Akhil V Sajeev’s Post

Happy Birthday to me! ❤️ It is the 5th year in a row that I leave India for a month to celebrate my birthday in a new unexplored country. When I was working jobs, I used to negotiate 1-month paid leave before joining the company. Honestly, it was quite tough. Many HRs argued, “We don’t offer this.” Some asked, “Will you work remotely?” Few asked, “Don’t you live in Goa?” I used to doubt myself, if I am doing the right thing. I used to second guess, if is it too much to ask. I used to think, if I was cheating the company. When we work, we work non-stop. We prioritise company goals over our own. We give our all to the company and it’s mission. So, it seemed fair that after working with so much heart, I should create time and opportunity for something that I want to do. It started with 2 friends, then next year another friend joined me and the year after that more wanted in. What started as a silly dream has now become a powerful birthday ritual, now my friends and I, we all look forward to August. Last night I completed another round around the sun, and I reminded myself that life is fleeting, so I must make time for what I want to do before I die. This year we are spending 4 weeks in 3 different countries, exploring islands, taking the cruise and collecting ostrich feathers (among other things). This 1-month vacay gives me the energy for the entire year to work more, earn more, live more, dream more and do more. I am super-duper-uper grateful to everyone who is a part of my journey because a single compliment may be a few words for you, but it means the world to me. I go off grid, leave the social world, come back from the dead and still receive the same love without any judgement. Thank you for accepting me for who I am and for how I choose to be ❤️ Finally, a big shoutout to my co-founder Peeyush Sharma and the entire team at House of Creators for making it possible for me to continue this ritual. I find running a company equally tough as working a job, but in both these cases, only one thing makes real difference, “the people.” I wish that one day (hopefully soon) someone negotiates with me for 1-month leave as a part of their job offer. I’m curious to find out, how it would feel to be on the other side of the table. Once again, thank you and I wish with all my heart that you too find what you love and figure out how to make it happen. #grateful ❤️

"A bad attitude is like a flat tyre,you won't get anywhere until you change it" I started my career with a flat tyre. When I look back now,I had every possible reason to be happy -staying with college friends in a new city, financial freedom,a metro city to explore,no personal responsibilities etc.But in spite of all these,I could not find happiness or appreciate anything which was happening in my life at that time. I constantly thought that I am not in the right profession and worried about every possible thing.I tried to quit from work,change my career, but nothing worked out. Even though I did well in my first project, gradually I became an average and slow performer at work. It took me a while to realize that the problem was within me, my attitude. I was in constant search of something else,failing to appreciate what I already possess.Once I had this realization,I started working on improving my attitude,to focus on what I already have and to stop complaining.Gradually,I started seeing a positive shift in my ways of approaching everything. At that time, I was placed into a new project.From day one, I tried to do my best and gradually started getting recognised for the good work.This also helped to elevate my confidence, satisfaction and overall attitude to work and life.Those who knew me from the earlier project,wondered if it was the same me.😐 After working on that project for around 2 years,I asked for a release when my wedding got fixed and wanted to move to Kochi.The project was notorious for difficulty in getting a release.However my manager, who was much impressed with my work, agreed to give the release at the earliest,considering my request. During the send-off day, my team lead who also was part of my earlier project ,was surprised when I mentioned that this project was more satisfying and rewarding.Seems,I was the only one who felt that way as this project was comparatively more hectic and stressful. Referring to the earlier project,he also mentioned “maybe there,you did not get a stage to perform”.While that was true and was one of the reasons for my frustration, the major change had occurred within me. ☺️ I learned this the hard way - "Never let the things you want make you forget what you have" #CareerStories #Attittude #PositiveAttittude

"I'm not ready da - Part 2" Certainly! Here's a refined version of your sentence: My journey of exploring my passion and learning at a local cafe took an unexpected turn on day 1 when I was asked to take orders instead of assisting the head chef, which was my initial expectation. As I searched for the menu card after customers arrived, Karthik pointed out a QR code on the table for them to scan. He suggested I place the tissues on the table and give them time to choose their items. As I reached for the water, he intervened, suggesting we wait for their drink order instead. This small gesture stuck in my mind, highlighting how such subtle moves could significantly enhance business growth. Typically, customers come to order juice and often don't ask for water. Placing water on the table might lead them to skip their drink and opt for a starter instead. Timing and understanding customer needs are crucial. It's essential to offer the right thing at the right moment rather than overwhelming customers with unnecessary promos and offers. Overreacting is very different from being proactive. Another cherry on top is when customers ask for water, probing whether they would prefer regular water (free) or bottled water. Many people, especially those with kids or elderly folks, appreciate the option of bottled water for its convenience and reassurance of quality. This observation also highlights a great opportunity for upselling. Lesson learned: Take the time to understand your customers and avoid overreacting with premature solutions. Instead, seize every opportunity, no matter how small, to cross-sell and upsell. Even minor efforts can lead to significant growth impacts. Look for my next one about optimization on operations! Just in case you missed my part 1, here it is for your reference. https://lnkd.in/gaUgaW4f Place which gave me space for my learning to understand customer experience. https://lnkd.in/gtRaxTuh Cheers Anne #learning #passion #customerexperience #putcustomerfirst #management #sales #growth #upsell

I promise you won't be able to live without it. give it a try for just one week :) ➹ last year, when I arrived in Jaipur, everything felt entirely new to me. ◒ I had responsibilities: -work -family -career -relationship »»———> ◒ After a week-long search, I finally settled into a PG, and that one week remains vivid in my memory. • It got me thinking: what if I could remember every single day of my life? • so, on 1st May’23, I made a commitment to start journaling, recording only the major activities of each day. • It's been almost a year now, and flipping through those pages feels like taking a journey through the past year of my life. ◒ I can see where I was, what I was doing, and how I got to where I am today. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 📝 Journaling has brought about significant changes in my life: 🖋️ writing in my diary before bed has become a new habit—one that has brought me clarity and reflection. 🖋️ often, as I jot down my thoughts, I realize where I might have gone wrong during the day and how I can improve. 🖋️ at the end of each page, I jot down my wishes. It's incredible how many of them have come true—almost as if by practicing manifestation and the law of attraction. »» But perhaps the most crucial reason I maintain this diary📓 is for my future self. 🔰 I envision myself in my twilight years, sitting in a balcony with a cup of tea ☕️ reminiscing and laughing at the memories captured in these pages. ******* Good things come to those who journal - Amanda Stern Tarun Arora in your feed :)

I finally took a break after being consistent for 9 months straight and I don’t regret it. Instead, I deserved it. Did you noticed I wasn’t here from last 5 days? Did you guys missed me? 📌 Let me explain what exactly happened: I recently went on a family trip to Varanasi, India. When I was about the leave for the trip, I realized that my next week’s content wasn’t ready. I started panicking!!!! I even considered working during the trip. But then, I suddenly realized that it’s my time to prioritize family over anything. I asked myself: - What could possibly happen if I don’t post for a few days? - Would my community ditch me once I come back? - Does it going to ruin my hardwork of 9 months? Honestly, I started overthinking as usual. Then finally, I decided to shut everything and focus on the trip. I am glad, I did that. This turned out to be one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever had with my family. And you know what? I didn’t touch LinkedIn, just focused on making memories with my loved ones. Now that I am back, + I realized that my mind needed this break. + It is now filled with unique fresh ideas. + I feel super energetic and focused. It really feels great to be back. 🔥 P. S Where did you went in your last trip? (please ignore background people of this picture😅 ) #personalbranding #contentstrategy #personalstory ⭐ Follow Ritika Sinha for more!!

This long weekend was not just about exploring new places, but it was also a valuable lesson in work-life balance. As I roamed from Mathura to Vrindavan to Govardhan and even visited Radha Mandir Barsana and Agra. A simple question from my 5-years-old daughter made me pause. "Daddy, why did you not go to the office from the next day?" she asked innocently. I explained to her that it was a leave due to Independence Day. But her curiosity didn't end there. The next day, she asked again, "Daddy, why are you not going to the office today?" "It's a long weekend," I replied. Her question made me reflect. It dawned on me that I hadn't taken 5 continuous days off since she was born. It was a wake-up call about the importance of balancing work and personal life. Taking time off to spend with your loved ones not only rejuvenates you but also strengthens your relationships. This long weekend taught me that managing your time with care and prioritising family moments can truly boost your energy and enrich your life. #LongWeekendReflections #FamilyTimeIsPrecious #WorkLifeBalance #ParentingJourney #QualityTimeMatters #LessonLearned #MemoriesMade #CherishEveryMoment #PrioritizeFamily #SelfCareIsImportant #LifeLessonsLearned

On a recent flight to Chennai, I observed something that made me pause. As the crew greeted each boarding passenger with a smile and a warm welcome, only about 10% responded—either with a verbal reply or a simple nod. It got me thinking, why don’t we reciprocate these small gestures? Is it cultural? Perhaps some of us are conditioned to remain silent, seeing greetings as unnecessary or awkward. Or could it be about social hierarchy? Maybe we see the crew as professionals just doing their job, not expecting anything in return. Then there’s the possibility of unfamiliarity—perhaps responding to service staff isn’t something we’ve grown up doing. Or are we simply too caught up in our own worlds, too focused on our travel plans to notice or care? Language barriers could also play a role, making it hard to know how to respond. But beyond these factors, I wonder if it’s something deeper. Are we so stressed by our daily grind that we’ve forgotten how to smile, how to express gratitude? It’s easy to complain or criticize when something goes wrong, but why is it so hard to acknowledge the good? These small acts of recognition and appreciation don’t take much effort, but they can make a world of difference. So next time you’re greeted with a smile, try giving one back. It might just brighten someone’s day—maybe even your own. What do you think? Are there other reasons why we hesitate to appreciate good work, yet jump to criticize at the first opportunity? Share your views in the comments below. #Airindia #Gestures #Attitude #Humility #Goodbehaviour

I am thrilled to announce that I have left my current job at Tata 1mg and I am not joining any other company, at least not immediately. For the last 2 years I have been writing about and guiding people on taking a career break, but let's be honest, I also felt it was a little hypocritical on my part to have a job and preach others to take a break. This will be effectively career break 2.0 for me. My first career break 5 years back was completely accidental when the term was not even coined. I had severe burnout at that time and before starting my venture I just wanted to relax, get healthy, travel a bit, then COVID also happened. 4.5 years later, a failed startup, near death covid experience, dengue, kidney stones, diabetes, 2-year stint in a startup, I feel I can rest my mind for some time. I was planning for it for the last few months and invested accordingly to help me sustain my lifestyle for the next few months. After shutting my startup, I had few financial goals in my mind, except buying a home, I was able to complete the majority. Buying a home has to wait now because taking a pause felt necessary, who knows if luck is on my side, this will also be done. What's next for me? Nothing serious planned as of now, few things I have wanted to do for a long time - Write a book, pending since 2009, I started last month and I am almost 70% done now, searching for the perfect end ( I would also need help to find a publisher, if anyone knows the process, please help) - Continue my coaching and mentoring journey, help me feel good when I help others and also generate some passive income - Start the content journey seriously, the long-awaited youtube channel on life and poetry channel on Instagram might take birth, or might not - research a bit on mental health and try to figure out if there can be a solution for growing burnout and toxicity in the world - travel, leverage the location of Delhi NCR and visit more nearby places, interact with more people, and find more alternate ways of life I would keep everyone posted regularly on how the break is going, the pros and cons, positive and negatives. Looking forward to having some fun, relaxing, traveling, reading, writing, cooking, meeting new people, and enjoying my existence. #careerbreak #announcement #job #life

🌟 **Balancing Act: A Job and Life Tale** 🌈 In the vibrant city of Delhi, Aman, a dedicated professional at a renowned organisation, found himself caught in the whirlwind of work. Long hours took a toll on personal time. Enter Maya, a wise colleague. She shared a secret: success is more than career highs. Inspired, Aman began setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and cherishing moments outside work. The result? A transformed job, once overwhelming, now a source of fulfillment. The lesson learned: a balanced life enhances both career and personal well-being. ✨ #WorkLifeHarmony #CareerBalance ---

Never trust strangers - this is what we were taught since our childhood 😲☘️ I have shared a couple of my experiences previously, how strangers helped me during different situations 🤗☺️ One more similar experience during my recent solo trip 🧳🚍 I was returning back from Coorg to Bangalore by KSRTC. I opted for public transport during the whole trip🚌🚍🚎 (first time ever 🫣) I reached the Bangalore Magestic by 8:30pm. From there I need to go to my hostel which is 1 hr far 🕣⏰ I have enquired and realised that I need to get down in a different stop which is 10 mins away, as there won't be direct buses to my place at that time 😮👣 The person sitting beside me said that the place is not walkable and it's not safe to travel alone in a cab at that time 😕😥 I was a little scared not knowing what to do, as I am new to Bangalore and have no one who can come and help me 😐 Suddenly, I remembered someone and texted him about the situation🙃🥲 He mentioned that he is 30 mins away from the place and assured me that he will drop me at the hostel 😃 I know him through LinkedIn and we interacted a couple of times on linkedin about my yoga posts. That's it ✍️🤝 I was skeptical about seeking help but didn't want to take any risk unnecessarily⁉️😕 I am always cautious about my planning during my solo travel but sometimes our planning doesn't work due to unexpected delays ⏰⌛ He dropped me at the hostel and returned immediately as he needed to login by 6am (he could have ignored my request with this reason) I was surprised and happy to meet such people who are there to help others with good intentions 🥰🙏 My solo journey is helping me explore about myself and others 🥰 It changed my perspective towards life and people 💛💛💛 This gives me an opportunity to know about myself better - my strengths and my weaknesses, in building my courage to face my fears 💚🧡 Thank you very much TAJ AHMAD SHAIK 🤗 #anithaswriteup #solotravel #gratitude #people #lifelearnings #storytelling #positivepeople