Haven't written a blog for 20 months....The longest gap between my successive blogs ever since I started blogging! This blog is about this gap, some decisions which I took and how they changed my career and set the tone for my entrepreneurial journey. My entrepreneurial journey has completed 21 months. The journey begun just 2 months after I entered wedlock. It was a tough decision to take. I was not quite comfortable with my previous employer. I decided to put down my papers on a hot Wednesday afternoon in New Delhi and rushed home.
It was a tough decision to take. Just a month into wedlock, quitting one's well paying job is not that easy. More tough was deciding to take up an entrepreneurial role ahead of four offers from reputed cos. Opportunity costs were huge. Brushing aside all criticisms, I became the working partner of a wealth mgmt firm Shri Rama Investment Advisory & Support Services which was established by Shri T.Ramabhadran, one of the doyens of Indian Banking Industry. The society around me posed numerous questions, few intriguing, a few embarrassing...Why Business after an IIM degree???? Are you incompetent to get a corporate job??? Why unnecessarily take up business when opportunity costs are huge?? Even of my classmate while on a call sarcastically remarked....When are you going to close down your business and join corporate again??
I come across such questions on a day to day basis. These questions actually motivate me and inspire me to put in all hard work. Its been 21 months, My business has evolved quite well. Today, it is T.Ram Financial Services Private Limited, a wealth management firm catering to HNIs and MNIs and managing INR 400 Mn..This 21 months was a great learning experience. I used to get inspired by lot of rags to riches stories when I was a kid. The stories helped me overcome criticisms and establish a small outfit on my own.
Though my firm may not be worth millions, I am happy that I earn for myself and provide employment to 10 people. I thank my boss who identified my penchant for equities and made me a fund manager at 24. Today at 26 , I am one of India's youngest alpha generating fund manager. I thank all my clients who reposed faith in me after my boss's untimely demise. Entrepreneurship is all about 3Ps -- Patience, Perseverance and Passion. Have the 3Ps, put in your best efforts and leave the rest to God.
Pursuance of passion is the key to success. My passion was fund management. The wall street bankers did not even take notice of my passion when they visited my B School. Now, I thank them sincerely. But for their rejection of my candidature, I would not have ventured on my own, Now, I am happy that I am generating superior alphas than majority of the fund managers in this country. Last but not the least, I thank my father and my wife. they both were very supportive of my cations from the beginning. But for their support, things would have been difficult and different as well.
To all guys who contemplate entrepreneurship....Don't keep on contemplating....be Passionate....be Patient and have Perseverance. Just take the plunge and succeed. Remember... your fat salary cheques will never give you the same happiness that you will get when you sign your own salary cheque as well as sign salary cheques for others!!
