We invited Tanjina Ashraf Khan, Founder & CEO of MentCouch Psychology Centre Kuala Lumpur for an interview with Most Popular Stories. Let’s get to know about her entrepreneurial journey.
1.Tell us a little bit about your journey as an entrepreneur and the reason you chose entrepreneurship over a job?
I grew tired of being chained to a desk from 9 am to 6 pm. The “working” environment did not inspire me and it limited me more than it made me grow. I’d always feel I could run the company better than most of my superiors. I remember when I shared this with my father; he said, “Maybe you are a leader”. At that very moment, I decided to start my own company. I called a friend of mine and told him, I am starting a company and you are joining me, he said “okay” and left his job right after. That is how MentCouch was born and that’s how my journey as an entrepreneur started.
2. Describe the services that you offer and in what way they are unique?
We offer various psychological services. MentCouch stands out because we don’t limit our services to certain clients only. We do not target clients with specific disorders or concerns. Our services are meant for everyone, not just people with problems. For example, our “mindfulness therapy” is something anyone and everyone can opt for. We provide affordable “active listening services” for people who just want to walk in and talk to a mental health professional. We also offer “therapeutic yoga” which is especially aimed at relaxation and stress reduction and is good for everyone including beginners. We have a team that prefers integrative approaches to serve client needs, and our services can be specially curated to serve the unique needs of each client. We understand that every individual is different and their needs, experiences, and concerns differ too.
3. What difficulties which you have faced or you are facing?
For an entrepreneur, no two days are the same. One day you could be by yourself all day writing, designing, or sending emails. The next day you could be a guest on a podcast or doing interviews. If you’re an introvert like me, the first day seems a bit more appealing. But you need to put yourself out there every single day and be okay with being uncomfortable. Also, when you work for yourself, there’s no boss looking over your shoulder you really need to be self-disciplined and self-motivated.
4. How do you handle the pressure and manage stress?
I take short breaks whenever I feel the need to, it can be as short as a day or half a day but it helps immensely. Sometimes we tend to prioritize work only and we put off rest breaks. Taking short work breaks leave us feeling mentally and physically refreshed and I truly believe that this is something we should not be ignoring. The other weapon that has helped me immensely in life is “acceptance”.
5. In your opinion what are the keys to success?
Resilience, consistency, optimism, and a good team.
6. What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur?
There will be times in your journey when you will hit the wall and have ZERO progress. You’ll lose that dreamy spirit for a while and you’ll have doubts about your business, your future and everything else that you put on the line. When these days arrive, make sure to understand one simple rule: Reality is subjective. This is just a phase. The second advice would be to make bold moves fast. Execute your ideas no matter what. Defy the big guys (or befriend them). The market notices the bold. Lastly, WORK WORK and WORK!
7. How many hours a day do you work on average & can you describe/outline your typical day?
Because of the current Covid19 scenario and travel restrictions, I largely work from home most days, starting when I wake up around 6 am. After getting my tea, I run through two to three dozen emails and Whatsapp messages awaiting my attention, half of which can be quickly read and discarded. Some email needs careful replies, or some sort of followup work, where each could take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to address. It could be someone wanting to collaborate with us, or it might be an interview request with a dozen questions needing answering, or a research query about something of interest in my narrow area of expertise, or someone seeking a job, etc.
Before I know it, it’s probably 10 in the morning. I take a break from email and do about 15 minutes of meditation followed by a light breakfast. I spend some amount of time updating my social media as well. I write mostly on mental health issues and current events from psychology or mental health perspective. Then, I take about 2 clients a day.
Before you know it, it’s lunchtime. The afternoon is filled with a lot of reviewing client files, more writing, and another run at emails/messages that need attention. I much prefer being in the office rather than working from home. I’ll often try and slip in a 30-minute nap in the afternoon, which refreshes and re-energizes me for the latter part of the afternoon. Afternoons are also when I try to go out and drive around.
Most days I stop work between 6 and 7 and eat dinner around 7:30 pm. I relax, watch some of my favorite shows, and call it a day. I rarely check my email after this time, as this is my personal time when I get to disconnect and veg out with social media, or writing for pleasure, or even talking to my friends.
Connect Here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanjinakhanofficial/?hl=en
Business Website:http://mentcouch.com
Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentcouch/?hl=en
Facebook:https://web.facebook.com/mentcouch/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mou-khan-mbpss-5a763a57
Blog: https://earlymorningchic.wordpress.com
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