New book The Art of Winging It puts Docklands on readers’ radars

Docklands has meant something special to Dr Kaushik Sridhar for many years, and now those memories of living here have been woven into his recently released book The Art of Winging It.

As a former professional athlete, a two-time TEDx speaker, corporate executive, university lecturer, and a winner of the ESG Thought Leader of the Year, Dr Sridhar has had a diverse career path.

But releasing a book has always been a lifelong dream, and it stems from comments his parents often made about leaving his footprint on the world.

“Having grown up in India, Nigeria, the United States, and now calling Australia home, I have found that when it comes to forging your own path, there are no established rules,” he said.

“You have to make them for yourself. These ideas apply to life as well as business. This book will help you to learn to back yourself.”

In developing my own rules, I’ve learned how to break away from expectations and unhelpful pressures and found that the only way to fly is by truly winging it.

The book delves into themes of being “the underdog” after years of adversity, understanding how people can be their own worst enemy, and it questions “what’s the worst that can happen?” when creating your own path to success, facing challenges and forging your own path.

Dr Sridhar uses his own experiences to lead readers through examples and lessons they could learn, and Docklanders will also get an opportunity to relate to parts in the narrative that connect back to the suburb they call home.

Dr Sridhar first moved to Docklands with his wife in 2015, and it was where they bought their first home, where they spent good quality time taking walks along NewQuay Promenade, and where they learnt to adapt to a changing world when COVID hit.

Even though the couple moved to Sydney in 2021, Docklands still has a very special place in the couple’s hearts.

“Docklands gave us so many memories, and when we relocated, she [my wife] was in absolute tears,” Dr Sridhar said.

“When my wife was walking in Docklands with her dad, who was visiting Melbourne, in 2010, she told him that she would one day live in Docklands.”

Fulfilling dreams through putting in the work seems to be something that has made Dr Sridhar and his wife’s lives a lot fuller, and now it is a matter of paying it forward through using his story to help others.

“I needed this book in every moment I lived through racism, physical and mental bullying, heartbreak and being boxed into blueprints that tried to tell me who I should be,” he said.

“[This book is] one I believe [people] will pick up and say, ‘this changed my life’.” •

To purchase or find out more about The Art of Winging It, click here.