sharatthakur.com

So here I am, writing again at my blog after nearly two and half months. So you can imagine the kind of hectic time that I have been going through. This is the very essence of the path of Entrepreneurship – Be prepared to give up even those things, which you like to do the most. I love writing, but because of lack of time I have hardly been able to get time to write on my blog. But the very purpose of this blog was to provide a clear path to all those who are looking for directions, and I would fail in my duties, if I fail to do so. Hence, every now and then I try to squeeze out time to write on my blog.

So finally, my company operations started after nearly 2 weeks of infrastructure set up. The first month has been one of the most crazy times I ever have had in my life. But as a matter of fact, I enjoyed it to the fullest. Real joy comes in life, when you know that you are able to realize and utilize your fullest potential.

The long awaited dream of mine is over. After years of gaining knowledge and trying to decipher the various intricacies of software corporate business, eventually I have been able to start on my own. I have started a software company, by the name - Shapia Software Solutions Private Limited. After 6 months of incessant efforts, the tree has started bearing fruits, and I could give shape to my dream. Juggling between job and business, I don’t know how many times I wished I had 48 hours in a day. I wanted to give my best to both the current job, and my business as well - eventually I had to squeeze in time from no where, literally running around and my mind going to find a single vacant escape route. After giving a formal and legal form and name, I have decided to quit from my job, and run my business. When I look back now, for the time I spent in last 6 months, is, all I can say is it has been worth for my patience and perseverance. There is nothing like seeing your own baby grow up and take a shape which you have had always envisioned. During this course of my transition, there has been many people who had come all the way, and tried to help me, some even criticizing to the effect that they asked me to resign from my idea of starting on my own. Initially, I had thought that the toughest part would be raising the seed fund for the business, but actually after some struggle in the initial period, I found out that there are more people who are willing to invest their money in the right channel, than those looking to get the funding. But beware, there will be tons of investors who will just rub off your idea, and doom your confidence to the lowest level. I will write a separate article on my rendezvous with the investors - I am sure, you will love that, as some of the incidents have been really funny.

 We get so much involved in the humdrum of our corporate life that we tend to forget that we have a corporate social responsibility. We receive so much from society, and its high time that we rise and get together to give something back to society. Inspired by this thought, I along with 10 other software professionals, have come together to form an NGO ( Non Governmental Organisation ) by the name Milati, to provide educational infrastructure facilities to underprivileged children. Milati  is a word from an ancient Indian language Sanskrit, which means “To unite for a cause”.

 Diversification is one of the key aspects of any business. Look at any of the top Fortune 500 companies. You will find many of them follow a conglomerate business model. Even those business models which follow unique business proposition, they also have diversified in their limited way.

I am going to address diversification from three different perspectives:

1. Diversification of dependency on business model
2. Diversification of dependency on people
3. Diversification of dependency on planning

 Remember, “Rome was not built in a day”. The key to success for business of any nature is to have patience and persevere with the business till you see the daylight of success. Believe me folks, this is easier said than done. You will have goose bumps in your stomach with each passing which won’t bear the results you are looking for. Being patient is an art and a skill.

Remember its not the idea, its not the concept, its not the business, that makes difference to one’s Entrepreneurial Journey. Its all about people. Its the people who like your idea, its the people who hate your idea, its the people who work work for you, its the people with whom you partner, its the people who excite you. You may have the best idea or the best business plan in the world, but if you are bad at connecting with people, consider yourself out from the game of Entrepreneurship.

I started my first venture when I was in Pennsylvania, USA. The name that I chose for my venture was Utopia Innovations, LLC. Well, the name itself speaks for what I stand in life. I am in love with the word “Utopia”. My tryst with the word “Utopia” started when I wrote the first page in my personal diary. Hence, it was, but natural, that my first venture was named after it. “Innovations” speaks volumes about the fact that “Innovation” was intended to be a core practice in my business. There is a story about “LLC” as well, as I needed to decide about the kind of business structure that I wanted to start.