Shaan Bhattacharya, Chief Strategist at Sylo Talks Staying Motivated

What’s your morning routine?

Meditation for 15 minutes as I wake up. Then I check my emails, news alerts, etc. Then head over to the gym for a quick workout.

What advice would you give your 20 year-old self?

It doesn’t matter where you’ve started. What matters is where you finish. Take a good look in the mirror, and don’t let anyone say that you can’t do something. Follow your heart and enjoy the ride!

How do you stay motivated?

The fear of failure is the biggest motivator for me; even bigger than the pleasure of success. Other than that, life trajectories of a few role models and my late parents’ words give me the fuel to keep going.

If you didn’t need money, what would you do?

I’d still work (pro bono) for the sheer joy of it, but maybe a little less, so I can spend more time with my family, read more, write more, and help animals!

What is the secret to success?

This formula: Success = (Perseverance x Emotional intelligence) – Self-doubt

What is the worst mistake you’ve made and how did you fix it?

I may have let a few people take my ‘niceness’ as my ‘weakness’. A quick refresher of the Newton’s third law of motion was all that was needed to fix that.

What is your advice for people to fund their dream?

Learn. Unlearn. Relearn. Evolve. And most importantly, don’t let your reality limit your ambitions. Rather strengthen your determination to transform your reality, so it matches your aspirations.

What is the best bit of advice, or quote, that resonates with you?

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”; “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by.” and many others.

What’s your favourite restaurant?

Wildfire in Auckland.

What is the secret of living a longer, more successful life?

Good food. Spiritual awareness. Fulfilling career. Happy family. A couple of dogs.

What makes you feel alive?

Music, family, a good single-malt scotch, thought-provoking conversations,
long drives.