This month, Oxygen Management Consultants completed 14 incredible years.
What started with no office, no team, and no clients — just belief and a burning desire to create impact — has grown into a powerful ecosystem of business coaching, transformation, and trust.
Looking back, I didn’t attend a business school. But the street taught me. Clients taught me. Mistakes taught me. And I’m still learning. Here are 10 lessons that have shaped this journey — each with a story behind it
1. When nothing works out, remember something better is going to work out
In 2011, people rejected my offer to join their company and give them a percentage share of my business as I didn’t have enough money to start my own company. I was left with no choice but to start something of my own with little money and an installment pattern. That moment I felt very rejected and frustrated but that “rejection” led to Oxygen being born — and turned out to be the best redirection of my life.
2. Listen to your clients – your next Million $ idea is gonna come from them
Early days when I used to do corporate training and coaching one of our clients asked me if I could spread the 3 days training hours to 6 month and visit them regularly and coach them. My worry at that time was the learnings of the staff would not be effective . When shared my doubt she took responsibility of the learnings and that one casual request sparked the idea of offering a coaching retainer model — which is now a core part of our offerings. Similarly Mastermind, Teens and Mastermind+ all the ideas came from our clients. Thanks to them.
3. Surround yourself with the Right people — their mindset rubs off on you
They say ‘finding the right people is a luck, keeping the right people is a skill’. Surround yourself with people who will push your thinking, your mindset, who believes in you, and fuels energy in you . Just being around the right tribe has pushed me to dream bigger, act bolder, and never settle.
4. You need one person with whom you can be brutally honest.
That one friend, mentor, or accountability partner you can call at 11 pm and say, “I messed up.” No filters. No fear of judgment and maintains full confidentiality. Find that person. I’m lucky I did.
5. Set goals that make you uncomfortable.
In year 6, I set a goal so big it made me sweat. I didn’t hit it. But I landed far ahead of where I would’ve if I’d stayed “realistic.” Your goals should scare you a little and excite you a lot. When you set your goals, just think of ‘ what and not how’. Once you think of what, how follows. Trust your mind.
6. Failure is just feedback with bad PR
Every mistake was a hidden masterclass. Instead of getting stuck in guilt, I learned to ask: “What is this trying to teach me?” That mindset changed the game and kept innovating and improving
7. Business is all about Discipline and Consistency. Remember discipline wins more than talent
There were days I didn’t feel like showing up. But I did. Coaching, writing, selling, networking — day after day. Business rewards those who stay consistent longer than others. Business is all about rhythm. If you keep doing the things every day in and out, eventually it gets you results.
8. Mindset is your first business investment.
Strategies can be Googled. But mindset has to be built. Every morning, I work on myself before I work on my business. That’s non-negotiable. Entrepreneurship is not easy. Entrepreneurship is all about challenges. I have also said in the past, accept problems and eat them for breakfast. Entrepreneurship is more of an emotional game than a logical game. Emotionally, if you’re stable and you’re working on it, then you enjoy entrepreneurship.
9. Gratitude makes you magnetic.
When you’re successful, look outside. When there’s a failure, look in the mirror. When things go right, give credit. When things go wrong, take responsibility. That formula has helped me build trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships.
10. You can’t build a legacy alone.
Oxygen is not just Muneer. It’s every teammate, client, mentor, vendors and believer who has added oxygen to this vision. I’m grateful to each one of you.
Here’s to 14 years of impact — and to many more ahead.
If you’ve been a part of this journey, thank you. If you’re just joining us — welcome to the Oxygen tribe. Let’s keep breathing belief into businesses.
— Muneer Samnani = TMS
Founder, Oxygen Management Consultants
