An Interview with Sanjeev Mansotra

Sanjeev Mansotra began learning the nuances of business and trade at an early age from his father. As his lessons continued, he fell in love with the process and knew he wanted to be working in his own company, serving others as an adult. He recalls devoting much of his youth as well as early adulthood years to learning everything there is about starting and operating a successful business.

Sometime after finishing university, Sanjeev Mansotra began his first business. He initially ventured into the Mining Industry. With the founding of his first company, he achieved a life long goal. After growing it to a level of success that benefited himself and his family, he knew he wanted to do more with his entrepreneurial skills. This is when he moved into education. Here, Sanjeev Mansotra initially funded a company dedicated to assisting students and families from his own income. Over the years he grew it into an astounding success that supported students in multiple countries.

Today, Sanjeev Mansotra is searching for his next big success while making time to enjoy life.

1. Tell us a bit about what you do.

After extensive research, I take the time to create, find, develop, and grow new companies from the ground up. I’ve successfully done it in the past and thoroughly find the experience rewarding. Right now, I am in the research phase of that while making time to enjoy my family as well.

2. What gave you the idea for (what you do/your company)? How did it start?

I grew up alongside a very talented entrepreneur. My father was a big influence in my life and continues to inspire me. He taught me quite a bit over the course of my life about business and overall company management. It didn’t take long before I knew, without question, I wanted to become an entrepreneur in my life.

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be where I am today without my father and his inspirational influence.

3. What’s your favorite thing about your chosen profession?

There are two things I love about what I do. One, I can say that I have reached a goal consistently, no matter what that goal is. It’s enjoyable. It is something I strive for with enthusiasm.

The other thing I enjoy, even more than reaching my goals, is knowing those goals are benefiting others. When I am able to create a company or a product that helps someone who needs it. Knowing that my efforts and my goals are creating something positive for someone else is the most thrilling feeling in the whole world. When I find that next venture, I am going to create something even more beneficial than anything I have ever created before.

4. What keys to being productive can you share with us?

For me, it’s all in the research and then the list. Each day I organize the prior research and create a list that needs to be done that day. Typically, it includes the most critical items that need to be done for the day. Once I’ve finished those items, I make time to talk to my team as well. This is daily. We need to know where our teams are in the plans we have assigned them.

5. Tell us one long-term goal in your career.

My long term career goals remain the same as they have always been. Help others through the investment and development of tools, resources, and creation of opportunities that will positively impact their lives.

6. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?

That relationships that I’ve forged over the years are key to everything. Having good relations with your team means they’ll want to be at work every day because you’ll create that environment. Having a good relationship with your clients or vendors means the partnerships will flourish because everyone is happy to be working together. Maintaining a positive relationship with the government entities that influence your company is also critical. You’ll pave the way to ensure you not only comply with the laws but understand them as well. That makes things so much easier when you are growing your business.

7. What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?

Make sure you are passionate about whatever venture you are investing in. It doesn’t matter if this is a business that you are doing online, in an office, or through another means. If you are passionate about it, you’ll put your best foot forward and continue to do so over the long term. No company is a venture that earns a profit in the first few days you are working it. You have to be prepared to work it every day until you reach the level of success you’re seeking.

8. What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I love spending time with my family. We travel whenever possible. It is a joy to share new experiences and new locations. One thing people tend to forget as their lives becoming increasingly more busy is to forfeit the time that they should spend with family. Family should always come first.

9. Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.

A good one in English is How I built it on NPR. It is really good for helping you learn how a company grows, the challenges they have endured, and how they overcame them. The greatest and most successful companies always overcome something significant.

10. What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell younger Sanjeev Mansotra to enjoy life more, work less. I worked hard to get to where I am today. It took a lot of time to create the life I am living today. Unfortunately, as I moved toward that goal, I found myself missing out on a lot of opportunities to enjoy myself.

I believe I would also tell younger Sanjeev Mansotra to pick a hobby and stick with it. Finding something you enjoy that you can use to break up the hard work is a wonderful and invaluable asset. I have just begun exploring a few things that I may share another time. It’s refreshing to have that thing you just enjoy doing. It takes you out of the stress of the day to day and gives you room to relax. Almost as good as my family.