What makes an Entrepreneur?

Hey guys,
It's been an amazing festive season here in Kolkata, India. Durga Puja was celebrated all over the city and was a huge hit. Moreover, we have entered in the final phase of our course at IIPM, Trimester IV is what they call and the placements season begins right now. Most of the students are sitting for placements from various B Schools all over, but a handful of rare species who are "starting up", this one is for them.

People ask me, Akash makes an entrepreneur? Do they havta be MBAs? How new is this concept? Let me try and give my opinions on this:

What makes an Entrepreneur?

1. Who you are?
2. What do you know?
3. Whom do you know?

These 3 questions decide the fate on an entrepreneur. We don't look like aliens, we have the same mind, but all we care for is CASH! Remember, 

         "Profits are for accountants, Entrepreneurs love cash " 

It is the jest to create something out of nothing and make good money from it.

Well we know a lot of stuff, eyes and ears should always be open, the urge to discover and find out whats on has to be there all the time, because opportunities is always there, but we miss out on them frequently.

Whom do you know is about NETWORKING, meeting the right people, for the right reasons. They are found in popular clubs, social gatherings, cousin's weddings, uncle's anniversary party, college professors, everywhere. It is really important to know them and make them know about you.

MBAs and entrepreneurs don't think the same but their results are same, so all my friends who have done MBA and are about to "startup", please don't forget to unlearn some classroom lessons before you hit the boardrooms.

Cheers,

Akash Poddar

Overcome failures Lincoln Style

Hey guys,

       We all face hurdles in our lives, every succesful person has faced problems. In certain multinational companies, they dont promote you to a certain position unless you have had certain failures in life, one of my all time favourite example is Abraham Lincoln who became the 16th President of USA after the following hurdles/failures.

• He had to work to support his family after they were forced out of their home.--1816
• His mother died--------------------------------------1818
• Failed in business. --------------------------1831
• Was defeated for legislature. -----------------------1832
• Lost his job and couldn't get into law school. -------1832
• Declared bankruptcy, and spent the next 17 years of his life paying off the money 
• he borrowed from friends to start his business. ---------1833
• Was defeated for legislature again. ------------------1834
• Was engaged to be married, but his sweetheart died and his heart was broken. ----1835
• Had a nervous breakdown and spent the next six months in bed. ------------1836
• Was defeated in becoming the speaker of the state legislature. ------------1838
• Was defeated in becoming elector. ------------------1840
• Was defeated for Congress -------------1843
• Was defeated for Congress. ----------------1846
• Was defeated for Congress again. -------1848
• Was rejected for the job of Land Officer in his home state.------ 1849
• Was defeated for Senate. --------1854
• Was defeated for Vice-President -- got less than 100 votes.--------- 1856
• Was defeated for Senate for the third time.------- 1858
• Was elected President of the United States.-------------- 1860

Are you a little bit discouraged right now because you have tried and tried and still haven't achieved your dreams?

If so, please don't be. Worthwhile goals and aspirations will always take time to accomplish.

It took of becoming the President of the United StatesAbraham Lincoln . 

Although he faced countless insurmountable obstacles, he did not give up. He didn't quit.

While it may seem impossible for you to overcome your current challenges or problems,promise yourself that you will NOT give up.

We trust that President's Lincoln's road map to the White House has inspired you to hold onto your dreams when the going gets tough, and to keep working on them until you've turned them into reality. 

Here are two fabulous quotations by this great man to motivate you to persist until you've achieved your goals: 

"The sense of obligation to continue 

is present in all of us. A duty to strive 

is the duty of us all. I felt a call to that duty."

"The path was worn and slippery.

My foot slipped from under me,

knocking the other out of the way, 

but I recovered and said to myself, 

It's a slip and not a fall."

Let's all rise and shine,

Cheers,

Akash Poddar