Ten years ago, I stood nervously in front of a crowd of 200, highly skeptical to share about my failures – the title of the talk, “Yes I failed, So what?”.
Even though the title sounded bold, I was terrified inside. My mind was spiraling…
What if I blow off my career?
What if I ruin my reputation?
What if people saw me as a failure and broke all ties with me?
What if I lose all my friends and well-wishers?
After all, it was a stupid idea to agree to the proposal in the first place!
With a racing heart that could explode out of my chest, sweaty palms, and a monkey brain that wouldn’t stop jumping, I took the stage. Not knowing what to expect.
The whole speech went in a blur; what I remember is the pin-drop silence as I ended my speech. Thinking I had completely messed it up, I hung my head low and started walking back to my seat.
That’s when it all shifted – I got my first standing ovation that day! And what followed was a series of personal stories, thank-you notes, and congratulations.
This experience made me realize I had a knack for connecting with people, and our personal and professional setbacks often served as a vehicle to build that connection.
Big Dreams, Bigger Reality Checks
Like every aspiring speaker, I dreamed of becoming one of the most recognized names in the industry. And Setback Leadership became the way to serve people meaningfully. My mission was clear: help leaders turn setbacks into growth opportunities.
But as they say, passion and dreams aren’t enough. Action and execution are equally critical for a successful speaking career. And sometimes even action and execution aren’t sufficient, if you are preaching to the wrong crowd at the wrong time!
The Disappointments No One Talks About
My first ten events failed miserably. I recall that 1,000 people signed up for one event, but only 17 actually turned up.
Sometimes no one turned up at all. At other times, a few people came but left with little interest.
Standing in empty rooms tested my courage in ways I’d never imagined.
When Life Adds Its Own Mix of Setbacks
As if professional disappointments weren’t enough, life added its own share:
- Financial struggles drained my resources to the brink.
- Family and relationship challenges that shook my confidence.
- Depression made me question if this dream was worth pursuing.
I kept questioning my decisions, my capabilities, my confidence, and every other thing that made me who I was. It was the lowest point in my journey.
I loved the stage, but it was not serving me the way I had envisaged it. Something wasn’t right. I was desperate to find what was wrong.
Finding My Guiding Light
Just when I considered giving up, I discovered the Professional Speakers Association of India (PSAI). Thanks to Kiruba Shankar
It was January 2019 when Kiruba invited me to the first Professional Speakers Summit, India. Those 3 days changed me forever. It put my professional speaking career on steroids!
Within 10 months, my first book, Setback Leadership, got published. It got me an opportunity to speak internationally for the very first time. Off I went to Manila, Philippines.
My journey became an experimentation ground for other aspiring professional speakers, which prompted me to create Speaking Niche Mastery. It caught the attention of the PSS 2020 organizing team, and they wanted me to present it at the PSS 2020. All of these became the premise for an offer to join the PSAI board.
Through PSAI, I found mentors, a community, my tribe, and practical tools to help me pivot, gain clarity, and refine my message and craft. PSAI taught me that, YES, professional speaking is a legitimate career that pays really well.
The Global Pause and a Forced Pivot
I had just started pressing the accelerator when COVID-19 came. Bringing all of us to an abrupt and rude halt!
Overnight, events disappeared. The stage went silent.
I had two options: quit or reinvent.
I chose reinvention.
- Forced myself to become camera-friendly (no small feat for someone who hated speaking to the cameras).
- Launched Speaking Niche Mastery online with 100+ self-paced videos.
- Published my second book, SOAR, in record time.
- As the world opened up slowly, I expanded into the Maldives, speaking three times there in less than a year.
Moving Continents, Starting Over
But before I could press the accelerator this time, another major challenge came my way: relocating to the US.
Eight months went by in near isolation. Then another year of struggling to understand the new market, underestimating the competition, and questioning whether I could rebuild here. Things were slower than I would’ve liked, and that led to frustration.
Rebuilding, One Step at a Time
My second breakthrough came when I joined the NSA and NSA Northern California in 2023.
Bit by bit, I am rebuilding right now with the support of my colleagues, mentors, and well-wishers in the NSA. As you read this;
- I am serving on the NSA NorCal board.
- Getting ready to facilitate workshops for members.
- And in November 2025, I’ll take the stage at NSA Activate.
I also began licensing my Speaking Niche Mastery internationally, helping other speakers carve out their own paths.
Does this mean I have arrived yet?
Not even close!
But compared to where I started – standing in empty rooms, facing financial and emotional breakdowns – I’ve come a long way.
Lessons From My Journey
For every aspiring speaker struggling to keep it all together, if you are reading this, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Setbacks are inevitable. But breakthroughs always follow.
- Opportunities come suddenly. Be prepared to act.
- Focus changes everything. It’s the anchor in chaos.
- And a critical one: Don’t quit your day job too soon. I did, and the financial strain made the journey much harder.
An Invitation to Aspiring Speakers
Now, I’m opening five exclusive seats for my elite coaching and mastermind program for aspiring professional speakers.
If you’re serious about turning your speaking dream into a thriving business, let’s work together to get you the clarity and build momentum for you in a short time.
PS: Reach out to me if you’d like one of the five seats.
