Find more in yourself, than you ever thought possible
Stories of Role Models
The viral fever paralysed me completely. I could not move my hands or feet even by 1 cm.
I was moving mountains earlier. IIT Madras, MBA from XLRI. Country manager for 3 COM. Youngest COO at age 34 in the telecom industry.
I was very driven to climb to the top. Here I was, lying helpless.
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. I fought back.
I doused myself with pharmacy. 6 Lakhs worth of medication, every 2 months.
It did not work.
They switched me to steroids. I put on 16 Kg. Developed cataracts in both eyes.
It did not work.
I enlisted as Patient No 19 in a clinical trial in the US. The road ahead was uncertain.
They began to reboot my body, killing my entire immune system, then restarting it with my own stem cells.
I fought from my bed in Chicago. The reboot worked.
While still in bed, I began to write a wacky science fiction book for kids.
Hope gave me Humor. Humor - I poured into the book. The book fed it back to me, as hope.
The loop moved me forward.
The road to my recovery was long and tiring. I worked on myself. Relentlessly.
In 6 months, I was walking 6 kilometres. Then some more.
I decided to not go back to corporate life.
I became a published author with the book I had written.
Kids loved it. I once read from my book to 800 children in a hall for one hour. They sat transfixed - and laughing.
Schools began to invite me for talks. I put together a science workshop for kids, using characters from my book.
I researched deep into positive psychology. Figuring out what it takes to convert adversity into victory. To stay positive.
I also became a motivational speaker on the corporate circuit - narrating my story of recovery.
I wrote my 2nd book. An autobiography - 'From ouch to oops'
My desire to conquer the world had transmuted into a desire to make the world a positive place - happier and more caring.
Macmillan published my story in an 8th grade textbook. Every so often a child would reach me, from some part of the world, after reading it.
It made me consider how I could make a difference to young people. A one hour talk may be good to listen to, but seldom has a lasting impact.
Parents!
I realised, parents were the answer. They mould their children day after day.
I would reach to parents with insights and ideas on how they could be better parents, in spite of busy and chaotic lives.
My father had made a difference to me. He was an exceptional parent, when I had strayed downhill in my IIT days. I asked him if we could write a parenting book together.
It was not to be and he passed away soon after. I promised to myself, I would write the parenting book for us both.
I interviewed parents and children. I researched. I conducted parenting webinars. It took me 4 years to write this one.
I continue on this path, with hope and joy, for being useful every single day.
The support from my family has been invaluable. I have learnt how precious they are to me.
This is my story, so far.
On youtube - Boundless with RamG
Books -