I didn\u2019t always know what I wanted to do but I knew exactly what I didn\u2019t want to do!<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t want to be just another extension number in a big fancy office, didn\u2019t want to\u00a0sign a muster at 8:59am, or carry an Id card around my neck to go to work every single\u00a0day.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t get me wrong, I have loved all my jobs considering that most of my career I have\u00a0worked for wine companies that were very cool to be a part of and through working for\u00a0them I realized that wine for me is where home is!<\/p>\n
I fell in love with wine.<\/p>\n
The idea that the reason that someone out there is drinking and enjoying wine is because\u00a0I played some part in getting that wine to them or introducing that wine or wine style\u00a0to them gives me a big high. I always wondered how many people across India were\u00a0drinking wine on a Saturday night that I helped push down the supply chain.<\/p>\n
The more I got involved in wine the more I more wanted to learn about wine. I also\u00a0developed a serious passion for talking about wine and I derived tremendous joy from\u00a0turning people onto wine. I soon realized that this was my mission in life – to take\u00a0consumption of wine in India to world class standards. I wasn\u2019t about to go save the\u00a0world but I definitely wanted to make it more pleasurable via what we drink and what we\u00a0eat. Sounds corny, it is but who cares.<\/p>\n
But this is all a dream that is far from reality and let me tell you the process of getting\u00a0people onto wine isn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n
Starting your own business can be one of life\u2019s most fulfilling experiences but it\u2019s also a\u00a0motherf^%f*%^ker. Be prepared for one hell of a rollercoaster ride.<\/p>\n
I have worked for other people for over 12 years but always dreamt of starting something\u00a0that was my own. Most people dream, you just have to get serious about what you want\u00a0to do and go about doing it. Leave aside fears, your business may not succeed but at least\u00a0you gave it a shot. You wont go through life thinking \u2018what if\u2019 ? And if you give it all\u00a0that you have plus more you will succeed.<\/p>\n
Success comes in a simple formula – hard work x time = Ferrari or Louis\u00a0Vuitton ,whatever tickles your fancy !<\/p>\n
Each and every one of us in our own way is qualified to be an entrepreneur; you just need\u00a0to have an idea and an excellent execution plan.<\/p>\n
Most people already know what they want to do but for some reason, social, financial,\u00a0spousal etc they don\u2019t take the plunge; they don\u2019t give in to doing what their heart\u00a0desires.<\/p>\n
So I guess my first piece of advice is to listen to that voice inside you that keeps telling\u00a0you maybe I want to be starting a photography business instead on this job that does not\u00a0interest me.<\/p>\n
Make a document, your venture bible of sorts of all the people who can help you,\u00a0clients you know off, clients people you know may know off, your assets, costs and an\u00a0estimation for when you think you will break even.<\/p>\n
Think think think , network network network, get your brand name ready, logo designed\u00a0and your website up and running and your brochures printed for each and every meeting.\u00a0Depending on the type of business your in and sales projected get your sales tax number\/\u00a0service tax number etc.<\/p>\n
Take a business loan if required but before you go to a bank for a loan have a clear\u00a0strategy in mind. You must convince them that not only is your plan fantastic and your\u00a0product saleable but you yourself need to inspire confidence, you need to sell your\u00a0concept to a banks loan manager who will not have as much knowledge as you do about\u00a0your product and its market neither the passion you have.<\/p>\n
Find out everything about market dynamics, who the major buyers are, what are the\u00a0buying, what influences their buying decisions. Who they currently are buying from, who\u00a0your competitors and at what price or what quality are their products or services.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell research and then top it off with some more research. You must know\u00a0everything there is to know about your market place.<\/p>\n
For me it\u2019s wine. For you it may be medicine, banking, fashion, sports, advertising,\u00a0movie making, jewelry designing, hospitality, web design, or diversifying the family\u00a0business… whatever it may be…! The world is your oyster !<\/p>\n
You gotta do your own thing, love what you do, and wake up wanting to get to work\u00a0every morning!<\/p>\n
Nikhil Agarwal,\u00a0Sommelier and Director at All Things Nice \u2013 www.allthingnice.in<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I didn\u2019t always know what I wanted to do but I knew exactly what I didn\u2019t want to do! I didn\u2019t want to be just another extension number in a big fancy office, didn\u2019t want to\u00a0sign a muster at 8:59am, or carry an Id card around my neck to go to work every single\u00a0day. Don\u2019t … Continue reading Article by Nikhil Agarwal for Yuva Magazine<\/span>