SHEROES Story: Easier to Pursue a Dream When Someone Cheers You On

I had worked in the hospitality industry in various roles and departments, before I discovered my interest in writing. Or rather re-discovered my long-forgotten love for writing. When I look back now, it seems like a piece of cake – some minor successes and some momentous achievements. But, the truth is that the journey was fraught with doubts and worries that made me question my decision of quitting a glamorous high-paying hotel career.

At the SHEROES Bootcamp, I met women who were working from home, and some who were not working at all. There were a few, who like me, had started out on their own and were just as apprehensive about their future.

I spoke about my fears and shared how everything seemed to be a distant dream, or in fact, an impossible dream. Had I made a huge mistake thinking I could write? Should I not have quit my job? Were my dreams really that far-fetched and whimsical? Would I have to resign myself to my fate and go back to being a slave to my job?

I still remember Sairee's words that instilled in me a sense of confidence and courage. She said, “Just take one step at a time.”

It is these words that keep me from losing hope even today. The belief that not everything needs to be done all at the same time and not all successes will come to me on ‘Day One’. Success takes time to build – and that's exactly the mantra I started living by. Each day I would strive to do or learn something new; working towards a bigger end-goal.

The SHEROES bootcamp was instrumental in giving me confidence that it would work out fine.

I attended the SHEROES Summit as a ‘Blogger’ and met author Rinku Paul and many other inspiring women. I shared my story again and spoke about not just my initial apprehensions, but also the minor successes that had started to come my way.

It was a heady feeling to share my story in front of such a huge crowd; a revelation to meet so many women who were at different stages of a similar journey. Some had just started out like I had, a few months ago. Some, like me, had experienced a few disappointments and some minor but encouraging achievements too. And then, there were those who had achieved successes in their respective ventures. These women were where I aspired to be.

And when they told me I would eventually get there, I believed them.

When I started writing for SHEROES, it was a paid assignment (Yay!) and also creatively fulfilling. The moral support from the team and the response that my articles generated were the boost I had needed.

The relationship I share with this team is a special one. It made me realise that no matter how big or far-fetched a dream may seem, you can achieve it. All you need is faith in your own capabilities and a support group that believes in you even when you don’t.

I have since published articles on various websites. A few of my articles won top prizes in blogging contests and got me not just accolades but also more readers and, therefore, the much-needed validation. My most recent win was a Kindle for an article that gathered 14000+ views! I have recently completed the manuscript of my novel and am hoping to get it published soon.

This isn’t an endorsement of SHEROES. This isn’t my success story either, for success is still a long way off. It is, however, a testimony of how a community like SHEROES can help you in your entrepreneurial journey or employment search. It is a reminder that you’re not alone in your struggles, that people like me are cheering for you. Just take one step at a time.

(This is a personal narrative by Piyusha Vir, who turned to writing in 2015, and has since then published articles in various magazines and websites including SHEROES.com, MyCity4Kids, WomensWeb, and LBB Delhi.)

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