WEBVTT
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But while I was doing this show, I felt it was a peak of my career, at least that phase of a career as an actor.
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I felt as an actor it's exciting, it's great, but you are narrating a story and it might be a story close to you and so on, but it's a story that you're telling.
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And it's not necessarily the story you lived.
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And then there was something in me that wanted to live my story.
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Like do more like left brain activities in my life or then other times in my life where it's all like right brain stuff.
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Like for me, the optimum is when there's these are imbalanced.
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If I'm zero creative life, I become a zombie.
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If I'm all analytical, zero creative, all analytical is girl, I literally look like a zombie.
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All the immediate things that come to my mind is people saying big one, which I get.
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But I made a decision about two years ago.
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I'm gonna find this life, we'll leave it my way.
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Once we sit through that pain, we have love inside us.
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And when we discover that love, first we can share the love from here with ourselves and then expand out for everyone.
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I just got done recording two days of my podcast, the Creative Artists Podcast, here at Hatch.lk, one of the leading startup hubs in Sri Lanka.
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Because my goal was to be able to tell stories of unique creatives here who are crazy enough to think that they can actually solve problems.
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To be here at Hatch and be inspired in what I'm doing, and to be able to tell these stories and have this uh studio and opportunity.
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I'm super grateful to Hatch.
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I feel affirmed in my mission to highlight creatives, and when I saw individuals from startups like inviting their own friends to be on here, so I can highlight their stories in their unique way of thinking, every single one of them has so much uh insight to provide to anybody who's watching with anybody who's thinking that they're not good enough to do what they're doing.
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Seeing stories from doctors who have changed uh careers into running startups to journalists to doing these kinds of things, like it gives me so much hope to be able to share this to others to say that, like, wherever you are at, if you're not passionate about what you're doing and you're stuck in your own bubble or whatever, find communities like Hatch because it is gonna be the best thing that you do for yourself because the community is absolutely amazing.
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Hatch, thank you so much for the support you provided.
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I can't wait to show you the amazing stories and the insights your own people are going to share with the world.
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Hi, welcome to Kartis Podcast.
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My name is Sharan, and today we are at uh Hatch Sri Lanka, uh startup hub, where they take creativity and technology and coincide together to solve real problems humans are facing in Sri Lanka and around the world.
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Uh, and I'm super excited to have uh Bhiman Owell, one of somebody I've seen in growing up in college together in the Thomas's and just to kind of watch the uh from afar his journey and then uh going to an actor to going into business and sales and to then starting his own tech company.
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I'm super excited to introduce you to you.
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Um Diman, thank you for being on the podcast.
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Thank you, thank you for having me.
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So, Biman, what do you do and how do you explain it to somebody who has no idea about the field you're in?
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I have a tricky time doing that for myself.
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Uh so I I do a few things.
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I um we've got a family business.
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It's in uh uh well it's um uh in painting, waterproofing, chemicals, uh related yeah, construction sector, related services.
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Um I'm involved in that.
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Um at the moment I'm playing a support role there.
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And um because there are other stakeholders and all of that.
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Cool um and then I have a I'm part of I'm co-founder at a tech company.
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Uh we do data analytics, reporting, uh AI automation work.
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And um I also teach acting.
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Um but the teaching acting, I was that was like acting, teaching acting, uh the arts, the creative arts, uh performing arts, that was my full-time thing for a few years.
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But since uh the last sort of one, two years, two years, uh that's become part-time, and then now it's it's kind of like hobby status uh and the construction related work and the tech company uh take up my time.
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Yeah.
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Um I mean I'm curious here.
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So you mentioned actor too, so not a lot of people not a lot of people know that.
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Um how did you make the transition from all of that to now here?
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Man, life happened.
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Um so transition from acting to Yeah, now all the way.
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Um so I did a show uh called uh Jungle and the Sea, like I acted in it in Australia.
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Uh it was a story.
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Um this is gonna be another uh run of it, so it is a story in present tense about something that took place in Sri Lanka, like it's about the war, the last phase of the war.
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Um and um it was uh done by one of the um leading theaters in Sydney, and I went over there to act in it, and uh Sri Lankan Australian writer, wow, wow, uh and then another Australian director, uh a mixed sort of Sri Lankan Australian cast and other international actors, a great story, like a great in the sense it's great to be part of a story like that, like tell the story, yeah, because it's a lot of truth telling about what took place, uh, and that's something I'm I'm I'm passionate about.
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Uh and that's uh close to me.
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Um and so when I acted in that show, I I was here in Sri Lanka just before that.
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I flew over there um to act in the show, and then we did really well.
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And I you know, I also performed well, I think, and then we won a few awards uh at the Sydney Um Theatre Awards and uh we also got like best ensemble and all these things, and best menu production, uh best production overall, and and best music and things like that.
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Um but while I was doing this show I felt uh it was like my it was a peak of my career, like at least that phase of a career as an actor.
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And um and I had reached a peak and the next uh next one would be uh perhaps one where I um invested myself in Australia uh or one of the western countries, perhaps.
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Perhaps, right?
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Not necessarily, right?
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But I'd go on a creative actors journey over there.
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Like I used to have an agent in Australia and in London, uh Sydney and London, so uh I I didn't anymore have these agents, and then it looked like okay, maybe I'd approach some agents, which I did, and then kind of ride that wave of the success of the show and so on.
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I saw a few theatre companies and agents and all that, and uh had a great response, but then uh life happened.
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I felt that may not be my part, and maybe it's my last time acting, perhaps like in that way.
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And then I'd have my own other journey.
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Um and uh in some sense, uh like in and and I don't like please my actor friends and and and and don't take any offense, but I felt like as an actor it's exciting, it's great, but you are narrating a story, and um it might be a story close to you and so on, but it's a story that you're telling, and it's not necessarily you know the story you lived, right?
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Um and then there was something in me that uh wanted to live my story.
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Um I don't know whether that's you know like I don't know, like how I feel like whether that's egoist.
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I don't know well anyway, it's how you process it.
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Yeah, so so I wanted to live my story and uh and I've I've got this some some I guess I have some crazy ideas, maybe, maybe they're quite average ideas, maybe they're crazy ideas, I don't know.
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Maybe we'll find out.
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Yeah, um, and then yeah, I wanted it to be that, and then the economic crisis uh I seen someone at the time, she was living in in uh like overseas, and that didn't quite work out.
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Uh like I I wanted to be in Sri Lanka.
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There was a pull from that end to like you know um to be based in a in a safer economic zone, uh country, and then make more like wiser, like uh in their mind, wiser decisions uh for my finances and probably wiser decisions financially, uh that gave more stability and so on.
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And I wasn't making them so uh and I was quite passionate and adamant to be in Sri Lanka.
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So all of this led to that, contributed to that uh not working out, and then parallelly uh our fa the the Sri Lankan economy had well gone through what it did.
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Right.
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And then our family business was well, uh the business which our family is involved in, in the construction within the sector, was also you know really uh hit, like most of the companies in that space.
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And my mom was involved in that business and uh and it wasn't looking too great.
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And um it felt I felt the need to come and support her.
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And to the credit of uh my my ex-girlfriend there, um, they also encouraged probably to get away from me as well.
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Like, hey, go go help your mom out.
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Right, right, right.
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You know, bro, you ain't making money here.
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Get out there, make some, you know, do something.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Uh so uh yeah, I went uh came back here and um and so started to get involved in that and and support you of that.
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But I was also like um so before before I went to act in Australia, uh like I was in Sri Lanka, I was teaching, um, I was you know supporting the family business behind the scenes.
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So around that time I was mostly acting and teaching acting.
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And then I was supporting like on behind the scenes, a little bit of support, not getting too involved, like didn't get want to get my hands in the family thing.
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And um I could see that like the the macro conditions of the country, like we are going to go into a crisis, like the construction space, it's gonna it's gonna be really badly affected.
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And then our our family's income, my my brother's involved in that business, my mother's involved in the business, so everyone's income's tied into that.
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And I and I felt, okay, like it's gonna go uh it there's a high risk of this going tits up at that point, like everyone's gonna be affected.
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So I felt this need to because I'm Australian, I'm a duo citizen, okay, and I was around 31 at the time.
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Well, time flies, I'm 38 now.
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You know, at that time, like I could apply for this um like an Ozzy get like a visa, like a two-year work visa in the UK.
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Okay.
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Chamit had been to the UK, and then there's a great uh art scene, like a strong um artist art art scene in the UK, and then he's been to Edinburgh, like to the festival.
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Then around 2019, I think he told me, like, he was like, bro, make the use, like make make use of this opportunity, go there.
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Right.
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Acting a shot.
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Right.
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But because I I saw construction was gonna get hit.
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I went to the UK, I got myself an agent, and I did a bit of like small gigs, um, whether I was gonna really pursue that full time, or I didn't do that.
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It was an interesting decision, like it was a uh it wasn't my most passionate decision.
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Like I like like acting brought a certain sense of lie excitement.
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Right.
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I made a decision there the because I went from Sri Lanka in 2019 uh wanting to create uh economic security for my family as well.
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Right, right.
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So give ourselves an option.
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Yeah, and to me, if I pursued acting, it it had the potential to be something grip, but it had a higher sort of maybe a risk.
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That's correct.
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That makes sense.
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And I also like I I studied like mechatronics, engineering, finance, you know, economics, and those unique and I didn't finish it, right?
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Okay.
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I went to my third year, I didn't go into my fourth year, I dropped out and went to drama school, acting school.
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There's a word for it.
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Yeah, this may dismay is the words, right?
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Cause because they thought I was like this supposed to be this really smart kid, you know.
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Yeah.
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Um so so when I went to London, I I chose to work in a tech company.
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Some luck as well, in the sense my cousin has a tech company in London.
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Nice, so uh I reached out to him and like I said, I'm in London and I'm looking for work, and then he said, Well, you know, he knew of my sales background because I did sales, I did door to do sales in Sydney, like right after drama school.
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Wow.
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Uh like street fundraising.
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Yeah, because I was poor in drama school.
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Right, right.
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Like not necessarily because like I was I was I'm I'm quite fortunate and privileged.
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I like I had a pretty comparatively like a comfortable life.
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But then, you know, um in drama school I had to like, you know, like you probably should, like, pay for things yourself and figure things out to some extent, right?
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Yeah, still as an Australian, I got government support and all that.
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Yeah.
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So I I I can't say I had to like you know hustle too hard for it.
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Like, I it's just that I in like you know, undergrad I I was privileged, but it was a quite a lavish life.
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Yeah, and then drama school that wasn't the case, so you know, and things were cut like pretty trimmed down and you had managed all that sort.
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Like me and my brother, we were living in this apartment, and then you know, you come back home, you make your uh, you know, one pot of rice and one rice and then one chicken curry, and then you move it's for four days, but we did one, right?
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And then doodles, and like, you know, that's the doing, and then and then you cut like every time someone's going out, you don't have money, and so I just went like after drama school, and I had this thing because I I dropped out of university.
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I I wanted to um uh uh I guess prove something to myself makes sense um that I could uh earn the money, yeah.
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And um so I I went and did this door-to-door sales job.
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Uh yeah, so so all of those experiences led to a tough job.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Especially as a brown guy.
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No, man.
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Oh, really?
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Yeah, like in the sense there are challenges.
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I had a great time in Australia.
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Uh I had a I had a lot of experiences where I had to face like some people are really badly affected by it.
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Right.
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So it's not fair to like take that away from those who are affected by it.
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Yeah.
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Um, but in my case, because I like I I guess I've got some gift of the gab.
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So and I and I won't take shit, you know, like and um so if someone dished it out to me, like I'd dish it back.
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Yeah, and you know, interestingly, at least at the levels that I experienced it in Australia, like if you dished it back, they'd be like, oh man, that's cool, bro.
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And then they'll respect you.
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Yeah, so I I didn't have any issues there, yeah.
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Yeah, um, so yeah, I was in London.
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London is more tricky, racism is uh uh is strong in my opinion.
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Like it's it's more politically incorrect to be racist in London, at least when I was there.
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Um, but you experience it more, like you feel uh a sense of uh hierarchy, yeah.
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Like you know, you've gotta you gotta find yourself at the table, and and like to get your place at this table table, you've gotta kind of like uh cut through something, and sometimes that's like a you gotta dress a certain way, you gotta prove a certain part.
00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:12.159
Right.
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It's a bit less so like that in Australia.
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Right, right, right, right.
00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:19.360
Um you can just you know you can talk things and you can hustle in your dare.
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Um did this kind of tech thing in London, yeah, and then came back, was looking for a tech company to work with, found these guys, so got into construction and tech.
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:32.480
Wow.
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Long answer.
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Really?
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I guess we're on a podcast.
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Yeah.
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That's the end of it.
00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.279
Um, yep, yeah.
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.000
Done.
00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:41.200
That's 20 minutes and we're out.
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We're so excited to share with you all the episodes that we filmed in Sri Lanka.
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We know a lot of you have been waiting, but we wanted to make sure that we did this really meaningfully because it really was an exciting time.
00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:56.639
When Sean first came to me and said he was gonna take the podcast to Sri Lanka, I honestly thought he was crazy.
00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.919
And so did I.
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I was like, is there any possibility we can fit this in?
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I want to try to bring the podcast in, get to know people, and interview creators.
00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:14.559
So we expected to have just a few conversations, maybe a little sparks of inspiration here and there, but what happened was so much deeper than that.
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We met so many people that not only you got to interview, but that also like came alongside us to help make these conversations happen.
00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:27.839
The crazy thing was this daring idea of going to a country, even though I'm from Sri Lanka.
00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:39.279
I hadn't been back for like seven years, and all I knew was some people from school that I went to and some social media that I've been following, but didn't really have a concrete plan to make it happen.
00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:49.119
And some days we had six, seven episodes back-to-back recorded because people were waiting and and and you were kind of facilitating that, yeah.
00:17:49.359 --> 00:18:08.799
Yeah, so it felt really significant because not only was it that we were having like these raw and authentic conversations, but a lot of their stories resonated with German's, and so it just was really fascinating to see them speaking the same language and to see like just this commonality of creativity and identity and purpose coming out as the themes of these conversations.
00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.440
You must be wondering when this trip happened.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:17.920
It happened in September, and uh the goal was to get these episodes out by December of last year.
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:25.440
Well, a lot of things happened, and I didn't want to diminish the work we put in and again the amazing gifts that we've had.
00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:30.400
So we decided to do something really cool, and we're gonna post however many we can a week.
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.200
So, LinkedIn, every single episode, you'll find a free PDF.
00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.960
It's actually a magazine that we developed.
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You can kind of think of it like if you go to a concert and you get like the souvenir of what happened behind the scenes and just about the different artists and all those things.
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:50.799
We wanted to share with you not only about Tron's journey, but then help you connect with some of the guests that we interview in Sri Lanka and then invite you on your own creative Odyssey.
00:18:51.200 --> 00:19:04.799
Yes, there's so much more that goes into or that fills this podcast, which is this mission to inspire people to create so that they can get to know themselves and connect with their child.
00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:15.839
So to see that we could bring that story out of Sri Lankan creatives, a wide diverse range of creatives was definitely a highlight.
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Our hope is that whether you're living in the States, you're living in Sri Lanka, or somewhere else around the world, you'll connect with someone's story within Sri Lanka and it might inspire you to continue on your own creative Odyssey.
00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:31.039
The link to the PDF for the magazine is in the description, and please check it out.
00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:36.880
They're doing really cool things that I really think you should be checking out to see their journeys.
00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:40.400
So without further ado, let's get to the episode.
00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:48.480
So um would you say uh the tech company was more based on inspiration?
00:19:48.720 --> 00:20:01.519
Um uh uh it was based on one, a a need to for me to satisfy because I did mechatronics, I didn't match for uh A-levels, um, I did mechatronics and uni.
00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:04.880
So there's that technical sort of engineering setup.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:14.799
And I like I function in my optimum when my life has both uh like technical analytical stuff going on as well as creative.
00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:29.039
So I needed to have like some technical even if I was doing sales, yeah, I felt like I needed some more technical negotiation kind of thing in my life and uh to use this, I guess what we people call the left brain.
00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:29.599
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.759
Like this analytical side of me.
00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:41.279
Um I I so bit of that and where the where the world's going, um, all of these things combined, I got into tech.
00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:47.359
Um yeah, and just chance maybe because because of the I got offered a tech opportunity as well.
00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.559
Like I was thinking along these lines.
00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.119
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.319
My cousin said, Hey man, you're in sales, like here, let's do tech sales.
00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.279
So, okay, cool.
00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.079
Brilliant.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:21:00.480
I I like the whole sorry, I I like the whole concept of the the left and right, I think even the logo here.
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:08.720
Like I I I want to talk about creativity from that point of view, like people need to even the people who use the left side need to be able to use the right side.
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.400
Like that needs to go hand in hand.
00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:10.720
Yeah.
00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:13.039
Um, so I love that she brought that up.
00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:23.599
So I think that's you know, in a humble way, I think, I think for because I'm saying like I'm uh that's where I function the optimum, right?
00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:37.200
I I've had periods where I'm more like sort of uh I try to be more like again, I don't really know whether the brain really works like this, but like do more like left brain activities in my life or then other times of my life where it's all like right brain stuff.
00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.960
Like for me the optimum is when there's these are in balance.
00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.079
Like for me, right?
00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.440
I I need a bit of both.
00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:46.000
Like if I'm if I'm zero creative, yeah, yeah.
00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.079
Like life, I I become like a zombie.
00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.480
Yeah.
00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:55.359
If I'm all analytical, uh like zero creative, all analytical, it's like, whoa, I literally look like a zombie.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.759
And then if I'm like zero analytical, all creative also, like.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.319
It also like kind of throws me off balance and not I I'm not satisfied.
00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:11.039
But I'm satisfied when I when I let those energies kind of meet and simmer and do the thing.
00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.720
I think there are studies that backs that up actually.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:18.720
So um I I sh I'm gonna like maybe put it on here somewhere.
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.599
But that's kind of where I uh uh you and I connect here.
00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:29.599
Um I was in a musician growing up, I was in choir and orchestra and all these things.
00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:39.920
Um and uh I kind of understood this narrative that as long as I do my studies, you can do these hobbies type of thing.
00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:45.759
And and I from a young age kind of took it as I'm not smart enough.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.319
I should only stick to what I know.
00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:50.880
And so I became a chef for nine years.
00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:56.400
Um and that decision was based off of like, I can't do anything else.
00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.920
I'm not smart enough, let's pick a safe field.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:03.359
And I was good at cooking when I was young anyway, so I was like, ah, this is fun, anyways.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.799
And I was really good at it.
00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:09.200
I only gave up on it just because of the bureaucracy and I wanted to work for myself.
00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.880
I figured out what I'm passionate about.
00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:19.279
So now I'm at a space where the business I run and um I do my creative stuff, I need to have a balance of both.
00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.519
I cannot just be creative all the time.
00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.119
I need to have the analytical stuff.
00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.519
So when you said that, I completely agree with you.
00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.359
That's like my synergy as well.
00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:29.920
Um, so that's cool that we connect on that.
00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.400
That's true.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:35.279
That's why I was like, I I've been following your journey ever since you were on Facebook, obviously.
00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.559
Yeah, just like I've seen you do your thing, and I'm like, that's cool.
00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:41.599
Like, I mean, I knew you were doing theater stuff and you were young.
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:46.240
So like for me to see you going the acting route was super cool to see that.
00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:48.720
And I I saw you like winning awards and stuff.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.640
Oh my gosh, that's guys, that's so cool.
00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:54.000
And then like we recently connected, and you're like, oh, I mean this side too.
00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.599
I'm like, wow, that's even cooler.
00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.400
Yeah, you know.
00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:06.400
It doesn't always like like some of my friends, uh, a lot of my ex-girlfriends uh you know struggle to understand this side of me.
00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:11.119
Like, I've got a plan, uh, but it doesn't make sense to a lot of people.
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.839
Exactly.
00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.039
And that's okay.
00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.599
Yes.
00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:18.559
And um, you know, and you and and um yeah, it's okay.
00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:23.839
And and for some it like lacks ambition in some sense, yeah.
00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.359
Because they can't see it, right?
00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.720
Like it it it lacks ambition in the way they'd have it.
00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.279
Yes.
00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.720
Um, but then it is very ambitious in a different way.
00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.279
Yeah.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:39.599
And um, and then for others, like the plans uh like way ambitious, right?
00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:39.920
Right?
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.039
It's wishful thinking.
00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.839
Yeah, yeah.
00:24:42.079 --> 00:25:12.400
Um and um like for example, um with my like um like I you know, four or five years, three, four years ago, 2022, 2023, when I said I'm going to go back to Sri Lanka, uh in Sri Lanka, I'm gonna be here and I'm gonna do um, you know, A build on the construction side, and then B uh do the tech thing.
00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:16.799
Like uh and then also do my drama, right?
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:28.559
For for many people, and and there is truth to what they're saying, you know, oh you've got to pick one thing, and then you're gonna be the like my grandfather father used to say to me, um, the the jack of all trades is the master of none.
00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.440
Um and uh uh but there's another part of this, right?
00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.039
Yes, which I recently found out.
00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:48.960
But like when I said this, like it was wishful thinking to people, but to me, I had experience like in whether it's in acting, whether it's in construction, whether it's in tech, whatever you're doing, right?
00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.400
Things are cyclical.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.279
Yes, right?
00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:59.119
And I had been part of the family business, seen the construction industry, it goes through like cycles, like there's a cycle where it's booming, and then like you have no time to do anything but that.
00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.440
Yes.
00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.720
But then we are a down period.
00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.920
What do you do in that period, right?
00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.559
Like, unless you can obviously improvise into other markets and there are things to do for sure.
00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:10.480
Um, but the business here itself, like, was a is a down period.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:15.359
And then, you know, I I work in uh sales, right?
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:20.079
So I'm not a developer, so I can give ideas on what to build and so on.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.400
But then even in tech, right, there's a development cycle.
00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:28.960
So right now we're we have a product at a tech company, uh, and then they're we're we're at a go-to-market stage, right?
00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.119
So there is a lot of work for me to do now.
00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.079
Yes, right.
00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:38.160
But in the last two years, yes, there was work for me to do, but those are like, you know, intro, like touching conversations, but figuring things out.
00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.400
Yes.
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:41.680
Where do we fail, like you know, but now we've got something more concrete.
00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:44.240
You can take that bull by the horn and then run with it, right?
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.079
So now I'm required more here.
00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:53.119
But then last two years, even if I was trying to like do things there, I'll just be like getting frustrated because there's not much I can do.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:55.599
You're just like burning energy, right?
00:26:56.160 --> 00:27:02.240
Um even from my previous time at the family business, I noticed like I have a lot of energy.
00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:07.359
If I plug all that into that business, I'm just frustrated because that business is not moving at that pace.
00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:16.880
So um now here today we are, and both of those things have have uh kind of gone to a certain level.
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:21.440
And um and it's because I chose both of those things.
00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:23.920
The third one, the acting one, has got a taken a hit.
00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.240
Yeah.
00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:28.160
Uh it's like because I just haven't had the enough time to focus on that.
00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.599
It's not the end of it, right?
00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.440
But also, I yeah, maybe, maybe it is.
00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.079
That's what I mean.
00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.880
Like I think I think to say that's what I'm saying.
00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:42.400
If you don't say it's the end, it's done now, like it's always an option to go back if you feel this the need, right?
00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:46.079
It is, but it's also like it's okay if it's done.
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.559
Right.
00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:51.599
Because like I think we find it ha immensely hard to let go of things.
00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.240
That's true.
00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:57.440
And then you like the creative journey, like death is a part of the journey.
00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:57.759
Yeah.
00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.000
Yeah.
00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.559
Right?
00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:00.720
If we're if things don't die, there ain't no beauty.
00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.200
Right.
00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.680
Right?
00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:08.480
So um and and and you as an individual, you're constantly dying.
00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:08.720
Yeah.
00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.559
Like versions of you are dying.
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.119
Yes.
00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:18.480
And uh for whatever version of you to emerge, that other like maybe maybe the core of you doesn't.
00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.119
Right.
00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:25.759
But then um, like Yeah, other parts of you just keep uh, I guess, reinventing.
00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.319
Yeah.
00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:31.359
Um and as an idea person, I'd have kept on reinventing parts of myself.
00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.160
Absolutely.
00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:37.759
And uh I've had like my credits call me like demand, like 1.0, 2.6, 3.0, 4.
00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:41.440
I think they I think they now season demand 5.2 or something like that.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.880
I I had different paces.
00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.880
And then you keep going thing, you know?
00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:46.960
Yeah.
00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:51.680
I I think that like you leave the option open with evolve and pro, right?
00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:59.119
And like even whatever you're doing now could technically be uh at one point less you would feel the same way you feel at.
00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:03.119
I mean it's an opportunity possibility open, right?
00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:07.039
Where nothing is concrete, like this is my identity now, type of thing, right?
00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.880
That's what I understood from you.
00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:12.319
Like, just was like, oh, I want to try and see what happens.
00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:14.799
And like that to me is kind of a bold thing.
00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:24.640
And like I I want to encourage that the CR is you have evolved so much, and if you kind of stuffed to this one thing, you would not be very red.
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.079
In some sense, a very cream issue.
00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.000
Yeah, this don't talk to my friends.
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:44.079
Um what are some of the challenges you have faced as you kind of go on on this journey?
00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:47.039
And uh what have you learned from those?
00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:57.039
So, like one of the immediate things that come to my mind is um uh people saying pick one, I think.
00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.759
Um which I get.
00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:04.400
But I made a pick decision like about two years ago.
00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:06.880
I said, people say we have to uh amigo.
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.680
Yeah, right.
00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:08.960
Yeah, right.
00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.400
I don't have to live this life.
00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.519
Yeah, we'll live it my way.
00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.079
Right?
00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:18.160
So and and uh yeah, that was one of the best decisions.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:24.160
Um and uh like I'm part of a great tech company.
00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:30.160
We've we we were selected with like bench engine, it's like Sri Lankan uh startup uh program.
00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:40.160
Uh and uh we got selected our company like out of like hundreds of companies, uh I think top ten finalists and and like many big companies there, right?
00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:48.400
So uh and uh got a great response that like we've got something pretty substantial, something that could be a unique audience.
00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.720
Uh I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, touch wood.
00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.279
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:57.599
Uh there's a lot of work to be done, and and hopefully, you know, uh in ten years from now, we've made that journey.
00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.079
Yeah.
00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:17.920
Um and and you know, I have a I I have a part to play at a piece of that because of, you know, going like fuck them, that's how we and then, you know, uh, you know, things have things are not great in the construction space, but we've made some recovery.
00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.240
Yeah.
00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:18.640
Right?
00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.319
And and we're doing decent projects.
00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.400
We're paid in the central bank next door.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:22.559
Wow.
00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.480
We're doing some work at the uh app.
00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.319
It's called Enchandra of the Decorators.
00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:26.640
Okay.
00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.279
N C D.
00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:32.400
So it's a four it's going to be 45 years um uh in you know the next month.
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:35.519
And uh we're doing work with John Keos.
00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:41.759
So um, you know, a business that wasn't uh like two years ago, it was in pretty bad shape.
00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.480
Still it's not it's not an easy road ahead.
00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.680
It's still rough.
00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:53.119
But uh, you know, we've held on and and things are you know uh uh going in a better direction.
00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:58.319
Um and that's all because uh you know I I did it my way.
00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:07.279
Um well with other people, I tend like when I say do it my way, but by no I I'm not operational anymore in either of these companies.
00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:12.559
So they are they are the people like that that are shouldering this and and riding this, 22 all of them, you know.
00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.119
For sure.
00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:17.920
Uh but for me to play my role, yeah, you know, you you calmed your path.
00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.960
Yeah, somewhat, you know.
00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.400
100% I think so.
00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.319
And I think it's super insane.
00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:26.640
So Eric, that was one uh like lessons, like, yeah.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:29.519
Uh man.
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:31.039
I think that's a good lesson.
00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:53.359
Um it's try to there's a there's a it's hard to do this thing, which is and that's that the even then this shit came out of this thing where we've all got like this intuitive vote like thing that in our in like it comes from like here, yeah, and then um it it links up with your head, right?
00:32:53.440 --> 00:33:09.279
And then when you find synergy between the it's not easy to find it sometimes, um when you find synergy to act and acting on that, uh that gives your life the I think most profound result unique to you.
00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:18.480
Um so listening to that uh and and trying to move with in sync with that, uh that's been a challenge.
00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:26.400
Uh but yeah, I think I'm getting and it's relevant to what you're saying with the whole logo and uh and the balance we spoke of.
00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.200
Yeah, yeah.
00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:31.119
So let me end the podcast with this last final question.
00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:39.359
How does one listen to that intuition according to your experience?
00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:44.000
Oh tough fun.
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:50.000
Yeah, there are yeah, I think I I think you're always talking to you.
00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.359
Why is it going so fast?
00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:53.359
And I go, but I thought you was really fast.
00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:56.640
And then like it was a strange thing that happened, right?
00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:01.519
Where our emotions got caught up in it and it got flared, and then it got bust, right?
00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:05.440
Uh all happened in this like a very fast span of like a month.
00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:22.639
And like it sounds like immature and silly when I say like all that happened in the month, but in that process, I kind of noticed like inside me uh was this inner child that like some some like a little word, like little me, me, I say love me.
00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:29.920
All right, love me and like what it like it's not even saying that, but it's like you know, warning this love and affection.
00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:34.639
And I saw that and and I and I said, Yeah, there's this there's a child that like wants love.
00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:37.920
And then she's like, well, I and she's like, I can't even love myself, bro.
00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.360
I can't love you as your child.
00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.639
And fair enough.
00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:43.280
And and I got that, like someone else can't do that for you.
00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:43.599
Yes.
00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:46.079
Maybe you can meet someone who can hold some space for that, right?
00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.480
Right.
00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:50.719
But then the bigger, bigger, it's it's it's on you.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:35:02.800
Like, you know, like people like that, the world is loving, the world is kind, it does exist in the world, but you gotta show up for yourself and then do that work for yourself, like hold that space.
00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.159
We all have love, right?
00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:08.079
Yeah, and um sometimes we have like we've got pain and all that.
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:10.719
Once we sit through that pain, we have love inside us.
00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:16.960
Yeah, and when we discover that love, first we can share that love from here with ourselves and then expand out for everyone.
00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:20.880
Yeah, so um that's been a big victory.
00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.639
That I think so too.
00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:24.480
Yeah, I mean, definitely.
00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:27.360
Uh Bhima, thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.239
Thanks, man.
00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:30.639
I know you're a busy guy, so I appreciate your time.
00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.920
Thank you for having me.
00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:41.280
Listen, I I think more and more if we've been checking out our podcast and hearing these stories, especially happening in Sri Lanka.
00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:52.639
I think it's super cool to say that, like especially what Bhiman has gone through as far as evolving, I think is um so important than listening to yourself and and connecting with yourself.
00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:59.519
And um if you don't listen, you go at shit crazy and then eventually you learn.
00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:04.320
And sometimes if you listen too much to yourself as well, you gotta find the right balance.
00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.199
Yeah, 100%.
00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.159
Yeah.
00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:11.599
You gotta be wise about who who you listen to and how you listen to, and even if you that's yourself, you don't absolutely.
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:11.920
Yeah.
00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:17.039
All I gotta say is keep dreaming, keep creating, and keep going on your own creative Odyssey.
00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:19.119
Till next time, see you later.
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:09.359
But while I was doing this show, I felt it was a peak of my career, at least that phase of a career as an actor.
00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:20.160
I felt as an actor it's exciting, it's great, but you are narrating a story and it might be a story close to you and so on, but it's a story that you're telling.
00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:23.120
And it's not necessarily the story you lived.
00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:27.600
And then there was something in me that wanted to live my story.
00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:33.600
Like do more like left brain activities in my life or then other times in my life where it's all like right brain stuff.
00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.719
Like for me, the optimum is when there's these are imbalanced.
00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.520
If I'm zero creative life, I become a zombie.
00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:44.719
If I'm all analytical, zero creative, all analytical is girl, I literally look like a zombie.
00:00:44.960 --> 00:00:50.640
All the immediate things that come to my mind is people saying big one, which I get.
00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.000
But I made a decision about two years ago.
00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.399
I'm gonna find this life, we'll leave it my way.
00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:00.799
Once we sit through that pain, we have love inside us.
00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:06.719
And when we discover that love, first we can share the love from here with ourselves and then expand out for everyone.
00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:22.879
I just got done recording two days of my podcast, the Creative Artists Podcast, here at Hatch.lk, one of the leading startup hubs in Sri Lanka.
00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:31.439
Because my goal was to be able to tell stories of unique creatives here who are crazy enough to think that they can actually solve problems.
00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:39.599
To be here at Hatch and be inspired in what I'm doing, and to be able to tell these stories and have this uh studio and opportunity.
00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:41.359
I'm super grateful to Hatch.
00:01:41.439 --> 00:02:04.480
I feel affirmed in my mission to highlight creatives, and when I saw individuals from startups like inviting their own friends to be on here, so I can highlight their stories in their unique way of thinking, every single one of them has so much uh insight to provide to anybody who's watching with anybody who's thinking that they're not good enough to do what they're doing.
00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:32.240
Seeing stories from doctors who have changed uh careers into running startups to journalists to doing these kinds of things, like it gives me so much hope to be able to share this to others to say that, like, wherever you are at, if you're not passionate about what you're doing and you're stuck in your own bubble or whatever, find communities like Hatch because it is gonna be the best thing that you do for yourself because the community is absolutely amazing.
00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:34.879
Hatch, thank you so much for the support you provided.
00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:43.280
I can't wait to show you the amazing stories and the insights your own people are going to share with the world.
00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:45.280
Hi, welcome to Kartis Podcast.
00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:59.520
My name is Sharan, and today we are at uh Hatch Sri Lanka, uh startup hub, where they take creativity and technology and coincide together to solve real problems humans are facing in Sri Lanka and around the world.
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:17.680
Uh, and I'm super excited to have uh Bhiman Owell, one of somebody I've seen in growing up in college together in the Thomas's and just to kind of watch the uh from afar his journey and then uh going to an actor to going into business and sales and to then starting his own tech company.
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:19.680
I'm super excited to introduce you to you.
00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:21.680
Um Diman, thank you for being on the podcast.
00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:22.800
Thank you, thank you for having me.
00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:30.159
So, Biman, what do you do and how do you explain it to somebody who has no idea about the field you're in?
00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.039
I have a tricky time doing that for myself.
00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:37.840
Uh so I I do a few things.
00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:41.680
I um we've got a family business.
00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:52.240
It's in uh uh well it's um uh in painting, waterproofing, chemicals, uh related yeah, construction sector, related services.
00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:54.560
Um I'm involved in that.
00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:58.960
Um at the moment I'm playing a support role there.
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:03.039
And um because there are other stakeholders and all of that.
00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:10.800
Cool um and then I have a I'm part of I'm co-founder at a tech company.
00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:16.639
Uh we do data analytics, reporting, uh AI automation work.
00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:21.680
And um I also teach acting.
00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:33.040
Um but the teaching acting, I was that was like acting, teaching acting, uh the arts, the creative arts, uh performing arts, that was my full-time thing for a few years.
00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:48.639
But since uh the last sort of one, two years, two years, uh that's become part-time, and then now it's it's kind of like hobby status uh and the construction related work and the tech company uh take up my time.
00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:49.199
Yeah.
00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:53.519
Um I mean I'm curious here.
00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:57.519
So you mentioned actor too, so not a lot of people not a lot of people know that.
00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:02.480
Um how did you make the transition from all of that to now here?
00:05:03.439 --> 00:05:05.279
Man, life happened.
00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:11.439
Um so transition from acting to Yeah, now all the way.
00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:19.120
Um so I did a show uh called uh Jungle and the Sea, like I acted in it in Australia.
00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.720
Uh it was a story.
00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:31.199
Um this is gonna be another uh run of it, so it is a story in present tense about something that took place in Sri Lanka, like it's about the war, the last phase of the war.
00:05:31.759 --> 00:06:04.000
Um and um it was uh done by one of the um leading theaters in Sydney, and I went over there to act in it, and uh Sri Lankan Australian writer, wow, wow, uh and then another Australian director, uh a mixed sort of Sri Lankan Australian cast and other international actors, a great story, like a great in the sense it's great to be part of a story like that, like tell the story, yeah, because it's a lot of truth telling about what took place, uh, and that's something I'm I'm I'm passionate about.
00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:06.560
Uh and that's uh close to me.
00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:13.360
Um and so when I acted in that show, I I was here in Sri Lanka just before that.
00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:18.720
I flew over there um to act in the show, and then we did really well.
00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:36.959
And I you know, I also performed well, I think, and then we won a few awards uh at the Sydney Um Theatre Awards and uh we also got like best ensemble and all these things, and best menu production, uh best production overall, and and best music and things like that.
00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:52.959
Um but while I was doing this show I felt uh it was like my it was a peak of my career, like at least that phase of a career as an actor.
00:06:53.439 --> 00:07:13.279
And um and I had reached a peak and the next uh next one would be uh perhaps one where I um invested myself in Australia uh or one of the western countries, perhaps.
00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:14.079
Perhaps, right?
00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:15.199
Not necessarily, right?
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:18.319
But I'd go on a creative actors journey over there.
00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:33.279
Like I used to have an agent in Australia and in London, uh Sydney and London, so uh I I didn't anymore have these agents, and then it looked like okay, maybe I'd approach some agents, which I did, and then kind of ride that wave of the success of the show and so on.
00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:42.000
I saw a few theatre companies and agents and all that, and uh had a great response, but then uh life happened.
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:48.240
I felt that may not be my part, and maybe it's my last time acting, perhaps like in that way.
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:52.720
And then I'd have my own other journey.
00:07:53.519 --> 00:08:20.319
Um and uh in some sense, uh like in and and I don't like please my actor friends and and and and don't take any offense, but I felt like as an actor it's exciting, it's great, but you are narrating a story, and um it might be a story close to you and so on, but it's a story that you're telling, and it's not necessarily you know the story you lived, right?
00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:26.480
Um and then there was something in me that uh wanted to live my story.
00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:35.039
Um I don't know whether that's you know like I don't know, like how I feel like whether that's egoist.
00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.759
I don't know well anyway, it's how you process it.
00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:47.279
Yeah, so so I wanted to live my story and uh and I've I've got this some some I guess I have some crazy ideas, maybe, maybe they're quite average ideas, maybe they're crazy ideas, I don't know.
00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:48.399
Maybe we'll find out.
00:08:48.480 --> 00:08:59.840
Yeah, um, and then yeah, I wanted it to be that, and then the economic crisis uh I seen someone at the time, she was living in in uh like overseas, and that didn't quite work out.
00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:02.399
Uh like I I wanted to be in Sri Lanka.
00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:21.679
There was a pull from that end to like you know um to be based in a in a safer economic zone, uh country, and then make more like wiser, like uh in their mind, wiser decisions uh for my finances and probably wiser decisions financially, uh that gave more stability and so on.
00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:26.240
And I wasn't making them so uh and I was quite passionate and adamant to be in Sri Lanka.
00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:37.840
So all of this led to that, contributed to that uh not working out, and then parallelly uh our fa the the Sri Lankan economy had well gone through what it did.
00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:38.080
Right.
00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:49.039
And then our family business was well, uh the business which our family is involved in, in the construction within the sector, was also you know really uh hit, like most of the companies in that space.
00:09:49.600 --> 00:09:55.279
And my mom was involved in that business and uh and it wasn't looking too great.
00:09:55.519 --> 00:10:01.279
And um it felt I felt the need to come and support her.
00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:08.799
And to the credit of uh my my ex-girlfriend there, um, they also encouraged probably to get away from me as well.
00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:10.720
Like, hey, go go help your mom out.
00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:11.360
Right, right, right.
00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:13.360
You know, bro, you ain't making money here.
00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:15.360
Get out there, make some, you know, do something.
00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.080
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:25.600
Uh so uh yeah, I went uh came back here and um and so started to get involved in that and and support you of that.
00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:42.159
But I was also like um so before before I went to act in Australia, uh like I was in Sri Lanka, I was teaching, um, I was you know supporting the family business behind the scenes.
00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:46.480
So around that time I was mostly acting and teaching acting.
00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:53.039
And then I was supporting like on behind the scenes, a little bit of support, not getting too involved, like didn't get want to get my hands in the family thing.
00:10:53.279 --> 00:11:06.320
And um I could see that like the the macro conditions of the country, like we are going to go into a crisis, like the construction space, it's gonna it's gonna be really badly affected.
00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:14.720
And then our our family's income, my my brother's involved in that business, my mother's involved in the business, so everyone's income's tied into that.
00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:23.919
And I and I felt, okay, like it's gonna go uh it there's a high risk of this going tits up at that point, like everyone's gonna be affected.
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:30.399
So I felt this need to because I'm Australian, I'm a duo citizen, okay, and I was around 31 at the time.
00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:32.720
Well, time flies, I'm 38 now.
00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:41.039
You know, at that time, like I could apply for this um like an Ozzy get like a visa, like a two-year work visa in the UK.
00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:41.360
Okay.
00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:51.759
Chamit had been to the UK, and then there's a great uh art scene, like a strong um artist art art scene in the UK, and then he's been to Edinburgh, like to the festival.
00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:57.279
Then around 2019, I think he told me, like, he was like, bro, make the use, like make make use of this opportunity, go there.
00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:57.440
Right.
00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.639
Acting a shot.
00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:58.960
Right.
00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:02.240
But because I I saw construction was gonna get hit.
00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:12.559
I went to the UK, I got myself an agent, and I did a bit of like small gigs, um, whether I was gonna really pursue that full time, or I didn't do that.
00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:18.320
It was an interesting decision, like it was a uh it wasn't my most passionate decision.
00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:22.720
Like I like like acting brought a certain sense of lie excitement.
00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.120
Right.
00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:33.039
I made a decision there the because I went from Sri Lanka in 2019 uh wanting to create uh economic security for my family as well.
00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:33.840
Right, right.
00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.840
So give ourselves an option.
00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:45.679
Yeah, and to me, if I pursued acting, it it had the potential to be something grip, but it had a higher sort of maybe a risk.
00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.480
That's correct.
00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.200
That makes sense.
00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:54.720
And I also like I I studied like mechatronics, engineering, finance, you know, economics, and those unique and I didn't finish it, right?
00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:54.960
Okay.
00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.200
I went to my third year, I didn't go into my fourth year, I dropped out and went to drama school, acting school.
00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:00.559
There's a word for it.
00:13:01.840 --> 00:13:04.720
Yeah, this may dismay is the words, right?
00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.080
Cause because they thought I was like this supposed to be this really smart kid, you know.
00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:08.480
Yeah.
00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:14.000
Um so so when I went to London, I I chose to work in a tech company.
00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:18.879
Some luck as well, in the sense my cousin has a tech company in London.
00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:31.039
Nice, so uh I reached out to him and like I said, I'm in London and I'm looking for work, and then he said, Well, you know, he knew of my sales background because I did sales, I did door to do sales in Sydney, like right after drama school.
00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:31.279
Wow.
00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.039
Uh like street fundraising.
00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.720
Yeah, because I was poor in drama school.
00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:35.440
Right, right.
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.360
Like not necessarily because like I was I was I'm I'm quite fortunate and privileged.
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:43.519
I like I had a pretty comparatively like a comfortable life.
00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:52.399
But then, you know, um in drama school I had to like, you know, like you probably should, like, pay for things yourself and figure things out to some extent, right?
00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.200
Yeah, still as an Australian, I got government support and all that.
00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:57.440
Yeah.
00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.799
So I I I can't say I had to like you know hustle too hard for it.
00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:08.399
Like, I it's just that I in like you know, undergrad I I was privileged, but it was a quite a lavish life.
00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:14.720
Yeah, and then drama school that wasn't the case, so you know, and things were cut like pretty trimmed down and you had managed all that sort.
00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:26.159
Like me and my brother, we were living in this apartment, and then you know, you come back home, you make your uh, you know, one pot of rice and one rice and then one chicken curry, and then you move it's for four days, but we did one, right?
00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:38.320
And then doodles, and like, you know, that's the doing, and then and then you cut like every time someone's going out, you don't have money, and so I just went like after drama school, and I had this thing because I I dropped out of university.
00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:48.639
I I wanted to um uh uh I guess prove something to myself makes sense um that I could uh earn the money, yeah.
00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.919
And um so I I went and did this door-to-door sales job.
00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.200
Uh yeah, so so all of those experiences led to a tough job.
00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:55.919
Yeah, yeah.
00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.600
Especially as a brown guy.
00:14:58.159 --> 00:14:58.720
No, man.
00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.279
Oh, really?
00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.759
Yeah, like in the sense there are challenges.
00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.159
I had a great time in Australia.
00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:09.279
Uh I had a I had a lot of experiences where I had to face like some people are really badly affected by it.
00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:09.600
Right.
00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:12.879
So it's not fair to like take that away from those who are affected by it.
00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:13.039
Yeah.
00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:19.279
Um, but in my case, because I like I I guess I've got some gift of the gab.
00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:25.919
So and I and I won't take shit, you know, like and um so if someone dished it out to me, like I'd dish it back.
00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:33.200
Yeah, and you know, interestingly, at least at the levels that I experienced it in Australia, like if you dished it back, they'd be like, oh man, that's cool, bro.
00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.480
And then they'll respect you.
00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:36.639
Yeah, so I I didn't have any issues there, yeah.
00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:39.279
Yeah, um, so yeah, I was in London.
00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.240
London is more tricky, racism is uh uh is strong in my opinion.
00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:49.840
Like it's it's more politically incorrect to be racist in London, at least when I was there.
00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:57.120
Um, but you experience it more, like you feel uh a sense of uh hierarchy, yeah.
00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:11.840
Like you know, you've gotta you gotta find yourself at the table, and and like to get your place at this table table, you've gotta kind of like uh cut through something, and sometimes that's like a you gotta dress a certain way, you gotta prove a certain part.
00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:12.159
Right.
00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:14.320
It's a bit less so like that in Australia.
00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.519
Right, right, right, right.
00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:19.360
Um you can just you know you can talk things and you can hustle in your dare.
00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:19.919
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:31.919
Um did this kind of tech thing in London, yeah, and then came back, was looking for a tech company to work with, found these guys, so got into construction and tech.
00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:32.480
Wow.
00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.360
Long answer.
00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:33.679
Really?
00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:35.120
I guess we're on a podcast.
00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:35.679
Yeah.
00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.559
That's the end of it.
00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.279
Um, yep, yeah.
00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.000
Done.
00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:41.200
That's 20 minutes and we're out.
00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:45.759
We're so excited to share with you all the episodes that we filmed in Sri Lanka.
00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:51.279
We know a lot of you have been waiting, but we wanted to make sure that we did this really meaningfully because it really was an exciting time.
00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:56.639
When Sean first came to me and said he was gonna take the podcast to Sri Lanka, I honestly thought he was crazy.
00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:57.919
And so did I.
00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:02.399
I was like, is there any possibility we can fit this in?
00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:07.200
I want to try to bring the podcast in, get to know people, and interview creators.
00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:14.559
So we expected to have just a few conversations, maybe a little sparks of inspiration here and there, but what happened was so much deeper than that.
00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:22.640
We met so many people that not only you got to interview, but that also like came alongside us to help make these conversations happen.
00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:27.839
The crazy thing was this daring idea of going to a country, even though I'm from Sri Lanka.
00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:39.279
I hadn't been back for like seven years, and all I knew was some people from school that I went to and some social media that I've been following, but didn't really have a concrete plan to make it happen.
00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:49.119
And some days we had six, seven episodes back-to-back recorded because people were waiting and and and you were kind of facilitating that, yeah.
00:17:49.359 --> 00:18:08.799
Yeah, so it felt really significant because not only was it that we were having like these raw and authentic conversations, but a lot of their stories resonated with German's, and so it just was really fascinating to see them speaking the same language and to see like just this commonality of creativity and identity and purpose coming out as the themes of these conversations.
00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:11.440
You must be wondering when this trip happened.
00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:17.920
It happened in September, and uh the goal was to get these episodes out by December of last year.
00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:25.440
Well, a lot of things happened, and I didn't want to diminish the work we put in and again the amazing gifts that we've had.
00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:30.400
So we decided to do something really cool, and we're gonna post however many we can a week.
00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:33.200
So, LinkedIn, every single episode, you'll find a free PDF.
00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:34.960
It's actually a magazine that we developed.
00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:42.160
You can kind of think of it like if you go to a concert and you get like the souvenir of what happened behind the scenes and just about the different artists and all those things.
00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:50.799
We wanted to share with you not only about Tron's journey, but then help you connect with some of the guests that we interview in Sri Lanka and then invite you on your own creative Odyssey.
00:18:51.200 --> 00:19:04.799
Yes, there's so much more that goes into or that fills this podcast, which is this mission to inspire people to create so that they can get to know themselves and connect with their child.
00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:15.839
So to see that we could bring that story out of Sri Lankan creatives, a wide diverse range of creatives was definitely a highlight.
00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:26.400
Our hope is that whether you're living in the States, you're living in Sri Lanka, or somewhere else around the world, you'll connect with someone's story within Sri Lanka and it might inspire you to continue on your own creative Odyssey.
00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:31.039
The link to the PDF for the magazine is in the description, and please check it out.
00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:36.880
They're doing really cool things that I really think you should be checking out to see their journeys.
00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:40.400
So without further ado, let's get to the episode.
00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:48.480
So um would you say uh the tech company was more based on inspiration?
00:19:48.720 --> 00:20:01.519
Um uh uh it was based on one, a a need to for me to satisfy because I did mechatronics, I didn't match for uh A-levels, um, I did mechatronics and uni.
00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:04.880
So there's that technical sort of engineering setup.
00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:14.799
And I like I function in my optimum when my life has both uh like technical analytical stuff going on as well as creative.
00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:29.039
So I needed to have like some technical even if I was doing sales, yeah, I felt like I needed some more technical negotiation kind of thing in my life and uh to use this, I guess what we people call the left brain.
00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:29.599
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.759
Like this analytical side of me.
00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:41.279
Um I I so bit of that and where the where the world's going, um, all of these things combined, I got into tech.
00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:47.359
Um yeah, and just chance maybe because because of the I got offered a tech opportunity as well.
00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.559
Like I was thinking along these lines.
00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.119
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.319
My cousin said, Hey man, you're in sales, like here, let's do tech sales.
00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.279
So, okay, cool.
00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.079
Brilliant.
00:20:54.480 --> 00:21:00.480
I I like the whole sorry, I I like the whole concept of the the left and right, I think even the logo here.
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:08.720
Like I I I want to talk about creativity from that point of view, like people need to even the people who use the left side need to be able to use the right side.
00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.400
Like that needs to go hand in hand.
00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:10.720
Yeah.
00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:13.039
Um, so I love that she brought that up.
00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:23.599
So I think that's you know, in a humble way, I think, I think for because I'm saying like I'm uh that's where I function the optimum, right?
00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:37.200
I I've had periods where I'm more like sort of uh I try to be more like again, I don't really know whether the brain really works like this, but like do more like left brain activities in my life or then other times of my life where it's all like right brain stuff.
00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:40.960
Like for me the optimum is when there's these are in balance.
00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:42.079
Like for me, right?
00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.440
I I need a bit of both.
00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:46.000
Like if I'm if I'm zero creative, yeah, yeah.
00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.079
Like life, I I become like a zombie.
00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.480
Yeah.
00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:55.359
If I'm all analytical, uh like zero creative, all analytical, it's like, whoa, I literally look like a zombie.
00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:59.759
And then if I'm like zero analytical, all creative also, like.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:04.319
It also like kind of throws me off balance and not I I'm not satisfied.
00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:11.039
But I'm satisfied when I when I let those energies kind of meet and simmer and do the thing.
00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:14.720
I think there are studies that backs that up actually.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:18.720
So um I I sh I'm gonna like maybe put it on here somewhere.
00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.599
But that's kind of where I uh uh you and I connect here.
00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:29.599
Um I was in a musician growing up, I was in choir and orchestra and all these things.
00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:39.920
Um and uh I kind of understood this narrative that as long as I do my studies, you can do these hobbies type of thing.
00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:45.759
And and I from a young age kind of took it as I'm not smart enough.
00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:48.319
I should only stick to what I know.
00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:50.880
And so I became a chef for nine years.
00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:56.400
Um and that decision was based off of like, I can't do anything else.
00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.920
I'm not smart enough, let's pick a safe field.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:03.359
And I was good at cooking when I was young anyway, so I was like, ah, this is fun, anyways.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.799
And I was really good at it.
00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:09.200
I only gave up on it just because of the bureaucracy and I wanted to work for myself.
00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.880
I figured out what I'm passionate about.
00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:19.279
So now I'm at a space where the business I run and um I do my creative stuff, I need to have a balance of both.
00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.519
I cannot just be creative all the time.
00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.119
I need to have the analytical stuff.
00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:25.519
So when you said that, I completely agree with you.
00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:27.359
That's like my synergy as well.
00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:29.920
Um, so that's cool that we connect on that.
00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.400
That's true.
00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:35.279
That's why I was like, I I've been following your journey ever since you were on Facebook, obviously.
00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.559
Yeah, just like I've seen you do your thing, and I'm like, that's cool.
00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:41.599
Like, I mean, I knew you were doing theater stuff and you were young.
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:46.240
So like for me to see you going the acting route was super cool to see that.
00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:48.720
And I I saw you like winning awards and stuff.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.640
Oh my gosh, that's guys, that's so cool.
00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:54.000
And then like we recently connected, and you're like, oh, I mean this side too.
00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.599
I'm like, wow, that's even cooler.
00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.400
Yeah, you know.
00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:06.400
It doesn't always like like some of my friends, uh, a lot of my ex-girlfriends uh you know struggle to understand this side of me.
00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:11.119
Like, I've got a plan, uh, but it doesn't make sense to a lot of people.
00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.839
Exactly.
00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.039
And that's okay.
00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.599
Yes.
00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:18.559
And um, you know, and you and and um yeah, it's okay.
00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:23.839
And and for some it like lacks ambition in some sense, yeah.
00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:25.359
Because they can't see it, right?
00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.720
Like it it it lacks ambition in the way they'd have it.
00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.279
Yes.
00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:32.720
Um, but then it is very ambitious in a different way.
00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:33.279
Yeah.
00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:39.599
And um, and then for others, like the plans uh like way ambitious, right?
00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:39.920
Right?
00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.039
It's wishful thinking.
00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.839
Yeah, yeah.
00:24:42.079 --> 00:25:12.400
Um and um like for example, um with my like um like I you know, four or five years, three, four years ago, 2022, 2023, when I said I'm going to go back to Sri Lanka, uh in Sri Lanka, I'm gonna be here and I'm gonna do um, you know, A build on the construction side, and then B uh do the tech thing.
00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:16.799
Like uh and then also do my drama, right?
00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:28.559
For for many people, and and there is truth to what they're saying, you know, oh you've got to pick one thing, and then you're gonna be the like my grandfather father used to say to me, um, the the jack of all trades is the master of none.
00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.440
Um and uh uh but there's another part of this, right?
00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.039
Yes, which I recently found out.
00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:48.960
But like when I said this, like it was wishful thinking to people, but to me, I had experience like in whether it's in acting, whether it's in construction, whether it's in tech, whatever you're doing, right?
00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:50.400
Things are cyclical.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.279
Yes, right?
00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:59.119
And I had been part of the family business, seen the construction industry, it goes through like cycles, like there's a cycle where it's booming, and then like you have no time to do anything but that.
00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.440
Yes.
00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.720
But then we are a down period.
00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.920
What do you do in that period, right?
00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.559
Like, unless you can obviously improvise into other markets and there are things to do for sure.
00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:10.480
Um, but the business here itself, like, was a is a down period.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:15.359
And then, you know, I I work in uh sales, right?
00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:20.079
So I'm not a developer, so I can give ideas on what to build and so on.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.400
But then even in tech, right, there's a development cycle.
00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:28.960
So right now we're we have a product at a tech company, uh, and then they're we're we're at a go-to-market stage, right?
00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:31.119
So there is a lot of work for me to do now.
00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.079
Yes, right.
00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:38.160
But in the last two years, yes, there was work for me to do, but those are like, you know, intro, like touching conversations, but figuring things out.
00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.400
Yes.
00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:41.680
Where do we fail, like you know, but now we've got something more concrete.
00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:44.240
You can take that bull by the horn and then run with it, right?
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:46.079
So now I'm required more here.
00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:53.119
But then last two years, even if I was trying to like do things there, I'll just be like getting frustrated because there's not much I can do.
00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:55.599
You're just like burning energy, right?
00:26:56.160 --> 00:27:02.240
Um even from my previous time at the family business, I noticed like I have a lot of energy.
00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:07.359
If I plug all that into that business, I'm just frustrated because that business is not moving at that pace.
00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:16.880
So um now here today we are, and both of those things have have uh kind of gone to a certain level.
00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:21.440
And um and it's because I chose both of those things.
00:27:21.599 --> 00:27:23.920
The third one, the acting one, has got a taken a hit.
00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.240
Yeah.
00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:28.160
Uh it's like because I just haven't had the enough time to focus on that.
00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.599
It's not the end of it, right?
00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.440
But also, I yeah, maybe, maybe it is.
00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.079
That's what I mean.
00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:34.880
Like I think I think to say that's what I'm saying.
00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:42.400
If you don't say it's the end, it's done now, like it's always an option to go back if you feel this the need, right?
00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:46.079
It is, but it's also like it's okay if it's done.
00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:46.559
Right.
00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:51.599
Because like I think we find it ha immensely hard to let go of things.
00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.240
That's true.
00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:57.440
And then you like the creative journey, like death is a part of the journey.
00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:57.759
Yeah.
00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.000
Yeah.
00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.559
Right?
00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:00.720
If we're if things don't die, there ain't no beauty.
00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:01.200
Right.
00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:01.680
Right?
00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:08.480
So um and and and you as an individual, you're constantly dying.
00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:08.720
Yeah.
00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.559
Like versions of you are dying.
00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.119
Yes.
00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:18.480
And uh for whatever version of you to emerge, that other like maybe maybe the core of you doesn't.
00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.119
Right.
00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:25.759
But then um, like Yeah, other parts of you just keep uh, I guess, reinventing.
00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:26.319
Yeah.
00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:31.359
Um and as an idea person, I'd have kept on reinventing parts of myself.
00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.160
Absolutely.
00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:37.759
And uh I've had like my credits call me like demand, like 1.0, 2.6, 3.0, 4.
00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:41.440
I think they I think they now season demand 5.2 or something like that.
00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.880
I I had different paces.
00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.880
And then you keep going thing, you know?
00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:46.960
Yeah.
00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:51.680
I I think that like you leave the option open with evolve and pro, right?
00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:59.119
And like even whatever you're doing now could technically be uh at one point less you would feel the same way you feel at.
00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:03.119
I mean it's an opportunity possibility open, right?
00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:07.039
Where nothing is concrete, like this is my identity now, type of thing, right?
00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.880
That's what I understood from you.
00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:12.319
Like, just was like, oh, I want to try and see what happens.
00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:14.799
And like that to me is kind of a bold thing.
00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:24.640
And like I I want to encourage that the CR is you have evolved so much, and if you kind of stuffed to this one thing, you would not be very red.
00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:28.079
In some sense, a very cream issue.
00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.000
Yeah, this don't talk to my friends.
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:44.079
Um what are some of the challenges you have faced as you kind of go on on this journey?
00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:47.039
And uh what have you learned from those?
00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:57.039
So, like one of the immediate things that come to my mind is um uh people saying pick one, I think.
00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.759
Um which I get.
00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:04.400
But I made a pick decision like about two years ago.
00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:06.880
I said, people say we have to uh amigo.
00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:07.680
Yeah, right.
00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:08.960
Yeah, right.
00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:10.400
I don't have to live this life.
00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.519
Yeah, we'll live it my way.
00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.079
Right?
00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:18.160
So and and uh yeah, that was one of the best decisions.
00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:24.160
Um and uh like I'm part of a great tech company.
00:30:24.240 --> 00:30:30.160
We've we we were selected with like bench engine, it's like Sri Lankan uh startup uh program.
00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:40.160
Uh and uh we got selected our company like out of like hundreds of companies, uh I think top ten finalists and and like many big companies there, right?
00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:48.400
So uh and uh got a great response that like we've got something pretty substantial, something that could be a unique audience.
00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:50.720
Uh I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, touch wood.
00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.279
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:57.599
Uh there's a lot of work to be done, and and hopefully, you know, uh in ten years from now, we've made that journey.
00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.079
Yeah.
00:30:58.400 --> 00:31:17.920
Um and and you know, I have a I I have a part to play at a piece of that because of, you know, going like fuck them, that's how we and then, you know, uh, you know, things have things are not great in the construction space, but we've made some recovery.
00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.240
Yeah.
00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:18.640
Right?
00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.319
And and we're doing decent projects.
00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.400
We're paid in the central bank next door.
00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:22.559
Wow.
00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.480
We're doing some work at the uh app.
00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.319
It's called Enchandra of the Decorators.
00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:26.640
Okay.
00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:27.279
N C D.
00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:32.400
So it's a four it's going to be 45 years um uh in you know the next month.
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:35.519
And uh we're doing work with John Keos.
00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:41.759
So um, you know, a business that wasn't uh like two years ago, it was in pretty bad shape.
00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.480
Still it's not it's not an easy road ahead.
00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:45.680
It's still rough.
00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:53.119
But uh, you know, we've held on and and things are you know uh uh going in a better direction.
00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:58.319
Um and that's all because uh you know I I did it my way.
00:31:58.559 --> 00:32:07.279
Um well with other people, I tend like when I say do it my way, but by no I I'm not operational anymore in either of these companies.
00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:12.559
So they are they are the people like that that are shouldering this and and riding this, 22 all of them, you know.
00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.119
For sure.
00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:17.920
Uh but for me to play my role, yeah, you know, you you calmed your path.
00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.960
Yeah, somewhat, you know.
00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.400
100% I think so.
00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:22.319
And I think it's super insane.
00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:26.640
So Eric, that was one uh like lessons, like, yeah.
00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:29.519
Uh man.
00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:31.039
I think that's a good lesson.
00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:53.359
Um it's try to there's a there's a it's hard to do this thing, which is and that's that the even then this shit came out of this thing where we've all got like this intuitive vote like thing that in our in like it comes from like here, yeah, and then um it it links up with your head, right?
00:32:53.440 --> 00:33:09.279
And then when you find synergy between the it's not easy to find it sometimes, um when you find synergy to act and acting on that, uh that gives your life the I think most profound result unique to you.
00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:18.480
Um so listening to that uh and and trying to move with in sync with that, uh that's been a challenge.
00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:26.400
Uh but yeah, I think I'm getting and it's relevant to what you're saying with the whole logo and uh and the balance we spoke of.
00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.200
Yeah, yeah.
00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:31.119
So let me end the podcast with this last final question.
00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:39.359
How does one listen to that intuition according to your experience?
00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:44.000
Oh tough fun.
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:50.000
Yeah, there are yeah, I think I I think you're always talking to you.
00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.359
Why is it going so fast?
00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:53.359
And I go, but I thought you was really fast.
00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:56.640
And then like it was a strange thing that happened, right?
00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:01.519
Where our emotions got caught up in it and it got flared, and then it got bust, right?
00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:05.440
Uh all happened in this like a very fast span of like a month.
00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:22.639
And like it sounds like immature and silly when I say like all that happened in the month, but in that process, I kind of noticed like inside me uh was this inner child that like some some like a little word, like little me, me, I say love me.
00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:29.920
All right, love me and like what it like it's not even saying that, but it's like you know, warning this love and affection.
00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:34.639
And I saw that and and I and I said, Yeah, there's this there's a child that like wants love.
00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:37.920
And then she's like, well, I and she's like, I can't even love myself, bro.
00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:39.360
I can't love you as your child.
00:34:39.679 --> 00:34:40.639
And fair enough.
00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:43.280
And and I got that, like someone else can't do that for you.
00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:43.599
Yes.
00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:46.079
Maybe you can meet someone who can hold some space for that, right?
00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:46.480
Right.
00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:50.719
But then the bigger, bigger, it's it's it's on you.
00:34:50.960 --> 00:35:02.800
Like, you know, like people like that, the world is loving, the world is kind, it does exist in the world, but you gotta show up for yourself and then do that work for yourself, like hold that space.
00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:04.159
We all have love, right?
00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:08.079
Yeah, and um sometimes we have like we've got pain and all that.
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:10.719
Once we sit through that pain, we have love inside us.
00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:16.960
Yeah, and when we discover that love, first we can share that love from here with ourselves and then expand out for everyone.
00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:20.880
Yeah, so um that's been a big victory.
00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.639
That I think so too.
00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:24.480
Yeah, I mean, definitely.
00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:27.360
Uh Bhima, thank you so much for being on the podcast.
00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.239
Thanks, man.
00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:30.639
I know you're a busy guy, so I appreciate your time.
00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.920
Thank you for having me.
00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:41.280
Listen, I I think more and more if we've been checking out our podcast and hearing these stories, especially happening in Sri Lanka.
00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:52.639
I think it's super cool to say that, like especially what Bhiman has gone through as far as evolving, I think is um so important than listening to yourself and and connecting with yourself.
00:35:52.880 --> 00:35:59.519
And um if you don't listen, you go at shit crazy and then eventually you learn.
00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:04.320
And sometimes if you listen too much to yourself as well, you gotta find the right balance.
00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:05.199
Yeah, 100%.
00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.159
Yeah.
00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:11.599
You gotta be wise about who who you listen to and how you listen to, and even if you that's yourself, you don't absolutely.
00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:11.920
Yeah.
00:36:12.159 --> 00:36:17.039
All I gotta say is keep dreaming, keep creating, and keep going on your own creative Odyssey.
00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:19.119
Till next time, see you later.
