The E-Word

A few days ago, we had the opportunity of interviewing a very prominent personality in the world of entrepreneurship, one of the co-founders of the DINE-OUT app, Vivek Kapoor.

Vivek, at the age of 18, joined merchant navy and started sailing as a cadet. In 2012, intrigued by the thrills of business field and motivated by the idea of providing India with an app that served diners; he left the navy to start his own venture. He and his three other friends, had a prenotation that their idea was unexcelled, and that it would succeed in the Indian markets.

The four friends came up with a strategy which was not just blinded by vision but was rational as well. They had an edge over most startups of those days, that was of belonging to a stable background, but they didn’t see it as a means to run away from the associated risks that came with the startup. ‘The biggest risk one can take is by not taking it’ Vivek kapoor resolutely believes. He mentioned that the business environment is dynamic in nature, and the pro tip is to evolve yourself according to the changing needs and preferences of the customers. Having the ‘tunnel vision’ without allowing yourself to explore the opportunities can be restrictive and threatening for the business. There will be new competitors coming up, with the consumer base fast changing so it becomes the need of the hour to keep inculcating changes and not be stagnant with your ideas. Vivek kapoor regards a competent and hardworking team as the biggest investment that you make in your business. Holding the team as a priority and being a motivating source to them becomes very crucial.

We concluded our interview with a message for all the budding entrepreneurs: You should never be afraid of failure. Have a vision, review your strategies, accept the backlogs and be down to earth; because we cannot stay clouded by the thought that what we’re thinking is always going to turn out good for us. It’s going to be worth the shot, it you’re willing to give out a lot.

INTERVIEWERS- TANVI BHANDARI AND PRIYANKA PRAJAPATI

Once upon a time there was a little farm boy who found solace in drawing cartoon versions of his neighbor’s horses. In a life full of rules and principles created by his strict father, his drawings provided him a much-needed comfort. Years went by and eventually, he started making animated versions of his creations, bringing them to life gave him a thrill that couldn’t be expressed! He now decided to sell his lively compositions and opened a commercial company with his friend. But as life would have it, the company soon went bankrupt. Crushed from the failure, he backed off to some farther corner of the world, not aware of what life had in store for him. With an unfaltering determination he overcame his failure and decided to give his dream another shot and after a series of hair-pulling brainstorming sessions, he came up with a character that changed not only his but all of our lives….. Mickey Mouse!

Yes, this is the story of our very own Walt Disney, the creator of Disney! Whenever we hear the name Walt, we imagine this lively gentleman who has provided us an unforgettable and beloved companion in our childhood in the form of Mickey Mouse. He kindles an idea of joy in our minds, much opposed to our regular image of entrepreneurs who I personally perceive to be ever serious and professional. Strange as it may sound, even this gleeful gentleman has faced his share of setbacks in his journey to becoming one of the biggest magnates.

All our lives we have been told to believe in ourselves repeatedly, be it our parents, our teachers or even random pages on social media (just like this one, cliché much? :P). Clearly, if Walt had given up at his first failure, or even his umpteenth, he would not have been the creator of the biggest and most popular cartoon producer nor would we be talking about him right now, rather we wouldn’t even know who he is and he might have lived a regretful life in poverty. His story is a classic example of why having FAITH in yourself and DETERMINATION are the most essential ‘make or break’ factors of one’s life and is of immense importance to anybody wishing to enter the business world. More often than not entrepreneurship leaves people feeling restless-with fears of possible failures clogging their mind and blocking their vision but one thing that they need to remember is-In the entrepreneurial world, ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. The reason that Walt Disney is one of the most renowned and successful entrepreneurs in the world is not because he was lucky or unafraid, but it is because he refused to submit to his fears and failures and rather looked them in the eye and overcame them!

His story teaches us a lot of things. The most important being SELF BELIEF.

Walt, at the age of 18, was convinced that regular schooling was not his cup of tea and went to join the army where he was often appreciated for his drawings. When he came back, he was determined to become a newspaper artist and even became one but was soon pushed out of job for “lacking imagination”. While many artists might have been heartbroken after this, he with his unwavering optimism started his own commercial business. Unfortunately, the business turned out to be a flop show. Even after this, he refused to be dismayed and went ahead and opened a second business which too went bankrupt soon, leaving him with almost nothing. Even with 2 failed ventures at hand, Walt refused to surrender and partnered with his brother to start yet another adventure. After a lot of hard work and perseverance, they came up with Mickey and so began the era of their success.

On this note, we, The Entrepreneurship Cell of Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, are starting this blog in which we will be sharing stories of people who have won against all odds and are living their dreams by managing their successful businesses.

We hope this story of our personal favorite businessman Walt Disney has inspired you and we look forward to knowing who your idol is. Do drop your favorites in the comment section and stay tuned for the next fun-filled dose of business-o!

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