Hello, my name is Singh Bahadur Moktan. I am originally from Makwanpur District, and I came to Kathmandu at the age of 11 after completing my primary-level education. I completed my schooling at Durbar High School.

In terms of professional experience, I have over 30 years of work experience across multiple fields. Among them, sales and marketing is the area where I have invested most of my time, energy, and learning. My career in sales and marketing laid the foundation for my journey as an entrepreneur.

I firmly believe that a career in sales and marketing builds confidence in a unique way. Even without sufficient capital to start a business, the confidence gained through sales encourages us to take the leap and try. Occasionally, colleges invite me as a guest lecturer, where I strongly encourage students to explore a career in sales and marketing at least once in their lives, as it plays a vital role in building confidence and resilience. Beyond confidence, there are many other benefits, which I will elaborate on in my next blog.

You may wonder why I chose sales and marketing as a career. The honest answer is simple: sales and marketing jobs were easier to obtain compared to other fields at that time. After working for more than eight years in the informal sector, I began searching for opportunities in the formal sector and eventually found a door-to-door sales job. Often, when no other opportunities are available, sales becomes the default option—and that is exactly how my journey began.

Door-to-Door Sales Experience

I do not recall the name of the organization or my exact joining date, but it was around 2001 when I got the opportunity to sell kitchenware products by visiting prospects’ homes without prior appointments. I used to carry 10 to 15 kilograms of kitchenware in a bag and walk door-to-door throughout the day. One can imagine the physical challenge of carrying such a load while also trying to make sales.

At times, I feared that friends or relatives might see me in this situation, but that fear never stopped me because I carried a much bigger dream. I worked in that role for only a few months before moving on to another opportunity that felt comparatively easier—selling Kellogg’s Cornflakes, with a daily target of six packets.

Although I lacked formal training in customer handling, I consistently met my daily targets. Within a short period, I was promoted and offered a rickshaw to distribute products to retail shops. Unfortunately, for personal reasons, I could not take up that opportunity. I then shifted my focus to my final examinations, where I achieved positive results and earned a scholarship for the next academic level.

Despite working in the formal sector during this time, I never received an official appointment letter. At that stage, I neither questioned it nor fully understood the reason.

Receiving My First Appointment Letter

In 2003, I attended an interview for the position of Marketing Representative at Better Home Pvt. Ltd.—my first formal interview experience. I still remember that the interviewer was of Indian origin, and the first question asked was whether I lived in my own house or a rented room in Kathmandu. I replied that I lived in a rented room.

I was hired at a monthly salary of NPR 1,500 and, for the first time in my life, received an official appointment letter. Looking back today, I can understand why I was selected for that role.

I worked at Better Home for nearly three years, during which I also completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies (BBS). This role gave me the opportunity to interact with prominent individuals, including CEOs of banks, celebrities, and leading business professionals.

Although I had developed strong confidence to start my own business, I lacked adequate knowledge in other critical areas such as finance, administration, operations, and service delivery.

Changing Profession at Lower Remuneration

In 2006, I decided to shift my professional focus to accounts and finance. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I applied for a position at Suvidha Sewa and was selected. Interestingly, I accepted the offer at half the salary I was earning previously. My intention was not financial gain, but to acquire knowledge and experience in a new domain that would help me run my own business in the future.

I remain deeply grateful to Suvidha Sewa and my respected supervisors, Mr. Ajay Raj Joshi and Mr. Jayendra Thapa. During my time there, I gained hands-on experience in finance, HR, operations, and service delivery. Due to my strength in client handling, I also naturally took on client relationship responsibilities.

Lesson:
When your goal is to learn a skill, you must be flexible with remuneration—even if it means earning less than before. If you possess a skill, demonstrate it and apply it with commitment.

Starting My Own Business

After working for four years at Suvidha Sewa, I started my own business in 2010. However, entrepreneurship was far from easy. With limited capital and a small team, there was no dedicated sales and marketing department. As Chairman and CEO, I was responsible for overall operations, but sales remained my top priority.

I personally went to the market to sell our services. From then until now, I have remained actively involved in sales, primarily serving B2B clients and promoting the company’s offerings.

Today, although I describe myself as an EMI—Entrepreneur, Mentor, and Influencer—at heart and in mindset, I am fundamentally a sales and marketing professional. Beyond my daily work, I continuously read, write, and conduct training in two core areas: Leadership and Sales.

I facilitate two training programs:
     I to WE (Leadership)
     Simple Sales Formula (Sales)

To learn more about me and my work, please visit my personal website