Power of Communities to Build Thought Leadership

[00:00:00] Surbhi Dedhia: Hello Chirantan Joshi. Welcome to the making of a Thought Leader podcast. It is absolutely my pleasure to have you on board today.

[00:00:08] Chirantan Joshi: Good morning, Surbhi. Thank you for inviting me to the podcast.

[00:00:12] Surbhi Dedhia: Wonderful. So, I will be talking to you as CJ because that's how I know you. And for the listeners who don't know, Chirantan Joshi is always called as CJ in his circle. So, CJ we are going to talk about a very interesting topic and I'm very excited to talk about this topic. And the topic is building networks- power of communities to build your thought leadership. So, it'll be nice to go to a backstory a little bit and understand how did you So, know, kind of come across corporate connections. How did you build that chapter? So take us through the backstory a little bit.

[00:00:54] Chirantan Joshi: Okay. So, some of you might already know, Bijay Shah he's the national head of BNI in our region. Mm-hmm. He's a dear friend and he was the one who first introduced me to Corporate Connections. So, I know Bijay for many, many, many years, and in one of the conversations he told me that the BNI head office in US is launching another brand for a different set of target markets where they have a different need than BNI.

[00:01:22] And you know, to talk about this, I need to explain a little bit. So BNI is an organization that focuses on referrals. Yeah. The primary focus is reference. And BNI really realized that there could be some of the senior leaders, senior entrepreneurs in the organization who may not only want to work on referrals.

[00:01:42] But may actually want to surround themselves with people of equal stature who want to work on long-term strategies. You know, the conversations needs to be more of acting as a support group, and that's why BNI needed to launch a new product, which is called Corporate Connections. I liked it cause probably at that point of time I was going through that phase where I was also looking to be part of a community where I can surround myself with people of equal stature, people who are ahead of me in their life cycle or in their business cycle. So, the timing was right.

[00:02:17] I immediately took a flight, went to Canada, met the global president of corporate connections. We gelled well, everything worked out and that's how I ended up bringing corporate connections to Dubai.

[00:02:28] Surbhi Dedhia: Wow, that's an interesting story. But out of curiosity, were you a part of BNI before you got onto Corporate Connections?

[00:02:37] Chirantan Joshi: Yes. So, I was part of BNI for more than 10 years, uhhuh BNI organization where initially when I, I was working in the business, my need was to generate referrals for the business. That's when I joined in 2006. But as the business grew, as we had more and more managerial people join our organization, my need changed because my job profile changed.

[00:03:01] Right. And then I started more working on the business rather than in the business where long-term strategy, mergers, acquisitions, finances you know, thinking about the vision of the business became my job. Mm-hmm. And that's where I realized that I wanted also to surround myself with people whose job is similar to my job.

[00:03:19] Right. So, it was perfectly fitting into my life at that point of time.

[00:03:24] Surbhi Dedhia: Yeah. I see. So, from what I understand, you know when you brought corporate connections, of course it was your need and you thought that this would definitely help you. But as, as we know from the whole idea of building a community, it is so much to give and bring together other people.

[00:03:41] So how, tell us about, how did you go about it? Like of course you were in Dubai for long, you knew connections, of course BNI, but then how did you find the right people and how did you grow the chapter?

[00:03:54] Chirantan Joshi: So, one thing before I talk about how did I grow the chapter, I think there's an important point to understand my life journey.

[00:04:01] Mm-hmm. That's why really before, you know, why I chose corporate connections. Sure. Cause I think I consider myself extremely lucky that I met the right people at the right time in my life to help me decide whether I should go left or right. It just accelerated my overall personal and business growth.

[00:04:20] So I, I'm a big believer that if you surround yourself with qualified people, and if you meet the right people at the right time in life, the whole journey accelerates. Mm-hmm. So, my biggest why was if it has worked for me, it can work for all the other entrepreneurs. And that is why I decided to bring corporate connections.

[00:04:39] So was not just my need, but my belief that if it has worked for me, it can work for others. And then why can't I start that community? And that's why connections really was brought into the Dubai. Coming back to your second question of how did we build it? Obviously corporate connection had no name in the market.

[00:04:57] Yeah. The brand was new globally, so it wasn't easy. I think any community development work is not easy. Mm-hmm. So, it all starts with people before they buy the community or buy the brand, they first buy you. So, I had to literally go and meet people, invite them for a coffee, speak to them, tell them the bigger picture of this is what I'm trying to create.

[00:05:18] And then ultimately the energies need needed to be matched. You know, it's like if the person's energy matches with my energy, those guys said yes. Mm-hmm. Those who did not feel that energy, they said no. So, it was a long process. Six months to one year to build one chapter. Wow. But I think it was worth it.

[00:05:38] Surbhi Dedhia: Wow and you made a very interesting point that, community building is not like I'm, I'm bringing this brand and everybody hops on. So, it's a long-drawn process. And I was wondering, you are already so busy in your own business, right? You have a very big brand that you lead E movers, it's very popular in the region here, and then you have to dedicate your time to grow this community. So did this mean that you were like kind of in two boats, one which is sailing and getting the other to leave the dock and set sail. So how did you work that around?

[00:06:15] Chirantan Joshi: So, I think I always like to work on the business.

[00:06:18] We are part of a group where we have six, seven different verticals, businesses that we run. Okay. I'm usually, I start the business, but then I always find out the right person to run it and then hand it over to that person and start working on the business. That has been my history as well as in, we have six, seven brands under the same group, which I was part of the founding team, but I don't run it anymore. Right.

[00:06:42] So I always believe that I'm good at certain things and there are other people who are good at running the business and making it bigger. I'm always going through that journey. Time was not a challenge because my programming is done like that, that I will start it and then somebody else will grow it.

[00:06:58] The businesses we're running are still running with the help of my colleagues, my partners and it wasn't that bad as far as time is concern. It was more of; I felt the energy in building the community. I felt that it was my passion, so I got attracted to it. And anything that you're passionate about, then you give more time and it happens.

[00:07:18] Surbhi Dedhia: Yes. Wonderful. So, and you started the journey, I mean, the chapter with how many members and today, how many are there?

[00:07:25] Chirantan Joshi: So, we started the chapter with 15 members. Mm-hmm. There was no proof of concept. One very important thing, when you bring a completely new concept to the market, to any market, there is no proof of concept, right?

[00:07:37] So you start to have those first 15 people, then you run at least two years, three years, and prove the concept. So, these community activities, community business works like that where you get those first early adopters who buy into the region, who see your dream, what you are dreaming. Then they come with you.

[00:07:59] If they stay with you for two to three years, that's when the proof of concept really happens. Mm-hmm. So, we are in our third year, we've just completed three years and I'm actually very proud to say that we have the highest retention of members globally in Corporate Connections Dubai chapter.

[00:08:16] So now we can, we have proof of concept. So, from here we are 22 members. From here, we'll now start the growth journey because for growth you need the proof of concept. For proof of concept, in community business, there is only one number- retention. If members, if your community members stay with you for two, three years, that means they're getting benefits out of it.

[00:08:39] They're seeing value for themselves. Right, and then they'll become your ambassadors, or they will become the evangelist for the brand and then the brand develops. So, we are at that stage where we've just proved that this, this concept works.

[00:08:53] Surbhi Dedhia: Right and Corporate Connections is a global forum, it's a global brand that you brought to, so there was obviously some kind of support, some kind of you know, coaching or training that was given to you to like run this in Dubai.

[00:09:05] But you being a local found the right energy and got the right people in, like culturally. And so were there any key milestones that you went through saying that, okay, like let's get the first five, then first 15, and then you ran with them doing certain things.

[00:09:23] Chirantan Joshi: Yes. So good that you pointed out. It's a global brand. Currently we are in 35 cities and as a brand corporate connection, what they do is they do the research and give you the structure, but each country is different and they need to find out who can play within that structure. Right. So that is left to each national director of that country. So, I'm the national director of, that means the, the DNA of the group within the corporate connection structure is created by me. Mm-hmm. And ultimately, your DNA gets into the culture of your local chapters, even though the structure is global.

[00:09:57] So when you start a chapter, you usually first find out the first two people who believe in you. Mm-hmm. Because they usually are your close contacts or you know them because they, they've been working with you so they trust your judgment. Mm-hmm. So, I got my first two.

[00:10:12] Then we reach to five. Then, ten obviously then we ask them also to invite their contacts. So that's how you reach 15 and that's where you can charter a chapter. Mm-hmm. As far as the chapter launch process is concerned, this whole thing for me, it took me one year to reach 15 obviously, because there was no brand, there was no proof of concept.

[00:10:33] And we went very, we went at a very reasonable speed to reach 15. Once the chapter was launched, obviously then people started attending the meetings and we quickly got the seven members additional because then they liked there was something in action. They could feel the energy in the room.

[00:10:49] So we got quickly seven members joined the chapter. Yeah. That's how the chapter journey has been so far. Yeah, of course. The global community has developed quite a lot globally now in three years, we've crossed more than 1000 members, which is, which is a good number for a completely new brand.

[00:11:07] And everybody's tested their proof of concept in their markets. So, from 1000 to 5,000 will be much easier journey than zero to 1000 because now the proof of concept is there.

[00:11:17] Surbhi Dedhia: Correct, correct. Also, it is all about the tipping point. You got to get to that sweet tipping point where you then propel yourselves to a larger number.

[00:11:25] This is, this is very interesting to understand how you know the way it grows. What I want to also ask you is that what were the challenges, right? One year you say it's a reasonable speed, but then obviously one in one year you may have put in like, more than two, 300 hours to kind of get so the time is one aspect, but other challenges, right? Like people who join and then they leave, or any other kind of challenges that you would like to share that you faced during building this community?

[00:11:54] Chirantan Joshi: The biggest challenge in whether it is business where you get clients or community where you get members is how will the community members trust you first?

[00:12:04] Surbhi Dedhia: Because they, they're trusting you, the brand is not yet out there. There is no history for the brand. So, gaining that trust is the most difficult journey, I think. Mm-hmm. And that's what we've been doing. So, then they look at what you have been doing in the past, whether your actions are matching your words or not, are you able to keep up to the promises that you gave them before launching the chapter, after launching the chapter?

[00:12:27] So all these things ultimately contribute to members trusting you. Because only when they trust you, then they will leverage their contacts and bring them as visitors into the chapter and ask them to join. Their friends will then join because then each, at each level, they start leveraging their trust.

[00:12:43] So first challenge was how can these members trust me? Mm-hmm. And how can I honor my words? How can my actions match my words? How can I keep my promises? So that was one challenge. Second challenge, also, these guys don't know each other. They're all, some have come through my contacts, some have come through their contacts, so they're not, they don't know, they're not friends.

[00:13:05] They're all successful people, but finding an alignment. Amongst these 20 people, it's not easy because they're all business people. They're all successful, they're leaders in their life. They're strong opinionated people. So, making sure that they're ultimately aligned because for any group to be successful, the team members needs to be aligned.

[00:13:25] So working on their alignment was the second challenge, which takes time. And especially, it takes time when everybody's a leader in the room. Right. Right. You know, and I think third thing sounds very simple, but. Getting a collective discipline, collective rhythm, because individually these people might be disciplined in their own businesses and that's why they're successful.

[00:13:46] That's why they have multiple businesses, not one, almost all my members have multiple businesses, so they have leadership qualities, they have discipline, they have figured out their rhythm, but how can we collectively figure out our discipline and our rhythm so that we are successful as a group? Was another challenge.

[00:14:03] I think these three challenges gaining their trust. Finding the alignment and creating discipline as a group. These three I will name as top three challenges.

[00:14:12] Wow this is so deep. What you said is pretty serious when you have to get things done, like trust, alignment. Even as an employee in a corporate role, these are the basic things that you go through like a trust between your team members, alignment between different teams, because organizations are becoming virtual and becoming larger. This is one of the key things that I feel, and living in Dub Dubai, you come across so many different cultures.

[00:14:39] So having that alignment and collective discipline you just think that, okay, getting up at this time and sleeping at this time is a discipline, but there are so many other elements in your lives that can demand discipline, and when this comes to a membership where they're not, earning any revenue, like tangible thing, but actually investing in a membership to be a part of the group is a, a steep hill. So, I'm just curious to ask a little bit more about this discipline part. All these three challenges. How did you work? Or firstly, how did you identify these things? And then secondly, how do you work around these things to get these 15 initial members to keep doing what they, what was required to do?

[00:15:23] Chirantan Joshi: It's a, it's a real difficult thing to implement. And in your organizations, it's relatively easy because you have organization structure. You, somebody's the boss of the other one, and you're paying the salaries, you know. Here the only option really, I think the word I can think of is the servant leadership.

[00:15:43] Mm-hmm. As in you serve the community. You serve the community in their interest. And the, the day they realize that all that pressure that CJ is putting on is in their interest and it's ultimately gonna get them the personal and professional growth. I think they start the alignment process. It doesn't happen overnight, but keep serving them.

[00:16:07] Of course when you serve them, empathy comes into the place. You know, you, each person has a different schedule, different life situations, different age groups, so keep that empathy going. But I think one word, if I to say describe this, is keep serving the members and over the period they realise that your intention behind serving them is in their interest, not in my interest.

[00:16:31] And that's where things start falling in place. So, there is also a tipping point for this. So, you keep serving, serving, serving with empathy and at one point of time, they just realize this is all in my interest. And the whole corporate connection body is serving them for their interest is a tipping point.

[00:16:49] Yeah. The day they realize that is tipping point.

[00:16:52] Then the next part that transition is very, very fast. And again, we believe that personally, you also have a great experience that if you bring good people in one room and give them a rhythm, some sort of rhythm, they make it work, but somebody else needs to give them a rhythm.

[00:17:10] And I think that's what as a national director we are supposed to do is bring all those good, qualified, successful people in one room, but tie them up in a rhythm. Right,

[00:17:22] Surbhi Dedhia: right. Just let them resonate all together in the same,

[00:17:25] Chirantan Joshi: that rhythm, then the music happens.

[00:17:27] Surbhi Dedhia: Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Okay.

[00:17:30] That's wonderful. I mean, it must be such a joy to see that music happening in front of you because it's all your back work that has like, it's, it's like really seeing it to fruition, isn't it?

[00:17:40] We spoke about the challenges. Can we give examples about the successes? Like have you seen members succeed after transition that you saw. did they themselves see the success? Of course, they're trusting you and following the rhythm and resonating with the members, all that happened. How did this help them, like in their business?

[00:18:01] And any kind of specific examples if you can give in this.

[00:18:04] Chirantan Joshi: Sure. So, in corporate connections we have something called a forum. Forum means it's a small group of people who meet once a month. Mm-hmm. Where in a structured format in a confidential and non-judgmental environment, they open up, yeah.

[00:18:21] They bring their challenges, bring their opportunities on the table, and leverage each other's experiences. So, in my opinion, that is the highest value that Corporate Connection offers to its members is the forum because all these guys who are successful entrepreneurs, they're usually lonely at the top.

[00:18:39] They don't know who to talk to. So, we created a structure called Forum where they talk provided, they trust each other. Yeah. So, there is a process of building that trust. But once you build the trust, I have seen now my members have built the trust I think without really giving the names out, maintain the confidentiality.

[00:18:57] But one of our members had a huge investment coming from Africa, which needed to be put in, in Dubai real estate market, and it was routed through one of our members, simply because of the trust that they're, they, they're established. So, the deal was more than hundred and 15 million dirhams. It was routed through corporate connection members simply because of the trust and the time that they're investing with one another. Right? So, this is one example. You know, that cracking a deal worth hundred and 50 million is not easy. Correct. It requires tremendous amount of trust and these guys manage to build that trust in within the first one year of their membership.

[00:19:40] And this deal happened is a testimony that the forums work and people trust each other. We have another example where one of our members were running a particular business, and he has forum advised him that he's better off as an investor rather than running a business.

[00:19:55] So with the help of forum, then this gentleman decided to work on the business rather than in the business. I think these are life changing decisions. You know, they you really need well wishers to advise you from their experience of what they see you. And when you make that shift, your life can completely change.

[00:20:13] So we have several such examples of those due to confidentiality. I can't share the names, but these guys. So simple conversations. When you have People, you trust and people who have your interest in their mind. Mm-hmm. They get into a conversation. Each conversation is so fruitful because they're, they're not looking at their interests.

[00:20:33] If you are in the forum of discoverer, you are bringing your challenge or opportunity. They're all giving their experiences to you in that two, three hours, which is you know, which is immense value. Yeah. Because each one of us is 20, 30 years in business. Yeah. And different businesses.

[00:20:51] So if I'm going to leverage their experiences in the next three hours where I trust all of them, and I trust that they have my right interest in their mind, that's, that's the best situation to be, I want to be in that room.

[00:21:04] Surbhi Dedhia: You bet. I think that win that is what it's like a, a, you know, platform for win-win.

[00:21:09] You know, not only you get them, but even them who they're interested in you, they are trusting you and they're sharing. So

[00:21:15] Chirantan Joshi: I think the best part is if I'm presenting my challenge or opportunity, and if the other five, six people are leveraging their experiences, the others in the room also have a lot of takeaways.

[00:21:27] Yeah. Because the conversations are so fruitful that even if they're not in that situation, everybody walks away with some sort of nuggets. Mm. Those are People, of tremendous value. So, the success stories are the conversations that take place inside a forum. Cause each conversation has value. And after every forum, everybody walks away with some sort of nuggets which can impact their life, right?

[00:21:52] Whether it is personal or professional, I think that's the real success that they feel. And, and you can see it, if these members have continued to be part of the same group for three years, means they're getting value out of these conversations. Otherwise, they're busy people. Some of them they travel a lot, they have businesses all around the world still. They manage to come back to the Dubai to attend a forum means there is value that they're getting. Yeah, and the value is created not by me as a national director. The value is created by the members to create that energy in the room.

[00:22:25] Surbhi Dedhia: Yes, definitely.

[00:22:27] We are social animals, right? And then given that there is a thriving community or a social body where you can go in and gain and also give, that creates like a good 360-degree, perspective for your business, for yourself as an individual.

[00:22:44] So it's very interesting,

[00:22:45] Chirantan Joshi: Surbhi from my experience, that only works if there is trust in the room. Yeah. If the room is non-judgmental, so nobody's really judging and saying, good, bad, right, wrong or nothing, no know these types of conversations. And the room maintains confidentiality.

[00:23:01] Yeah. So non-judgmental, confidentiality, trust and structure. Obviously, because these conversations require some sort of structure. They can't just be open conversations. Right. So that's where corporate connections play a role because we have developed a structure for a forum meeting, which helps members to be vulnerable.

[00:23:23] Surbhi Dedhia: I see, I see.

[00:23:25] Chirantan Joshi: I think that's where the organization's contribution is. But the, the learnings come from the

[00:23:30] members.

[00:23:31] Surbhi Dedhia: Right. In fact, you just answered my other question on how does it roll, are, are you the one who's leading these forums or you are a part of separate forum and everybody just follows a structure.

[00:23:43] So if you can just share in brief, like what happens, because I just want the listeners and even me to kind of mentally see through. Okay. How does the, these are the positive outcomes. This is what the real outcome is. How does it work?

[00:23:59] Chirantan Joshi: So, forum is a small group within the corporate connections ecosystem where we assign certain rules.

[00:24:06] So there is a forum moderator. There is somebody who's taking a role of a coach. There is somebody who's doing the timekeeping. There is somebody who's doing the protocol monitor. So, all these roles they're rotating roles and then they change every three, six months or one year. But the forum members participate by taking these roles on.

[00:24:25] Mm-hmm. So, they automatically create accountability in the room. Right. So instead of me running it as a national director or anyone else running it, we always recommend that the forum members take these responsibilities, take these roles, because that way their participation increases. They also create accountability in the room, right?

[00:24:43] And you know, when our members who qualified, who experience, who trust each other are also accountable and are willing to participate, miracles happen.

[00:24:52] Surbhi Dedhia: Absolutely, absolutely. CJs. This has been just so fantastic. Like, you know, its kind of has got all the cogwheels in motion in my head at least to understand that how, you know the, the, the, the depth of this, like the trust, the structure and alignment is just so important to get anything moving.

[00:25:14] Chirantan Joshi: But what I want to now focus on is actually you and you have developed this, of course. You, you started this conversation saying that you got corporate connections to UAE because you were at this point in your entrepreneurial journey where you really felt lonely at the top and you wanted to talk to people who are like-minded or who are facing this similar situation.

[00:25:35] So now that it is three years passed, how and did it work for you? Like is there any lessons or is there any personal notes that you would like to share with us in terms of how did you grow as an individual through this?

[00:25:49] Good question. I think the, the word I used earlier was Servant leadership.

[00:25:55] Mm-hmm. As in, because you are in a community business, there is no other way but to serve the community in your leadership role. There's no other way because these individuals are also leader and leaders in their own life. Mm-hmm. So, if you ask me what did I learn after running this for three years I'm becoming better and better at servant leadership.

[00:26:16] Mm-hmm. Because then I, I can I can get into a group, identify their needs, and. Keep serving those needs so that I get the alignment in the group. The day they realize that this serving is in their benefit, they all get aligned. All right? The, and that has direct impact on my own life because then same can be used in your own businesses, especially when you are working on the business and not in the business. Even you need servant leadership to serve your management team, your employees to get better results. So, I think corporate connection is my practice ground where I can practice servant leadership, which ultimately can gimme benefits even in my own organizations, which I run where I work on the business.

[00:27:00] I think that's one big learning, I would say. Also, when you are running a, a community empathy is super important. Mm-hmm. Because, as you said, different nationalities, different age groups, different experiences. So, every time something doesn't work, you really need to give the time patiently to understand, get yourself in their shoes and say what hasn't worked.

[00:27:25] Yeah. Rather than getting into right, wrong, good or bad. I think empathy helps you reframe it to what hasn't worked and why it hasn't worked. Right. Then if you ask what hasn't worked and why it hasn't worked multiple options open up.

[00:27:41] I think that's my learning in the last three years. It's empathy, increasing the empathy in your leadership role. I think that's a continuous journey. I'm not saying I'm good at it, but every day I face a situation, I'm getting better at it. Nice. So that's one that's again, second thing I would say.

[00:28:01] Two, two things. Really. Servant leadership and growing empathy as a leader. Since the question is about leadership, I think these two things have definitely impacted me.

[00:28:10] Surbhi Dedhia: Yeah, that's, that's wonderful to understand your journey. And kind of know, knowing you like. You know, how you have grown yourself in, in the region.

[00:28:20] I just feel that it is very important from, from leadership perspective to understand how you are growing as well, because it's a journey after all. Yeah. We are all trying to grow ourselves and learn, and it's always going to be a journey. It's not a destination that you've arrived really. So, it's a thank you for sharing that so candidly that, you know, these are the two big positive benefits that you have got from doing this very hard work. I think it is so hard. So, congratulations on that. On this podcast we talk about thought leadership. Now that people are following you, people are learning from you constantly through your experiences and how you are choosing between options, the choices that you make, growing your thought leadership I wanted to ask you this question on the topics that you often speak. In fact, on this podcast itself, you are constantly saying that I'm working on my business, not in it. So, I think that is one area of your thought leadership because you are sharing that learning and sharing this idea with other entrepreneurs.

[00:29:27] So tell me about this a little bit.

[00:29:30] Chirantan Joshi: So, 10, 12 years back, I was first introduced to this concept of working on the business, not in the business by my guru. . Mm-hmm. It immediately appealed to me because when you are working in the business, and I was going through that period in my life where you're so busy that you're already seeing the next you know, 500 meters because you are so busy, your phone is ringing, you're attending this meeting, you're, you know, yeah constantly busy with calendars and managing things. Then you miss out on the larger picture of the business and in the organization what I realized, and over the period in my experiences, somebody needs to be in the business because that's a very, very important job. But somebody also needs to be on the business where we are planning for 10 years or attend the global exhibitions and see what's happening in my industry.

[00:30:23] So, the overall view of where your business and where your industry is going is also very important role for the long-term success of my business. Mm-hmm. And that's the role that I have chosen for myself and that's why I keep saying that I am working on the business, not in the business. Mm-hmm.

[00:30:42] Because in the business it's an extremely important role. Yeah. It creates value for everybody, the value for the whole ecosystem. But when you are in the business, you can't be at both places. Right, right. So, then depending on your own strengths, then you choose where you are where you want to be.

[00:31:00] And I think understanding my own strengths, I think I'm better off working on the business than in the business. My organizational journey also has proven that, that, I mean, I was in the business, the organization is now doing much better when I'm on the business because somebody else is in the business who is more capable than me.

[00:31:18] Right,

[00:31:19] Surbhi Dedhia: right. And so, so you, you are building your thought leadership, your opinions about how entrepreneurs, so do, do you coach other entrepreneurs in your forum or at corporate connection on the, these topics?

[00:31:33] Chirantan Joshi: I don't do official coaching cause I'm not qualified to do it.

[00:31:36] But yeah, conversations do happen. Forums, we do talk about these things. Friends you know, some of the business associates. We do have coffee meetings where we do talk about it. And at this stage, the coaching is more of experience sharing. Yeah. Really asking the right questions, helping them find out their strength.

[00:31:55] So there is no wrong or right here whether you should be in the business or in the business. That's why I said it depends on what skill sets you have. Also, I think in the conversation, I do help people identify what's the right seat for them. Right. From my experience, again, I'm not saying that I'm a coach cause I'm not trained to be a coach, but from experience I know maybe you have, have a conversation so that they can discover their path.

[00:32:20] Surbhi Dedhia: Yes. And it is rightfully said, that experience is the best teacher. So, you know, you, you, with your experience sharing, you are teaching others. To do, to do what's right for them. I mean, and they can identify themselves sometimes it's just the clarity of identifying which side of the equation you are on, isn't it?

[00:32:39] Chirantan Joshi: Actually, one of the biggest, biggest energy of motivation is clarity. Hmm. Moment you are clear, you're actually motivated to do right. It's when Actually, you're not clear or when you are unclear, it sucks energy. Mm-hmm. Whereas when you're clear, it gives energy. So that, that is the motivation rate.

[00:32:57] Surbhi Dedhia: Absolutely. Absolutely.

[00:32:59] The other thing I often see you talk about is time management. So why are you so passionate about time management?

[00:33:08] Chirantan Joshi: We all have only 24 hours. That's one playground where we are all equal. Mm-hmm. So, we better utilize that time well which will ultimately have an effective life.

[00:33:18] I think that's what time management is a subject, which is very, very close to my heart. I think it's, again, there is a sea of knowledge available there. The more you indulge yourself into the time management as a subject. The more you learn. So, it's, it's a subject that is I'm, it's close to my heart, right?

[00:33:36] And then, you know, I, I, I'm, I'm one person who likes to convert everything into tools, uhhuh. So, any new concept that I learn, I say, okay, how can I convert it into a tool so that it's easier for implementation? Right? So, it's like, just to give you an example, you know, to have a committed conversation.

[00:33:54] It's an important part of managing your time because you just have conversation and if the conversation evaporates, nothing happens. You wasted your time. Right? So how can we have a committed conversation? So, I came across, this is not the tool I have developed. I came across this tool called www.

[00:34:10] That means after every conversation, I write down who want and when. Mm-hmm. And send it to that person. So that suddenly becomes a commitment that creates accountability. You know, that creates responsibility within these two people or within a group of people. So, the idea was how can we have committed conversation so that we don't waste time?

[00:34:31] The tool that we use it after every conversation, we create a www table and circulate that table so that everybody has clarity, everybody's responsible, everybody is accounted. Now that's a tool. So that's what I mean by my way of time management, because every concept I try to build a tool around it so that it can be implemented.

[00:34:52] Surbhi Dedhia: This is just such a fantastic idea that you've shared, like converting into tool so you can actually implement it immediately and, and or probably share like.

[00:35:02] In like just two minutes, you have explained me. Effective use of time through meetings. Who, what, when? Yeah. So, this is fantastic. Any other tool that you can share like that that can be, that you've used and converted?

[00:35:14] Chirantan Joshi: I'm a big fan

[00:35:15] of checklist uhhuh because when you miss things, you waste time.

[00:35:20] Mm-hmm. Right. Usually when you, an important thing is missed. It costs you time, energy, and cash. Three things if you miss an important thing. So, I love preparing checklist for everything. So, it's like, for example, I went into Bangkok last month. I have a travel checklist, for example. Mm-hmm. The simplest example that anybody and everybody can follow.

[00:35:43] Right. So, I just go through my to-do list before I pack my bags. And simple. How many times has it happened to maybe your husband that he's taken a shirt but forgot to take the cuff links? Mm-hmm. If you have the checklist, you don't miss out. Now that's a very simple example I'm giving now bring that example to work.

[00:36:02] The two industries where they use the checklist to the fullest is Operation theatre and Pilots, because life is at stake. Right? Right. But when now bring that same checklist to your business, because even in business, A lot of things are at stake, right? If it's not live like operation theatre or pilot, but by just managing the checklist.

[00:36:24] Okay, so I have a checklist. So, when I prepare a checklist, I usually, from my experience, what has gone wrong so far can get into a checklist I see. And then set up a frequency whether I check that on first Monday, second Monday, third Monday, fourth Monday or fifth Monday, fifth Monday comes quarterly. All the other Mondays come monthly.

[00:36:42] Right, and then you just go on checking and that's the way you avoid leakage. That's the way you avoid loss of cash, energy, and time. So that's another tool for

[00:36:52] Surbhi Dedhia: protection. That's nice. That's nice. I think that's a very simple, yet very effective tool. It could, you know, be as simple as checking, check, putting together like this tool or an Excel sheet as, as you were saying, to check on that frequency, like creating a tool and having a frequency tool.

[00:37:10] Use the tool. So, these are the two

[00:37:12] Chirantan Joshi: takeaways. Just save the time, just just to save the time. Those who are more interested in knowing 4, 5, 6 tools. They can go to my website.com and actually download the PDF of these tools.

[00:37:25] Surbhi Dedhia: Oh, awesome. Okay. I I'll definitely put a link of that website on the show notes, I'll put a link so people can go directly access it.

[00:37:32] Chirantan Joshi: Yeah, just download and they can start, because I've created those formats. Mm-hmm. They don't even need best time in creating formats. They can just start following the formats.

[00:37:41] Surbhi Dedhia: Wonderful. I'm going to do that myself. And also, I was going to ask you where people can connect you connect with you at the end of this call, but you've already said your website and of course I know you are on LinkedIn very regularly

[00:37:56] Chirantan Joshi: to connect.

[00:37:57] Okay,

[00:37:57] Surbhi Dedhia: so, you prefer people connecting with your LinkedIn on LinkedIn. So, what I'll do is on the show notes, I'll put LinkedIn link and as well as this downloadable that you just shared. So, I'll put both the links on the show notes. But before I let you go CJ, I want to know from your entrepreneurship journey you know, you, you always talk about givers gain and, you know, you're a big proponent of networking and all this actually, if you connect the dots is tying into.

[00:38:22] Who you are really as a person, right? Like you network, you've created this corporate connections chapter and this servant leadership that you're building yourself into. So from your own this, this, these areas of growth. Your entrepreneurship journey is a reflection of how you are growing. And I feel that is so critical for building any thought leadership because you are investing in yourself to serve others through your journey.

[00:38:51] And I felt that that was a very fascinating and inspirational to me. When I was connecting with you and I was learning more about you. So I wanna want you to share like, what keeps you going, like. In our motivation, but what really keeps you going every day?

[00:39:10] So I get tick

[00:39:11] Chirantan Joshi: outta connecting people. Mm-hmm. That's my kick. You say that's my, I don't know more polished word for it, but that's my kick. So every day,

[00:39:21] Surbhi Dedhia: you know, this is a Japanese concept or what gets you out of the bed, so,

[00:39:26] Chirantan Joshi: If I'm connecting, if I'm connecting a person to another person where they can benefit, I get kicked out of it.

[00:39:32] If I'm connecting an opportunity to a person, I get kicked out of it. So I think that I think it was Nokia's title and Red Connecting people. Yeah. So mine is connecting people and opportunity. I think that's, I I just get kick out of it. It's not the money part or anything. I'm, many of my introductions or connections have zero money involved.

[00:39:53] But I just get kicked out of it. I think that keeps me going all the time at work, at corporate connections, or even socially.

[00:40:00] Surbhi Dedhia: Wow. That is so inspiring and so humble at the same time because you are just here to serve people, which is fantastic. So, people in opportunities, isn't it? So, thank you so much for sharing all that you did and all that you are doing for the entrepreneurship and the community around you.

[00:40:21] Chirantan Joshi: Yeah. Thank you. And then last one thing I would like to say to everyone you know, who may listen to this is, this is a, this is one learning that I got from my group and I truly believe in it. This is meeting right people is luck, but keeping them with you is a skill, right? I think that's because, especially in the community business or in your own business, it's just if you meet them and if it's the right person for you, do whatever it takes so that that person stays part of your life.

[00:40:50] Okay. I think that's, that's that was in, that was communicated to be my, by my guru, but I think by understanding it and then believing in it has transformed my life.

[00:41:04] Surbhi Dedhia: So powerful. Thank you for sharing. I think you got it from your guru, but I think you are giving as you are true to your own icky guy.

[00:41:12] That's servant leadership. You're sharing it with all of us. So, thank you. And I think I have written this quote down going to stick it on my desk. But yeah, I think it is, it is very powerful. I, I, I, I'm yet to understand completely as you said it is. It takes time to understand that. So, I'm, you're going to definitely spend time understanding it and applying it.

[00:41:34] So thank you so much for sharing, and I think this conversation has been really powerful and all of us will benefit from this. Once again, thank you coming on the show.

[00:41:44] Chirantan Joshi: Thank you. Thank you for inviting. Thank you.