Purva Grover: Shaping the Digital Creator Scene in Dubai
Initiative by the UAE (Dubai Culture & Arts Authority) reflects the country and its leadership's incredible commitment and role towards those who have chosen to pursue the arts passionately.
Highlights
Read about Purva's inspiring shift from corporate life to digital creator.
Her disciplined work-from-home routine and productivity tips.
Practical advice on staying focused and maintaining balance.
She is not an 'influencer' but a storyteller addicted to writing tales to discover her favorite word.
In the rapidly evolving creator economy, estimated to be worth $104.2 billion, content creators are expanding their businesses and redefining the traditional 9-to-5 work model. To learn more about how digital creators foster their work-from-home routine, I've talked to Purva Grover – an author, journalist, and creative entrepreneur who was the first to receive the UAE Golden Visa in the Class of Creators from the People of Culture and Art as a writer. This is one of the long-term residence options when you move to Dubai. Here's what she told us.
Purva, you were the first to receive the UAE Golden Visa in the Class of Creators from the People of Culture and Art as a writer. Can you tell us the story behind it?
When I made Dubai, UAE, my home 13 years ago, little did I know that in the coming years, my words and I would touch many hearts, reach various platforms, and share countless stories. In June 2021, I was granted the UAE Golden Visa for ten years (the world's first culture visa) under the Class of Creators from the People of Culture and Art category as a WRITER. It did surprise me, as the beautiful SIKKA team, a flagship event of Dubai Art Season, had put forward my nomination. I have been told that I was the first writer in the country to have been granted the same!
This honor and initiative by the UAE (Dubai Culture & Arts Authority) reflects the country and its leadership's incredible commitment and role towards those who have chosen to pursue the arts passionately. I have always believed that honest words have the power to heal, bring change, and make one believe in magic. So, here's to words: I am grateful, honored, and humbled.
So, there was no process for me; it was just a warm phone call informing me that I had been nominated and should head to the authorities to collect it and get it stamped!
Wow, that must have been an amazing surprise! Speaking of surprises, I know you used to work in the corporate world. What made you decide to go freelance?
Yes, in my 19 years of journalism, I have been associated with a 'corporation' for 18 years while simultaneously focusing on writing books, teaching creative writing & thinking to children and adults, writing and directing theatrical productions, and more.
I left for my world of words outside my job (Associate Editor, Khaleej Times until March 2023), which got larger, more beautiful, and enriching, demanding that I put more of my heart and soul into this world that I'd been building block by block, dream by dream.
You've really embraced the path of the digital creator. Do you see yourself as part of the gig economy that everyone's talking about?
Very much, and for various reasons. At the moment, I headline three publications: The Indian Trumpet, a quarterly magazine for Indian expats; The Junior Trumpet, a monthly magazine for children & young adults; and our latest stories over art, a monthly magazine for all things art! All our magazines are free to read, share, download, subscribe to, and even print (use your home printer and recycle: a paper printed on the front can still be used!), and we run a boutique Media and PR agency, We're All Storytellers. In addition, my fourth and latest book, #icouldhavebeenaninstapost, was released this summer.
I create content across platforms (to keep stories alive), including theatre,podcasts, magazines, books, talks, and even the arts (my words are available as prints).
Okay, let's jump to the central part of the interview – how do you structure your day when working from home? Walk us through a typical day.
Stay disciplined is the key, and I follow that principle. I start my day within 40-45 mins of waking up (shower, chores, etc.) and am at my desk until evening. I can fit in my exercising and cooking during the day as I have that flexibility, which I enjoy as little breaks.
I treat my WFH as strictly as I would show up for an office. If I feel like doing so, I sometimes step out to coffee shops and hold meetings or sit and work alone. My WFH day is undoubtedly an 8-9 hour, with no water cooler breaks, etc. I allow myself the 'me time' and am not a strict boss to myself!
That's quite a schedule! I'm curious: What kind of tech setup are you working with? Are there any fancy gadgets or just the basics?
I have nothing fancy; I just have my laptop with the usual Microsoft, Grammarly, etc.
I rely heavily on my physical diary (planner), in which I write down every meeting, social engagement, and task of the day. I can't function without it (and my coffee machine, which allows me to brew my cup).
I hear you on the coffee! I bet working from home can't all be smooth sailing. What kind of challenges have you run into?
Chores are always calling you out; occasionally, there is the temptation to nap in the afternoons, to take personal phone calls, to allow yourself the leeway to attend to a task to do something later (late evening or night!).
Oh, I totally get that! The afternoon nap temptation is real. So, what's your strategy for staying on track and not getting distracted by all the home stuff?
Stay disciplined.
Exercise daily.
Be patient.
Be honest (WFH doesn't mean you are available).
Dress up (if you are feeling too lazy in PJs).
Love your work. (Write a lot. Forgive yourself. Read a lot. Write what you believe in.)
Those are some great tips! But I've got to ask, how do you keep work from taking over your whole life when your office is right there in your home?
No laptop, no work after' office hours' or on 'weekends.' Nothing is urgent. Annual leave is a must! I took 20 days off in April.
I agree — taking leave is a must! Let's wrap this up — what would you say if you had to sum up your work-from-home life in a nutshell?
I love my work desk, my coffee, and the WFH routine that I have built for myself. It is the simple act of heading to my desk, brewing a cuppa, staring out of the window, and opening up an empty WordDoc that keeps me going to tell more stories!
My work does allow me to meet enough people, so I don't miss the interaction at any level, and, in fact, cherish it more: the idea of dressing up and leaving home!
Thank you, Purva!
As the creator economy continues to expand and evolve, Purva's journey reminds us that at the heart of it are individuals driven by passion, creativity, and the desire to connect with others through their work. As we look to the future, one thing is clear — the possibilities for digital creators are as vast and varied as the stories they have to tell. Don't you agree?