What is your full name?
My official name is Roshan Khan II. Most know me as Rosh Khan.
How old are you?
- I was born on October 12, 1987.
Who are your parents?
Roshan Khan & Latchmin Khan. They own and manage the firm, RK’s Security Enterprise. My father is the Chairman/Founder and my mother is the Finance Director.
Who are your siblings?
Katherina Roshana Khan, Latifan Jagarnauth and
Roshaad A.C. Lall
What are your hobbies?
Reading, Traveling, Teaching, Volunteering, and just about ANYTHING that has to do with ideation.
You mention reading. What book are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Talent is Overrated by George Colvin, The Professor In The Cage by Jonathon Gottschall, and Bold by Peter Diamandis & Steven Kotler.
I know that sounds like a lot but, as they say, there’s a “method to the madness”. Years ago, I was criticized by colleagues for reading more than one book at a time – being told that I would “lose focus and forget” the overall material.
But I’ve found the opposite to be true.
Reading a few books simultaneously allows me to “chunk” the material – by reading a few chapters at a time. This gives my brain time to incubate the main ideas, while I move on to another “chunk” of chapters from another book in an entirely different field or niche.
This simple process of rotating books, a few chapters at a time, has enabled me to sustain interest and increase retention.
What is your passion/purpose?
It may sound cliché but my passion is to “make the world a better place”. It’s one shared by many but what I find lacking is the follow-up action. At some point, aspiration needs to intersect with execution – no matter how small the execution is.
I believe that’s where my purpose is found – to help awaken the purpose of others. You see, most people know what they want to do in life but they keep those dreams aspirations anchored in the recess of their being. Different people have different reasons for doing this. Fear. Uncertainty.Circumstance. The list goes on.
I help to unearth, rediscover, and ignite that passion that lies within us all and to map out a blueprint to achieving it, often through an entrepreneurial path.
You mention awakening others’ purpose. But who is your mentor?
I can point to two pivotal mentors in my life.
First, my father, Roshan Khan. His personal life story of having to constantly overcome adversity through quick wit and pure grit has served as a foundational principle in my life. He has inspired me to dream big and to just go for it.
Second, Chris Farrell, a great mentor and now friend. Chris was the first person to introduce me to the world of marketing, specifically online marketing. He took me under his wing, showed me the ropes, and exposed me to a world of possibility through the internet.
What do you do professionally?
I own and run Social Rank Media and Khan Consulting Inc.
Social Rank Media offers social media marketing & management services by leveraging social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, and Twitter for businesses – with the mission of increasing reach & sales, all while reducing traditional advertising costs.
Khan Consulting Inc. offers consulting and coaching services to small business entrepreneurs – with a special focus on startups.
We have achieved wild success locally and internationally.
In one case, we doubled an entire company’s profits in 4-8 weeks.
In nother case, spending no more than US$5.00 (approx. GY$1,000), we exposed a company’s product to over 7,000,000 people – causing a large spike in sales.
These are just some examples of what we’ve been able to do. There are many more. I offer all entrepreneurs the opportunity to contact me if they would like to join the chain of successful clients.
Can you name some of your clients?
Locally – Bruster’s Ice Cream, Metro Office & Computer Supplies, Essential Care Agency, Gizmos & Gadgets, among many others.
Internationally – Ford, Armani Exchange, Starbucks, ClickBank, and hundreds of small and medium businesses, including best-selling authors like Jack Canfield, Adam Grant, and Lewis Howes.
But don’t you have an MD? How did you go from medicine to business? And why?
My decision to go to medical school was fueled by that urge “to make the world a better place”. However, after graduating, I realized that through entrepreneurship, it would be possible to fund other projects on a grander scale. And with a successful business, the profits can be utilized for humanitarian ventures, such as constructing hospitals, building schools, awarding research grants, and conducting medical outreaches. I’ve often said, “Business must be about profits, but profits must have purpose.” So, for now, I’m taking somewhat of a detour with entrepreneurship before I ultimately head back to practicing medicine.
Where did you get capital to start your business?
I subscribe to the notion that “it’s not about your resources but about being resourceful”. Just around the end of medical school, I signed up for a few “odd jobs”, which included being a “flower delivery boy” with 1-800-Flowers, and used the cash from that as capital for the initial startup. But let’s be completely honest. These days, with not much more than a laptop and internet connection, anyone can start a viable business.
What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs?
- There’s no shortcut or magic recipe to success. Get serious with yourself, plan accordingly, and just put in the work. A lot of young entrepreneurs seem lazy or entitled – don’t fall into that trap too.
- Be open to possibilities but practice the power of discernment. That is, to sharpen your ability to see and understand people, things, or situations clearly and intelligently. It’s okay to say NO. It’s okay to NOT jump on every opportunity that comes your way.
- A big secret lies in knowing that failure is never the final destination. Simply consider failure as a lesson learnt. Something to be avoided in the future. Once you do that, try, and try again.
Is there anything else that you do?
I’m also the Curator of the Global Shapers Community – Georgetown Hub. The Georgetown Hub is one of 350 city-based Hubs which form the worldwide network that is the Global Shapers Community. This community is an independent, neutral, nonpolitical, nonprofit initiative of the World Economic Forum led by promising young leaders between the ages of 20 and 30, who want to build on their achievements and entrepreneurial drive to make a positive contribution to their communities.
With your busy schedule, how do you find the time to manage a youth group?
It’s often said that if you need something done, give it to a busy person to do. With the passage of time, I’ve gotten better at practicing good “time management” techniques. But more than that, I realize what’s truly important is effective “focus management”. Dedicating direct focus can often result in completing a task in 10 minutes versus an hour while multi-tasking. When coupled with enthusiasm for what you do, you become an unstoppable force.
It’s also important to “audit your time” and ensure you’re not confusing activity with intentional action. A lot of us can end up like a cat chasing its tail. That is, lots of activity but never actually getting anywhere.
What projects did the Georgetown Hub accomplish during your leadership over the past year?
The Georgetown Shapers are some of the most amazing people I know. Their intellect, diversity, and compassion make them a group truly eager to positively impact their communities.
We’ve had a very busy year. Some of the things we accomplished include:
- Headstart Stationery Drive 2014
Supplied 500 school children in the Hinterland communities with stationery and school supplies
- Save The Libraries Initiative
Built a library in Pattenson, Sophia and launched a literacy program
- Peace Day Initiative
Partnered with the S4 Foundation to make clothes available and to offer dental aid to the St. Cuthbert’s community
- Ultimate Communications Workshop 2014
Conducted a workshop geared for young professionals as a fundraiser for the Save The Libraries Initiative, which raised GY$500,000
- Georgetown Hub Volunteers Initiative
Created a wider volunteer base to assist with the execution of projects
- Human Rights Project – Dealing With Police Brutality
Launched a web resource for the general Public so they are more aware of the options available to make reports and file complaints
- Youth Link
Held a one-day workshop with representation from 40+ youth groups, with the aim of networking and fostering further group-to-group collaboration
Shapers of the Georgetown Hub have also partnered/participated in many other activities, including the Just Youth It Conference, the United Nation’s Consultative Youth Forum, the International Coastal Cleanup, and even internal team- and capacity-building exercises (such as a Sports Day and Retreat).
I encourage everyone to support the Georgetown Hub by visiting www.fb.com/GeorgetownGYShapers and https://www.globalshapers.org/hubs/georgetown.
What’s next for you?
I will continue to build my businesses by helping as many entrepreneurs (and budding entrepreneurs) as possible. And I will serve as the Outgoing Curatorwith the Georgetown Hub.
I’m also a big fan of the old adage, “See a need – fill a need.” Right now in Guyana, there is unprecedented desire from the youth to be more involved with entrepreneurship. But there seems to be a lack of access to information and/or a lack of knowledge of where to access that information. Based on this, I’m working with a small group of exceptional individuals that will soon launch an organization that specifically caters to these needs. More details on this soon!
How can someone get in touch with you?
Email – [email protected]
Website – www.SocialRankMedia.com
Facebook – www.fb.com/rkhan.med
Telephone – + 592-664-5848
+ 592-225-1842
+ 347-478-5298
