Bachelors in Entrepreneurship

Majjism
Majjism
Nov 1 · 33 min read

25 Years. My story. Friends. Family. Environments

Describing a Village:

A remote village with a near by river. Most of the people living is based on farming. Except few who own lands, everyone else go for daily labor for their earnings. I see hardly 10 houses, 5 streets, 400 people. All the 400 people go to riven either for mornig routines or shower, washing dishes, washing buffalos, taking shower after they come from the fields. River is a sources of refreshment from using it for toilets to long dips during super summer days, for the people and buffalos.

Describing father:

Out of 400 odd people, there is only one who completed graduation and earned a job in a government office which is considered as a life settlement. He was fortunately my dad. Quite in the early in his life, he realised whom he wants to spend time with. Not with his cousine brothers who enjoys their life just like that and show their authority in village with all the mischeleouneous activities. Not with people who get into quarreling which affects his life in aspects of his life.

Describing Me:

My fathers experiences with this his freinds and family in the vilalge put me full stop to the activities the kids usually do in the village like going to mangao gardens to steal Mangos, going to coconuts fields to steal coconuts, getting into fights with other kids that restricted me to go play with them frequently. His only early morning motivational speech to me ’don’t roam with these guys, your career would get spoiled’. Still I picked few activities because they are fun and adventurous. One of the moment, I picked a friend who got brains and courage which I didn't have, we planned to go to steal cashews that earns some pocket money. We went and stole few and ran aways while the gardener followed us till our village that earned an income of Rs. 10, shared half-each.

I was weak in physical personality, average study skills which left some space to get bullied by my cousins and other fellows in my childhood. Most of my time is filled with school, river, swimmings, helping my father in the agriculture like mixing the fertilisers, calling the labors, taking the tea and food to the fields, turn on the water pumps in the fields (sometime in the midnights), diverting the water to different fields (when my father go to work). Only few things missing what other kids used to do is getting gross to the cows because we dont have the Cows or buffalos. One the best fun moments is going with my dad and the sugar-cane load filled with tractor to the sugar factory which is owned by a richest businessman who grew from a small family, it is called GRM sugar factory. Many of the villages from nearby villages used to go to work as laborers in the factory.

I’m one of the luckiest kids, may be i’m only the luckiest kid in the village because our family doesn’t need to worry of monthly income to pay the school fee or pay the labor even the crop is not succesful. My father had put all of his energy, savings and time as if he is living his second life to fullfill his dreams.

Friends and environment in the village:

Its an environment filled with full of joy. Joy in making coconut (remma) into cricket bats, emty coconut into a playing toy, swimming in the river every eveing till someone calls form their family. Education is a part of their life, its not only the life. Barely anyone considered education as a high priority to go to the next level. Barely anyone know why someone study, may be the one answere coomes out is, job. Whatever their parents had suffered form the poverty, they kids don’t want to get suffered from poverty. Educaiton is the answer but kids barely understand that. Playing and having fun is the life, its only the truth to many people in the village. All the kids or adults gather at ne TV when there is cricket match comes or some movie comes on Sunday 4pm in Doordarshan.

There is no external purpose, no destination, no directiong, going with the flow and living life itself is a purpose.

There is a small turning point in my life at 15 years of age when I secured 511 marks of 600 in my 10th standard public examination. It was my fathers dream of seeing my photo in the school marketing flyer, it was there infront of him. The truth was I’m a student who is capable of getting maybe 400 marks of 600 but I secured 511. To be frank, I had possiblity to copy in the examination because I was told since childhood to get highest marks to make family proud, I chose a easiest way to get highest marks.

New environment and New friends in a CITY:

Because of the good marks I secured (In whatever the way), my father decided me to board me into a good english medium college in a nearby city which is 3 hours away from my village. He is the most happiest father ever because he don’t see a possibility me roaming with the friends in village ever. The college fee is beyond his scope from the monthly salary he gets, the only confidence he had is that I’ll get settled well in future. He can be a proud father seeing me well-settled.

English is considered as a dream for my father. Whoever speaks english is a god to my father. Now he can see that happen in couple of years that his son can speak in English in-front of everyone. Getting a job is most easiest things if one speaks in english. I don't know, may be his strong desire made me work even more harden in the new environment. He talks to each and every teacher about my performance and used recommend them to stright my back if anything goes wrong.

English is a subject that I never go close to. Now its is the situation I cant escape form it and I had to study all the subjects in English only. I joined with few other friends who also had come from different other nearby towns and villages, worked with them to mugg-up the subjcts. That’s one skills I was really proud to pick up and I performed so well in the public exams that helped me to join in a university for my engineering degree.

University Engineering Degree:

A degree that I never dreamed of. Maybe I was only the guy who doesn’t know about what entrance exam I was writing for till my father was taking me to all engineering colleges to select a better one. Indeed with my most memorizing skills, I coud able to get into the top 10% of the poeple who attempted that year for the engineering entrance exam, a rank that helped me to get in to a government university where my father doesn't need to worry about paying high fees for my college.

So far in the journey the people whom I interacted with had little desires like getting a degree, little dreams like getting a bike and getting a job. It seemed its different now.

University is in a one of the biggest cities in India with 7 million people, its called Hyderabad. Its an age and a place which gives any individual a freedom of hopes and desires.

While everyone is having fun-filled college life, my father conditioned my mind to learn english with a strong focus. He barely worries about the degree I’d get end of the 4 years. He never asked how much I scored in the semester exams but whnever he calls me he never missed asking me ‘Are you going to spoken english classes?, how much ever you want, I’ll send you but never stop going to the spoken English classes, that’s the only thing I expect from you’.

Again it was his strong desire for me to not to miss any english classes that I used to attend in the evenings after my college. He is one good example of a true Indian fathers who don’t give a shit about what the kids want but get it done what they want. It was not that difficult for me to follow his commands like other kids having the difficulties because I was just like a computer with no own dreams, own likes, own desires, own career choices. I was there to just like a physical body with a mind that was controlled.

A first desire in life:

When I was walking with my senior, he was talking about his plans of going to USA after Bachelors, he is barely interesed in doing job thouhg he can get one because of the university which has a good brand name.

I saw a flyer on my hostel wall with strong bold headlines ‘MS in US’.

Whenever I see USA, my father words come in my mind. Whevenver we walking together early monring while going to river to take shower and finish other activities, he used to tell lot of stories about USA. At that time maybe I was not sure of waht he was talking about but one word I used hear a lot ‘America’. One of my fathers classmate, who became doctor and went to America and he is earning lot of money and settled there. May be that was my motivation for me to work hard since childhood to earn more money, get great degrees, so that I can get more dowry.

I took it seriously. USA. MS in US. I know my friends would laugh at me if I say anything about US. I never told anyone except few who don’t judge me. I joined in the GRE course which is an entrance exam to get admission in US universities.

If I want to be like the businessman I’ve heard in my child hood when I was going with my father to the GMR Sugar factory, If I want to build one factory life that in my life, I need to do somehting different than what everyone is doing. This is the only motivating factor for me in my life at this part of my life.

It was not a easy thing for me because first time I understand Tenses in English when I joined in spoken English classes a year ago. GRE is completely dealt with 100% Enligh. I didnt really care what I was not capable then. I only cared about how I can crack it. I wrote all the english vacbulary on my walls every evening after I come back from the course. I used all the skills I learned mugging-up, memorizing, hard word, patience, hunger, everything I could think of. I develped new habits of running in the morning that helped me to wakeup early in the morning, I used all the resources whatever needed to get me good score in the GRE.

I saw the score within a hour of the completing the test. I achieved it. I got a really good score that can get me admission for doing Master in a good university. I never dreamt of it. I never had a purpose of my education till then. This is the most proudest moment I’ve even seen in my entire life. My weak personality became so strong at once. My average mindset became great at once. My poor financial dream became rich once.

It was my father who is been a wall to me lean on to reach this moment in my life. I was angry thousand time for restricting me to play with my friends in village, for not buying me a not even a cycle, for placing the rules for every thing I do. I didn't really think of my father intentions through out those years. After 21 years of my journey, finally I see that I can take charge of my life with my own desires, my own dreams to follow.

USA:

Its a huge thing to me and to my family go to America. When life started in a small family and remote village, you won’t find many relatives who can help you there in America. I’m the first one to get an engineering degree. I’m the first one who stepped out of the own country. While security is a big thing to send his son to America, finance is a another challenge for my family to think of. When I said firmly that I’m going to figure out to remaining things once I go there, my father could able to arrange some money that is enough for a flight ticket and first half-semester’s fee.

It is broken English, it feels like a fresh start of the life, new people, large verities of foods, very large buildings, broad roads, everything looks so systematic, it is a dream for anyone who just hailed from a developing country. So far I could only see these things in movies and dreams, but today those dreams turned real.

New Skin:

When I was interacting with people from different cultures like African countries, Europe and asian countries, the fear that I had built over the time around all aspects of my life feels like going away. It feels like I was wearing a new skin, taking a new language, adopting to a new culture may be that is a universal culture.

I don’t belong to a specific country, I don’t belong to a specific religion, I don’t belong to a specific kind, It feels like I’m becoming one with universe, no more distinctions. I was inferior before when I see people who are better than me, I had a fear when I interacted with people who are more skilful than me. I was afraid to meet people who are really successful or wealthy than me.

One of the best proudest moments when I arrived in USA is I started asking even if I’m not comfortable, I’m the only one who has to figure out my life either in-terms of finance or in-terms of careers choices. I was approching many professors from different departments from Aerospace to Biotechnology for getting a part-time work in their laboratories. Within the first month of starting Masters, I had finished meeting more than 30 professors. Entering into professors office is the most scariest thing I ever faced, because I don’t what kind of questions they ask. I email, get appointment and ask whther if have any opning in their laboratory. I least bother about what they think of my broken English, less qualified skills and weak personality.

My fee was reduced to half when I got Research Assistant position under my Head of the department in our department in the first semester. Otherside, I was approaching long family relatives who stay in USA to help me out with lending some money to pay next semester fee.

Uncle Financial Support:

I never met him, I never saw him, only spoke once over phone and asked for a favour to be a collateral to get some loan to pay next semester fee. There were cheques of about $18,000 given for next 2 years if no interest. I still wonder about him how he could able to sponsor me without seeing me or meeting me,neither he met my family anytime before. I’d like to dedicate this book to him for his heartfelt support which helped me to focus on my entrepreneurial dream.

Job Search:

That was my last semester of my graduation. I’ve been giving interviews continuously get a job as a process engineer in manufacturing plants. Its almost another year passed while searching for the jobs. It seemed impossible to get a job int he field what I had studied, Materials Science, because of my poor fundamentals (If you remember my schooling and college went with mugging up the subjects without any understanding). Now it affected my life. It took me awhile to realize that I’m weak at this subjects. It is merely to show people that I got Masters degree from a good university. But realised I never Mastered the subject that I’m supposed to.

Career Change:

Though there is a lot of regret of wasting 7 years of life time in a field which I never really understood its true essence of studying but for a mere job opportunity if I get a degree in that. Even that regret stay longer in mind, just picked a new career as a software engineer without having any degree in computer science and got into a job. I was fired in the first month. I picked another job in the same field, I was fired in the 3rd month. I picked another job, I was fired in the 1st month. It continued for 18 months of time.

Just paused and was looking into my life. I didn't see much differene from a ship reaching to its coast. A peaceful journey without any waves int he middle of a deep see but when It comes to near the coast, it started trumbling, It started show its best to fight against waves. It looked similar to it. I could sense that I’m near to the coast, a destination I dreamed of. All I got be patient enough to survive the waves.

Job, Money, Time:

Maybe it was the first time I was questioning myself about life. Why do I need to do job? Why money? What is time? How much time I have? What is succuess? What do I want in life? What skills I really have? How can I earn money if not with these degrees?

There is the answer when I packed my bags and rented a car to move from a Tampa to Miami right after a company fired me in the month of January, 2016. Next day evening I was in Miami, I started the job search again, sitting in a coffee shop not to have coffee but to access free internet. I haven’t found a place to stay here yet, clothes everything were there in the car outside the parking lot.

I see two beautiful women, who are in their mid 40’s sitting across my table, I’ve been observing them since couple hours. The curious part of the story is I know what they are discussing about and the sad part is I was not confident enough to approach. It’s already been 2 hours I’ve been fighting with my thoughts, finally I broke the silence; I said “Hi, I can help you on what you were really looking for”. Though they look at me little suspiciously in the beginning, they have told their story and I listened to their requirements. One among them was an author, she wants to have her own website to sell her book. Deal closed, they paid me $1000 to build their website for my 30 min sales pitch and 1 day job.

In the next couple of meeting I had in Miami in a Toastmasters club, I was introduced as a web-developer. I was hired to build two websites and was paid upfront payment of $2,000.

Is that what I was searching for and living for past 25 years? What am I good at? How can I create a value to the people for my living? It was neither process engineer in a manufacturing plant or web-developers in a software company.

I lived by the story of a successful process engineer who gets monthly income by having a secured job in a manufacturing plant. To become a process engineer, I need to get bachelors or Masters degree in engineering and search for the jobs in the related fields and settle as a process engineer.

It was a new realization that my life is about living however I want but not only to become a process engineer for living.

I made a choice to live the life I designed, pursue the skills I loved and rewritten a new story of a person who can identify the opportunities and create the opportunities by bringing the right resources together.

Looking back 25 years:

I was a lifeless character who is being directed by people who tell me what is good, what is bad, who am I, what to do and where to go. I was passing by several degrees which has no definite purpose except one strong motive that is to get a job.

Job is a destination Vs Living is a destination

Job is a destination — I need to have good education, I need to pass degrees, I need to chose a degree which gives me good job. Options narrowed down. All eggs in one basket and wait for the result whether that basket can help me out in life or not.

Living is a destination — I need to live a life that matters to me, I need to create an income sources to have a sustainable life. Means can be anything that really matters to me. It can be job, business, politics, sport or skill that earns me income.

What people say around me:

Everyone got that talent but one has to identify — when you are exposed to sun, you can identify that sun is hot; when you are exposed to cold, you can be sure to wear more layers of cloths. Without exposing your skills in different fields how can you find your natural talent that you posses, that question I never thouht of. Eve when I don’t have single penny in the pocket, I couldn’t able to find out my talent instead I went to find a job. Everyone will get a time — Its the common saying I hear a lot in my family and friends circle since childhood. May be after listening to this quote, I’d leave the things to luck and time instead me acting on it intentionally to create whatever I want.

May be one question I’m asking myself is that did people made life so complicated or I did. Earning money became even more difficult after my graduation when I couldn't find a job that I feel proud of. Earning money is became my only destination.

Discovering the skill:

Every time I get fired from a company for my low performance in software development or I leave it out of pressure, I get a new insight about my personality either strengths or weaknesses. It was in 2014, San Diego, USA. When the head of the Engineering called me to his office, I quite understand that I’m getting fired with in little than two weeks of my joining in the project as a front-end developer. Let me give you some context about how I get into this job.

2 Months training in Software— — Skype call— —Onboard

Only one question he asked me in that 5 minute silent conversation, ‘WHY?’. Project manager said that you are not a Software developer with real skills, What happened?

I was shit scared, this head is an ex-army servant and gradated from a prestegious university. His persoanlity looks very serious, huge fit body with clean shaved head. I never felt he’d even entertain people with indiscipline activities.

I gather all my courage and I chose to be honest whatever It may take in my life. I replied ‘I graduated from Material Science, It was hard to find a job with all the Visa sponsoring. I tried searching for jobs for an year and few months ago I had an option to get trained on few skills that are required to develop software project and that’s how I got into this job. Yes, I dont have the required skills to deliver this project and I was not a right candidate for this company or this industry’

I handed over my badge and I was ……….. by a colleage get out of that building. That’s was the most relaxing moment of my life I ever felt. I don’t need to act like someone who knows everthing but don’t know shit inside. I was literally living a fake life for a couple of weeks since I given that interview to get into that job. Wait, not that just couple of weeks, that whole life the degrees I had earned without understanding any fundamentals of the subject. Only I could talk with myself at the moment with shame, guilt about what I all I did to earn the degrees.

Whatever I did to come to this point were honest. I worked really hard in studying whether its schooling, Bachelors or Masters or finding a job. I worked really hard irrespective of the poor financial, average skills, little family backgroud support and the situations I’m in. I took hundred of people’s guidance to come so far in my life. But I worked hard and made lot of connection on the way. That means I did something worth, all I gotta find it.

10,000 Hours:

I was listening to a pod-cast named ‘Outliers’ that evening walkin in the parking lot. First time I was hearing any pod-cast because the first time in life I felt I was rejected shamelessly. With the guilt I was carrying, I could hard thing of anything except the escaping from the moment. This was the tool I found to escape form the moment ‘Outliers’.

In this 8 hour pod-cast, the author talks about lot of achievers including Business giants, Olympic athletes, Movie stars and many who had mastered the art they are in.

The first time I got introduced to this word, ‘Mastery’. He talks about the different environment factors that really helped those people to achieve the mastery in the art. For example Bill gates getting access to the computer because of his mom, Micheal phelps getting access to Swimming pool and his motivation from disabilities and how his mom supported in his childhood, Business giant who could take early advantage of dot com book living in Silicon valley close to all the great educational institute in the world like Stanford, CalTech.

While I was listening to that pod-cast with all the stories of how they mastered the skill, I was constantly visitng my past where all I did spend my time. For the first 15 years, I was surrounded by my family and 500 people from village who never got a degree except one i.e my father. I was not sure whether I should feel lucky to have a graduated father comparing with my other friends in village or feel unlucky not to be surrounded by wealthy resources family that is well-educated. All I could think of my first 15 years in the green agricultural fields, mango gardens and a peaceful village surrounded by a river. And 10 year education filled with advanced education better than many of my folks Bachelors in Engineering and Masters in USA. Only thing coming on my way of thinking in the last 10 years of education were all did I spend my time, nothing. Just nothing. All I was told to get a job and my primary purpose is to get a job whether I get skills or not but for that degree is the one needed. There are 100 ways to get a degree, I earned it very classically but with no knowledge.

One best conclusion I could think of that day that I had come is wherever the journey has started, whatever the situations brought me here, I’m here now aware of myself either with strengths or weakneses (in earning a living).

Vipasana, 2015:

I could think of one thing very clearly that ‘I was to escape from that place where I got fired from the job’. I had reached Seattle to stay with my dear friend with a plan to stay till I get my next job, so I don’t need to worry of my expenses. After I stayed there for couple of days doing nothing except applying for more jobs, I was also searching for another escaping place for mind. There I was suggested by my friend about this ‘Vipasana Meditation’, where I don’t need to pay for accommodation, food and all but can stay there for minimum 10 days and more than that if I want. I dint have any second thought in that moment.

This phase maybe I’m introduced to a little bit of spirituality to my life, I was well-qualified to think of; a graduate with no job, a shameful rejection from the first job I ever took in my life and best thing is financially broke of thinking of basic survival. Everything looks so ironical and nothing seems in my control.

I had made it to the place within few days which is outskirt of Seattle. That’s it. Mobile got switched off, I was told it’ll be switched for another 10 days throughout the course duration. I was the most happy guy.

During the 10 days, no one was allowed to have any electronic devices, to have eye contact with other meditators, nor allowed to speak to other meditators; however, speaking to the teacher was permitted. One of the best values I learned at this course was discipline. For 10 days, everything followed an organized schedule: meditators woke up at 4 in the morning to start meditation in the hall, 10 minutes of break between every 2 hours of mediation, breakfast from 7–8am, lunch from 12–1pm, dinner from 6–7pm , with bedtime sharply at 9 o’clock. I saw the beauty in its rhythm and inherent inwardness. I loved this 10 day journey and it was one of the best, and most memorable journeys in my life.

After nine days of complete meditation and silence, we were allowed to share our world with other meditators. I was most looking forward to this day and, for a talkative person like myself, I saw this day as a festival. I tried to talk to everyone and I engaged in those conversations with enthusiasm, learning what had brought the other meditators here and what their passions are. I then saw the old man who had meditated next to me, and had a strong urge to talk to him right away. Soon, we were shaking hands and greeting. Without any delay, I started asking him about his experiences during his 80 years of living.

He told me that he was not a firm believer in meditation and all since he had undergone open heart surgery twice but It was the love for his wife that brought him here. But he said he was about to die one day during this course because he forgot to bring his medication to meditation hall, and finally he was able to make it to the room and get medication before he breathed his final breath. He said what helped him to live that day was his belief that he could live without the medication in that moment.

When he mentioned that he is a business school professor, we began speaking about student life and careers. I explained my interest in Entrepreneurship and I asked the man what was his best piece of advice was. His response was applicable to not only my career, but more importantly to my life. After a pause, he replied, “Never regret in life. If you want to do something, just do it and complete it. Excuses like, ‘I don’t have time’ or ‘I would’ve done it if I had the money or resources’ get you nowhere. Never look back on a moment with regret.”

While I was having the deep conversation with that old man, it feels like I’m getting aware of consciousness, least I worry about my past but work with what I got now time, skills, energy.

Into to Entrepreneurship

At last, I could come to a realisation about my life that I had no skill, I had no destination and I’m not passionate of anything in particular but one that’s always running in mind since I visited Silicon valley once after I graduated from Masters. I moved to bay area, California to search for jobs thinking there are more Solar and Semi-conductor companies in that state, so it b easier to find job. In fact I got a job within the first month of I moved there in a Small scale Chinese owned manufacturing company with a decent pay that I can maintain my monthly expenses, $1500/month salary. With the limited time I have on my visa, I need to get sponsored, with the review I got from some of the colleagues, I wont get sponsored well unless I work there for couple of years. I made a conscious choice to leave that job after a month, so that I can focus more time in searching for the jobs, I didn’t know that I took a dumb decision.

I also had choice of searching for the jobs while the basic survival is met. But the opportunity took little longer time than I imagined. Meantime, everything has come to zero, I had to depend on some unknown friends I had met on the journey for food and accommodation, I had to depend on consultants to find me a job because I don’t have the skillset. I was literally depending on everyone to live my life.

While I was attending different meet-ups happening around the city about career, life, music, sports, there I had come across TiE, an Indian Entrepreneurial community helping start-up to grow. Its a place where all the start-up related meet-ups and events happens. I heard of silicon valley with successful companies that rule world but I didn’t know that those giant companies started off like the ones I’m seeing there with one person or one idea.

Speakers are talking about huge range of topics from technology, sales, finances and building teams. I’m liking the environment. I was attending all the free events happening around there. I had to pay for that membership $100 to attend any event free but there is another way I see, being a volunteer. It was also an opportunity to interact with the all the participants of th event while they registering the event. I was just there right at the registration table with a mixed feeling from curiosity and confusion thinking what’s happening around the world. I felt I’m at a right place. I feel really sucured. I feel really safe. I dont know the reason but I feel really confidence of myself in that environment. I was meeting people who left their corporate jobs to work on their idea, people who had already worked on several ideas but failed miserably but went back to their corporate jobs, people who is been really made hell lot of money by selling their previous companies and helping new start-up founders as mentors.

Raj Jaswa, a serial entrepreneur who was heading once a $5B valuation company which went to IPO wanted to give a 12 week course named Entrepreneurship 101. I least bothered about how to register for it, all I can of be the volunteer for that course, be at the registration desk, setting up the mic, making sure everyone gets their course material if there is any. 60 people divided into 10 groups and I jumped into one of the group, al the groups are supposed to build their businesses in 12 weeks while listening to those weekly courses given by Mr. Jaswa.

Maybe he is the great influencer of my life and reason for me to chose Sales as my domain. He was sharing his stories and how Indians are capable of doing great sales and build great businesses. He was sharing the achievements of his leading a Sales teams in the companies he had worked before his entrepreneurial journey. He never talked about any technical knowledge except the people and hwo they behave while buying the product and services. I felt like I’ve already doing that since long time building great relationships with people but never seen it as a career. I was really fascinated about that career, Sales but was told that to apply for sales jobs either I have t be American with great communication and personality or hold a MBA degree. I couldn't land up in a good job with the degrees that I earned and further more degrees? Can’t even imagine.

I finished the 12 week course, end of the course I pulled two of my good friends who just hailed from New York after finishing their graduation to search jobs here in Silicon valley. We formed a team and requested Mr. Jaswa that I’d love to present our business idea. We are so excited and we only got a weeks time to prepare. Me, Pratap, Du Hee presented that idea infront of a big crowd.

People really like it and praised us as it is a great achievement. But what really liked is not the idea, not the business plan but the courage to present an idea with my bits and pieces of english and high energy that I had created in that 10 min presentation.

End of the entrepreneurial story, I got a job in San Diego and left.

When I having he conversation with that old man in that 10 day Meditation course, this is the first thing came in mind when he mentions about ‘Regret In Life’. Immediately after I finished the 10th day, I went back to my friends place in seattle and packed my bags to leave to Silicon valley to attend the TiE conference which happens once in a year. I was longing for that subconsciously but this conversation with the old man awakend my consciousness.

No registration, paying $300 for a day conference is not for me. Tweaked into that conference again as a volunteer with some known friends. It felt like I regained my energy back when I was talking to all the entrepreneurs working on different advanced technologies, yet for simple needs.

There is a Keynote speech by a successful entrepreneur ‘Shahid Khan’. I couldn't believe when he was sharing the story of how he came to US as an immigrant from Pakistan and made it to this stage. He shared it so powerfully as simple is possible to anyone to be great.

My friend and me ran right after he finished the speech and leaving the conference to get a photo with him. That was it. The dreams which looked impossible calls out for a new paradigm.

New desires in life:

I wanted to give such keynote speeches. For that I need to build great business. I need to be on Forbes Magazine. I want to start a business.

I loved my intentions, I loved my clarity, I loved my confidence but life doesn’t seem as beautiful as I dreamed in real. No job. No skill. No money in bank.

Toastmasters:

Anything is possible with Indian Software consultants in US, I got landed in a new job in Dallas, Texas. I understand how to handle this new job with my previous shatterd shameful expereince. I need to stay atleast couple of months to earn some income. After few days, job seems fine. I got few good folks there to help me with the work. There is no worry for couple of months living. I was living close to University of Dallas and exploring different options to learn some new skills. With a friends help I attended a Sales Class without enrolling either to that course or in that institute. The professor seemed really strict and not allowing any students who hasn’t enrolled to that course. I left that option. I see another resource that I can use in that university, a Toastmaster club.

I had come down the stage after pitching our business idea in TiE 12 week-course, a gentleman named Nagesh, had started his IOT start-up right int hat course and had approached me and said ‘Majji, you had lot of energy. why don’t you join Toastmasters, its a platform where you can improve public speaking’. If I hadn’t given that pitch infront of all start-up founders and investors, I’d have gotten a chance to aware of the things I need to improve.

I joined and created a new fraternity of friends from that community. That became a high priority for me whenever I move to a new place, I search toastmasters club first and then find a place to stay nearby. It is community where people help each other for personal growth. While I was working there for 3 months, the most I awaited for every Saturday for the Toastmasters meeting to happen. That was another beginning to nurture a skill that I chose to Invest on.

Web- development Agency:

My next project is in Tampa, Florida. Its one of the best place that I ever experienced while staying in US. Green, warm and beautiful beaches — A best combination I enjoy the most. I joined in a wealth management company as a front web-developer. The way I introduce myself is changed after the last 3 month successful project. Whenever I meet new people in the company or cafeteria, I introduce myself as a web-developer. The best thing in this company is having their own toastmaster club. When I introduced myself as a web-developer, one of the participant in the meeting has approached me and asked if we can build a web-development agency together. I immediately said yes. He introduced me to few other web-developers in that company and brought one sales guy into the team. We all sat together and thought of approaching restaurants in Tampa.

The project manager called me to his cabin and said Venkatesh we don’t have funds to continue this project and we have enough resources, please find another opportunity. It was not new to me, I know that it was because of my poor performance I’m being fired. It happened 6 times in that last 1 year. I started my career as a web developer, it was not either my passion or my dream to become a software developer. Just to stay in US, I picked it up. Soon, realised that I never survived in that environment more than 3 months in any given company in the last 18 months.

Out we-development agency has got on hold.

Breaking the silence:

That evening I felt really lonely and I decided to pack everything and leave to a new city. I rented a car, vacated the place, packed all my clothes into 2 bags and threw in the back of the car, started driving towards an island near Miami, Florida.

Next day evening I was in Miami, I started the job search again, sitting in a coffee shop not to have coffee but to access free internet. I haven’t found a place to stay here yet, clothes everything were there in the car outside the parking lot.

I see two beautiful women, who are in their mid 30’s sitting across my table, I’ve been observing them since couple hours. The curious part of the story is I know what they are discussing about and the sad part is I was not confident enough to approach. It’s already been 2 hours I’ve been fighting with my thoughts, finally I broke the silence; I said “Hi, I can help you on what you were really looking for”. Though they look at me little suspiciously in the beginning, they have told their story and I listened to their requirements. One among them was an author, she wants to have her own website to sell her book.

Deal closed, they paid me $1000 to build their website for my 30 min sales pitch and 1 day job. All I had to build a simple website using an online tool like WIX and it takes half a day to work on.

I immediately found a place to stay in Miami and built a really good website and delivered to them.

Connecting the dots:

A new city, Miami. First thing I have done is finding a toastmasters club. Now its not one club, I’ve been attending 4 different clubs on 4 different days in a week. Second thing I introduce myself as a web-developer and tell I have SME’s build websites for their businesses. Third thing is sales, ask them if they or someone need one.

Toastmasters (Public speaking, Network, Community). Web-development (what I can get paid for). Sales (Ask if they need one for their business).

Job — Its a story a Material Science Engineer who is looking for a Process engineer job in manufacturing company turned out to a Software engineer selling his we-development services to Small Business Owners — Entrepreneurship.

I got few more projects people from Toastmasters club that I recently joined. I felt everything is falling on track until I heard a news from my consulant that my Visa is rejected.

I had only three months left to stay in US legally.

I see two choices with my life, I can go back to school to get on to student visa again or move back to India.

Choice:

Its a choice between fear and courage

Its a choice between amature and expertise

Its a choice between reality and a dream

When I was setting up to come to US, I packed 2 kg’s of rice, pickles enough for couple of months, 10 pairs of cloths, kitchen utensils, winter wear, 3 pairs of shoes, few white notebooks, pack of pens and most importantly 10 underwear's and whatever the things mentioned in the blog ‘What do I need to pack when going to do Master in US university?’, a person who is leterally scared of speaking in English, a person who is amateur to talk to strangers, a person who never had a dream.

Today my personality is different. A personality which challenges the yesteday and fight for the tomorrow. A personality never worried of a place but can survive anywhere in the world. A personality which is driven by fear but now now showing off the courage. What choice I can make.

I had $10,000 student debt that I need to pay to my uncle. I had the skills required to earn income. I had the courage to face any uncertainity. I had a dream to live not to keep dreaming.

Knowing all my strengths, if I die suddenly, would I feel good about it? NO. The easiest option for me to get back to student VISA. I can do it at any time. Living the dream, may be I cant postpone it any further. I made a choice to go back to India with no plan and no money but with $10,000 debt.

Few principles I had set:

I’m not enough — I’m everything

I don’t have skills — I’ll learn whatever if required

What If I fail — What If I don’t try

I don’t know what to do — Do whatever you can, leave the rest

I need financial security — Earn it with patience

I don’t have enough resources — That’s why you got the skills, earn them

I don’t know if I’m right — You don’t make your own conclusion

Building a new personality:

What personality I dreamt of?

He is such an inspiring personality. His communication is great. His actions are bold and he is such a risk taker. He carries integrity and he stand on the promices. He is so committed to achieve his personal excellence. He show-up on time. He is a celebrity. He is a true master of sales. He knows how to build a successful business. He deals with a style. He is a great public speaker. He is a great leader. He is a visionary. He has a powerful mission.

What could be the habits of this personality:

His highest priority is health, he consumes fresh vegetables and meat as necessary. He workout everyday for an hour. He meditates for couple of hours. He create a great community of friends around him. He explores different cultures and accepts different challenges. He is up to date with the industry and invest time in reading business magazines and lot of books. Hi invests his wealth on things that creates a great impact.

What are the possible ways that I can create these habits that help me create good health, wealth and to be leader?

  1. People who can mentor/coach on my personality and business, train on my skills
  2. Community that can support my purpose/cause through resources and infrastructure

Skill I want to master to position myself as an industry expert:

  1. Sales — That bring the revenue
  2. Public speaker — That create a personal brand
  3. Leader — That creates a culture in the work environment

Bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship (Building a Solar Energy Business from ground Zero)

Let the education and work go hand on hand, Educate yourself while creating value; committed to create employment.

Year 1: 360 Days

Idea, Research, Collaborations

Free Marketing and Self Sales Strategies

Customers

Building a team

Year 2: 720 Days

Experts Marketing ans Sales Strategies

Scaling

Customer Service

Involve Technology to build processes Sales, marketing, Operations

Relationship: Insufficient Money, Coach

Year 3: 1080 days

Hiring Experts to handle the teams

Finances, Investors

Survival : No Salary, create you own income, Sabbatical Break

  1. Teaching Sales and Entrepreneurship in B Schools
  2. Writing a book
  3. Sales training classes
  4. Videos, Webinars, Daily talk shows
  5. Business Coaching Bootcamps, Personal coaching

Year 4: 1440 Days

  1. Valuation of business

Graduation: Success of failure; Sell or Survive.

2. Evaluation of personality

Self-introspection: Revisiting the vision, dream, likes, wants, strengths, desires

Masters Degree in Public Speaking.

Majjism

Written by

Majjism

A strong belief creates a movement, It seeds as a thought, speaks to the world, shapes into a story. Its the story of an individual creating his dream universe.

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