Mary Pouline, Author and Founder,
Sapience Publications

Hi, I am Mary Pouline. and I am here to share some insights with you. Always full of ups and downs, an entrepreneur’s life is nothing short of an adventure. More than a decade ago, I made a conscious choice not just to make a foray into the world of entrepreneurs, but to play a serious role there. Since then, every day of my life has brought me opportunities to learn. As I keep learning, I keep growing and as I keep growing, I keep soaring to heights I had only dreamt of. It gives me great pleasure to share with my beloved readers some of the wisdom I have been fortunate enough to gain over the years.

The Top Five Lessons
I Learned Before 30

The three-decade mark in a person’s life is a momentous occasion. Right at the heart of adulthood, it straddles the vibrancy of youth and the maturity of middle age. It is when we are most productive and engaged in our professional and personal life. Let me share the top five lessons

I learned before I hit 30.
1. Peace within yourself brings prosperity. It might sound impossible. But it works.
2. Planning prevents poor performance.
3. The power of words can make or break a business or any relationship.
4. Pouring out emotions requires wise choices. Consider what to talk, where to talk, when to talk, why to talk, whom to talk with, and how to talk to them.
5. Programme your mind with the clock. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

The Importance of Facing Your Fears

Fears can be classified into three categories.
1. Known Fears – We already know that we fear certain things. These can include crossing the road, encountering cockroaches, meeting new people, encountering ghosts, etc.
2. Unknown Fears – We won’t know we have that fear until a situation throws it up.
3. Superlative Fears – These include the most common, most popular, and most intense fears.
According to Croake and Catlin’s 1969 – research, fears can vary based on a person’s age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. Every decade features a distinct pattern of fear, such as personal fears in the 1960s, and political fears in the 1970s. The pattern keeps changing. In 2024, fears may include concerns about AI, technological advancement, careers, and personal matters.
However, it is essential to work on overcoming these fears. They can be likened to pebbles in our shoes, and it’s best to identify, understand, and address them. Your life’s most fulfilling moments may be hidden beneath a bag of fears. It’s important to uncover them and cast them away. Face your fears!

Stay Away from These Four Types of People

In our personal and professional lives, we come across people of varied characters. Some of them may be a pleasure to have in our lives, while others may be detrimental in many ways. Some, we may be glad to call lifelong friends, while others, we may be happy to be rid of any moment. Looking back on my entrepreneurial journey so far, I would advise you to stay away from these four types of people.
1. People who don’t view you as a human being: People who only stick with you for money, resources, or knowledge. If they are self-centred, it is better to avoid them.

…contd in Aalumai Sirpi Magazine.