Vitra Singh

An Interview with Vitra Singh: Author

Sylvia: Hi Vitra, it is such a pleasure to interview you.  Please give our readers a brief introduction of yourself and a little about your book.

Vitra: Hi Sylvia. Thank you for interviewing me for your blog. My name is Vitra Singh, I was born in Trinidad, raised in New York and consider my passions to include travel, writing, and talking to people.  My hobbies include reading and photography.  I studied journalism at NYU, have worked for NBC Universal, and started my own e-commerce business in the past.  I recently moved from New York to San Francisco which is great because I get to explore a new city.  I plan to write another book within the next year.

 

Sylvia: What inspired you to write your first book?

Vitra: I was inspired to write “Living Life For Yourself, Not Your Job,”  due to the frustration of going from job to job but never really finding one which filled me with job and accomplishment at the end of the day.  I quit my last job because I had reached the peak of my misery but I did not have another job lined up.  I was a bit afraid of what the future would hold and thought there must be others who have gone through the same thing.  I wanted to find some of them, talk about their own experiences, and share what they learned in hopes of inspiring myself and others.

 

Sylvia: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?  

Vitra: I want readers to know that you do not have to settle for a career or job you hate even if you can’t see the light right now.  You may have kids and obligations that do not allow you to pick up, quit a job, and then figure it out…and that’s okay!  But you can do something every day, even if just for 5 minutes–send an email to a contact you admire asking their advice, read an article during your lunch break or visualize yourself doing something you love.  Although it will not lead to a dramatic shift into the perfect job, it will start changing your thinking and getting you excited about something other than your dreaded 9-5 job.

 

Sylvia: Do you have any advice for other writers?  

Vitra: My advice is to always look over your work multiple times even after an editor has gone through it and other people have given you their opinions.  Also, if you are interviewing people for the book and recording, always clarify with the source that you will use the information shared on the record.  Additionally, if you do not know how to design a cover or do the technical formatting, it might be best to pay someone to do it rather than trying to figure it out, getting frustrated and discouraged–as with anything else in life, choose your writing battles!

 

Sylvia: What marketing techniques have you used to sell your books and which ones have been most successful?  

Vitra: It has only been three weeks.  Initially, posting on Facebook and twitter were great because my friends and family purchased.  Also, my sources have shared the book with their contacts because they obviously want people to read their stories to promote their own businesses.  I am also trying to leave more comments on blogs/sites that have articles relevant to career fulfillment and satisfaction.

 

Sylvia: Why should we buy your book?  

Vitra: People should buy my book if they are looking for inspiration–not from people like Donald Trump and millionaires, but from normal people like themselves.  The people in this book did not have money or a ton of clout to force their way into something they loved.  They worked hard, took deliberate action, and sometimes just took a risk because they were so miserable with their status quo.  This book is also a great gift for friends/family you know who are always saying how much they hate their job and want to do something else.

 

Sylvia: Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?  

Vitra: During the process of writing this book, I liked being at cafes or in a public place.  I found it kept me much more focused than trying to write at home.

 

Sylvia: What projects are you currently working on?  

Vitra: I am in the process of moving to San Francisco for two months as I would like to find a job writing out there.  Ideally working for a company where I could be their internal reporter/social ambassador would be wonderful!  I am going to try my best to make contacts, put myself out there, and find something I enjoy doing.

 

Sylvia: What is your POWER WORD?

Vitra: ACTION is my power word–we can be mentally positive and wish on things, but I believe for things to move forward, we must help it along

 

Sylvia: What is the one piece of advice would you give someone who is contemplating leaving their job to pursue their passion?

Vitra: My advice would be to imagine yourself one year from now.  Are you happier or are you more miserable.  Think about this realistically, and if you cannot see anything but misery with the status quo, it is time you took some kind of risk or action to get you to a place in one year where you are smiling and have an improved outlook on your life.  Don’t regret not taking a chance.

 

Sylvia: Vitra, it’s been a pleasure. Where can we find more info about you?  

Vitra: Thank you Sylvia. Here are my contacts:

Website: www.LaDolceVitra.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/VitraSin

Vitra’s Book Review