About Me- Aaftaab Ali
Emotions Elevation Coach, Author
Dear Friend,
I am Aaftaab Ali, but you can call me Ali.
I am an Emotions Elevation Coach and Author.
I help working professionals achieve extraordinary success in their lives by tapping into the power of right thoughts and emotions.
Firstly, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to come here to read my story. I strongly believe that there are no coincidences in life. If you are here, reading my story than it means we are on same frequency.
Let me share my story with you.
My Childhood
My childhood was truly amazing. I was born into an upper-middle-class family. My father was a businessman, and my mom was a housewife. Being their only child, I got a lot of love and attention.
I studied at Christian Eminent, one of the best schools in Indore. I was good at studies and was usually among the top 10 students in my class. My parents, though not very educated themselves, wanted me to do well in school and always encouraged me to work hard.
I loved playing cricket and chess with the kids in my colony and truly lived like a prince — until one day that changed everything for me.
Life-Changing Event
In 2001, my life changed forever. My dad had a terrible accident. He ended up with half of his body paralysed and a brain injury. I remember feeling scared and helpless as I watched him suffer.
My dad survived after surgery and lots of treatments, but it cost us a lot of money. Our happy, carefree days were gone. I suddenly had to grow up faster than I wanted to and think about helping my family.
My dad didn’t have much in savings or insurance, so now he could no longer work or provide for us. I felt the heavy weight of responsibility for the first time, knowing that our lives would never be the same.
MY STRUGGLES:
Struggle to Get Education:
After my dad’s accident, we had no money, not even for my school fees. I was accounts topper in 11th grade, but when it came time for 12th grade, I faced financial challenges that almost prevented me from enrolling. However, I managed to pay the fees and continued my education while starting to work as a teenager.
I got a part-time job at a supermarket, promoting Nestle products. I was just 16 and didn’t know much about earning money. My days became a routine: going to school in the morning, then spending rest of the day promoting Nestle products at the supermarket until 9 pm.
Even though I was an introvert, something shifted when I was at work. I found I could confidently approach customers to suggest items that might interest them. My smile, along with the natural selling skills I inherited from my dad, made it easy for me to connect with people without being pushy. I actually enjoyed selling and talking to customers.
Growing in My Role:
The store manager noticed my passion for the job and soon offered me a full-time position. Over the years, I worked in different roles, starting as a Sales Executive. My responsibilities were basic at first — cleaning shelves and helping customers find items.
During a period when my marketing job was irregular, I completed a Diploma in Computer Applications and learned Tally. This additional training helped me earn a promotion to Head Cashier, eventually leading to managing both store and accounting duties.
Balancing College and Work:
After high school, I dreamed of pursuing an MBA, but with no funds for CAT prep, I settled on a B. Com in Taxation at Maharaja Ranjit Singh College in Indore.
Life quickly turned into a daily roller coaster. I’d wake up at dawn, study a bit, cycle to college by 8 am, and head straight to the supermarket for work. My day wouldn’t end until 11 pm. It was hard juggling college and a job on a tight salary, but those years built my rock-solid mindset.
I worked even on holidays. I couldn’t afford a single day off — every extra day meant I could pay for my education. I still remember standing outside my college director’s office, waiting to ask for a scholarship. It was uncomfortable — I didn’t like having to ask for financial help, but I had no other choice. I was determined to complete my degree, convinced it was my ticket to a better future, away from the cycle of waking, working, and repeating.
Leaving the Supermarket Job to Pursue CA
Despite all the odds, I graduated as a top student in my class, even winning the Best Student title in my college. Not bad for a poor boy who almost had to quit school after his dad’s accident.
During college, things got harder at home. My father was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and my mother was dealing with hypertension, diabetes, and schizophrenia. But my 10 am to 11 pm job at the supermarket left me unable to support them. I thought my B.Com degree would land me a better job, but the reality was different.
I was still working as an Assistant Manager in the supermarket when I realized I needed to aim higher to support my family. That’s when I decided to pursue Chartered Accountancy, a challenging but affordable course with the promise of a high-paying job. It required articleship training, which meant I couldn’t keep a regular job.
With my father’s encouragement, I sold our home, left my job, and moved to Udaipur. We traded the busy life in Indore for a quieter environment where I could focus on studying and caring for my parents.
I was determined and cleared the CA Entrance with a score of 163 out of 200 on my first attempt, followed by CA Inter. I completed the articleship training, convinced that a brighter future was just around the corner.
With our savings gone, we lived in a rented single room, barely getting by on borrowed money. Still, I felt certain that once I became a Chartered Accountant, everything would fall into place, and our struggles would finally end.
One More Blow: Failing in CA Finals
In 2015, I anticipated what I thought would be the best day of my life, but instead, it became the most crushing moment I could have imagined.
I was filled with excitement as I awaited my CA Final results, completely unaware of the unexpected turn my life was about to take. Sitting in front of the computer screen at a cyber café, my heart raced with hope. But when the results finally appeared, my world shattered.
I had failed.
In that instant, everything I had worked for felt like it had collapsed. I was stunned, staring at the screen in disbelief. Years of hard work and sacrifice seemed to disappear before my eyes. I felt like a complete failure.
Before that moment, I had dreamt of a bright future — a high-paying corporate job, the chance to repay my debts, a wedding, a home, a well-settled life after all the hardships I had faced. But in that heart-wrenching moment, it all crumbled. It felt like the end of my world.
The debts I had taken from relatives felt heavy on my heart, leaving no room for a second attempt at the exams. Money problems forced me to quit my studies, which only deepened my depression.
The following months were unbearable. After failing my CA Finals, I tried to find a job to support my family, but it was far from easy. I found it easier to get hired at the supermarket in my teenage years than to find work now.
Every door I knocked on seemed to close in my face. “Half Chartered Accountant with no experience” became a cruel label I couldn’t shake off.
Rejection after rejection wore me down and hurt my already weak mental state. It was during this time that I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, just like my father. For me, though, it felt more like severe depression.
Marriage had always seemed a distant goal — something I refused to consider until I became a CA. But after my failure, I thought, “Why not marry now?” Perhaps it would bring some kind of stability to my life.
But once again, I faced more rejection. No girl wanted to marry a bald man burdened with dependent parents, no home, and no financial security.
Each rejection added to my pain, making my depression even worse. I felt like I had hit my lowest point. The goals I once believed in turned into painful memories of failure, and the weight of disappointment felt heavier than I could bear.
In those moments of darkness, I struggled with the realization that the world I had hoped for was slipping further away, pulling me deeper into depression.
Life-Changing Moment
I can still recall that day vividly. I walked into the CA’s office for a job interview, hopeful for a fresh start. But when he offered me a salary of just ₹7,000, I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me. It was nearly the same amount I earned at the supermarket seven years ago when I left that job.
My household expenses, including rent, my parents’ medical bills, and the interest on my education loan, far exceeded that salary. I couldn’t help but wonder: Is this what I had been striving for?
As I reflected on my journey, I began to think about how much I might have earned had I stayed at the supermarket. I felt a deep sense of empathy for all the students who were unable to complete their education due to financial constraints. Politely, I declined the offer and exited his office.
While getting my bike from the parking lot, I asked the watchman how much he earned.
He replied, “I make ₹9,000 a month, and they’ve even provided me a servant’s quarter to live with my family.” In that moment, I felt like asking him to help me land a watchman’s job because I desperately needed the money.
That night, I picked up my journal for some self-reflection. I realized that, until that point, I had spent my life chasing degrees, but our education system felt broken.
It didn’t teach us the real skills we needed to navigate life’s challenges or solve everyday problems. It failed to equip us with the confidence needed in the face of adversity.
Despite being the top student in both school and college, a commerce graduate, and a CA Inter — technically a qualified accounting technician — I found myself facing rejections and low-paying job offers that were less than a watchman’s salary.
I started to question my decision to leave my job to pursue CA.
I thought about the thousands of students who lack even the education I had received. How would they tackle real-life challenges armed only with bookish knowledge that neglects vital topics like mental health, problem-solving, personal finance, interview preparation, repaying loans, and even finding the right life partner? The list seemed endless.
Fortunately, my habit of self-learning and my past work experience allowed me to regain my confidence. That night, I made a commitment to myself: I would never stop learning from life. I realized that self-help books had always been my trusted companions, guiding me through difficult times. I embraced my identity as a lifelong learner.
That day, I committed to find a job, repay my loans, and eventually get married. I promised myself I would never surrender to life’s challenges.
My Comeback
I faced a lot of rejections, but eventually, I accepted a low-paying job. It felt better than sitting at home and feeling lost in my depression. Slowly, I started to pay off my debts by taking a small part of my salary each month and sending it directly for repayments.
Meanwhile, I continued to face rejections from girls when it came to marriage. But I held on to my faith. I believed that if God was making me wait, He must have something amazing planned for me — and eventually, He did.
In 2019, one day, while browsing a free matrimonial site, I found a girl who liked me for who I am, not just for my looks. She was well-educated, beautiful, and had a kind heart. I never thought I could find someone like her as my life partner. But God is truly great; His plans are always better than ours.
Fast Forward to Today
I’m happily married to that girl I met on the matrimonial site. I have a super cute daughter. I’m proud to say that I’m completely debt-free and living in a beautiful home.
On January 1, 2024, I left that low-paying job. It was no longer low-paying. They were now paying me almost five times what I initially earned. But I decided to pursue my passion as a Coach and Author.
By now, you might be wondering — how did this all happen? How did I overcome depression? How did I repay the loans? How was I able to rebuild my life from scratch, even without the CA degree?
I wish I could say it was easy, but trust me, it wasn’t. This journey didn’t happen overnight. It took years of consistent hard work, learning, and relentless determination to get here.
Each time I faced a challenge, I asked myself, How can I overcome this? I tackled one problem at a time, learning to believe that even if I didn’t have an immediate solution, I could find one. I’ve come to realize that every challenge has a solution; it just takes the right attitude, patience, and persistence to uncover it.
As Tony Robbins once said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in two or three decades.”
Let me briefly share the secret.
SELF-EDUCATION
After Failing in CA Finals, I immersed myself in self-education. Real-life problems can’t be solved with just academic knowledge; you need mentors who are doers, people who have walked the same path.
The truth is, there are no new problems. Similar challenges have similar solutions — all you need to do is find someone who’s solved the problem you’re facing.
To repay my debts, I studied personal finance books and applied their principles. To cure my bipolar depression, I read several books on mental health books and I was able to cure it without medication.
In short, whenever I faced a challenge, I found someone who had overcome it, learned from them, and applied those solutions.
This is real-world learning.
My Spiritual Journey and Personal Development
Looking back, what pulled me through those dark times was my faith in God Almighty. I believe that everything happens for our highest good, even when we can’t see it at the moment. My faith in the hereafter also shaped my perspective, knowing that our actions here are a test for the life to come.
I owe my success to the authors and mentors who openly share their wisdom through books, courses, podcasts, and other content. Without their guidance, I would have remained lost.
I’ve read thousands of books and invested substantial time and money in my self-education. This is the open secret to my success. I live a minimalist life, believing in simple living and higher thinking. I like to surround myself with like minded souls. It helps me learn and grow.
My Mission and Vision
Reflecting on my journey, I wish I’d had a guide during those challenges. Self-learning would have been smoother and more engaging with a coach or mentor. I firmly believe each of us holds immense potential. We’re all capable of bigger things.
My mission is to create a new breed of thought leaders, vibrating at higher frequencies, equipped with knowledge, real-life skills, and the mindset to live on their own terms. I want to empower individuals to master their inner game, harness the power of their thoughts and emotions, and face life’s challenges with confidence and purpose to positively impact the world.
My vision is to create a better world where everyone lives a productive, happy, peaceful, and fulfilling life. I want each person to live life on their terms, doing what they love and helping others do the same.
But I can’t do this alone. We need more thought leaders. Together, we can succeed — there’s no lack of resources, no competition, there’s more than enough for each one of us.
There was a time I didn’t believe in myself. I needed someone to believe in me, to tell me I was bigger than my problems. When I couldn’t find that person, I turned to books for guidance and hope.
If you’re facing life’s challenges, connect with me. Together, we’ll find solutions. Allow me to be your guide.
I’m not a teacher; I’m a student of life. I learn from challenges and believe that, together, we can overcome anything. Let’s create a legacy for our future generations, one step at a time.
I’m here to support and encourage you on your journey to share my learnings from school of life.
Let’s stay connected and make progress together.
Love,
Aaftaab Ali
You can connect with me by clicking here or visit my website.
