1. What has your journey been like?
My journey has been a rollercoaster. It has been full of highs and lows. I started cubing in 2014, and since then, I haven’t stopped. What often goes unnoticed are the times I stumbled and fell. For the first 4 years of me cubing, I never really came close to winning anything at all; I would go to competitions but never really won.
But the thing was that I loved cubing, and the journey was more important for me than the destination, so I continued doing it. As time went ahead, I started getting better, improving, winning, and eventually breaking a few Guinness World Records.
Cubing ended up teaching me a lot of things and helped me branch out into different areas as well. I was able to start my first business- Learn 2 Cube, where I made an online platform that gave people Rubik's Cube lessons. I was able to get into public speaking as well.
The overall journey has been amazing, full of memories and lessons that have helped shape me into the person I am today and have helped me make a name for myself.
2. What drew you to cubing, and how did you get started in this hobby?
I was given a Rubik's cube as a gift back when I was younger. For the longest time, I tried not to scramble it because I didn’t know how to solve it. Eventually, after looking at the cube sitting on my desk for days, I decided to scramble it and give it a shot. I spent the next few weeks trying to learn how to solve it, spending the entire day on the internet reading articles, watching videos, and trying to learn how to solve the cube. After a few weeks, I was finally able to solve it. I still remember the happiness I had when I saw all the colors match for the first time.
I eventually started getting more and more into it, spending my whole days watching videos about Rubik's Cubes on the internet. I started buying new cubes, learning them, and kept on practicing. One day while watching these videos, I came across a video of someone solving the cube in 8 seconds. I was so amazed by that and wanted to do it myself, so that’s what led me to start speed cycling, learning new methods, and trying to get faster.
I started attending competitions too, and I loved going there, even when I wasn’t winning. I was in it for the social aspect of it, interacting with people, making new friends, and spending time with people who love doing the same thing as you. I continued cubing only because I enjoyed the process; going to competitions was something I always looked forward to. I was in it because I was having fun, not because I wanted to improve.
Eventually, as I started getting better, all the records and victories were an additional bonus for me, and I could finally see my hard work paying off.
3. How does it feel to hold such big records at such a young age?
It feels surreal. I could never imagine getting such achievements when I first started. When I first started, the Rubik's cube was just a playful exploration, a puzzle I liked solving for fun, but it ended up taking me to places I could never imagine.
Being recognized and making it on the news were super big things for me. It also shows me that my hard work and all the unnoticed failures eventually did pay off in the end. It can get overwhelming at times, but it is always important to stay humble, and that’s what I try doing.
4. What insights did you gain by starting Learn 2 Cube?
Learn 2 Cube was my first entrepreneurial stint and ended up teaching me a lot. I was able to leverage my hobby and create a business out of it.
I learned about things like marketing, acquiring new customers, building a website, and other small aspects of running a business. It wasn’t an easy path; for the first batch I took, I had to go door to door with a cube in my hand, convincing people to join my classes. I used to go to public places and demonstrate my cubing skills to others and then tell them I could teach them how to solve a cube.
It was a totally new experience for me, and I ended up learning invaluable lessons. The one thing I learned is just to stay persistent. You might not be seeing results at the moment, but if you keep putting in the right time and effort, you eventually start seeing progress unfold before you.
5. How did you discover your passion for public speaking, and how has it evolved over time?
I discovered public speaking and my love for it by simply going ahead and doing it. I gave a TEDx Talk, and initially, I was super scared and nervous, but once I went ahead and actually did it, I felt amazing. Hearing people come up to me and tell me that they learned something from my talk was the best experience for me. I got a chance to put out my thoughts and spread my ideas to bring out a change. Initially, when I started, I was super nervous and wasn’t looking forward to it much, but now I absolutely love doing it. Getting on stage, and sharing my ideas with others is something I highly look forward to.
And just like all things, the more I get into it, the more things become easier.
6. What is a book you would recommend to others and why?
The book I would recommend would be - The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy. I am a big believer in manifesting and speaking your ideas into existence. I find myself going back to that book time to time, and I suggest others to read and implement it at least once. I have seen the power of manifestation work in my real life, and I am a big believer in it.
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