A Journey from Slippers to Success - Manoj Chandran

Feeling a bit down? Need some inspiration? Well, let me tell you about my amazing journey!

I started out selling slippers in Chennai, making 200 rupees a day.

and now?

Now I'm selling gadgets all over the world and earning in dollars!💰

Can you believe it? From begging at just 20 riyals at the Qatar airport to now being able to help others in need.

But wait, there's more! My story isn't just about overcoming challenges; it's about never losing hope and always believing in brighter days ahead!

Ready for some positivity? Read now and come along with me on this inspiring journey!

Introducing Manoj Chandran: The All-Rounder!

Hi, I'm Manoj Chandran, a 25-year-old from Guduvanchery, Chennai, India. My family means everything to me. We're a family of four: my hardworking dad, who drives an auto; my wonderful mom, who takes care of our home and sells sarees and stitches blouses; her entrepreneurial journey always inspires me; my younger brother, who recently landed a job at Zoho;

and me, still trying to find my way in this world.

From Slippers to Septic Tanks: My Early Odd Jobs

I started working when I was just in 10th grade, around 2011-2012. My first job? Selling slippers! Crazy, right? My parents always told me to focus on my studies, but I wanted to try different things. So, I took up odd jobs like cleaning septic tanks (🤫shhhh! a secret I kept from my parents). Not because we were poor, but because I wanted to try, learn and earn everything in this world from my experience.

Football, Failing Grades, and Late-Night Jobs: A Funny Mix!

Alright, back in school, I was quite average, scoring around 50-60%, and I studied at Government Boys School, Guduvanchery.

But football? That was my thing! Then came college at Tagore College (B.Com CS), which was a blast! But, I got so into sports that by the third year, I had 17 arrears, and they ended up suspending me because I skipped classes a lot and got into some rowdy stuff.

Also, did some side jobs, like delivering for Swiggy and Amazon. Oh, and remember that Google Tez thing😃? Made some quick cash referring friends, 250 rupees each time! Used that money for college hangouts and buying new sports gear.

But hey, here's the kicker: I cleared all my exams in the next two semesters while working as a labour in night shift at the chocolate factory in Urapakkam! Ah, Those were fun times!😅

After clearing my exams, I immediately joined Tally ERP 9 at Guduvanchery Prince Info Tech. Once I completed my course, they arranged a placement for me in a leather company as a junior accountant located in Kannivakkam. I traveled 20 km by bus and 6 km by walking to reach that company. However, after just a month, I resigned from that job.

After that, I switched to working the night shift at Aagna Global Solution, a BPO near Concentrix in Eechangadu Junction, from 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM for a period of 3 months. During this time, my friend Manish and I barely managed to get 2 hours of sleep after our shifts. Afterwards, we'd head straight to Mahendra City to distribute pamphlets at railway stations and bus stops until 5 PM. From there, we'd rush to the office and login by 6:30 PM.

We stuck to this demanding routine for 3 months, but it really exhausted us both physically and mentally. So, both of us made the decision to quit our night shift jobs and spent a few more months working in Mahendra City. Eventually, Manish followed his passion for photography, and you should definitely check out his page! Meanwhile, I found a job as a customer service representative at Phoenix Mall Fun City.

However, I left after 3 months because I received a job offer from Qatar, with the help of my cousin.

Qatar: A Land of Opportunities and Challenges

In 2019, I landed a job in Qatar as a junior accountant, earning 2000 riyals a month, equivalent to about 38,000 Indian rupees. Things went smoothly for the first 5 months until the Qatar government seized our store's location to build a military base.

Our CEO, Sheikh, had no choice but to close the business, leaving us without pay, a place to stay, or even food. Thankfully, my brother was there, so both of us, along with another brother who worked as a manager with me in the store, stayed at his place.

Later, I realised that with the FIFA World Cup 2022 coming up, there might be job openings in safety roles. So, I made the decision to study NEBOSH IGC in India and then head back to Qatar for work.

After a lot of struggle with Sheikh, the Indian embassy finally helped me cancel my visa, and I got a flight ticket to India. But there was another big problem waiting for me. The company hadn't provided me with a Qatar ID, so I was hit with a fine of around 40,000 Indian rupees. The company paid the fine with the assistance of the Indian embassy, but they only cleared the fines up until the day they booked the flight ticket. Sadly, my travel date was two days later, and I wasn't aware of this. I was just overjoyed at the thought of returning to my country to see my family and friends.

The Great Airport Begging Incident 

So, as usual, I happily headed to the airport with my brother, who had worked with me in the store and faced similar issues. But at the airport, he cleared immigration first. Meanwhile, I got stuck because they insisted I pay the fine for the two extra days I stayed without an ID. I was confused and shocked and didn't have any money on me. The cousin who dropped us off gave me some money for emergencies, but I felt bad and returned it to him since he was also facing tough times in Qatar, and he needed it for his family.

I was feeling lost and with little time left before my flight, I didn't know what to do. My brother had moved to the next gate and couldn't come back to help me, and we both didn't have any money or a way to contact anyone. The airport officers had my passport, and time was ticking away. With tears in my eyes, I waited for more than 20 minutes and even tried to convince the officer, but it didn't work.

Then, I realised I had only one option left: to beg. Talking to myself, with tears streaming down my face, I said, "Okay, Manoj, there is only one way, and you have to do it. Don't worry, everything is a life lesson, and you'll come out stronger from this."

So, at the age of 20, I started begging for 20 riyals, which is about 400 Indian Rupees, in the Qatar airport. I approached nearly 10 people, all from different countries. Unfortunately, everyone rejected me, and some people even started staring at me, making me feel guilty and embarrassed. I started crying. Finally, a kind person from Chennai used his card to help me out. But here's the funny part: despite all the stress, the flight ended up being delayed for 7 hours! 🥲 #indiGo6E.

After arriving in Chennai, I really wanted to return the money to the person who helped me, but I couldn't find him. My younger brother and friends were waiting at the airport, so I collected the money with the intention of giving it back to him. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate him.

After a couple of years, I found his Instagram ID and sent him a big thank you message. I also asked for his GPay number so I could give back the money he lent me. But guess what? At first, he thought I was trying to scam him! 🤣 After I explained everything, he remembered and understood, but he said he didn't want the money back. So, instead, I decided to help someone else who needed it. And that's exactly what I did.

Lockdown Life: From PUBG to E-commerce Genius

So after all those struggles, I studied hard and cleared my NEBOSH IGC course, earning my certificates in February 2020. I was all set to move to Qatar, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the lockdown was imposed, and I lost all my plans and hard work.

I felt lost and unsure of what to do next. During the lockdown, I spent the first 3 months playing PUBG, trying to pass the time. Then, one day, I noticed an Amazon delivery to my neighbour's house, and it sparked something in my mind. I wondered how this guy Jeff Bezos was still earning money even during the lockdown. That's when it hit me – despite the restrictions, people were still making money online. That realisation prompted me to decide to learn something new and enter the world of e-commerce. I uninstalled PUBG and began researching on my government laptop. Unfortunately, I got scammed by some websites—they took my money and blocked my account. But I didn't give up. I delved deeper and discovered Amazon affiliate marketing. I watched YouTube videos to learn how to create websites and blogs from scratch. Using a free domain on my government laptop, I started promoting Amazon products. After being rejected multiple times, I learned new things from each rejection, and I created a website incorporating all my learnings.

This time, I launched it in the USA and achieved sales. However, later it faced rejection again. Despite this setback, I received payment for the sale from Amazon headquarters in California, delivered to my house in Guduvanchery in the form of a cheque. In that moment, I was filled with excitement, realising the potential of making money online. After extensive research and exploration, I stumbled upon the Drop-Shipping business model with the guidance of one of my cousins. Upon comparing it with affiliate marketing, I realised Drop-Shipping held greater profit potential. So, my cousin and I decided to partner up. We began learning everything from scratch – from managing meta ads, Google ads, to designing Shopify websites, integrating payment gateways, graphic designing, and providing customer support. We wore multiple hats, from employee tasks to CEO responsibilities, to ensure our business ran smoothly.

$0 to $68,000: The Journey of Shopify Drop-Shipping

After registering our business in the USA, we faced the challenges of launching during the lockdown. Despite the hurdles, we successfully launched our first professional venture. The sleepless nights and sacrifices we made during that startup phase paid off remarkably. In just the second month, we raked in $68,000 in revenue. To celebrate, I indulged myself in nostalgia by treating myself to my favorite 90s kid toys - a remote-controlled car and a pistol with yellow bullets. It was a moment of pure joy, feeling like a kid again at the age of 22.

After our initial success, we expanded our business globally by hiring employees from our network. With their support, we scaled our operations worldwide. Looking back, I remember feeling nervous about attending interviews in the past. Now, I find myself interviewing people for our business. It's quite a change, but it reflects how much I've grown! 😅 

Million-Dollar Milestone

By 2023, our earnings had crossed 3 million USD. Over those 3 years, I kept moving, exploring new places, and choosing to stay in Zostel to meet other travellers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. Actively engaging in networking, I went to many events and meet-ups, meeting people from different backgrounds. Sharing some of the photos I clicked during my travels helped me hold onto those special memories in my collection. Each journey was full of lessons and chances to learn new things, all of which I welcomed and enjoyed wholeheartedly. (view photos here)

Switching Career: From Business to Full-Time IT Job

Now, I've decided to switch to a full-time job in the IT sector.

Now, you might be thinking: while everyone's leaving their 9 to 5 to start their own businesses, this guy is leaving his million-dollar business for a regular five-figure IT job? Is he crazy or what?🤯

So, here's the reason behind this decision.

I enjoy staying active and participating in various activities like dancing, sports, cultural events, and teamwork. Running my business made me realise I missed out on these experiences. At 25, I believe there's still plenty of time for me to explore entrepreneurship again later.

After researching, I've decided to pursue a UI/UX role in the IT industry. Drawing from my experience analysing user interfaces and experiences in my business ventures, along with my background in web design, I completed relevant courses and case studies to improve my skills. Currently, I'm seeking a job in this field while also freelancing in various domains mentioned on my service page. My aim is to not only help others but also create multiple streams of income for myself, and to showcase my talent to the world.

Conclusion: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

My journey shows how being strong and adaptable can truly make a big difference. From doing various odd jobs and facing challenges in school to now doing well in business and aiming for a career in IT, I've learned that not giving up is really important. Like Winston Churchill once said, "Success isn't the end, failure isn't the end either: What really matters is having the courage to keep going." Every tough situation, whether it's begging for help at the airport or dealing with rejection, has only made me stronger. The key is to keep moving forward and not let setbacks define you. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "If you believe you can do it, you're already halfway there."

I'm really excited and hopeful about shifting from business to IT. Yes, there will be new challenges, but I'm determined to succeed and inspire others to chase their dreams. "Your only limit is your imagination." Embrace your journey, turn obstacles into opportunities, and trust in your endless potential. Work hard, stay strong, and let your own story be the inspiration that drives you to achieve incredible things.

Catch you in the next blog! If you're inspired by this one, show some love with a ❤️ and drop your thoughts about my decision in the comments below. And don't forget to share this with your friends' group—it might help someone! I'm teaching international dropshipping on my YouTube channel (bcom2ecom). Subscribe if interested!

😄Bye for now.