Neha Wahi

Tell us a little about your organization and your organizations journey so far?

Being Founder of Luxumhomes, I would like to apprise that our company is an interior design studio located in Delhi, India that provides a full range of high-end commercial interior design, residential interior design, lighting and decorative services. I have started this company in the year 2017. In Initial days, I had to face problems, like everyone who starts a new business does. It was hard for me because I had to take care of my house including my children, husband and my parents. Since this was my passion, I never let these obstacles come in my way to form Luxumhomes. As we say, we get what we work for, not what we wish for. I applied every effort and worked hard to achieve my lifetime goal and because of that, I am where I am supposed to be today. I had to maintain the role of a great mother, a good wife, a good daughter, and a good entrepreneur. I had to do all that together and since I am also working as a Psychologist that gives me energy to do and feel good always.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey as an entrepreneur, please?

Well, I am a god fearing and I always remain dedicated to whatever responsibility I have been given being lover of executing multitasking. I got married just after my post-graduation and that too at an early age. In the same year I was blessed with a lovely daughter. So many changes which I must say were also quite new to me and sudden, were became part of my journey. New environment, new place, a total new life, that too full of different responsibilities. I accepted everything with open hands and positive thinking, for I believe that adversity is an opportunity to prove yourself. At that time, my priorities were taking care of my home, my parents, my kids and my husband of-course. I never wanted myself to be occupied with other things at that time, because I wanted to justify with every relation and those were the foundation years of my new life too. In a way, at that time, it was like all I wanted to love my kids as much as I could. I wanted to give them the best upbringing, I never kept a nanny for them, like most parents usually prefer nowadays. Now, my kids are big enough to handle things and manage things on their own. With the grace of almighty I am having a happy loving family. After 12 years of my marriage, I pursued my MA in clinical psychology because that was always my dream and I told myself that now is my chance to lead people to happiness. This unwavering determination was the power. I always wanted to help people from their sufferings and the pain. I would listen to their problems, concerns and doubts, and to offer them clear cut guidance and encouragement that will leave them feeling confident end reassured. By god’s grace I was able to manage that as well and I am continuing that as a part of my hobby because I love doing it and I feel proud of myself that I got an opportunity to help someone making them get out of their pain. It rejuvenates me. I do believe that if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. This is because the thing that you truly love, will never actually be work for you. It will just be living your life to the fullest. I am always a creative child since my childhood. Now this is the time to fulfil those dreams. My entire family is with me always when it came to fulfilment of my dreams. Special thanks to my father and my daughters. My elder daughter always motivated me and encouraged me to fulfil my dreams. I still remember her saying this- “Mamma, there's nothing that you cannot do!”, and she gave me so much of confidence to really achieve what I dreamt of. Here, the journey as an entrepreneur started. I became a creative designer. I did my online courses and in addition to that, I learnt many things from my father, who is in Chandigarh, and also in the same line, he has been doing this for years. I did my internship under him only. Then I came back to Delhi and thought of starting my own Luxumhomes, my LUXURY Brand.

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over a job?

Well, I have lot of responsibilities, which I never wanted to neglect so that me and my husband were always on the same wavelength that he'll take care of my shopping and our business and I'll be taking care of the house and kids. We both were trying to balance our own responsibilities and I never wanted to neglect my family and kids especially in their foundation years. I always wanted to be a good wife & mother, wisely protecting my family and creating warm and loving home. So that is the reason why I chose entrepreneurship over a job. I wanted to show actual proof of my identity through my well-developed character, the way of my life, my family and contributions at work that we can do anything, come what may. In the end your determinations and your hard-work matters.

What gets you out of bed in the morning that is what's your source of motivation?

Working as a creative designer has taught me a lot. I realized that I feel the most fulfilled when I can create exciting designs that help and inspire people. whenever I get up in the morning, my first thing is that I pray to God and thank him for giving me a beautiful new day for facing and learning new things in my life. I get motivated that I got a new day to achieve my goals. I start the engine of my life with my prayers and chanting and a new determination to do my best today. My work is my passion, I don’t consider my work as a job and I love doing it. So, it’s very easy for me to wake up in the morning In our life we have two choices, first to take what life gives you or to be clear about what you want from life. If you know what you want, it will help you taking your life where you want to go. So, I get a motivation to look forward that what God has planned for me today and I take that opportunity and fulfil what I want.

During this COVID-19 pandemic, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?

This is the toughest time which came in every one’s life. In such time of coronavirus pandemic, we ensured to take full care of our workers and team, because I think without them, I could have not achieved my dreams. So, we gave them gloves and masks so that they are safe. During this period social media is the best thing to reach our customers and for promotions and all we took advantage of social media by putting our work videos and pictures on Facebook and Instagram. We did zoom calls with our customers. we tried our best to take all protective measures whatever are possible from our side as an educated citizen working for common goal.

What challenges / obstacles did you face in your journey so far?

I never say that I faced obstacles in my life, but I think these were the opportunities and new learnings that I faced in my life because if they were not there I would have never learnt how to deal with things. May be, I would have never explored myself. This is the way god is showing you the reality of life and I believe that there is no impasse we cannot break through. When we respond two most daunting challenges with POSITIVITY and RESILIENCE we grow in the process, they are source of learning.

What comes first for you, money or emotion?

I am a very emotional and sensitive person myself. Money can never be achieved without the forging of strong bonds between people. As you have to come close to your friends, customers you have to know them and their way of life, this will naturally lead to deepening of understanding about each other. The emotions of people are like sea. When the sea is calm and peaceful many ships can sail on it. So, in my case Emotions comes first.

How do you handle the pressure and manage stress? What is one strategy that you believe has helped you grow as a person / start-up?

STRUGGLE. Without struggle you will never get the opportunity for self-cultivation, there will be no growth no flowering of your potential and no harvest of the rich fulfilment of our dreams. If you really want to go up in life, pay attention to the smallest detail of your work, exert yourself and understand your inner potentials.

In your opinion what are the keys to success?

Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams and never compare yourself with others. Every individual has his or her own potential, their own talents, their own value so move ahead in life with what you are and what you have. Feel proud to be for what you have got and lastly respect yourself for what you are. Last but not the least work hard and there is no excuse.

What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur?

Well, here I would like to say that keep polishing your skills and keep improving yourself. Try to build an unending path in the life of future, take a stand and expand your network. Challenges, failures are part of life. Take them as learning and don’t lose hope. Victory or defeat becomes clear over the course of a lifetime, those who remain steadfast in faith are victors.