Paving the Path: A Childhood Lesson in Entrepreneurship and Coaching
I was born and raised in a Sindhi family, and my father was an 8th-grade dropout. He did not pursue formal education but ventured into starting his own business. I have vivid memories of my childhood, sitting on the floor in his retail shop where he sold video games, car stereos, and other electrical accessories. As he attended to customers, I played video games like Contra, Mario, Pac-Man, etc. Sometimes, Dad would ask me to demonstrate these games to prospective customers who walked in. He encouraged me to communicate with people at a very young age, this instilled in me a profound sense of confidence and honed my communication skills from an early age. It serves as a testament to the transformative power of seemingly simple childhood moments, shaping me into both a successful entrepreneur and a proficient business coach.
Ventures & Lessons: My Path from Entrepreneurship to
Coaching
As I approached the final phase of my college,
the entrepreneurial bug bit me, and I ventured into the business world. In the
same year, I started a coffee shop. Shortly after, with my wife, we founded
Dreamcraft Events, a corporate events company.
The year 2010 marked significant
expansion as we delved into project management, assisting a London-based bank
in onboarding call centers across India and Africa. Our responsibilities
extended to addressing concerns, implementing market-based strategies, and
conducting backend quality checks and operations for the bank.
In that same year, 2010, I invested in
the recruitment sector. The goal was to leverage the existing infrastructure
and team to build a successful recruitment business from the ground up.
However, this period from 2006 to 2016 didn't bring significant financial
gains. I lived a hand-to-mouth lifestyle, relying on pocket expenses from the
businesses and without a stable salary for myself.
The year 2012 brought challenges as a
crisis hit our lives. Both the recruitment and BPO businesses faced pressures
due to a client defaulting on payments. We borrowed money and heavily invested
in infrastructure, technology, and human resources for the BPO services. By
December 2012, we encountered a loss of ₹70,00,000 and ₹45,00,000 in debt,
leading to two years of intense personal struggle marked by toxic thoughts and
frustration.
In 2014, I embarked on a learning
journey, recognizing the need to understand the intricacies of building a
successful business. Over 14 months, from October 2014 to November 2015, I
interviewed 300 business leaders across India, distilling their insights into
patterns. This effort culminated in the publication of my book titled
"Lead or Bleed" in February 2016.
The turning point came with the launch
of my signature program, the Business P.A.C.E Program, in April 2016. This
three-day workshop aimed at teaching entrepreneurs a management system to scale
up their businesses. From there, I transitioned into offering one-on-one
coaching services to MSME business owners, eventually building a coaching team.
As of now, we have a 125-member team, which I believe is the largest team of
full-time business coaches in the world.
In 2018, I diversified by investing in
a sports team, Karnataka Warriors, comprising Kannada film stars competing in
the Celebrity Badminton League. Dreamcatcher Investments, initiated in 2017, became
a vehicle to invest in startups with scaling potential. Although some angel
rounds faced challenges, we experienced success with an exit in the logistics
business, which grew from a 20-member team to a 2000-member team.
In 2021, I exited my equity from the
logistics business through Dreamcraft Investments. Subsequently, I joined
Zoozle as a Director for Strategy and Business Growth. Zoozle operates as an
e-commerce platform, facilitating manufacturers and wholesalers in appointing
micro distributors.
Currently, I am involved in multiple
endeavors, serving as a director for Zoozle, building Quantum Leap, Dreamcraft
Events, and QL One, an MSME platform launched in 2023. This platform aims to
provide comprehensive support and resources to micro, small, and medium
enterprises. The journey from 2006 to now has been a rollercoaster of
experiences, challenges, and growth, with each phase contributing to the
multifaceted entrepreneur I am today.
Unveiling the Power of Lifelong Learning
One fundamental principle
that has guided me throughout my journey is the commitment to being a lifelong
learner. I firmly believe that the state of your business and your life,
mirrors your attitude, skills, and knowledge. So, the more you invest in
improving yourself—whether it’s your mindset, your skills, or your
understanding—the more your business and life will naturally flourish. Lifelong
learning is like the engine that propels continuous growth.
When I started my
business, I had the passion, but I did not have the learning! I failed and
learned from my failures, but I also needed to learn from the experiences of
people who have already made it; hence, my Lead or Bleed journey, which started
as a learning exercise but eventually turned into a business win!
Keys
to Success and Growth
Authenticity and integrity are
non-negotiable for me. These are two things that every individual should strive
to inculcate in their lives.
I firmly adhere to the principle
that whatever I do must be rooted in authenticity and integrity. I won’t
undertake something merely for personal gain or to project a certain image. At
the end of the day, I want to be able to answer to my own conscience and go to
bed with a peaceful mind. When faced with decisions, I ask myself if it aligns
with my values and if it allows me to sleep peacefully. If the answer is no, no
matter how tempting the option might be, I choose the path that maintains my
authenticity and integrity.
That’s my advice to the people out there: Be authentic and have integrity, no matter
what!
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