Category: Uncategorized

I Wonder…

The recent stand off between the Drivers of Ola & Uber and ride hailing aggregator, I feel is just the precursor of things to unveil over the next couple of years. Take the Taxi Aggregators for instance who have splurged “investor” funds to “capture” the market by paying/promising to pay “high” entrepreneurship value to the drivers while giving the customer dirt cheap rides.

I feel that both Ola & Uber will face rough weather. Unless their “Investors” agree to increase the waiting period and dump more cash to burn we are in for a stand off. It is going to be a classic “Catch-22”. Indian Customers do not like to pay more than what they get used to and the “false” promises made to Drivers that they can earn more than ₹80000/- per month none of which will be a long term reality.

The murmurs of dissent has already started at both the Drivers & Customer end. Ola & Uber will definitely have to increase their share if they have to catch the break-even band-wagon. It would be interesting to see what strategy these Companies are going to adopt. Some promoters were smart and were able to exit and are laughing their way to the bank. But would all the Tech Startup entrepreneurs be able to do so. That remains to be seen…something sometime is going to crack…

The grass on the other side is always greener. Is it genuinely green or is it actually an illusion. I ventured out long time back, and can’t really say that it has turned green, even though like the salt and pepper hair that I have now, it does seem to be interspersed with some green. And mind you I have spent some 21 years tending to it. A lot of ex-employees who were at one point associated with me did jump into the sea of entrepreneurship. I am not aware of how they fared in their endeavor and whether for them it turned greener almost instantaneously. One thing is however very certain, those who feel that entrepreneurship is indeed a get-rich-quick scheme are headed for a disaster. I meet so many people who rattle out the road map, get funded, create valuation and bring out an IPO / get acquired and then walk away with tons and tons of money. A select few hit par dirt and which triggered this berserk stampede. That is why today we find that 90% of startups are failing.

Anyone who aspires to be an entrepreneur should have a burning desire to achieve success. And it has a long gestation time and the budding entrepreneur has to be prepared for the long waiting period during which the test would be severe and relentless. How does an Olympian win the Medal that he/she aspires for. There is no short cuts here.

You need to have a vision, ascertain the “WHY” factor and start small. Let the light far off be burning even though dim from afar. If Birbal could find warmth from the candle burning miles away then surely you can keep the desire burning till you reach your goal. Mistakes, aplenty are inevitable. But with each mistake the resolve should keep getting stronger. Never give up in the face of adversity. The situation will change eventually. The fire in the belly should remain burning. Perseverance and willingness to work hard. If you choose to be an entrepreneur then you have to choose to sacrifice a lot of other things.

Your enterprise is your baby. Be proud of it. Never be dazzled with what is around you. A very senior person who apparently wanted to help me in fund raising, remarked to me recently about the location of my Office. It is my Office and I am proud of it. I am the “employer”, and if employees do not want to compromise and have their own locational preferences then it is their own restricted mindset and I cannot help it. Whoever heard of a well walking up to a thirsty person!! But then you can provide Value addition. I keep meeting so many advisors and consultants who are full of suggestions. It makes me wonder, if they know so much and have such clarity, what are they sitting on the opposite side!!

I have built a goodwill by practicing integrity. And this has definitely resulted in a very positive retention of Customers. The Customers should not stop believing in your Venture. Never take them for granted. You exist only because of them and it can never be the other way round. If our reputation and integrity exceeds expectation then Customers will be willing to be associated with you regardless of the cost. It will not matter if you are more expensive.

When you embarked on your entrepreneurial journey, was it a “risk” or a “gamble”. Just like success is never guaranteed, failure does not mean the end. Nothing is final. At one point, I went on to scale heights and in the very next year my business had plummeted. The slide could be stopped only recently and have again regained the upward momentum. Entrepreneurship has its flips and flops. Never be discouraged. If you do not give up, there is nothing that can stop you from succeeding…a true life story.

Today my Ammachi expired. She was a spinster. Even though She never had children born out of her womb, She was a mother for all of us. Right from the moment we were born (i.e. me and each of my cousins & sister on my Mother’s side of the family) She became our surrogate mother. Taking care of us with unconditional love & attention. So much so that right from the moment any of her sisters or sister-in-law were wheeled into the labour room, she would automatically assume charge and take complete control of all activities.

Today, she departed for her heavenly abode and suddenly I feel a huge void and remorse. Even though I have been away from her for quite some time, I still vividly remember her bringing me biscuits every day whenever I was visiting Kerala during my formative years. This she became my “bicchi ammachi”.

Today I have lost my second Mother. I loved her -unconditionally, and I am sure so did all my cousins. May her noble soul rest in peace. We will miss you, Ammachi.

Millions of brave soldiers have sacrificed their lives fighting the “enemies” so as to ensure “safety” for more than a billion of their Countrymen. Millions of Armed Forces Personnel transcending religion, caste and creed lay down their lives, so that we – their fellow Countrymen can live in peace. On this auspicious day we lay a wreath in memoriam of the Unknown Soldier who has given his life so that we can have a “better tomorrow”. An ode to valor & courage.

And to what purpose, one wonders did these brave patriots give up their today? To see the very same countrymen “terrorizing” Children and “hapless” Citizens to “protest” against the screening of a celluloid version of a long forgotten tale in history. Ironically, this very Caste was at one time renowned for their Valor, Courage & Honor. We grew up reading in history, the laurels gloriously depicted of what the Rajput community has done for this Country. The upward twirl of the famed rajput moustache, would presumably have been lowered.

Kindness and compassion are among the principle things that make our lives meaningful. They are a source of lasting happiness and joy. They are the foundation of a good heart, the heart of one who acts out of a desire to help others. On this day let us pledge to uphold the spirit and sacrifice of many a brave soldier in the spirit of the Kohima Epitaph, “When you Go Home, Tell Them of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow We Gave Our Today.” Jai Hind!!

I have come across this phrase many times, “Never Give Up”, and if I were to reflect and ponder over it, I have always maintained this as one of the guiding facets which has driven me throughout my life. I can’t recall the early formative years, but I do remember going through this every now and then during my training at the Military Academy in Chennai, and more so when I started off into my own venture.Not that I am a great businessman or anything even close to that, still I do tend to follow this basic philosophy in my very small business. Have done so over the last 18 years.

Why I say that I am not a good businessman is because I have always been careless with money. Something that no “good” businessman would ever do. I think from the heart rather than follow the head. Yes today, I do feel that as a pinch and at times do regret but there is nothing that can be gained by looking back other than gaining the insight into how things should be done. Today it’s not about solving the problems, it is more about finding the problems. I have managed to identify that “problems” and in actuality it means that I will have to rip apart everything and begin afresh. I have to solve this problem and in a way that it actually does good in some way. I have my objective which is quite clear, and now I have to focus on the “right” and “efficient” team. I will have to align the team passionately with my own vision. An entrepreneur is always positive. If that were not true then there would never be any “entrepreneurship”.

Failure is a part of any business, but there is always something to be learned from this failures. One always has to be optimistic. There are a lot of cynics and negative people around, but entrepreneurs spread positive energy.

So I can say that I have learned from my mistakes – yes I have committed a lot of mistakes and it is a fairly long list. But, I tend not to dwell on them and instead look to squeeze the gist of the facts which led to this situation. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever in my mind that this phase would be overcome and within the shortest span I would be able to steer it back on course. Yes, like I said in the beginning, “Never Give Up”.

India started its campaign to defend the Cup slugging it out with their proverbial arch rivals who were going to make a serious effort to “win” it at least in this sixth edition. Anyway, Pakistan bit the dust yet again and India registered a thumping win over its biggest sporting rival in Cricket.

By now, a lot of pundits have started writing India off especially predicting a easy mauling by South Africa in their next outing. By the time I am writing this India has the match sealed to make a mince meat of South Africa handing them a over 130 run loss. There were so many predictions, with Hussey almost certain that maybe the first win that India registered would be its sole.

So much for the match fixation theory which predicted that India would lose to South Africa. I for one feel that India has really come together as a Team and Doni has quietly and confidently rallied his Team Mates to believe in themselves. It is quite evident in the manner in which the Team is exhibiting its performance in all aspects. The body language is very positive.

This is a Team which is going to be very difficult to beat. Whether we win the Cup is something which I do not want to predict simply because I feel we should play sport in its true spirit. Somehow I do not understand all the hype that the Channels and its experts try to build up by playing astrologers. Why can we not go from game to game enjoying and watching the best team of the day win.

06/10/2014 may hold special significance to the founders of eCommerce business Flipkart.com, but yesterday did look like the day when the entire e-Com network in India declared War. It way mayhem in general, not the type we are used to see on Dalal Street, but an advent of the way Indians will be shopping in the near future at least.

The ever changing dynamics of business models make it difficult to forecast on a longer term, but for now it is quite clear that the conventional Retail store/chains would be spending many a sleepless nights. The timing of the campaign assault was perfect. If yesterday’s figures is only just the beginning, e-Commerce has definitely made its grand entry, catching the shoppers imagination. Adding fuel to fire is of course the crowded malls most of which are woefully under-staffed, and the general difficulty in reaching there amid chaotic traffic and then worst of all finding a parking slot.

It definitely is a catch-22 for the conventional retail. Should they ramp up their establishments so as to improve efficiency. But for the moment they most definitely are at loggerheads. Some are making an effort to join in. But there is no level playing field.

How long this honeymoon is going to last is something even the most adept of the trade pundits can also not be able to emphatically predict.