Eating the Elephant with Aarzoo Batra (One Bite at a Time)

Aarzoo Batra — an entrepreneur, brand manager and fashion enthusiast — left Facebook in Hyderabad, India to ignite her entrepreneurial spirit at a tech startup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But, she took her 'passion for fashion' with her and is now also an avid fashion blogger and entrepreneur. 

Through a series of photographs, Aarzoo, or Zubeau, as you might recognize her on social media, tells us how each one of her parallel lives wouldn't be the same without the other. 

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​The problem with us millennials is that we get bored too easily. Having one job just isn’t enough!
 
At 21, I began working at Facebook in Hyderabad right after university in Pune. I had landed what most people would define as their ‘dream job’. It’s been more than 3 years since I decided to leave Facebook and the question people, including my parents, are still asking is “Why on earth would you leave such an organization?”
 
The answer wasn’t as clear back then but it is now. Even though I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start this rollercoaster professional journey, the entrepreneur in me was uncomfortable being one of many.  

​This led me out of my safety net and begin the next leg of my career. I joined Mindvalley — a tech startup redefining education—in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The opportunity to work in a new & dynamic environment, with people from around the world, helped me to rapidly identify my strengths.
 
Most importantly, this is where I realized that my personal and professional growth aren’t mutually exclusive but in fact so deliciously intertwined. Investing in relationships, a healthy mind, body and soul has enabled me to shape my career trajectory.

​While I have been business-oriented during the last few years, it is impossible to talk about myself without talking about my love for fashion. I started my own clothing line as a teenager; and since 2014, I've been running my blog, Zubeau, with the hope of taking the next step in pursuing my passion. Before I knew it I had a hundred thousand followers! 

At 25, I launched my own venture, Masakali. My co-founders and I realized there was a huge gap in the market for thoughtfully created Indian wear that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. Our skills and experiences along with my background in fashion enabled us to create a creative, honest and scalable platform.
 
My passion projects, Zubeau and Masakali, bring the right amount of uncertainty in my life. It challenges me and more often than not leads to innovation and growth. Even though I’m based in Kuala Lumpur, the biggest motivation for me to continue running my business back home has been my confidence in the idea itself and the potential I see in it.

​Managing a startup and a steady job can get extremely stressful. I have struggled with ruthless prioritization. I focus on just one big thing I want to accomplish every day. As Facebook taught me, “Stay focused & keep shipping”. But, I make sure to take out time for myself, for my own sanity. Meditating twice a day helps!     
 
I had second thoughts about starting up alongside my full-time job with the fear of feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start. But I’ve learnt to “eat the elephant one bite at a time”. 

​My advice to those skeptical of pursuing their passion while juggling a job — Go for it! Set goals that scare you but break down these goals into smaller goals that can be achieved on a daily basis. The key is consistency.
 
At the risk of contradicting an age-old formula for success, it isn't all about hard work. Hard work without a vision or dream to motivate you every day is meaningless. We all remember to work, but we often forget to dream.

Follow your heart and find the right opportunity in fields you're passionate about —  in the arts, writing, design, music and more.