FEaTURE
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I have Dato’ Vijay and VMD Pathman as my mentors, but you can find inspiration in a lot of things. Then make a decision that you do not want to be normal, average person. You can be a spectator to life, or you can be a player in it. Make a decision to be extraordinary.
DAVID SHARMA: FROM ASHES TO SUCCESS
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decade ago, David Sharma’s life was in shambles.
He was dealing with the loss of his business, declaring bankruptcy, and probably most crushing of all, the dissolution of his marriage. Things were very bleak, and David found himself elbow-deep in problems seeking solace in vices like alcohol and smoking. 2001 came and his life took a turn he never believed was possible. “Life gave me a second chance. I found what I did not even know I needed: a solid support system, mentors, and a new lease in life. Since I joined the V, I have been able to rebuild my life and provide a stable future for my twin daughters. Mr. Pathman became my teacher, and soon after I was introduced to Dato’ Vijay who taught me the healing power of silence. I used to be an alcoholic and I’d been smoking since I was 17. Now? I have not had a drop of drink or a single puff of cigarette smoke in nine years.” These days David Sharma serves as both Associate V Partner (AVP) and a consultant to the V Executive Office. He has been AVP since 2006 and a Consultant for a little over two years now. He wears both hats in utmost humility, choosing to spend his time giving back to the network and working nonstop in pursuit of the mission to touch billion hearts. A typical day starts with communicating with network leaders, understanding their challenges, discussing how best to move forward and how to grow the people and the network. He makes an effort to understand and find the root cause of their frustrations.