What do you do to motivate yourself when you are about to give up?
Sometimes life feels like you’re running on a treadmill aimlessly and endlessly taking you nowhere.When times are hard and dark, you miss home more, you sleep more, your appetite drops. You feel like shit and question everything around you.July 28, 2018I remember crying my hearts out and trying to book a one-way flight to home. I was on the verge of quitting, but I didn’t Quit. I went on to execute one of the biggest marketing campaigns of my life for my startup.I spent 36 hours straight with almost 500 Uber drivers at Bangalore airport trying to put advertisements in their cabs.The campaign has been quite a success and I am glad I did not QUIT.Every cab that you see in this picture has our advertisement in them.What motivates me when I’m down?Smiles we put on people’s faces with our work. Our artists smile because their art makes someone smile, our customers smile because they feel moved with the amazing art our artists create for them.I close my eyes and remember the day when my dad lifted me in his arms because Stoned Santa had won a B-Plan competition at IIT-Kanpur last year.I recall the time when mom shoots questions like bullets enquiring about the business, how much money we make, what we do, how we do etc. and then asking me to take up a job.I have a folder where I screen-shot and save everything that has impacted my life greatly. I go through the photos, notes and re-live the good and bad memories.Here are some of the good ones with you.The very next day a friend sends me this. The campaign was working already.A few days later this happens. Gaurav Munjal follows me.The campaign caught the attention of Vinay Singhal, CEO of WittyFeed.Something one of our artists sent me when a celebrity received their art.There have been multiple instances when I am demotivated and drained of energy, ideas, and hope.I chose this life and I know it’s gonna be hard, but the thrill, the adventure, the HIGHs, the LOWs, the experiences and the learnings it gives is immense.I will never give up because I cannot. I don’t have that choice.Meet my baby - Stoned Santa.