Leverage Your Relationships to Achieve Success!

Deepak Machado 0:13

Hello and welcome to Success 10X podcast. My name is Deepak Machado. I'm writer and a dreamer. I'm also a risk management professional and a Bitcoin enthusiast. In each episode of this podcast, we bring you an inspiring person, or a topic to help you magnify and amplify your success 10X. This podcast is dedicated to you, if you are serious about your personal growth, career growth, financial growth and business growth. I hope this podcast will create a spark and ignite your desires to achieve higher success. Thank you for spending time with us today and let the journey to success 10X begin.

Keith Ferrazi says this: "The currency of real networking is not greed, but generosity."

In today's episode of success, the next we will be talking about your relationships and networking and how you could enhance your chances of higher success and faster success. And to talk about this very interesting topic, I have with me my friend Avil Pinto Avil iss a man of ideas and man of peace. Avil how're you doing today?

Avil Pinto 1:37

Fantastic Deepak great morning to you and to our listeners all around the world. Wishing you a great, great day. Thank you for hosting this Success 10X; very excited to share and speak about today today's topic.

Deepak Machado 1:53

Thank you so much for taking time Avil. I would like to mention at this point that to the listeners that these initial episodes of Success 10X are what we call foundational episodes, we have divided them into leading by self, leading my brand, and leading my career. In this leading by self, we are covering topics like goal setting, purpose, and few are the foundational topics. So these will form a good base for our future episodes.

Avil Pinto 2:24

Yes.

Deepak Machado 2:24

So let's dive into networking. Networking is not that IT term that we're talking about. Here we're talking about networking person to person or person to persons. So Avil what's your take on networking, and why this should be a top priority for if you want to achieve success?

Avil Pinto 2:46

Wonderful. Thanks. Thanks for picking up on this topic. And I think this is another great foundation for success and growth. I have heard this very famous statement: network is your net worth. Network is your net worth. I didn't really understand how a network could be a net worth until I experienced by myself. Since I was young, to where I am today. And the power of power of your network...you have no idea where all it can take you. It can take you places it can take you work in a career ladder. And also knowing people like Deepak can help us do podcast as well.

So let me tell you in terms of my career Deepak; so I finished my graduation in commerce in 2003. I was in Mangalore, Aloysius college and somebody recommended me I will there is a part time job available, a temporary job available for advertising agency. And so that was purely through recommendation. There was no interview they said come tomorrow start working. So headed three months after that. There was an opening and bank of Muscat because now it's Centurian Bank of Punjab and then it No, there are many more stories to that. But Bank of Muscat was selling auto loans, personal loans. So there was somebody who knew me because in the advertising agencies doing more of marketing, going to clients and getting that artwork to be published in the magazines or newspapers. And so I since I was in the market, meeting people, they said, Why don't you would you be interested in selling auto loans and personal loans? I said, Okay, let me do that. Because the earlier one was a temporary job anyway, I wanted something to have a concrete job and then join the Bank of Muscat. So it was outsourced. I mean, we are a DSA but nevertheless I got to understand how the loan operations work. And I work for one year, then my brother in law and so he said to staying in Mangalore may not give you career break, why don't you come to Bombay, I have a friend who could probably help you with. So I moved to Bombay. The first three months, I was without a job. I thought that Bombay city of dreams, and you know, I had watching bollywood movies, everybody have established their careers. And I had that big, big dream of, you know, making my life out there. So moved to Bombay. And I had these vivid memories of landing there. And then going back to Mangalore, because of, because of many reasons, I don't want to save it, but it is fun at the same time. So I did a lot of jobs said, to survive, I did catering, I went to I was working at a nice elite restaurant in Churchgate, given all the region famous would come in, you know, dine in, and my only role was to go clean the tables. Okay. And, and submission was done, by the waiters. And, of course, with this experience, I realized that there are people who are solely so there's so much of money and how do they do it. So, these are the things which are running in my head, like if they can do somewhere, I can also do but see the irony of things, how it works. So this gentleman was my brother in law's friend, okay, referred me to his uncle, who was a finance director for chain of big Hospitality Group. And he referred me to Marriott Hotel. And I had no background of hospitality, I had nothing, no knowledge of food and beverage. And I get a job just because of a recommendation. And obviously, that time, that hunger to grow, to do job, all that was there, that positive attitude was it. And I was hired, I worked there for two years. And I did my best. I grew within two years. And then I realized that a splat is was a great, great place to work. I love the environment of work culture of Marriott was just amazing.

And every month, we had some activities and the human resource was engaging so much with all the employees, I never felt like leaving that place. And of course, variety of food, free food that used to get and I was in the department is food and beverage controls. Where I would go like a police inspecting all the outlets, the bars that we had in the in the Mariott, it was fun. Then I found that I'm working like 12 hours sometimes and 14 hours, I wanted to do pursue my MBA as well. So I was not getting the time and travel time or like three hours from the place that I was residing in Bandra to Povai, very far. Constantly, I was thinking that that I will do change, I will get into something like banking. And I was thinking how do I get there. And at one point, my salary was low and I was living at a place where we're in a group of 40 people in one house like a 'Kood' they call people from Mangalore and South Kanara district, the people who come to pursue their career, they have a place at least very economical, somebody can afford. And one was looking at a salary. Second was a job. Then, I started spreading a word across and my aunt was, was then heading a facility management role for another multinational companies.

So she knew somebody in Deutsche Bank, and there was an opportunity in admin. And I was recommended. And then I got a job, with no banking experience with no admin background. Okay, I got a job. Now, then, again, it was the positive attitude, willingness to learn. And I grew as from Admin executive, in four years, I became Admin Manager. Okay. It was a great career break for me. I completed my MBA in the meantime. And then came a decision to move to Gulf and my brother in law was in Saudi; once again, Say No, you have good seven years experience, you have the MBA to backup come to Saudi. And that's how my journey, I quit my job in May 2010, exactly 10 years back and pursued my dreams to be to have more financial security and most of us that we have landed in five months without a job. And if again, I knew that conviction that applying jobs only online and sending CVs doesn't work. People should know who I am. And I sent a networking. My brother in law introduced me to two people. And he said, these are the two people that I know. And that one person was the HR director changed some thinking, shift in thinking I will. Now I know that you have done different roles started with sales and operations in the bank, and then hospitality now, what you'd like to do in the next 30 years, that would make your career I really wanted to do, I wanted to be a HR professional.

So I told him HR within HR, what do you want to do? Is I loved interviewing people or offering jobs for them, is it okay, like recruitment, then focus on that and start. But then, in Saudi that time, was a huge drive on Saudization. All these jobs, HR and admin related jobs were assigned for locals. And everyone around me, they said, Well, you can't think of these jobs, you have to take up something else. But somehow, the power of visualization, the power of the law of attraction was so so high, that I internalized the role that I would be doing, the company, the culture, the people. And I was very focused to get into multinational company. So things were very clear in my mind. The reason I'm saying this, I'm only connecting the dots to mention here, how networking played a pivotal role in my life. with having no contacts, I started meeting just meeting people. my CV was floated everywhere, there was a gentleman in Canada who lived in Saudi for a long time, he knew some people, and this gentleman who happened to be one of our family connections, who knew my father. Okay. And he sent a personal request to one of the people who lived in Saudi, and who's to run, you know, this mangalorean gun community and, and he was somebody who knew that people. So he randomly called me one day, he said, I will I got your CV? Are you looking for a job? Serious? There is an event happening. After three days, why don't you attend it, you might meet some people, okay, it might help you. And the person who called me I didn't know the place, I'm going to identify the people that I'm going to meet. But only thing I had in mind is, what if I go meet people, and that might open the doors for those opportunities. And I just did that. And during that time, although I was living with my sister and brother in law, it was a summer break summer vacation. So they went to India, I was alone, and a new place. And mostly people who, you know, even if I take a taxi or anything, they speak Arabic, and for me, it was a challenge to communicate. And I was in that 5050 zone, should I go Should I not go. But luckily, the gentleman said somebody will pick you pick you up, but you have to reach to particular point. So that was about 15 minutes from my place.

I went there, I was waiting for one hour. And people are supposed to pick me yet to arrive and I'm waiting for them. And I still remember those that street, that building where I was standing, and I was waiting for them to pick me up. Finally they came and then they picked me and I went, I took a small shit with me or not like a small pocket note, notebook and a pen with me. So the moment I entered, I started collecting all the numbers and names, email ids. And I told them that I'm looking for a job. Can I share my CV? And some people were willingly to they're willing to give their contact details somewhere. No, there are no openings, okay, it's okay. Blah, blah. Nevertheless, I just met people and they have a lot of activities I engaged in my activities engaged and also participated. So there are many people that are 50 odd people. Couple of people I didn't get a chance To speak, some people I consciously didn't talk to them. Because, you know, when you meet people, sometimes they, they are like, not approachable. They don't show that friendliness. So, I avoided but later part of the event after, after it was done, this gentleman from Bangalore reached out to me. He said, you're new to Saudi? Yes, you are looking for a job. Yeah. What kind of job you're looking for I said, I'm thinking admin or HR. So great company is looking for, for an admin person, share your CV, and we will see how it how things can progress. And from that moment, from that moment, it was 1230 in the night, immediately went home, sent him my CV, after one week, he sent me a message, be ready for an interview. And I think that was a Facebook Messenger. So he was in he on business, he had traveled to Malaysia. And from there, he sent me a message. Be ready in the next two to three days, we'll be back. And you will have an interview, the HR director, had an interview then the same day, I met the managing director, and following did offer letters ready. Now, there are two aspects to this. One is getting that offer letter. Now, when I went to Saudi, a lot of people said I will, you have to let go. Whatever experience you come with, you have to be a fresher. Okay. I said seven years how I can let go of that experience. I believed in myself, because I know the value that I could create. I know what experience that I had, how I can contribute to an organization that I am joining. And when I told people about my expected salary expectations, they laughed. Okay. Believe me, people. It was no coincidence. It was. It was not that I was lucky. But it was the right time, right place, and the perseverance and the belief landed me in a job, which paid me up to 80% of what I was expecting. And people were shocked. And how did it happen? It was purely because of networking. And since then I'm at the same company for the last 10 years. And I've grown I've grown four levels. And that is not I would say sheer luck. People believe that. Okay, he's lucky. I went through that phase of my life with challenges. That without being without a job for five months, going through that feelings, I can still resonate with the people who are going through unemployment right now. And that led me to start what passionately that I saw a community of people in Dubai jobs and and and people ask me, Well, what made you start Dubai Jobs Hunt was the thought of thought behind what I went through so that people would not go through the struggle. And one topic that I keep telling people is network, network, and network. When you're looking for a job network, we thought we win if you're not looking for a job network, because there's one famous saying that I keep telling myself every day, when you're doing good, do something which you don't know when you need it. When you're doing good, do something which you don't know when you need it is like that and preparing for that worst winters. So, connecting with people, knowing people is very important to thrive in career and to establish yourself in whatever niche that you would like to, to have to cut the story short. Networking has helped me where I am today. Okay, and there are many more stories that I can add to the power of networking. But the book share your thoughts on on is probably how I did it or what made me do it.

Deepak Machado 19:33

Thank you, Avil, for sharing your life like a mini book. I'm reading somebody's life, you know watching a movie or listening to somebody, you know, give me an overview of you know, in a very short time, what Avil has gone through gone through in the sense what you are experienced and how you are able to thrive where you are because of your past actions, which was being proactive.

Avil Pinto 19:58

Yes,

Deepak Machado 19:59

You didn't let things to wait and come to you, you went for the things. you went for you you took that step, you put yourself in that discomfort zone, you know, people say come out of comfort zone, I call it get into the discomfort zone. Okay, you did that. And you are I think the fruits are showing now. It is not only showing in your life it is showing in thousands of people's life, this is what I feel. It is it is a conscious step conscious measures you're taken to improve your life in and it's now helping you improve other people's lives, through your Dubai Jobs Hunt Group, through your meeting with people,through Toastmasters. Through this podcast, through your speeches, I see that a lot of people are getting benefited. You have been proactive throughout your life. This is what it is. And you mentioned something about luck. Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. You know that is very important for us to understand we even eyes to be of the opinion, okay, if this guy was is very lucky to get the job. No, he is lucky because he's prepared for that job or for whatever and the opportunity came to him. And people say overnight success. There is no overnight success overnight success takes 10 years. Yes. Yeah. I believe in I also used to be you know, like naive, believing in people believing in luck, believing in you know, for two years, maybe it happens when a lottery is one. That is pure luck, maybe. But I know that that is a preparation. Because a very simple example I'll give you you say somebody's lucky and they won lottery. They're lucky because that they took time to take the lottery ticket.

Avil Pinto 21:39

Absolutely.

Deepak Machado 21:40

Many people say is lucky, lucky. Lucky. No, he he nested his money and he's taken the risk buying the lottery tickets. So absolutely. Think about that. And I used to crib I didn't want to be that I didn't take a lot out. I didn't. A lot of things that happened in my life, I can relate to what you have done. Not many people know that I started my career as a SIM card salesman, and didn't have to do that. But I took that step due to necessity because I didn't want to go back home empty handed. Okay, then things worked out with align study networking and meeting people like how you have done. You also mentioned something about your network is a net worth.

Avil Pinto 22:23

Yes,

Deepak Machado 22:24

it is very important for people to understand.

Avil Pinto 22:26

Yeah,

Deepak Machado 22:26

Many times we wait for things to happen to us. And we wait for people to come and talk to us, people who give us jobs, you know, this is not the right way of doing things. You have to be a proactive person, you have to put yourself out there out in market, you're to put and then people will value your talent. How valuable is Avil, to me or to my company to my organization? Yeah, that is where you know, things start happening, you know, and you make yourself more valuable when you go through that very difficult course, very difficult online course or in person course, you add your skills, you become more valuable to your company, then the company will also see...okay, this person has more productivity than others. So he's a good employee, same thing in your business, if you're valuable to society, this is how to use it, use it back to you in some form, or form or the other.

Avil Pinto 23:23

True

Deepak Machado 23:24

It may not be from the same people who helped but it comes from other ways. This is what I believe in.

Avil Pinto 23:29

I think Deepak, you're bang on.... value, creating value is the fundamental aspect to create abundance in every possible way. Whether in relationships or in life, or in career, anything that you do create value. Yes.

Deepak Machado 23:48

And networking shouldn't be done from a perspective of you know, selfish perspective.

Avil Pinto 23:54

Yes, yes,

Deepak Machado 23:55

It should be either a win win, or you give more.

Avil Pinto 23:59

Yes.

Deepak Machado 24:00

When what others deserve maybe that party feel, you give more to others through your relationships. You help others like how you're doing with Dubai Jobs Hunt. You don't have to do it. Yeah, you don't have to do it. But yet you have done it, you've taken that difficult step. It is not easy to create videos, it is not easy to maintain a Facebook page. It's not easy to write emails, it's not easy to do all stuff, you have your own priority, You've given up that maybe your personal priorities and given given giving back to society.

Avil Pinto 24:30

Yeah.

Deepak Machado 24:30

And society is valuing Avil. Today Avil is two steps ahead of others. Why? Because I will have taken the step 10 years back, consciously thinking that I have to give back. Now society is giving back to Avil...is what I believe in, you know. So you add or stack your habits you stack your goodness, you stack your skills and then ultimately you will have that result in one way or the other. It is not the same people you help. It may be from other people who you have never met. Yes, the goodness comes back to you through many other sources. And I also believe that relationships matter in our life. I myself used to take it very lightly. Okay, fine. I go to an event okay. I used to be okay...very protective out myself. Okay. Should I go and talk to him? Why should I go talk to parties, I don't ask this questions, I just go and talk to people who I meet. And try to add value to add value to wherever, wherever possible. This podcast, my blogs, wherever it is possible, I'm trying to add value, right value with your conversations, try to add value with your life to add value with whatever you're doing in your life. One way or the other, it will come back to you.

Avil Pinto 25:52

Yes, you know somebody's story can become an inspiration or an experience from enlightening information for people. So people if you've gone through an experience, share it. It can help others. Yes. Yeah.

Deepak Machado 26:10

So let's say I'm a I'm just a fresh graduate out of school, or college. Most people are shy, actually. People are shy to say that they want, they're looking for a job.

Avil Pinto 26:24

Yeah.

Deepak Machado 26:26

Or they're looking for some, you know, some help. Nobody wants to admit that they they need help. Everybody wants to think that they don't need help. This is a basic, I think, human nature? I don't know, I don't know, what's the psychology behind that. Do you have any thought on that?

Avil Pinto 26:42

Yes, indeed. It's, it's a tendency every human has. And it comes with again, we discussed in a previous episodes as well, there's an element of risk element of element of fear element of that belief system. Wherein talking to strangers, okay, is not a normal thing for us. And because of various things, and upbringing in such a way, and I am against that, because as an individual, we know what is right and wrong. And even if you have to talk to people, it doesn't matter. Imagine in day one at school, first grade, you're sitting with all the bunch of strangers, all the children are strangers to you, okay, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't talk to them. We met strangers at the Canada entrepreneurs limited when you know, we didn't know each other. Likewise, when we finish graduation or finished high school and moved to graduation, we met a new set of people again strangers Now, how do you convert those strangers and to meaningful relationships is is is it's depends on me or the individual who'd like to build a relationship starting with the rapport now rapport is where you get that first connect with people okay, probably now, because we both are from Mangalore, there is a lot more connect between us we understand the culture, we speak the same language, the comfort of bonding is faster than meeting somebody else. Right. So, for me, whether it is a graduate or whether it is any person very important is get that thing out of you that strangers okay. Because when you say strangers, then you are stopping yourself to build more relationships or building your network. So, this is my first piece of advice, right? Humans are meant to speak and communicate right. Now, meeting strangers is no big deal, saying hello saying hi is not a problem. But then you have to be mindful, whether that relationship is is good, or will it affect you. So when I say a good or effort you sometimes you understand the person is probably not connecting to you, in terms of probably the person is negative, or that rapport is not immediately paid. And in that case, you may not use it's not compulsory that you have to carry on to build that network or relationship ignore it doesn't matter. Right. So that is how I have adapted since you asked for a beginner for a fresh graduate. It is not after they graduate, they start networking while they're studying while they're in graduation, or while in the process of doing they know that they Have to get into career, they have to start the journey into life and they have to build relationships, they have to put the foundation much prior. It's like you sowed the seeds today, after five years, you get the fruit. But sowing the seeds is the hard work. It's a dirty work. When I said that you work, it's like, you have to feel to it, it's all about putting that time, you may not see the results immediately. But eventually, you will get the fruit of your hard work. People in sales, first two years, they're knowing people are connecting with people. And once they build their value to them, automatically after two to three years, four years, they retain those customers. And those customers, if you are serving them, well, then they become repeat customers. The repeated customers then will refer more customers to you, because you are doing good, you are giving them good service. You are authentic, you are genuine. And when you come across, as that value to people automatically, reference will come to you, you don't have to go to people then. And this is how top sales professionals who achieve or achieve bad numbers or KPIs. Do these things. For me, once again, if you have to network with people, you just have to start with a Hello, say hi. Whenever I enter a lift, no matter who it is, I would say Hello, good morning. I greet them.

If I'm getting into a metro or bus, I have to talk to people around me just to say hello, hi. If they say hello, if they respond to me, good, then I get to know them. What do you do? So it's important to have a conversation or dialogue, it all matters to get to know person. And I have enjoyed such great beautiful moments like this. Whenever I travel, I speak to people you never know who is where and what possibility he can bring to you. And that's why networking is my favorite favorite topic. It's a favorite thing that I keep doing. In Dubai when I came, I had my classmates I had my relatives my immediate circle and and this is this circle was good in terms of going out party, all of it. But now I have bifurcated there is there are some set of people who are like minded professionals. Right. So then I chose to be in that community where it can help me build my profession into HR. So I joined a community called HR shapers, I started going for meetups, meeting them knowing them. And being part of the whatsapp group engaging in the whatsapp group sharing content. So this is second, my passion, what will my passion public speaking, growing as a brand personal branding into social media. And for that I attended a workshop where were attended the we found a whatsapp group, all these people are different professionals but they would like to do they would like to bring that passion to profession. And I got a community there. Then I attended a public speaking much design art and science of public speaking from Lisa Nichols. She was so amazing. She had workshop for almost 150 people from various backgrounds, cultures, diversity, people with different amazing talents, from life coaches to wealth to to help anything. We talked about it, the people were there. I felt that now I'm connecting to people who might never knew that such people existed. And today I am part of a community where I get to know what they are doing and get inspired. So these are the people that I'm associating and connecting now what I'm doing also is I'm helping them to build that brand. And for example, I'm part of employment talks. I spoke at employment talks now I'm giving them an opportunity I'm telling them there is an opportunity to speak to showcase your talent. Why don't you come and speak? Now they're coming. So I'm also helping them to build their visibility. So by doing that, and becoming resourceful to them, so I'm building that rapport building that relationship with them, without having anything to everything, anything in return, because this is a pure intent to perform in a relationship. That's why the community of my network is expanding. And in the why Jobson. I mean, I think people who are professionals, who are knowledge, subject matter experts, industry experts, to come and share their wealth of knowledge, their stories to job seekers. With this also, I begin networking with people. This is how it's broadening a horizon of what I want to be and how I can serve my purpose and to so my purpose, who are the people that I should be surrounded with, and accordingly, I have made a conscious choice to network with people who would value what I have to offer. And I get in return that inspiration and empowerment being in that zone or in the community. So, my recommendation for people no matter who you are, where you come from, all you have to do is be resourceful person and to be resourceful, then you have to be knowledgeable you have to be you should have the ability to communicate or express what you want to do with your life and to others around you. For example, this example is given by my mentor, imagine you go to an ATM, you put the ATM card into the machine and you want to withdraw money. You have 1000 dirhams, for example, and you want to withdraw 1500 Is it possible the ATM will only allow you to withdraw, what is your what is in your balance, what's in your account. So, you cannot withdraw more unless you have more. So to withdraw more, you have to add more, to have more you have to give more, you have to do more. And then it will go up and you can withdraw more. So when it comes to relationships, give them more. But you can also sometimes you can withdraw, you see. So do more few more. So that's where you mentioned about giving that value. being resourceful. This is very important.

Deepak Machado 37:50

Thanks, Avil, thanks for you know, great, great examples you have given, thanks for all the of shedding light on your life and how you have transformed transformed your life because of networking.

I hope listeners are as inspired as I am. So build out your network starting today. Don't wait for it. And don't be selfish. It's not only taking...you've to be a bigger giver. That's what I believe, than, being a taker. And thank you for listening to this episode of Success 10X Podcast where we learned about relationships and leveraging your network to attain higher success.

I'm sure you are as inspired as I am to grow and to learn. Avil in few words, any parting words to our listeners?

Avil Pinto 38:39

Every person that comes in contact with you is your is your angel. He can he or she can he comes or she comes in your life to teach you a lesson or for an experience or for a situation which can unlock you into different possibilities. So never underestimate the power of people. You don't know who they know. You don't know who they know. So in order to know who they know, you got to know them. So it's okay. 'Hi' will open doors of opportunities. So this is my message.

Deepak Machado 39:24

Thank you Avil. And our attention with this podcast is to help you inspire and achieve higher success. Join me on this journey to success and Success 10X.

If you'd like to reach out to avail please email [email protected]

Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts and Google podcasts. Also, I would appreciate if you rated our podcast 5 stars on Apple. This helps a lot with spreading the knowledge and will help reach others in your similar situation and will also help us grow.

I will leave you with this quote from Meredith Mahoney: Know where you want to go and make sure the right people know about it." Know, where you want to go and make sure the right people know about it.

May you be well, may you be happy and may you find succes. Thank you so much.

Avil Pinto 40:23

Amazing, Thank you