29-04-2024
On the paradox of choosing entrepreneur role models…
by Rajesh Nair
”Entrepreneurship is a passion. Like great works of art, music or even writing, they are born of enormous sacrifice. Sometimes there are rewards at the end of the tunnel, very often there are none. True entrepreneurs will pursue their dreams regardless.
It is great continuous journey with several pockets of turbulence. Learn from what you see around you but embark on the quest with not just energy and self-confidence but also restlessness and the ability to take risks.”
In every recent survey on entrepreneurship, Steve Jobs has figured high on the list of best entrepreneurs ever. A Hollywoodesque story line that could be the envy of every script writer, the Steve Jobs story is that of miracles. But there is significant caution one may need to exercise when we learn from such experiences. Here are a few experiences which the young budding entrepreneur needs to be cautious about …
The school dropout success story: – It sounds exhilarating and at times romantic to hear that Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and another handful of successful businessmen were school dropouts! At times the young entrepreneur wears it like a medal and uses it like a shield for falling grades. The reality is – we need structured environments to learn, reflect and mature. It is very difficult to learn life and business on your own. A well-grounded schooling and even a business qualification is not a chink in armour but an important color on your shoulder!
Great businesses have come out of serendipity: - The word ‘serendipity’ is defined by the English dictionary as ‘anaptitudeformakingdesirablediscoveriesbyaccident. It is as they say – by accident. We cannot plan for accidents. The regular mind needs to cross B, C and D to go from A to E. And there is no shame in doing things to a plan. It is perhaps a plan that takes you somewhere close to what you would call success!
There is no entrepreneurship panacea: - It is interesting to read stories of great businessmen and their travails and tribulations. There is immense learning in the ‘My story’ session of every entrepreneur. The failures are equally important stories, as is that of success. But you can never ‘copy paste’ those experiences and follow them prescriptively. While you can learn the alphabets and grammar of entrepreneurship from these stories, you need to write your prose and script your journey.
Every story will have a silver lining :-For very successful entrepreneur there are hundreds who have failed. They are not always people who know how to balance work, leisure and family. Entrepreneurship is a passion. Like great works of art, music or even writing, they are born of enormous sacrifice. Sometimes there are rewards at the end of the tunnel, very often there are none. True entrepreneurs will pursue their dreams regardless.
It is great continuous journey with several pockets of turbulence.Learn from what you see around you but embark on the quest with not just energy and self-confidence but also restlessness and the ability to take risks.
