From Mopping Spills to Becoming the Singh of Marketing
A portrait on being relentless.
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October 13, 2022. I landed in Toronto with two suitcases, a heart full of hope, and a head full of plans. Within 48 hours, I was walking down Yonge Street, clutching a stack of resumes, knocking on every restaurant door I could find.
“I’d like to apply as a waiter,” I’d say — not knowing that here they called them “servers.” The looks I got ranged from amused to confused to dismissive. To some, the idea of a brown guy in a turban with an accent working front-of-house in downtown Toronto was laughable.
Still, I kept knocking. Until one day, a host finally asked, “Do you have your Smart Serve?” I didn’t even know what that was. Turns out, you can’t serve a drink in Ontario without it.
I registered, studied, took the test, and scored 98%. Then I went right back to pounding the pavement — only this time, with a little more confidence.
After 130+ applications, six dead-end interviews, and more silent rejections than I could count, I finally got one “yes.” A nightclub hired me as a barback — which is just a fancy way of saying do everything nobody else wants to do. My nights were spent washing glasses, mopping spills, hauling garbage, and replacing toilet paper rolls.
And all the while, I was an economics graduate, a certified marketer, a web developer, and a financial markets expert — cleaning up cocktail residue at 2 AM in my first Canadian winter.
When I moved to Canada, I took a $25,000 CAD loan to pay my tuition. It wasn’t just a number in the bank, it was a weight on my shoulders, a constant reminder that failure wasn’t an option.
But the real challenge wasn’t just financial. It was learning to navigate an entirely new culture; one where small talk was a ritual, and you could never really know someone’s intentions.
People were “nice,” but not always kind. The “Canadian experience” gatekeeping was real. And more often than not, overqualified newcomers like me were underestimated.
However, I refused to my talent go unnoticed. I built my portfolio, upgraded my skills, and networked relentlessly. I took on freelance projects, applying everything I learned to real businesses — helping them grow, one strategy at a time. That’s when people started calling me “The Singh of Marketing” — not just because of my name, but because I had a knack for turning struggling brands into revenue-generating powerhouses.
The turning point came when I joined Platinum AdvantEdge in the USA, remotely from Canada. They didn’t care about “Canadian experience” or my accent. They saw my results, my vision, and my drive. And they gave me the runway to do what I loved doing, marketing.
The harsh reality is since graduating in June 2024, I have sent out 5,000+ applications, crafted 650+ personalized cover letters, attended 100+ phone interviews and 50+ video interviews.
The truth is Canada is lucky to have highly qualified newcomers. But too often, it wastes that talent, leaving people underemployed instead of helping them fulfill their potential.
Unlike the U.S that rewards results. It doesn’t ask where you’re from before it decides what you’re worth.
So, if you’re a newcomer reading this, hear me: Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Your first job may have nothing to do with your degree. You may have to work harder, network more, and prove yourself again and again. But it’s worth it. Every rejection, every odd job, and every setback are all part of the story you’ll someday tell with pride.
I came here with two suitcases, a $25,000 debt, and a dream. Now, I help businesses grow, craft strategies that work, and lead marketing at an international level. And I’m just getting started.
P.S. I paid it off in exactly 921 days.
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Wanna learn more about what he does and how he does it? Check out his website
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