Piyush Sharma: My Biggest Message Is to Find Balance Between Passion and Purpose (Founder - Trickyman, India's Top 25 Educational Influencers)

Piyush Sharma Interview

 

"Real impact came when I began creating videos with a purpose—to genuinely help students with their careers and education."

Q. Piyush, you've built a massive community by simplifying career and education for students. How would you describe the story of your journey so far, and what keeps you motivated?

My journey to becoming a content creator began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I had started a YouTube channel called "Tricky Man" in my final year of college, my full-time job kept me too busy to focus on it.

During the pandemic, my manager encouraged me to learn something new. I decided to create a video on a topic I was learning, and to my surprise, it received a lot of views. This motivated me to consistently create educational and career-focused content.

When I need motivation, I think back to my old job in Noida, which was a long commute from my home in Delhi. I would wake up at 6 a.m. and get home at 11 p.m., spending 6 to 7 hours a day just on traveling. Remembering those long days pushes me to keep going.

Q. Why the name “Tricky Man”? How did it come about, and what does it say about your mission for students?

When I first searched YouTube, I found many channels with my real name, Piyush Sharma. As an SEO and digital marketing expert, I knew that in the long run, having such a common name would make it hard to stand out. I needed something different.

The name "Tricky Man" doesn't have a deep meaning; it just came to me. I felt students needed someone who could give them tips and tricks to land an internship or a job, or even show them how to get paid courses for free. I thought "Tricky Man" was a catchy name that would reflect this kind of content.

Q. What made you leave your software job to go full-time into educational content? How did that shift change your idea of success?

Leaving my job to become a full-time content creator was a difficult decision, but I believe the COVID-19 pandemic was the main factor that made it possible. Once I realized that I could do this kind of work tirelessly and passionately, I knew it was time to leave my job.

This shift completely changed my idea of success. I used to think success was a stable income and a secure career. Now, I define success by the impact I have on others. 

Helping students land internships or get free courses is more rewarding than any salary. The freedom to work on my own terms and the positive feedback from my community showed me that success is less about financial stability and more about creating value and building a community.

Q. You’ve overcome fear of public speaking. How did those experiences shape the way you teach and mentor now?

In the beginning, I had a great fear of public speaking, which is why I avoided live sessions and events for three years after starting my YouTube channel. However, I eventually realized that to truly help my audience—the students and professionals—I needed to connect with them directly.

This realization motivated me to start accepting invitations to college events as a guest speaker and lecturer. 

Since then, I've had the honor of speaking at top universities like Delhi University's Gargi College, IIIT Delhi, IIIT Lucknow, and Chandigarh University, as well as at the corporate offices of Microsoft and Google.

Q. Your videos always seem to hit exactly what students are struggling with. How do you stay so in tune with what they need?

In the beginning, I literally asked my audience in the comments what they wanted to learn about. I’d research and make a video on it the very next day. My strong research skills were a huge advantage. That habit of listening first and creating second became my strength.

Now, after years of experience, I get a lot of insights directly from students I meet at events. They tell me what’s trending in their lives, what challenges they’re facing and what’s currently happening in their lives, and those conversations give me the best ideas. 

The key has always been the same: listen carefully, then deliver value.

Q. Piyush, your story shows that resilience and purpose can change lives. For students and creators who look up to you, what’s your biggest message about following passion and making an impact?

My biggest message is to find a balance between passion and purpose. When I started, I was just making content out of passion, but the real impact came when I began creating videos with a purpose—to genuinely help students with their careers and education.

Don't just chase views; chase value. Success is not about going viral; it's about building a community and creating content that truly helps people. If you focus on making a positive impact, the passion and the recognition will follow. Find what you're good at, use it to help others, and you'll find true fulfillment.

Bio

Piyush Sharma, better known as @TrickyMan, is the founder of one of India’s largest educational YouTube communities. An engineer turned educator, he quit his corporate job in 2020 to dedicate himself full-time to helping students with careers, internships, and learning opportunities.

He has been recognized as one of India’s Top 25 Educational Influencers by UNSTOP and invited to speak at global tech events including Google DevFest 2024 and GDSC WOW Delhi NCR, as well as top universities like IIIT Delhi, IIIT Lucknow, Gargi College, and Gautam Buddha University.

What started as a small YouTube experiment during college has today turned into a movement, with Piyush inspiring millions of students across India to learn, grow, and build their own paths to success.

Follow Piyush Sharma on LinkedIn


Interviewed By Monika Bhardwaj