Sunday, May 16, 2010

At Startup Saturday

I recently attended a Startup Saturday session organised by the Head Start Network at SP Jain in Mumbai. The theme of the session was Social Entrepreneurship- a topic which I have gained a lot of interest in off lately (as a result of reading a lot about micro finance and work done by Mohammad Yunis in Bangladesh). The session started off with pitch from a newly started business related to promoting village tourism. It was followed by a showcase of a business which provides the best price for gadgets to clients on demand through various channels like mobile phone messages, twitter and facebook.

Thereafter, there was a talk by Mr. Velumani CEO of Thyrocare on how he started his business and the challenges he faced. His journey from a farmer in a small village in Tamil Nadu to the owners of brand that is worth more than Rs. 500 Cr. was truly inspirational. He was very honest while narrating his experience and he connected well with the audience because of his honesty and sense of humor. A lot of learnings and take aways were there in his talk that lasted for about an hour. This talk was followed by a few more business pitches and an open house for discussion.

For those wanting to start their own businesses and wanting to get a insight into the experiences of some of India's best entrepreneurs, this event is a must attend. I really enjoyed the session and look forward to attending a few more. Keep up the good work Head Start :)

Friday, January 15, 2010

For Those Who Dare To Be Different

These are two inspiring poems I read recently and felt they were worthwhile sharing. I know quite a few may not agree but I fell to live life to the fullest we must follow our dreams even if it means taking a few wrong decisions. making mistakes and being unconventional. It should not happen that we end up regretting missing out on opportunities because we didn't have the courage to be different. Enjoy and feel free to post your views and counter-views !

The Road

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;


Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there,
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference !

- Robert Frost

The Road Revisited

I took the road less traveled then;
the first saved for another day.
Despite my doubts a time came when
I wandered that same path again.
This time, I chose the other way.

The path that I had trod before
could hold no challenge now, for me.
The unknown road was like a door
I’d left unopened, theretofore.
But now, its byways I would see.

My vain predictions proved untrue.
Way led to way; but I’d come back!
You can come home again –- renewed;
wipe clean the ledger’s debts accrued:
Old errors, we can still retract.

Now it’s with joy I sing this song,
and not with sighs about lost dreams.
While sometimes paths we take are wrong,
and journeys back are hard and long,
by second chances, we’re redeemed.

-Jerome Norris