The Irony of Indian Diaspora vs Indian Entrepreneurs: A Brutal PASSION PRUTL Analysis

The Irony of Indian Diaspora vs Indian Entrepreneurs: A Brutal PASSION PRUTL Analysis

Irony and the Divide:

There is a glaring irony in the relationship between the Indian Diaspora and Indian entrepreneurs. On one hand, the Indian Diaspora, especially in countries like the US, UK, or Canada, often brags about working 90 hours a week, embracing the hustle culture, and glorifying overwork. On the other hand, in India, the entrepreneurial spirit is often undervalued, despite the fact that Indian entrepreneurs work just as hard, if not harder, in their pursuit of success. The discrepancy lies in how work ethics and value are perceived in different parts of the world, and especially in relation to international market standards.

The irony deepens when the Indian Diaspora finds it surprising that people in India deserve international rates for their work, particularly when they too "slog" and sacrifice their time, energy, and lives to build ventures. There's a tendency to devalue local efforts, especially in India's entrepreneurial scene, which can stem from a historical perception that the West holds a monopoly over "high-value" industries and work culture.

Brutal PASSION PRUTL Analysis:

1. Peace (Negative): There is a lack of peace in the mindset regarding work-life balance, especially in the Indian context. Indian entrepreneurs are often expected to work long hours, but are not given the same recognition as their counterparts in the West. The stress of being underappreciated, along with burnout from endless work, hampers peace of mind. In the diaspora, the disconnect between working hard and being recognized can lead to resentment, especially when the work culture is questioned but not valued in return.
2. Respect (Negative): Indian entrepreneurs often don’t receive the respect they deserve from the international community or even from their own country’s citizens. The global respect afforded to their efforts is far lower than the respect given to Western counterparts, despite similar levels of effort and hustle. Indian Diaspora’s attitude of looking down on or underestimating the capabilities of Indian entrepreneurs creates a cycle of disrespect.
3. Trust (Negative): There’s a lack of trust in the potential of Indian entrepreneurs to handle ventures at an international level. Many Indian businesspeople are not considered “global players” despite being capable of matching or surpassing their global counterparts. Cross-border trust issues arise when the Indian diaspora assumes that only "outsiders" (i.e., foreign consultants) can bring international-level expertise to the table, leaving Indian entrepreneurs marginalized.
4. Unity (Negative): The separation between the Indian Diaspora and Indian entrepreneurs often leads to a lack of unity. The Diaspora, who may have been part of India's growth, often separates themselves from the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. This leads to disjointed collaboration and missed opportunities for synergy. The assumption that outsiders can fix Indian ventures creates division and undermines local unity.
5. Love (Negative): Love for work is often skewed. The overwork culture of the diaspora may sometimes be born out of the pressure to conform to a glorified international standard, often resulting in unhealthy attachment to work, as opposed to a genuine love for creating value. Indian entrepreneurs may feel the lack of love from their international counterparts, who fail to recognize their sacrifices and efforts.
6. Pride (Negative): There’s a pride imbalance when it comes to evaluating work and output. The Indian diaspora often assumes that Western business practices and work ethics are superior, thus making them feel superior in their global roles. This pride leads to underestimation of local entrepreneurial spirit. Indian entrepreneurs, on the other hand, may develop a sense of self-doubt because their hard work and contributions go unrecognized in the global arena.
7. Rule (Negative): Outdated rules about the value of Indian entrepreneurs restrict their global reach. Indian startups often have to fight against outdated perceptions and conventional thinking about work and value, thus hindering their potential for global recognition. Foreign consultants, as the "rule," often seem like the go-to option, even though Indian entrepreneurs have the same, if not better, capacity to lead ventures globally.
8. Temptation (Negative): The temptation to conform to international standards may lead some Indian entrepreneurs to feel the pressure to mimic Western practices, losing their own identity in the process. Chasing external approval often leads them away from their core strengths. The Diaspora's temptation to maintain a higher status and secure better pay sometimes leads them to exploit the very system that undermines Indian entrepreneurs, further deepening the divide.
9. Usurp (Negative): There are cases where external forces, including consultants or the Indian diaspora, usurp the control of entrepreneurial ventures, often claiming the credit or intellectual property for the hard work done by local entrepreneurs. This results in self-empowered entrepreneurs being taken advantage of by those who don’t have as much investment or commitment.
10. Lust (Negative): The lust for external validation by Indian entrepreneurs or the diaspora often leads to compromises in values or long-term strategy. Rather than focusing on building sustainable ventures, the temptation to conform to global expectations may lead to short-term, vanity-driven goals. This negative dimension can lead to both entrepreneurs and diaspora falling into a cycle of exploitation, focusing too much on rewards and appearances rather than core values.

Key Insights and Actions to Overcome:

• Recognize the Local Value: Indian entrepreneurs deserve to be recognized and paid international rates for their hard work. They have the skills, insight, and grit to match anyone in the world, so the bias against them needs to be broken down.
• Create Internal Value Systems: Both Indian entrepreneurs and the Indian diaspora must acknowledge the value of local contributions and build trust and respect in the system. Entrepreneurs should not feel the need to be subservient to outside consultants or global models to prove their worth.
• Global Collaboration, Not Competition: There is a need for unity between the Indian Diaspora and Indian entrepreneurs, where both can learn from each other’s strengths and build stronger ventures through collaboration rather than competition.
• Shift from External Validation to Internal Growth: Both sides need to empower each other by focusing on the local context, cultural pride, and the unique skills of Indian entrepreneurs, rather than constantly seeking external validation from abroad.

In conclusion, the brutal truth is that the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India is often undervalued, and the Indian Diaspora needs to recognize the immense potential and hard work of local entrepreneurs who slog tirelessly to build ventures. This should lead to a more balanced, respectful, and collaborative environment, where Indian entrepreneurs are not only recognized but also paid for their international value.

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