We recently connected with Ashis Dhakal and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashis, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
As a young child growing up in a refugee camp, due to ethnic cleansing, my family fled Bhutan to Nepal. We were forced to live in a refugee camp. In the camp, poverty and hunger were daily challenges and I slept on a bed made of bamboo, full of bed bugs, and surrounded by mosquitoes. I did not have access to clean drinking water, fresh air, electricity, or a decent home. I had to sneak into the forest to get wood for fuel to cook our food. Police patrolled the woods, and if I got caught, I would be jailed. Getting a good education was very hard in the refugee camp. When the lantern’s energy turned off, so did homework time. My baba always told me to study carefully before the lights turned out. Our lifestyle gave us limited options: either remain in poverty and become sick or escape to a better life.
These challenges I’ve faced have been instrumental in shaping my sense of purpose in life and have empowered me to achieve the goals and aspirations I hold within both the realms of philanthropy and entrepreneurship. Growing up in a refugee camp, I grappled with the difficulty of finding meaning amidst uncertainty about my future. The absence of a supportive community compounded my feelings of hopelessness regarding my purpose and prospects. Despite these formidable challenges, I remained steadfast in my determination not to abandon my dreams and the purpose I felt compelled to fulfill. Even as a child, I confronted the weighty questions about my path in life, resolutely refusing to relinquish my aspirations. Amidst the uncertainty, I held onto the belief that brighter days would eventually arrive, and fortunately, they did. This manifested in the opportunity to come to the United States, where I could actively pursue my dream of becoming a dedicated philanthropist and a visionary entrepreneur at the helm of Dhakal Company Holdings, a conglomerate enterprise extending its reach and influence across a diverse array of industries including Real Estate, Service, Education, Automotive, and Industrial. Our overarching objective revolves around empowering the unique requirements within each of these sectors, employing our profound insights and specialized efforts to not only navigate but proactively resolve the ever-evolving real-time predicaments that businesses encounter on a day-to-day basis.
I hold the belief that as humans, each of us possesses a unique purpose to fulfill during our lifetimes. Discovering my own life’s purpose emerged from the crucible of living in impoverished conditions, marked by scarcity of resources and daily battles with malnutrition. Amidst these trying circumstances, I nurtured a dream of someday realizing this purpose, despite the myriad obstacles strewn along my path. Throughout my journey, I remained steadfast in my conviction that a beacon of hope existed beyond the challenges I faced. Patience became my ally as I consistently visualized and aspired toward the purpose that I held deep within. The significance of what I intended to achieve with that purpose was paramount in my mind, underscoring the importance of my aspirations. Patience is a virtue that holds its value, especially in the face of adversity. Often, during challenging phases, we might not recognize that we’re on the cusp of discovering our purpose. Reflecting on my personal journey of purpose discovery, I aspire to kindle inspiration within you all, irrespective of the hurdles you encounter along your paths. I’m confident that each of you can unearth your own purpose and attain remarkable achievements and desires, regardless of the challenges.
