After reading the Winds of Change and Stepping Out, you may be asking …”Okay, rapid Change is unnerving and I feel lost; yes, I need to Step Out to Re-skill”

“But where do I start? How do I get more familiar with the Philosophy and Culture that is enveloping us? It is so very different from all that I am used to….I seem to be losing my MOJO”

Yes, you are so right! And you are not alone.

Continuing from my earlier blogs, as an employee or as a student; you don’t need to be an “Entrepreneur” to future proof yourself. It is Entrepreneurialism that is important. The outline below refers to a Startup plan, which is a relateble context. The principles for Stepping Out remain the same even if you are not doing a Startup.

My Startup journey over 5 years had many “discovery” moments. The Startup world is very different…and stark. Understanding Corporatedom takes more than a couple of jobs! The Startup world is unstructured and you may not have a guide or mentor. You can pre-empt many “painful” moments with a Plan. And I can hear some of you snigger...yes, and there will be plenty more!! yes true that!

It is like knowing the rules of soccer - the goalposts, the positions, the offside rules, the payscales, the coaches...; once you know that, you can play "your" game with "your" team! Understanding Entrepreneurialism in today's context is a must to play "your" game!

This Understanding can make it more fun! Here I am keeping it brief… there is so much more. The good news is that all over the world, resources and information are becoming more accessible.

In Planning you may want to consider…

The Why?

Managing Risks & Money

Technology

An Idea & The Team

Ecosystem Understanding

& Attitude

The Why?

This is very crucial. I arrived at my Purpose which is to Simplify and Empower our Lives; after many years of seeking. This purpose has taken many shapes and forms but at some point it crystallises.

Find that cause that you feel strongly about…where you can make a meaningful difference. That Purpose is the wellspring of grit and hunger. When the chips are down, this WHY will help you get out of bed and keep swinging.

As the 11th President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam said "Dream is not that which you see while sleeping, it is something that does not let you sleep"

Do not be running away from a tough manager or job or circumstance. That may give you temporary relief but that won’t last.

Managing Risks & Money

What is your stage of life? What are you responsibilities? Have you just had a child? Is your source of income critical? What is your fall back…your nest egg?

Do not burn any bridges of income till you have made plans and back ups. Plans will go awry, payments will get delayed and costs are bound to balloon. You don’t want to be liquidating your nest egg to pay a vendor.

Only YOU can decide the risks you are willing to take. It is a very personal call.

Technology

Today technology rules. No matter what you build, you will need technology. You must get the basics of hosting, cloud architecture and security. Dive in before you start...many of these courses are free.

You will need to embed technology in your concept, your solution, your customer, your go to market, your sales. Start with a strong CTO in your team.

Idea / Proof of Concept & The Team

Of course you would not start without an Idea, would you? Ideally the Idea should spring from your WHY? Make sure you understand the market, the size and the competition. Choose the team wisely. The team is best made up of members with complementary skillsets, trust and understanding.

Ecosystem Understanding

Dive into the ecosystem by...

Taking up a job in a VC firm or Startup. Ideally choose one that is funded and scaling. I would highly recommend this to all youngsters who are just graduating or doing an Internship. By joining a scaling up Startup, you will be up close with customers and investors, delivering products, designing supply chains; and you can see the impact of your efforts in weeks if not months; and of course you will be vacuuming the floors! Contrast that with crunching numbers for 14 hours in some basement of a large organisation.

Getting perspectives in your city by attending Startup founder meets and Investment Pitch events. Network with Entrepreneurs and Investors.

Reading books, subscribe to Startup journals and listen to podcasts. See Resources at end

Attitude

Not everybody can be a founder…and maybe shouldn't be.

Attitude is key to Entrepreneurialism. The buck will stop with you. You have to be gritty and persevering. It will have its highs and lows.

Be foolish, humble and open. It is okay to make mistakes, okay to fail, okay to admit missteps, okay to pivot. Listen deeply to feedback, each one will help you finetune your story.

Many Attitudes will be shaped during the journey itself. And with each challenge overcome, with each Stepping Out, you will become more comfortable with Uncertainty. You will be more Steady.

And you would have re-claimed your MOJO.

Resources

10 Must Read Books For Every Indian Entrepreneur

0 to 1 by Peter Thiel

The Founders Dilemma by Cray Christensen

The Hard Things about Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

The Upstarts by Brad Stone

Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

Ycombinator has a Start Up school and Online courses;

Podcasts by Andreessen Horowitz and Naval, Neil ...

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