Originally reported and written in February 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

"Life is unpredictable," says 38-year-old Jaikishaan Sharma from Ahmedabad. Now a mindset coach, an international speaker, and founder of the DreamChair Club — a foundation that helps people find motivation in their lives to overcome mental hurdles — this sales professional had no idea this was the trajectory his life would follow.

His statement about the unpredictability of life stems from his own tussle with fate, which all began in the year 2006 when he went home following his graduation in Delhi.

Jaikishaan’s father wanted him to pursue his master’s degree in Australia, a dream he had for himself but had failed to see through.

“He wanted me to explore the world outside of India,” says the mindset coach, adding that he agreed and left for a two years master’s in international business studies in Australia in 2007. But on reaching the other side of the world, he received news that his father had passed away.

“I was unable to think of continuing my degree so far from home. So I differed my admission and came back for the last rites. But once I had completed all the formalities, a part of me did not want to return to Australia, leaving my mother and sister back home. But my mother said it was dad’s dream and two years would fly by,” he recalls.

And with this faith, Jaikishaan returned to Australia to complete his degree.

‘Just when I thought life was picking up, I was dealt a few more blows’

Following his master’s degree, Jaikishaan worked with an energy and gas retailer, a job he says “was great as it paid well enough to pay back the student loans and send money back to India”. He began building his future in Australia, got married in 2010 and bought the land for his........

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