
My Thick Accent
‘My Thick Accent’ podcast aims to break the stereotypical moulds the immigrants are asked to fit in by introducing you to the fascinating world of existing and new immigrants from all walks of life. So, stay tuned and let's get to know each other Beneath The Accent!
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My Thick Accent
Career Advice, Cultural Heritage, and Mindset Shifts | Ft. Daljit Kaur Ep. 064
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Daljit Kaur, a remarkable career coach, shares her inspiring journey from a small village near Phagwara to thriving in Canada, bringing a wealth of experience and wisdom to our discussion. As she recounts her transition from rural life to the bustling city of Montreal, Daljit opens up about overcoming cultural shocks, homesickness, and the challenges of adapting to a new environment. Her story is not just one of personal triumph but also a testament to the power of resilience, community support, and the transformative impact of motivational mentors like Tony Robbins, who played a pivotal role in shaping her determined mindset.
Listeners will embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth as Daljit shares her struggles and successes, from enduring harsh winters in Montreal to finding her footing as one of the few Indian students in LaSalle College. Her insights into personal development, self-awareness, and the pursuit of financial stability are particularly enlightening for anyone navigating similar paths. Daljit's experiences highlight the importance of unlearning old habits and embracing new ones, guiding us through the immigrant experience with warmth, humour, and authenticity.
Through candid stories and poignant reflections, Daljit sheds light on the immigrant community's progress and the legacy being built for future generations. Her journey of embracing cultural shifts, maintaining self-worth, and achieving career success offers valuable lessons in perseverance and empowerment. This episode celebrates not only Daljit's journey but also the collective effort of immigrants to create thriving spaces, reminding us of the strength and progress that come from embracing change and fostering community.
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To contact Daljit:
- Daljit's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaur-daljit?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BeJ6neCaAQOm7JYFtIUzrJg%3D%3D
- Book an appointment w/ Daljit - https://calendly.com/daljitkaurcoach/1-1-exclusive-coaching-session?month=2025-01
- Daljit's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/daljitkaurcoach/
Want to share your story? Or know someone I should invite next on the show? DM us or write to us at Hello@mythickaccent.com
What's that one dish from your home country that always brings you comfort and nostalgia?
Daljit:As a Punjabi, this is one of the meals that we grew up eating. It's my favorite makki di roti with saru da saag.
Gurasis:Before you even said that I could hear it, you knew it was coming. So today I have the absolute pleasure of introducing someone whose journey deeply resonates with my own. Her story begins at LaSalle College in Montreal, where I also started my educational journey here in Canada. Her growth, mindset and the remarkable person she has become are nothing short of inspiring. She moved to Canada in 2013 at the age of 18.
Gurasis:Coming from a small village near Fagwada, her first experience with the crowd was actually at the airport. She was shy, struggled to ask questions in class and had to adapt to a culture where talking to strangers was encouraged a huge contrast to her upbringing. During her first year, she found herself in a whole new world, needing to learn its rules while maintaining her mission and desire. Six months in, feeling overwhelmed, she turned to books for Solace. A breakdown led her to search online for ways to feel better, which is when she discovered Tony Robbins' motivational videos. Applying these lessons transformed her life. She has also made a significant impact as a career coach, helping many find their true potential and navigate their professional paths. Her wisdom, captured in powerful quotes and insightful perspectives, is something I'm eager for us all to learn from today. One of my favorite quotes of hers is N-O-No is actually next opportunity. Without further ado, please welcome Daljeet Kaur.
Daljit:Thank you so much, Gursees, for having me here today. It is such a pleasure and such an honor to be here.
Gurasis:Pleasure is all mine. Very, very excited to have you on the podcast and very excited for the listeners to actually learn about your journey.
Daljit:So welcome once again cast and it is a source of inspiration and it has many relatable stories. That is, like you know, which is actually really needed for all of the immigrants out there. And I just want to take a moment to congratulate you on you know doing such an amazing work and, at the same time, I just want you to know that, know this is needed and as long as you're you know doing this, please keep pushing it, because it's really needed in the community, in the society, right now for all of us.
Gurasis:Yes, oh, thank you. Thank you so much for kind words and I feel like, uh, when people like you reach out and they appreciate a new content creator, you know so to say, and I think it's really, really appreciated and also it kind of gives me a sort of a boost and encouragement to keep doing so. Thank you so much for all this, yeah it's my pleasure so, diljit, diving into your journey.
Gurasis:But before that, you know, I have added this new segment, you know, in my second season of the podcast and because I'm trying to turn up the fun factor a little bit. So I have just fun questions to ask you, okay okay, I'm not ready for that, but let's do it well, there's nothing extraordinary, very simple questions, you know, I can assure you for that. So all right. So my first question is what's your go-to breakfast?
Daljit:oh my god, it's like love of my life right now. It's peanut butter toast uh okay sometimes I put fruits on it, like a banana or something, but I need peanut butter toast and my chaada cup. You know my cha, not chai in the morning. Just talk my day with that. That has been actually something like for years now. I don't even know. Sometimes I ask myself is it even healthy that I have been eating this for this while?
Gurasis:but anyways, that gives me the comfort, that gives me that kick to start my morning absolutely, and uh, do you remember what you used to have when you first came to Canada? What was your breakfast then?
Daljit:When I first came to Canada, honestly it took a few I would say, weeks to actually find time to have a breakfast, because there's so much going and you're just like trying to find a time to do everything all together and I remember not even having breakfast for your mornings, just running to catch that bus in the early morning to get to the college and then work and all right. But I do remember that I was actually, you know, shared this peanut butter toast with me and I feel like since then it has been just my go-to. I do definitely make conscious effort to bring some twists in my morning routines with, like, oatmeal and stuff like that. My parant has too, but in the beginning definitely it was all over the place and I was just going with cereal, with whatever I can have in the morning. Definitely it was all over the place and I was just going with cereal with whatever I can have in the morning, just to pass by, I would say okay, perfect.
Gurasis:So my next question is the lead share like a favorite song or a dialogue or a movie, and tell us why it's significant to you uh, I would say say I can share actually a quote.
Daljit:I am big on quotes. I feel like they are like a message from universe and then at a different phase of your life, when you're going through different phases, they come in Right and then they sort of give you the inspiration to go through that tough phase. And the one which I needed the most, I remember, and even now sometimes it pushes me forward is quitters never win and winners never quit.
Daljit:That's the quote that just yeah, like on the days when you know I need that mindset, when we are like feeling the self-doubt that when we are feeling defeated, it's important for us to not fall into that victim mindset and it's important for us to be gentle with ourselves too, but at the same time remind ourselves the true potential that we have. And I feel like this quote actually really um is something that I lead with in my life. Yeah, sorry it wasn't super fun for your audience.
Gurasis:Right now, I'm just like giving them a quote instead of a movie or a song or something you know no, I think it was a great quote and I feel like something again, somebody who is an immigrant or just in general, you know, anywhere, anywhere in the world, this is something which they can really, you know, keep keep with them as a lesson. You know that. That's why I said, you know, no matter what, what, uh, uh, whatever the lessons that one comes with, you know, there's something in that that people can actually take from it and apply that in their life. Right? So even if it's just a quote, absolutely I'm sure people are gonna love it. You know, but there must be, like, some movies or some songs that you really resonate with a lot or you listen to. There must be some movies. You know, maybe you visit some movies.
Daljit:Uh, again and again honestly, I'm not big on uh like television. It's something that is just not not a of me, which actually I am now working on.
Daljit:It's changing. Maybe just this is a new phase for me. Right now I'm consciously diving more into seeing more movies or whatever shows or whatever we call it, but intentionally it's the mindset that I had even have right now, which is I'm very conscious about where I want to invest my energy and my time. So if I end up watching movies, they are really, you know, fictional characters. I love Disney, I love, you know, marvel. I just really end up watching those movies that takes my imagination beyond my own current reality. I feel like that just gives um the boost and that just strikes these mini little uh aha moments that are like, oh okay, you know I can do something like that too. Or maybe like it just encourages me to get, take, take a dive into this curiosity world where I just feel like I enjoy, you know, learning more about the possibilities that can be done, which are, you know, very hard to see in this real world. Sometimes we are like really into this box. You know, we see ourselves that we have a routine do this, do that.
Daljit:So for me, when I need to escape from this, you know, real world just for the sake of entertainment, I go with the Disney movies and yeah, um, yeah, some inspirational, some biographies and stuff like that.
Gurasis:Yes, so my next question is if you had to teach like one phrase or word or anything in your mother tongue to us, what would it be and what does it mean?
Daljit:ah, okay, okay, um, that's the word I would really like to you know, spread, because I think this word, you know it in its own is that like a boost that just when you say someone asks you how are you doing? You can simply say yeah, I'm doing good.
Daljit:Or you can say there is this, you know, energy that flows through your body and absolutely it's hard to explain in words, but that's the word and I, I feel like there's so much power in that word, there's so much positivity in that word, um, and I, if I had, yeah, if I have an opportunity, I'll definitely take this one okay, yeah, and I think a literal translation would be like an ascending energy, or or or.
Gurasis:It can be described as being in high spirits, or positive and optimistic.
Daljit:So, like you know, it's yeah, like growing and you know, moving forward, sort of that energy that that I'm like, you know unstoppable it's all that yes yeah, I love that, love this.
Gurasis:All right. And finally, if you could teleport back to a particular place from your home country or anywhere in the world, let's just say where would it be and what would you do?
Daljit:it's a tough one. This is a tough one because these days I'm really feeling the homesick and I want to go back and live there for like a few months, and choosing one is going to be definitely hard because, you know, I was born there, I grew up there, so I have so many memories. There are so many different places that would really bring that peace and happiness. If you were asking me to choose one right now, I would say you know my school and my village. Yeah, it was just that's where I learned more about myself. I started learning more about who I am. I started learning more about relationships, the importance of love, the importance of you know respect, all of those little things when we learn with throughout our family. Ever you know the relationships, yes.
Gurasis:So school is something that I would really want to go back and okay, so speaking of going back, let me take you back to the time you spent in India. Tell us a little bit about your formative years. How was his life there and what the focus was on growing up?
Daljit:I think it's a lot like a lot of us right. Our focus when we are back home is really our parents. They spend a lot of their time and money and energy in making sure they are providing us the best education, best, uh, whatever we need in order to succeed academically, like and that's what I had to.
Daljit:when I was growing up there, the only focus, I would say, for me was to succeed in my studies and, um, make sure that whatever I am doing, it's it helping me in my future. One of the things that really motivated me that my father worked really hard, and same with my mom too, I feel like growing up I saw them giving up on their desires just to save up to give me and my younger brother the best education, and that created this inner, deep desire to give back to them not only to them, but to also whoever I can. Right, I just wanted to make sure whatever they are investing in me, it's going to give them a return, like a return on investment in the technical world, right? And that somehow created this, this passion or enthusiasm, where I started giving the tuitions very early on. When I was like in 10th grade, I was giving the tuition to like ninth. When I was like in like 12th grade, I was like giving the tuition to like my you know 11th grade students. So it was very focused, it was very driven.
Daljit:My years of, yeah, I feel like the environment that I had, the family that they always gave us, that environment where we should just be very diligent towards our studies and towards our future. Yes, so that's just what my years look like, along with you know, just those lovely memories that we create with our friends when we go to this college and schools. Yes, nothing super special.
Gurasis:I think it's easy, it's unique to you and it's special in its own way, which I feel like sometimes we're unable to put them in words right, but those times are, are very precious to all of us. Um, but can you tell a little bit about you know, because I remember you hearing, I remember you talking about, like, how moving from the small village to the actual city in the school was like the first cultural shock to you. Oh yeah, definitely.
Daljit:So tell me about that I think that shaped everything today who I am. So I studied until fifth grade in the village school and then my parents decided to put me in the CBSE school from sixth grade. Well, I was technically going to start in sixth, but whoever the teachers are like, hey, there's going to be a big switch for her, so we recommend you to let her repeat the same class. That in itself for me was like a big shame for me. I was just like why I just completed my sixth grade and now I have to do it again, you know? And then I was like, okay, maybe there is something wrong with me, you know. Then you're little, you don't know those things right when you are young. So for me that was like the first thing. And then when I actually pivoted to that school, now imagine you're like studying in this small school in the village, and now you're in just giant big blocks in the city and you're trying to figure it out.
Daljit:Where is your classroom? And the students who have been there studying from maybe their nursery grade? The way they talk, the way they act is completely different. For me it was like alien, right. For me it was just like okay, where am I? But, like today, I know about all of those things, but back then I didn't know. I didn't know how to express my emotions, I didn't know what to do about it, I didn't know how to fit in, I didn't know how to adapt and I remember even being bullied simply because I was an outsider for them, and it was very tough. And I remember constantly going through that fight of fitting in and just asking myself that in, and just asking and myself that why, like you know, why am I here and what's going on, and all sort of emotions. But somewhere that was the pivot I believe that I needed, because even until now, you know, when we are faced with those tough situations, those uncomfortable challenges, we question our self-worth, we question our you know desires or our worth.
Daljit:And if you, deep down, don't know who you are, you're going to really get distracted or disturbed by those situations. So somewhere that journey for me was setting the strong foundation because it gave me an opportunity to start learning more about myself from that early age. It was very tough. The first year was hell, I would say, and nobody really knew about it. And even at my, I remember my mom used to ask me what happened to you, why you're so quiet these days. Because I'm very talkative.
Daljit:I used to be very talkative even now, so it really affected me. But that was the moment I think I connected with spirituality too, very early on. Because you know, when you're young, your parents tell you one thing. They're like, pray to this God, or they're going to give you this right. And you're just like, really, okay, I'll make sure I'll pray this and I'll do these many parts so that God is going to help me.
Daljit:And from because I was going through that, I don't know is it a shock, is it a suffering, is it a tough? Obviously for a sixth grade student you're 13, or how old you are you're just like waking up with an anxiety that I have to go to school Today is a big thing, right, and you know, in our culture we don't speak about these things very much. And then for me, the only rescue was God. So I was like, okay, I'm going to believe in you. So I was like, okay, I'm going to believe in you and, as other people say, that you help people who you know who are in need. So I'm in need, so help me. And I feel like I started developing that inner relationship with God from that age, which was the beautiful, which is actually the beautiful foundation that I have, is actually the beautiful foundation that I have? And yeah, I hope I'm answering your question because this conversation can go very long.
Gurasis:You know you definitely did, and I think with all of us, including me, when I was younger, my first introduction to spirituality and those scriptures was with the intent of having that instant gratification. Right, oh, you do this if this is going to happen. Right, and you know this is going to benefit you.
Daljit:You know, so bless you exactly.
Gurasis:You know god is going to bless you. I think it all happened with that. But I feel like then, from there on, when you obviously, you know, start living on your own and you understand that, okay, there, okay, there's another reason behind all these things, there's another existence that happens, right, you start understanding those, you start reading in between the lines and all those nuances you should never even looked at before, when you were younger. Well, I think again, like you just said, this can go on and on, but we will pivot towards your Canadian planning move. We will pivot towards your move to Canada, and you have mentioned it so many times, like when you were younger, you could not even fathom the idea of moving to Canada, or even moving abroad, right, and then you guys packed your bags and then you decided to come to Canada. Tell me how did that happen and how was the process for you, like?
Daljit:Yeah, definitely. So. The process if I talk about it it seems very simple, but I'll then walk you and the audience through the philosophy behind it. The process came to me that when I did my high school which is like plus two for us I completed that. Then a very important person in my life was like my grandmother's sister, who actually inspired my parents be like you know, a lot of kids are coming in Canada.
Daljit:I was like back in 12, 11 or 12, 12, right that, hey, she's great in her studies. How about you guys give it a chance? And then my parents were like you know what, we'll think about it? Because of the finances, obviously, there was a big investment that has to be done and I'm coming from a very humble background where you know it's not something very convenient. They can just think about it and do it. So my parents are like you know what we'll think about it.
Daljit:And in the meanwhile, you know, before starting my graduation sorry, not my graduation bachelors I had some time. You know we always have a little break for a few months and I had that and I decided just to take IELTS classes to improve my English. Like I'll just do it. There's no intention behind it that I'm actually gonna go, but there's time, so why not just do it? Anyways, I have to do something. And I ended up getting just six bands. That's what I think I needed during that time, because I wasn't even putting that much effort in it.
Daljit:And once I got the bands and once I think the confirmation was there that there is an opportunity I think it was really on my parents and they were just like you know what? We see you working really hard, diligently, and we just want to make sure that we are giving you the support that you need to succeed in your life. It was just simply their gesture, their decision, and I was like, okay, it's fine, we can, can try. And then we had this mindset let's just try, let's just see. If it happens, it's okay. If it doesn't happen, that's fine too. We just sent the application and we did the process and I ended up getting the visa. Okay, now that's the simple process. Right, that's what I'm telling you. It looks like the simple process, but I will but how many months did it take?
Daljit:it took I would say the whole process. When I easily like seven to eight months, right, it takes once you do this.
Daljit:Yeah, that's the offer letter yeah, and I I remembered that I completed, or I was almost done with my first year of graduation of bachelor's in commerce, back home too, because I was doing that at the same time too, I didn't want it to waste my time. And now the philosophy behind is that, when I mentioned earlier that this looks like a very simple process, right, that someone just came and they just gave this inspiration to my parents and they ended up, you know, putting all of their life savings and my tuition fee and then sending me here. But I now understand that, why that opportunity even came to me, why that, why universe or why God even decided to give me that opportunity, is somewhere that I was attracting or working through that law of attraction which I just, you know, learned when, now, when I was here in Canada. Learned when, now, when, when I was here in Canada, when I used to study, I always used to constantly have this deep desire within myself that I want to do something big, I want to do something great.
Daljit:I don't know what it's gonna be, I have no idea what I'm gonna end up doing, but that desire, that burning desire, was always there. It's still even there with me and I feel like that sort of attracted, you know the opportunity and created that path that I needed to be where I am today. So what I'm trying to say here is that sometimes, when we look at our circumstances, our present reality, it limits us right. It doesn't even let us dream. It's like you are reminding yourself that it's not even possible for me. I shouldn't even think about it Actually. No, we don't even know. Like you know, we are just a tiny part of this, like huge, big universe.
Daljit:Absolutely of this like huge, big universe and absolutely it really depends on, like, how big you see yourself, how abundant like you know you see yourself, and so don't limit yourself to the current limitations, the reality, but like actually feel that positive, that hope that you have within yourself. And I believe that once you focus your energy on that, it starts attracting all of the other opportunities which are going to help you to be where you should be. Yeah, so that's my journey of pivoting, or coming from the tiny little small village to this big city in Canada, montreal.
Gurasis:But you said right, you never had this idea of moving. And then, at one point, you mentioned that you were somehow unintentionally manifesting it. What do you mean by that? Did you used to think about it? Did you used to talk about it with somebody? Or did you used to think about it? Did you used to talk about it with somebody? Or did you used to research about what? What was that sort, the source of that manifestation? What was that like?
Daljit:yeah. So the source of I never had that idea that I'm gonna leave this, you know I'm gonna go to, like any other country that was honestly never there the source of inspiration was that I am going to help, I am going to. I always saw myself talking in front of a lot of people and, uh, what I'm doing today is one of that you know, just talking, sharing my journey.
Daljit:uh, so that was the source of inspiration, and I and I think, when you attach or when you focus your energy towards the purpose, that what do you want to do, it actually then leads to the destinations where you should be, instead of you choosing the destination and telling the purpose that, hey, I need to be here first. No, even until today.
Daljit:I believe, in that that I don't know if I'm going to be here first. You know, no, even until today I believe in that, that I don't know if I'm gonna be here. Like I don't know, in five years I might be in a different city, different country, god knows, right. So I let my purpose um drive that. So I hope that answers, but it's more like leading with that faith, leading with that vision that you see, you know, only you can see that there's no one else can see it.
Daljit:Like that better person of the second version of yourself, talking to different groups of people, talking to you know, like inspiring them and sharing with them, like whatever I can do to help them, and I feel like God just is now using me and he's putting me where I should be in order to give that wisdom or energy or whatever he wants me to give.
Gurasis:Yeah, Exactly, exactly. Yeah, I love. This actually reminds me of this uh, one image I saw on instagram. I'm sure you'll love it also. So it was like a mess text message from, uh, from the contact and the contact was saved as god and it said. The message said I did not show you those visions for nothing. They were meant for something you know. And when I saw that, I remember it was also one of those days where I wasn't feeling the best and I was like that's so true. You know, why am I even questioning all this? If I'm really seeing all these things, it means that this is like a. This is the final thing I'm seeing, right, the journey. I am the one who has to really work and get to their final destination, right?
Daljit:so I absolutely love that, and you 101 percent answered the question, so yeah, yeah, I feel like, uh, sometimes it it's okay for us as humans to try to take control of things and we want to make sure that we have a control, because we don't want to live in fear and uh, but at end of the day, we didn't even had a control to uh, to, to make a decision in this big question of that, um, should I be born or not? You were just given a birth.
Daljit:You were never asked right. So I mean like in time to time, in actual, it's easy to say what we're saying.
Daljit:I understand that yeah, and in real life these things, they actually seem like, oh my god, no, but you don't know. You don't know. You know I have to do this. I have to do that when we try to. For example, let's say, I do know a lot of like students or a lot of like my close friends and family relatives who were really focused like oh no, they want to go to Canada, like I want to go to Canada, no matter what yeah right and once you.
Daljit:We all have those relatives, yeah right, we have that, but at the end of the day, if it's going to happen, it's going to happen. So what? I'm trying to say that when we are trying to put too much control, when we are trying to put things in a box and we are trying to make sure that everything goes according to how you and I want, it's impossible.
Daljit:We don't have a control on things, and that's one of the things which I see a lot of the time as an immigrants.
Daljit:When we come here, that's the first thing that we, that we have with us is that I want to have the security, I want to feel like I'm safe, I have a job or something that I don't want to go through, the stress and anxiety of just overthinking and blah, blah, blah all of those different emotions, and I feel like that's where you need to rely on this faith.
Daljit:You need to channel this hope more and more, like the moments when you are falling into that negativity of like nothing is working for me. I have given 10 different interviews but nobody wants to hire me. You don't even know that the more you are putting your energy in that negative you know negative side, the more it's giving you the negative results that the more we are trying to take a control on things on decisions, trying to take a control on things on decisions, these big decisions of our life actually formed based on the foundation, the foundation of self-belief, the foundation of faith, the foundation of hope, the foundation of positivity. And if we are not making sure that foundation is right, then how can you expect to build this perfect house out of that weak foundation.
Gurasis:Absolutely yeah. This also reminds me of this dialogue from Zindina Milegi Dibara, ki sab likha ho hai Everything is written.
Daljit:You know, you are just a part of the character and it's so hard to believe in that too, and I understand that right Time to time we are like it's like a test, god or whoever.
Daljit:If someone doesn't believe in God, I mean like there is some sort of energy right. It's like the more we want something, the more hard it gets, the more it's like why god, why? So? I think that's the moment you really need to take a step back and be like you know what. I believe that wherever I am, wherever I I am, I'm supposed to be, and everything is working in my favor and things are going to make sense. Yeah, all right.
Gurasis:So now 2013,. You landed in Canada. Tell me about your first day when you landed.
Daljit:My first day and I was just like I felt I'm still in a dream. I had to pinch myself. That's the first time. I ever pinched myself in my whole life. I heard the idea of pinching in like movies or something I don't even know. But I actually pinched myself the first time I saw when you know the plane was gonna land in Montreal. You get to see the city from the top view. I have never seen something so huge like that before and my heart was beating so fast and I remember being so nervous.
Daljit:I remember feeling all kinds of different emotions, like I'm away from my family, I'm away from my mom, I'm still very attached to them, away from my mom, you know, I'm still very attached to them and, yeah, it was just like a lot of uncertainty, a lot of um like, oh my god, that, where am I? And I hope this is going to go well. God, as I told you, that foundation was there from that fifth or sixth grade.
Daljit:So I always felt like God was with me until I started developing my own senses. You know now the transition from that teenage age to becoming an adult and understanding now the world from your point of view, where you're like okay, who is god? Who am I even talking to? You know so, but my first, first experience was always you know it's, it's for everyone.
Gurasis:I think it's nervous, it's daunting, yeah, yeah for sure, and you know this uh anxiousness did not really stop there. I believe you have talked about a journey, a little bit, where you you started in Lasal College, like I mentioned in my introduction, and you were also like one of those five Indian students who were there back in 2013, right in Lasal College, and then, obviously, like the initial uh, the cultural shock, the shyness that you had and unable inability to even stand up and ask questions in the class. So tell me about the first initial six months, if you can, because I remember, obviously, after six months, something else happened, but tell me about the first six months the first six months was just, um, you know, accepting.
Daljit:I think this reality was like I'm here, oh my god. Like I'm here, oh my God. Like I'm in this, like with different, diverse, you know group of students. They are all from different parts of the world and, as I told you that, when I did the pivot from my that first school, that was like my first shock within for myself, and I felt that it's happening again now, you know, because it was like, again I'm this, I'm in this environment where I don't see myself as as someone who's from here, I see myself as an outsider.
Daljit:And I remember that, just gathering all of whatever the courage that I have, all together every morning and, like you know, reminding myself that it's going to be okay, it's going to be okay, all I have to do is just study. That's what I go for. And in the beginning, to be honest, I don't even think so that I talked to anyone in my classes and think so that I talked to anyone in my classes. I used to be the person who would just go sit at the first bench, just listen to the teacher, get my stuff done, get up and leave right away. When the class is done run away from here so that I don't have to interact with someone in the beginning phases, because I felt that shyness, that nervousness, that, oh my God, that I don't even know how to speak English, like how I'm going to really talk and how I'm going to understand them with the accent right, that we all have different accents, or if I even try to speak.
Daljit:I'm going to probably look someone who's stupid and who's dumb and I would just like pack up my bag and stuff and run and maybe go and sit in a cafeteria or somewhere that I can find my own Punjabi friends and just be with them. You know that was the comfort, comfort zone. So first six months, that's how it happened. I just kind of like I would say that I really worked hard to hide myself. Yeah.
Gurasis:Okay.
Daljit:You know that I don't want to really look visible because I don't have that confidence. All I'm here for is to study. I want to make sure that I'm getting good grades done, and that's it, which is definitely not the best way.
Gurasis:What month did you land in?
Daljit:I landed in August in 2013.
Gurasis:Oh, that was like a transition towards the winters then. So tell me about that. Did that take a toll on you? The weather, oh yeah definitely.
Daljit:Oh my goodness, I remember this one day.
Daljit:So I was in montreal, and montreal is really cold right and the one thing that I would say is that really impacts us as an immigrant is the lack of preparation. I feel like, from back home, we are given this big just a vision that you're going to go there, you're going to succeed, you're going to be successful or done, but it's not that. There are a lot of pieces. For example, where there is one of them and I remember I had an exam like a midterm and I was waiting for my bus in the early morning, it was like minus 30 or minus 35 between that and I have no idea why my bus didn't show up and I am still waiting outside for like more than 40 minutes. More than 40 minutes meaning that now my body and my feet I can feel that they're frozen they're yeah, they're like frozen and I I didn't even know.
Daljit:Right for me, education was like everything for me, like if I miss this midterm, I cannot afford to fail, like I wasn't even gonna get failed, which I learned after because I'm already scoring really good my marks and I was just like trying to kill myself over there in that bus stop. I was just like, okay, I can't miss this exam, so just wait here for the next bus. I waited there for almost two hours to a moment where I started feeling the like, stopped feeling the oxygen. Can you imagine that that was like?
Daljit:my worst experience with this cold, I stopped feeling the oxygen. Can you imagine that? That was like my worst experience with this cold. I stopped feeling the oxygen because I was like now, because I was outside for way too long, my whole body. I didn't even had cell phone in the beginning. Like for a good, I would say seven eight months.
Daljit:No, I didn't even have a cell phone and I was just like, what should I do? What should I do? I just like saw the bus coming from the opposite side which was gonna go home, so I just took that, went back home. Oh my goodness, it's still like, and I remember like after that winter I was actually sort of I don't know traumatized for the winters. It took me several years to tell myself that it's okay, I can stand outside for a certain time period, or else I could have.
Gurasis:I started feeling that, um, the lack of oxygen that was very, very brutal wow, you know, this actually reminds me of multiple uh anecdotes I have about my experiences with the winter which I will not share.
Gurasis:It might be stories for different episode but, yes, the, the montreal weather is brutal, you know it is definitely brutal, especially if you don't understand the, the, the public transit here it is complicated, it can get hard, you know, to survive, and on top of that you have the certain names of certain streets which are unable to even ask for the help. You know, like, imagine, like asking somebody, you know sham the mars, or plus the zads. You know people will be like what are you even saying?
Daljit:I mean, you know what curses. This brings another very important point, which is that imagine that I didn't even felt confident enough to ask the other passenger or someone that I can take their phone or call someone and just ask for help. No, I was okay to punish myself for like an hour, two hours, just to stand there, but I was not okay to break my comfort zone where I can just ask someone to them. Can you imagine that?
Daljit:the transition like I'm talking about it now and I'm just like, whoa, that's how, how much close I used to be, that's how much uh, shy, or whatever the word is introvert I, I used to be. And, um, the journey of you know the pivoting from being that girl to where I am today, oh boy, a lot of self-development, a lot of self-discovery, yeah, actually see that, oh my god, this all is possible.
Gurasis:If Diljit can do it, you can do it as well. All that requires is to believe in yourself and that willingness to do these things. And speaking of willingness, diljit, you have definitely, you know, gone through a phase where you have really gone into that, that pit of self-improvement. And I say that because you have definitely mentioned that six months later, some shift happened in you know and you were kind of feeling helpless one of those days and you actually went to Google and searched how can I feel better?
Daljit:Right.
Gurasis:And I think that from that point also, I would say how I see, is that the importance of mentorship also was introduced to your life, right? So I just wanted to just take the stage away and tell us all about it.
Daljit:Definitely. This is one of my favorite parts. So, six months in, I would say that you know, sometimes we make life's decision just out of an excitement, or just someone else told us that it's going to be better for us and we take that decision, but we don't really understand that we have to live through that decision. So for first six months I think I was just trying to somewhere unconsciously ignore the reality of where.
Daljit:I am and what now I have to be and what it's going to take from me in order for me to succeed here. And when I felt the rush of all of these emotions altogether, that I have to work here, I have to study here. I don't know anyone. My family is there, I feel homesickness or whatever. I felt like a breakdown. And it's not like a breakdown just happened one day.
Daljit:I remember in the beginning, every night I was probably like crying to bed that, oh my God, I don't know, I'm scared, I just want to go back. You know where am I? But that one day it was just like now it was like a pressure cooker, right, it just came out where I'm just like, okay, enough is enough. I have to make a decision because I cannot continue like this. I cannot keep continuing trying to run away from the situation. I cannot just keep crying and feel sorry for myself or just constantly ask this that nothing is going to work for me. So that was the moment when I just like, I just feel terrible. What should I do? I just had iPad.
Daljit:I remember, and I put this words in the Google, exactly which you said earlier how to feel better. How can I feel better, Right. And that's when I stumbled upon Tony Robbins motivational video. I never heard about any motivational personal development things before, but the moment when I watched that video I think again it's you know the universe. When you actually ask, ask something, ask universe, it presents you the answer in different ways. And now, in that moment I remember that even my faith on god was getting um, it was decreasing, to be honest, because now I was going through my self-discovery right the way I saw God.
Daljit:Now it's not the same way, because now I'm an adult. Now my mom is not telling me that if you pray, god is going to do this miracle. So have faith. Right Now I understand. No, this is not how it works. So I felt that the faith was not there. I felt that I was really questioning everything and really really going through that tough phase. And that's the moment when I was just like so certain and I was like I'm going to find the answer because enough is enough. I can't feel that way. And that's when the video came in and I listened to that video and that one video really opened the door for me where I was like okay, so there is help available. It's just I need to be willing to look for it. I need to be willing to apply that help if I want to see a change. Right, it's listening to videos. It's one thing, but applying that is when you're going to actually see the results and a lot of the time, when I hear right.
Daljit:Um, when people tell me that like, yeah, but I listen to motivational videos too, but I don't feel like it has done this much to my life because you didn't apply it right, yeah, and you didn't believe in it, there's a difference. If I come to you and if I tell you that if you exercise for 30 days for 15 minutes a day, you're going to see a change. You will only know once you do it for 30 days for 15 minutes, right. You cannot just say no, it's not going to do it, or yeah, it will do it. Similarly, it's the same thing with mindset. Mindset mind is a muscle too, like everybody. So it's like the more you develop, the more you work on it, the more strong it's going to become. And that's what I learned through that personal development journey. And I then just remembered the other next day be like okay, i'm'm here now, I have to work hard. Why am I working so hard?
Daljit:obviously, for us as an immigrants. In the beginning it's about money. We want to make sure that because we invest, a lot, you know, to be here.
Daljit:We want to make sure financial stability is there and, uh, we are able to help our families and all of that. And that was my intention too. And then I was just like on the google, I'm like who's the richest richest man in the world? Or blah, blah, blah. And then somewhere, when I was doing the research, I saw Warren Buffet. And then I was like, okay, I need to learn more about Warren Buffet. Who is this man? And I ended up listening to one of his interviews very short interview on YouTube.
Daljit:The one thing that he said that has now changed my life too where he said that, you know, the interviewer asked him this question that why do you think you are the richest man, or why do you think you are so successful today? And then he said it I am so successful today is not because I'm smart, is because I have been reading since the age eight. I was like eight years old when I started reading and I would spend my childhood most of the time in libraries reading. And the reason I am so good at all of this today, what I do, is because I know more than an average person, so I can make better decisions Right. And I was like, okay, this sounds really good, more, more.
Daljit:And then I kept listening to his. And then the one takeaway he just mentioned that if someone really want to change their life, they have to read. There is no way that you cannot succeed by remaining who you are. You have to become more, you have to become better version, and reading is something that's going to help you. And I remember just like getting so inspired, and I walked to the closest library of the house, I made my library card and he recommended this book how to Win Friends and Influence People. That's the first book I also read and since then I have never stopped reading.
Daljit:Since then, I never stopped working on my personal development and that one book I'd recommend to everyone too and I highly, you know, inspire everyone to actually lead with their curiosity. I just feel like wherever I am today is not that someone has told me to do these things, it's because I felt really stuck.
Daljit:Sometimes you're like I don't even know what to do, like I'm in this situation right now in my life is like I don't know, like I just want to give up. But actually you are in that situation because that situation is trying to teach you something, and that is a moment when you need to be more open, be more adaptable, be more, you know, gentle with yourself. And those are the moments when you actually, you know, either become the best version of yourself or you either end up going down in your own self-development journey because you end up asking other people, which we always do, which is important too, you know. Sometimes you need to talk to your friend, to your partner, to hear their opinion. But, at end of the day, the change and the whatever you're trying to achieve in your life is only going to come if you follow and you do what you want to do is right.
Gurasis:Yeah.
Daljit:Yeah, so I did that. It has really impacted my life All of those years of studying, getting the job. It has really pivoted and really helped me to get my career at a very good you know place because I was really great in personal development A lot of the time as an immigrant students we are told to work hard, which is great. We are told to get good grades amazing but we don't even know how to communicate, how to um sell yourself, how to you know, communicate with other people, and so the personal development part really helped me to boost all of those areas.
Daljit:When the the moment when I was done with my studies, the moment I had these areas worked on, like communication, the mindset part so I was confident. I had some courage to talk to the interviewers with that much passion and I feel like when also we are trying to go out in the real world, we are looking for this now opportunity to work. For A lot of the time my clients, when they now come and they tell me that I have given them an interview, I'm great at my skill set, but still I'm not getting hired. The reason is because they don't feel any likability.
Daljit:The reason is that they don't see who you are. How can they give you an opportunity if they don't even know who you are? They, they have seen enough on your resume, right, but now it's more than that, and I feel like the personal development part actually gives you the opportunity to discover who you are and it just you know gives you the confidence to show you, show more authentically, and which then helps you succeed in all areas of your life, not only professionally oh my god, you have said I know so many things.
Gurasis:Yes, you said a lot. You have touched upon some incredible points and if I really have to echo one of that which I feel like is the once again I'm coming back to the same word foundation is that that one point you said where it's not only about learning all these lessons or watching all these motivation videos, it's actually about applying those in your life, and I think that has what made a biggest difference in your life, and it is, it will make a big difference in the people. If any of our listeners are sort of on that same path, on that same self-discovery journey. If they really do that, that is what's going to help them to really succeed. And another point where you were talking about, you know, really recognizing that, whether you are stuck or not and I'm highlighting this point because when you come here as an immigrant, you have so many things going on you are in that loop of getting up in the morning, getting ready, going to your work, coming back again, following the same process you have to recognize, you have to be conscious enough to see that you have to have that check-in with yourself that what am I doing? Is this really something I want to do? Is this the kind of life I really want to live? Is this something I see myself doing down the line, maybe two years, three years? So having that check-in with yourself and having that consciousness to be able to have that and obviously you know that's absolutely okay to reach out and ask for that help also, whenever needed, and I think for you your mentors were those books, those videos, those TED Talks, talks or somebody else. It might not be that, it might be some another sources, some other resources, might be some person. They come across right, so it could be anything.
Gurasis:And obviously, like, your obsession with books has not stopped, it has increased. And I remember seeing on your post, you know, books from Osho. You have also some books from Lilly Singh. Actually I saw you you read this book from how to Be a Boss. You know, I saw that. Then obviously, books from Abraham Lincoln and lots and lots of like social psychology also. I see from that and if I ask you, you know if you have to teach us something, any from one of these books, you know not one of these books, particularly social psychology, any, any thought, any certain lesson that would like to pass on to the listeners and to me, of course so I would like to share um from one of my favorite books, which is the art of happiness by the lay lama.
Daljit:Okay, it's really a book that I really go back time to time. Um the most important part, where he talks about that when we want to do something in life, there has to be a clarity and a strong reason behind it.
Daljit:A lot of the time we make decisions, we start something and we are not able to succeed at it. The reason is because we don't even know what are the real consequences. You know we are going to go after after doing this. So, for example, in simple words, if you want to get healthy right, you want to obviously start eating healthy and you want to start going to gym.
Daljit:That's one way of looking at it. Now, if you want to make sure that you stayed, you know, consistent on this element of showing up for yourself in terms of being healthy every day, the reason needs to be bigger than that. Why? Because I'm sure that you or I, I tell myself this every day I need to be healthy, I need to, and I still don't go to the gym.
Daljit:You know, that's not what it is. It's about really why. Why do I even care about this? I did this exercise for myself and that for me it was more that I want to feel that I'm active, and meaning active is that I'm engaging in different kinds of activities where I let my inner child live, and that can be a Zumba, that can be just tennis, that can be swimming, that can be anything different. It doesn't have to be right. What I'm trying to say is that his point in that book was everything takes time, everything needs determination and if your reasons are clear, only then you're going to be able to succeed at it.
Daljit:So if you start something today, you need to ask yourself what is it that you're trying to get out of that in five years? Don't just be like in two months, I want this. In four months, I want this. You're never going to be able to succeed at anything, you're just going to feel like a failure.
Daljit:And today, if we go to social media, we see false information where people are telling that you can be rich in 30 days, you can build an empire within the next 90 days, and sometimes, yeah, I felt like I was falling. You know a trap, and that trap to where I would be like how come I am so behind? How come everyone else is succeeding but I am not doing? And then you fall into that self-critic. You're like no, judging yourself right, so you're not happy. And once you're not happy, you don't show up in your best self, and that impacts everything. So it's important, if you want to do something, have that, that clarity. Only then you will be able to build that determination and only then you will be able to see something. Uh, you know better. There's another lesson, too, from that book. If we have time I would like to share, absolutely, yeah, the one, the most important.
Daljit:I think this I really liked is that there's never going to be enough. For example, you cannot tell yourself that I want a perfect partner, I want a perfect house, I want a perfect job, I want a perfect everything. Perfect does not exist. So there are two ways to live your life. Either you can continue living by telling yourself or by going after achieving that perfect, or you can live your life by, you know, accepting and being grateful in what you have. And still, you know, constantly improve yourself, work on yourself that option is always there.
Gurasis:But if you're going to constantly compare yourself, if you're going to constantly run after that next thing, you're never going to be able to feel that contentment and happiness yeah, awesome, and my two takeaways are one is obviously everything takes time and determination, and the second one is perfect doesn't exist, and I think I'll add to that something which I read on the linkedin that perfect doesn't exist, and I think I'll add to that something which I read on the linkedin that perfect doesn't exist.
Daljit:Start at your 50 yeah, exactly, it took me a long time to learn that. That's why this one thing is really close to my heart um I think when uh, you know, as, as our culture we are told to be when we are young, take good marks good, you tend to have this expectation on yourself as a perfectionist, that I have to be great at everything in order to do something, and, oh my god, this was one of the, like you know, unlearnings for me to actually be able to succeed in my life.
Gurasis:So, diljit, before we get into the final segments, I want to talk briefly about your career coaching mindset that you have built and how you are lending and helping out to people to grow in their careers and find the right paths as well. But I also wanted to tell us those very, very quickly, the anecdotes of the time where you actually took on a free internship, like an unpaid internship, and then on from. From there you transitioned into getting a job which paid you merely seven dollars an hour, but even then you took it. I really wanted to tell us about that because I'm sure people are gonna love it and they will feel inspired to continue to. To you know, focus on the things that really want to do it rather than on the monetary return of it yeah, I think for me, um, two things really helped me.
Daljit:The first was the mindset of if you do something, do it 100% or don't do it. So for me that really helped me to show up, even if it was unpaid internship. I was living based on my values, that I am going to make sure that I'm doing my part 100% and once you do that, people around you they see it, they can see the work that you're putting in right. There are two ways to show about your work. Either you just go there to check in, just complete your hours, or the other part is you go there to contribute, to learn to live right.
Gurasis:Absolutely so.
Daljit:I was going more with the second part and I was in desperate need. One of the other things is that when I completed my graduation, obviously my next goal was to get my professional job, and when I got that internship being in Montreal, french-driven city it was really hard for me to even secure that opportunity. And once I had it, I just wanted to make sure that I give my all, like give my all, you know, and that's what I did, and I did Like I did to that point that I even forgot when my internship was completed. I was showing up there like extra, like maybe after a week the manager came in and she's like you know, your internship was completed like four days ago or something like last week. That's what she said to me. I'm like, oh really, okay, good to know I was going to show up tomorrow too, because I even forgot about that that when I'm done here. So silly, but it just shows the drive that I had that I was so much into it. I was obsessed pretty much with my career. I had that. I was so much into it. I was obsessed pretty much with my career.
Daljit:Now, the moment when they told me the internship is done, I had that you know that expectations. We all have that expectation when we give our best, that like okay, I have done a good job, I'm going to get a good, you know return. But the moment for me was a little you know not so happy because they told me that they don't have any position in the company. It's a small, you know not so happy because they told me that they don't have any position in the company. It's a small company, they're not hiding. But they all were really happy with my work and even the CEO was like you know what, if you need any recommendation, any reference, we'll give it to you. Like, okay, sadly, a little disappointed in myself, I just was like that's okay, no problem. The next morning I got up, I started working on my resume, I went out, started talking to different companies. After four days I received a call from that company and message from the CEO that they want to talk to me and I was like okay.
Daljit:I went back to the company without having any expectations and they proposed this offer that they don't have any position in the company, so they are just going to create one for me where I'm not going to work in accounting, but I'm going to work as a just operational admin person. They didn't even have a genuine name for that position, to be honest, and they're going to pay me $7 an hour. And I was like, okay, pay me $7 an hour.
Daljit:And I was like okay that's not what I studied for and that's really low. But in that moment I picked up on that opportunity for two reasons. The first one is because I knew myself that my work ethic and my desire to learn and grow, I knew that I'm going to succeed if I put my hard work in it. And the second is that I was okay to you know work extra Like then I kept my second job at Subway to maintain my finances right. I knew that for you have to go through this short-term pain for long-term gain. And that's one of the quotes my father has always told me. I remember too that that's what real life is. You have to go through those tough moments and situations Pretty much like no pain, no gain. So that's the mindset I'm like okay you know what?
Daljit:I'm going to go through this. I ended up getting that job Within six months. I was part of accounting team Within two years. Yeah, within two years, two and a half years, I was a manager youngest manager of the accounting team in that company, and then I was the fastest growing person in that company. My salary was like what? $27,000 or $26,000 a year.
Daljit:And then in three and a half years my salary was up to like $60,000 in that company and I pivoted from accounting to sales department, I was proposed that the company will pay for my education, graduation, whatever kind of study I want to do, they'll give me all of that perks and stuff too.
Daljit:Yeah, so that was my journey and it all happened because I stayed true to my values of putting in the work, doing the things right, being a good human. I know that in the beginning there was so much racism, there was so much discrimination that I had to go through. It's a French company. I don't want to go into details, but it was tough. But once again, my friends, personal development, listening to the right source of information, really helps you and that helped me to go through that tough phase as well.
Gurasis:Yeah, Once again, super, super inspiring. And and you know I love again, once again, this I love your quotes. You know your father's quote as well no pain, no gain. And something that you added to that is, you know, go through that short term pain for that long term gain. I think that's what the life is of an immigrant.
Gurasis:Initially, things are hard, everything is hunky-dory. Also, at times when you're calm, everything is nice, the skies are clear, but your minds aren't and eventually the weather takes a toll on you. The whole. The pressure of collecting those pr points and everything you know kind of is so overwhelming. But all pays off eventually, as long as you are focused towards your goal and having the blinders towards something which is not serving you and something which needs to be unlearned as well and new things to learn and grow in this new world that you have decided to live in now. So I also want you to just tell us more about you know a little bit. How can people connect with you and, if they reach out to you, what all they can expect to learn from you.
Daljit:Definitely so. I'm very active on my LinkedIn and also Instagram too. On LinkedIn, they can just search with my name, diljit Kaur and as a career mindset coach, and you can just message me and I'll be able to get in touch with you. And what they can expect to learn from me is everything pretty much. In terms of the immigrant journey, I have four different phases that I have planned in my program. The first phase is mindset.
Daljit:I believe that no matter how smart you are, but if you don't believe in yourself, you're not going to succeed, and a lot of the time when us, as perfect immigrants, make this pivot to another country, we start questioning of our own self-worth, we start feeling like we don't have any sort of one clear focus or your mindset is taking a toll on you at that point. So that's very important for me and I work through that phase. Then the second phase is personal development. Now, in personal development, don't expect that I'm going to start preaching you the summaries of book. No, these are actually the action-enabled steps that you need to succeed in this North American work culture, which means your communication skills, your presentation skills, your writing skills, those professional emails and all of that. These things are really, really important when you're trying to make a good, successful career here. So I go through that and everything that is in my program is personalized. I don't try to, you know, just teach something which is not going to work for you, because we all learn differently.
Daljit:And my approach is very flexible and I first see what's your learning style, what is the best way you are going to adapt and change, bring that change that you needed. The third phase is professional development, meaning all of the career technicalities that we go through. We work on your LinkedIn personal branding, we work on your resume storytelling, we work on your interviews preparation all of that career part that we needed. And the last part is the immigrant journey, meaning that if you are here today, you have made this big decision to leave that comfort from your home and you are on this journey of this self-discovery or successful or whatever it is. It's important for you to know that you know what kind of impact you are creating for yourself, for your family, for your community. And that's where we get more deeper into what is it that you can do to give back now to the community?
Daljit:And that sort of really boosts their morale and that helps them to gain that confidence back that they need when they're feeling really lost in this uncertain time period of their life.
Daljit:That's one thing, but once again, I am very flexible and personalized, meaning that if I see that these all four phases are not important for you, then I will just pick one phase or two phases and then we'll work through that. At end of the day, the goal is for you to feel that flow, that easiness, that confidence, trust like everything within yourself, in order to get the job that you're looking for.
Gurasis:Yeah, no, I can. I can also ensure to people that how passionate you are for your work, because I remember you telling me you actually held up a line at Tim Hortons to teach the girl you know who was who was taking your order, who was for and who was in right, and you were asking her that, even though you have the PR, why are you still doing this job? I want to really tell us about that anecdote as well, and that was way before you even started doing this career coaching right?
Daljit:that was the, and I would say that those moments actually started told me that this is something that I need to do, because I lived in montreal for eight to nine years and then I moved to toronto and I lived in brampton for like a year and I feel like the culture in montreal and brampton is obviously very different and I saw other community girls, very talented, very smart girls, just like doing the bare minimum jobs and not trying what they should try and it really, really bothered me and I remember just going to this Tim Hortons and then this girl is like serving me and I'm like so, are you studying? I guess like no, I'm not, like oh, okay, then you're on your work permit, I believe. Right, oh, thanks, mr. She's like no, no, no, I'm on pr now. I'm done with everything. I'm like okay, then we have to talk.
Daljit:What are you doing here? Why? Tim hortons like do you need help? Like what's wrong? And she's like, no, no, no, I, I have done my economics from back home and I'm masters. Blah, blah, blah. I'm like, seriously, your parents spent this much money for you to be able. I'm not saying this is wrong. Every job is important. I have worked in restaurants too, but there's a phase in life you know a phase where you should now explore more of yourself.
Daljit:God gave you the gifts and if you're not going to work on to improve or unleash those gifts, you're going to die with them and that's that's injustice, that's like you know wrong that you're doing to yourself and to the community. And I was just like okay, and I remember just leaving that importance, feeling so, so disturbed. And after that I had many other small interactions or you know situations where it was just like you know what, at least I should start with something. I should just do what I can do from what's in my control. And that's how I started coaching.
Gurasis:Wow, such an awesome and inspiring story, and I'll put the links to contact Daljeit in the show notes for all my listeners. Now we are in this segment, which I call Know your Host, where I give my guests an opportunity to ask me any questions they might have.
Daljit:Question for you is that what inspired you to do, what you're doing today?
Gurasis:Wow, that's a heavy question because I have so many things to say, but to tell you briefly, I would say it is an amalgamation of all my experiences interactions good and bad experiences and, following that, seeing the impact, those tiny conversations that I've had with people offline and how I was able to pull them out of their underconfident state, which I was like, if I can do that to one person, why not to put it on air and bring on these people who are creating this impact, just like yourself, and instead of, like me, reinventing the wheel and building like a program or something, let me bring all these experts and allow them to share their journeys and their experiences so that, if any of these people, somebody who is new to new and new immigrant or aspiring immigrant, even planning to come to Canada or anywhere from any part of the world, how about I tell them that, hey, it is possible.
Gurasis:If you are going through a certain phase, if you are going to the lower times, if you feel like you are alone in your journey, you are not. Look at all these people. If he or she can do it, you can do it as well, and if any way I could instill that hope and that you know, that will and that people you know through these conversations. That's pretty much my goal is, and even if this one person comes to me and tells me that this conversation and this person has really inspired me and I feel like I got that push to continue to remain in my journey and stay put, that will be my win for me. So that's I would say how I would answer that question for you, daljeet.
Daljit:That is huge and that is so, so, so noble. Thank you for sharing that with all of us today, because what you do, it takes a lot of efforts too. Right, we tune into the podcast, but a lot of work goes behind the scenes and it takes a lot of you know determination to do what you're doing. So thank you for doing that and thank you for sharing with all of us.
Gurasis:Thank you. Thank you for this question. I love these questions when they come my way. It really like forces me to frame my words and articulate the thoughts, and I really love that. It's like very on the spot. I have to think on my feet. So thank you for this question. Now we're in the final segment of the podcast I call it beneath the accent, but I'm gonna ask a couple of questions. You can answer them in one word or a sentence or howsoever you feel like. The idea is just to know more about you. So ready, yep. So what advice would you give to younger Diljit who has just landed in Canada?
Daljit:you're enough and don't compare yourself with others. We are all in different phases of our journey.
Gurasis:Um yeah, you're more than enough okay, what's that one dish from your home country that always brings you comfort and nostalgia?
Daljit:as a Punjabi, this is one of the meals that we grew up eating.
Gurasis:It's my favorite makki di roti with saru the saag oh my god, before you even even said that I could hear it, you knew it it's coming.
Daljit:That's it, that's it.
Gurasis:Oh my god. Yeah, it brings everything. Okay, tell us about any funny story if you have related to your misunderstanding around the accent or English.
Daljit:Honestly, it's going to be a hard one for me to choose one, because I feel like it's a part of life. Now, just to you know, have a conversation with different, diverse people. We all here in Canada have different accents, and there are more than one time for sure where I said something or someone said something and it just completely went into the different path.
Gurasis:So yeah.
Daljit:I don't know if I have a specific story.
Gurasis:I'm gonna pass on that one okay, so what's your like favorite cultural festival or celebration in Canada?
Daljit:oh, in Canada I love the winter time when um around christmas like it's just the, it's just the energy. I feel like it's very live with the lights, with the. You know those small festivals that happens and everyone is you know sort of. You know they sit next to that, uh, like warm fire.
Daljit:It reminds me of lodi at the same time too. You know, just just warmth, that just warm feeling of people sitting just chatting, and just in that light, in that festive mode, it really, you know, it gives that hope in that winter, winter season too.
Gurasis:Yeah yeah, okay, I think we all love that. Yeah, uh, describe a moment when you experienced a significant cultural shock and that surprised you significant cultural shock I'll give an example, like for me.
Gurasis:It was about when somebody told me that let's go and have dinner at like 5 30 pm and I'm like that's the time we even think about having dinner. You know, like, what we have to make and I'm like that's the time we even think about having dinner. You know, like, what we have to make. So it was like my cultural shock for me yeah.
Daljit:So for me, the cultural shock was when I told in the beginning everyone that I'm vegetarian and they start proposing me different options in vegetarian, meaning that, oh, okay, so you're vegetarian, but you can eat fish. I'm like, uh, no, that's not my kind of vegetarian. Like you're vegetarian, okay, then how about you can eat egg? I'm like I don't know if there is, there are types in vegetarians too but that for me was a big cultural shock when I got here that people just were confusing me with different type of and they were, they were trying to help and then, you know, just give me different options to eat and I'm just like, no, not, there's not that. Yeah, I'm just like, no, I don't consider fish as a vegetarian, so sorry about that I don't think so.
Gurasis:Also, it is, and also it's so hard to find the paneer items here right, and so it's just impossible sometimes.
Daljit:Yeah, it's impossible. It's impossible. Sometimes I do think that I want to go back, like India, and get some cooking classes to make some good food here for us, especially as a vegetarian, it's hard.
Gurasis:Okay, tell us about the first friend that you made in Canada, daljeet, and are you still in connect?
Daljit:Oh yeah, so I actually made two friends, not one. Two girlfriends. Uh, we met on the first day and in our college and, uh, now I call them a family.
Gurasis:They're not friends anymore yeah, okay, tell me about a moment where being an immigrant made you feel exceptionally proud or accomplished.
Daljit:There are several moments when we feel that in our immigrant journey because immigrant journey is just a journey, which is, you know, a journey of going through different phases of self-discovery, filled with different challenges the one moment I would say when I remember I didn't give up on my quality, my values, when I was studying. I had like three, sorry, six semesters, three years, and I was giving all my in when my friends or my clothes, like you know, other students would be like, hey, we just need to pass, why are you putting in so much work? And it's like, have to work too. So blah, blah, blah. And then I am so proud of that moment that I didn't give up on my values and I kept putting in the work of that hundred percent, and I ended up getting a scholarship at end of the you know my study, which was a very big, you know thing for me as an international student, with the tuition fee, um, and that moment really reminded me that one should never compromise their own values. And that was the one thing.
Daljit:And the second moment was when I saw my parents, my younger brother, here now in canada with me that's another accomplished moment, because that's the dream I came with right, that I want to give back and I want to make sure that yeah. So they're here now, they're with me and every day I feel like when I talk to them, when I see them, it just reminds me that success, that immigrant happiness.
Gurasis:I made it if you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Daljit:oh wow, that's a big one. Just only one, gurusies, you need to be more generous.
Gurasis:Give me more as many as you want oh wow.
Daljit:Just one superpower if I have, I would take. Take this superpower where I would want to have this ability to help people to see their actual, true potential or their best version in themselves. You know like we all see it, we all see the glimpse, but we don't really know if it's true or not. We don't know that, we don't believe in it. I would want that superpower where I can make others believe in that, so that they can just go after it and achieve it.
Gurasis:Wow, that must be very helpful. It will be for people, you know so.
Daljit:Describe canada in one word or a sentence I know in in our, you know, in our hindi or punjabi, it's like karampumi, a land that has given me the the opportunity to be who I am. I, I can say land of opportunities.
Gurasis:Okay, and if you could leave me with one piece of advice, taljeet, what would it be?
Daljit:I just want to share this message that you may be inspired right now in your life to do what you're doing right now. It's one phase of your life and you're also a human, just like anyone else, right?
Daljit:and you are also going to go through a phase where you probably will ask your questions, your decisions about what you're doing today too, but the only advice that I have for you is to um, just keep that you know your right intention, that your purpose of giving back close to you, because the more bigger you're going to get in this space of creating podcast or there is so much noise in the world and, as we are all human, we can start comparing ourselves, so we can start questioning that oh my God, now what's next? What's next Right? And start questioning that oh my God, now what's next? What's next right? My only advice is to myself, and to you also, is that just lead with the purpose, and the days when you feel like it's getting hard, the days when you feel like maybe it's not doing what you want it to be, to do it, it's the day when you should remind yourself that you're doing it for your purpose.
Gurasis:You're not doing it because you want to make it right oh, my god, you know, in the future, whenever I will become a little bit successful and popular, so to say. This advice you're already successful no in the future. I'm telling you this advice that you just gave. This will be the part of the montage that will be created overall. It was amazing. Thank you for saying that I'm looking forward to that absolutely and lastly, how would you describe your experience of being on the podcast today?
Daljit:oh, my god lovely. I feel like there was feel like there was so much flow and we talked about very, very important things the areas like as immigrants, how we have to pivot, how we have to go through self-discovery and we have to question our self-worth and just rediscover who we are. We have to unlearn so many things, learn new things and you shared parts of your story.
Daljit:I shared parts of my story. I think, at end of the day, the conversation that we are having today is sort of like a reminder for us as well that how far we have come as an immigrant community, that you know what legacy we have been, we have created as an immigrant community for our generations to come, and the conversation that you and I are having today is is just maybe a tiny little. You know, a drop in that ocean is just maybe a tiny little you know a drop in that ocean to make sure that it's keep getting, you know, filled.
Daljit:It's keep getting better and better so that all together, we can create this better space for each other to thrive in.
Gurasis:Awesome, thank you.
Daljit:Thank you for everything you have said and thank you for being on the podcast Ajit and adding value to me and to my listeners. Thank you for that. It's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.