First learn, then earn

"Papa, we are going to start a business. We need to complete the formalities", I told my father. He looked at me with wonder.

I had just then completed my third year of college and was very recently introduced into the world of content writing and graphic designing.

I had just then returned from Chennai after completing my internship at IIT-M. Since writing was my passion, from the very beginning I was applying for technical content writing internships, only to get rejected every time. So I wanted to rule my own empire.

Back at that time, I naively believed that anyone who has around 4 freelance orders can start a business and make a profit. Little did I know the hard work (and of course, smart-work) involved behind the business. Me, along with a group of buddies ventured out too young.

One of them wanted to become rich faster, but in an easy manner. He had previously heard about data entry jobs (Yes, that pay Rs.5000 and earn Rs.60,000 by typing 100 pages). I argued that it would not be productive and we would learn nothing by typing. I knew that a company without a unique identity will be a flop.

Subsequently, I won the argument. We never invested on that data entry offer. You can find thousands of such offers at Naukri and Quikr. Please don't believe it. 99% of it are scam.

He asked me, "How are you going to start a business with content writing? Initially, you would earn just enough to buy a meal per day." But my logic was different. "At least I will learn something, even though I will not earn at the beginning".

I was very new to LinkedIn. Maybe a week or so. I connected with a few startup owners and asked them if I can write contents for them. Only 2 of them replied. I took up the offer happily.

Initially it was tough. My writing style was totally different and a bit immature. I had to read around 10 blogs per day to have that grip.

I tried hard and completed the first blog and earned Rs.450. That was my first earning.

The other order was for Rs.1000. It was for 3 blogs. I completed it too and earned Rs.1000. That was my second earning.

I used those blogs as my reference and managed to get some 3 orders.

We had a team meeting with the owner. He asked some questions to me regarding Adobe Photoshop. I was clueless. One of my friend told him in broken English that we can produce better contents for them. He asked her, "Can you write what you just said on a paper without any grammatical errors?" and laughed. Anyways I was going to write the content. But I let her speak. We faced that face palm moment as a team.

That was the day I understood the value of expertise and knowledge. And knowing the strength and weakness of our team members and pitching accordingly.

As expected, that order got cancelled.

My father was a silent spectator to all this. Whenever I informed about the progress of my "venture", he used to smile and just reply "Okay".

When I told him that I am going to register my startup, he asked me a question, to which I don't know the answer till date, "What do you think you know about a business?"

I spoke about the registering procedures and auditing. He smiled and asked again, "What do you think you know about a business?"

I turned silent. What my father told me changed my perspective towards life.

"I was of the same age as you are when I started out on my business. My first order was for Rs.100. I worked 20 hours per day at that time. But due to some mistakes, everything was falling apart. I faced a huge loss in business.

When you were 5 months old, I was completely broken. I never even had money to buy you a Milk bottle. I was an owner, but for you, I again turned an employee. I left the business and started going for a marketing job. I don't want you to feel that pain yourself.

But I somehow learnt from the experience and started once again. I never made those mistakes again. And the rest is history. It took 10 years for me to taste success. The journey was wonderful and it took me where I am now. See, this world is huge. It is not a one day task to start a business. You have got to learn, and then earn."

I started exploring more on writing aspects and applied for a few jobs. I never gave up and I got my full-time job.

The first project was completely new to me. The corporate style of content marketing and content strategy were an alien to me.

But I learnt. I am learning. And will learn forever.

It was difficult at first but I completed it in a month's time. I am sure I can complete it in a week's time now. That is what experience does to you. Still a long way to go to complete it in a day's time.

I was a mediocre student. I am still a fresher. I have got my job but I still have a long, long...way to go. But let me tell you something, I applied for over 100 internships on Internshala and got selected in just 2.

The lessons I learnt as a college student and as a fresher were priceless.

1. Never launch yourself into something when you just knew what it is. You can't play a guitar by only listening to the music. You have got to get your hands dirty and learn playing the instrument.
2. Don't believe in easy work. Earning through skills is what will stand. It's not easy but it is permanent. If everyone can do the data entry job and get Rs.70,000, then we would all be millionaires by now.
3. Plan your placement preparation in advance from your third year of college itself. I would say second year. Only then you will feel less heat and pressure of placement fever.
4. Life is going to be initially tough. But only after a dark night do we face the brightness of sunshine. So never give up and keep trying.
5. Respect your team members. We had a few juniors in our initial startup planning crew. I won't be able to pay them. I will not be able to give them a certificate. But I can give them a LinkedIn recommendation and endorsement which I definitely will. I support them in the best way possible.
6. Let it be anything. Dance, tennis, singing or whatever. Do you love it? Will it fetch you enough salary than or equal to your engineering stream? Can you work on it happily without expectations, even if they are not going to pay you? Don't you ever want to retire? If you answer these questions positively, then you are going to rock.
7. Make mistakes. But learn from them. Mistakes are meant to make once or twice, but not thrice.
8. Respect your parents. You don't know the struggles they have undergone to raise you.
9. Never ever leave out that 'L' in Learn. Keep learning, keep sharing and keep inspiring. Keep applying what you learn.

Only after I joined a company I understood the commitments and demands of a business. It is only here I am learning the value of ethics and team spirit. I still have a lot to learn.

I have a question for you- What did you learn as a student and as a fresher?