Capt. Shaji Kumar

Tag: #Entrepreneurship

  • The Bhagavad Gita’s Secret to Fearless Leadership.

    The Bhagavad Gita’s Secret to Fearless Leadership.

    What a 5,000-Year-Old Battlefield Conversation can teach us About Leadership.

    I used to think the Bhagavad Gita was just another religious text. Then I discovered it’s actually the most practical leadership guide ever written. Since then I have held on to this sacred book in different forms. The Printed Version, the Kindle eBook, Cards for daily reference.

    When Everything’s on the Line, when you know that moment when you’re staring at a decision that could make or break everything? I’m talking about those tough situations which everyone faces in their lives, you don’t necessarily have to be a Leader, nevertheless running through scenarios, knowing that whatever you choose tomorrow will ripple through your team, your company, maybe even your entire career.

    That’s where Arjuna was standing—literally on a battlefield, facing his cousins in what would be the bloodiest war in ancient history. And he completely froze. What happened next changed how I think about leadership forever.

    Here’s what I got wrong about the Gita for years: I thought it was some mystical conversation between holy men sitting under trees, talking about detaching from the world.

    No. This is two warriors having a very real conversation about duty, fear, and making impossible choices when lives hang in the balance. Arjuna isn’t asking for spiritual enlightenment—he’s asking for practical advice on how to lead when the stakes are crushing.

    Sound familiar?

    In today’s context it would look like this:

    – Quarterly numbers. The Agony or Ecstacy.

    – A product launch that could save or sink the company.

    – Choosing between short-term profits and long-term values.

    – Managing a team through a recession, merger, layoffs, or industry disruption. The pressure is different, but the paralysis feels exactly the same.

    The Counter intuitive Secret That Changes Everything

    Krishna’s advice to Arjuna seems backwards at first: “Do your absolute best work, then let go of the results.”

    Wait, what? Isn’t caring about results what separates leaders from… well, everyone else?

    But here’s what I’ve learned after trying this approach for years:

    When you stop being desperately attached to specific outcomes, you actually get better outcomes. Try it. It holds true.

    Why This Actually Works is, just think about it—when was the last time you made a great decision while panicking about the consequences?

    When you’re white-knuckling the steering wheel, worried about where you’ll end up, you can’t actually steer very well.

    But when you know you’ve done everything possible and you trust the process? That’s when the magic happens. You think clearer. You take smarter risks. You inspire confidence instead of spreading anxiety.

    I saw this firsthand during my company’s worst times. Not once, but many times. Instead of running around like my hair was on fire, I focused on what we could control: our response time, our communication with clients, our team’s morale. We came out stronger. And honestly? I slept better. In fact I have never lost sleep over anything ever. Whatever may have been the situation I have managed to keep my wit’s cool.

    Life Happens TO You, and you cannot stop that from happening, But You can definitely choose Your Response – on how to deal with it.

    The Gita has this concept that basically divides everything into two buckets: stuff that happens to you (prarabdha) and how you respond to it (purushartha).

    This sounds obvious until you realise how much energy we waste trying to control the first bucket. You Cannot.

    Here’s What I Mean:

    Sometime back one of our biggest and longest standing Client decided not to renew. One year of revenue, gone. That’s prarabdha—it happened, period.

    But everything else? That’s on me:

    – How I broke the news to the team- Whether I spiralled into worst-case scenarios or started planning our next move.

    – Whether I used this as a learning opportunity or just complained about “disloyal clients”!!

    You could spend days obsessing over what we could have done differently. Or you sit and analyse, make an last ditch effort to save if possible, and if even after giving it your best shot, then instead of ruminating look at alternative solutions. How to make up the lost revenue in the shortest span so that the effect is cushioned in the shortest span of time.

    The Balance That Actually Matters

    There’s this verse (Chapter 4, Verse 22, if you’re keeping track) that basically says balanced people don’t get thrown off by wins or losses. They just keep moving forward.

    This isn’t about being emotionless—it’s about being consistent.

    What This Looks Like in Practice

    Good news: Celebrate for five minutes, then ask “What’s next?”

    Bad news: Feel it for five minutes, then ask “What can we learn and Do next?”

    Uncertainty: Work with what you know, then adapt as you learn more.

    My Son figured this out before I did. He told me, “You used to be a roller coaster—amazing when things went well, impossible when they didn’t. Now we actually know what to expect from you.” He just told me to look at my old Photographs when I was younger.

    That hit harder than any performance review.

    The Best Analogy I’ve Ever Heard About Ambition.

    The Gita compares desires to paan—that sweet digestive you have after a good meal. It’s nice, but you don’t need it to feel satisfied.

    This completely reframed how I think about professional goals.

    Instead of: “I need this promotion/deal/metric to prove I’m successful”

    I started thinking: “I’m already pretty fortunate. This would be a nice bonus.”

    Why This Isn’t Just Feel-Good Philosophy

    When you’re not operating from desperation:

    – You negotiate better (you’re not afraid to walk away).

    – You make clearer decisions (you’re not clouded by need).

    Actually Trying This Stuff (Not Just Nodding Along).

    Look, reading about this is one thing. Actually doing it when your boss is breathing down your neck and wants answers is completely different.

    Practice it in your daily life. Concentrate on doing great work without bothering on specific outcome. See what happens. How it balances your stress level.

    When problems come up, spend your energy on your response, not on  not on complaining about the problem.

    Try to maintain same tone in meetings whether you’re delivering good news or bad news. It will have an impact on your Team. The energy percolates down.

    None of this is groundbreaking. But doing it consistently? That’s where the real change happens.

    Why a Battlefield Guide Still Works.

    The reason the Gita works for modern leadership isn’t because it’s ancient wisdom (though it is). It’s because it was written for someone who had to make life-or-death decisions under impossible pressure.

    The details are different, but the core challenge is the same: How do you lead effectively when the outcome matters desperately but you can’t guarantee success?

    Answer: You control what you can control, you do your best work, and you trust the process. It’s not magic. But it works.

    What’s your version of standing on that battlefield? The moment when everything you’ve worked for hangs on a decision you have to make? Remember: it’s not about predicting the future perfectly—it’s about showing up fully to the present.

    P.S. – If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear about your own battlefield moments. Because honestly, We’re all just figuring this out as we go, and sometimes it helps to know we’re not alone out there.

  • The Power of the Right People đźŚź

    The Power of the Right People đźŚź

    Finding Your Inner Circle: The Art of Building Your S10

    A journey toward authentic leadership and meaningful connections.

    The Power of the Few.

    In our hyper-connected world, we often forget a fundamental truth: you don’t need everyone to believe in your vision—you just need the right ones.

    Throughout history, the most impactful leaders understood this principle. They cultivated a select group of trusted advisors, confidants, and supporters who became the backbone of their success. I call this your S10**—your Strategic 10. These are the people who will stand by you, challenge you, and help you reach the culmination of your real objectives.

    The Ancient Wisdom of Oral Tradition

    There’s something profound about the spoken word that written text can never fully capture. Consider how the Vedas were passed down through generations—not through scrolls or tablets, but from mouth to ear, creating an unbroken chain of wisdom and understanding.

    When we speak our truths, when we share our visions verbally, something magical happens:

    – Our passion becomes palpable.

    – Our conviction carries weight.

    – Our humanity shines through.

    This is why great rulers maintained councils—not just for their knowledge, but for their ability to communicate, inspire, and deliver results through authentic connection.

    The S10 Project: A Labor of Love

    Like preparing the perfect biryani over a slow flame, identifying your S10 requires patience, intention, and careful attention to detail. This isn’t a process you can rush—it’s a continuous quality endeavor that deserves the same dedication you’d give to any masterpiece.

    The Selection Principles:

    No Elimination Without Cause Every person in your consideration deserves fair evaluation. Names don’t get crossed off lightly.

    Holistic Assessment One conversation, one interaction, one moment doesn’t define someone’s potential value to your circle.

    Continuous Evolution Like quality itself, this is an ongoing process. Your S10 may shift as you grow and your mission evolves.

    Time-Tested Validation Just as the finest biryanis need time to develop their full flavor, the best relationships reveal their true worth over time.

    The Multimedia Advantage

    While I write these words now, I recognise that written content only captures part of the story. The tremor in a voice when someone shares their deepest conviction, the sparkle in eyes when passion ignites, the pause that speaks volumes—these elements transform mere information into transformation.

    This is why the greatest teachers, from ancient gurus to modern thought leaders, understand that multi-sensory communication creates deeper impact:

    – Visual elements engage imagination.

    – Audio conveys emotion and nuance.

    – Written words provide structure and reference.

    – Personal interaction builds trust and connection.

    Building Your Own Council

    As you work toward becoming a thought leader who makes a real difference, ask yourself:

    Who are the people that…

    – Challenge your thinking without crushing your spirit?

    – Celebrate your wins authentically?

    – Offer honest feedback when you need course correction?

    – Stand by you when others doubt?

    – Amplify your message because they truly believe in it?These are your potential S10 members. They’re not necessarily the loudest voices or the most obvious choices—they’re the ones whose values align with yours and whose presence makes you a better version of yourself.

    The Marathon Mindset

    Remember, this isn’t a sprint to a finish line—it’s a 25-year journey of continuous growth, refinement, and impact. Your S10 today might look different from your S10 in five years, and that’s not just okay—it’s expected and healthy.

    The goal isn’t perfection; it’s authentic progress toward meaningful impact.

    Closing Wisdom: The Rules for a Happy Life

    As we navigate this journey of building our circles and our influence, let’s anchor ourselves in timeless wisdom:

    1. Don’t HATE – Life is too short to waste time hating. That energy could be channeled into building something beautiful instead.

    2. Don’t COMPARE – Don’t try to be someone else. The world already has them—what it needs is the best version of YOU.

    3. Don’t WORRY trust yourself.

    The day you stop worrying will be the FIRST day of your NEW LIFE.

    Trust the process, trust your S10.

    What started as a pet project has become a profound reminder: we’re not meant to journey alone. We’re meant to find our people, nurture those relationships, and together, create the change we wish to see in the world.

    Who’s in your S10?

  • Build Your Business: Why Smart Leaders Choose Foundation Over Speed.

    Build Your Business: Why Smart Leaders Choose Foundation Over Speed.

    In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush to grow, to scale, to succeed. But what separates thriving businesses from those that collapse under their own weight? The answer lies in two fundamental leadership principles that have proven their worth time and again: building a solid foundation and understanding that scalability is a science, not a gamble.

    The most important phase is the first phase which is primarily the development stage.  It is during this time that every decision feels urgent. You’re bootstrapping, hustling, and trying to make every rupee count. In these crucial early days, it’s tempting to look for quick fixes—cheap systems that promise rapid results with minimal effort. But this is precisely where mistakes are made. Penny wise and pound foolish.

    A visionary leader understands that investing in a robust, reliable foundation is not an expense—it’s an investment in the future. It is difficult but doable. Remember Business is like a rocket that you want to send into orbit. As in any Rocket, there is the initial propulsion which takes the Rocket out of the Earth’s gravitational pull, which in terms of a Business is the first 2-3 years, and then the propulsion stage where the Rocket moves into orbit, which is the 10-12 Year phase. Both these phases are absolutely important.

    Why Foundation Matters

    Consider the foundation of building or any infrastructure. Architects don’t cut corners on the base to save money on the upper floors. They know that without a fortress-like foundation, the entire structure will eventually crumble, no matter how beautiful the facade. Your business foundation works the same way. And we know the consequences of this neglect when newly constructed flyovers or buildings collapse. The same happens for your business as well.

    When you resist the temptation for quick fixes and instead pour your resources—time, energy, capital, and talent—into building something robust and reliable, you create an ideal platform for sustainable growth Systems that can handle increased demand without breaking. A culture of excellence that attracts top talent Operational efficiency that scales naturally. The credibility and trust needed to pursue expansion plans.

    When leaders opt for sloppy, makeshift solutions to save time or money upfront, they inevitably pay a much steeper price later. Technical debt accumulates. The team becomes frustrated with unreliable systems. Customers experience inconsistencies. And when you finally try to scale, everything comes crashing down because the foundation was never adequate to support growth.

    The companies that dominate their industries—the Amazons, the Apples, the organisations that survive economic downturns and industry disruptions—are those that invested heavily in their foundations. They didn’t cut corners. They built fortresses.

    Once your foundation is solid, the next critical phase is scaling. But here’s what many leaders get wrong: they treat scalability like a lottery ticket, hoping that growth will happen if they just push harder or spend more money. The truth is far more elegant—scalability is a science. Scalability isn’t about explosive growth; it’s about linear strategic growth achieved methodically over time. When you scale a business properly, you’re not just increasing revenue—you’re doing more with proportionally less effort. You’re creating leverage.

    For a business to truly be scalable, it must focus on two core principles:

    1. Increasing efficiency: Doing more with fewer resources, time, and effort.
    2. Adding value: Ensuring that each increment of growth delivers proportional or greater value to customers and stakeholders.

    Before you make the critical decision to scale, a thorough evaluation is essential. Ask yourself these questions:

    • Are my systems and processes optimised for growth? Do I have the right team in place to support expansion?
    • Is my market large enough to justify the investment?
    • What are the financial implications of scaling?
    • How will this growth affect my brand and customer experience?

    Strategic scaling requires intentional planning. You must establish a clear growth trajectory that answers these critical questions:

    1. What speed? How fast do you want to grow—and more importantly, how fast can you grow without sacrificing quality?What route? Which markets, channels, or customer segments will drive your growth? What resources? What investments in capital, talent, and technology do you need?When to pause? Recognising when to slow down to maintain quality or reassess your strategy.
    2. When to finish? Knowing your end goal—whether it’s a specific market share, revenue target, or operational maturity.

    These two lessons aren’t separate paths—they’re interconnected. Your solid foundation enables you to scale confidently. And your understanding of scalability as a science ensures that your foundation will continue to support your growth without buckling under pressure.

    As a leader, your responsibility is to resist the siren song of shortcuts and quick wins. Build something that lasts. Be intentional about your growth. Treat scaling like the serious, scientific endeavour it truly is.

    The businesses that thrive aren’t the ones that grew fastest—they’re the ones that grew smartest. And that smartness starts with a leader who understands these two timeless principles.

    Build your fortress. Scale with science. Lead with vision.

  • The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: 27 Years of Entrepreneurial Truth

    The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: 27 Years of Entrepreneurial Truth

    The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: 27 Years of Entrepreneurial Truth.

    A candid reflection on the realities of building a business, the myths that mislead aspiring entrepreneurs, and what it truly takes to survive—and occasionally thrive—in the entrepreneurial wilderness.

    When I started my entrepreneurial journey 27 years ago, I thought I understood what lay ahead. I was wrong. Like most first-time founders, I believed the grass would be greener on the entrepreneurial side of the fence. Today, with salt-and-pepper hair as my witness, I can tell you that the grass isn’t uniformly green—it’s patchy at best, with occasional verdant spots interspersed among the brown patches of struggle.

    The Myth of Instant Green.

    Over the years, I’ve watched many former employees take the entrepreneurial plunge. Some jumped with grand visions, others with detailed roadmaps that looked flawless on paper: secure funding, build valuation, execute an IPO or acquisition, then walk away with “tons and tons of money.

    The reality? I rarely hear success stories from these departures.

    This silence speaks volumes. The entrepreneurial graveyard is littered with dreams built on the myth of the get-rich-quick scheme. We live in an era where a select few have struck gold, creating a narrative that entrepreneurship is a lottery ticket rather than a marathon. This misconception fuels the current startup stampede—and explains why 90% of startups fail.

    The harsh truth: those few who “hit pay dirt are statistical outliers, not the norm.

    The Long Gestation of Success.

    Real entrepreneurship isn’t a sprint to riches—it’s an endurance test that would make an Olympian proud.

    Just as athletes don’t accidentally stumble onto podiums, successful entrepreneurs don’t stumble into success. There are no shortcuts.

    What It Actually Takes

    1. A Burning Desire That Survives Reality.

    You need more than enthusiasm; you need an obsession that can withstand years of setbacks. This isn’t passion—it’s something deeper, more primal. It’s the difference between wanting something and needing it to define your existence.

    2. The “Why” Factor.

    Before you quit your job or pitch investors, answer this: Why does your venture need to exist? Not why you want it to exist, but why the world needs it. If you can’t articulate this clearly, you’re building on sand.

    3. Start Small, Think Big.

    Remember Birbal finding warmth from a candle burning miles away? Your vision might be distant and dim, but it must be visible enough to guide you through dark periods. Start with minimal viable steps while keeping that distant light in sight.

    4. Embrace the Mistake Factory.

    Mistakes aren’t just inevitable—they’re your primary education. Each failure should strengthen your resolve, not weaken it. The entrepreneurs who survive aren’t those who make fewer mistakes; they’re those who learn faster from them.

    The Price of the Entrepreneurial Path

    Here’s what most people don’t tell you about entrepreneurship: it demands sacrifice that employed life never does.

    What You’ll Likely Sacrifice:

    – Financial security (for years, possibly decades).

    – Work-life balance (your business becomes your life).

    – Predictable income (feast or famine becomes normal).

    – Professional safety nets (no HR department, no guaranteed paycheck)

    – Social time (while friends advance in corporate careers, you’ll be grinding).

    What You Might Gain:

    – Autonomy over your decisions and destiny.

    – The possibility of significant financial returns (emphasis on possibility).

    – Deep satisfaction from building something meaningful.

    – Resilience that serves you in every life area.

    – Stories that make for interesting dinner conversations.

    The Relentless Test. Twenty-seven years in, I can confirm that the test never stops being severe and relentless. Market conditions change, competitors emerge, team members leave, funding dries up, customers disappoint, and sometimes everything goes wrong simultaneously.

    The question isn’t whether you’ll face adversity—it’s whether you’ll maintain that “fire in the belly” when adversity becomes your daily companion.

    Surviving the Long Haul

    Perseverance Over Perfection: Your first idea probably won’t work. Neither will your second or third.

    Success often comes from persistence through iterations, not brilliance on attempt one.

    Work Ethic as Oxygen: If you’re looking for better work-life balance, stay employed. Entrepreneurship demands a work ethic that borders on obsessive. This isn’t sustainable for everyone, and that’s okay.

    Never Give Up (But Know When to Pivot): There’s a fine line between persistence and stubbornness.

    The situation will change eventually, but sometimes you need to change your approach to the situation.

    The Uncomfortable Truth About Green Grass.

    After 27 years, my grass has some green patches—moments of success, financial wins, personal satisfaction from building something lasting. But it’s not the uniform, lush green that entrepreneurship mythology promises.

    And you know what? That’s perfectly fine.

    The real victory isn’t achieving some fantasy of endless green grass. It’s building something meaningful while accepting that entrepreneurship is inherently messy, uncertain, and often unrewarding in traditional metrics.

    For Aspiring Entrepreneurs.

    Before you leap, ask yourself:

    – Are you prepared for a decades-long journey with no guarantees?

    – Can you find fulfilment in the process, not just the outcome?

    – Do you have the financial runway and personal support for extended uncertainty?

    – Is your “why” strong enough to sustain you through years of difficulty?

    If your answers give you pause, consider staying employed while building something on the side. There’s no shame in choosing stability—and there’s wisdom in understanding your own tolerance for risk and uncertainty.

    Final Thoughts

    Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, despite what startup culture suggests. It’s not a fast track to wealth, freedom, or happiness. It’s a difficult path that demands everything you have and offers no guarantees in return.

    But for those with the right combination of vision, persistence, and perhaps a touch of madness, it can be profoundly rewarding—just not in the ways you initially expect.

    The grass may not be uniformly greener, but those patches of green you do cultivate? They’re genuinely yours. And after 27 years of tending to them, that means something.

    Sometimes the most honest thing you can tell someone about entrepreneurship is this: if you can imagine being happy doing anything else, do that instead. But if you can’t shake the vision of building something meaningful, then welcome to the long, difficult, occasionally rewarding journey of entrepreneurship.

  • 🚀 Your Enterprise is Your Baby: Lessons from an Entrepreneurial Journey.

    🚀 Your Enterprise is Your Baby: Lessons from an Entrepreneurial Journey.

    They say entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted, and after years of riding the rollercoaster of business ownership, I can tell you—they’re absolutely right. But what they don’t tell you is that it’s also one of the most rewarding journeys you’ll ever embark on, filled with lessons that shape not just your business, but your character.

    🏢 Be Proud of Your Baby

    Your enterprise is your baby. Be proud of it. Never be dazzled by what’s around you.

    I’ll never forget when a very senior person made a remark about the location of my office. For a moment, I felt that familiar pang of self-doubt creeping in. But then reality hit me—this is MY office, and I am proud of it. I built this from the ground up. I am the employer here.

    Here’s what I’ve learned: if employees don’t want to compromise and have their own locational preferences, that’s their restricted mindset, and I cannot help it. After all, whoever heard of a well walking up to a thirsty person? The value lies not in the glamorous address or the fancy furnishings—it lies in what you can provide: genuine value addition.

    To young entrepreneurs reading this: don’t let anyone make you feel small about where you started or where you currently are. Every successful business empire started somewhere, often in the most humble of places. Your garage, your spare bedroom, that small rented space—embrace it.

    Own it. Be proud of it.

    🤝 Integrity: The Foundation of Everything

    Over the years, I have built goodwill by practicing integrity, and this has definitely resulted in very positive customer retention. Let me be crystal clear about something: your 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 around.

    I’ve discovered something remarkable—if your reputation and integrity exceed expectations, customers will be willing to associate with you regardless of cost. It won’t matter if you’re more expensive than your competitors. They’ll choose you because they trust you.

    Think about it: in a world where consumers are bombarded with options, what makes them stick with one business over another? It’s not always the lowest price or the fanciest marketing. It’s the confidence that you’ll deliver on your promises, every single time.

    Here are the integrity principles that have guided my journey:

    • Always under-promise and over-deliver.
    • Be transparent about limitations and challenges.
    • Admit mistakes quickly and fix them faster.
    • Treat every customer interaction as an opportunity to build trust.

    🎢 The Rollercoaster: Risk vs. Gamble

    When you embarked on your entrepreneurial journey, was it a ‘risk’ or a ‘gamble’? I’ve spent many sleepless nights pondering this question, especially during the tough times.

    Just like success is never guaranteed, failure does not mean the end. Nothing is final. Let me share something personal: at one point, I scaled heights that I had only dreamed of. The business was thriving, revenues were soaring, and I felt invincible. Then, in the very next year, my business plummeted. It was devastating.

    The slide seemed unstoppable. Customers were leaving, revenue was drying up, and doubt crept in like a persistent shadow. But here’s the thing about entrepreneurship—it has its flips and flops. The key is never to be discouraged.

    I could have given up. Many people expected me to. Some even suggested I should. But something inside me refused to surrender. I held on to one simple belief: if you do not give up, there is nothing that can stop you from succeeding.

    And you know what? The slide could be stopped only recently, and I have again regained that upward momentum. This isn’t just business theory—this is a true life story, happening right now.

    đź’Ş Lessons for Young Entrepreneurs

    If you’re just starting out or struggling through a difficult phase, here’s what I want you to remember:

    1. Your current circumstances are not your final destination. That small office, limited budget, or lack of fancy resources? They’re temporary. What matters is your vision and determination.
    2. Build relationships, not just transactions. Every customer interaction is an investment in your future. Treat them with respect, deliver value, and watch how loyalty transforms your business.
    3. Embrace the uncertainty. Entrepreneurship isn’t about eliminating risk—it’s about managing it intelligently while staying true to your values.
    4. Define success on your own terms. Don’t let others dictate what your business should look like or where it should be located. Your vision, your rules.
    5. Persistence beats perfection. You don’t need to have all the answers from day one. You just need to keep moving forward, learning, and adapting.

    🌟 The Journey Continues

    As I write this, I’m reminded that entrepreneurship is not a destination—it’s a journey. There will be days when you feel like you’re on top of the world, and others when you question every decision you’ve made. Both are part of the process.

    What I’ve learned is that success isn’t measured just in revenue or market share. It’s measured in the relationships you build, the integrity you maintain, and the resilience you develop. It’s about creating something meaningful, something you can be genuinely proud of.

    Your enterprise is your baby. Nurture it with passion, protect it with integrity, and never let anyone make you feel ashamed of where you are in your journey. Every giant oak tree was once just an acorn that held its ground.

    To every young entrepreneur reading this: trust the process, believe in yourself, and remember—if you don’t give up, there’s nothing that can stop you from succeeding. This isn’t just motivation; it’s a promise backed by experience.

    Keep building, keep believing, and keep moving forward. Your success story is being written every single day.

    What’s your entrepreneurial story? Share your journey in the comments below—I’d love to hear about the challenges you’ve overcome and the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

  • Finding Your True North: When Life’s Journey Finally Becomes Your Own.

    Finding Your True North: When Life’s Journey Finally Becomes Your Own.

    Finding Your True North: When Life’s Journey Finally Becomes Your Own.

    Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by a seemingly simple question? The kind that appears innocent on the surface but sends you tumbling down a rabbit hole of self-reflection? That’s exactly what happened to me recently when a friend casually asked: 

    What are you passionate about? 

    Are you following what your heart and mind desire?”

    On the surface, it seemed like an easy question to answer. After all, I’ve built and run a fairly successful small business for 27 years. As a first-generation entrepreneur, I could confidently say that passion drove me to achieve something meaningful. But when I looked deeper—really looked—I wasn’t quite sure anymore.

    The Passenger Syndrome: When Life Drives You.

    For years, I wondered: Have I been in control of my life, or has life been driving me along its own predetermined path while I sat as a mere passenger?

    Looking back, my early years were anything but deliberate:

    • School: I finished in a stream that wasn’t my forte at all. Barely made through.

    • College: Switched to a subject that was, once again, everything but a choice.

    • Military: Joined the Armed Forces without much deliberation, deciding within the first year that I’d only stay for the stipulated five years.

    Each step felt like following the Darwinian theory of survival—adapting, persisting, but not necessarily thriving in alignment with my true self.

    The First Real Choice: Entrepreneurship as Awakening.

    The turning point came when I decided to become an entrepreneur. For the first time in my life, this felt like a deliberated choice—not just going through the motions or following societal expectations.

    Despite the usual “rollicking” of Army life, this decision set me going in a direction that felt authentically mine. Yes, there were troughs and crests, the inevitable tempests of establishing something new. But through it all, I found myself enjoying what I was doing for the first time in my life.

    That’s when I realised something profound: the need to be creative and keep creating new vistas and avenues is what I’m truly passionate about.

    Life Lessons Learned Along the Way.

    1. Passion Isn’t Always Obvious from the Start.

    Sometimes passion isn’t a lightning bolt of clarity. It’s something you discover through experience, through trying different paths, even through the things you initially resist. My journey through various streams and careers wasn’t wasted time—it was research for finding my true calling.

    2. Being a “Passenger” Isn’t Always Wrong.

    There’s wisdom in allowing life to guide you sometimes, especially in your early years. Those experiences I thought were just “going through the motions” actually equipped me with skills, resilience, and perspectives that later proved invaluable in entrepreneurship.

    3. Calculated Risks Are Worth Taking.

    I’ve never gambled in the conventional sense, but I realize I’ve been “gambling with life” all this while— taking chances, betting on myself, choosing uncertainty over security. This kind of calculated risk-taking has been the gateway to my most fulfilling experiences.

    4. Transformation Is Ongoing.

    The usual transformational changes keep happening. What excites me today might evolve tomorrow, and that’s not inconsistency—it’s growth. The key is staying open to these changes rather than rigidly sticking to outdated versions of ourselves.

    5. Creation Is Its Own Reward.

    The passion I’ve discovered isn’t just about business success—it’s about the act of creation itself. Building new vistas, exploring fresh avenues, bringing ideas to life. This creative drive transcends any single venture or achievement.

    Questions for Your Own Reflection.

    As I’ve learned, sometimes the most valuable questions are the ones that initially make us uncomfortable:

    1. When did you last make a truly deliberated choice? Not just going with the flow, but actively choosing your direction?

    2. What activities make you lose track of time? These might point toward your genuine passions.

    3. If you could start over, what would you do differently? More importantly, what would you keep the same?

    4. What kind of “gambling” are you avoiding? Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any risks at all.

    5. How has being a “passenger” in some areas of your life actually served you? 

    Not all unplanned journeys are wasted journeys.

    The Journey Continues.

    Today, I’m more comfortable with the idea that life is part deliberate choice and part surrender to circumstances beyond our control. The key is recognising when to take the wheel and when to trust the process.

    My 27-year entrepreneurial journey taught me that passion isn’t just about following your heart—it’s about creating a life where your heart and mind can thrive together. It’s about embracing both the planned destinations and the unexpected detours.

    The most important realisation? You’re never too late to start making deliberated choices. Whether you’re 25 or 55, whether you’re just starting out or pivoting after decades in one direction, you always have the power to become the driver of your own life.

    Sometimes the best journeys begin not with knowing exactly where you’re going, but with the courage to finally take the wheel.

    What deliberated choice will you make today

  • SUCCESS AS AN ENTREPRENEUR – III

    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 innate 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 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 have built a goodwill by practicing integrity and taking very good care of my Customers. And this has definitely resulted in a very positive retention of Customers with solid goodwill. 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.      

  • Success as an Entrepreneur – I

    Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realises that he is a creative power, and that he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow; he then becomes the rightful master of himself. Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

    Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself. No such conditions can exist as descending into vice and its attendant sufferings apart from vicious inclinations, or ascending into virtue and its pure happiness without the continued cultivation of virtuous aspirations; and man, therefore, as the lord and master of thought, is the maker of himself and the shaper of and author of environment.

    Get up and get going. Let the power and potential of the circumstances work its magic. If there’s a limit to what you can physically do, at least allow your mind to wander freely in brave new territory. Courage is not the absence of despair, it is rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair. It should be easy to come up with practical, creative solutions to all problems. Forget plans and just resolve to do something that feels like it ’has a ring to it’. That ring, if you trust it, will prove to be made of 24 carat gold. And if you’re not sure what it is you should be doing, treasure your sense of uncertainty. Nurture it. Be proud of it. Remember that every great book begins with a blank sheet of paper. Every wonderful painting starts with an empty canvas. Every beautiful musical composition commences with a moment of silence. Every creative process, no matter how humble, requires you to bring forth something out of nothing. Which is very daunting. Usually, the best way to get going is just to do something. Anything. Then, at least, you’ve got something you can alter or adjust or improve on. That’s why what you are tentatively building is far better than nothing. 

  • MSME’s : Wither to?

    India houses more than 63 million MSME’s contributing 29 percent of the GDP, 45 percent of Industrial Production, providing employment to millions of Indians. However, it has always been beset by inherent issues which unfortunately has largely remained unattended to. Despite a dedicated Ministry setup by the Government there still remains a huge gap between the cup and the lip. The most unique challenge that MSME’s endure is access to low cost capital. This despite having dedicated channels like SIDBI in existence. Authenticated reports estimates that the credit gap for MSME’s stand at approximately INR 15 lakh crore. And with the advent of technological advances, initiatives like GST and the formalization of the economy, the back of this sector is already at a capacity stretch. Only 20 percent of the MSME’s are being financed by the formal banking system, that leaves the rest 80 percent to scrounge for “finances” from the informal sector at atrocious rates of interest. This lack of adequate access to timely and affordable credit continues to remain one of the sector’s biggest challenges, restricting its growth and future potential. There has been some initiatives led by the Government like the 59-minute loan, co-organisation between banks and NBFC’s for affordable credit, however despite these initiatives being laudable at a macro level, it still leave a huge gap at the micro level, as it does not translate into anything.

     

    The dream of growth and pushing the GDP to get to 5 trillion, with a budding young India and initiatives like start-up India, pushing the young Indians to explore avenues of entrepreneurship & self-employment, the Government needs to step up its act and ensure that the hand holding translates to grass root level. The hand holding has to be more visible. There is no other way around the crisis of employment, and it is only logical to push entrepreneurship and self-employment. The large businesses may only contribute just as much to this 5 trillion target, than the 30 percent sector which can be pushed to clamour and contribute as much as possible – and it can. This is the only way that a young vibrant India having 70 percent of able bodied under thirty raring to go population can take us to the finish line.