Entrepreneurship: Necessary, possible and impossible

Entrepreneurship is a subject that is very close to my heart. I have deep respect for entrepreneurs and sincerely believe that the world is what it is, because of entrepreneurs.

Many of my friends have turned entrepreneurs. Some are doing quite well and some are in the process of doing well.

I read somewhere “Start with doing what is necessary, then do what is possible and soon you will achieve the impossible”

Many people call it the “Mid –Life crisis” but I feel it actually is “Mid – Life opportunity”. When one is around 35- 40, one is reasonably well off financially, is still young enough to work hard and has achieved acceptable level of maturity. In most of the cases that I know, people around 40 are quite well poised to take this call and create something new.

Few days back I got a chance to attend a TIE (The Indus Entrepreneur) Face to Face event with the Founder of a very large specialized retail chain. The company is 180 stores in five years and should hit 500 in next 2-3 years. This company is adding lots of value to one of India’s key sectors. I have been his customer for over 6 months now.

The founder is a remarkable man. After 25 years at top positions with some fantastic organizations, he decided to retire and play golf but soon got bored and decided to do something much bigger. He started this company at the age of 45 and is 52 currently. He also shared that despite being so well networked, what was the kind of struggle he had to face and how friends stopped taking his calls. But this man trusted his vision today he is building an amazing organization.

I have been fortunate to witness many more such inspiring stories that are full of passion, energy, determination and a desire to add value to the society.

The same evening around 9pm, I was taking a stroll after dinner near my house. Due to some reason the street lights were not on and there weren’t many pedestrians on the road. I noticed an old, frail man of around 80 pushing a cart and selling tender coconut. It looked like an extremely difficult task for him and in his feeble voice he was shouting “Gola” (Hindi word for tender coconut).

No people in sight, dark road and a very feeble voice!!!

- Did he really expect to sell or

- Has it become a habit for him to shout mechanically after an interval of 10 seconds?
- Is it only the poverty that is making him work for 50-100 rupees a day at this age or
- Is it the never say die spirit and a very small/ failed but true entrepreneur trying to fight the adverse circumstances come what may?
- How does he buy the inventory? I could see him carrying almost 70% of his inventory back.

I don’t know answers to these questions but someday would like to find out. I am amazed at the contrasts life can present and God’s bizarre ways of teaching and humbling us.….