What brought about three and half years and more...

Venturing into the world of start ups in 2016 was not a simple decision. I did not venture into it lightly, but even for one as prepared as me, it has been a path of discovery across many levels — about myself, about friends, about investors and money, about family, about life! No, I am not making it glorious, just real

With these blogs, I hope to think through and cement nuances for myself and for the many who contemplate with each passing day about choosing a different path. There is no “one way”. Make your own rules and be proud of whatever the outcome! This journey till now is as much a celebration and it has been a wringer and a roller coaster.

There are many aspects that I intend to write about…about start ups and misunderstood entrepreneurs, the Bay Area as a start up ecosystem, role of technology, a founder’s personal journey, creation especially a 0–1 start up?And much more.

Of course much of this is passé in a mature start up ecosystem. We, in this part of the world have much to understand.

This blog is about how I started.

Life in a start-up

It is 630 pm, just finished my meeting and am at a EV charging station at Milpitas. I haven’t booked a place to stay for this night…my one piece of luggage is in the back seat. I open the Airbnb app. Normally prefer staying in the familiar Santa Clara area or Palo Alto area…but have only 15 miles on my electric car and won’t be able to make it there. Charging will take about 2 and half hours. So best to find an Airbnb near Fremont for the night!

I decide to stay in the car for a few hours and charge when working on some presentation decks. En route to the Airbnb, I stop by a 7 Eleven to pick up a salad.

The past 5 months has been out of a midsize travel case with 3 changes of clothes. Living has been whiz of Airbnbs and coffee places — ideally an overlap of wifi, quiet meeting places and fast food! Didn’t expect to be away from Singapore and family so long! What was to be a quick “look see” of the Bay Area vibe turned out to be 4 months!

How unpredictable and uncertain every aspect has been! Planning a week ahead is a luxury!

Life was Easy and Predictable

There was a time when I could plan the summer holiday for next year! All predictable and comfortable.

Life was easy..and steady…

• Working wife, kids in school, all happy

• The weekend parties, the wine and cheese evenings, the “tash” and “diwali” and “new year” dos

• The holidays, the parents and relatives and friends visiting

Shall we get a dog…which we did! After writing to breeders and waiting for 2 years!!!

Shall we go to Koh Samui or ski in Hokkaido!

My job was good and brought in good money. The bonuses and appraisals provide more than enough incentives for the next year !

Life was so good. So much to be grateful for and thank for.

Yet, something keeps nagging, always…so you get your tennis twice a week, you become a great cook, you become a barista, you learn all about wine,…you go trekking in the Himalayas…practice yoga everyday … but the feeling stays.

The Nudge

Then comes the nudge, one defining moment — it could be a reorg, a setback of sorts, a twist in your orderly life, a curved ball. The nudge came my way too. Each of us react to the nudge differently.

In my case, I said “Darn, I better figure out what I am going to do the rest of my 20 to 30 years!”

“I better figure out how I can be financially free to chase my dreams …to have all the freedom to enjoy what I love doing”

I start preparing.

Perspective is everything!

Breaking away from the set of worn-out conversations with a same set of friends and colleagues, I engaged in a spectrum of more than 200 random conversations — friends, entrepreneurs, successes, failures, batch mates…across geographies! These provided a context about where markets and people are headed, about disruptions and digital transformations, about technology about the new generation. About life!

And I had the full support of Landmark Education…having attended several programs over two years. The system helped set me up nicely and powerfully for my next phase.

I understood myself better and understood where I wanted to be. I understood what skill sets were valued for the next decade and how I needed to prepare for my next phase!

Professionally, yes, I figured that I wanted to empower business growths with a tool kit consisting of DATA, CLOUD and Mobile.

I was prepared, or so I thought!

My reaction, becoming an entrepreneur

So after almost 25 years of a rewarding corporate career, predictable and comfortable personal and family life; armed with the insights gathered as above, I set about acting on the “nudge”!

Beginning 2016, I started my journey with three start ups, not one not two!

One of them, the SaaS platform is showing great promise. The platform across BETA, Proof of concept and Proof of value across geographies, has resonated across businesses. In building and scaling the SaaS platform, have seen upclose the start up ecosystem across continents. Professionally, I have reinvented myself and for that am very grateful.

But that is not the focus of this write up.

Now you know how I reacted to my nudge.

Looking back, though it is trying, niggling, tough in all visceral senses; these have been my most challenging and empowering years. I would not trade these for any manner else. Yes, one succeeds and fails, one makes mistakes; one has great support; but eventually one gets great understanding.

What can you do when Nudged!

The biggest message I have for reactionaries to the nudge, tread carefully. I have seen many reactions to the nudge…

• Some have a great idea and are waiting for the right moment to launch it, the nudge sets them free

• Some have reacted adversely to a job situation, and decided that it is best not to be part of an organization

• Some are running away from being managed and directed, to have the freedom

• Some weigh the risks and decide to dig in and bear it up

None of these are right or wrong, whatever the outcome: success or failure, heroism or banal, happiness or otherwise. It is just a choice each one makes and it is just that.

However, if you are thinking of a starting off, be real. Though circumstances like age and background don’t matter, it is not easy. It is a long haul, sometimes very long. Do not take this lightly.

• Weigh your responsibilities and deliberate with the set of “caring” folk

• Get a set of co-founders and advisors; access your network extensively

• Talk to as many connects who have walked the path

• Take all precautions and minimise risks

• Corporate success doesn’t mean anything

• Tee up your finances, assume worst case scenarios

• Always be real and keep an ear to the ground; humble and flexible, yet dogged

Be sure that all your comfort zones will be thrown to the winds. But therein lies the sauce. If that sauce excites you, empowers you; you are probably okay taking the road less travelled, than not having stepped out at all!

So my simple take is if you have dreams about taking a different path, recognise the Nudge and know that now is your time for a decision!

And act on it the best manner YOU think fit!