During the pandemic, many employed people have started some business. In most cases, it is some form of trading or making some food products. I think that is not the right way of starting any business.
All the great artists have apprenticed under their masters for years. They spend that time learning the craft. After they have fully internalized the learnings, they experiment and create something completely different. What works for these artists also works for all of us. But, not many of us are ready to apprentice.
The real goal of an apprenticeship is not money and fame. It is the transformation of mind and character. I have seen many Marwari Businessmen successfully use it. At a young age, the kids start working in some established business. They learn the tricks of the trade and then venture out on their own. In most of these instances, the environment in which they work is challenging. It is a critical aspect of learning and growth. They pick challenges that toughen and improve them instead of comfortable ones.
Metrics:
So, here are the three main steps in our entrepreneurial journey:
When we venture on our own, we are under the impression that the world was waiting for our arrival. We want to get attention, impress people, and prove ourselves. It is the biggest mistake. These thoughts shift our focus from observing others and learning from them. The first step while starting a new business is observing others.
The observation is a passive stage in our entrepreneurial journey. It helps us to identify our skill gaps. At this stage, we should plan and focus on one skill at a time instead of multitasking. People make the mistake of trying to innovate and create something unique in the first pass. It is critical to understand the existing products and processes. It is not an exciting phase of life. Unless we accept this reality, we are constantly distracted and keep looking for shortcuts. In this stage, the focus is on adhering to the protocols and working on-field.
The last part of the process is the creative phase. In this stage, we take the skills and apply them in different situations. It is also the time to break the rules and create something different.
Finally, here is a checklist to guide us on whether we are on the right path in our transition from an employee to an entrepreneur.
a) Are we valuing learning over money?
b) Are we meeting people from our chosen field as well as allied fields to expand our horizon?
c) Are we reminding ourselves that we don't know everything about the subject and need to learn more?
d) Are we in this business for the long-term?
e) Are we really focusing on our weaknesses and working on improving those areas? That's where real learning is.
f) Are we thinking beyond recipes and tools?
g) Are we actively experimenting and internalizing the learnings from it?
The answer to all these questions should be YES.
Subodh
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