We all have setbacks but the important thing is to rise again and continue to move forward.
I, Uma Maheswari, born and brought up in a small town- Vizianagaram located in Andhra Pradesh, have always been a daddy’s girl and a proud daughter of the most efficient superwoman I know.
Post my MBA in HR, I moved to Hyderabad to kick start my career into Recruitments. Hailing from a traditional family, I still chose to pursue my dreams!
A Dream to settle in a city! Dream to Earn! Dream to make a career and become an independent woman! But I dint realize the challenges I would face once I move out from my comfort zone. My actual struggle started when I reached the city for the very first time. I started feeling like an alien here. I didn’t even know how to dress myself professionally. I was bullied by my colleagues for my looks and my attire. My English-speaking skills were equally bad, I was always pointed from my managers to improve my communication skills. Many a times it became difficult to face these challenges, which I am sure every person from a small town faces who dreams to live a city-life. But I decided to not give up on myself as my passion to achieve something in life was bigger than my shortcomings. I started observing my colleagues- their dressing style, their life style, their working style etc and eventually I started adapting the city-life. I decided to change myself for better. I was on cloud nine with the new transformation in my life and just when I thought everything is hunky dory, I got the biggest shock of my life! I lost the hero of my life- my father. My life was upside down. This was the biggest setback of my life. Being a daddy’s girl is like having a permanent Armour. I felt so protected into his shield and suddenly he is gone and I had no clue how to deal with this! The insecurity kept creeping up my body and my mind. I was drained emotionally, mentally, physically and financially. That was the worst phase of my life.
Life is full of disappointments, failures and setbacks. But none of them can permanently stop you. You have the power in you to overcome anything that life throws at you.
I started pushing myself to come back to track and focus back on my career. My tenacity helped me to recover from the grief. Slowly when I was getting back to a normal life & pulling myself up towards my goal, pandemic struck the world like never before. The situation had forced me to move out from my PG lifestyle & quit my full time job. This was the second setback in my life. Being all alone in Hyderabad the only option was to shift to Bangalore where my sister lives with her family. I have been independent & standing on my own feet since 8 years. But suddenly depending on someone else than me was not acceptable. I was not at all comfortable with this arrangement.
When I was at my breaking point, an old colleague of mine introduced me to Ms. Khyati Naigandhi. Meeting her was the only good thing that happened during this pandemic.
She offered me an awesome opportunity with tenaSHEous to restart my career with a big bang. I loved the vision she carries to elevate women to restart their career after a break. I didn’t think twice and just grabbed this opportunity with both my hands along with a big smile. I found this role so exciting. Thanks to our boss lady for this wonderful opportunity when I needed it the most to uplift my self-worth, my confidence and the meaning of my whole being.
Remember that setbacks are only challenges in disguise, look at them as lessons, don’t waste beating yourself up.
Just get back on track and focus on what you want in life! As Khyati always says – Follow your dreams! I did dare to follow my dreams once again!
You may fall many times, you may fail many times but do not forget to rise and most importantly to rise like a Phoenix!!