Unfinished learnings from a professional turned entrepreneur…

Many have asked me about my short journey of last six months as a professional turned entrepreneur. My response generally has been that it is too early to say anything. There is a galaxy of experience waiting for me. Yet I am tempted to write few learnings:

1. We all crave for professional freedom. But Profesional freedom does not come so easily. It succeeds Personal freedom. Till our mind is free of insecurity, is mature enough to leave the past behind and has an ability to create a positive hope out of a disappointing experience, we cannot achieve professional freedom. So, only someone who has achieved personal freedom can realistically expect to walk on the path of entrepreneurship and strive for a professional freedom by building a sustainable organisation. So, if one aspires to start a new venture, he or she has to pass through the jungles of a complicated self, clean the cob-webs and then proceed ahead on the path of his new venture.
2. You have to win a day at a time. You can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. But the most important part of your entrepreneurship is your day. Sometimes, we lose the day, sometimes we win it and sometimes we just survive it. At all times, we need to have a closement and start afresh again the next day. How we spend our days, would determine how strong is our foundation, how have we laid out every brick for a long term sustenance of an organisation.
3. Living with our fears is a daily routine. We would have our self-doubts. Probably, every day for the coming few months, maybe few years. But we need to learn to live with our fears. We would imagine the worst case scenario and yet, through some miracle of this existence, we would get an opportunity to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Follow that light and purge your fears. Do not fight your fears. Appreciate them. They would ensure we would not make any reckless mistakes.
4. Find a purpose. Find a team. We need to find an incisive purpose of what and why are we building something. Then, we need to find a team. Do not underestimate of either of the two. A pure purpose would help attract a competent team. A competent team would help realise the pure purpose.
5. Do not waste time explaining yourself to the world. It’s a temptation to explain yourself to the world about why you took certain steps. It’s a temptation to share your small successes with the world to get an external revalidation. Resist these temptations. No one really cares about your journeys, other than your family, your team and some of your clients. Focus inward. Seek internal validation. The world does not deserve our explanation. When you reach your goal, it would stand in awe of us and would clap for a long time. We would realise how meaningless such accolades are.
6. We would make mistakes. that’s fine. Just ensure that we do not repeat our mistakes. Do not hesitate to apologise, when its due. Do not fear admitting your shortcomings. You would win loyalty of your clients and your team members. Nobody expects Perfectness. Yes, provided you show an intent to be better, the next time.
7. In the rush of making things happen at your venture, do remember who has stood by you. It could be your family, your near friends, your loyal team and clients. And if you are lucky, some of your colleagues from your earlier organisation. Never ever forget them. Be ever grateful to them. Success without well wishers and friends is bitter. Remember, we need sweetness in our lives.
8. While we use our minds at work, remember its our body which carry us everyday to work and back to home. Our body is the most we ignore and make it suffer. If we give the dues to our body and take care of our health, we would go afar. At times, a healthy body could be the single most competitive advantage we can gain for a long long time. Very strictly, Health is not Wealth. But, surely Health could lead to Wealth - of all kinds.
9. Becoming gracious is something we may learn as we grow up the ladder. When you leave a large umbrella to start something small, you would see attitudes around you changing. You are no longer perceived as “important”. Be gracious to them. Forgive those who only see your present but have no foresight to see what you would become in future. Focus on your goals. Be magnanimous to whatever bad life throws at your occasionally. In reality, it is all to prepare you for a future glory. Be grateful. Always.
10. Last, but not the least - In our pursuit of a better future, we cannot ignore our present. We need to enjoy the now of life. Material success is a side benefit. The true treasure is about living a fulfilled life, while you climb the mountain of your aspirations. Never forget that happiness is waiting for us right now. We need to enjoy every moment of our journey.

These are my unfinished learnings. I look forward to lots of more to come.