This week we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur Ameet Mirpuri for an interview with us to understand more about his entrepreneurial journey. He is an Interior Designer and Consultant. Let’s learn more about his exciting journey, his background and his advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Ameet:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please;
So I completed business management and then went on to do an interior designing course at the Marathwada School of Interior Design, Pune. Upon completion, I headed back to Vizag to join my dad in his interior design and furniture manufacturing business. Over time I enjoyed the design and consultancy part of the business a lot more so I went into the only consultancy and my parents took over full time at our unique handicrafts store called Eastern Art Museum.
A few years later I realised I needed the exposure of being in Milan for some time so I took up another course there to further my studies as well.
Not only did that experience give me a good exposure but I also gained much needed insights into the design world which I leverage in my projects now.”
When I started, we were just 2 of us working out of our garage office at home in 2002, and today we have our own space and a full fledged office in Visakhapatnam with a team of 18 senior and assistant designers and 8 administration and project management staff. We also have a small office in Hyderabad and now do projects in homes and hospitality all over the country.
We are now proud to be working on a number of luxury homes and have worked with many 5-star hotels and restaurant brands across the country and are still working with some of them.
What gets you out of bed in the morning i.e. what’s your source of motivation?
I love it … there’s no other answer. Every morning I wake up and get ready in a rush because I WANT to get to work and start the day, it’s the best feeling. I’ve found my calling and I always encourage people to do the same. A friend once told me “you work like you’re on holiday!” That really stuck with me.
What challenges/obstacles did you face in your journey so far?
I’ve never looked at a situation from the angle of it being a problem or a challenge. I think looking at it immediately as to how we can bring a solution or bring it to conclusion has always been my strength and learning from my upbringing.
There’ve been challenging sites or demanding clients, but if you don’t shy away from facing the same at that time, nothing is difficult to overcome. When I started in Vizag, I always had the backing of being from the same city so word of mouth spreads fast in a small city of the work you do, so new work always came our way.
When I decided to venture out to other cities though, it was a whole different story. After working for 10 years in the same city I decided it was time to spread our wings and it took a few years to gain a foothold in Hyderabad, not getting called back for projects after being “interviewed” / giving multiple free presentations, etc. but that journey has been the most gratifying of them all.
Over time our projects started propping up over the city and people started to talk about our work and attitude toward the same and ultimately more work started to pour in from Hyderabad and from different cities across the country now. Our home base still proudly remains Vizag.
How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
Keeping your mind and body fit is a top priority for me always. My work makes me travel away from home about 15 to 18 days a month. Over time I’ve realized what you eat and your exercise regime plays the biggest role in keeping your mind fresh and ready for the next day.
I can go for hours working/standing/walking/climbing at sites without getting tired.
I also make it a point to keep in touch with and catch up with my friends as much as I can, how much ever I travel – because those relationships are what matter the most. We are a rowdy bunch that has grown up together and I cannot imagine my life without them.
What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person?
Always keep an open mind when talking to anyone. Keep learning. And never be afraid to share your knowledge or ideas with someone else. I feel most of us are so possessive of our ideas and designs sometimes that we close ourselves off to the possibility of maybe learning something new or creating something even better if we open up that box. Collaborations – they help you grow, keep you motivated!
What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring individual?
It’s of utmost importance that you absolutely LOVE what you are going to be taking up as a career, however niche it may be, however weird or different it may sound. Do the work, do the research, visit those colleges, and most important of all, FOCUS.
If you find something you love doing, you will realize the hard work doesn’t feel so hard anymore and the feeling of accomplishment you get at the end of the day can be beaten by no other.
Follow Ameet At:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ameetmirpuri/
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