2006 to 2014 - Started 4 Businesses, shut 2 down... failed as an entrepreneur... Was Broke and Broken...

2014 to 2016 - Went across India, Interviewed 300 Business Leaders to learn the Psychology, Systems and Skills to build a Profitable Business at Scale... turned my interviews into a book titled - Lead or Bleed and published it in February 2016...

2016 till date - Built Quantum Leap as a Leader in MSME Business Coaching... Have a 150+ team... We work 1to1 with Business Owners, handhold them to design their Business Model for Profitability, Marketing Strategies to scale their reach, Sales Processes to enhance customer buying process, Operations Systems to enhance customer impact, HR processes for attracting and retaining talent and Management systems so the business can grow without the business owner... 

Other Businesses:
1. Co-Founder of DreamCraft Events which helps organizations and brands enhance Employee Engagement and Customer Engagement through Experiential Events
2. Director, Strategy and Business Growth - Zoozle, an E-commerce Membership platform to help consumers enhance their savings
3. Director, Strategy and Business Growth: Contractbazaar.in - Helping MSMEs get Transparent, Convenient and Efficient Legal Support

Rajiv Talreja

Every couple needs a system and this is ours!! 

Since 2014, my partner and I have had a yearly ritual we call our Dream List.

Every January, we sit down and talk about what we want from the year ahead. 

We start with our income goals and then decide how we want that money to work for us through investments, savings, lifestyle, travel, charity, learning, health and family.

Honestly, that conversation is not about money but being on the same page, knowing what we’re working towards and why. 

Over the years, this ritual has become one of the strongest foundations of our relationship. It keeps us connected, focused and grounded.

But last year, for the first time in almost 10 years, we didn’t do it.

No particular reason, but just the chaos of life taking over and that’s when we realized how much this one small practice kept us steady.

This week, we brought it back and it felt so much better. 

Sometimes we take the small rituals so lightly that we forget that not always do the big changes move life forward, but the small ones that remind us what matters most.

If you don’t have one yet, create one that helps you keep things on track. 

It doesn’t have to be huge, just something that keeps you in sanity!

India's MSME Business Coach | Generated additional revenue of Rs.6,744 crores for 498 clients in the last one year

"Partnership Businesses Always Fail…”

I remember hearing this over and over before Karan Hasija and I started working together.

“Don’t do business with a partner. You’ll regret it.”

But 15+ years later and we have come such a long way. And honestly the only reason we’ve lasted is because we are different.

Most people start partnerships looking for someone just like them with the same skills, mindset and way of thinking. But that is when it fails.

Karan and I are almost opposites:
→ I am a dreamer, he is a builder.
→ I prefer playing solo, he believes in building a team.
→ I think the big picture, he masters the details.
→ I bring raw passion, he brings calm compassion.
→ I am sneaky, he is a nice guy.

We are completely different, but that’s exactly what makes our partnership work. 

Most partnerships fail when people expect their partner to be a reflection of themselves. But a successful partnership comes from complementing each other.

Our differences balance decisions and create a dynamic that neither of us could achieve alone.

In fact, working alongside Karan has made me realise that a partnership doesn’t fail because of ambition or skill but when there’s no balance. 

So find someone who challenges you, balances you and fills the gaps you can’t. 

That’s how a partnership becomes unstoppable!

What do a bankrupt businessman, a consistent inventor and a rejected author have in common?

“They were all on the path to becoming legends.”

I am talking about Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and J.K. Rowling.

If you’ve ever failed and thought, “This is it, I can’t go on,” then this might resonate with you.

Honestly, imagine if they had given up:

→ Our roads would have missed the efficiency of the automobile.
→ Our homes would have stayed dark after sunset.
→ Hogwarts would have remained just a number: 9 ¾.

The reality is that every successful person you admire has been through a lot. But what actually helped them was their mindset. They treated failure just as a way to adjust, learn and keep moving forward.

So instead of letting it bring you done, learn from it and keep your vision intact, but change your strategy if needed.

I am sharing this because I’ve faced setbacks that felt like everything was over and it was the end of things. But they were lessons pushing me to grow and come back stronger.

All you need to do is just ask yourself, what exactly is this situation teaching me? 

Have you had a failure that ended up teaching you more than success? I’d love to hear your story.

This is why some people get so much more done than you! 


Across every team I’ve led and every founder I’ve coached, I’ve seen that the people who consistently deliver results don’t rely on motivation or inspiration. 

They rely on certain ways of thinking that shape how they work every day.

And the more I’ve observed them, the more obvious it becomes that their effectiveness comes from how they think before it shows up in what they do.

These are some habits I see repeatedly in high-achieving professionals:

→ They think in priorities instead of tasks - Rather than trying to finish everything on their list, they identify the few things that create real impact. 

→ They respond after thinking - They don’t rush into decisions simply because it is urgent. They understand what’s actually required and act with intention. 

→ They treat consistency as a discipline - They rely on routines, standards and systems that help them show up even when the day gets unpredictable. 

What’s important is that none of these habits require extraordinary talent. They just require awareness and practice.

Literally anyone at any stage of their career can start incorporating them into their daily approach.

In my experience, the biggest difference between people who get things done and those who constantly feel stuck is not effort, but clarity.

That is what creates a difference in some of the most unexpected ways possible.

I used to wait for life to “make sense.”


I felt that one day it will all be fine. But trust me, that day rarely comes. 

Life moves, whether we’re ready or not. And while I was waiting, I was missing the messy, chaotic and beautiful moments that actually make life worth living.

I’ve learned that the only way to enjoy life is to lean into it fully. Cry when it’s hard, laugh when it feels impossible and notice the little things that make you smile. 

The joy doesn’t come from perfect circumstances but from letting yourself feel life as it comes, accepting it and showing up fully.

The more I stopped holding back, the more I grew. The tough days taught me to be strong, the little wins made me grateful and the happy moments became brighter because I was ready to feel them completely.

If there’s one principle I’d pass on from it is don't wait for life to make sense. Let life teach you, even in the chaos. 

Show up, feel it fully and you’ll find that the moments you thought were difficult were actually preparing you for the ones that matter most.

Because life is messy and unpredictable but it’s also full of moments worth feeling fully.

Why has building a business become a race?


Almost every week, I meet someone who genuinely believes that an idea today, funding tomorrow and a unicorn in two years is a reasonable plan.

The ambition isn’t the issue but the timelines we attach to that ambition are.

In the larger ecosystem, the narrative is so different.

We discuss valuations far more than value creation, celebrate fundraisers before sustainable models and treat speed as the primary indicator of success.

This mindset creates silent pressure, especially for new founders. Many start feeling inadequate if things don’t look glamorous within the first couple of years.

But things are so different in reality. 

Real businesses take time before they become exciting and most of the slow iterations and tough decisions you rarely see on social media.

So, if funding is the only plan, then there is no plan. And if the only aspiration is a unicorn label, then the foundation is weak from the start.

The founders who sustain usually focus on something far simpler and stronger.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the noise around you, just put your head down and build something genuinely valuable. The world eventually notices those who create real impact, even if their journey takes time.

Don’t let the unicorn status diminish your work.

You are doing real business. And you have every reason to be proud of that.

What if being a great founder is in your hands? 


Too often, owners believe they need to be everywhere like calls, managing operations, approving every hire and even adding to the next campaign. 

It feels really heroic, but in reality, it slows the company down.

The real treasures are the owners who know their limits. 

For instance, do you think Steve Jobs was an engineer? But he knew how to bring together the best designers and tech minds to build Apple.

Or look at Ratan Tata. He didn’t try to run every Tata company himself but he built leaders around him who could.

Exactly how, the most effective founders are the ones who:

→ Double down on their strengths instead of trying to master everything.
→ Bring in people who are smarter than them in specific areas.
→ Trust their teams to make decisions and own outcomes.
→ Create systems where the business runs on collective expertise

I’ve seen businesses suffer because the owner couldn’t let go. Every decision had to pass through them, only leading to frustration and missed opportunities.

But companies where leaders admit, “This isn’t my strength, but I’ll bring in someone who’s great at it,” tend to grow faster and build healthier cultures.

Your company will grow the day you realise that it is about knowing what not to do and finding the right people to do it better.

Men’s Day is over. But are men really okay?


Yesterday people posted quotes, shared reels and wished “Happy Men’s Day.”

Today, every men have returned to being the “strong and responsible one.”

And that’s exactly why I wanted to write this today.
Because men need everyday reminders that they’re allowed to be human.

We grow up hearing that a man should “handle it,” “be strong,” “don’t overthink,” “don’t feel too much.” And slowly, that fun, loud, messy, curious boy inside gets replaced with someone who is constantly managing.

So here’s a reminder for every man reading this today…

1. Keep the boy inside you alive. You don’t have to be responsible 24x7.
2. Do things for the joy of it. Not everything needs a goal, timeline or ROI.
3. Say what you feel. Tell her you love her. Your emotions don’t make you less.
4. Stop racing time. Deadlines matter but so do you. Give time… time.
5. Add madness back into life. Try something new or do something impulsive.
6. Ask for what you need, be it a hug, listening ear, support.

Celebrate yourself even when no one posts about it and choose yourself even when no one says it out loud.

The world expects a lot from men but men deserve a lot from the world too.

So, if no one said it yesterday, let me say it today - 
You’re allowed to live, not just function.

And you deserve to feel celebrated, not once a year, but every day you show up.

Are our lives already written before we live them?


Some people believe destiny has a plan. Others believe everything is shaped by our choices. And honestly, I’ve never been fully convinced by either side.

What I do know is that the moment I start assuming that everything is predetermined, I start giving away the power that makes life meaningful and the ability to dream, decide and take responsibility for the direction I move in.

Whenever I fall into the belief that “what has to happen will happen,” I notice something subtle happening within me.

I stop trying as hard, take fewer risks and become more accepting of outcomes I’m not happy with. And slowly, life becomes something I adapt to rather than something I actively shape.

That’s when I remind myself that even if destiny exists, human will is still the force that moves our everyday life. 

Our decisions, responses and persistence change the opportunities we attract, the people we meet and the outcomes we create.

I’d rather live with the belief that my effort holds weight than surrender to the idea that my future is already sealed.

Because choosing effort makes me participate and keeps me aligned with the life I want to build.

When I imagine reaching the end of my journey, I don’t want to look back and realise I lived in resignation. I’d like to know that I made decisions consciously.

Maybe destiny plays a role but until someone can prove that to me, I’d rather trust the part I can influence.

At the very least, it makes life more intentional.
And at its best, it shapes a future that feels like it was built.

My journey from a one-person to a 100+ member team has been crazy.


Honestly, it didn’t happen because I kept hiring but because I finally understood how teams actually scale.

In my early years, I assumed that growth was about hiring more when needed. 

But that approach only created temporary momentum. The real problems like culture, ownership, accountability, kept resurfacing, no matter how big the team became.

It took several failures to realise that building a company is not the same as assembling a workforce.What matters is a core team that cares like the founder.

And that shift changed everything.

I started spending time understanding the people who were closest to the business and supported them in a way that felt meaningful.

This was the moment I stopped following the traditional “customer first” philosophy and adopted a team first, customers next attitude.

Because when your team feels supported, respected and invested in, they treat customers with a level of care that no policy or training manual can enforce.

Another reality we don’t talk about enough is that a founder never manages 100 people. At best, a founder directly works with a handful of key leaders. But those leaders are responsible for the culture that flows through the entire organisation.

My responsibility is to lead those few well.

Looking back, the actual growth came from building leaders who could multiply the impact of the organisation. 

That’s the real secret to scaling.

I feel like I’ve lived 2 lives in one lifetime…


When I started Quantum Leap in 2006, I was just a 20 year old with more questions than answers.

The uncertainty was so overwhelming and I constantly had so much self doubt. 

Every day, my mind would ask: “Will this work?”

Fast forward to today and I feel incredibly blessed to do what I love:

→ Inspiring people
→ Transforming businesses
→ Teaching and serving

Every time a program concludes, I feel so grateful that the work we do actually creates value for people.

For me, sharing what I know isn’t just the fulfillment but almost like a reality beyond my wildest dreams.

In fact, over these years, I have learned that whatever you are doing, keep at it long enough. Keep going until the universe shows its grace and magic.

You can truly live multiple lives in one lifetime. And it’s possible for anyone, you just need to trust the process and stay invested long enough!

This is the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves!


“I’ll make time later.”

I know you’ve lived the unseen hours.

The late nights, early mornings and weekends that were supposed to be a break but turned into more work. This is honestly every business owner’s silent story.

But I want to bring up something most of us don’t say out loud, “Family Time”.

We talk about work-life balance, but we treat it like a yearly event instead of a daily habit. 

And if you’re someone who says, “Once the business stabilises, then I’ll spend more time with my family” you’re delaying something that will never magically happen.

As you grow, the work will increase. There will always be another call, another meeting and another crisis that feels urgent.

The only way it changes is if you change the boundary. So shut the laptop at 7 PM, stop taking calls once you reach home and be present, not just physically around.

Because when you show up for your child’s cricket match or actually take a weekend off or give your mind the space to breathe, you come back to your business with more clarity, patience and energy.

So as you prepare for 2025 with new plans and bigger goals, remind yourself that growth at work means nothing if life outside work is shrinking.

Work hard and build well, but don’t forget the people who make all of it worth it.

If you are unsure of what to do in life, read this!


You know the beginning of any journey is always messy.

You feel unsure, you delay decisions and you constantly fight between who you are and who you think you’re supposed to be.

Because clarity rarely comes first. It usually comes after the confusion, hesitation and the uncomfortable early phase no one likes to talk about.

What changed things for me were a few honest conversations with people I trusted. I finally said out loud what I wanted and what I was scared of.

Those conversations moved me forward more than anything else because:

→ The right people give you structure and stability, especially when it feels unclear.
→ They point out the blind spots and push you to make decisions you’ve been running from.
→ Most of the time, it only takes one or two people to help you make a real shift.

And when you finally look back, the turning points look like small moments that changed the way you saw yourself.

If there’s one thing I’m certain about now, it’s that your journey starts the moment someone helps you face the truth you’ve been delaying.

Space Studio Chennai

Associated with the conceptualization and design of many prestigious projects in India across different sectors. Rich experience of having worked with leading design firms in Chennai before floating my own design studio. My design skills and eye for detail makes each project unique in its own way. My vision and my inspiration for work are to create aesthetically appealing sustainable spaces without compromising on the functionality. The client needs comes before anything else and this reflects in all stages of the design transition from concept to completion. The team at the studio works single mindedly towards translating the client’s needs, vision and dream into functional spaces that are a pleasure to experience at work, leisure and at all walks of life. The success of the studio is its prestigious clientele who choose to work with me and studio on repeat projects.

Chief Idea Officer

SAPL ARCHITECTS

Sr. Architect

Architect

At Space Studio Chennai, my focus on sustainable design and client-centric innovation has shaped prestigious projects across diverse sectors. With expertise in design and interior design, my leadership has driven the creation of aesthetically appealing, functional spaces that prioritize the client's vision.

The team at SSC and I collaborate to deliver projects that embody both sustainability and practicality, reflecting a commitment to environmental responsibility and design excellence. Our approach has consistently resulted in spaces that clients find both inspiring and enjoyable, reinforcing our studio's reputation for groundbreaking work in sustainable architecture.

Ar Shashi

Is architecture fading as a profession?
Absolutely not. If anything, architecture is transforming — shedding outdated systems and becoming more relevant than ever.

What’s fading is the old image of the architect:
– the lone genius,
– the underpaid draughtsperson,
– the passive service provider waiting for a client to knock.

What’s rising instead is a new breed of architects who are:
✨ Strategic thinkers
✨ Brand builders
✨ Spatial entrepreneurs
✨ Experts in user experience, sustainability, and wellbeing
✨ Critical contributors to urban and economic growth

Architecture is expanding beyond drawings — into research, products, digital assets, policy, sustainability, placemaking, and now, experience-driven corporate environments.

The demand has never disappeared; the form of practice is what’s evolving.

People will always build.
Cities will always grow.
Businesses will always need better, healthier, more efficient spaces.
And someone must imagine, design, and orchestrate all of it.

So no — architecture is not fading.
Only the architects who refuse to evolve are.

Here is one way you can remain relevant amidst the altering business landscape of architecture. 👇🏻⬇️

Shashi Rekha

CEO and Chief Architect @ Space Studio Chennai | Founder @ Vedic Homes by Ar. Shashi| Pioneer in Energetic Architecture for soulful luxury homes , high-performance workplaces.

No alternative text description for this image

As an architect, I don’t recommend indoor playrooms. Childhood belongs outdoors.

Play doesn’t need a room — it needs space, sun, mud, and movement. That’s the childhood I grew up with, and the one I still believe in.

Real play, for me, is lived under open skies — chasing dragonflies, knocking marbles, spinning tops, scraped knees.

A game room can’t hold that magic.

May play be the purpose of your life,
and wonder your constant companion.

Happy Children’s Day 💛

Our village pump set is my happy place

Your upbringing, travel experiences shape how you design and build.  

Our paternal grandparents mansion has a massive well , a pump room and a storage tank where the water falls. To bathe here is the biggest joy ever. Water has a purifying quality to it. It can wash away anxiety, fear and fill you with limitless joy 🤩  my earliest memory is bathing in the tank with water gushing over us from a 15 horsepower motor. 

In a recent trip to sirumalai , a hill top in southern TN region, we stayed in a resort where they had set up water spouts that falls directly on you in the swimming pool 🏊 it is something both the kids and adults enjoyed immensely. 

This pool is influenced by the early childhood memory and the recent travel experience. At the studio , Spaces are shaped largely by human experiences. Conceptualised with love and built with such care. 

#ArchitectureStory #DesignFromLife #TamilNaduDiaries #ExperienceLedDesign #SpacesWithSoul

iPhone moment that is repeating

Not just new features — but making the old way of working obsolete.
Excel that builds models for you. Word that drafts instantly. A desktop that understands what you need before you ask.

In the next 1–2 years, we won’t just work faster — we’ll work differently.
The tools we use today will feel outdated overnight.

The real innovation isn’t what AI creates…
It’s what AI makes irrelevant.

#AI #Windows12 #FutureOfWork #Innovation #TechTrends #Productivity

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