Winning Stroke: Interview With Shubhlakshmi Tiwari, Co-founder & Director, Planet Organic India

If not in the current profession, you would be?
Since my childhood, I was inclined towards art and dance. This led me to pursue my Graduation in Arts and also train as a Kathak dancer. So, I believe that I would have either pursued being a professional Kathak Dancer or perhaps an Artist. 

One tune you always hum?
Ghazals are my most favourite form of music. I can often be heard humming the tune of the ghazal "Chal mere sath hi chal...", a beautiful song sung by Ustad Ahmad Hussain and Ustad Mohammd Hussain. I can also be found singing bhakti sholka like "achyutam keshavam..." 

One book to read when you want to motivate yourself?
Books are the best guide anyone can ask for but if I have to name just one then I would suggest "Rich Dad Poor Dad". The book’s advises you with importance of financial literacy, helps you understand financial independence, and provides many tricks and traits for entrepreneurs as well.

One dialogue of a movie that motivates you or you like the most?
Like most Indians, I am big fan of Bollywood movies and love watching them in my free time. The famous dialogue of Shah Rukh Khan from movie Om Shanti Om - "Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to puri kayanat usey tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai" is something I believe in wholeheartedly.

The place you have never been to and always want to go?
Travelling is something I enjoy a lot and there are many places that are yet to be discovered. Though if I have to name a place then it would be "London". It is one of my most favourite cities in the world.

An animal that signifies you & why?
Nature is a great teacher and animals are perhaps the best example. I think I resonate most with a "Cow".  As I always believe in lending people a hand and sharing whatever I have without keeping anything in mind which is just like the gentleness and kindness of a "Cow"

A Movie Character you most resemble or resonate with?
A character that I most resonate with would be Vidhya Balan’s portrayal of Tara Shinde from the movie Mission Mangal. Just like her character, I do not give up easily and always try to find solutions for my problems. 

If your life were to be turned into a movie, who would you like to play your part?
If my life story were ever turned into a movie then I think Alia Bhatt would be the most suitable. She is not only an amazing actor, but I also think we have a slight resemblance.

Luck or Hard Work, what do you think weighs more in defining a successful person?
Of course, hard work plays more vital role to be a successful person in life. Although we cannot deny luck either. We cannot control everything in our life, but if we are earnest towards our work then it will definitely bear fruits. I believe it is a combination of 80:20.

One best decision you ever made?
I think choosing a partner to spend the rest of your life with is one of the most important decisions of life, but it is also one of the decisions, I have ever made. My marriage with Mr. Anurag Tiwari is very blessed and I am very happy with the choice I made.

A strategy that you always use to take your decisions in Personal or Professional life?
Decision making is an integral part of life. So, to make it easier, I decide according to priority/ urgency of the decision. I also make importance matrix along with a list of Pros and Cons of every decision. This helps me make an informed decision and it is quite time saving as well.

Whose advice do you seek when in a dilemma?
If I ever get stuck deciding or have second thoughts then I seek my Sister-in-law Mrs. Soniya Tripathi and my husband Mr. Anurag Tiwari’s advice. They always help me and guide me to make a conclusive choice.

What has been your biggest achievement? 
Personally, for me, motherhood, is my biggest achievement. It gives me immense joy to watch my cutest son, Aaradhya grow up happily even though he can get quite naughty at times.

One thing that you want to change in yourself.
Although, there are many things in me which need to be improved but to mention one, I would like to remove fear of failure. To make myself a person with a great capacity of taking risk. I don’t want to play safe at any point in time. I desperately want to cover the journey from risk averse to risk taker. And believe me, I am traveling fast on the transition path 

A line said by your closed one that you never forget.
I have always been encouraged by my loved ones. Especially my husband, who is one of my biggest supporters in life. He always tells me, “Don't have fear, have confidence” and I think that what motivates me to keep being the better version of myself.