We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dimple Luhar-Sidhpura. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dimple below.
Hi Dimple, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?
Staying curious and interested in many things, can make you want to listen, whether its from a teacher or a wise friend, a boss, an elder family member, we were inspired to listen to the stories and learn. From my experience since childhood, it became a habit to listen and take instructions and carry it out without question. I am the eldest sibling and had to take charge in many situations from a young age, whether it was walking my brothers to school or making them a meal. This then became my identity, to be a good example and a good leader in anything I did. An example, when I was learning my instrument, which is a harmonium, and I played Indian classical music and took part in many concerts that I used to perform with a team of other talented musicians, and during practice, I would take the lead, by asking a question and then learn what each piece the person is playing and then plan how it will go and then carried that command, because I keep things simple in my language style. When I was a child, adults would talk to me using complicated words, I often would not understand, which lead to confusion and further curiosity to find out what they are trying to communicate to me. This hardship actually turned me into a better communicator and be able to explain in lamen terms to others, because I wanted to make sure that my peers and younger siblings could understand and help them.
I was very eager to volunteer in teaching children my language of Gujarati, because I observed the way in which the children were being taught, and they were not enjoying the class as it was very mundane way of simply writing the same letter over and over, now don’t get me wrong, I believe repetition does work, but only up to a certain point, because there is a high probability of causing de-motivation to a child and not want to come back to the class. I wanted to to teach voluntarily and bring fun methods and create materials to ensure that the children would really “get it’ and understand. My communication also improved from attending communication courses with Skill path, and then actually applying the teachings.
I am also into having a positive mindset, which has come from listening to personal development videos and being inspired by many people such as Wayne Dyer, Louise Hay, Bob Proctor, Tony Robbins to name a few.
One of my favorite books is ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey. There is a powerful message in this book which is to “Seek first to undertstand, then to be understood” I have always been in leadership roles when I was in the Corporate environment and would thrive in inspiring people, because I have been through so many jobs where I have worked with not so inspiring leaders, and I felt strongly about making a difference in the way a person should feel about coming into work each day and enjoy it, because the end result is more motivated and better output. For over 30 years, I have said to myself “What I do, I do well”. I read that in one of my lettering books I purchased as a child and it has stuck in my mind to date. I would also advise to stay curious and be inspired, even if you remember only one thing, that one thing can change your mindset.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Since I was a child, I have always loved drawing and creating detailed work. I have come to believe after several observations that what you do as a child naturally, later on is your gifted talent that you should pursue, or somehow it always comes back to you, as you feel that inner burning desire to do what you love. My story began in London, U.K, where many of my relatives would be getting married, and one of the events is a Mehndi evening, where everyone gets to relax and sit and chat and and there were always henna applicators available, couple of my aunts were the specialist artists, that other family members would line up for, to get a nice design done. I was very impatient and couldn’t wait and decided to grab a henna cone and create a mehndi design on one of my hands. I think I drew a tree the first time, as I write this, I am laughing at that memory, however at the same time now when I think about the current requests I receive to create a “tree of life” design, it appears quite normal now – wow, that just occurred to me. Fast forwarding to my college days, I used to practice with a ready made henna cone and would go to college with my own mehndi design, feeling so cool and empowered that I have a temporary tattoo whic inspired friends to request me to do it for them and I’d be very happy to do so. I continued creating designs and buying design books (which I have still kept to remind me where I started in my self taught art), and after I got married, I would apply mehndi on my mother in law. My cousin was getting married and she was my first bride and she loved my mehndi work on her. My confidence grew in this area. In addition, I have always enjoyed hairstyling and make-up. Many of my friends and family would ask me to do their hairstyles, because mine were very unique. This then sparked the passion for getting brides ready. Moving along to 2005, I was offering services here in San Diego, and had quite a good amount of clients for bridal mehndi and bridal dressing, and did that on a few occasions, as I was working full time. I later had children and decided to stay at home and take care of them for a short while, and then went back to a corporate job to feel more stable. For some reason, the universe kept calling me back, because a friend at the local temple I attended in 2019 had seen the mehndi that I did on myself one day and asked if I would help her out sometimes, and so I did. It was very satisfying. I kept going to work full time and then decided to try it out again to have a business on the side to offer my type of designs, hence the name “Dimpsi-Mehndi” (Dimpsi style) and I registered my business in June 2021, and I am persuing this full time since the last 2 months and my second year in business. It just feels like a divine nudge pushing me towards my passion and making people happy. Since offering my services, additionally, I have created designs with white henna and Jagua which creates a black stain, and is all natural from a fruit. This year, I had a booth at the Padres opening block party and was invited on morning TV shows twice and was interviewed and had an amazing experience. I have met with other great artists and have collaborated with them, they make me feel like I have a tribe with a high vibe and we understand each other. I was working so many jobs that I did not really enjoy, and finally I feel at home. I have served 100’s of clients each year and I often hear “It’s so beautiful,. I love it”. The people keep me going, even when I had no business in some weeks. I am focusing every part of my inner being into serving people and staying on purpose and it brings my family and I much happiness. I love meeting new people and making people have a unique experience. As an Entrepreneur, I have a heart full of ideas that I have wanted to do and it will be rolled out as I go along, from making my own unique clothes and hair jewelry for brides and teaching children on Summer camps.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
To start anything, you need to make sure the passion and desire are from the heart. You also need to know the “Why” of what you are offering. This is because it serves as a good anchor point to come back to, when you feel that on some days you want to give up when things are rough, just remember the “Why”. You must ensure that you are really offering something unique and do not call your self a professional until you really are. Art is from the heart and a person creates new designs. You can copy, but then you are not creating as an artist. You will get asked from customers to create things from elements that they like. For example, I was asked to draw San Francisco bridge on one bride, and then the Monet painting of the bridge on another bride. these are a couple of examples. You need to be confident that you can do that. I have a degree in art and a Bachelors in Business Management and Marketing and feel this is a relevant match to what I have always wanted to do. Competitors will try and put you down and influence you to do things which you can decide if you want to listen or not. You may not have a mass following on social media, but that does not matter because I have learned that many people are always looking at what you do on a daily basis and won’t necessary follow you or like your content, because they could be resonating with their own insecurities which is not your problem. Focus on your own talents and keep going.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is one who is allowing of me to be creative and not to manage my work. My ideal client should be appreciative of the efforts that go on behind the scenes to prepare good henna paste which I mix myself with all natural ingredients. I like giving respect to my clients and would expect the same in return, whether it be responding to a text message or an email. I enjoy a good laugh and not someone who is so serious, I like to have some conversations about how the couple met and often like to create stories for my viewers to share uplifting happy loving stories. I appreciate a blank canvas to create and don’t like to copy other artists designs fully, unless the client really wants it, then I will do so. All the above characteristics apply for hair and make-up too. I enjoy fun conversations with clients and getting to know them too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dimpsimehndi.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/dimpsimehndi
- Facebook: facebook.com/dimpsimehndi
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimpsi-mehndi
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQLgWO5uFnK8CkiPhvG12UQ
Image Credits
Image Credits to Dimple Sidhpura
