look for the link and connect if you really need a guidance and hell. I'm sure it'll be worth it. So till next time, keep learning, keep growing, and keep becoming the best version of yourself. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 52:21

Thank you. Thank you very much for helping.