2014 - Good & Bad, Setback & Hope!!

The year was a mixed bag. Many good things happened but one major change occured, which altered my path for next couple of years. I have not reconciled emotionally with my own decision, but terming it as a bad event would be an oversimplification. 

In the path of entrepreneurship, one needs to take a detour, but it is more of a mindset. And I continue to be an entrepreneur, even though I have shut operations of EnNatura.

Here is a list of the Good that happened and the learning from EnNatura shutdown

The Good:

• This was the year when Politics became really interesting again and for good. Got involved with IITians for NAMO, followed Modi speeches  and the Elections 2014. And ofcourse who can forget the meteoric rise and fall of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal.

• Made multiple trips - Agra, South India, Chandigarh and Patiala's Baradari Palace. Had many outings with Priyanka and loved her company. Our love grows everyday. Was her partner in learning driving, teaching (baby steps) and having fun with friends.

• Our darling daughter, Advika, continues to add happiness in our lives - Be it her masti with Papa, Mummy, Priyanka, her dance, her smile, the way she speaks, walks, snuggles upto me, snatches my specs, it's all wonderful. Could throw a lavish birthday-party for her and felt good about it.

• Realized that it is more fulfilling to invest time in nurturing existing friendships that forging new one. So reiterated this by meeting Friends and often - Mangal, Mastram, Alok, Sharma, Khera, Bhatia, Parakh, DJ, Don, Sareen, Rishabh, Rishi.

• This was the year when I understood that I have a great professional network and it works and responds to me. Got good offers at Cardekho & Snapdeal (in < 3 months). Have joined Snapdeal, learning about e-commerce, managing fast growth and internet driven businesses. 

• Met Nikesh Arora, Rohit Bansal, Kunal Bahl, Deepinder Goyal, Amit Jain (all having networth > $ 50 Million). Wealth is no indicator of character, but of success nonetheless. They are not role models but examples of what's doable.

• Financially we are a lot better now: Have contingency fund, healthy savings in place and good salary. The move to Snapdeal turned out to be a good one with added bragging rights.

• Went w/o driving to office with Uber & Ola and then with a Driver.

• Watched and enjoyed movies - Queen, Kick, Dedh Ishqiya, PK et, al.

• Could gift mobiles & jewellery to Papa & Mummy on Diwali and felt really good about it.

• Understood the cash flow models of bootstrapping: consulting, tuition, job and will be super-eager to implement them when I start again.

• Spent avg 40 min everyday on health, had lotsa fun with office janta and the new boss.

• Had dinner at Good & interesting places - Wishpersing Willows (CDG), Baradari restaurant (Patiala), Sarovar Portico (GZB) & Tunkhoos near IIT D.

The Learnings:

• A $ 10 Million business is far more fulfilling in all terms than any large company Job.
• I want to monetize my intellectual asset in EnNatura, not through services but products
• Key asset is health and abilities. If we have time, we can grow the business.
• I should keep all pieces of the asset intact & well preserved.

Looking forward to the new year with greater hope and wisdom.