Careers Uncovered: Ashraf Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Number 1 Sales Trainer and Author of “The Craft of Selling Yourself”
May 31st, 2009 | Posted in Employers Blog by Ashraf Chaudhry | 45 Comments
1. Best career advice I ever got: I was in 7th grade, when I read the translation of Dale Carnegie’s classic “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. I learnt that throughout our whole life, we are in the ‘selling’ profession. The function of ‘selling’ starts with first cry for milk by the baby and it just goes on. When you opt to roll out your professional career, you are in the ‘selling’ business all the way. You sell your ideas to your colleagues; you sell proposals to your boss; you sell budgets to finance; you sell stumbling blocks to yourself as stepping stones. I am incredibly lucky that I got this career advice in my childhood from no less than Dale Carnegie. When you take yourself as a salesperson rather than as an employee, your approach towards career in particular and towards life in general is very different. You take everybody as your prospect. You remain on auto-networking mode all the time. You look for avenues within the organization as well as outside where you are able to sell your ideas. By selling ideas, you create value-addition possibilities. The more valuable you are to the organization, the bigger price tag you will put on your services. That is how you scale the heights of career.
2. Favorite Job task I ever had to do: Writing The Craft of Selling “YOURSELF” was one of the most favorite “job tasks” I ever had to do in life. There is a very thought-provoking dialogue in the movie The Rookies, that is something like: “It is fine to do what you want to do, but sooner or later you have to do what you were meant to do”. I believe I have been designed to share my life experiences with others and to impact people’s lives with life-changing trainings and writings. This is what I am meant to do. It is a great discovery. When I decided in August 2008 to “retire” at the age of 38 from a 9 to 5 safe and comfortable job to start my own entrepreneurial venture of changing people’s lives by challenging their disempowering and limiting beliefs, as a first step to long journey I started writing The Craft of Selling “YOURSELF”. I was not a professional writer but I discovered that I am passionate writer. I wrote my book in 21 days! It was launched in Pakistan in November 2008 and soon it was approved by a US publisher. Last month, it was published in USA. Now the book is available at Amazons (USA, UK, Germany, Japan and France).
3. Most dreaded job task I ever had to do: Once in my career, I made a wrong choice of working for some marketing research company. I accepted the offer without doing sufficient reconnaissance on that organization. Late sittings for one day or for one week is acceptable but if it is culture of the company to retain employees till 11 pm and even beyond is no less than slavery. I worked for that company for a few months and I still recall that experience as nightmare.
4. Best career decision ever made: I think going on the entrepreneurial flight is the best career decision I ever made. I am achieving three objectives. First, my working hours are very flexible. I give more time to my family now. I have independence. I am my own boss. Second, I enjoy what I am doing. I don’t take my job as ‘assigned’ or monotonous drudgery. I am my job and job is me. Third, I am impacting people’s lives positively.”
5. Weirdest career decision ever made: Going for a ‘9 to 5’ safe job after MBA. Had I started my business soon after graduation, I would have been at a different place today. It was the weirdest thing to go for fixed salary while Almighty’s universe is vast and unlimited. I think one should be in the hot pursuit of one’s passion. The Rest of things follow automatically.
6. My Biggest Professional Challenge: Trainings are normally taken as expense by the companies instead of investments. In current times of economic meltdown, business organizations have come very hard on training budgets. As a trainer, it is the biggest challenge to stay sustainable in the business, but I am quite optimistic that the current recession is not going to last forever. Things will take the u-turn soon.
7. Icons who have influenced my career progression/Role Models: I take inspiration from people like Anthony Robbins, Stephen Covey and Bob Urichuck. Anthony Robbins is my real role model. He is the man who despite no formal higher education has impacted lives of millions with his seminars, motivational tapes and books. In Pakistan, Abdul Sattar Edhi is an icon and a living legend. Despite no formal education, only with dedication and deliverance, he has erected an empire of philanthropic services. I have literally seen him in Karachi holding sack in his hands on roadside and people making queues to give him donations. It is incredible!
8. Most recommended readings (Websites, books) for people interested in my field of work/ industry: “Awaken the Giant Within” by Anthony Robbins and “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino are the two books that every professional must read for personal and professional enrichment.
9. In another life, my perfect job would be: To enable and empower unfortunate children to lead lives of abundance and prosperity.
10. A successful career thought/ motto that I live by (and advise others to consider): Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whatever you think and perceive consistently, manifests in life. Human beings become what they predominantly think. If you think you are genius, you will become. If you think abundance, you will get abundance. If you think scarcity, ultimately scarcity will be your fate. So one must choose one’s thoughts very carefully because thoughts finally become reality.
Very motivational & inspiring article. Thanks for sharing, keep writing with same spirit.
Ashraf Chaudhry, has made an impact on the marketing scene of Pakistan. This interview provides interesting insights about his personality. He mentioned some events that distracted his career some-what, but, I feel every good or bad experience counts finally in making the person you become. This interview can be inspiring for young readers.
Where you are today and what your today is from your experiences. When you say, you should have started on the entrpreneurial journey sooner, I think not. Its the reflection of your past thats made you what you are.
Keep up the good work, and your interview is inspiring. Best of Luck!
Ashraf, your interview is a strong dose of Motivating Injection which is needed by everyone on daily basis.
Best of luck for your Future.
Ashraf, a great interview! I must share with readers that your book has changed the way I used to treat career. Now for me a career is an over dymanic thing that happens to you every day!
“Best career advice i ever got…” a wonderful and worthreading interview of Ashraf Chaudhry .One learns alot while reading about his experiences.
I really believe and should accept with open heartily that Mr. Ashraf Choudhry really has done a great job of writing a book that really going to play an vital role in any professional life, but most of all he has shown great courage of chosen to be his this career and has became his own master.
Becoming our own master is a dream of every one, but rarely people found courage to take that step, very few of them took this step in their career and only small ratios of these people get fame in such a small span of time.
I really wish him more success and wish that I could also have the same courage to become my own master.
Great Job, Ashraf!
Looking forward to your continued successes.
Can’t wait for your book signing in LA.
Best regards,
GIna
Great thoughts! You really need a determination and courage to take bold steps. I have read The Craft of Selling “YOURSELF” and being recruiter myself I think that is the best book for job-seekers.
Kind regards
Sara Adam
sara4resume@gmail.com
Congratulations on choosing a path only a few MBAs dare to tread. It takes a lot of courage. There is nothing better than being your own boss and loving what you do. Dale Carnegie is great. I also read him at an early age. It is good to see that someone has put his teachings to practical use. Tony Robbins is quite successful. My only criticism of him is that he talks too fast. The trouble with motivational speakers is that they charge you up with nowhere to go. It is important to have a written down plan and to follow it.
Please carry on the good work. May Almighty Allah grant you many many successes in life.
Dear Ashraf Sb
“Success is the result of good judgement.Good judgement is the result of experience.Experience is often the result of bad judgement”
and
“My happiness depends on me.I am as happy as i want to be”
I remember these quotations while reading your comments.We as a nation need inspirations and role models rather than just inspirational lectures.We need you so go on and make new role models.This is real sadqa jariya.I will be always there to support you.
Keep Growing!
RTA
Bravo Ashraf!! A true work with enormous inspiration!!!!
As every individual is gifted by the Mighty Creator but many never get enough blessed to discover their special treasure hidden in themselves. Out of the few blessed, you are the one lucky being. May your aura keeps on inpiring others and your true story becomes the benchmark for the striving ones.
Keep on thrilling.
My bestest wishes to you and all who are reading this.
Saima
“success story “of Mr. Ashraf Chaudhry is extremely exceptional . He has abundance of his passion and lust for his targeted success and I think this is the only driving and motivational force that turns his dreams into his “real strengh. Ashraf knows this fact like as a strong quality of his , that is why all of his efforts are always materialized in the most focused way. His is a complete model of inspiration for all those who know him. I wish him the very best of luck.
I like your courage to start your own bizz after doing such long 9 to 5 pointless exercise. I like those who think differently and don’t follow the others path. Rather make their own path, so other follow them. Good Luck
wow, I am impressed. You absolutely right that “choose one’s thoughts very carefully because thoughts finally become reality” people must have to choose right thought. but the point is how many people do what they want to do, Less then 1 % from my point of view.
Great article Ashraf! We share favorite authors. The 28 day Tony Robbins cassette program inspired me to get into commission sales in 1992. Then I started making BIG bucks, thanks to Tony’s advice. Steven Covey wowed me so much that I changed my license plate to WINWIN which I still have to this day!
Congratulations on your book. I’ll buy a copy this week.
If you send your address, I’ll send a copy of my book to you. “The Magic of Working Smarter”
Enjoy life and making a difference!
Neil
I totally favour and second the “success story “of Mr. Ashraf Chaudhry to whom I know as one of the leading selling expert of the word. Our young generation must avail his expertise and our country must adopt and support such proud sons.
Very motivational and candid interview! Mr. Chaudhry definitely has a talent of inspiring people. The way he presented his own experience provoked so many thoughts about career options I did not consider before. Agree, that’s the most valuable result. Next thing on my agenda is to hunt for his book.
A good understanding of life narrated by Mr. Ashraf Chaudhry. It all comes down to the person to find out what is the right decision to take when one knows what he or she is destined to do.
Dear Ashraf, I am very much impressed and encouraged after reading you interview. I also want to extend my personal congratulations. It’s all about your hard work and positive attitude.
Very inspiring Ashraf, thank you. These days I am reading Dale Carnegie’s How to win friends and it totally changed my way of thinking and dealing with people. You were really lucky to get to this treasure of a book in young age. I really like the following quote;
“It is fine to do what you want to do, but sooner or later you have to do what you were meant to do”
Thanks for such a wonderful article on career advice.
“When you really want something, all the universe conspires in your favor, ” says Paulo Coelho in his book Alchemist. So whatever we do in our life, lets do it with all the determination and will.
I always say in my mind “This person is a real genius. There are lots and lots of thing to follow in him. Where should i start with” This interview has proves his geniousness once again. I appreciate his ability and salute his spirit and idea to educate people what ever he has learned in his life.
I like to do motivational seminars in Pakistan. This is a wonderful series of Seminars called Excellence
Please write to me for next seminar at vsiceo@gmail.com
Simply WOW its an excellent article not only for those who are going to start their careers but also for them who are sick and tired of their jobs and are in the mid of their careers (Offcourse the peak time)….
Best Wishes for you & Keep Rocking with your enthusiatic Artilcles!!!!
Cheers!
AOA Mr Ashraf, in this little article you have taken us thorugh you whole success story… good to read this success story… you are training people and what I understand you have asked people to come out of this 9 to 5 job. I beleive everybody in such job would love to become enterpreneur. number 1 if all work for the same ground then nobody will be available for jobs. Number 2 becoming enterpreneur may be a different ball game for you and for the rest of the world. I like the myth of “thoughts” that if you think you can.. you can… however this may not work for all… as there is one thing called “fate” that is also attached to it.. it might sound a bit pessimistic approach.. but i call it realistic… this does not mean that one should not try.. everyone should try to explore fate not once.. rather keep on trying.. best of luck…
Simly awsome and have a great thrust of inspiration and motivation….
keep on the same path and best of luck for the new endeavours.
Its great,,,, i am really proud of these sort of Pakistanis who are invoking people to think in a different way….. You are really an inspiratoin and a motivation for thousand of other who have the fuel but cannot muster up their talent to give vent to their energies…. and they let the time and the talent slip from their hands just becoz they have not been given an inspiration and motivational thoughts and nothing have touched them.
Congrates on eve of the publication of your book…..
Dear All
Greetings!
I am extremely grateful to all of you for encouraging and motivating comments. I re-iterate that our thoughts ultimately become things. So we need to safeguard our upper-chamber with utmost care.
I thank you all for your love, appreciation and nice words. Bayt.com has offered me to write regularly for the blog, so stay tuned and keep clicking.
Warm regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
ashraf@ashrafchaudhry.com
Dear Rehan,
I beg to differ here with u saying that, if all people become enterpreneur, then who will do the Job…….
I reckon that the theme behind such articles is not to instigate the people’s mind to change the work they are doing, but the real essence is to change the way of thinking the folks are adopting…. What Mr.Ashraf did is not to be replicated,,, just to refine our thinking.
just my thoughts…..
Dear Asif, I dont disagree with you…. and I am also in the favor of changing the thoughts to change the life… after all its all up there in our upper chamber… yes we all need to refine our thinking.. May Allah bless us all with knowledge and courage to change ourselves.
Good interview article!!!
I am impressed with the flow of thought process…..waiting for the 1st chapter to read more.
Hi MAK, thanks.
At what email ID you would like to receive 1st chapter.
Warm regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
ashraf@ashrafchaudhry.com
Dear Mr. Ashraf,
Its good to know about your success story, I would like to add few words here which are actually is the answer to Q. No.5. You have been trained till your 38th birthday and it was by design that you spend these years learning the lessons which you are now applying successfully and above all confidently. You are actually preparing your self for the new life because life acutally starts after when you are 40.
My addition to The Rookies dialogue; “It is fine to do what you want to do, but sooner or later you have to do what you were meant to do” because its meant to be done like that.
Good Luck!
Regards
Fahd Khan
Social Entrepreneur
good one Ashraf
Masha Allah
keep it up
Hi Sir,
Congrats on your first write up in the shape of a book on your own life experiences, to which undoubtedly many of us could relate to in one way or the other (I make no assumptions here, but your interview seems quite an evident instance.)
Let me tell you, having read Section: “Best career decision ever made”, you’re masha’Allah very lucky to have settled in all three counts – to pursue an ideal career with clarity, focus, endeavor, dedication and true spirit & to become what one aspires to be (you made it a reality).
However, most people dream big but their limited resources and lack of appropriate knowledge (or confusion) sometimes lead them to choosing a wrong career path (that might be only a temporary need for them varying according to different life instances for different people). I say, for you catching up with your “9 to 5 safe job” turned to be a ‘motivation factor’ later on that might have made you realize how you could be different e.g. “like, becoming your own boss.” I’m glad you achieved it at a much younger age
(P.S. I haven’t been able to buy your book but just sharing my own thoughts reference to your interview. Do correct me if I’m wrong at any point.)
A worth reading article!
Best Regards,
Almas
Dear Ashraf,
I am very happy to read your interview. Congratulations!
The realistic approach which you have identified and shared, I strongly agree and assert it. On a point you said that if you have started your own business earlier you might be on a different position. Here i would say that events and opportunities come in our life on their own time. We must always be in the process of preparing ourselves to get acquainted with them. So success comes when it is to be. I started my entrepreneurship very earlier in life, after having some job experiences too. All gave me a vision and let me through to the hardships and achievements which now count alot. Similarly, you must have learned an enormous ways of achieving what you are up to now.
Your success seems to be in your mind. Your positive approach and positive attitude towards society is what holding your path, blessed. It is a privilege having a person like you in our society, community and nation. We were lacking this. As we are Muslims, we should have been the first one on teaching the world, this particular craft you identified. We have the best rules and most authentic laws for such.
I pray for your success and i hope many others will take you as their mentor.
Keep smiling and growing in knowledge,
Munnira
Dear Ashraf,
There is a lot of potential in Pakistan but we need role models like you to follow and learn.
I am proud to see your article here and the positive comments my our country men.
Ashraf is a seasoned trainer in the realm of ‘Sales’ – His advice and counsel has helped many am sure. His book is an asset for all seeking guidance in enhancing their skills and excelling at sales.
I wish him all the best for his future endeavors.
Good interview Ashraf, keep up the good work – may you grow and prosper!
Regards,
Farah Malik.
Very interesting and thought provoking. Really impressive to know that you are retired at the age of 38.
a) I come from a rural background. Rural areas have their own limiting beliefs; this is almost universally true.
b) I have read many motivational books that I deeply appreciate for their intellect and research
This said, I can honestly say that this man don’t have any sophistication. His sophistication if any is his simplicity. His narration is so simple, straightforward and passionate. Anyone who has true values but have genuine curiosity can definitely appreciate his courageous narration.
People may have difference of opinion in the success rate of methods he suggested. But everybody will appreciate the conviction in writing.
Wish you all the success Ashraf Choudhry.
Santhosh Narayanan,
A Supply Chain Manager
sanecon@gmail.com
“I use curiosity for confusion after reading his book
“
Dear Ashraf Choudhry,
Your ideas on selling is interesting. However, thinking everything in life as selling doesn’t seem to make sense, for me at least. There is a chance of becoming manipulative if we consider all activities as selling.
The warmth of relationships will get lost and superficiality will surface.
Viswanathan, An avid reader
Dear Viswanathan
Thank you very much for stopping on the blog and sharing your comments.
It is very unfortunate that Selling is considered as arm twisting, manipulating, lying etc.
In fact Selling is a divine activity. It means convincing, persuading, providing solutions, influencing and showing the right path. All prophets/sages ‘sold’ divine messages to general public. Army generals sell their strategies to soldiers for implementation. I believe Selling is the second oldest profession and 1st noblest oldest profession:)
I hope it helps.
Warm regards
Ashraf Chaudhry
ashraf@ashrafchaudhry.com
Dear Ashraf Choudhry,
In the sense that you told about Army generals, prophets/sages, selling is good.
I am not a marketing professional. But actually there is a need only that a seller makes a want, right?
So when a man can drink fresh and pure water, a seller convinces and persuades to buy cola. Isn’t this manipulation of human psychology. Does any seller say that “Hey man, the best thing for your health is pure water from your well. But if you want to have the taste of cola you can purchase”…I think never, except when in items like cigarettes where there is a statutory warning !!
Viswanathan, An avid reader
Dear Ashraf Sahib,
I am really very glad and inspire to read your artical. I will pray for your furture Prosperity and growth.