Twenty-eight-year-old Sheikh Asif from Kashmir’s capital Srinagar never thought that “an idea” will change his life and he will become an owner of a company worth Rs 2.5 crore. He did something very unusual and achieved such a feat at a young age. Since childhood, he was tech-savvy and his love for his profession made him the owner of Thames Infotech (A Manchester based IT Company). He has so far trained over 900 youth across the country including from his home town.
In this TCN interview, Sheikh Asif talks about his mantra for success.
Auqib Javeed | TwoCircles.net
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Sheikh Asif. I am from the Batamaloo area of Srinagar, Kashmir. I was born in 1993 in district Pulwama. I am an Entrepreneur, CEO & Founder of Thames Infotech (A Manchester Based IT Company). I did my basic education from a reputed school of Batamaloo namely Talent Educational Institute.
How did you start your company? How did the idea come about?
Although, I do not have any higher education, but for me, education doesn’t mean having a degree. Education for me means how much you are eligible to do. This mantra worked for me. I faced so many struggles in life – both financially and psychologically. However, my do or die attitude made the difference. I always knew that my passion will take me to where I wanted to be.
I decided that whatever situations I face, I will never give up. Besides, I kept working hard and these two reasons took me to my goal. My dreams to be an entrepreneur, and a programmer never let me sleep. I have burnt my sleep to fulfil my dreams. I believe that if you want to be somewhere in life, you need to come out of your comfort zone and that’s what I always did. I was stubborn towards my goal and I eventually reached my goal. I am still wandering for more and more. I always believe that successful people face many struggles in their lives but it is they who decide not to stop and never give up. This is what forces nature and circumstances and make you successful eventually.
I was always attracted to gadgets and devices and perhaps it was God gift in me. I was always interested in coding so I joined an Institute. It, however, didn’t satisfy my hunger for learning and I decided to learn on my own.
Tell us about your company?
Thames Infotech is a creative digital agency with a diverse creative team, who work together to craft out-of-the-box designs for you. We are a full-service creative agency that simply believes in making digital success stories. We specialize in custom website development, Apps development, graphics and much more.
How many Kashmiris have you trained so far?
I have trained 900 from other states of India and 40 of these students were from Jammu and Kashmir.
What were the challenges you faced when starting your company?
Success was never easy for me. I missed meals, lost peace, and worked endlessly. My first job paid me mere 1500 rupees but now my company, Thames Infotech is worth 2.5 crore rupees. I worked as a computer operator at a local store back in 2008. I switched many jobs till I reached my goal as an owner of a UK based company.
What is your message for the young entrepreneurs of Kashmir?
My message is simple. No matter in which field you are working, no matter how low your salary is, no matter how tough life is for you – you just keep doing what you love. Persistence will pay you in the long run.
Auqib Javeed is a journalist based in Kashmir. He tweets at @AuqibJaveed