Start Now & Build The Experience You Always Wanted!
18 months ago I launched Tenicity (www.tenicity.com) which is a tech-driven new company with a robust web and mobile platform developed to support tennis programs. I knew that I had to take over all aspects of the company, including being the product owner and managing the technology platform and operations (my partner had been leading the technology piece during development phase, but was unable to continue after launch). Did I have the technical experience to be a software product owner and lead technology operations? Not quite. However, I didn’t let that stop me. In fact, passion for the problem, deep expertise in tennis, and a willingness to learn and gain experience in the areas I needed to grow in, were more important than domain experience in technology. The latter can be filled with the right people on your team, but passion, vision, and perseverance cannot.
18 months later, I now have gained valuable knowledge and experience in developing a web and mobile app, managing the technology roadmap, and managing on-shore and offshore technical personnel. Have I made mistakes, do I wish I had done things differently, do I continue to make mistakes? Yes, absolutely. But I wouldn’t have known unless I started on this journey. So the key point is this: don’t let your lack of experience in one area stop you from going after your passion or your idea of how you can impact and drive positive change.
In my case, I was able to leverage my experiences in my tennis career as a player and coach, as well as an MBA student to start a new company and gain customers. Therefore, broaden your perspective when it comes to experience — you’ll be surprised how an experience you’ve had in a seemingly unconnected space impacts how you understand and solve problems in another space. Also, not all experience is good experience. So don’t be afraid or concerned about another candidate in a job interview who has more years of experience than you. I’d much rather work with someone who’s skill set is current, has fresh ideas and works well in a team, rather that someone who has many years of experience, but doesn’t possess the above mentioned qualities.
Also, think of starting a new company — it’s an accelerated way to gain experience in an area you are passionate about. Another alternative is to reach out to entrepreneurs and small businesses and volunteer a few hours of your week to help them with a project. Working with these folks over a period of time will help you gain valuable experience that can translate to a new job that you always wanted. In addition, many schools offer programs with experiential learning components where you can apply classroom principles to real-world projects.
Lastly, through Tenicity, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and gain mentors who are leaders in their field. The advice I have received has helped me to develop the right kind of experience, which is invaluable. All of this again would not have become a reality, if I was not willing to start.
In conclusion, draw on your life experiences and have the courage to step forward in a new direction with passion. In time, you will gain valuable experience through your work and through the people you meet. Remember, experience is a dynamic phenomenon which enables you to tap into your past, and start today to change your future!
All the best!
Harsh Mankad
