Sanjith Thangarajah On Living Counter-Culturally To Have Time, Financial & Location Freedom So He Can Focus on Faith, Family & Health

"6 years ago we were full throttle in a network marketing company - pushing shakes and weight loss products through social media. We thought this was our ticket to financial and time freedom. We worked really hard trying to make an income there, but the truth was we were broke behind the scenes. We were constantly having to borrow money to pay rent & nobody knew but I was driving LYFT about 60 hours a week (through the night) to make extra money and it STILL was never enough."

Entrepreneurship

May 03, 2022

Ara Ehamparam

Business Owner

Toronto, Canada

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What sparked your interest in the concepts of Time, Location & Financial freedom?

When I graduated high school I realized I didnt want to be stuck at a job or career for the rest of my life. I wanted to be FREE. I wanted to have time freedom, financial freedom and location freedom. I did not want to be tied down to a 9-5 until I was 65 and then "retire" to finally enjoy my life. I wanted to start living RIGHT AWAY and design the life I wanted to live for myself and my family.. Once I found my wife and we started a family all of this became even MORE important and pressing for me.

What did you do for a living before you discovered these concepts of freedom (Time, Location & Financial)?

I was trading my time for money (linear income.) I worked first selling flowers door to door, then I did telemarketing, I worked at Canadian Tire and eventually started working for a security company which I did for 10 years before I was suddenly laid off and I knew I would never let someone else determine my value or paycheck again.

What are some common misconceptions people have about what these concepts actually mean?

That it's NOT possible, it's a fairy tale. That you should have to work really really hard to become successful and you cannot achieve it until late in life.

I know you grew up in Toronto but now live in Florida. Do you see this as a permanent change or just a pit stop among many (ie. taking advantage of location freedom)? Do you ever plan on coming back to Toronto?

I moved to Toronto when I was 14 and had a memorable time living there but my desire was always to be in the USA and live somewhere with warm weather (preferably by a beach!). When I was 38 we moved to California & stayed there for six years. We lived there for 6 years, had 2 more babies and really enjoyed the weather change but ultimately after 2020, we didn't see California as a place for our family long term so we re-located to Florida. We are loving Florida right now but the future is always open for us as we have LOCATION FREEDOM & we know life is unpredictable. I do plan on visiting Toronto often but not on living there as we are done with the winters.

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What kind of businesses do you run?

We are in marketing & leadership development.

You might be one of the most jacked Tamil guys I’ve ever seen (with Sathish, being right there). Why is health so important to you?

When I was 14 and suddenly moved from Sri Lanka to Toronto I was very skinny. I remember seeing the guys playing American Football for the first time and I wanted to join. One of the coaches pulled me aside and told me if I wanted a chance to play I needed to get into the gym and lift weights. I took his advice and never looked back! I went on to play Varsity football as well as baseball & have a life long passion for my fitness and health. Health is our true WEALTH - it's the foundation of a great life. It give me confidence, creativity, happiness, energy & the list goes on and on. It's part of our family's value system.

I see that faith is something that is really important to you. Was this something that was instilled in you at a young age or something you came to discover later on in life?

I was born a Hindu, loved the practice of worship and going to temple back home. My faith was very shaken when I lost my little brother to lukemia when he was just 7. I remember turning away from God at that time and not understanding how to process that level of pain and loss. When we moved to Canada I didn't have a strong faith and was in survival mode for many years. When I met my wife and we started building our life together that was a foundational piece. We both began to search and connect with God in our own way - it was not through religion, but through daily practice, prayer & meditation. We actually both got matching tattoos on our wrist that say "faith" because this is the foundation of EVERYTHING. With God, we can accomplish anything & we feel his presence daily in our home and in our lives.

How do you balance your time/energy between managing your business & your family responsibilities (as both a husband and father)?

Well, this is a work in progress for sure - we are always trying to prioritize our values daily to lead our lives. For us it's 1. GOD 2. FAMILY 3. BUSINESS. We intentionally try to eliminate distractions or toxic environments, people or situations so we are more efficient. We also have an online business that's designed to be flexible so I can easily work AROUND my family's needs. Family is what I like to focus on most of the day because these kids are growing up so fast and I dont want to miss a minute. My wife & I like to stay up when the kids go to bed to have some 1-on-1 time. We also started to do more date nights and take trips alone to keep the romance in our marriage (to keep things fresh & exciting)!

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What’s been a failure (or “learning lesson”) you’ve experienced during the last 5 years and what did you learn from it?

6 years ago we were full throttle in a Network Marketing company - pushing shakes and weight loss products through social media. We thought this was our ticket to financial and time freedom. We worked really hard trying to make an income there but the truth was we were broke behind the scenes. We were constantly having to borrow money to pay rent & nobody knew but I was driving LYFT about 60 hours a week (through the night) to make extra money and it STILL was never enough. My marriage was suffering, my health was suffering & it nearly broke us. But after much prayer & searching, we found a business model that worked out much better for us. I still keep that LYFT light from my car to remind me of those times and to keep me hungry & avoid complacency.

Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years?

Oh wow! I'm so excited about where the next 3 years is taking us. We are building a business we love with people we respect & admire and we are looking to create many more success stories (both for American and Canadians) to help more families break through and experience TRUE FREEDOM! We know how to do it now and that it's not just possible but it's HAPPENING. We are filled with an urge to pass on this blessing, coach and develop more families to live a life they truly desire.

What do you do outside of work for fun?

I like to workout, lift weights, spend time with my family & kids doing things we love or visiting new places. I love sports (especially football) and we just got season tickets for the NFL Buccaneers. So I cannot wait to go and enjoy more home games, while seeing Tom Brady, my favorite athlete, in action!

What is an insecurity you have?

Being misunderstood by people. Even close friends or family can be quick to judge me and I find I'm often labelled before they even get to know my heart.

In terms of your personal legacy, in a few sentences, describe how you want to be remembered by your family and friends?

I want to be remembered as a generous man who dreamed SO BIG & lead with passion. I want to be remembered as a man of GOD who loved & protected his family fearlessly.

What do you think you would tell 16-year Sanj looking back?

I would tell him to believe BIGGER - take more action SOONER - and to not be afraid of taking risks. (And to stay away from PORN, it neuters men!)

What is your favourite book(s) you’ve read recently and why?

The BIG LEAP & The Magic of Thinking BIG - both are great to help someone break through to the next level of living, earning & thinking.

What is a new belief, behaviour or habit that has most improved your life?

Working on MYSELF harder than I work on anything else in my life!

What is something that you've splurged on recently in the last year that you have zero regret about?

We lived in 7,000 sq ft ocean front home with a dock, jet ski, swimming pool, spa, arcade, elevator for an entire year during covid and it was a total BLAST! The kids and us created so many meaningful memories there.

How has the Toronto Tamil community impacted you both personally and professionally?

I was truly inspired by the Tamil Community back home in Sri Lanka. The first 14 years of my life I was surrounded by the most loving people who truly had my back and I felt a sense of connection, love, hard work and kinship I have never seen since. The Tamil community in Canada I have always had a hard time connecting with. I am a bit of a black sheep or a "bad tamil" haha. But I have always had a strong sense of what I wanted in my life and never made decisions based on social pressures but instead what felt right in my heart. I admire Tamil people, I love being Tamil and connecting with other Tamils and I am very proud to be a Sri Lankan Tamil.

What is your favourite Tamil food (meal or dessert)?

Kothu Roti & Mutton Rolls *drooling*.

What is your favourite Tamil movie?

Haha.. oh man I don't watch any Tamil movies.

What does Tamil culture mean to you?

Some parts of Tamil culture I feel are outdated.. some of the superstitions or parents expecting kids to grow up to be either a lawyer, doctor or engineer. Yet there are parts of Tamil culture that are so beautiful and are missing from more modern cultures in the Western world. Tamil people are so generous, so courteous, so respectful, so caring & considerate. Tamils are very hard working & very resilient people.

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