Entrepreneurship is a Deep Evolution

Entrepreneurship is a fancy word in today’s world. While many entrepreneurs have created a buzz with their awe-inspiring products and services, there are countless wannapreneurs who came with me-too ideas and vanished into thin air like they never existed. So what does it take to be an entrepreneur? What goes into the life of an entrepreneur?

In this blog, I would like to share few of my experiences I have come across on this entrepreneurial journey. Please feel free to agree or to disagree or to even share your valuable opinions.

Since my college days, I wanted to create something different which would add value to human lives. At that point of time, that “something” was not defined. Ideas pop in and pop out; there was no definite decision. I was not clear of what I really want. I had been involved in some businesses during a career break like selling meat and blankets. Those were like part-time jobs, just for the sake of survival. There was no passion and no purpose involved. But, these businesses had sort of taught me about networking with vendors and laborers.

My corporate jobs weren’t that interesting either. They were satisfactory but not interesting because my wants and purposes were different from the corporate job. It was like I wanted a pizza but got a sandwich instead. It took me over 2 years to plan and convince myself to step out of my comfort zone to pursue my long-held project.

As I set my foot into the crowded world of entrepreneurs, I was fortunate to be guided and mentored by Yuikan Shirik (Brand Expert and Founder of Brand Neurons). He told me about the mindset and attitude that could either make or break a person. Under his guidance, I have learnt that humans are limited only by their mindsets. And, whenever there is a true desire to achieve something, our mind begins to be more receptive and widens the borders around us. Our thought processes get aligned to that one particular goal. The brain neurons inject the need for urgency and the mental activity multiplies.

The startup journey is challenging, risky, interesting and addictive. I am new to the world of business but I am already observing a hell lot of changes in me. I am going through deep evolution processes – psychological, physical, social, emotional and economical.

Psychological Evolution

Family:

So I broke out the news to my parents that I had just quit my corporate job to start my own venture. This time, it was especially tough because I had earlier invested a chunk of money in a wrong business. Wrong, because it was beyond my moral ethics. I agree that it was a shitty decision in the first place. Well the problem is the money was borrowed from my parents, which I have not returned yet. There was chill in the air and I was nervous to the core. I was not sure what their reaction would be, since my parents are surviving on my dad's retirement fund. I was also afraid whether they would be able to trust me since my last business was in drain.

To my surprise, my parents were pretty cool about it. All they had said was, “you know better what you’re doing but how are you going to survive without a job in such an expensive metropolitan city?” The survival part was a puzzle even for me. I was numb for a moment but was able to murmur a not-so-convincing ‘don’t worry I will manage.’ Even before I could start my project, the psychological pressure was already weighing down on me. The sense of responsibility towards my family and old parents were fiddling with my brain and challenging my decision.

Fear of Success:

What and if I don’t succeed? What would people think of me? How will I face my friends and families if I don’t make it? The fear of success is probably the worst kind of psychological games we play with ourselves. It’s like a parasite – it won’t leave you, it won’t let you think clearly and you would be revolving around that very word ‘SUCCESS’ instead of focusing on the journey ahead. It’s like a whirlpool – it will pull all the negativity around you and try to pollute your thought processes.

It’s kind of funny thou in some ways. At times, you find looking at the mirror and talking to yourself – “this isn’t going anywhere, bro.” The reflection in the mirror would be saying, “This was your choice. Don’t pull me into this shit, bro.” Yeah! This is a one-way ticket. You know that nobody else would understand what you’re going through. So, sometimes the only person with whom you can share your problems is ‘YOU’.

I believe this is a part of the psychological evolution every entrepreneur has to go through. It’s like a training to equip ourselves for the impending WAR that knows no mercy. I have learnt that now I am bold, I am a bit more confident than I used to be, and I am less shy and more approachable. I am beginning to focus more on myself and less on what others have to say. I would be lying if I say that I am immune to others’ opinions but I am learning to filter out the unnecessary noises and that’s a big plus for me.

Entrepreneurship is a journey where if needed, you have to undertake the entire journey alone. There are no shortcuts or excuses. It’s a long and tedious journey where challenges arise from every nook and corner. The only solutions are to be strong and to be ready for the ultimate test (this is just a starter).

Follow this blog if you like this post and can relate it to your story. Stay tuned as I will be sharing the rest of the evolution processes of an entrepreneur. Any feedback is a welcome. We would also like to hear your side of story if you are an entrepreneur.

Hush the Noise with Smile

Today, my mind was troubled because things didn’t work out as expected. It almost ruined the entire day. I was lost in thoughts and was constantly seeking for answers to hush the noise inside my head. I could not even smile and I was afraid that I might be spreading negative vibes around me.

The unpleasant feeling continued to trouble me, but towards the end of the day, I was in for a wake-up call. As I was searching for some creative ‘Typography’ designs, the words “Laugh in the Face of Adversity” appeared. Good Lord! Perfect! That’s the kind of inspiration I really need in this condition.

As I was stepping out of office, I was evaluating these words and I could sense the noise slowly reducing. I understand it takes a great deal of courage and boldness to put on a smile during hard times. I mean, how’s it even possible to laugh when I am wounded inside? It will be like conflicting and protesting against my emotions.

Call it hypocrisy or faking, but it’s not weird or unnatural. I have done it countless times – going against my feelings to show or say the opposite of what I really mean. It’s just that sometimes it is very hard. But, what if I could master this art? What if I could laugh in the face of adversities? What if I could hush the noise with a smile? 99.9% of my problems would be gone! Now, how’s that for a Smile?

Life is full of uncertainties; even the best laid plans fail. The best solution would be to take the positives out of that bad experience and flush the rest with a smile. I agree, it sounds like a lecture and will be equally hard to implement. But consciously or unconsciously, I have been doing it all this time.  And if it’s something that can improve my life, then I would like to take the chance. After all, ‘Practice makes a man perfect,’ right? Learning, learning, learning – Learning is Exciting!

Who am I?

Who are you? Who do you think you are? Do you know who I am? These are the questions often hurled at each other when we are tested beyond limits. Sounds intimidating when you are at the receiving end, but it actually makes sense when you think of it from life’s perspective.

A thorough introspection begins. Who am I? What am I? What do I like? How do people perceive me? As a kid, I wanted to be everything and anything under the sun - from a Teacher to a Super Hero. But, as time brought me closer to reality, I narrowed down my whims and fancies to be a Writer. A good writer or a bad writer; I leave it to the readers. I also like fashion, music, technology and everything that’s creative. However, ‘Writing and Fashion’ is where the thrill lies for me.

Writing, because, it liberates me and allows me the freedom to express myself. I was writing poems, lyrics and short stories. But, as it became a profession, I somehow lost the touch and feel of it. For more than 6 years, I am writing almost every day, but it doesn’t give me any kind of satisfaction or relief. I am writing to impress the clients and superiors and not to express what I feel like. But, of course that’s what I get paid for - I work for somebody else. Have to figure out a way soon!

Fashion, because, like everyone I want to look good! I believe I have a good fashion sense and I can borrow any style and give my personal edge to it. I don’t know how (it’s hard to explain) but it just happens.

So as I was asking these questions, I realized that I was ignoring myself. These things were so into me that I was neglecting them all this while. I started measuring the value it adds to my life and it was invaluable. I begin to appreciate the idea that these are the things that give me my Identity – that makes me “Who I Am!” So, am I a Stylish Writer? Yes, to a great extent, but wait for it. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

During the initial days of my career, the idea of entrepreneurship hit me like a plague and it never left. I started devising business plans and strategies. Sadly, nothing has taken shape till date – (par koshys jari hai) and hopefully we will kickstart with one, very soon.

Very few people are fortunate to be able to do what they love and get paid for it. Musicians, designers, actors and actresses are some of them I believe; although behind the glamour-screen they have made countless sacrifices. Well, I don’t have their skills but I do have the gift of writing. And, I have decided to turn it into an opportunity for myself. After observing and analyzing a lot of businesses, I have come up with a potential idea that could turn my passion into a revenue generating business. What more can I ask for? It’s intriguing and exciting to see what lies ahead. Yes, it involves a lot of risks. But as long as it makes me happy, I am ready to take such risks again and again and again.

Things got clearer as I asked myself, “Who am I?” I discovered my objective and now I confidently say, “I am a very stylish writer and an aspiring entrepreneur, with a long cherished dream of playing in a Rock band.”

I shared my story because it made me realize and appreciate who I am, what I have got, what I was missing and what I want. I feel like I have found myself and now, I have to create myself. Remember this last line, there is a surprise coming up in my next post.

If you have read till the end, I want you to do the same. Ask yourself the same questions and discover the missing link ‘or’ ignore it like you have never read this article. Your choice.

Words of wise and all things nice

What is it about a well-written sentence that is so fascinating? I think there is magic in a thought expressed well. This, I suppose, explains my love for quotations. I am what you would call a ‘Quote buff’ (well, maybe more of a ‘Quote enthusiast’; see, I lose track of who said what but I do have a huge collection of quotations nonetheless.)

James Baldwin said, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.” True, isn’t it? The moment when I come across a quotation expressing something I have personally felt or thought about, by somebody either dead for centuries or living in a completely different part of the world, I am amazed. We are unique no doubt, but we are also part of the common human experience. There is a bible quote that says, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”

                                                                          johnboccio.com

There is a peculiar thing though, for a species that has been in existence for so long, accumulating knowledge and experience, presumably learning from them, we do seem to be going around in circles. Every new person that comes into this world seems to make the same mistakes made by thousands before him in order to learn. (Really, when do we ever listen our parents? We have to try things out ourselves of course.) Paulo Coelho got it right when he said, “People never learn anything by being told, they have to find out for themselves.”  I guess, that’s where the uniqueness lies, in the process.

Words may not substitute for experience but they connect us to each other and to people generations before us. Sigh, see, this is what quotes do to me, get me all philosophical. On a lighter note, Dorothy Sayers is known to have said, “I have a quotation for everything, it saves original thinking.”  Well, true, also there is the added advantage of dropping names and sounding smart for something somebody else said!

Good Traffic Bad Traffic Part 1

I have been longing to write this for a long time, but somehow laziness got the better of me. Anyways, I am here now and in this "Good Traffic Bad Traffic Series" I would like to share some of the observations and learning I have made while commuting by bus.

So... to begin with, first, let's clear our thoughts of the heavy congestion and blowing horns and focus on the scene inside the bus. Let me show you (my observation of) what happens inside the bus when we get stuck in traffic jams. Road blocks are annoying and one would probably do anything to avoid it. But, before grumbling about it we should also remember that it is one of those man-made hiccups. We have to learn to swallow it because it's not gonna get better anytime soon.

I am sorry, I diverted from the topic. Let's not get into the intellectual stuff and see what's happening inside the bus. Ok so... it's been a while since the driver had pulled the brake and now people are getting a bit fidgety. They are looking at their watches again and again to see how long they have been stuck in the traffic (Chillax people, it's just been 3 minutes). People are looking here and there, rotating their heads in every possible direction with the hope of finding something interesting to entertain themselves. (God, this traffic I tell you) Oh wait! I hear them breathe out heavily, showing visible signs of boredom and irritation. Our senior brother has finished reading the newspaper and now his concentration is on the road finally. He turns to the left and to the right (We're stuck again, is it?). In the midst of all this, some opportunists utilise the best out of the situation to get some sleep, adjusting themselves to the best possible position (What the heck let me sleep off this bloody jam).

Oh yaah! and then there are these people (I call them 'Yawners') who yawn from out of nowhere, reminding us of how boring traffic jams are (Hey bro, got your signal, thanks for reminding. Ya, I am feeling it too).

After observing all these people, this helpless side of me usually scream at myself (in my head), "Do hell with this traffic," grinding my teeth with full force as if I am crushing my frustration into bits and pieces. Yeah! Traffic jams do make people go mad. And then suddenly, I would think of the reaction of those opportunists who managed to get some sleep. What would be their reaction when they wake up and realise that we haven't moved an inch? (Don't tell me, we're still here!). A part of me smirks at this thought. (Oh Halo! How do you think you can you sleep when your brothers and sisters are struggling. We are in this mess together. We created it. Now, let's face it together. We need support during hard times, you see).

Well, that's it for now. Thank you for your attention. I hope some of you have made similar observations like me. Please, let me know if I can add something more to it. 

Stay tuned! In the next articles I will be sharing 'The Characters in the Bus' and also some tips on 'how to kill boredom and stop fretting about Traffic jams.' (Your suggestions would be of great help!)