My Story
Hi, I am Sneha Mandala.
I left my family and my home, India when I was 23. With a $1000 in my pocket and barely speaking English. I set off wide-eyed to the United States of America, brimming with anticipation of what my new life would bring me. Reality hit me hard. With no family, friends, or even food that felt like home, I found it difficult to drag myself out of my bed sometimes. Now, I work at Fanatics with an awesome team as a Senior Manager in Learning and Development.
You could say I have lived a tough life and worked hard to get where I am today. I wouldn’t.
No, I didn’t get lucky. However, I do believe strongly in – More results, less efforts. Sounds interesting?
My life's journey truly began when I packed my bags and flew half way across the world at age 23.
With no one I could call as family or friend. No job. Just $1000 in hand and a vision of freedom. Freedom to grow into whoever I want to.
2015
Pursued my Masters degree in industrial engineering at Chicago. Overcame the initial ‘culture shock’. Started embracing the diversity around me. Found a job on campus that could pay my expenses and tuition before I ran out of those $1000.
2017
Got recruited by Amazon before I graduated. Moved to Seattle to work on robotics projects installed in warehouses. Was called a ‘job stealer’ by warehouse associates. Promised myself that I would work with people instead of with robots.
2019
Let go of my academics and career in engineering. Moved to a small town an hour awar from New York City. Restarted my career from scratch in coaching and learning and development. It wasn’t easy, but I have never looked back since.
And now...
I began the new decade as a new mom, in a new role at work, in a new city, Reno, far from the hustle and bustle, with a stunning landscape that humbles me. I am far from the naive 23 year old that accidentally ate a pepperoni pizza as a vegetarian, just because it looked so pretty. I have flexed and flowed through cities, cultures, careers, and most importantly through different phases of my growth. If there is one thing I learned to do through all these changes, it is –
I wake up every morning aiming to spend the day effortlessly.
And what does that really mean? No, it doesn’t mean not taking any action. I aim for peak performance, producing exceptional results with minimum efforts. It is about effective energy management. This is what helps me achieve it:
Being myself
I observe what feels natural to me without having to hide or erase my identity. Quirks and all.
Finding my flow
Being ‘in the zone’ is the most energizing experience I feel. I relish it and leverage it.
'Being' vs. 'doing'
Energy is depletable. When I try and struggle to do something while going against who I am, it drains me. I believe in ‘being’.
Working smart
No one can completely eliminate effort. But hard work can get you only so far. Smart efforts are my game.
Seriously.
I am tired of hearing every 'self-help' guru out there telling you that the only way to success is to find your passion and then work hard, hustle, and grind.
I'll call it nonsense.
Sure, working hard and chopping your limbs off can get you to the top. But is it worth the sacrifice? When you get to a point, your hard work will not help you improve performance. Fatigue creeps in. You lose your zeal. BURN OUT.
Just consider the alternative.
The path of least resistance. The path that feels so natural to you that it doesn't feel like you are struggling, it feels like you are just flowing through it. Find it hard to believe? Just ask an athlete in 'the zone', a music artist in their element, or ask yourself - ever been in a phase with rapt attention, incredible energy, where time and space feel distorted? THAT is where you achieve peak performance. That is where your best work comes from. Effortlessly.