Beyond the Syllabus: Building Dreams into Brands | Joel Jacob Mathew | TEDxPushpagiri

Personal Background & Overcoming Adversity - The speaker faced bullying and self-doubt during school years due to physical appearance and mannerisms [1] - The speaker failed exams in college, leading to doubts about suitability for the chosen field [1] - The speaker initially felt like a "low achiever" [2] - The speaker overcame academic challenges by focusing on studies and achieving top scores in a corporate law subject [2] Business Ventures & Growth - The speaker started a business (Emlofft) initially catering to teachers with exhibitions [2] - Emlofft expanded from a small, unnoticed location to a five-story building [2] - The company is planning to open stores in the UK and Thiruvananthapuram [2] Family & Support - The speaker's parents provided unwavering support, allowing the speaker to pursue interests even after setbacks [2] - The speaker gifted a BMW car to the father and funded the sister's education at Warwick Business School [2] - The speaker's wife achieved third rank in her MBA program after marriage [3] Key Principles & Philosophy - Individuals should pursue their own truths and work hard for them [4] - One should not wait for the right time or someone to help, but actively seek solutions [4] - It is important to take credit for both successes and failures in life [4] - Dedication to hard work and leaving the rest to a higher power is crucial [4]