(This was published in the bi monthly newsletter of Electrical Technocrats Association vol 2 issue 14 (16 – 31 Dec 2010)
That was a long break! Hope, you all had a good round of exams! By the time, this article is published, many of the final year students would have got placed through the campus recruitment process. Is it sense to write about entrepreneurship at a time, when almost the entire audience are busy with the placements? Rather than going into any arguments or discussions, I just like to wish the very best from my side to all the students going through the campus recruitment process and hearty congratulations to all who tasted success!
Based on the past trend, I can say, a final year student usually has two choices left. One is to take up a job and the other is to pursue a higher education, either an MBA or MS from abroad and a few pursue courses in the reputed Indian Universities.
At this juncture, I like to touch up on a few ideas to these kinds of people, who like to take up entrepreneurship after a few years down the line.
For those who are taking up job, don’t ever fall for the huge pay slips you will be getting! That is a big demotivator in a sense! Keep dreaming and stand firm with your business idea. Think about your business idea! Learn as much as you can from your job and your organisation. Network with a lot of people! Keep updating your area of interest constantly. Try to be a part of the various organisations supporting entrepreneurship. Nowadays, there are lot of online forums as well, that are encouraging entrepreneurship. Plan carefully about your progress! More importantly, ensure you have the courage to quit your job. Mind you, in entrepreneurship, you won’t be able to get a fat pay slip every month, you may have to face a tough time! But, all these are only for a few moments! Once you cross the threshold, you are the king! You are your own boss!
For those who are pursuing higher education, it is a good platform to hone your skills! If you are doing M.Tech or M.S. and planning to start your business in your core field, it is a golden opportunity for you! You have great professors, excellent infrastructure and a great environment to build on. You may also find your team to start your business!
If you are pursuing an MBA, first please understand, just being an MBA from ANY REPUTED business school will not make you a successful businessman. They teach you to be a successful manager and not a businessman. But, if you have the mentality of pursuing entrepreneurship, right from the beginning and approach your lessons, classes, towards that, then it is a huge platform for success! Again you can get the support of your institute and staff! And again you will have decision to make, whether to take up placements now and pursue entrepreneurship after a few years! The choice is left to you. However, think of the much bigger payslips (many times bigger than what you would have got after a B.E. or M.S. or M. Tech!). You should have the courage to shun them! It is all about your passion and dream!
Apart from these, the points said to those who are taking up a job, applies to you too!
Come what may, when you follow your heart to take up your dreams, victory is rushing towards you from nowhere!
A very happy New Year to you!
The author is the Founder & C.E.O. of Ulaginoli Energy Solutions and can be reached at boniface@ulaginoli.com or +91 9884342050
