Along with conversations about business, another thing in fashion right now is scores of people from abroad returning to India. What’s fuelling these patterns? While on my way to recruit people for my new venture, I thought through these points. You see, wife away for a few days to in-laws’ does help business and thinking both 🙂 So, I looked at some of the history of modern India. Even under the British rule, most affluent Indians preferred traveling abroad for education and eventually ended up working there in most cases. So, Indians have been on the receiving end of brain drain for a century almost! However, after independence, and specially during the license-raj years, this phenomenon accelerated. People felt so shackled by the system and lack of opportunities that they preferred to fly abroad. Grass was indeed greener on the other side, dollars glimmering across the Pacific… Some people did come back post the reforms in early 90’s but they were far and few in between the many who flew in the flooding river of IT upsurge. Many of those who went are now firmly entrenched in the societies everywhere. And they made Indian curry and Indian software professionals ubiquitous in most places abroad! This trend seems to be reversing in the past year or so it seems. If we are to believe news stories, hundreds are wounding up ashore in search of moksha in the hyper growth opportunities that India now presents to the world. And its getting better day by day with the new dispensation promising truckloads of reforms… I guess that this combination of unparalleled opportunities present in the huge nascent market of India and the sea-change in expectations with the new government in the center is what is our best bet if we are to grow to levels we aspire to. India’s potential as a consumer market was never in doubt with its huge population. With new technologies and penetration of mobile phones, it’s become a reality. Companies and entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this to reach out and create new value for consumers across industries. Aiding this upswing is the new government, which is promising reforms and simpler laws to do business. The prime minister’s topmost stated agenda is improving India’s ranking in the ease-of-doing-business index. And the improving mood has bought back those NRI’s from everywhere to invest and do business in India… What remains to be seen is how this upswing is sustained and promises are fulfilled. India is at the cusp of changing forever if things go well. But if they don’t, I believe we might witness never before seen brain drain. Because this perhaps is our last chance of reclaiming long lost glory and become the golden bird again. Here’s to the eternal hope of seeing a better and more prosperous future for our country!
Home Page
The people angle in business
Business is in fashion across drawing rooms these days!
Reading news of companies and platforms raising millions and billions of dollars has sure got the average Indian interested. There are regular discussion happening over these topics across age groups and everyone wants to know how do these hotshots get built…
Over the past few months, I am in the process of building up my new business. During this time, I have often thought about what makes a business venture successful and how do entrepreneurs succeed. And specially how to build once such company!
I must confess when I started out, I thought it was all about hard work and some luck. But as my journey has progressed, I have realized it’s all about how to manage people…
People management is the mantra to run a business successfully. If I can manage people and build a great team that shares my passion and belief, the business will scale and do well. The execution of the idea shall be as planned and success will be a formality.
Even in jobs, if someone is a good people manager, he or she will automatically do well and excel in the chosen field. Most successful managers I have read about seem to have this trait in common…
In fact, I was reading an article about how Richard Branson, one of the greatest entrepreneur of our time, has scaled up his empire. He mentioned one very simple thing – “I hire good people, leave them to run the business and trust them to do their best. It frees up my mind and gives me time to think about the future.”
A great example of great people management leading to greatness for the founder and group companies!
However, most people neglect this aspect when they are figuring out things in their professional life. They treat others with contempt or neglect the human angle and in turn this gets ingrained in their behavior, leading to future fallibility.
If we also become as steadfast about the all important human aspect as Richard Branson, more companies and empires as vast and efficient as Virgin can be built!
The David vs Goliath Path
This morning, sitting at home, I decided to catch up on some cricket action in the ongoing World T20 in Bangladesh. I was curious to see the game between Netherlands and South Africa, having read some tweets pointing to a possible upset that didn’t happen.
What really happened? A newbie side came out all guns blazing to restrict a good batting lineup from scoring too many runs; and then their batsmen had a field day playing fearlessly to some outstanding bowlers and fielders. And it was perhaps a little bit of luck that saved South Africa on the day…
As the match progressed, and Netherlands faltered to reach the finish line, I went into my own thoughts of how and why this happens. Now there is something that always inspires in us a sleeping awe whenever we hear about these big vs small contests, nobodys fighting somebodys. Well, it does inspire in me! How is it that someone relatively unknown, obscure suddenly gathers the courage and guts to fight the big guns?
This is true in battles, in sports, and in the mad world of business all the time. And it has got to do sometimes with luck, but mostly the reason behind such unexpected results is the mindset that the David carries when he fights the Goliath. Mindset plays a major role in the emergence of the victor! And that is true all the times…
When the Small player comes out to face the challenges, being fearless and undeterred and in most cases knowing he/she is doing the right thing, just goes all out to achieve what is set in sight. The Bigger player becomes complacent or sometimes even arrogant, both responses a sure sign of a stalling mindset, to ignore the Small one and hence loses out in the contest. And irrespective of whether there are challengers or not, whether big players exist or not, the ones who enter the field with the right mindset, go on to win. That explains the emergence of an Ambani, or a Mittal, or a Sachin, or an Amitabh. They just don’t give up come what may, focused all the way on their goals. And that is what makes them a champion!
How can we benefit from this all? Well, if we always keep our goals clear and our mindset positive, nothing in this world is impossible. Too many times we give up on things when the going gets tough. Too many people don’t fulfil their life’s destiny because there are people discouraging them. All this negativity stops people from trying and becoming what they set out to achieve, living their life in mediocrity…
We just have to remember a simple thing – Even if there are a hundred challenges or a thousand nay-sayers, the David will win over the Goliath, provided he has the right perspective and a strong mindset to boot!!! And we will also be remembered and talked about in some corner of the world some day, even if we are small today…
The Thrill of Building
Last month I was at my home with parents for some work with respect to one of our businesses. Most of my free time got spent on the balcony, watching a band of construction workers diligently put together the building opposite to our newly constructed house. And as I watched them, a thought stuck to me (which you can guess took some unsticking to do :P)
That band of workers worked each day in sun/rain/wind/shade to put together an apartment complex where none of them were going to live. And as I observed them each day, I was more and more fascinated by this aspect of how the lives of entrepreneurs unfold…
Most entrepreneurs will agree to this – the fun is in the journey and the climb, the view from the top is lonesome and it’s not the destination that matters. Which suggests, building something should be of prime interest to us!
However, most people make this mistake on too squarely focusing on the end point, worrying endlessly about how it’s all going to turn out in the final race. To put it mildly, if the foundation is strong, if the journey is challenging, if the process followed is good, the end result will be just fine!
This gets displayed in our daily lives also. We fret and fume over small things gone wrong, fight with others and get angry on ourselves if we don’t get what we want, but rarely reflect back on was the building process right? And if it is, temporary setbacks or delays aren’t much to bother about then…
The thrill of building is what keeps people alive, that joy of something that you envisioned taking shape in front of you is unmatchable. It’s true for painters, for artists, for entrepreneurs, for sportsmen, for leaders, and I guess it’s true for all the so called “normal” people as well. Here’s to the spirit of the “Go for it” attitude!!!
Key to Success!
In the morning, watching a tennis match between Federer and Djokovich, my wife (who of course is not a big fan of sports, no points for guessing :)) made a rather regular comment – “I’m getting bored with this monotonous game, don’t these players get bored too”. And my mind started to churn…
As I answered her question, I stumbled upon something quite revealing. Having been an entrepreneur, I have been observing some traits that are common to most of our ilk. And most of these traits are very common between sportsmen and entrepreneurs so I can safely make a comparison here.
One of the topmost of these traits which make sportsmen/entrepreneurs successful is “enthusiasm”. Some people also call it passion! And it is almost a prerequisite for anyone to succeed doing something of their own!
Well, most of us might think it is their gift or their intelligence or probably they being in the right place that makes them succeed. Nothing could be farther from the truth… Of course, hard work and dedication for years altogether also count, but the first and I think the most important is Enthusiasm/Passion!!!
If one doesn’t have enough enthusiasm or passion for anything, it is quite natural for them to get bored or tired of doing it. That’s why perhaps people keep changing jobs and places, they just can’t bear doing something they don’t like anymore. And that’s why perhaps marriages also break, the couple unable to keep their passion for each other for too long…
But if one has a passion towards something, they wouldn’t give it up for anything else. They would continue to labour and challenge themselves on a daily basis to become better in it. And that’s what happens to these sportsmen and entrepreneurs. They are so naturally excited and charged up about their game or idea that nothing can deter them from succeeding! And they just go on and on and on!
Now, how does this help us? I am reminded of one of Steve Job’s most profound speeches at the Stanford graduation ceremony (I don’t recollect the exact words but this is what he meant) “When I wake up in the morning and look at the mirror, if I don’t seem enthusiastic and wonder what’s wrong; and this happens for a few days, I know I am not enjoying and discover and change what’s worrying me”.
If we all just follow this great man’s advice and start living our life to fulfil our passions and remain enthusiastic about things which we are doing, we would all definitely be more successful and much more happier!!!
So here’s to more success for all of you, may you become the absolute best in whatever you are doing, following your passion!
Leaving a Legacy!!!
While on a long travel, I decided to pick up a book which had been long sitting on my shelf (the digital one, thanks to numerous options on the iPad which has become my constant companion, so much that sometimes my wife laments “try something else rather than the iPad today”!), Empire of the Moghuls, written by Alex Rutherford.
As I lost myself into the plot detailing the life and times of Babur, the ruler who established the dynasty, I understood how they became one of the most successful rulers of India. From my childhood, I had viewed the Moghuls as the most successful empire in India and perhaps more so because of the history books than my own research. But never really went to the extent of understanding the reason, until the book revealed the answer to me…
The book is a brilliant account of how Babur built the empire right from his early childhood when he was declared the king owing to his father’s untimely death when he was 13! The story runs through his struggle of capturing and losing Samarkand, the famed city, multiple times; being without the throne for years together, hiding and running from his enemies; constantly suffering from a fear of will he be able to do enough; and finally fulfilling his desire to capture Hindustan.
But most importantly, the one thing which runs through the entire account is his urge and incessant desire to leave a legacy. In his own words “What will I be recalled as, and what will I leave my generations to come, and how I am remembered tomorrow”! In short, about “LEAVING A LEGACY”.
This particular thought is what drives great men, I believe – What is it that they are going to do that is going to leave their mark on humanity and for generations to come together they are remembered for what they did. And I could feel it in my stomach as I read Babur’s life account of how it must have been for him to go through the trials and tribulations of building his empire. This is what I believe drives a lot of us, members of the entrepreneurial clan…
To be an entrepreneur is not easy, it’s bloody difficult. One has to go through the most trying times of their life, lead themselves and those who believe in them through some of the most darkest paths they have ever encountered, face every adversity and still maintain their wits and guts, and most importantly never lose sight of what they want to achieve. And as anybody’s guess, most give up on this treacherous path before it winds down!
But what lies ahead of this so-called path? An absolutely stunning life, which only some are able to conquer, more in their minds than in the physical way. And all that one ever wants in his life, all the satisfaction, all the glory, all the dreams become possible…
As with what Babur did, and what most people who today are successful businessmen have done, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to do something great and create a compelling story out of your life. So go for the glory, just don’t sit back and keep thinking, the path is anyways going to throw surprises galore along the way!
Is it worth it? Absolutely…
Different Worlds!!!
Â
As a follow-up on the previous post about the Theory of Work, I was thinking about how different are the worlds of an Employee and a Businessman. On deeper evaluation, I realized the entire difference lay in how they approach life…
To illustrate, I can use the proverbial Pyramid and highlight the difference. For an employee, the pyramid looks like this, starting from the bottom–
When an employee starts his work, he is a fresher, right out of college. Maybe he has acquired some higher/niche skills because of which he might start at a pedestal or two higher. But the essence remains that he gets embroiled in a RAT Race where he is aiming to go higher and higher up the corporate ladder, ensuring he doesn’t become redundant. What he forgets is that even if he succeeds in touching the highest pinnacle, which is highly unlikely, he will still be in the RAT race. Moreover, in this entire process, he will lose his life – of which he has just one; and his energy – which will get sapped. Even if he is the chosen one, touching the highest pinnacle, it is the glass ceiling beyond which he cannot even think of breaking through.
If we look at this slightly deeply in correlation with the Theory of Work, what he does is spends his life working for someone else in a sort of a prison. On weekends when he gets a couple of days off he behaves like a free bird trying to do
everything that is possible within his reach to feel good about his life. But he knows he has to go back to the prison again the next week. So, he keeps grinding through his life and most probably dies thinking if he could have done better.
On the other hand are business owners. For them, the pyramid looks like this, starting from the top –
When a business owner starts work, he gets paid ZERO. He puts in his hard work, his blood and sweat, his life’s worth in building up his idea, his business, with passion and hunger for success. It is not necessary that he succeeds in the beginning – he might fail and falter multiple times. But if he remains true to himself, he learns and imbibes good things, steers clear of his mistakes, and slowly starts to build up the business. He puts together a team that shares his vision and is tuned to the organization’s mission and then the multiplier effect slowly sets in and the leverage shows up. He then keeps building the business and gets paid more and more while his work keeps on reducing and reducing.
This happens till the point he reaches Financial Freedom, a stage where he becomes redundant. At this stage, he does not need to work to ensure that money flows into his bank account. He has built the business and now his team carries it forward whilst he relaxes and enjoys his life. For all the hard work that he puts in for those 5-10 years, he now gets back double. And what he leaves behind when he dies is a LEGACY – for generation(s) to come…
Where do you want to be – in the RAT race or building a legacy? Do leave your comments…
The Theory of Work!
Across the human world, there are lots of people doing varied kinds of professions/businesses etc. However, as per Robert Kiyosaki, a world-renowned author who is a self-made millionaire and writes on Financial Education, anyone earning money through legal/ethical means falls under one of these categories –
Employee: Someone who works for a businessman/company and dedicates 8-10 hours of work from his daily life. This person basically trades his time seeking security and at the end of the month draws a pay-cheque, which in most cases is no where equivalent to the kind of effort put in.
Specialist / Small Businessman: Believes in doing everything with perfection, believes he is the best – Doctors, Lawyers, Professors, Consultants, Small-time shop owners etc. These people also at the end of the day trade their time and draw an income equivalent to their skills and effort (which is definitely more than most employees) but still seek security like employees do.
Big Businessman: As defined by Forbes, a person having an organization of more than 500 people. These people don’t believe in working for others but instead leverage others. All employees working for a business owner contribute to the profits that he makes while being paid a pittance. By leveraging manpower, these people move up the value chain and attain freedom – of time, of money and most other things.
Investor: Again, as defined by Forbes, someone who earns more than USD 200,000 of income from his investments. These people also leverage to earn money – but they leverage money itself. Their money works for them while they holiday with their family. In turn, they generate more income for themselves and are free for life.
As per world statistics, 97% of the world population falls under the E & S quadrants, trading time and yearning for the eluding security. Only 3% around the world actually understands the power of leverage and works towards attaining freedom, being in the B or I quadrants. However, if we look at the world-wide wealth distribution, 96% is controlled by people in the B & I quadrants and only 4% is left for souls in the E & S quadrants.
Given a chance, where would you want to be???
Another interesting facet of this theory I can explain drawing an analogy with the world of athletics…
Now all those 97% of people in the world do one common thing. They blindly run a Marathon of “Go to work, come back home” for all their life – 30 to 40 years! If you belong there, think if you would be able to sustain this schedule in these ever-changing times when security has become a myth and you never know what can happen in the world. But even then, a lot of people continue doing this and teach their kids exactly the same thing – Study hard, get a good job. Their kids might earn slightly more but in the end they are also running the same rat race!
On the other hand, a person in the B or I quadrant works smartly – he runs a Relay! He is alone in the beginning in most of the cases, and starts running. Then slowly he meets people who understand his vision and join him and the team takes shape. This team runs together, generating more output with lesser individual effort. In some time, the first person passes on the baton to the team who run the show with a bigger team. However, even after passing the baton and stopping his run, the person continues being paid because he has built a pipeline – an income stream that will continue paying him irrespective of what he does because he utilized the concept of leverage to build the pipeline…
Wouldn’t all of us want to have a pipeline of your own? Something that can keep paying us and our family for years and generations to come without having to worry about the work part…
The Face of ME!!! 