Hi guys,
So it’s been a while since we updated the blog and I thought it would be best if we could do it today. We have bought in a new section called “Sessions with the doers”, which will basically be the advices we received from various freelancers, entrepreneurs, authors and experts related to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.
In the first post, we have Mr. Ganesh Vancheeswaran, a freelance writer, author and branding specialist, whose session we had the great fortune of attending. It was hosted by TiE Kolkata on the 26th of November, 2016 and the agenda was “Separating the men from the boys – The hallmarks of true entrepreneurs”.
During the interactive session, Mr. Ganesh and we discussed the meaning of entrepreneurship, the requisites required to become a successful entrepreneur and how this journey gives more than it takes. Here are his thoughts on the traits every new-age entrepreneur should possess:
1. Purpose:
It is necessary for every founder starting out to have a clear idea of what his vision will look like. Being unable to explain it to another person is the clearest indication that you have no clue where you are headed, and in all probability, your plan will sink even if it gets a chance to float. So, be clear on what you are working and make sure you can explain it to a layman in the simplest possible terms as well.
2. Disruption
While not every startup is disruptive, the most successful ones almost always are. In this day and age of tech innovations, if your idea can disrupt i.e. change the way people view things in a manner no one previously thought was possible, there is a great chance of it succeeding.
3. Vision
A vision is something that you harbour deep inside you, and your goal must be to execute that vision, and not give up on it. If you strive towards achieving your dreams despite the distractions, and not pivot towards other business-friendly models, there is a good chance you will not only disrupt but also make it big in a manner you never thought would be possible.
4. Impact
An idea that creates a positive impact on the world is always likely to sustain than the ones which do not. Make sure that whatever it is in your head helps to make the world a better place, even if it is in the smallest manner possible.
5. Satisfying customers over investors
While working on your idea, ensure that is customer-friendly and not investor-friendly. If the model attracts customers, investors will line up automatically. This is something Steve Jobs pursued aggressively, and that is why Apple and Pixar have received such colossal success over the years.
6. Valuing depth over width
If you are offering a service, make sure that you are offering the best service possible to your consumers. Do not keep adding services to pander to a larger audience, but rather deliver the best experience possible to a select few and build on their recommendations.
7. Nurturing yourself
In the end, at the heart of every successful startup is a person or a team who successfully nurtured and adapted to the demands of the market. It is very important to be malleable and shape yourself as per the challenges or requirements.
8. Values in life
No matter how successful one turns out to be, it is important to remains true to oneself and to the basic, humanitarian values of life. In the long run, they are the only things that matter.
9. Pay forward
If you have received good, make sure that you share it with others as well. Invest in people and the returns will be much bigger than your wildest dreams.
It was wonderful listening to Mr. Ganesh and we hope to see him back in the city soon. You can follow him on his website www.ganeshv.com
Written by:
Abhranil Roy,
2nd year EE
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