⛰️The Mountain Is You - Crossing My Biggest Hurdle
June 2017. A sunny day in Toronto.
I sat at the airport, waiting for my return flight to Hyderabad after three weeks in Canada.
It had been a whirlwind. An Indo-Greek wedding in Toronto. A trip through Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Kingston, Quebec, and Montreal. I had seen a slice of Canada’s beauty, but as I boarded that flight, one thought kept repeating in my head:
“Will I ever be back?”
🌍 A Twist of Fate
Two months later, life answered.
I was selected under Canada’s Skilled Migrant program — one of a few thousand chosen from applicants across the globe. By November, my passport carried a new stamp: Permanent Residency.
Suddenly, I had the flexibility to move when I wanted. And I chose Canada — not just to live, but to build a future for my family.
When I finally settled in Halifax, it wasn’t because it was the easiest choice. It was because it felt like the right one.
🚧 The Early Struggles
Did I have it easy? Absolutely not.
I brought with me years of experience and a very specific set of skills. But that didn’t guarantee a smooth landing. Like many newcomers, I found myself at crossroads — caught between where I had been and where I needed to go.
So, I took what came my way.
I adapted.
I kept moving forward.
📝 Building My Voice
Fast forward to the last 28 days.
I set myself a new challenge: writing regularly.
It started small — one post per week. Then, after a couple of weeks, I doubled it. Twice a week. Not because I had to, but because I enjoyed the process. Writing felt natural. It felt like me.
And here’s the proof:
- 2,636.5% growth vs. the previous 28 days
- 4,132+ impressions in a month
Even when engagement looked quiet, the numbers confirmed another story — people were watching. Some silently. Some consistently. Some reconnecting after years, hinting at new opportunities.
It reminded me: low engagement doesn’t mean no impact.
🏔️ Seven Years Later
Now, after seven years in Canada — and becoming a Canadian citizen in 2023 — I finally feel like I’ve found my calling.
It took resilience. It took patience. It took starting from zero and letting go of everything comfortable. But this is what I’ve learned:
👉 The biggest mountain isn’t the system.
👉 The biggest mountain isn’t the competition.
👉 The biggest mountain is me.
And that’s the mountain I choose to climb every single day.
🌍 Strategic Reflection
I didn’t cross borders by chance. I came here on my own merit, as a skilled migrant. I made a choice — to step into uncertainty and bet on myself.
I decided to move countries, to restart from nothing — definitely not just to play small.
And when I look back, I see this clearly: starting over from zero equips you with everything you need to build again.
Because starting from zero in a new country is proof that uncertainty can’t break you — that you can operate without a safety net, and still keep growing even when nothing feels comfortable.
That mountain you see in front of me? That’s me.
And I will cross it — come what may.
Or, as one Hindi song says:
“Apna Time Aayega.”
My time will come.
Until then, I’ll keep showing up. I’ll keep writing. I’ll keep being persistent.
Because sometimes the loudest growth is the quietest.
And that’s how you move mountains.
👉 Strategic Reflection: What’s the biggest “mountain” you’ve had to climb in your journey — and how did it shape the way you approach your work or life today?
🤝 Let’s Collaborate
I’m an entrepreneur and business growth consultant based in Canada. Alongside experimenting with AI in animation, I help media, animation studios, and technology-driven businesses grow through:
- 📺 FAST channel distribution & media partnerships
- 💻 Digital transformation & platform adoption
- 🌍 International market expansion (Canada, US, Asia, LATAM)
- 🤝 Strategic partnerships & growth consulting
If your studio or business is exploring how to adapt, diversify, or scale globally, I’d be glad to connect.
👉 Subscribe to my newsletter on entrepreneurship, media, AI, and creative growth: iamgrt.kit.com