We were lucky to catch up with Dee Khasandi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dee, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I kept telling myself that these act just like a muscle. And to top it all, I quickly found out that no one actually cares. I don’t gain anything from lacking self-esteem but I have something to lose; be it opportunities, or even myself. Confidence allows me to get in rooms I would’ve talked myself out of, or thought I didn’t fit in. Confidence also stemmed from taking care of myself more. I look good, I feel good. Always been a mantra.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Well, I work as a full-time medical consultant and help end users (doctors, surgeons & nurses) get assimilated to new and efficient hospital systems. However, my real passion lies in fashion and motorsports. I find both to be exhilarating.
Fashion is art. It is how I get to express myself. I get fascinated by people’s style and how they put their pieces together, to represent who they are. You can tell a lot about a person just by how they dress. To me, it’s the utmost first impression, before you even speak. It gives room for self-definition, self-expression, and a sense of creativity that inspires others as well.
As far as Motorsports, I am fascinated by Formula one. Racing brings art, car culture, innovation, and speed into one seamless harmony. I think it takes special talent to compete at the pinnacle of Motorsport. It is fun, dramatic and exciting. I hope to work full time in Motorsport and I have a dream to inspire other under-represented people to do the same. Also, shout out to the incredible Lewis Hamilton who I look up to so much. He’s used his platform to create organizations like Mission 44 that give young, under-represented communities a chance at success in STEM, with emphasis built around a more inclusive education system. I appreciate his relentlessness, determination, and dedication.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I’d say (1) it’s okay to say no, (2) everything is a risk, and (3) rely on discipline.
(1) Being able to say no was an absolute game changer for me. I used to be a big people pleaser and quickly realized I was focusing on the wrong things, including getting others to like me. Saying no made me happier, even though it was tough at times. It enforced my boundaries and allowed for space and time to only do what I wanted to do. No is a complete sentence and a form of self-respect. It will allow you to value yourself more. So don’t be afraid to say no.
(2) Everything in this world is a risk. For this, I’d like to share a quote by Jim Rohn, one of my favorite public speakers. “If you think trying is risky, wait until they hand you the bill for not trying. Getting married & having kids is risky. Going into business is risky. Investing is risky. All of life is a risk; in fact, we’re not going to get out alive.” I’ve lived by this quote and it reminds me that there will always be risk, but it’s worth the try. Always take calculated risks. The worst that could happen is it doesn’t work out but you develop wisdom for next time. Never stop trying, never stop taking risks.
(3) Rely on discipline. Motivation is not enough. In fact, motivation will get you started, but discipline will keep you going. Motivation is temporary but discipline perseveres. The latter drives results. Just like most people, I don’t feel motivated always. But the only thing that keeps me going is discipline and looking at the bigger picture of what I want to achieve. So come rain, come sunshine, I get up.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc. – so, if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
The problem with going all in on our strengths is that one can easily start aiming for perfection, Perfection is, and always will be, a moving target. No one is perfect. Instead, it is far much better to be more well-rounded by putting effort in areas we aren’t as strong in. Moreover, humans are not just one thing. We’re many things, very multi-faceted. Being well-rounded makes one versatile and adapt to different situations easily. Focusing solely on strengths can make us overlook our weaknesses. It is vital we notice them, and put in effort to make us better individuals every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/deekhasandi
- Other: Email for any collaborations: [email protected]
