Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey as an Entrepreneur.
I am Tanjina Ashraf Khan Mou, the founder and CEO of MentCouch International Psychology Centre. I am also a certified resilience coach, a writer, an entrepreneur, and a certified behavioral consultant.
I started my journey back in March 2020 with MentCouch International Psychology Centre. Me and my team have come a long way since then. MentCouch was born with a simple idea in mind, of giving back to the community by opening a place that welcomes everyone, not just people with disorders.
We place great importance on being high on empathy and friendliness so that the therapeutic journey is as comforting as possible! MentCouch was a rather sudden decision because I came to a realization that a 9-5 working environment was not for me. I had to CREATE something of my own that is in line with my ideas and dreams.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate
career?
Not a lot of people admire the thought of doing a conventional 9-5 job in a 5X5 cubicle writing emails, reports etc. all day long. But many are excited about being a billionaire. Life does not work that way, does it? Over the years I have come to know that for me, entrepreneurship is a way of life, not an alternative to any fixed income job. For some of us, corporate jobs might have paid us more. All I would want to say is, whether a corporate job or entrepreneurship, do what excites you and makes you happy.
Entrepreneurship is something I am familiar with since it runs in the family. I chose entrepreneurship because I think it’s fascinating building something from the scratch with love and passion and seeing it grow. Also, because of the simple fact that our work is going to fill a large part of our lives, and the only way to be truly satisfied with it is to do something we love and something that we are good at. You will not be able to sustain something that you don’t like, you will just give up at one point.
Entrepreneurship takes a lot of resilience, planning, perseverance, hard work, and teamwork, combined with good strategy & execution skills. But so does corporate jobs. You do what you love and you’ll do good!
How do you manage yourself and keep on going despite the challenges?
3 practices have helped me become a better version of myself:
– Resilience
– Acceptance
– Mindfulness
How did you come up with the name for your business/startup?
The name was inspired from Sigmund Freud’s famous psychoanalytic couch. It is the prime symbol of psychoanalysis, and I was lucky enough to see it in person, in his final home situated in Hampstead, London (now the Freud Museum). “Ment” represents mental health and “Couch” refers to Freud’s psychoanalytic couch.
Mention about your dreams, goals and aspirations.
My dream is to just live a normal satisfied life where I can give back to the community I live in and to the world. I use to think my dream was to be highly successful and never have to worry about money, but over time especially with the pandemic and as I matured, ALOT of thought on what I want from life changed. I’ve come to the conclusion that I just want the basics. The human mind has always fascinated me and as a mental health professional, I live to guide people towards a better life.
So my goal is to progress further within my field of work, earn more experience, move up the ladder of quality within it. But my main goal is to be happy and spread happiness, something I practice doing and work towards every single day these days.
What keeps you going?
My parents! They are my greatest strength and biggest support. I love what I do and that’s what keeps me going but yes, there are times when I feel overworked. A good support system and practice of acceptance and resiliency are the things that keep me fueled.
Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of.
In February 2021 I had the biggest honor of being featured in FORBES INDIA where I shared my views about financial independence of women. This feature definitely has been one of the biggest highlights of my career.
The same month I was also conferred with my first ever award and it is my biggest achievement to date. I was so humbled to have represented my country at the World Health & Wellness Congress! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought of winning The Global Healthcare Champions Award as “The Mental Healthcare Achiever During Covid”, that too presented by “The World Federation of Healthcare Leaders.” Big Moment!
Other than professional achievements, 2020 – 2021 has also been a year of personal growth. I’ve become much resilient.
How many hours a day do you work on average & can you describe/outline your typical day?
I wake up around 6am. After getting my tea, I run through two to three dozen emails and Whatsapp messages awaiting my attention, half of which can be quickly read and discarded. Some email need careful replies, or some sort of followup work, where each could take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to address.
Before I know it, it’s probably 10 in the morning. I take a break from email and do about 15 minutes of meditation to become fully present in the moment followed by a light breakfast. I spend some amount of time updating my social media as well. I write mostly on mental health issues and current events from a psychological perspective. Then, I take about 2 clients a day.
Before you know it, it’s lunch time. The afternoon is usually filled with a lot of reviewing client files, more writing, and another run at emails/messages that need attention. I much prefer being in office rather than working from home. I’ll often try and slip in a 30 minute nap in the afternoon, which refreshes and re-energizes me for the latter part of the afternoon. Afternoons are also when I try to go out and drive around.
Most days I stop work between 6 and 7, and eat dinner around 8:00 pm. I relax, watch some of my favorite shows, and call it a day. I rarely check my email after this time, as this is my personal time when I get to disconnect and veg out with social media, or writing for pleasure or even talking to my friends.
What are your strengths?
One thing I would say has helped me and my company grow is our willingness to listen to our clients. The more we listen to what our clients want, the better we are able to guide them and serve them, and the more efficiently and effectively we can resolve their concerns by providing suitable services. And in return they place a strong trust in our brand name. This definitely is a strength! I am also a very flexible and adaptable person, that really helps a business to grow.
What advice would you give to someone starting out as an aspiring Entrepreneur?
My advice is simple, you MUST love what you do! It makes things a lot easier. Don’t be afraid of pursuing an unexpected path. Also, to all the young female entrepreneurs, do not lose your femininity, charm, confidence, warmth and persona in trying to become a man. The unique impression you create is very important in today’s world.
Connect here,
Instagram: @tanjinakhanofficial
Blog: https://earlymorningchic.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tanjinakhanofficial
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mou-khan-mbpss-5a763a57/
Business Website: mentcouch.com
Business Instagram: @mentcouch
Business Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/mentcouch/
Business E-Magazine Website: http://thementcouchmagazine.com
Business E-Magazine Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mentcouchmagazine Business E-Magazine Instagram: @the_mentcouch_magazine
