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Saurabh Kathuria |
AK: Tell us something about yourself with a brief background.
SK: Well, I am a Delhite! Someone who loves the winters and street food of Delhi. I did graduation in commerce from Delhi University and post graduation from IIFT. I have been in the learning and development industry for more than 13 years now. Worked with Sify, Symantec, Accenture Management Consulting before starting my venture about 3 years ago.
AK: How has the journey been so far for you as an entrepreneur?
SK: It has been like a dream come true. As ‘work’ forms a major part of our day-to-day life. If you love what you do then life is truly good. It is like turning your passion into your profession.
AK: Did you face any challenges while starting as an entrepreneur in the learning domain?
SK: Lot of challenges especially in the first six months to an year. This time is when you are most vulnerable – Leaving your high pay package and then landing into a completely uncertain world is very difficult.
Overcoming the fear of loosing the fixed income (Job Security!) is the biggest challenge. Thoughts of my colleagues will progress in their carrier and I leave fall behind is also one of the roadblocks..
However, if you plan your move as an entrepreneur, save money to survive for the first year, build your network of like-minded people who also want to work with you. Then, it is less difficult.
From a mindset perspective, think that all your colleagues will keep doing what their boss asks them to do. Yes, they will get a decent lifestyle – But do they have opportunity to make it BIG! No you have it! You don’t depend on yearly performance appraisals or have to worry 50% of the time that whether your boss is happy with you or not and whether I will get promotion or not.
AK: Tell us something about your family background like are you married and have kids. What was your family’s first reaction when you told them that I want to be an entrepreneur? Did you have any one in your family who was an entrepreneur that you want to share?
SK: I am married, my wife Deepa works as a R&D Manager in a leading chemical company and I am father of a 4 year old boy Arsh.My family reaction was mixed :) My father never wanted me to leave my job and start as an entrepreneur. As per him, I had a secure job, decent salary package, I get off on weekends, travel globally for work. Why on earth I need to leave my job!!My father is also into business but like most of people in his generation have worked very hard but their majority time went into managing their enterprise. This was the time when no MNC’s were in India and you either do a government job or run your small family business.
AK: As an entrepreneur, does family play any role to start any new venture?
SK: Family is a big support system. I don’t think I would have left my job if Deepa had not supported me. She was working so we had one source of income so I decided to take the plunge and see how it goes.
AK: Do you have any role model whom you admired before starting to become an entrepreneur?
SK: As I wanted to make a great company, instead of a ‘human’ role model, I have these companies as my role model:
AK: What are the key strategies you used during the initial phases of becoming an entrepreneur in the learning domain?
SK: I published a linkedin post on this https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-experiences-while-bootstrapping-startup-india-saurabh-kathuria?trk=pulse_spock-articles
AK: What is the source of motivation for fighting frustration of self-working?
SK: Consider it as a phase and trust that it will get over. Watch success stories of people (loads of them available on TED and YouTube) if they can make it BIG …so can I
AK: What are three success sutras you want to give as a piece of advice to the people who are just starting out as an entrepreneur in the learning domain?
SK: I am no expert in giving success sutras. Just sharing my thoughts: Don’t think too much and take the plunge – Before starting my venture, I was majorly part of offshore delivery team with minimal experience in business development. I trusted myself that I know the work so I would be able to sell it. When you think of starting up there may be some gaps (lack of capital, lack of resources). Trust yourself and take the plunge. As the days will progress, you will be able to fill the gaps.Confront the brutal facts of reality and have faith that will be sail through – Prepare yourself that the initial journey will be very difficult and you will come out of it. Be positive and read books as much as you can – books are your best friend, reading of the books will increase your knowledge, self confidence, and make you better prepared.
AK: Have you ever thought of quitting and going back to joining an organization?
SK: Yes, initially I did! But very soon I realized that starting as an entrepreneur is an evolutionary process, things won’t be easy, as the days passed you will start getting the confidence. You can check this linkedin post of challenges you face as you start as an entrepreneur: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-we-decided-quit-job-start-our-company-indiasome-initial-saurabh?trk=pulse_spock-articles
AK: Have you had sleepless nights fearing failure?
SK: Yes absolutely! But the fear drives you to do your best. It ensures that you are not complacent! So I would say that the fear is good.
AK: Would you happily start any other venture if given a chance?
SK: We are investing and partnering in two startups that offer complimentary services and will help us deliver end-to-end solutions.
AK: Have you faced awkward questions while hiring staff?
SK: Yes, when you can afford a modern office and people don’t know your company. While hiring you will face tough questions.
AK: Would you like to share some tips with the budding entrepreneurs?
SK:
#1 – Don’t compromise on the quality of people – Even if one good resource is double the cost of two mediocre resources. Hire the good resource!
#2 – Plan your financials to the core – Cut all unnecessary expenses even if you’re doing good. Be prepared the payments from the client can get delayed. Build a cash cushion.
#3 – Good project delivery is the best SALES you can do.
SK: Well, I am a Delhite! Someone who loves the winters and street food of Delhi. I did graduation in commerce from Delhi University and post graduation from IIFT. I have been in the learning and development industry for more than 13 years now. Worked with Sify, Symantec, Accenture Management Consulting before starting my venture about 3 years ago.
AK: How has the journey been so far for you as an entrepreneur?
SK: It has been like a dream come true. As ‘work’ forms a major part of our day-to-day life. If you love what you do then life is truly good. It is like turning your passion into your profession.
AK: Did you face any challenges while starting as an entrepreneur in the learning domain?
SK: Lot of challenges especially in the first six months to an year. This time is when you are most vulnerable – Leaving your high pay package and then landing into a completely uncertain world is very difficult.
Overcoming the fear of loosing the fixed income (Job Security!) is the biggest challenge. Thoughts of my colleagues will progress in their carrier and I leave fall behind is also one of the roadblocks..
However, if you plan your move as an entrepreneur, save money to survive for the first year, build your network of like-minded people who also want to work with you. Then, it is less difficult.
From a mindset perspective, think that all your colleagues will keep doing what their boss asks them to do. Yes, they will get a decent lifestyle – But do they have opportunity to make it BIG! No you have it! You don’t depend on yearly performance appraisals or have to worry 50% of the time that whether your boss is happy with you or not and whether I will get promotion or not.
AK: Tell us something about your family background like are you married and have kids. What was your family’s first reaction when you told them that I want to be an entrepreneur? Did you have any one in your family who was an entrepreneur that you want to share?
SK: I am married, my wife Deepa works as a R&D Manager in a leading chemical company and I am father of a 4 year old boy Arsh.My family reaction was mixed :) My father never wanted me to leave my job and start as an entrepreneur. As per him, I had a secure job, decent salary package, I get off on weekends, travel globally for work. Why on earth I need to leave my job!!My father is also into business but like most of people in his generation have worked very hard but their majority time went into managing their enterprise. This was the time when no MNC’s were in India and you either do a government job or run your small family business.
AK: As an entrepreneur, does family play any role to start any new venture?
SK: Family is a big support system. I don’t think I would have left my job if Deepa had not supported me. She was working so we had one source of income so I decided to take the plunge and see how it goes.
AK: Do you have any role model whom you admired before starting to become an entrepreneur?
SK: As I wanted to make a great company, instead of a ‘human’ role model, I have these companies as my role model:
- Apple for the innovate products they make
- Microsoft for the way they made a near monopoly in the software market
- Amazon for their focus on customers
- Tata – You think of Tata and it resembles Trust
- Walmart – for their supremacy in the supply chain area
AK: What are the key strategies you used during the initial phases of becoming an entrepreneur in the learning domain?
SK: I published a linkedin post on this https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-experiences-while-bootstrapping-startup-india-saurabh-kathuria?trk=pulse_spock-articles
AK: What is the source of motivation for fighting frustration of self-working?
SK: Consider it as a phase and trust that it will get over. Watch success stories of people (loads of them available on TED and YouTube) if they can make it BIG …so can I
AK: What are three success sutras you want to give as a piece of advice to the people who are just starting out as an entrepreneur in the learning domain?
SK: I am no expert in giving success sutras. Just sharing my thoughts: Don’t think too much and take the plunge – Before starting my venture, I was majorly part of offshore delivery team with minimal experience in business development. I trusted myself that I know the work so I would be able to sell it. When you think of starting up there may be some gaps (lack of capital, lack of resources). Trust yourself and take the plunge. As the days will progress, you will be able to fill the gaps.Confront the brutal facts of reality and have faith that will be sail through – Prepare yourself that the initial journey will be very difficult and you will come out of it. Be positive and read books as much as you can – books are your best friend, reading of the books will increase your knowledge, self confidence, and make you better prepared.
AK: Have you ever thought of quitting and going back to joining an organization?
SK: Yes, initially I did! But very soon I realized that starting as an entrepreneur is an evolutionary process, things won’t be easy, as the days passed you will start getting the confidence. You can check this linkedin post of challenges you face as you start as an entrepreneur: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-we-decided-quit-job-start-our-company-indiasome-initial-saurabh?trk=pulse_spock-articles
AK: Have you had sleepless nights fearing failure?
SK: Yes absolutely! But the fear drives you to do your best. It ensures that you are not complacent! So I would say that the fear is good.
AK: Would you happily start any other venture if given a chance?
SK: We are investing and partnering in two startups that offer complimentary services and will help us deliver end-to-end solutions.
AK: Have you faced awkward questions while hiring staff?
SK: Yes, when you can afford a modern office and people don’t know your company. While hiring you will face tough questions.
AK: Would you like to share some tips with the budding entrepreneurs?
SK:
#1 – Don’t compromise on the quality of people – Even if one good resource is double the cost of two mediocre resources. Hire the good resource!
#2 – Plan your financials to the core – Cut all unnecessary expenses even if you’re doing good. Be prepared the payments from the client can get delayed. Build a cash cushion.
#3 – Good project delivery is the best SALES you can do.
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