"Till the End of My Era, I’ll Be Evolving and That Will Be My Source of Everyday Motivation" - Kirpit Kaur Arora

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1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I was raised in Delhi by 2 beautiful human beings, who have tried to comfort me with much love. As a kid I was very creative, to a level where I made a bikini with just my mother’s dupatta, no cutting or sewing. I was just 10 years old. Most of my childhood is spent alone or with nani ma because I was a kid who liked isolation since the start.

I was the eldest of the maternal side, so people had high expectations which got pretty hectic for my mental health and I always tackled it with escape. I worked hard but always was an average kid. After 12th, I had two Choices, either to do psychology or do B.com (H). I wanted to do media but I never argued with my parents and did Psychology.

It has taught me so much but I knew becoming a clinical psychologist was not an option, as the job requires an emotional stability that I never had. I was courageous enough to take a drop year to figure “it” out. I tried hotel management, got an OCER letter as well, tried working in the corporate world as a YouTube SEO. Every field, every day, everything gave me a signal to do something of my own, towards a more creative side and just this year I decided to study Aesthetic, Design & Fashion.

My mother always said “you’re not like us, you are different” and I found the positive it, it took me years to understand but I’m grateful that I did.

2. What led you to start your page on Instagram and what is it about?

I always had an Instagram page @kirpitkaur, where I used to post randomly, it was like an open book where I can paste anything but after working in a corporate setting with many talented human beings, I understood the importance of having an audience and networking which made me take Instagram seriously. Not just as an open book but more of a thoughtful fashion magazine.

3. How would you distinguish the term influencer from a blogger?

I am surely not in a position to do so as I've never gone to the blog side of creation. All I can say is when it comes to blogging, you have a website where you post your content and you have some visitors on your website, this way you have the power to influence.

Influencer is a broader term, where blog becomes a part of influencing. If you are a blogger, you are an influencer but it’s not vice versa. An influencer can influence in various ways, I do it with Instagram and YouTube, people can choose their way of doing it.

Metaphorically, we all are influencers. We just have to decide if we want to put a label on us.

4. Is it financially sustainable to be an influencer today?

With my experience, which is comparatively very little as I just started 2 months ago. I think In the beginning it’s not, there’s the whole algorithm that you need to learn, depending on that you need to make content, a lot of it in order to gain the respective audience which takes time. For some, it’s a matter of months and for the rest, it takes years. I am being very honest, please don’t mind it. 

Moving forward, there is a whole lot of luck that plays a very significant role but as a daughter of a hard working man, I can say if you believe in yourself and if you are ready to put 100% out there, you will grow. The intensity might differ but the direction will be forward. I believe I haven’t given my 100% yet it’s still between 20% to 30% but that’s the point you don’t learn to give 100 overnight. You are creating a masterpiece and not taking a nap. Give it time and it might show you wonders. A little tip, always have a backup because life is uncertain & at the same time, remember backup and your first choice can be relatable so think about it.

5. What do you think influences consumer behavior?

Authenticity, that’s the first word that came to my mind after reading the question. If you go on sharing different brands with different ethics, you might mislead the audience. In order to influence others, you need to decide what influences you and on that ground you build the road for others. For example, I don’t use products that are made by harming animals or I preach animal welfare but at the same time I am promoting brands that are not cruelty free or are not vegan, I will lose my authenticity and hence won’t be able to influence at the first place.

6. What is your idea of success or your mantra in life?

I haven’t established any mantra in life, I haven’t figured the recipe of success yet and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that because success is not a construct, it’s not concrete. It’s evolving and till the end of my era, I’ll be evolving and that will be my source of everyday motivation, that will keep my ambition. If I get a mantra in life then what happens next. If you get a formula on success then what? will there be anything after that? So my point is you don’t get to have a mantra in 2020, you customise every day according to the needs of that day, that environment, that situation.

7. How can someone become a successful social media influencer?

I’ll keep it simple, Preach-Reach-Teach. 

Have something that you are passionate about, here you figured out your niche.

Reach and build networks in the same niche.

Customise your niche and be consistent in putting out content. That’s how you become a social media influencer and rest, if we talk about 101 successful social media influencers then I am nobody to comment on it.

8. Which is your favourite book and why?

It has been and always will be, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. It’s very hard to justify why it’s my favourite book. it should be mandatory to read this book before you leave, irrespective of reader & non reader.

This book is a melody by Mitch, where a dying person talks about life and always remembers to trust the dying person.

I’ll quote something by Morrie and you’ll know why it is my go to book, my favourite piece of art, an epiphany than just a book.

“The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.”

- Kirpit Kaur Arora (IG: @kirpitkaur)

Interview by - Abhirup Dey