It's that time of the week again when we attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better, by having them share their nuggets on life and their mantras to deal with the curveballs that life throws through our Weekend Unwind series.
This week we have Mad Influence founder and CEO, Gautam Madhavan sharing his life lessons and thoughts with IndianTelevision.com. Having founded his entrepreneurial venture in 2018 at the age of 21 with the vision of creating a sustainable community of content makers, he has grown the company manifold in just four years. Madhavan believes that brief video integrations are the way forward and that these audio and video influencers will shape the future. Today, the startup is worth Rs 200 crore with a reach of more than 500 million digital users across all platforms.
So here goes...
-Ø Your mantra for life
My journey has been full of new experiences, but one rule that I have always followed is: Listen to everyone, but do what you believe is right.
Ø A book you are currently reading/plan to read
I am currently reading "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel. A book to put things into perspective.
Ø Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
Stretch until you can. It is a routine, and I have not missed a single day. It pumps my blood, my excitement and helps me get energised for the day.
Ø Your comfort food
Dal Chawal, as common as it may sound, is my absolute go-to comfort food. There is nothing I would relish more than a hot plate of Dal Chawal.
Ø When the chips are down a quote/ philosophy that keeps you going
When you feel low and feel like giving up, always remember why you started.
Ø Your guilty pleasure
Anytime, any day, ice cream
Ø When was the last time you tried something new?
Professionally, dipping my feet in NFTs has to be one of the most exhilarating and amazing experiences I've ever had.
Ø A Life lesson you learnt the hard way
There are three:
-Never depend on others
-Sometimes you have to choose between exposure and money, and the decision you make will determine the course of your future adventure.
-Three mistakes to not repeat as an entrepreneur: Never hire to fire. Never open up your finances to your investor. You cannot be the same person as you are with your friends
Ø What gets you excited about life?
Everyday, I am grateful for the team I have and I am even more excited to witness how it grows.
Ø What’s on top of your bucket list?
To give back to society through my work always tops the list.
Ø If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t waste time: Everything has its own pace; time is not something that can be fought. There are no right or incorrect answers; you must keep going forward and in your own time.
Never hire to fire: During my early days as an entrepreneur, I took great pride in firing my employees after a week or two of their arrival. The difference between firing now and then is that I used to fire people because of their performance without realising that it takes time to see results, and now I fire people because of ethical concerns. I've come to appreciate and understand the difference.
Ø An activity that keeps you motivated / charged during tough times
I am always up and ready for a challenge. However, listening to music helps me feel motivated and inspired.
Ø What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
What keeps me going is the fact that I always remember my end goal and why I started all this.
Ø Your go-to stress buster
Music always calms my nerves and helps me soothe my state of mind.
Ø One thing you would most like to change about the world
Stop Wars. Spread Love.
