We sometimes think that living a life of legacy means becoming famous or wealthy, but that's not always the case. In fact, there are many ways to leave a lasting impact on the world.
Chandra Selvadurai joins Matt in today's episode of Push To Be More to talk about the challenges he's had to face in life (including a few near death experiences) and how they've given him a constant motivation and push to make every moment count and leave a legacy behind!
Here's some of the great stuff that we cover in this show:
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ABOUT CHANDRA
Chandra is a seasoned business executive with a strong background in international pharma and MedTech businesses. He is the MD of Pharmaco - a company that is here to improve lives by delivering exceptional healthcare products which make a profound difference to people’s health and well-being.
Chandra is known for strategic thinking combined with a tactical approach to drive business results, as well as team motivation, collaboration and communication skills at all levels of the organization - and if that's not enough - he is just a top bloke, has a beautiful family and loves to drive old Jags...what's there not to love about him?!
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For complete show notes, transcript and links to our guest, check out our website: www.pushtobemore.com.
And people actually thought I was drunk cuz I had my
Chandra:Manchester United shirt on mm-hmm.
Chandra:and, and I just dropped like a sack of potatoes,
Matt:Welcome to Push To Be More with me, your host, Matt Edmundson.
Matt:This is a show that talks about the stuff that makes life work
Matt:and to help us do just that.
Matt:I am chatting with today's guest, Chandra Selvadurai from Pharmaco about where
Matt:he has had to push through what he does to recharge his batteries and to be
Matt:as well as, What he does to be more.
Matt:Oh yes.
Matt:Now the show notes and transcript from my conversation with Chandra
Matt:are available on our website.
Matt:pushtobemore.com.
Matt:On our website you can also sign up for our newsletter, and each week
Matt:we will email you these links along with the notes and the links from the
Matt:show automatically direct your inbox.
Matt:Totally free.
Matt:That's amazing.
Matt:Oh yes.
Matt:now.
Matt:This episode is brought to you by Aurion Media, which helps entrepreneurs
Matt:and business leaders set up and run their own successful podcast.
Matt:Chandra, what I have found running my own podcast to be really, really rewarding.
Matt:It opens doors to amazing people like nothing else I have seen, I have built
Matt:networks, made friends, had a platform to champion my customers, my team, and
Matt:my suppliers, and I think just about any entrepreneur or business leader
Matt:should have a podcast because it's had such a huge impact on my own business.
Matt:Now, of course, this sounds great in theory, but in reality there is the
Matt:whole problem of setup, distribution, getting the tech right, knowing
Matt:what the right podcast strategy is.
Matt:I mean, the list goes on, you see, as we've all come to learn
Matt:on this podcast, I love to talk.
Matt:Yes, I do, but I'm not a big fan of all that other stuff.
Matt:So Aurion media takes it all off my plate.
Matt:I do what I'm good at, and they brilliantly take care of the rest.
Matt:So if you are wondering if podcasting is a good marketing strategy for your business,
Matt:do connect with them at aurionmedia.com.
Matt:That's A U R I O N media.com.
Matt:Uh, and of course, the links will be in the show notes if you have those as well.
Matt:Oh, yes.
Matt:Now let me tell you about Chandra.
Matt:Chandra is a seasoned business executive with a strong background in international
Matt:pharma and MedTech businesses.
Matt:He is the MD of Pharmaco, a company that is here to improve lives by delivering
Matt:exceptional healthcare products, which make a profound difference
Matt:to people's health and wellbeing.
Matt:He is known for his strategic thinking, uh, combined with a tactical
Matt:approach to drive business results.
Matt:He is incredible with things like team motivation, collaboration
Matt:and communication skills at all level of the organization.
Matt:And if that is not enough, he's just a top bloke, has a beautiful
Matt:family, and loves to drive old Jags.
Matt:Oh, yes, he does.
Matt:So what's there not to love about him?
Matt:Chandra, the legend.
Matt:Welcome to, uh, push to be More.
Matt:Great to have you on the podcast, man.
Matt:Great that you are here.
Matt:Thanks for joining me..
Chandra:Thanks.
Chandra:Thanks very much, Matt.
Chandra:I'm, I'm not sure, uh, I'm, I'm a legend probably in my own lifetime,
Chandra:, but, uh, lovely, lovely to be, uh, lovely to be on the podcast, mate.
Chandra:Thank you so much for, for asking me on.
Matt:Oh, no, uh, mate, I've been looking forward to this conversation, um, because
Matt:it's fair to say that you and I over the last few years have got to become
Matt:quite good friends and we have quite regular conversations and catch-ups,
Matt:uh, thanks to the power of Zoom.
Matt:And so, um, I've been looking forward to this sort of the podcast format
Matt:where I get to direct the questions a little bit more, uh, which is
Matt:gonna be, which is gonna be great.
Matt:So, uh, Chandra's wife is called Amanda.
Matt:She has sent me a list of questions to ask him live here on the podcast, no, she
Matt:hasn't Really, before you start sweating.
Matt:So you are, uh, you're in New Zealand, right?
Matt:And so how, how is life in New Zealand?
Matt:It's winter here in the uk it's summer for you.
Matt:How, how's it all going?
Chandra:uh, well, new Zealand's, God's country, I think.
Chandra:Uh, it's, it's, um, it's a, it's a beautiful place.
Chandra:Uh, we are heading into, yeah, it's first day of summer, was
Chandra:yesterday, the first of of December.
Chandra:And, um, and, uh, , Christmas in New Zealand is quite different from uh mm-hmm.
Chandra:Christmas, uh, in the uk and, and, um, uh, , we're in our shorts and
Chandra:our, our jandals, our slippers mm-hmm.
Chandra:or flip flops as you would call it.
Chandra:Um, , by the pool, , by, uh, , at the beach.
Chandra:Pardon me.
Chandra:And, um, yeah.
Chandra:And, uh, , the door's wide open, , sweating because it's, uh, hot and humid.
Chandra:Quite a different experience.
Chandra:Uh, it, it, it is Matt, as , you've, you've been here.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Uh, it is a beautiful, beautiful place.
Chandra:And, um, and yeah, , I, I thank the good Lord every day when, when I wake
Chandra:up in the morning, , that, uh, that I live in this beautiful country.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:No, it is, it is stunning.
Matt:I do love New Zealand and I do like to visit New Zealand around January, February
Matt:when I'm sort of fed up with the English gray, drab winter, and I'm like, I just
Matt:need to go somewhere else in the world.
Matt:And there's nowhere better than New Zealand.
Matt:Right.
Matt:And so you jump on a plane and a significant time later, you end up on
Matt:the, on the shores, uh, of New Zealand.
Matt:So have you always lived in New Zealand?
Chandra:No, no.
Chandra:I, I was, uh, I was born in Malaysia.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:, uh, in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
Chandra:And, uh, and then I, I scooted off to the UK for a, for, for a, for, for a wee bit,
Chandra:uh, to look at, um, studying in the uk.
Chandra:But I ended up in Australia, in Perth, in Western Australia.
Chandra:Mm.
Chandra:Uh, and, , New Zealand is, is God's country and, and, uh, and Australia.
Chandra:Uh, , isn't far behind, , God had a second thought about Australia,
Chandra:, uh, and, um, and, , Australia's a pretty cool place as well.
Chandra:Yeah, yeah.
Chandra:So I, I lived in, in, in Perth, in Western Australia for, uh, a number
Chandra:of years and, um, , came across to New Zealand, um, uh, on holiday to
Chandra:see a mate of mine from Perth who had transferred to, uh, to New Zealand.
Chandra:And he said to me, he says, mate, there's something called snow here, ? And,
Chandra:uh, did you, did you wanna, because we didn't see snow in West Australia,
Chandra:so did you wanna pop over and, and, uh, and , and, and sort of spend
Chandra:a bit of time in the, in the snow?
Chandra:So, so I did.
Chandra:And, um, and I, , I, I had a look in the newspapers there, and,
Chandra:and I, I was a, uh, uh, I trained as a, as a medical scientist.
Chandra:And, uh, there were lots of jobs for, for, for people of,
Chandra:of, of my sort of background.
Chandra:And I, um, I, uh, applied for a few jobs while I was there.
Chandra:, two days later I get phone calls saying, can you come and see us?
Chandra:And , uh, , the next moment I I, I had, , a few job offers
Chandra:and I thought they like me here,
Chandra:? Mm-hmm.
Chandra:So I went back to Australia, finished off my, I was, I had started, uh, my, my, my
Chandra:master's program in, in, uh, over there.
Chandra:And, um, so I, I came back, uh, came to New Zealand.
Chandra:Um, I didn't complete that.
Chandra:I came to New Zealand and, and that was in 1988.
Chandra:Um, oh wow.
Chandra:And, uh, and I never quite got back to, uh, ne, never quite got back to Australia.
Matt:No, no.
Matt:Stayed in New Zealand.
Matt:Uh, married an English woman.
Chandra:Uh, yes.
Chandra:I, I, I'm, I married my, my, my beautiful wife Amanda from who, who came, uh,
Chandra:into, came to New Zealand, , 45 years ago from, from Manchester, , so, um, and
Chandra:thankfully, uh, , um, uh, , it was all, I think it all worked out really well.
Chandra:Cuz , as you well know, Matt, , the, the world's best soccer team is
Chandra:my, my team, Manchester United?
Matt:No, no.
Matt:And, uh, , sorry, I'm just gonna, just gonna put you on mute now and
Matt:say, no, it's not Manchester United, just public service announcement.
Matt:There are some people on this planet that think, man United is a best
Matt:football team on the planet, right?
Matt:They are slightly deluded.
Matt:Uh, public service announcement over.
Matt:There you go.
Matt:Carry on.
Chandra:I think, I think it's inappropriate for us to have
Chandra:an argument on your podcast.
Chandra:So , I'll, I'll step back gracefully and, uh, and allow you to have your time.
Chandra:So, uh,
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:We, as, as a Liverpool fan, we don't get, we've not had, I mean, we've had
Matt:a few years recently on the clock, which has been great, but before that
Matt:we kind of struggled a little bit.
Matt:So it's, it's nice to be a bit bit higher up the table..
Chandra:Oh, not, not this, not this year,
Matt:not this season.
Matt:No, no.
Matt:Let's not talk about this season.
Matt:We're moving on.
Matt:We're waiting for the next one.
Matt:Because everybody outside of the UK or, or doesn't sort of follow soccer or is not
Matt:a fan of Liverpool or Manchester United.
Matt:Just going, what are you two talking about?
Matt:Please move on and we will, let's move on.
Chandra:We will.
Matt:So, yeah.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:Sorry, Amanda, she's from Manchester.
Chandra:Yeah, she's from Manchester and yeah.
Chandra:And we, we, we met, um, we met in New Zealand on a blind date, um, and
Matt:a blind date?
Matt:Was that sort of set up by
Chandra:Amanda isn't blind.
Chandra:Uh, , because, um, , look, look at me.
Chandra:Uh, somehow I managed to, I managed to, um, yeah.
Chandra:, uh, capture her heart.
Chandra:I mean, she got me in the first, uh, , the first, uh, five seconds
Chandra:of me, uh, , laying eyes on her.
Chandra:And, uh, and that was, um, yeah, that was, uh, it'll be our 30th anniversary
Chandra:next year, so, oh, fantastic.
Chandra:So, I, I think, I think I'd, I'd, I'd, I've done okay.
Chandra:I've done, you've done all, I've punched well above my weight.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:So, um,
Matt:to be fair, there's not many men who I know who, who I wouldn't say
Matt:aren't punching above their weight.
Matt:Do what I mean?
Matt:It's . It's, I, it's , anybody.
Matt:I I think it's probably the secret of marriage, isn't it?
Matt:You wake up as a bloke every morning and go, I'm definitely
Matt:still punching above my weight.
Matt:I'm just super grateful that I'm still allowed in.
Matt:Right?
Matt:So, thank you.
Chandra:Hundred percent.
Chandra:A hundred percent.
Chandra:No.
Chandra:That, that's absolutely right.
Chandra:And, and we are also blessed with, uh, with two, two.
Chandra:Wonderful.
Chandra:Um, yeah.
Chandra:Um, kids, children, while they're all adults now, uh, Logan whom, who lives in,
Chandra:in London, um, uh, and, um, and, and our daughter Angelie, um, who, who lives not
Chandra:far away from, from, from where we are.
Chandra:So, um, yeah, both, uh, , Very, very cool people, uh mm-hmm.
Chandra:, and, uh, I'm very, yeah, I'm, I, I'm, I'm very, very blessed to, , to
Chandra:have, uh, yeah, raised these guys,
Matt:they're great kids.
Matt:I, I remember trying to convince Angelie to be a Liverpool
Matt:supporter when I first met her.
Matt:just bringing it back to football.
Matt:Uh, that was my quest in life at that point in time.
Matt:She's, she's awesome.
Matt:Uh, so, so, yeah, I mean, , you've got this beautiful wife, beautiful family.
Matt:You live in an amazing country in New Zealand, right.
Matt:And you're, you're sort of sat there.
Matt:So it sounds almost like, , this idyllic life, but I can't imagine that
Matt:actually it's, it's, it's just been plain sailing and you just handed the
Matt:keys and it all was like, there you go.
Matt:I imagine there's, there's been a few sort of trips and hazards along the way.
Matt:A few things that you've had to push through.
Matt:So, um, uh, just sort of casting your mind back, what, what are some of the big
Matt:challenges that you, you or you and Amanda have had to face uh, during that time?
Chandra:Oh, listen, , without a doubt, um, uh, , there, there've been,
Chandra:there've been a number of challenges.
Chandra:I mean, , work, my work has been, uh, very much part of,
Chandra:of my life, uh, and our life.
Chandra:Uh, um, and, uh, , we, we've, uh, I think Amanda's had to adjust, , to,
Chandra:uh, to me because, um, , I, I do throw myself into my work.
Chandra:That's another thing which I'm very blessed with.
Chandra:I love what I do.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:Um, and, and I believe that, , what I do is, is something
Chandra:that does make a difference.
Chandra:If not, why would you do it?
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, I work again, I'm very, very blessed.
Chandra:I, I work with, , some incredible people.
Chandra:Um, people who I believe are, who are much better than me.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:, uh, and, and make me look good,
Chandra:? So, um, , so kudos to them really.
Chandra:Um, and, and they're good people.
Chandra:And, and, and the people who, , I have, uh, I have, um, a lot of
Chandra:affection and, and also respect for.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Uh, um, and, and so, so, , work, work has been, , has, has, has been a, um,
Chandra:uh, , a very important part is sort of, , it, it, it's, it takes your energy
Chandra:and it, and it gives you energy as well.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. Um, and, and, and listen, I think, uh, , we, we have, um, I,
Chandra:I've, I've worked extremely hard.
Chandra:Amanda works extremely hard.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, and , so it's just ensuring that you, you bring, um, you bring
Chandra:your, your kids up, uh, in, in, in a way that sets them up to become good human
Chandra:beings, , um, for, for, , for, for then and, and then for, for their future.
Chandra:I mean, not so much, , I mean, they're all challenges, of course,
Chandra:but, but, , they're, they're more privileges to be honest.
Chandra:Uh, and I think.
Chandra:. , we've, we've certainly been, , very, very privileged.
Chandra:Um, I mean, I guess, , some of the, the, , some of the key challenges is,
Chandra:, I, I go at 150 mile an hour mm-hmm.
Chandra:, and not, not in my Jags.
Chandra:I follow the speed limit in uh, and wherever I'm in the world, I , I might
Chandra:go a little bit above the speed limit.
Matt:No, don't say that on the podcast.
Chandra:Sorry.
Chandra:Oops, sorry.
Chandra:Officer . Um, uh, but, um, , I, I, I, I, I, I push, I push hard when, when
Chandra:I'm, when I'm in, when I'm working.
Chandra:Cuz again, , you gotta do the best you can do.
Chandra:You, you can't do it in, in, in half measures.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. Um, so you go, you go like flat out and,
Chandra:haven't sort of looked after myself and, uh, I think one of, , one of the greatest
Chandra:challenges that Amanda and I had and a few years ago actually was, um, Um, uh, uh,
Chandra:just in 2019 and November, 2019 mm-hmm.
Chandra:Uh, when I went to the uk, um, uh, with, and, and, and my son and I,
Chandra:one of my bucket list things was to watch Manchester United, um, funnilly
Chandra:enough, uh, at Old Trafford Yeah.
Chandra:With my son, , together with him side by side, uh, and, uh, and
Chandra:watched them, uh, play well and win, uh, in, in that hallowed grounds.
Chandra:And, and we did that and they, they played extremely well in a
Chandra:Crowd of about a, , 79,000 I think it was, at, uh, at Old Trafford.
Chandra:Um, and we beat, uh, Brighton Hove Albian 3-1.
Chandra:Great game.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. And, uh, we, we went left, uh, old trafford, , pretty damn happy.
Chandra:But I'd been traveling a fair bit.
Chandra:I traveled to Europe.
Chandra:About, um, three times in three months.
Chandra:And, and I'd been to Asia traveling, had about six trips in, in about six months.
Chandra:And there's two Australia, countless number, uh, of, of
Chandra:trips to that point in November.
Chandra:Um, and the last trip I, I caught a little bit of a, of a chill or a, or a or a cold.
Chandra:Uh, and, uh, anyway, long story.
Chandra:I, I collapsed on the train from, uh, from, uh, from Manchester to, to London.
Chandra:And I was flying out the next day to, to to come back home to, to New Zealand.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, and, and that was a, , that, that, that was, uh, quite an experience.
Chandra:And people actually thought I was drunk cuz I had my Manchester
Chandra:United shirt on mm-hmm.
Chandra:and, and I just dropped like a sack of potatoes, ? you know Yeah.
Chandra:And my son Logan had, had, um, had, uh, heard, uh, this sound and, and
Chandra:he knew I wasn't feeling that flash.
Chandra:And there I was, , um, sprawled on the ground and, um, Uh, and, and,
Chandra:and thank the Lord that, , he, he, he knew he knew what to do and, uh,
Chandra:and got me in a, in, in a recovery position, and I was out cold.
Chandra:Um, so anyway, he convinced me.
Chandra:I, when I came to, he convinced his very stubborn father that
Chandra:we needed to stop the train.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, uh, and, and, and, uh, and we actually had two young doctors, um, from,
Chandra:from Manchester who were on their way back to London, um, who heard the call from
Chandra:the, , the guard had made a call, and, uh, Logan asked him to make, Logan made a few
Chandra:phone calls to the ambulance service and, and, um, uh, anyway, , cut along story
Chandra:short, um, I, I, I agreed and, uh, and I, uh, the train stopped at Milton Keyne.
Chandra:, the home of, uh, red Bull mm-hmm.
Chandra:and, and, uh, and the racing, uh, sort of fraternity at that stage, I,
Chandra:I had no clue where the heck I was.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, got off the train and I was feeling a little bit better.
Chandra:And, uh, the ambulance guys were waiting for me.
Chandra:And, , we had a bit of a chat and, and, um, , they said, well, , you
Chandra:seem, you seem okay, , Chandra.
Chandra:And I said, yeah.
Chandra:I said, and it's a bit of a fuss really.
Chandra:So they said, well, just check you out and, uh, , check there's
Chandra:another train, uh, , to London in about, um, in about 45 minutes.
Chandra:And, uh, I thought, oh, well, , just, uh, if, uh, if everything's tickety
Chandra:boo, I'll, I'll head off to London and maybe just, , see a, a doctor in
Chandra:London and I'll be on my way on Sunday.
Chandra:Not to be, um, I crashed on, on the, uh, on the, uh, in the ambulance.
Chandra:and, um, my, uh, my vitals were what they would say in the medical
Chandra:fraternity, incompatible with life.
Chandra:And uh,
Matt:that's never a good thing to say.
Matt:Yeah.
Chandra:Never a good thing.
Chandra:I had my son, , sitting there of course, , beside himself.
Chandra:Um, but I came too, , cuz I am a stubborn bugger.
Chandra:So, uh, I wasn't gonna go anywhere.
Chandra:Um, , um, I I was still celebrating the 3-1 victory and, uh, and being
Chandra:with my son, . So anyway, I ended up in Milton Keyne Hospital and I
Chandra:was there for a, for a few days.
Chandra:Um, and I saw, um, the, , my results cuz I am, I'm medical in, in nature,
Chandra:uh, and, and training as well.
Chandra:And, uh, I, I had a look at, uh, my results and the doctor, the head of the
Chandra:accident & emergency unit said to me, he says, sir, you are very, very lucky.
Chandra:This the, the, the, your CT scan of your lungs.
Chandra:Um, uh, and the only other time I've ever seen that in my 32 year career was in an
Chandra:82 year old woman when I was a registrar.
Chandra:And she died of uh, , dual lobe pneumonia.
Chandra:Uh, and, and he said, you are an incredibly lucky man.
Chandra:Because you were literally, , you know less than 20 minutes away
Chandra:from, , not being on this planet.
Chandra:So, um, so yes, of course, , Amanda was, was here in New Zealand and she
Chandra:was beside herself and I, and was ready to jump on a plane to, to come across.
Chandra:Uh, but, , uh, and my daughter was, , was the same.
Chandra:I mean, they both wanted to come across.
Chandra:And Logan said, it's okay.
Chandra:I'm here, , and he'll be okay.
Chandra:And, and, uh, and, and I was.
Chandra:Uh, and I, um, I convalesced in London, um, for about two weeks, um, before, um,
Chandra:I was ready to jump on the plane, , to have the trip back, uh, to New Zealand
Chandra:and, uh, and then I came back home.
Chandra:So I think, I think, um, , that, , , over, , 30 years, uh, , it didn't sound like, uh,
Chandra:and there's been a few other challenges, which, which I think in some ways pale
Chandra:in, in, in significance, , so, well,
Matt:not many of them are life and death, right?
Chandra:Correct.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:So, um, uh, so yeah, I mean, , listen, it, it, it's, it's sort of, people
Chandra:have asked me, has it changed me?
Chandra:And, and, um, , do I still travel at 150 mile an hour?
Chandra:I do.
Chandra:Uh, that hasn't changed, but I, I am constantly just checking
Chandra:my, my rear view vision mirror.
Chandra:I'm checking for things in, in, in front of me and I will slow down.
Chandra:Um, if I see a police officer on the side of road , uh, um, uh, or I will
Chandra:slow down if, if, uh, if, , there is a, is a, there are hazards ahead.
Chandra:So I'm a lot more conscious of, uh, of my, , of my surroundings.
Chandra:And I'm also very conscious that, um, I don't think you get second chances.
Chandra:So I'm taking better care of myself.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:Well it's, I was gonna say, I mean, it's interesting, isn't it, when you have these
Matt:kind of experiences, does it change you or does it just change you for a bit?
Matt:Um, , it's that kind of the classic one is the guy who's seriously overweight
Matt:due to poor diet or smoking, has a heart attack, um, is is pulled around
Matt:a has stent put in or whatever, and is given a second chance at life.
Matt:You go around their house three months later and they're still eating all crap
Matt:food or still smoking the cigarettes.
Matt:They can't seem to, and it's, um, it's interesting, isn't it, how
Matt:these sort of near death experiences.
Matt:Some people it does change, some people it doesn't.
Matt:Um, and it's, I think it's good that you've learned the lessons from it, right.
Matt:And, um, yeah.
Matt:How's, I, I'm curious, how is Amanda, your wife now treating you
Matt:when you are flying at 150 miles an hour, given that that has happened?
Matt:Because I imagine she doesn't let you get away with as much.
Matt:Right?
Chandra:I think, I think she throws the spikes down, , and to flatten my tires.
Chandra:Yeah, yeah.
Chandra:Oh, now listen, I, I, I think, , Amanda knows that, , she knows
Chandra:that I sustain myself as well in, in, in, in the way I do things.
Chandra:And, uh, but , she is a.
Chandra:, , she is a, a voice, um, that I, I listen to of course.
Chandra:And, uh, , and she makes me make promises, which I keep now, , that I'm going to
Chandra:take time to, , as my sister has said to me for, for many, many, many years, try
Chandra:and slow down, stop to smell the roses.
Chandra:Um, and you, I've often said, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chandra:, I'll, I'll do that.
Chandra:But actually now, now I do, Matt, , and I think, , when we met, uh, in, in Bristol,
Chandra:uh, uh, a few weeks ago, uh, , that, um, , I mean, for me that was, that was
Chandra:very, very important because I, I was, I was dead keen to see you and, and,
Chandra:uh, uh, and uh, , so I'm, I am taking, I'm taking some steps to just, um, yeah.
Chandra:, to slow down a bit.
Chandra:Just, just, just keep, , just take a, , take a, a check, make sure I'm fit, , uh,
Chandra:uh, and, uh, and don't take any chances.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. And that's probably the different thing, cuz , in the past I would just go.
Chandra:Flat out, , and sort of, , to to, to heck with, uh, anything else.
Chandra:Just, , just get outta my way.
Chandra:I'm, I'm, I'm coming sort of thing.
Chandra:Uh, but now I, I I I, I kind of just slow down to just, just check things
Chandra:before I, before I move forward.
Chandra:Then, then I go as hard as I can.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:So this, this desire to sort of push really hard to go as hard as you
Matt:can, um, is, is that something that you learned, say from, uh, watching,
Matt:I don't know, your, your dad?
Matt:Or is that, is, is that something you've had to sort of learn over time?
Matt:How, how has that come about for you?
Chandra:Um, actually it, it, it came about from another near death experience
Chandra:actually, when I was about, um, when I was about, um, um, six years old, uh,
Chandra:uh, when I, I was riding my bicycle in, in Malaysia, um, when I was a little
Chandra:boy, um, not far away from home and.
Chandra:There was a guy in a, in a, in a car who drove very erratically
Chandra:and, uh, didn't hit me.
Chandra:But, , I, I, I swerved to avoid him and I fell into a big drain.
Chandra:And in, in, in, in, in Malaysia, they're, they're quite large drains.
Chandra:They're quite, , they, they're cavernous, uh, because there's a lot
Chandra:of, of, of water that sort of moves.
Chandra:And I, so I, I went, um, I went, um, actually leg first into, into this drain,
Chandra:smacked my, my foot on, uh, on the side.
Chandra:, there were bricks, um, jacking out and cut myself.
Chandra:And, uh, and I was, um, , sort of dazed for a bit.
Chandra:So I, I managed to climb out of the, of the drain and went home and,
Chandra:uh, , mom, uh, my, my, my, my wonderful mom cleaned, , the, uh, my, my wound.
Chandra:And, um, and , it, it seemed to be, seemed to be fine, but, um, a few days on,
Chandra:uh, it, uh, it, it became quite septic.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:and, uh, and I, I ended up, uh, in hospital, um, a very,
Chandra:very, very sick puppy and Wow.
Chandra:Um, and mom and dad were, , obviously very, very, um, very concerned.
Chandra:And, um, and the, the orthopedic surgeon in the, in the hospital at that
Chandra:particular hospital in Malaysia, um, said that told mom and dad that, um,
Chandra:, they had to amputate my, my right leg.
Chandra:Uh, because if, if, if they didn't do that, the, the infection has spread
Chandra:to, , all parts of, of my body.
Chandra:I was, I was septicemic as the, as the term.
Chandra:And, uh, and that, , I, I didn't have too much time and if they didn't,
Chandra:uh, take my leg, um, I would die.
Chandra:And, uh, so I, and, and my dad was a, was a, was a great guy.
Chandra:He was, um, He was a, , he, that's, , that's almost a, a,
Chandra:a story for another podcast.
Chandra:, he was, he was a wonderful man, very articulate, very smart.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, , in his own way, a very driven sort of man as well,
Chandra:who loved his family unreservedly.
Chandra:And he said, I told him, I grabbed him, uh, by his hands and I, I said
Chandra:to him, Papa, please, please don't let them take my leg because I don't
Chandra:know if I would be able to carry on.
Chandra:And there was a six-year-old kid telling his dad.
Chandra:And so anyway, mom and dad, , then, uh, who, , they're, they're, they're
Chandra:deeply spiritual people as well.
Chandra:And they, and, and, and, and they, , they seek solace, uh, in to find if they
Chandra:can, they can get some help in any way.
Chandra:Uh, a friend of, of, uh, of the families who was an orthopedic surgeon
Chandra:in another hospital heard about this and spoke to mom and dad and said,
Chandra:is it okay if I went to see him?
Chandra:He came into the hospital, he took one good look at me, at me,
Chandra:and he said, um, He said, I, I, I think, I think I can do better.
Chandra:Wow.
Chandra:Uh, , and, and so, uh, mom and dad made the decision to, to take, uh,
Chandra:me out of the, of the hospital.
Chandra:And the surgeon in the hospital said to mom and dad that if you
Chandra:take him outta here, he will die.
Chandra:And my dad asked a surgeon, if I left him here, can you guarantee he will live?
Chandra:Um, wow.
Chandra:And he didn't wait for the answer.
Chandra:Uh, and anyway, I went across to, um, uh, to the other hospital and, uh, this,
Chandra:uh, wonderful man, professor Bala was his name, uh, who unfortunately, sadly
Chandra:passed away, uh, a couple of years ago.
Chandra:Um, and he saved my life, uh, without a doubt.
Chandra:But his greatest regret was that he couldn't save the shape of my foot.
Chandra:So I have a, uh, a a rather as we would say, gnarly, uh, right foot.
Chandra:It's, it's not the most, uh, beautiful thing in, in the world.
Chandra:Um, but it's, um, it's, it's kept me, kept, it's kept me on my feet, , you
Chandra:know playing football, playing cricket, playing Australian rules, playing
Chandra:squash, uh, Uh, boxing, , uh, it hasn't stopped me one, one, uh, one, one jot.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, and, and that really, I think I, I realized when I was
Chandra:a, a little fella, um, , that I was given a second chance for a reason.
Chandra:Um, I thought, and, uh, and that I should not squander the opportunity,
Chandra:the second opportunity that I have.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:So, so that's probably what has been the, the single motivation,
Chandra:um, uh, uh, for me to keep, to keep pushing and, and also my dad.
Chandra:I mean, , my, my dad always, um, always told us, uh, uh,
Chandra:uh, , never, never give up.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Just, , make sure that you, you always, , you always move forward, ? Yeah.
Chandra:And, um, and, and mom has always taught us to be good people, , in doing that.
Chandra:So I, I guess, , my, my, um, Uh, , my, my family's my, my parental sort
Chandra:of motivation and my brother and my older brother and my older sister,
Chandra:, have also are, are very supportive and, and wonderful people as well.
Chandra:So I guess that's, that's been the, yeah.
Chandra:, when, when you're nearly sort of, , end, end, uh, your journey
Chandra:before you start, uh, it, it gives you the motivation to push.
Chandra:That's really
Matt:quite fascinating.
Matt:So, how old, so just tell me again how old you were when
Matt:this happened with your foot?
Chandra:I, I was about, I was about six, I was about six years old.
Matt:Um, so six years old, you have, uh, your first near death experience.
Matt:You seem to have quite a few of these.
Matt:Chandra, I'm not gonna lie.
Matt:Um, we'll
Chandra:see.
Chandra:We'll just keep it to a couple.
Chandra:Thank you very much.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:That enoughs enough.
Matt:Just, just enoughs enough.
Matt:You don't need anymore.
Matt:And I, I, especially if your life insurance company is listening, right?
Matt:But so you have this experience and obviously that sh that shapes
Matt:you in, in quite dramatic ways.
Matt:And so it sounds like this, this event, which actually is not a pleasant event,
Matt:has shaped you into having this sort of motivation and drive going forward along
Matt:obviously with the family and the parents.
Matt:Is that a fair reflection that that was the good, that sort of came out of it?
Chandra:Absolutely.
Chandra:I think, I think, I think that's really been, that's probably sort
Chandra:of, , , given me the, the structure of, of the, the individual that,
Chandra:that, that I am, uh, , um, uh, yeah.
Chandra:So I think, I think without a doubt, those were, those were the, the, the,
Chandra:, that was a significant inflection point.
Chandra:Hmm.
Chandra:Uh, and, and you always, I always refer back to those
Chandra:points of, , like, why am I here?
Chandra:, there's gotta be a good reason why I'm, why I'm here, so I might as well make,
Chandra:be the best that I can be given that.
Matt:So and so did you, you obviously pushed very hard in business.
Matt:Right?
Matt:Um, and have you bought that same philosophy, say to your
Matt:marriage and to bringing up family and stuff outside of work?
Matt:Or is it just a work thing where you, you sort of go 150 miles an hour?
Chandra:Yeah, that's a, that's a great question, man.
Chandra:I, I, I think to be fair, , uh, , pushing because of, of, of, of
Chandra:what happened is one thing, but I keep pushing because of my family.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:, uh, , because I've got a huge desire to make sure, uh, even though, , uh,
Chandra:, the, , the kids, uh, uh, uh, are now mature adults who, , who are well and
Chandra:truly on standing on their own two feet.
Chandra:Um, I, I, I keep pushing because, , I, I still have a, a, a strong, strong desire,
Chandra:, for for, for, for, for myself, but mainly for, to ensure that I can continue to
Chandra:be, uh, in a position to be able to.
Chandra:to be there and support, , my, my wife and, and, and, and the kids and,
Chandra:and, , my, my wider family as, as well if, if, uh, , if it's required.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. So I just wanna be in a position to be able to, to be there
Chandra:to, to, to, , to be useful.
Chandra:Really , , and, and, and that's, uh, and that's a motivation, , to, to, to push.
Chandra:I'm also as a, , as, as a, , as a, as a, as a business leader, if I can call myself
Chandra:that, um, um, I've also got responsibility to the people who, who, um, who work, uh,
Chandra:in my company, my colleagues, , I've got again, um, uh, a perspective that I'm a
Chandra:steward, um, for their wellbeing, And if, um, family's wellbeing as well, , and, and
Chandra:that might be over dramatic, but, um, , I, I need to keep pushing for them as well.
Chandra:So, um, yeah.
Chandra:Uh, but, I also do it for myself mm-hmm, so it's not just for, for, for others?
Chandra:So, um, yeah.
Matt:You made this really interesting comment earlier about, um, how the, this
Matt:sort of life, you give a lot of energy to it, but it also gives a lot of energy
Matt:back, , and, and, and I, I, I really like that it actually, you, I, I push hard at
Matt:work and I, I would say I'm the same way in the sense that I, I do work hard and
Matt:I want to model working hard to my kids.
Matt:There's no doubt about it, right?
Matt:Um, but I, it's not all that altruistic actually.
Matt:I really enjoy what I do, right?
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:So, and, and I, I get a big buzz out of it and, um, and I, I, I love all the success
Matt:stories that sort of come out of it.
Matt:Um, and even out of the, the, the, the, the apparent failures and the,
Matt:and the, and the hard times, you always know that it's crap right
Matt:now, but at some point, some good is gonna come out of this, right?
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:If I, if I keep pushing, if I keep working.
Matt:And so I totally get it.
Matt:Yeah, I totally get it.
Matt:So in all of that, right, you, you, you push really hard.
Matt:You, you had an experience in 2019, um, ironically again,
Matt:after we just had a meal, uh.
Matt:Yes.
Matt:We were with you.
Chandra:Nothing to do with the meal by the way.
Matt:Nor me.
Matt:It was nothing to, but, um, you have this experience and you say you, you
Matt:still go fast, but you, you are much more aware of yourself now, what's going on?
Matt:So what sort of things do you do to be, for being?
Matt:What fills your tank?
Matt:How do you recharge your batteries?
Matt:Listen, I
Chandra:think, I think, um, uh, a number of years ago, Matt, uh, when, when
Chandra:I first started in the pharmaceutical industry, Uh, um, and, and that's where
Chandra:I started in the pharmaceutical industry.
Chandra:And I'm now in, in, in that wider healthcare, , being involved and
Chandra:involved in actually making a difference in saving people's lives.
Chandra:But the, the, when I was, when I first started, there was a, um, uh,
Chandra:a trainer, um, at the company that I first started in and actually a
Chandra:British company called Beechams.
Chandra:back in day, British Beecham Research Laboratories was my first,
Matt:oh, Beecham, powdered capsules.
Matt:I remember those when I was a kid.
Chandra:That sort of thing.
Chandra:And, um, there, there were a really cool company to, to, to start working with.
Chandra:And, and there was a, a trainer where when I went to Australia, uh,
Chandra:to, to train, and his name was Bob.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, and Bob, uh, was a great guy.
Chandra:And, uh, and I remember he, he, he, he told me a lot of things, um,
Chandra:and he taught me a lot of things.
Chandra:And one of the things he did say to me was, As you move forward and, and, and,
Chandra:and do what you do and, and what have you.
Chandra:So remember, , remember, uh, , another thing and, and always take away more of
Chandra:yourself with you when you interact with people and make sure that you allow them
Chandra:to take more of themselves with them after they've interacted with you, then you know
Chandra:that that is the almost perfect situation.
Chandra:where, , you draw energy from them and they, draw energy from you and
Chandra:you are both actually better off.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Um, so, so I think that's kind of that, that that philosophy,
Chandra:um, , you, , pushing hard.
Chandra:I, I I do want to ensure that I, I interact and I spend time, uh, and,
Chandra:and I engage with, , people who.
Chandra:I like, and people who have got that energy, which, , can
Chandra:sustain the two of us.
Chandra:So, , life's too short, , to, to actually have a bad wine.
Chandra:Uh, and, and it's also, it's too short to actually not enjoy what you do and you
Chandra:can't enjoy it all of the time, of course.
Chandra:But, that's something which you should strive for and interactions you have
Chandra:with people, ability to communicate with people that you want to be able to do
Chandra:it with people that, mean something.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:, and, and I've been extremely fortunate in, in, in my, in my life and in my
Chandra:business, uh, life as well, where I, I have the fortune to be able to do that.
Chandra:Um, and, and sometimes, , you, you walk away, um, from, from
Chandra:opportunities because you kind of know that it isn't the right fit.
Chandra:It's kind of not the right vibe, , the vibe's all wrong.
Chandra:Um, so, so that's kind of.
Chandra:, it's, I, I think it's in some way for me, it's kind of a simplistic
Chandra:way of, of expressing it.
Chandra:But, um, , I think that's kind of helps me push forward cuz , I, I, I'm, I'm
Chandra:interacting with awesome people and, and, uh, people who I think are, , yeah.
Chandra:Wow.
Chandra:I can learn so much from you.
Chandra:And, and, and, and by jingo they, for some crazy reason, learned something from me.
Chandra:And, and, and, like, I think that's pretty darn cool.
Chandra:Really.
Matt:That's really interesting, isn't it?
Matt:That you get a lot of your energy and a lot of your sort of personal, uh,
Matt:uh, sort of tank filling for want of a better expression by being around
Matt:people that actually charge you.
Matt:Um, yep.
Matt:And so I understand, and it, and there is something really powerful about
Matt:that, about how, um, , bad company corrupts good character, but if you
Matt:get around great people, they, they just draw life out of you, isn't it?
Matt:And it's.
Matt:, I, people ask me on occasions, , if you could go back in time and have a
Matt:conversation with yourself, what would be some of the tips you would say?
Matt:And you, you say to yourself really early on, who you hang out with matters.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:And it's gonna matter a lot, right?
Chandra:Big, big, big time.
Chandra:And, and that's definitely the case with, , with young people, uh, , and, and , of
Chandra:course they've gotta learn, , from that.
Chandra:But all you can do is actually guide them to say, listen, this is, this
Chandra:is what you, you, you should do.
Chandra:And, um, and, and I think, yeah, I, , that that's, I mean, life's too
Chandra:short to actually associate yourself with people that don't matter.
Chandra:, or who don't think you matter, , uh, why would you do that?
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:No, that's a really interesting thing.
Matt:Really interesting thing.
Matt:So tell us about the cars, because that's obviously something else you
Matt:do, um, to fill your tanks literally.
Chandra:Well, that's a whole new podcast.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:, uh, listen, I, I, I, , I, I've always enjoyed driving.
Chandra:I love driving.
Chandra:Uh, I used to ride motorcycles.
Chandra:Uh, , when, when I lived in Australia, when I first came to New Zealand mm-hmm.
Chandra:. So I was called a temporary Australian and a temporary New Zealander, , uh,
Chandra:because I rode motorcycles.
Chandra:I loved it.
Chandra:Um, I, I, , I just, I just loved the, that sort of feeling like I love flying,
Chandra:, it, it's kind of that movement, I guess.
Chandra:Um, so yeah, I was gonna get myself another motorcycle.
Chandra:Um, and my kids, , they were like, that ain't no go.
Chandra:, you, you will not get a motorcycle.
Chandra:And, uh, And Okay.
Chandra:, um, uh, and then a very, very good friend of mine had a very serious
Chandra:accident on a motorcycle he'd been riding for, for 35, 40 years.
Chandra:And, and, uh, and he said to me, he goes, mate, I'm done.
Chandra:I'm out.
Chandra:You're on your own.
Chandra:If you wanted to go and get a, a motorcycle, I thought, wow, not gonna
Chandra:be able to fun if I, if I didn't have my mates, uh, , riding with me.
Chandra:So we went to a car show, Amanda and I went to a car show, and the
Chandra:first, uh, uh, uh, group of cars that we saw was the MG Car Club.
Chandra:Um, and I met with the, we, we spoke to this, this, this
Chandra:chap, uh, , really lovely guy.
Chandra:Um, and, uh, and just, , he was very passionate about, about these mgs.
Chandra:And they, and obviously they're cool looking cars and, , literally, , I
Chandra:had a, I, once I focus on something, nothing will, will stop me.
Chandra:Uh, so Amanda knew, uh oh.
Chandra:, so I said, okay, MG roof down, wind in my hair.
Chandra:Foils, , I kind of, I kind of meet this, the, the criteria that,
Chandra:um, that my, my family would've, , would be okay with, ? Mm-hmm.
Chandra:And I'd be happy with it as well.
Chandra:So anyway, I, I looked around and, and I bought myself a lovely little
Chandra:1964 mg midget, um, a little blue.
Chandra:Um, a lovely little thing.
Matt:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Matt:And I've been in it.
Chandra:Yeah, you've been in it.
Chandra:That's right.
Chandra:And, um, and then I, I, not long after, actually, I, I caught, , I caught the,
Chandra:uh, the, the, the affliction and I bought another MG at another, an MDB sportster.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Uh, so the Midget was also a, was also a, a, a, a sportster.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:, um, MGB was a lot more powerful, , British racing green.
Chandra:Lovely, lovely, lovely car.
Chandra:Lovely.
Chandra:And, uh, and uh, and then yeah, I, I've always wanted a Mark two jag, , cuz that's
Chandra:kind of like, , that's, that's a, yeah, I've always wanted a cool car like that.
Chandra:So I went looking for a Mark two Jag took a couple out for a
Chandra:drive and, and with, with Amanda.
Chandra:And, and then we took an, uh, this, uh, this Jaguar 420, which is, uh, which
Chandra:is a car that, um, was in between an S type Jag in the 19, late sixties.
Chandra:And the XJ6 which was the, the thing that the car that saved Jaguar, so
Chandra:it's a two year period that the 420 that had the front end of an XJ 6.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:And the backhand of a, of a, of a S type Jag.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:Lovely, lovely looking car.
Chandra:And, uh, so we took it up for drive and, and we both loved it
Chandra:and Amanda loved it and I loved it.
Chandra:And, and so, , we, we, we bought that an opalescent silver blue, it's called.
Chandra:And, um, yeah, I mean, , uh, and then I sold the, the midget and,
Chandra:uh, and Amanda said One car in one, one car out, one car in possibly.
Chandra:Um, so I replaced that with a, an F type Jag.
Chandra:Oh, right.
Chandra:Um, so, um, uh, so yeah, and I've, and I've got, I've, I've got a jag for, for,
Chandra:, which is my, my daily driver, um, as well.
Chandra:So, um, so yeah, every, every week I, I get a chance to,
Chandra:to, um, to, to drive them.
Chandra:I drive them, uh, , when I, when I, when I can every week.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:To, to the office on the weekends.
Chandra:I'm always in, in one of the, one of the other cars This weekend we've got
Chandra:a wedding, and, and the 420 is gonna be used as a, as as a wedding car.
Chandra:Fantastic.
Chandra:Um, so, so, yeah, so it, that again, kind of, it makes me feel good and,
Chandra:and I know it's a material thing, um, but hey, , I love driving and
Chandra:it makes me feel good, so, um,
Matt:yeah.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:and these classic cars are assets now, aren't they?
Matt:I mean, that's one of the ways to justify.
Matt:These things usually go up in value.
Matt:It's an investment, surely.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:It, I, I, I think, I think it, well, I'm convinced it is.
Chandra:Uh, I'm, I'm, I'm not sure that's the case, and I, I was, uh, , I'm, I'm also
Chandra:conscious of sustainability and, , as a business, we, we are looking, , we're
Chandra:definitely sort of stepping into that space and because we have to
Chandra:in, in the medical, , pharmaceutical area, but sustainability is really
Chandra:important, looking after our planet.
Chandra:And, um, so I was talk sitting down next to a, a, a, um, a lawyer who's,
Chandra:um, uh, in sus an environmental lawyer.
Chandra:And so I said, I said, gee, I said, , I'm, I'm not the right kind of person.
Chandra:I've got, , these old cars and, and uh, and, and I drive, , they're
Chandra:fossil fuel cars and whatnot.
Chandra:And she goes, actually that meets the sustainability sort of principle.
Chandra:Cause what you're doing is you're sustaining a vehicle.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:Um, and, and you, and you, and you're keeping it on the road.
Chandra:It obviously needs to meet certain standards beyond the road.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:So in fact, you're meeting the sustainability standards.
Chandra:I nearly gave her a hug, because, uh, yeah, yeah.
Chandra:So I told her, I said, fantastic.
Chandra:so, um, I'm holding onto that.
Chandra:I can tell you.
Matt:No, you should, because I mean, this is one of the dilemmas
Matt:you have with electric cars.
Matt:You can say, well, they're more environmentally friendly, but is
Matt:it more environmentally friendly to keep an old car on the road going
Matt:than to try and scrap that so I can make way for my new electric car?
Matt:It's not that straightforward.
Matt:And so, um, yeah, I totally get that.
Matt:I totally get that.
Matt:So, Chandra, where do you, um, where's, where do you see growth in?
Matt:What's, what's the plan for the next few years?
Matt:What are you, what are you wanting to sort of move into more?
Chandra:uh, listen, I, I, I, and growth is critical, right?
Chandra:So, so there's four, there's four elements that, that, that, that we, we look at,
Chandra:um, or I look at, um, the first, the first one is actually, uh, organic growth.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. So whatever you've got, , uh, , make sure that we can grow it so that, that's
Chandra:a, , that's a, that's a, a challenge, um, for, , for, for my colleagues and,
Chandra:and , and, and I think we do pretty well.
Chandra:We, we grow, , year on, year, on with the existing stuff that we've got.
Chandra:So we need to do that, and we need to do that really, really well, and we need to
Chandra:do it better than we did the year before.
Chandra:Sure.
Chandra:And try to do the best we can do.
Chandra:Um, secondly is, , you, you've got existing partnerships,
Chandra:you've got partners that you have multinational partners, as, as we do.
Chandra:So what we wanna do is we try and leverage.
Chandra:off them.
Chandra:what else have you guys got?
Chandra:we are doing a good job for you, aren't we?
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:, if we're not, we, we will do mm-hmm.
Chandra:. Um, but you've got other things in your, in your portfolio, which
Chandra:we are not responsible for now.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:, , is it possible for us to, , so actually look at leveraging on
Chandra:existing relationships, which is, which I think is, is critical.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. Um, the third, the third area is actually looking at new
Chandra:types of, of, of businesses.
Chandra:So, , new businesses that you can bring on and plug into, , the existing
Chandra:sort of, uh, range of business that you already, uh, you already have.
Chandra:And, and the fourth part is actually growth by acquisition.
Chandra:So looking at businesses that, um, , that will compliment or maybe set up
Chandra:a, uh, uh, a different aspect, uh, of your business for the future as well.
Chandra:So it's kind of just moving, , extending, growing, uh, uh, and
Chandra:adding as as as you move forward.
Chandra:So that's, , that's kind of the strategy that, that we have, , for growth.
Chandra:And, and that's exciting, because there's never a dull moment.
Chandra:There's always stuff going on, mm-hmm.
Chandra:, and you've gotta be on, you've gotta be on, mm-hmm.
Chandra:and you've gotta make sure you understand what's happening and,
Chandra:, gotta look at the opportunities.
Chandra:You've gotta determine what they're, and then execute them, so it's,
Chandra:it's kind of, it's kind of nuts, but it's actually fun, yeah, yeah.
Chandra:And, uh, that's kind of, I guess, that push, but in a, in a very sort of
Chandra:structured and strategic sort of manner.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:No, that's interesting because I, I mean, one of the reasons I asked the question
Matt:is that one of the things that I know about you and, um, and is that actually
Matt:legacy is important for you, right?
Matt:What you leave behind is, is, is important.
Matt:So is, I'm, I'm just wondering again, as you're talking about these sort
Matt:of four attributes of growth and how you want growth and, , and your,
Matt:you're pushing, you're pushing.
Matt:Um, and I'm just wondering how much of that is, is a drive
Matt:and a desire to leave legacy?
Chandra:Oh, listen, I, I, I think, I think, , there's,
Chandra:there's elements of that.
Chandra:I think, , you, you're on this planet, , for a short period of time,
Chandra:you might as well do the best that you can be and do the best that you
Chandra:can, and be the best that you can be.
Chandra:And, uh, and , that is a legacy in itself.
Chandra:And if your legacy can live on with the people who you, you, you surround
Chandra:yourself with, and in a work setting, , if your legacy can live on in the people
Chandra:that , you, your colleagues, , and the people who come in the future, , if
Chandra:you are, , if you are remembered, um, for, , the stuff that, that has happened.
Chandra:And if someone can pick that up and do better, , um, I, I think that's great.
Chandra:I mean, it's not, it's not about you, but it's about
Chandra:what , you, you've done, ? Yeah.
Chandra:Uh, and, and I, and I think, I think that's, , that's really important.
Chandra:Um, , I think it's, it's, it's something which, which is a driver.
Chandra:Yeah.
Chandra:It's not like, , you want a, a statue of yourself, uh, , somewhere
Chandra:outside or a, or a plaque sort of exalting how wonderful you are.
Chandra:Not, not at all.
Chandra:Not at all.
Chandra:I think if, if, if that legacy lives in the hearts of, of the people, uh, , in,
Chandra:in, in an organization, for example, yeah.
Chandra:Then it's there.
Chandra:It's never gonna go away.
Chandra:You don't need a plaque or a statue to, , to do anything, it's, again, there's an
Chandra:element of sustainability there as well.
Chandra:It's a sustained thing.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:I, I dunno if it makes sense or if it sounds a bit wonky.
Matt:Yeah, no, totally right.
Matt:Yeah, I, I'm, I'm totally with you.
Matt:So we've now got to that sort of phase of the show where we do the question box.
Chandra:Oh.
Matt:So you in effect, just tell me when to stop there.
Matt:Right.
Matt:So just tell me when.
Matt:Stop, uh, okay.
Matt:Stop, stop there.
Matt:Okay.
Chandra:Oh, you went, you went about 3, 2, 2 late, so that's okay.
Matt:Okay.
Matt:Okay.
Matt:So let's, um, let's go back one two three.
Matt:Okay.
Matt:So here's the question.
Matt:Are you ready?
Matt:Brace yourselves gentlemen.
Chandra:Oh, gosh.
Chandra:All right.
Chandra:Okay.
Chandra:Far out.
Matt:What skills does the ideal host or hostess have?
Matt:That's a great question.
Chandra:What skill does the ideal host or hostess have?
Chandra:Hmm Hmm.
Chandra:Oh, listen, I think the ideal skills would be to make the guests that you,
Chandra:uh, you have feel very, very special.
Chandra:Feel very, very happy and actually enjoy the company of the host or the hostess.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:I think
Matt:that's, it's a really interesting question cause I'm
Matt:thinking, I wonder what the ideal skills of a podcast host should be.
Matt:, but actually
Chandra:I can, I can tell you.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:And you don't have them Matt yet.
Matt:Keep working.
Matt:But, but it's um, it's funny isn't it, that, that sort of quick, cause
Matt:it goes back to some of the stuff that you were talking about earlier
Matt:actually about when you're around people leaving them feel more energized
Matt:cuz you were in the room, right?
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:And actually, um, I think what.
Matt:What I, what I don't think makes a good host is the host that's always on the
Matt:phone, or always, um, when you, when you walk in and, and they, and they sort of
Matt:try and out do you on how busy they are.
Matt:Do you know what I mean, that kind of thing.
Matt:Yes.
Matt:And again, or preoccupied.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:And it comes back to that whole thing, doesn't it?
Matt:It's not about you, it's about actually the person in front of you.
Matt:And I think it's a really great question.
Matt:Correct.
Matt:I like that.
Matt:Very good.
Matt:I'm enjoying the question box.
Matt:I'm gonna keep doing this uh, it's, uh, it's really good.
Matt:So, Chandra, listen, as you know, this show is sponsored by Aurion Media, right?
Matt:Which specializes in helping good folks like yourself set
Matt:up and run their own podcast.
Matt:So I want you to imagine that you have your own podcast.
Matt:Uh, out of all the people that have impacted your life, past, present, future,
Matt:who would be on your guest list, who would you like to interview on the show and why?
Chandra:Oh, just one person or, or
Matt:mate, you can give me as many as you'd like, but time is against us..
Chandra:Yeah, I know, I know.
Chandra:Hey, listen, I, I, I, I would like, I'd like to, I'd like to interview my dad.
Chandra:Okay.
Chandra:Um, and, and, and just, uh, uh, , just ask him about.
Chandra:And I've, I've, , he's, he's written a book.
Chandra:I've read his book, but I'd love for him to, to sort of, , talk to me.
Chandra:Uh, and, and, , and, and unfortunately, , he, um, uh, well, he, he obviously passed
Chandra:away and, uh, a number of years ago now, but it'll be quite cool just to, , to
Chandra:get his impressions on, on things.
Chandra:I'd just love to understand more about how, , he would, he
Chandra:would tick, um, uh, and I mean, listen, and there are countless
Chandra:number of of people.
Chandra:A lot of my friends, , you I'd love to, to, to, to, to, , interview you as well.
Chandra:And, and a lot of my friends who, uh, and, and, and some of my family members
Chandra:who mean, , a heck of a lot to me.
Chandra:Uh, and I'd also like to interview my, my, my, some of my colleagues, , cuz
Chandra:they've got, they've got, uh, um, they've got stories to, to, to tell themselves.
Chandra:And, um, , they, they, as I said, I I, I think I've got a lot of people who
Chandra:are, are a lot better than I am, , and, , I'd like to talk to them on, on a, on
Chandra:a different level, not just, oh, , cuz I'm, , I'm, , I'm their, their boss.
Chandra:Uh, , I think, I think.
Chandra:. Yeah.
Chandra:So, so there will be a, , there, there, there will be a few people and , um,
Chandra:and I know you've told me this before that I've sort of thought, nah, who
Chandra:would wanna, who'd wanna talk to me?
Chandra:Um mm-hmm.
Chandra:I, I I think, I think there, there may be more than one.
Chandra:Um, so, um, yeah, I think that's something to, yeah, to kind of open my, my mind
Chandra:up to the, the concept and maybe that's a 2023 initiative that you and I will
Chandra:be talking about a little bit more.
Chandra:. Matt: Well, you never know.
Chandra:You never know.
Chandra:But I, I just think it's a really interesting question when you say who
Chandra:you impacted your life and who would you, so if you've got this podcast and
Chandra:you can have anyone that's impacted your life, who will you have on?
Chandra:I think it's just a really insightful question and the fact
Chandra:you went straight to your dad first.
Chandra:If, if, if I put down in my notes who do I think Chandra is gonna say?
Chandra:Um, I mean, I, I dunno you exceptionally well, but I know you well and I, I, I
Chandra:put your dad, I kind of try and preempt.
Chandra:I said, I bet you he mentions his dad.
Chandra:And part of the reason why I thought this is because I, yeah.
Chandra:I hate to be predictable.
Chandra:. Matt: Well, part of the reason I thought
Chandra:of our pre-call, as I like to call it, talking about the podcast, I said to
Chandra:you, I dunno if you remember, I asked you a question, what's your life's motto?
Chandra:And you said, glory beckons.
Chandra:And this was something that you were gonna get tattooed on.
Chandra:I dunno if you've got the tattoo yet.
Chandra:It's, it's coming.
Chandra:It's a coming, it's a coming.
Chandra:So tell people the link between this, this phrase, glory beckons and your dad.
Chandra:Cuz this was the reason why I put Dad, your dad down.
Chandra:Right?
Chandra:Right.
Chandra:Well listen, it, it, it, it's, it, it's a photograph.
Chandra:My, my favorite, my favorite photograph, my sister's
Chandra:favorite as well, to be honest.
Chandra:Um, photograph of, of my dad.
Chandra:Uh, um.
Chandra:And it's him sitting, um, on a, uh, on his, his armchair, uh, with his
Chandra:feet on a, , on a little, on a little, um, uh, in a stool, uh, uh, and,
Chandra:uh, with, with the newspaper opened.
Chandra:And, uh, I remember saying to him, uh, , I said, Hey, Papa,
Chandra:can, can you just look up?
Chandra:I just wanna take a photograph.
Chandra:And so I took, took the photo and he, he, , and the, the, that whole sort
Chandra:of demeanor, sort of, kind of just, that's my dad, and, um, and isn't a very
Chandra:kindly face, , reading the newspaper.
Chandra:But interestingly enough, in the back page of the newspaper.
Chandra:There was a, uh, headline that said Glory beckons.
Chandra:And, and that was actually related to the, to the football.
Chandra:Mm-hmm.
Chandra:. Um, and I, and I can't remember, , which football team, uh, it was, it was more
Chandra:obviously Manchester United, obviously.
Chandra:Um, but um, but anyway, that, that has always struck me, , and , my dad always
Chandra:sort talked about, , doing the best you can be, be the best person you can
Chandra:be, and , that's what mum says as well.
Chandra:Uh, um, and so Glory beckons actually kind of is kind of this, this holy
Chandra:grail, I guess, , it's, it's, it's there.
Chandra:Glory beckons.
Chandra:Just, just do stuff, do well, do be a good person and, , do the best you can.
Chandra:You can be the best person you can be, because somewhere
Chandra:down the line, glory beckons.
Chandra:And, and what, what is that?
Chandra:I, I, I, I don't know, maybe actually I'm, maybe I'm, I'm, I'm in it right now, yeah.
Chandra:I, I, and, and, uh, , but.
Chandra:But Glory does Beckon.
Chandra:So, , it's kind of like that, that holy grail I suppose, , that maybe that's
Chandra:kind of what is another push Incentive.
Matt:Yeah.
Matt:Fantastic.
Matt:Fantastic.
Matt:Listen, Chandra.
Matt:Phenomenal.
Matt:I just love the conversation, man.
Matt:And it, it is been brilliant and I'm sure people listening
Matt:to the podcast agree with me.
Matt:If people listening to the show do wanna reach out, they do want to connect, what's
Matt:the best way for them to get ahold of you?
Chandra:Alright, listen, they, they can, they can, um, try and
Chandra:link in with me on LinkedIn, uh, or they can, uh, they can email me.
Chandra:Uh, so that's Chandra.selvadurai@pharmaco.co.nz.
Chandra:Fantastic.
Matt:Fantastic.
Matt:We will of course link to Chandra's email, uh, and LinkedIn, uh, profile in
Matt:the show notes, which will be available on the website along with a transcript.
Matt:You can get them for free at, uh, pushtobemore.com, or if you've
Matt:signed up to the newsletter, they will come direct to your inbox.
Matt:Chandra, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast, bud.
Matt:Um, I dare say this will be the first of quite a few conversations
Matt:you and I have on this show.
Matt:Um, but yeah, it's been, it's been such good fun, man,
Matt:honestly, really enjoyed it.
Matt:Thank you so, so much.
Chandra:No, thank you as well, Matt.
Chandra:I, as you know, I always enjoy, um, our time together and Bless you, and
Chandra:thank you again for asking me on.
Chandra:Ah, no,
Matt:you're a legend.
Matt:So there you have it.
Matt:What a great conversation.
Matt:And he is a legend.
Matt:Let's all agree.
Matt:He's a legend.
Matt:Uh, huge thanks to Chandra for joining me today and also a big shout out to
Matt:today's show sponsor Aurion Media.
Matt:If you are wondering, uh, if pod, if Pod, I can't even talk, if you are
Matt:wondering if podcasting is a good marketing strategy for your business,
Matt:do connect with them at aurionmedia.com.
Matt:We will of course link to them, uh, on the podcast website,
Matt:which is pushtobemore.com.
Matt:Uh, and you can either head to either website and follow the
Matt:links and you'll find them.
Matt:Do connect with them.
Matt:Do say hello.
Matt:Now.
Matt:be sure to follow push to be more, uh, wherever you get your podcast
Matt:from because we've got some more great conversations lined up, and I
Matt:don't want you to miss any of them.
Matt:And in case no one has told you yet today, you are awesome.
Matt:Yes you are.
Matt:It's just a burden you have to bear.
Matt:Chandra has to bear it.
Matt:I have to bear it.
Matt:We just have to bear this burden of being awesome.
Matt:So, you know, uh, push to Be More is produced by Aurion Media.
Matt:You can find our entire archive of episodes on your favorite podcast app.
Matt:The team, the amazing, wonderful team that makes this show possible
Matt:is Sadaf Beynon, Josh Catchpole, Estella Robin and Tim Johnson.
Matt:The theme music was written by Josh Edmundson, and as I mentioned, if
Matt:you would like to read the transcript or show notes, head to the website,
Matt:pushtobemore.com where you can also sign up for the weekly newsletter and
Matt:get all of this good stuff direct your inbox totally free each and every week.
Matt:That's it from me.
Matt:That's it from Chandra.
Matt:Thank you so much for joining us.
Matt:Have a fantastic week.
Matt:I'll see you next time.