Push It Back!

A lot of times we feel stuck at some point in the start-up and then it comes; it seems like we are being pushed by the entire world, but the point is that the world has always remained like that. Really! It has always been like that... It always pushes down the losers. It always had! Don't you remember pushing down the people that you considered losers? That's how it works. And to add to that, people keep pushing more people towards the losers' side who are at the boundary. It sounds like 'Not me story', but trust me we all go through this point of worthlessness someday or the other. When pushed down or aside by all over, the best chance to survive is when you push back, and when you push back hard. It's all in our brains and some people can play mind games really well.

So, how do we know when we are being pushed down or pushed aside? When we start noticing that the work is getting stuck at some point and no calls are being replied even when you try the most, or when negative thoughts are thrown at you when you need them least (though this is like challenging the idea of a critique, but who cares for a critique who pushes you towards the valley of death). Isn't life complex enough to add the words of a critique when it's least needed? When people start coming out with negative thoughts and stories to make you feel like a loser, or when they make you feel that you were so much better before – trust me, it's a mind game or a mental trap. So, when we know that we are being vulnerable for mental traps, how to push it back?

First of all, we all need the right mentors in life and most of us have them as someone, but not having that in life makes you vulnerable for a slicing, and that's the worst when you are at the low. So first thing is to identify a good mentor, a big brother, close friend someone who can hear you out, learn your perspective and then add to your ideas in a constructive way. Secondly, loosen the grip a little and sound positive to even the worst of critiques since it would take them by surprise too, like one of my friend says their life is too pathetic already; you just need to show them a mirror. Anyways, third is to sit with your team and set realistic time lines and identify key bottlenecks, and start keeping track of the bottlenecks. Last but not the least, get your finances right, since no start-up is successful unless people trust you.

Before I close this one I wish all of you happy hunting in the mad world before you get hunted,  but it's worth fighting back the world as you are... your attitude reflects it all – push it back!

It's not Rocket Science, Trust me!

I wrote a blog post back in 2007 (blog post) where I discussed what's the right time to dive in for a start-up, and to tell you the truth very frankly - no one would have this answer. I didn't have the answer when I was happy with my job and I don't have the answer when I am working with my start-up. You can hear 1000 stories, feel motivated and jump for it - I won't call you stupid, in fact I would help you with whatever you lack and praise you for whatever you have good. On the other hand, you can take 30 years building the perfect ship to sail, and yet you can't board it - I won't call you stupid, I would help you find that courage.

You can look out for the best teammates in the world and yet you can fail - that's the fact of the world that you need to live with everyday, but it's the battle that matters and not the outcome, and yeah fighting with the best knights cuts down the odds of failure. On the other hand, you might have no idea at all when you start and yet you can be the role model of tomorrow. So what is it that differentiates one guy from another, or let's say one start-up from other. What is the golden rule that differentiates the two sides?

People name it as team, idea, market, investors etc., while these all are pillars of a successful enterprise, but are these all? Wait, we haven't yet mentioned passion, drive, intensity, enthusiasm and all other qualities, but are these all? Is this a must to have list or good to have list, since some people say passion comes with idea and market or let's say money, and some say idea and team are secondary, all you need is passion. I don't know the order and I don't want to discuss it, since this list is endless. Did I write leadership, focus, companionship, vision - oh my god! this list is actually endless. :)

Let me put my answer in my simple language for you. I don't claim that I am a genius or Mr. Right of this topic, but this is what I believe, and it works for me, than remembering the endless list (often used by successful entrepreneurs to put their success in words). I rarely write philosophical blogs these days, since it's hard to prove them or quantify them. If you don't find my answer helpful, I apologize in advance.

I believe that we are guided by a power, actually a belief, something that we don't have control over,something way too powerful to be put in a list . I think what differentiates a successful entrepreneur is the power of believing the power of trust. We just need to trust the higher cause ,of the organization, trust the leader, trust our instincts and that's trust, which actually brings in enthusiasm, focus, drive and intensity in the workforce. In fact, that's trust which pushes us to create the best products for our clients., a trust we don't want to break It's the trust and belief of the leaders of the company that drives the course of the company. The power of believing and trust helps in creating a bonding between people, ideas, problems and solutions. Investors, customers, employees are all humans and they all need to trust you to make you successful. For others to trust you, you need to trust yourself and your thoughts, your instincts. Rest all will fall in place.Trust me!

One more thought before I close this blog post, I think there is nothing to win or lose in the world, there is an awesome journey that goes on forever. If you love being part of the cruise, be part of it, love it, enjoy it, live it, else  simply jump off. There are thousand others awesome things worth doing than being an entrepreneur who doesn't love what he/she does.. Would love your comments on this one, really, because I trust that feedback works :)

A little later dude!

Funny it may sound, but I got inspired to write this blog post while talking to a friend about start-ups, and I realized that its perception seems to work as an oasis in people's life. Well lately, I started noticing that while discussing ideas and dreams, or say being philosophical, people share their dream of doing something on their own terms or having their own company where they can work on a problem as they choose and add to some thing as they please. There seems a different tone to the discussion (almost always) like a very different note in music, a talk coming right from the roots, a dream that comes right from the heart - thirst of an intellectual. It almost sounds like an assurance coming from within that I want to work on a problem as I please and I would work on it some day. Most of these talks end with the tag line - "Some day but not today... a little later dude!"

I used the word oasis in the last paragraph, since it does the same task of keeping the thirst of entrepreneurship alive amongst potential entrepreneurs and encourages them to keep moving towards it. Only difference being that it exists for real, but remains an oasis for >95% of us. All of us want to reach it but are stuck with lots of problems, questions and confusions. It's not important when we start or how we start, it's important that we know we want to start some day, even if it means we know - "A little later dude!"

We learn lot of lessons along the paths of our lives and become better prepared to fulfill our dreams in future. Well it might not be the right time for some of us to start the journey but it always help to ensure that we collect the right stones along the path.

• Remain in touch with start-ups and entrepreneurs to understand the problems they face every day and to appreciate the start-up life better
  
• Save money for the dependents and rainy days, as start-up life is full of surprises
  
• Start noticing market trends by tracking new ideas and businesses to understand the future market better
• Last but not the least - make good friends who would help you cruise the start-up life

But whatever happens, never ever give up on the thought of reaching oasis, even if it means to have a cup of coffee and say - "A little later dude"