Prashant Joshi Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Prashant Joshi
Prashant Joshi is my guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview.
He is a computer scientist, an electrical engineer, and has been an IT Industry management leader for the past 25 plus years.
Which sounds pretty standard stuff.
But Join Up Dots is not a normal show, and is about giving you guys ideas, and concepts that you can use to create great success in your own life.
Showing you what other people are doing, so that you can think “I could give that a go!”
Well today’s guest is bringing his passion for Yoga-principles, to his connections in the academic and corporate world.
He is getting all levels of management to have a go, and sit cross legged, and touch their toes.
He has brought Yoga to the Tennis courts, executive board-rooms, mental health facilities and senior centers.
How The Dots Joined For Prashant
He has been an ardent student of Yoga since 1984, and has had formal Yoga training from various renowned institutions and teachers in India and the US.
But what I love about this guy is the blending approach.
He isn’t saying this will work, take it or leave it.
But he is saying let’s try this, and see how it goes.
And from his leadership talks, yoga sessions, or even his laughter therapy he is taking his experience of how the corporate world works, and is building something very different.
So was his starting career in Sales and IT the perfect place to begin his journey, or has it actually held him back to where he deserved to be?
And is it getting easier to convince the boardrooms of the world, that a bit of the downward dog is a great thing to bring in for the employees?
Well let’s find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Prashant Joshi.
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Prashant Joshi such as:
Why operating in a slow and steady way whilst in business is definitely a practice that we should embrace, and ultimately brings about huge success.
How he first came to America with only $3,000 dollars in his pockets, and tells us how he set about finding his own American Dream.
Why he was coached in the early days to allow the growth of his company to be organic, and to let the business flow naturely.
And lastly….
Why he tries to live by the mantra of “You are going to spend more time at work, than you are at home, so you might as well have fun!”
How To Connect With Prashant Joshi
Return To The Top Of Prashant Joshi
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Interview Transcription For Prashant Joshi Interview
Intro [0:00]
When we’re young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here’s your host live from the back of his garden in the UK. David Ralph.
David Ralph [0:26]
Yes, hello there, everybody. Well, are you doing? Are you all rested? Are you energised for another day, wherever you’re getting up to drop us a line? I’ve been asked that for a while but drop us a line tell us where you actually listen to the show what you’re doing. How does it inspire? Does it inspire you and give us some feedback because it’d be great to hear from you. As it is great to have today’s guest on the show because he is somebody with quite an eclectic background. He’s a computer scientist and electrical engineer, and it’s been an IT industry management leader for the past 25 plus years, which sounds pretty standard stuff. But Join Up Dots is not a normal show. And it’s about giving you guys ideas and concepts that you can use to create great success in your own life, showing you what other people are doing so that you can think I could keep that ago. Well, today’s guest is bringing his passion for yoga principles to his connections in the academic and corporate world. He’s getting all levels of management to have a go at sitting cross legged and touching their toes. He has bought yoga tennis, tennis courts, executive boardrooms, mental health facilities and senior centres. Now, he’s been an ardent student of the principles since 1984, and has had formal training from various renowned institutions and teachers in India and the US. But what I love about this guy is the blending approach. He isn’t saying this will work, take it or leave it, but he’s saying let’s try this and see how it goes. And from his leadership talks, yoga sessions or even these laughter therapy, he’s taken his experience on how the corporate world work, and he’s building something very different within that. So once he starts career in sales and it the perfect place to begin his journey or actually did is holding back to where he deserved to be. And is it getting easier to convince the boardrooms of the world that a bit of a downward dog is a great thing to bring in for the employees? Well let’s find out as we bring on to show to start Join Up Dots with the one and only coach p How are you sir?
Prashant Joshi [2:20]
Fantastic. Thank you David for having me on the show.
David Ralph [2:23]
It’s very early in your well, but you were saying to me beforehand, you are an early riser. You are somebody that gets up with the the early bird and goes for it. Have you always been that way?
Prashant Joshi [2:34]
Well, I can either give credit to our blame, but I like to give credit to yoga with that our relatively clear head And with that, I think I sleep like a baby and yeah, get up kind of at well. So today, I didn’t need an alarm to get up. But it’s all it’s I think yoga works there in that in that respect with tour.
David Ralph [2:57]
So so you actually sleep like a baby because I’ll be honest Review, I can’t sleep very well at all. Now I just had ideas buzzing around my head, I can’t switch off. They all come to me through the day. But when I go to bed, they seem to really, really get big and sort of, they embrace my brainpower. But you’re, you’re different and what am I doing wrong with that? COACH p Why can I not sleep at night?
Prashant Joshi [3:21]
Well, first of all, I’m not surprised, David that you cannot sleep because to me, I can see that energy coming out. When when you’re speaking, which is, again, which is a great thing. But, you know, again, I use one word, which is practice. We all have practice to be whatever we are today. And we can so that there’s a good news, bad news here, right? The good news is, things are reversible. If you’re doing one thing today, you can reverse that if you would like to. So that’s again, the good news, bad news. So in terms of stopping our parts, yeah, we got to take some deep breaths, slow down, and just practice that aspect of slowing down, which will help definitely sleep better. And that’s something it’s ironic that we are talking today because just yesterday we met a neurologist in his sleep specialist was, you know, we’re trying to collaborate with, because I think you’re not alone here, David. And we all can use, as I said, an extra little better sleep so that we have even more energy then you have so I’m impressed with your energy. But I think we all can help ourselves with a little bit more practice of slowing down. I think you are right on that. And
David Ralph [4:37]
the bizarre thing is certainly in the entrepreneurial world. by slowing down, you actually produce more you seem to focus in on the right things instead of trying to juggle many plates at the same time. You’ve obviously created something remarkable. You’re bringing your practices into the sort of the corporate arena. Did you do it in a slum Steady approach, or did you go hell for leather, right in the early days and learn from your errors?
Prashant Joshi [5:07]
I think, you know, maybe we can see all of the above because but slow and steady, I think has definitely been the kind of the model here. Big Bang approach is not something we have done. And I think we’re happy about it. So, and that’s why it has sustained itself, I think for 20 plus years, and we continue to do so. So, but you know, errors is something that we all make, and that’s what makes us human. And that’s why I do not glorify anything and I say, Wow, what a moron I was. And I think I see that every day. So, but that keeps us humble, but definitely slow and steady approach has helped. I’ve been bold in many ways, and that has also helped and maybe in some places is hurt. But I think it’s good to be just honest and bold with yourself and say you know what? This works, let’s make noise about it. And I think it sticks to those who really are more genuine and and get it and want to implement it. And can I ask
David Ralph [6:11]
question, have you been raised in America? Obviously, we’re speaking in America now, or were you born in India and sort of moved across?
Prashant Joshi [6:19]
Yes, I was born in India. So I can I’m at a point where I can say that more than half of my life is spent in the US. But I was very much born in Mumbai, and spent, you know, 20 plus years there, and I still go back. I just was there in November. So the tides are there, and I call myself a global citizen. And that’s really something that I thank my Indian roots, and the upbringing that is helping me to think global and be global.
David Ralph [6:50]
Now that’s interesting. So you think that if you was born and bred American, you might be operating in a different way to the way that you’re you’re going about it?
Prashant Joshi [7:00]
I think so. But again, as I said before, everything is reversible. Everything is all about practice. So I’ve met so many Americans, and I very much am an American citizen. So but it does happen many times to the education system and so on, that you have a little bit of a myopic view of the world. And I’m sure there’s a lot of criticism out there about us being Oh, it’s a World Series. It’s the world but it’s really all about the US. Yeah. Oh, I think the global perspective does come from my upbringing and some of my own training, where I look at things a little bit more open mindedly than and then, you know, when you when you come and really come with a little bit, absolutely nothing in your pockets, and then you make something out of it. I think you have a much more respect for your upbringing and say, Wow, hey, my parents did something right. And I did something right as well. And so did you do that? Did you come across come to America with almost nothing. Yes, I think I can say that. I mean, again, thanks to my parents and the family support. I mean, I came as a grad student, graduate student to study computer science here in 87 1987. That is, and yeah, with, I would say $3,000 in the pocket, which again, was hard earned money from the family. And it, it has, and yeah, so a lot of support from family and friends. And that’s an 27 plus years later, almost 30 years later, I think I can say that there’s a little bit more than 3000 in the bank right now.
David Ralph [8:44]
So when you come across, and I’m always fascinated by the American dream, because from the outside world from everywhere else, but America, we can still see the glamour, the glitz, the possibilities, but America has But when I speak to Americans, I kind of more often than not a lot of them say, No, the American dream has gone. Now you’ve seen it from both sides. And you started with quite a small amount of money and obviously hustled and believed in yourself. Is it still there? Is the American Dream there? Or is it not the American dream? Is it like an individual’s dream? Is it that spirit that an individual has to have moving the country?
Prashant Joshi [9:25]
That that’s a great point, I think you can look at it both ways. I mean, from a leadership perspective, you do want to inculcate that dream from the top down, but at the end of the day, it is not there in the bar from the bottom up, then it’s not going to work. So as I said, I mean, so motivation is needed from the top down, so that you know, under the opportunities need needed. So at the end of the day, it does individual does matter. I mean, I say that, you know, without blinking my eyes, that it’s really all about the passion inside. You that makes you who you are, no matter where you are, or whether you’re in the UK or the India or Israel or America, but the opportunities need to be open from the top down as well so that there are less obstacles in reaching your dreams. So I think in that fashion, I think both are true that leadership does matter from top down. And then the bottom up, passion is needed. And that’s where your support system matters with your friends, your family, and your community. So it’s really a top down and bottom up approach that makes you successful.
David Ralph [10:36]
Now, I agree with that, but I come from a corporate environment in the City of London and I think, but in the companies I worked for the top guys had a dream. They had a vision. They had the leadership. The bottom guys had the hustle and they were working at implementing it. But the middle management were just desperate to keep their jobs and kind of play political game. And so it didn’t operate that there was a divide, and no matter how you operate, and as the company’s got bigger and bigger, it got worse and worse and worse. Do you see that as well? Obviously, you go in with your leadership practices. Is it the middle management? That’s that’s the fault? Should we get rid of them and have a flatter structure in business?
Prashant Joshi [11:20]
Well, I you know, what, I actually very much resonate with you. And it has happened in my own life, I think that I’ve seen and I’ve been inspired by a great vision from a top leadership, but the middle management does mess up things, no doubt about it. So it is and that’s where I’m passionate about training leaders, so that it’s not just about saving your own, you know, what what is popularly coined as see why a while you need you need to cover yourself, you really are working for the people underneath you versus the people underneath you working for you. So it’s really a change of Adeline that’s needed, a flat researcher will help. But at the end of the day to scale, you do need to put some authority and empowerment in the middle management. But if they’re trained, so that it’s all about, you know, what, why are we there? Well, you know, it’s not about you anymore. It’s about the people that you’re serving. So that’s why our tagline, if you have noticed is billion set to be served. When you have a serving attitude, the selling happens and less and less of See ya. And that’s, but I resonate with you very much in what you said about middle management.
David Ralph [12:37]
But you know, if we tie into I think Zig was favourite phrase or one of these famous ones, at least, that if you help enough people achieve their dreams, you will achieve your own or something like that. I’m paraphrasing. That is what you’re doing. Hopefully, that’s what I’m trying to do. But in corporate land more often than not, it’s not bad when we see the companies that seem to have grasp that the Like be the sort of the Googles and the more fun, free flowing kind of structures, it seems to work somehow it seems to inspire people and the loyalty increases. Do you find that as well, that the old guard on dodgy territory because there’s a new breed coming through that can see how it operates? You know, just before I let you answer that question, I was interviewing a lady on the show, and she’s got a company and every Friday, they all watch movies together, because it’s just a good way of sort of bonding and sort of bringing together a synergy within the group that she didn’t have before.
Prashant Joshi [13:37]
Oh, no, that again, it’s all about innovative practices of team building that are needed and absolutely I think they’re the old guard sometimes wants to you know, just do it dude, what they know how to do and quick Case in point at a personal level. You know, I have a 20 year old daughter was studying psychology and she was here For the winter break, and when I was dropping her off to the airport, and we were just chatting, and she said, Hey, that was great bonding with you, I think this this time I related more with you as you were kind of down to my level to talk versus, you know, being up there. So, so when, when, when your 20 year old can relate to you, and I’m 53. So I feel good about read that, hey, so that’s what’s needed from the management that you got to come down to the level versus you stay up there. And then, you know, expect everybody to be having that kind of a barrier to bond. And that’s what the APM power people, then they definitely take more responsibility and, you know, do more for you.
David Ralph [14:45]
So, so that’s sort of bring into your practices vein. So your yoga business in many ways, you’re taking something that’s an outside influence into an inciting incident corporate world, and that’s more often than not an Easy mix. I’ve seen it time and time again, where companies will bring in loads of benefits that the staff don’t really want. But they don’t bring in the ones that people do want. And I would have thought Yoga is an easy sell or it should be because we’re all getting stiff sitting at our desks all the time, is it isn’t a change in mindset. Now that’s making it easier for you to bring your practices in, or is it still a struggle as it probably was 20 years ago.
Prashant Joshi [15:28]
It’s, again, it comes back to you know, on open minded leadership, because unless you have a good sponsorship from top down, things don’t come. You know, it’s not that easy to get in. So, whenever I’ve had a leader who experienced the benefits, and then mentioned within their organisation that you know what, we got to bring this guy in or we got to do this, and then there is a sponsorship with that as an easy way to To get in. So, yeah, it can be difficult because people have preconceived notions. I mean, I’ve seen it many times people saying, Oh, I cannot do this because I’m not flexible. And then I tell people that you know what it’s by definition, yoga is about changing your behaviour. And what happens the boardroom is all about a behaviour and ego that comes in between doing the right thing was wrong thing. So it’s about a taking a deep breath. I mean, we just did a team building for a school leadership team, in this school district here. And it was amazing to get a positive response. But that happened because a principal was open minded, and I built a friendship with him. And then he sponsored me for a small, you know, short team building session. So leadership does matter. They need to be open minded. They need to be convinced and we need to build relationships to and yeah, so we got to adapt to them. They got to adapt to us. It’s really about coming to the middle, and and adapting so that we actually do the right thing for for, you know what we need to do, as you said, We are all getting stiffer. I mean, sitting is becoming like a stigma like smoking. And at the same time, hot headed leadership, you know, all the anger, anxiety, all that is really creating disease, and the word disease is dis ease. And nobody does that anymore. And that’s what we try to do is
Unknown Speaker [17:28]
keep it simple.
David Ralph [17:30]
And can people do yoga whilst they’re working? Or do they have to leave? Is there things that you could suggest that people can actually do at their chairs while they’re working to make things easier for them?
Prashant Joshi [17:43]
Absolutely. And that’s, that’s precisely what we’re trying to do is that’s why we say simplify and demystify life management that it’s not about getting out and spending an hour on the mat. It’s about sitting right there where you are, I presume you’re sitting right now. So for example, they would if you sit tall You know, we all get hunched over and we have our own habits of crouched up. So if we just have a nice tall posture and take a deep breath, and that’s something you know, I say solution is right under your nose, we, we all get so busy, we forget to breathe. So just taking a deep breath is very much a yoga practice. And as I said before, practice makes it better. So if you take three or four deep breath, you just feel energised. And then it becomes a habit of sitting taller. That’s why your posture does matter. And that’s where all those downward dog and upward dog is what you see is a means towards an end, so that you have a flexible spine that actually the energy flows. And you can think clearly. So at the end of the day, it’s all about the behaviour, as I said before, that your lungs have to work for you. And that’s why this works towards you know, smoking sessions, right sitting at your desk that you can read, exhale, and that’s why laughter matters. So all those things come to Gather in everything. So that’s why Yoga is a much, much broader term that can help you right at your desk. You know, take it take, even closing your eyes. I mean, that helps so so all that you can do, because we are all bombarded with all this, you know, computer screens and everything. So we gotta close our eyes, you got to take some deep breaths, you’re going to straighten up our posture, all that you can do right at your desks.
David Ralph [19:29]
So if the boss comes around and sees you sitting there very straight with your eyes closed, obviously, I could see that they’re going to smack you in the head with a ruler or something and get you back to work. But this course is something that people can do when they’re commuting back, if they’re on the train or the bus or whatever. It really is a principle that they can apply anywhere as long as they’re not driving, I suppose.
Prashant Joshi [19:52]
Yes, absolutely. But one thing you can do driving Of course, you got to keep your eyes open, but you can take deep breaths, you can exhale You can laugh in serving, texting and you know, smoking. So So I mean, I jokingly say that inhaling is what we will do to do stress reduction, which is referring to, you know, smoking habit. Instead if you learn to exhale, and and see it’s kind of that’s the word play there that acceleration equals relaxation, that’s an equation that’s easy to remember, and easy to relate to. That’s why we yawn. That’s why we, you know, laughter helps us and all that salt, all about acceleration. It’s also all about let go. And frankly, if you can convince your boss also that, Hey, take some time off, that they’ll be less and less of that kind of a, you know, audit, by observation and judgement, saying that, hey, he’s closing your eyes. That means he’s not working. Maybe that one minute break, helps us becoming more productive for one hour. So
David Ralph [20:58]
when I was in corporate land on was not renowned. But it was one of my things that I would sit there with my hands behind my head with my sort of hands folded, cooking the back of my head with my legs up on the desk just sort of relaxing. And more often than not, as you say, the slow and steady I would have huge ideas in those moments because I just allowed things to flow to me. And the bosses weren’t happy with it, but I kind of did it because it annoyed from you know, having my feet up on the desk looking like I was having a jolly, but it is a great way Isn’t it just to sort of relax, take your foot off the gas and just allow things to come to you and more often than not, they’re better than trying to force the issue.
Prashant Joshi [21:43]
Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, you know, you cannot force the issue for too long. I mean, this is just a reality. The The so called multitasking is a very well known scientific fact that it doesn’t work. So you gotta just chill out and Yeah, absolutely. So you cannot position for too long. I mean, you cannot, you know, pull too many people all the time, I think something like that right? We will say,
David Ralph [22:08]
I certainly do. I’m going to play some words now coach P. But I like to play around about this time in the show, and then we’re going to delve into them. And I’m particularly going to delve into something that nice guy does very well. But laughter therapy. This is Jim Carrey,
Jim Carrey [22:23]
my father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
David Ralph [22:50]
Now, the interesting question with fat especially from yourself, because in many ways you were taken from the country that you knew by your parents over to America if I understand it, right. When you landed, was it the case that you went looking for something you loved? Or was it just to get a job?
Prashant Joshi [23:07]
Well, I mean, you know,
the way we were brought up is education, you know, Hey, get more education, get get more education, so that you will get, I guess, a better job and so on. So, I came to America in for studies. So, in that context, I, you know, I basically, that was what was in front of me to study and get a higher degree. But I can say that, because I’d worked in India for three years, I have had learned to become more of an extrovert an introvert. And with that, I got an opportunity to do something very early in the days in the United States, which got me a livelihood. So in a way, that’s something that I’ve fought for and I got and I enjoyed I brought the yoga thing wherever I went. So that’s why somehow this this has stuck with me longer than my job kind of stands. So So yeah, so yes, I did jobs and so on. But it I always brought this yoga passion with me and that has helped me keep my sanity.
David Ralph [24:21]
So is it what Jim Carrey said you went for the thing that you love you, you found the task that you enjoy doing as almost a hobby, and then found a way of building income from it.
Prashant Joshi [24:35]
Yeah, absolutely. I think one thing you know, as you said, you cannot force the issue for too long that I happened to marry a in 1991. So four years after I came here, someone with a yoga background and a kind of a authentic Indian language and so on where yoga was written up and so on, and to promote that and activity of hers I got more involved into it. And that’s why I always say there’s no accident in life. Something happens to you even though it may seem a little bit you know unsettling that’s a good lesson for you to get there. So that you follow your passion so that’s what happened to us and then it became from my solo journey to a joint journey and then it definitely grew from there and then yeah, it started paying some bills and actually it helped us buy our first house so definitely so so when
David Ralph [25:34]
you met your your wife now but but lovely lady, was it instant attraction because of who she was? Or did you see the yoga for something? Oh, this is good. Not only she very attractive, but she likes yoga as well.
Prashant Joshi [25:48]
Well, I mean, I can see it I knew her from before there was a family ties and everything. So that helped build things up, but definitely Everything all comes together, you know, you are looking for kind of the right match from all aspects. And it’s the is the looks and, and the intelligence that in both the got got the nod and then more More importantly, she accepted this abductions guy who was used to be an introvert. So he said, Boy, how do I get him to talk? And now she says, How do I get him to start to talk? So it’s the reverse now after 25 years, and D
David Ralph [26:29]
Do you find strips in your relationship that works very well in business? I, is she part of your business? She found a member how’s it work with your wife?
Prashant Joshi [26:41]
Yeah, yes actually does. And that’s why we, when we co founded this institution in back in 2000, we actually did it as a woman owned institutions. I mean, since I’ve slept, my corporate gigs going on and so on. And I again wanted to really empower her to bring her leadership out. So it’s a it’s an institution that actually founded co founded by us, and she kind of runs it. And she has put a lot of blood and sweat into it. And she’s definitely now kind of a scholar slash researcher slash leader. And now we have taken this little kind of to the next level together. So she’s very much into it. Yeah.
David Ralph [27:20]
Well, okay, so let’s talk about the business because I know that’s the interesting thing that most of our listeners are focused on starting their own business. Now, as you will know, and as I will know, and literally every single guest on Join Up Dots, you get this idea, you think this is what I want to do. I believe I’m going to be good at this. I’m going to move forward. But as you move forward, you realise there’s so much more that you need to know around building the business, the branding, the marketing, the sales, and a lot of those things you’re not naturally very good at. You’re just good at doing that. One thing that got you going in the first place. Did you encounter that and how did you overcome it?
Prashant Joshi [27:59]
Yeah, I mean, that’s There was a lot of unknown territory when we started this. And as one thing we were guided by our coaches, and all I mean, one of our coaches who’s no more, but he says, Hey, let things happen. Don’t force the issue. Let organic growth be your kind of model. And with that, and and be genuine, be authentic. So all that helped us to get those barriers out of there. And, you know, to our surprise, the community was so supportive, so they wanted us to be successful. So when you open up something that you’re not used to you’re a, you’re a coach, you’re not entrepreneur per se, there are unknowns, but you do have some convictions, you have to do your homework. But at the end of the day, the good news is that people do want to see you successful, if you’re genuine, you’re authentic. And with that, I think whatever obstacles came, we were able to overcome And yeah, so I think we can say proudly that we, we did our homework, we had barriers, we had obstacles, but there was a great support, and then conviction and authenticity with that. I think success kind of came to us, relatively speaking. And yeah, we were very much impressed and happy to to get that support from everywhere.
David Ralph [29:25]
So it sounds like in the early days, you invested in yourself, you found a coach to help you right at the very beginning. Is that, is that how I’m guessing it?
Prashant Joshi [29:35]
Yeah, so I mean, you know, like, like anything else, you learn something and then you say, Hi, I can share it to what I learned from this coach. And I think it’s the old tradition, right of student teacher relationship, that you have that relationship, and the teacher wants to see you successful, more than he or she was, and in the case of this whole yoga training, that was a case where we had a one on one coach for some time. And and he was the one who encouraged us and he saw, hey, these guys are actually good, they can do something and he encouraged us, he guided us and with that, yeah, we opened up a centre and he kind of blessed us and gave a lot of guidance and he went his way and then we definitely show that gratitude in every moment that he has made us successful.
David Ralph [30:29]
Now, the phrase that you said right in that statement, a couple of minutes ago was but he he kind of allowed you to make the growth of your company be organic, provide value and almost let it grow naturally. Now, in many ways, that is the way to do it. In probably in always, that’s the way to do it. But in today’s day and age, we’re very much press that button and get instant results we we don’t like the fact of we’ve got to work for something we like the fact that you can Go on Amazon and it gets delivered to you five hours later, we want that sort of instant reward. Did you find that other time? Did you feel that you had to really go out and hustle and be more proactive? Or maybe you did. And that was just part of the organic process?
Prashant Joshi [31:16]
Yeah, well, you know, when we say organic, I mean, you, you still have to hustle, you still have to make some noise about it. But it’s really about believing in yourself and remaining authentic so that your services you offer, what you do is really helping the community is the cause that you believe in. I mean, so so I think it was it needed hustle, it needed a lot of effort. It needed the initial push, but at the end of the day, you you you really have to say hey, what is your end goal here, that you just want to be continuously in a rat race of some kind while you’re following your passion or you really want this to be different than a race. Dre so that you are not getting fatigued by it but you’re energised by it. So it’s it’s is that where there is growth is less rapid. But But I think the our organic is the right way so that you are, you know, keeping your feet on the floor, head on the shoulder and and still having a good night’s sleep every night. And you should be energised by your work. And it
David Ralph [32:30]
doesn’t happen very often. I spent years and years and years coming back from from London from my job’s just being exhausted. And maybe I might have enough energy to have a couple of pints with one of my mates on the way home But literally, it was just getting to bed and get up again the next day. But now I’m doing this job. I literally not all the time because there are things that I had to do but I don’t really like doing but I do them anyway. But more often than not I bound out of bed and I’m ready to go and that’s a good sign. Isn’t it? people if they’re on the right track,
Prashant Joshi [33:02]
or not, absolutely, I think, you know, that’s one statement that I learned from a leader. From my corporate gig Scott McNealy used to say it, whether you like it or not, you’re going to spend more time at work than at home. So you better be having fun with what you do. And that’s something that I’ve taken up very seriously that having fun. And that’s why I have my own little mantra, which is PB T and P for people. So you gotta learn to enjoy the people around you. You got to energise the people around you. And of course, not to get negatively energised. But But yeah, so it’s all about people. It’s all about the energy and with which you’re having fun. And if you’re not having fun, then get out of there. And that’s kind of the again, a good strategy to follow is, don’t deny that you’re not having fun. So be honest with yourself with your family, and then how it started, you do have an exit plan, so that you actually have fun in what you Do because that’s what we do longer than, you know, other activity. So let’s not bring misery home. Because if you bring misery home, you take it back to work. And it’s all a vicious cycle of misery versus you can make it a virtuous cycle of fun. So
David Ralph [34:20]
because I’m working towards a restructure of the whole business, my first focus was to get down to two days a week, and main three days or four days, whatever kind of strategically playing, just fiddling around and trying different things and seeing what works, creating products and just sort of having fun, as you say, so two days a week. I have to do it because it’s part of this. As we’re recording today. I’ve got multiple shows lined up, and I know that that’s going to happen. And once I’ve achieved that, which I have, I’m wondering actually, whether it’s the best thing for me, and I’m still kind of every week, I’ve got to do it. I’ve got to do it. So I’m trying to restructure it now. To have two months on, and then one month totally off. And if I want to go away for a whole month I can do if I want to just sort of float around having those kind of mini retirement so that after that month, I’m literally gagging as we say in the United Kingdom to get back into it. I think gagging means something else in America have to be careful with that. But I’m just to be so eager to get back to work. But literally, I’ve allowed my body to rest my brain to recharge. And the idea is to be waiting to explode from me. Do you think that’s a good way of doing it as well doing a sort of mini retirements or a good way with your sort of good health practices that you bring in?
Prashant Joshi [35:42]
Yeah, absolutely. So so you know what you just said about two months on one month off, you can really take it at a micro level on a daily basis on a 24 hours, right. That’s kind of the principle that you take one minute off and then have one hour are on. So if you really what here’s what he basically said is, you’re you’re taking that on a monthly scale versus a minute and you know, our scale. So yeah, absolutely. If you can afford to do that, I think nothing like it. See, that’s why there is a sabbatical, that concept that existed in academics. I love that concept that, Hey, you got six years that you do and then you take one year off. And you really do what you can or what you would like to do, and you don’t have to worry about paying the bills. So yeah, it’s all about if we are able to pay the bills, with that strategy, awesome. But you we all need to get recharged and then ready to go. So and the more strategic we are, the less tactical fighting that we are to do.
David Ralph [36:48]
But But the beauty of this, I would say is that you don’t actually have to worry about paying the bills when you get away from that employee mindset. But if I don’t work I don’t get paid into the entrepreneurial. But you you think to yourself, right, okay, I’m going to take a month off, I need to get everything done. So I closed doors, and you get things on automatic pilot and things get changed. You know, I know guys, business coaches that literally say if you want to work with me, you can’t work with me between July and September because I’m off the radar and I just close up. And a lot of people said that that’s madness. You can’t do that people will need you. But if you set your stall out at the very beginning, I don’t think there’s a worry about paying bills. There’s a worry about missing out or anything, I think people except that it’s just ourselves mentally. We don’t accept it. What do you think?
Prashant Joshi [37:45]
No, no, I think you’re right. Yeah, absolutely. But it comes back to the strategy, right? I mean, if you have the strategy that, hey, you’re taking care of it with that strategy of two months on one on one month off, then then then great, but If that’s not the case, and you simply want to go off the radar, then you have to be careful. But no, absolutely. So it’s good to have that kind of planning of full year to say what happens in March, what happens in April. And if there is a family, you know, dependency there, then of course, the calendar gets planned with other people in the household as well. But it’s definitely a great strategy to have that kind of a planning of when you can have a downtime, which is predictable, so that others can plan around it as well. So
David Ralph [38:34]
where is your business going? Obviously, you started it on a kind of grass roots, and you’ve been growing it across America. Is it a global industry? Do you train and coach across the world?
Prashant Joshi [38:48]
While we want to get there we actually are, in a way we are global, but not to the scale that we would like but that’s kind of the next phase, I would say over the next three years. We are, I mean, as I said, I just went to India in November, I did a to RT executive team building in puni. I did some talks and some other kind of Healing Sessions. So, we are definitely building kind of those relationships and and we are trying to go global, we have some revenue streams that are being lined up. So we are from organic to rapid growth is kind of the stage we are at. And that’s where we now also in the investment phase of, you know, people investing in us. So, it’s exciting that there are more ideas, as you said, a lot, so much. So many ideas pop up. And we are trying to do everything with a social good in mind so that while you know we want to be successful and really put our feet up. We also want to get into things that are socially good. So that’s why this whole yoga healing training is All about creating that, you know, peace and tranquillity and an equal consciousness and organic food. So that is foods and moves that we are caring about. And that’s kind of where we’re going right now with with our global scale over the next three to five years,
David Ralph [40:17]
and does it excite you and scare you at the same time? That the fact that when you start anything, it’s playtime, but once it becomes successful, it becomes profit somehow, and you can’t just walk away from it. it’s their responsibility as it gets bigger and bigger. Will it be harder to find that simple enjoyment or would it just go off in different directions?
Prashant Joshi [40:40]
Now I think we are excited. We are scared. I must say that you know, that’s why our family does does matter. I mean, empowering our 20 year old last month or two to give her an idea of what we are up to was exciting because now she feels hot. Now I have something here as well. lined up so that we don’t look for before we look for outside employees, we say, hey, let’s use the family here to empower them get their skill sets out. So it is exciting. It’s not scary. But it’s really exciting to see how, what different directions what potential it has. And you know, while we read in the news about Google success, and this success and that success, we forget that, you know, it’s all about what we can do not about not just about reading about someone else’s success, that you can actually get there yourself. So that’s, it’s exciting, is how I can say,
David Ralph [41:36]
absolutely, and I’m going to play some words now from a chap who, who created the whole theme of Join Up Dots, but he has left his legacy and the legacy you just spoke about is having that faith and belief and doing stuff on a daily basis. Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs [41:51]
Of course, it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college, but it was very, very clear looking backwards. 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference.
David Ralph [42:26]
So although the kind of words that you would get your daughter to listen to on a sort of relevant to today’s up and coming entrepreneurs as much as the people in the past you Yeah,
Prashant Joshi [42:37]
I think I mean it back more Steve Jobs, by the way. I mean, I watched the movie very consciously, from a leadership perspective from an entrepreneur perspective. And it’s also a lesson in how not to behave while following your dream. So that’s why we are kind of passionate about what we’re doing is we are in the business of healing and You know, as I talked to my daughter, again, that’s what we’ve been saying that, hey, you may make sure that self healing happens while you’re doing, you know, all that great thing that you want to do, and and that’s what we are passionate about is so so we actually have coined some terms called like a self huggie you know, selfie right? Everybody knows about selfie? Yeah, I say, Have you given a hug to yourself today, David, and if you have not, make sure you give yourself a hug, and say I love you. And because that’s the self love is what will inspire you further to do all the good things.
David Ralph [43:36]
That is true, isn’t it? That’s very simple advice. Once you start at when you start saying, I’m pretty good at this, or I like myself, then things get easier. It’s when you sort of think oh, who’s gonna listen to me? Who’s gonna believe me? What’s the point in this and sort of knocking yourself you never get going do you?
Prashant Joshi [43:55]
Write nine and I’ll tell you it’s funny. When you reading Two daughters, and they get to a certain age where the noise The first thing that comes out of their mouth, you you really are challenged and you start questioning Oh, wow, am I doing the right thing? Or why am I getting all these notes and then you just accept and say, you know what that phase will pass, but you keep doing the right thing, somehow find some entry point to get in there in those mines. And that’s what is needed to have the self belief that hey, there is you know, you just have to step back sometimes give some space, and then the mines will open. And then you start getting a thank you or an apology me. And that’s what I say to everybody that if you have said please, and thank you today, I think we are on the right track. Because gratitude is still I think the best attitude. And if we have that gratitude every minute to say, wow, I got so much You know, I’ve given talks in an interfaith society where I say hey, look at your own two hands and say wow, I got 10 fingers It’s a big deal that you got 10 fingers, that people who have not it don’t have that. And still, they’re not complaining. So why are you complaining? You know, and things like that. And that’s, that’s what I think we have to be so fortunate that we can be in the comforts of our homes and have this kind of a conversation right now. I love that
David Ralph [45:18]
gratitude is the best attitude. I’m gonna have that as the title of this show, because it says everything about you, doesn’t it?
Prashant Joshi [45:26]
Awesome. No, again, I’m grateful that some of these things have come to me, kind of naturally. That words and poetry and something but again, that’s where the yoga training has helped to open some of the parts of my mind that poetry has come out of it. And yeah, yeah, and but these are the real words. I mean, that they actually work because sometimes we can use some words that don’t work. But gratitude is something that I feel very passionate about that if you have enough of that, I think A lot, a lot good happens because it’s all about the energy at the end of the day, as you know, David, that energy and it’s a positive energy or negative energy, it’s your choice.
David Ralph [46:10]
absolutely spot on. Well, this is the end of the show coach P. And this is the part that we call the Sermon on the mic when we send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go back in time and speak to young coach p, what advice would you give and what age would you choose? Well, we’re going to find out because I don’t play the theme tune and when it fade, Europe, this is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [46:38]
Here we go. With the best sir.
Unknown Speaker [46:47]
Sir man.
Prashant Joshi [46:57]
Alright, well, thank you, David. For the opportunity. And if I’m talking to myself, at age 20, I would say, I would say that don’t shy away from having fun. Don’t be too structured. And you know what one word I think is definitely worth sharing is, is build your skills. If you do not have the foundation, to to, to have you know, a success later, then you’re in denial, so to build your skills to have fun doing it, and then I think you’ll be surprised that what what’s there in store for you as you grow? So, you know, hard work does help. And sometimes procrastination comes easy at that age at a young age, but having fun building those skills, so that that becomes your foundation, to, to, you know, be successful and enjoy life later. I think the parents are trying to do something right for you. I mean, the young person and do listen to them at the same time you have so much to offer yourself at that age. So make sure that you are not shying in sharing what you know already. But building your skills, having fun with it is really something that I would advise strongly so that you have a strong foundation to base your rest of the life on so well thanks and lots of luck to you push and grind you later.
David Ralph [48:34]
Coach p or pressure. I like it. You got two names. What’s the number one best way that our audience can connect with you?
Prashant Joshi [48:41]
So email at does work. I mean, there’s coach p joshi@yahoo.com. Gurukul at Gurukul yoga.com. Those are the two emails that I do look at. LinkedIn is there of course and my phone number is is five and 23557170 and look forward to connecting and it’s all about people. So thank you for the opportunity with and look forward to being in touch.
David Ralph [49:12]
We have over links on the show notes. Thank you so much for spending time with us today. joining up those dots, please come back again when you have more dots to join up. Because I do believe that by joining up the dots and connecting our past is the best way to build our futures. Coach p Thank you so much.
Prashant Joshi [49:28]
Thank you, David.
David Ralph [49:31]
So if you’ve got an interest in fitness and health and yoga, don’t think that you’ve got to just keep it in one environment, these kind of things will breach because you’re dealing with people. And as soon as you’re dealing with people, it doesn’t matter if they’re in one building or another building that still got the same desires. I’ve got the same kind of problems, any issues. I’m a great slump. I slumping my chair terribly. So I’m going to try and set up a lot straighter as I do the next shows and hopefully, you’ll hear some more energy from it. Who knows who knows, but thank you so much. For listening to Join Up Dots I really do appreciate you listening in. I don’t ask for this very often. But if you could spare a couple of moments to go over to iTunes and leave a rating and review of the show, it really is the thing that either makes a show rise to the top or just kills it off. So it only takes a couple of moments. But it’s so, so useful. Thank you so much for listening. And I will see you again soon. Cheers. Bye bye.
Outro [50:25]
David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you are wants to become so he’s put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life. Head over to Join Up dots.com to download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.
