He Gave Up Every Weekend to Teach Kids Who Had Nothing

0:00Most people say they care about this world, but caring doesn't plant a tree. Caring doesn't sit you down in a classroom with kids who have nothing and teach them anyway. And caring doesn't get you out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to run when your body says no. Doing those things, that's something else. And my guest has been doing that for years. I'm

0:26Vikrant K. I'm 13 years old. I run a show where I talk to people who are out in this world doing something, not just thinking about it. Today's guest is one of those people. Mahaling Roelly has taught unprivileged kids who didn't have proper access to education. He organized plantation drives to protect our environment. And he's a runner not because someone told him to, but because

0:52it taught him something that nothing else did. He's not a celebrity. He didn't do any of this for followers, but what matters is that he showed up again and again. And I want to know why. In the next 30 minutes, we're going to talk about how he grew up, what NGO work really looks like, and what running taught him. And for everyone out there

1:20who's thinking of doing something good to this world, wait till the end, cuz Mahaling has something for you. Vikrant uh thank you so much for having uh on your podcast and uh it was a very nice introduction. So let's have a you know try to learn something in next 30 minutes. >> Yep. That's what I actually want to get into this. Most people I know say they care about

1:50this world and they want to help others but they never actually do anything about it. What made you different? >> Well, uh I I do agree with you, right? So many people think that we have to do good things. It's it's true. Many people think but what what makes difference is people don't have right opportunities I say so and the right direction. So if if

2:15a if a opportunity is given I think most of those are planning you know wish to do something good to the society. M >> I got a lot of opportunities such opportunities where I got I you know where I was able to do something to the society. H was there specific moment where you were like okay I'm actually doing this like was there like a really

2:36important moment >> just to tell there is a specific moment as such it it is it happened over a period of you know gradually >> it's gradual >> uh because I have seen growing up seeing my dad who helped people in a village and the way the the people respected him right that that really stayed with me from a you know childhood and I I think

2:56looks like I I was just waiting for an opportunity right opportunity to where I can you know actually start these things. So that I got it when I moved to Bangalore after my studies. So I was introduced to a environment where people were doing really doing before me. So when I was introduced to such people that's where I got into this slowly and

3:15yeah >> um so your father played a really important role in your life right? >> Yeah. So I saw uh know he doing and I saw how people uh uh were benefited out of it. So that's where it always stayed from by seeing with him from the very childhood. So that's the difference. >> So he's like your role model. >> Yeah, I can say

3:36>> my dad's also my role model. So >> that's good. >> It's one thing that's a lag between us. >> Yeah. >> All right. And did anyone in your family or like your friends or your circle think it was weird? Like did anyone go against it? >> Yeah. uh there is initially right when I when I say this is know this is what I'm

3:57going to do NGO and stuff things right people were what what are you doing here right what is something you are you know spending your energy and time but later when when they really saw the impact and the kind of work we are doing I really got a lot of support from my uh people around me >> okay that was the initial support which

4:15really motivated me to continue this NGO work >> but you were the one who took the first step Yes, I was really waiting for an opportunity. So it was there from beginning and I was waiting for opportunity in every stage of my life. I was looking okay is there a way I can go and do it. But that is a when I moved to

4:34Bangalore I had an environment and I had opportunities a lot of people were doing already. So when I I spoke to people around and they introduced me to s certain things who are already doing such things. So then that's where it all started with. So when you were my age, was there something within you that made you different from others or was it like

4:56taught to you? >> My dad, as I mentioned, right, my dad was already doing these things. So that was the difference between me and others when I saw this one. >> So basically your surroundings affect how you behave. >> Yes. I I think that yeah, that's a key thing that and and at a right time getting a opportunity is also a very key

5:15thing. H. So tell me more about like what first like got your eye on this like work. Was there like a specific day or actions where you were like, "Oh man, that's actually like cool and I want to do it too like was there a specific action?" >> Uh yes. Uh I as I mentioned I was always looking for an opportunity and I used to

5:38do a lot of research on this NGO is a government organization. >> So so like nonprofit that's a key word there. So they don't they they do it for no pride. Yeah. It's a volunteering and where you don't you know expect anything in return. So that's a that's a it's a service. >> Okay. So so when I Googled and I I I

5:57tried to uh you know find out who is really doing and I figured out certain NOS's and I I saw who is you know generally it doesn't like you know you just you can't walk in it has its own process. I I Googled and I registered to them. there is there will be always a you know uh induction happens for anyone who want to start working with them. So

6:19when I went there the first induction there were like 300 volunteers. I was surprised I was thinking that I was the only person who was thinking like this. There are like so many people who are like-minded who wanted to do something in the society. The important thing there is you will be given an opportunity right. So NGOs's they work in different fields. Some will work in

6:38environmental, some people work in education, some do work in healthcare. So the one which I joined I we used to work in environmental and the education. So >> I came from a small village and my father has taught us you know when in a very good schools when there were no you know basic education in in that time we really you know privileged enough to get

7:01a good education. So I know the importance of the education. So I thought that is the only thing which can change society. Rest other things are a materialistic other things can help on the top but education is something a fundamental thing everyone needs. >> So like it's a foundation. >> Yeah. Foundation for anything. There was a specific thing which really attracted me that was something called a life

7:24skills right. So I I I thought okay that's something which no one teaches right? No subject teaches no school teaches that right? So I felt that is something a different concept where you do a life skills you teach the life skills like public speaking hygiene how to speak how to organize things. So these are the things I felt okay everyone needs right and these are the

7:49things which stay for with us for a long and the things maybe I studied engineering and the mathematics which I studied in 10th I might not be using now >> but the discipline and the kind of uh basic skills I got from the very beginning are something which I still using it >> that's where I chose that uh path to go to go to the schools where

8:13underprivileged kids stays and teach them because they don't get these things taught by any of the teachers. >> Yeah. So teaching unprivileged kids is what you do for NGO work. What does it look like from the inside? like not the PE not the version where people talk about like the inspirational one but like what actually happens at the NGO work when you're talk teaching kids

8:37>> here it goes right uh NGO is basically uh run by uh volunteers basically what they will do all these volunteers with a like-minded people they will design the curriculum to like at least five six people volunteers and every Saturday we used to go and we used to have a predefined uh things which we need to teach that week. So if the classes is on

8:59Saturday, we used to have a classes on Saturday. Every Saturday afternoon and we used to prepare for that on that week's week after our office work. So actually we used to discuss and plan and then go that day and physically we all meet on the venue and uh teach the kids whatever we had planned. the school which we go already we had a tie up okay

9:20that we we we come this particular days and this is what we do and they all we all aligned with the school management and it's it's pretty much well organized and the key thing I want to highlight here is it's all run completely by volunteers >> without any expectations >> so it's basically driven by passion >> yes >> yeah and I heard you went to like

9:43>> passion and the purpose >> passion >> purpose of doing something change or bring something changes in the society. >> Yep. And uh I heard you had 300 some people volunteering there. Did they how did you stand out among those people? >> I was just a volunteer who started with uh and I will not be given any responsibility at the first day itself.

10:05So I have to go through learn things over a period of time and gradually once we learn things we will get an opportunity to become a uh you can say the coordinator of the city a coordinator of the that particular school. You will get an opportunity to uh know upskill your leadership skills. You can take a roles you can be a coordinator you can be a fundraising uh

10:27to do all those stuff sometimes you need funds. So you you can do a fundraiser, you can you can take that role and you can to start with we used to be given a role of being a coordinator for that particular school that I had taken that role in the initial days and over a period of time I I I I became tried to

10:47take a role of fundraising for one of the big event that we event called cultural fest the >> so like a united pay >> yeah United fest they feel they don't miss up that you know environment whatever we had >> like so basically NGO is driven by your hobbies and what you like >> but also that love for your society and helping out your community.

11:09>> Yes. >> Okay. So what was like the one important skill while you were working at the NGO like your most important skill that you wouldn't learn anywhere else that you learned at NGO? Well that is you know I can't just mention one right it is so many things you will learn that's what right I learned first thing is if you are working there right you have you

11:32need first and the foremost thing is commitment >> right because once you start registered to that and start going to school kids will be looking up to you every week they expect you to come every week because you will be teaching them very interesting things right the things which I was teaching it's very they used to make them play we organize things and

11:52all that is something they were very curious and they will expect us to be there every week. So the first thing is commitment that's something I learned over a period of time there learning right I learned lot lot of things from when I was preparing for kids I myself learned a lot of things new things I used to do research and talk to people

12:10okay that that expectation will always used to be grow every week and week so you have to deliver better better so that is how you know I learned myself >> so like it also taught you how to communicate with others >> yes the communication is a key thing yes that how do you communicate and It's not just communication right the kids how

12:29you communicate to the kids different so that skills right how I have to tune myself how I speak when I'm speaking to them how mindful I have to be so these are the few soft skills I learned there >> right so they just basically stay with you throughout your whole life doesn't matter like the scenario >> yes that's true yeah those skills you

12:48will you will always be with you learn you you moved I moved out of that uh place now I am in different location but the skill whatever I learned learned there are still helpful for me. >> So, NGO played like a really significant like part of your life. >> Yes, I can say. >> Um, so coming to our teaching kids part, was there like a kid or like a student

13:12that like really was like staying with you like his ideas or his thoughts that you still get reminded of? And >> there is a one thumb rule we used to follow is we should not ask them anything personal things. So you have to >> so that was the boundaries we always used to maintain but sometimes as and when we become close to kids the kids

13:31used to open up themsel right. So they used to tell their own some stories the which used to really surprise everyone of us right that was sometimes always those stories always used to stay with us and after the class we used to discuss those within the volunteers and that used to be really motivate us to come next week and do better things for

13:52them. Was there a story like you were can you remember it like was there a story that reminds you now too? Yeah, the kids where whom we used to teach right some some kids they don't have parents some kids are having a single parent or some kids are having a poor background some kids had a different disabilities right so the kind of skill

14:16they had right it used to be surprises even those kind of skills we never had some kids some kids at the that age they were really good at public speaking some kids were the background was poor the kids some kids who have done excelled in the exams. We used to conduct a different exams outside the school, right? They used to do a very good in

14:37the exams and we used to get surprised how how did they learn >> this many things that it's not they learned they had that know intensity yeah they wanted to grow that hunger right that hunger is something I always see in their eyes every day >> so they were like living through that like you know struggles that taught them to like you know behave in one way that

14:59no one who had a better life would think >> yes correct >> so that's something really important And was there like a kid who was like, "Man, this kid's like funny or like you know his personality like really caught you like was there like a kid who was like >> yeah there was one kid I don't recall the name as such but yeah he was very

15:21not in the class is never a kind of who listens to everyone anyone right we thought like this kind kid can't do anything but when we saw his results or anything the way the talent he showed in the competitions whatever we call you know so that is the kind of it's where they just need a right direction >> to put their energy in right direction.

15:43>> Yeah. Those those are the situations or the scenarios you know I I I can still recall. >> Yeah. Did those like you know like the way he thinks or like the direction did that direction affect you as a person or change the way you think of something? >> Yes. Initially right a lot of things we used to take personally because I was

16:05also growing over a period of time learning things right take it personally and try to do something it impacts the kids >> so yeah >> that's a maturity we everyone has to reach when when we are into this field and >> it's really important that we as a community you know like learn from your students as well as what like the way

16:27they're doing their things cuz like not everyone has the same opportunity unities. >> So like and everyone has their own talents. >> So like it's better for us to understand and live with them. So not like literally live but like you know share the same like time so we can feel more connected and learn stuff. >> Yes, that's true. >> So would you recommend this for any

16:51young kid or does it have to be like oh it has to be for older people? What I believe is at every age you have certain capabilities in within which you can do some contribution right you don't have to wait for a right moment right opportunity you can do at wherever you are whatever the age you are you everyone can contribute to this thing

17:13>> and uh there I knew I I know this but there has to be some days where you like you're risking your whole weekend go do like the NGO work but the results were like not what you expected. What actually happened those days? >> Yeah, I frankly speaking I'll tell you right this used to happen many a times. I used to lose uh interest in the

17:36beginning. Uh okay I have spent my lot of time but it has it has you know uh did not go well and we used to get demotivated. The biggest thing for me I was going through is how do I maintain the motivation and the energy level of my volunteers? How did you? >> Yeah, that is the key thing right. So after so much planning things used to go

17:59wrong people like there has to be some surprises always and those days we always spend time I used to take that opportunity to spend time with management and learn what are the new things the management is thinking for those kids exchange our thoughts. So those are the few things we used to do and the important thing we used to do is as a

18:17volunteer right we I used to take them out we used to go out for a a hangout for a tea or something nearby so that we know each other right that we we all are okay tomorrow if vikran is coming so that it makes okay I have to go right I if I if we are a friend >> so we talked about your NGO work at like

18:39education and teaching other students how was your life when you were a student and what inspired you? >> Just like every kid, I was also a naughty kid in the very uh early age. thing I I studied most of my education in the know residential schools right of being in uh residential school is it taught me to be a very independent right

19:03uh you know fortunate to have a parents who had a uh understood the importance of education at the early age right so and uh they gave us a really a good education so I'm really thankful for the you know opportunities that were given to uh us from our parents I I I feel one in some phase of your life we should spend in residential staying away so

19:28that you will learn and try to you will become independent person. >> Yeah. Every time when I like not do my work or like I'm like too naughty like when I don't take my lunch off like out of my bag, my mom goes, "Let's take him to hostel." Like my mom sometimes says it and it's kind of like funny but it also makes

19:51like sense to your point like being responsible and that's important right. >> Yeah. Things from morning the moment you get up. We used to get up at 6:30 and we used to sleep at 10:00. Get up. Okay. Go for running for 1 hour and come back, brush up, go for uh uh breakfast, come take bath and then prepare for school, go school, prayers, attend the classes

20:16till evening, then go for sports, tea time, sports. By the time we come back, immediately get fresh up, go for study hours, then come back and immediately go for dinner. And after that dinner, we have again study hours. That's it right everything is planned I don't still till till today I don't even realize how the time went because we had that discipline

20:36that is the difference I see till today right sometimes when my wife says you are so disciplined to >> what inspired you like I know there must be like days like you just didn't want to do it especially like the early days when you're like at a residential like what kept you motivated at that time or was it just like forced >> uh background we come right so So that

20:58also helped me okay I have to do you know study hard and do something good to my family improve my family things so those are the motivation driving things always there behind and the kind of efforts my parents were putting so we used to see them dayto-day right so people my parents working in the farm so those are the things were driving okay

21:18this is the time for us to take up the things to the next level so there those are the key driving for me to be you know study stick to the things and do right things always. >> Mhm. Yeah. So like your parents and your like passion is what like kept you motivated. >> Yeah. The teachers who taught us right they all were really supportive for us

21:42and they they always gave a right direction. So I really need to appreciate and you know uh take their names at this moment. >> Okay. So like obviously people are an important part of your life and one thing is we also need to protect our environment. As we all know climate like changes happening and you know icebergs are melting and sea levels are rising

22:06and and uh when you were like doing your NGO work and especially plantation drives. Um what was it like? Like what was it like doing plantation drives? I got opportunity to take part along with my uh teaching things. I also uh had opportunity to do some plantation drives where we we used to prepare a something called a seed ball right thing a seed

22:34within which is covered by a mud and a cowunk things and used to dry it right. So the seeds will be always the wild plants which can grow anywhere without any much maintenance. Right? So and we used to gather all the volunteers and also we what we used to do we used to select a place outskirts of the city where the plantation is required and we

22:55used to identify such places well in advance and we used to generally go in cycles right so that used to be a kind of a voluntary engagement as well and healthy activities for everyone. So we once we go the place where we wanted to plant we used to start throwing those seeds around wherever the plantation is required. So those seeds generally grow

23:14as and when the rain comes and we used to do a little pl watering and all in the initial but those are since I mentioned they are wild plants they just grow right there is something called CSR every company has to do a certain uh social responsibilities right so it's it's a government every company has to uh spend some money on these activities

23:35right >> so I personally know a lot of people who are like I care about the environment but really do nothing. What do you think like stop is stopping them and how would you like give them a solution for it? >> Yeah, there are multiple reasons for this to happen right. So the first thing is lack of education right so people many are place that's what I said right

24:02these kind of things no one teaches in the schools very rarely so that lack of education and the awareness and the third thing many people are aware but the opportunities are not there so they don't know where to do right where are these events happens and the third thing uh very important thing happening in now is the carelessness right the people are

24:23aware and they they know that there are opportunities but they are careless. Okay, we'll see what like you know we'll see we'll see whatever happens. So that >> what's your like one solution or one thought that can possibly like help solve this like carelessness or any way of like raising awareness. See one thing I believe is right uh there is a saying uh in Canada like uh

24:47manu okay that what it means is the home is the first learning place for anyone right so that means your parents the kid has to teach kids this all these basic things okay how to take care of environment what does it mean how how how they can you know uh they have to take the kids to the such events so they can see and learn these

25:11That is the key thing and education is the only thing you can you know uh get rid of these things because the more you educate people understand the impact and things then they can they will start taking actions. >> Is there any place for kids my age to like actually make an impact in the society or is it just like an adult

25:33thing? >> Okay, that's a really a good question, right? And very important for viewers. >> Okay. and and especially uh kids at your age right >> so first thing I want to tell in a single statement is there is no age limit right this is a world you might be hearing it from many people everywhere right there is no age limit to do any

25:52good things or start good things and there's no right time or a good time to do things right so so can do as at your age right so you can start at home right first thing is uh you can start doing uh things by yourself not being dependent on parents and not like you know trying to set up your bed by yourself and doing

26:16your homework and being that's the first step you can start with doing certain activities you yourself can drive events it's not like school should have it right so you come up with an idea and tell to the teachers and you can drive the events yourself that's that's every age you you will have a certain opportunity and you have to keep doing this uh at your own capacity

26:38>> what would it be like where where do I start if I'm really like interested in this in serving our communities >> this moment if you immediately if you have to start something you can start at your home where all small things if you see any light is on if no one is using it >> turn it off >> you turn it off right energy is energy

26:59right once all right once it is created it can't be reverted back so it's it's always once if you uh you know that's something you can start with >> so Start immediately. >> Start immediately. Yeah. So, and if if you go out, if you see like you know uh if there is any plastics thrown out, right? The civic sense, right? These are

27:19a few things you start doing it immediately. >> So, what it is is you have to do your actions right now or take it immediately cuz there is no right opportunities or the right time. >> You can't just wait for those, right? You have to take a stand and they will eventually come to you. >> And that's also like the mentality and

27:40discipline. >> Yes. >> And that drives me to the third most important part of this whole podcast is running. Um it seems like it's a big part of your life cuz the last time I came over to your house, I saw a half marathon medal. It was like humongous. So like it's a big part of your life, right? How did it affect you and

28:02>> what kept you pulling back to it? like what kept you like what kept your attention towards it? >> Yes. So, uh running is something uh is was something something I did not like it from the beginning as such it was all part of my you know growing. So the I should you know really appreciate the kind of school I went right the where

28:22the running was the early morning habit it was whether you like it or not we have to go right. So it used to feel like you know hard in the beginning but yeah over a period of time when we started enjoying it and when we started feeling a benefit of it we we we you know I I started liking it right the

28:39second phase of my running started when I actually came to Bangalore uh when I started doing an NGO stuff uh there was a moment where we wanted to do a fundraising right someone said okay there's a marathon okay if you go there and put a stall and run an run in that marathon you might get some money right to do some raise of some funds. I ran

29:00the marathon. That was my first marathon for 10 km and yeah it it I trained myself. So that's where it again the second phase of running started and that was the first marathon and again followed up I kept on running on daily basis and the reason I it it stuck to me is it it gave me a lot of benefits. Right. You're already kind of mentioning it,

29:24but what did it teach you that nothing else in your life taught you before? >> In in real world, you have to be patient, right? You have to be disciplined. You have to be consistent, right? You have to have a purpose. So, this is something I learned in running, right? If I used to like know do a lot of overthinking, right? So, when I

29:44started running, I used to it used to give me a lot of, you know, uh clarity in thoughts. I used to get lot of I used to think okay and I used to get a lot of solutions if if and this is same thing I have heard it from many runners right I I have seen many great runners who do a marathons so many have told this right

30:04the stories so if if anything the problems if you are thinking something right they they run and think right they get lot of you know clarity of thoughts so that I have experienced myself >> there a day where you like really really didn't want to run But you somehow forced yourself like to go run or you did not what happened those days

30:28>> purpose behind why I'm doing this right that used to pull me out of bed right so that is the key thing driving right one thing I will tell if you have something clarity of purpose why you are doing so you don't need motivation so it will drive you out of the back >> yeah so obviously it's motivation and when you did your work and then you're running.

30:52You have learned a lot of things as you mentioned but what is the one thing that connects these two together that you use in your life today like what was the one thing it taught you? >> Yeah. So >> they both >> in little different way this one right if you ask a connection for sure there is a connection between these two things

31:13right so both needs a discipline both needs a consistency both needs a commitment so these are the few key common things between the running things and and the stuff but there is some things both both of them have shaped me in different ways right some different ways like you know NGO helped me to when When I go to NU, I used to work on drown

31:36right. We literally used to work with the people around the society who are of different age group, who are of different backgrounds, who are of different education uh fields, who are of different things, right? That really gave me a perspective of different things, right? Of it opened up my mind and that is the moment I stopped complaining in life, right? Coming to

31:59running as I mentioned it has personally you know helped me to I was as I mentioned I was a restless people right restless person so over a period of time when I started running I have realized and I have changed myself and I used to do a lot of overthinking so running has given me that clarity so it it if anything stuck in my mind if I run and

32:19think of those things it it gives me so more cler so it it it build me both mentally and it made me lighter day by day both mentally and physically. >> H so this is the challenging part. If you had to pick one thing the NGO work or the running which one shaped you more as a person you can only pick one.

32:44>> Oh that's a really hard uh you know thing to uh pick a particular thing. If you if you still uh insist me to pick something one part I think I should pick NGO right because uh the running I as I mentioned the second enemies of my running all started because of NJO. So I still picked NJO uh because it it gave me a lot of things which I

33:11never learned before right. It it it helped me to understand the things how people think, what are the things people are doing around and I learned a lot of things from especially kids itself right I think one thing I can tell at this moment uh in the podcast here is more than I give I have learned a lot of things from the kids

33:30>> right so I I have done uh they have taught us a lot of things so that has built a lot of qualities in us >> so obviously because you did end your work it's like gave you motivation to running but what was like few things that are not really good about NGOs's that you like you know heads up to all those kids who are like you know seeking

33:55to do NGO work but like what do you have to overcome when you're doing NGO work that other kids probably might struggle with >> okay to anyone who is watching this podcast have a intention of doing something and working on doing things first and the key most thing is you should uh what I always used to say with my to other volunteers right we have to

34:18be well prepared with no expectations right so because you might be having lot of plannings and lot of things to do but the day where you go on the execution things will not go many times it will not go well so the expectations the returns has to be very low >> so keep it low go with the open mindset think you will you will be surprised

34:41with the results Mhm. >> But if you go with a predefined mindset, you will get disappointed >> and that's many people who volunteered with me were discontinued in the middle because of these things. They come up with the predefined expectations and the things will not go as per their plan that because that is how the things are in the ground level because they come up

35:01with their predefined uh uh things in mind. So that is something I would suggest always keep your expectations low and it has to be a selfless social service is a selfless work. >> Based on what you said, it really made me think that NGO work is not just a place where you're like serving your community and getting exposure to life, but also it teaches you to like not

35:25overink stuff and don't set the same expectations for everything cuz not everything goes the same way. And I think that's a very important part of everyone's life no matter their career, their personalities or anything. So like NGO work really does significantly impact someone and I would recommend everyone to do it. I think I should probably start too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And in few sentences, what would

35:53you say to a kid if he were to come up to you like, "Oh, I want to start an NGO work tomorrow. Can you help me start?" And what would you say to them like not to do? What would you say to them that they should probably raise more awareness to? >> Always keep in mind the purpose with what you started, right? So why you are

36:14going to NGO, right? The first question comes that you should have a clear answer to that question. So are you here for your personal gains? Are you here to serve? Right? >> So that clarity has to be there. There is a clear distin distinction should happen between that. Right? If you have that clarity and if you have a clarity okay your answer is to sir then you

36:35should always keep that in mind. >> So that's what every single person who's going to do social services has to think of like that's the very first thing. >> Yes. >> Mhm. Give me another thing that like everyone who's doing work should probably do or think in certain manner apart from like finding clarification between those two points. uh who has to what they have to do it.

37:03>> No, like what what would you tell to the person who's doing NGO like literally tomorrow like what would you tell them to actually do? Like so far we talked about what not to do but what would you tell them to actually do? Choose the field which you are interested in. Right? So for example, if you are interested in arts, right? So you can

37:26you can choose the arts as an and go and do something in that helps in two way. So since you are already interested, you will have a lot of information. Uh that helps you keep moving with a lot of motivation. So you will you will already have a content instead of choosing. So to start with to build your uh that momentum go choose the fields which you

37:48are you know interested to do it. >> H so what do you wish someone had told you when you were my age? >> Yeah that is an interesting question right. So when I have if I have to go back at your age there are a lot of things we were not having clarity. So for example right so people like the generation of my

38:11generation. So what the biggest thing I feel what we would I would correct if I go back right is we were always trying to put our legs in all the boats right we used to do everything rather than that if someone would have guided me okay >> so just select few things which you like and put all your energy and you know

38:33time on that. So I I think I would have done better and lot of things in that. The biggest mistake we did is we always wanted to take part in everything and be good at studies, be good at sports, be good at everything, right? >> So I think that's not how it works in you know we you will end up nowhere doing that.

38:52>> Honestly, do you think kids my age can actually make like real impact in this like community? Be super honest with it. >> Yeah. every age you have it its own plus and minus things right you have so many at your age you will have certain you can do a lot of better things I don't say that you you can't do it right I I

39:13still say that you you as a kid you can do it right so you might hear a lot of stories you know small kids who have done uh awareness of uh uh environments I have seen people who have uh you know at your age right so I have seen people in our NGO volunteering they they come with their parents and they do a lot of

39:35good things right at their at their capacity right plus uh things and see what you can contribute and contribute to that no don't uh give up or you know leave in the uh hope or belief that okay let me grow and then I let me earn or let me do some jobs and then do it that is not how that's not how it works

39:57that's a mistake we did I'm telling it from my personal experience. Right? So never wait for an opportunities. So you find a thing something and if you are interested go for it. >> Never wait for opportunities make them. >> Yeah. >> Oh my gosh. Um so real relatable but my mom makes me you know go outside cycle play soccer and do all of this but I really don't get the

40:27meaning behind it. And as someone who does a lot of enjoy work in running, how would you like explain it to me? Like what's the effect of it? >> Yeah, frankly speaking, even I'm you know kind that kind of person where who you know who needs a push to do anything but once I I get into that loop I'll commit myself to complete it. So I I can

40:49relate to what the situation you are going through even I I need a sometime push but whatever the push your mom is doing now is something a very important thing and I'm trust me start doing that and the moment you start enjoying it and see the results you really go back and thank your mom because that is what happened with us right when I was kid

41:13you just imagine uh when fourth grade or fifth grade getting up at 5:30 and you know going for a 1 hour running. Do you think anyone likes it? No. It's it's hard right? So that's how it happened. It was a push for us to go but the gradually we started liking it. Right. When we saw the importance and the saw the how it benefits I I now I feel no

41:37that was the you know driving point for us to do and now it has helped us a lot. >> Yes. So, it's like habits that you have to build through commitment. And if you guys watched the previous episodes, you should know this by now. If you didn't, just check it out real quick. And basically, the main idea is if you're starting something new, be positive with

41:57it. And like, you know, don't wait for the opportunity. >> Instead, make your yourself and actually commit to what you're doing. Cuz once you hit that point where you're like dopamine is released, >> Yes. It's like automatically a system developed in your like brain so that you just continue to do it and that comes with a lot of benefits. >> Yeah. So since you brought up your uh

42:21last podcast, I I I it remembers me of one particular point you guys discussed right about doing something consistently for 21 days becomes a lifetime habit, right? >> I I let me give an example of myself that I have done that right. I haven't I'm the example for that. You can say >> there was a time where I have done a running of 6 kilometers for 21 days

42:45continuously without a gap. Right? So even someone told me okay you do something for 21 days it becomes a lifetime habit right that's something I tried myself and I trust me it has helped me >> till date today also I ran 5 km >> and I'm coming here yeah so since summer started and this is the first day of good day summer and I start I thought

43:07okay it's the time to start and I miss running because in winters we can't do anything here right it's too cold >> so yeah this I was I was just waiting for a good day to start running so today I ran 5 that's the at any given day I can run 5 km because I have that mindset is built already >> that I have done this for 21 days

43:26continuously I ran 6 km so now it's a mindset like any given day I can run >> yeah so it's just systems and developing that >> process so your dopamine just like hits you >> and one thing I would like to add is the physical activities and the running is everything is a mind game right first if you set in mind that okay I'll do this

43:52rest other things your surroundings will fall in line but first thing always fails is making that mindset >> and if someone actually watch this whole episode and get inspired but the very next day they do nothing what would you like directly say to that person >> yeah it it happens it's not only them right it happens with me also in many times I do a lot of watching to get

44:21motivate and you know I I see a lot of motivational things and the next moment okay I forget it and I get back to my daily life right >> it happens with me but the main reason for that happens is we lack that purpose why we are doing this right so there are two key things I I would you know suggest everyone right if you have a

44:42clarity of what you want to do and the purpose behind understand why you started that right so if I'm going for running why I'm going running or if I'm going NGO why I'm going to NO if I'm going school why I'm going school right >> that action item should be very clear and the purpose behind why you doing that has to be very clear if these two

45:02things are clear you don't need motivation and if that motiv if you if anything needs a motivation then that is something you are not really actually liking it you if you really need something you don't need any motivation M. >> So, >> so like that purpose is like the foundation. >> Foundation. >> Yes. So, it's either going to like boost you up or pull you down.

45:24>> Yes. If you don't have a a clear purpose in what you are doing, then you always need someone to push you. >> Mhm. >> You always need that motivation. You look always motivation. And if you think someone comes some from somewhere and motivates you to do something, I feel that's the wrong thing anyone is doing. >> Yeah. And uh is there anything so far

45:44that you have yet to mention but you really like thought about it throughout the whole episode? What would you like to say to that? >> Yeah. Uh one thing that uh was popping up in my mind is uh since we did this podcast related to how what about NGOs's and how running stuff work and how things. So one thing I always had this

46:07my you know people ask me many times you know so they think okay enjoy is nothing but like you go and give something or social service the people think that okay you you give something but I'm telling you trust me from my personal experience the social service things or the NGO whatever we used to do it's just a 20 30%. Right you give 30% but you

46:29take back 70 80%. You learn a lot of things like for example whenever I should go I have met so many people and of different mindset who have achieved a lot of things as which has motivated me to do a lot of things and a perspective of how people think of life how the perspective of how a person thinks of a problem

46:51>> that is something I think no school teaches us >> how much you you whichever school you mentioned good schools I think no one teaches you that Right? If you are getting that for free, right? Why don't you do it? But people have that mindset. Okay. If NGO means, oh no, they ask for my time and they ask for my money or something.

47:11They think it's not like that. You are just giving 20 or 30% there and getting back 70 80%. >> So I that's what I want to leave everyone with. Don't have that mindset of okay if I have to do NGO or if someone approaches for asking something it's trust me you will learn a lot than what you give them >> so thank you and for those who just skip

47:35to like the last 2 minutes this is for you a basic summary of what we did so NGO services is you volunteering with your passion and purpose to the community and one thing that you should probably think of is that don't create expectations that are too realistic like nothing's going to happen the way you want it all the time and have very open-minded and think

48:04positively and the purpose of NOS's apart from literally serving your community it is it teaches you values and skills that nothing else in this world teaches you it gives you exposure to different mindsets and personalities. And for every future leader, that's the most important aspect of their jobs and roles. And running also teaches you how to stay consistent and think logically so you can actually work with your

48:36surroundings and stay keep your determination alive. Thanks for watching podcast with leaders and thanks for mahaling and joining. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. >> Yeah. Thank you. Have a fun day.