When Ajay Relan battled with mental health, his therapist gave him two options: medicate, or volunteer. He chose to volunteer, and after a few mishaps, he found himself making sandwiches and love notes for hungry people one Christmas morning in Los Angeles. And thus, #hashtaglunchbag was formed. 

In this interview, Ajay reflects on his younger years as a 6-year-old entrepreneur, his rocky relationship with his mother, and what it meant to grow up with a single parent who was often busy and stressed out. 

Ajay also takes us through his college years, the small businesses he started, and the difficult emotional state in which he found himself at the end of his 20s. We also discuss meeting his father for the first time, feelings of loss, and bouts of depression — it was only through giving that Ajay was able to really address some of these issues and manage his life in a more positive manner. 

For an amazing story with a person with lots of stories about not quitting, please be sure to listen to this episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The kinds of activities that Ajay gravitated towards at a young age.
• Lessons in hard work from Ajay's mother and her entrepreneurial endeavors.
• The evolution of Ajay's mother's business and his role in helping her run it. 
• Ajay's family history and the part that his Indian heritage has played in his life. 
• Hustling during college; how Ajay sold Nike Air Jordans our of his boot! 
• Mixed feelings after college and the emotional state that Ajay found himself in during his 20s.  
• The wall that Ajay hit towards the end of his 20s and the decision he made in response.
• Generational trauma and the legacy of depression; Ajay's mother's struggles and medication.
• The steps that Ajay took to confront his own struggles and looking to volunteering. 
• How Ajay connected with his father and the three questions he wanted to be answered.
• The lasting impacts of this meeting in the context of other difficult life events.
• Ajay's first experience of volunteering in a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving.
• The inspiration came from an old friend and led to making packed lunches to hand out.   
• Growing a small, experimental practice into something bigger that spread all over the world. 
• How Ajay's entrepreneurial experience contributed to the success of HanhtagLunchbag. 
• Exercising the generosity and gratitude muscles — the journey that Ajay is still on!
• The components of HashtagLunchbag and the experience of working with them.
• Ajay's advice for those hoping to create similarly impactful projects. 
• The motivation behind Hilltop Cafe, Ajay's coffee shop in LA. 

Click here for full transcript and show notes.

Send us a text message. We'd love to hear from you!