“JUST DO IT. You have nothing to fear except unfounded apprehensions and your own indecisiveness.”

Anukul Jalan

1. Please describe in brief your career path leading to your present position?

After my engineering from NSIT (ECE, 1993), I worked for a company called ICIM (Later Fujitsu ICIM) – which had come for campus placement, for about an year before taking off with my own enterprise. I started with assembling desktop computers and later on moved to System Integration, providing solutions in association with leading IT

brands.

2. What do you think are the qualities of a successful entrepreneur, and do you consider an MBA degree is necessary for becoming a leading entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is all about keeping your eyes and ears open, 24x7. All

successful entrepreneurs possess a special knack of smelling opportunities, grabbing them with both hands. There are absolutely NO rules, NO success formula, only a gut feel that only an entrepreneur can realize. No amount of planning and expertise can make an entrepreneur. An MBA entrepreneur? How many do you know? Usually, they are second/third generation businessmen, not entrepreneurs. That too, if they are not in jobs. I have nothing against MBAs, but they are so far removed from realities, maybe due

to their theoretical curriculum,

that they have to unlearn most of what they have studied at B-Schools to become an entrepreneur.


3. What embarked your interest towards starting up your own venture?

I come from Marwari community, which

is renowned for its money making

businessmen. I never felt comfortable in a job. Most of my colleagues were just

whiling away their time, working at

50-60% of their efficiency and happy to

receive a pittance as salary. I left the job within a year fearing I might also fall

into the same trap if I remained any longer.


4. What were the problems you faced in this direction?

If I list all of them, this magazine will not suffice. Unfortunately, everything in our

country is oriented towards “JOBS”, not towards the people who provide them.

Still, most of the problems relate to lack of knowledge/experience. Managing

finances, taking work from unskilled employees (because you cannot afford the

skilled ones), retaining employees (who are always eyeing greener pastures),

being responsible for each and every problem within your enterprise and most

importantly keeping your cool, however dire the situation is.

5. Please describe a typical day at work.

• It involves managing finances, both at the macro as well as micro level.

• Following up with the sales staff, helping wherever possible to close a deal.

• Meeting atleast 2 new people every day.

• Talking to atleast 1 prominent customer, if possible meeting him.


6. Opportunities you would recommend students to explore while at N.S.I.T.

• Sharpen your technical knowledge/skills You only have time till you graduate.

• Explore the world beyond your classes, books and N.S.I.T. Meet more people.

• Do a course in finance, particularly if you want to be an entrepreneur.

• Communication skills – Steal, Rob or Beg but Acquire them. This also includes Public

Speaking.

• Never miss an opportunity to have fun. These times will never return.



7. How do you justify the importance of networking by relating it to some anecdote of

your life?
Most of the business deals are sealed not in offices, but at parties and dinners. Never let go an opportunity to meet people. I met a person at a party and ended up bagging a big client through him who now gives me an annual business worth 5 million rupees!!!


8. Some points a budding entrepreneur should consider in this phase of global recession.

Recession is not there to stay. As the saying goes “Tough time do not last, tough people do”. You cannot control recession. What you can control is your own business. Keep the basics intact- Keep the customer happy, Adopt fair practices, Keep your finances in your grip, . Pay your creditors on time, your expenses, and Keep your people satisfied- No recession can ever bother you much. It will be over sooner than you realize.


9. Some books/movies/music that inspire you and would recommend.

Reading about successful people is always inspiring. The books that come to my mind are “Business legends” & “Business maharajas” by Geeta Piramal. Another one is

“Tough times never last but tough people do” by Robert Schuller. Also, articles written by Warren Buffet, Lakshmi Mittal, Bill Gates are eye openers. Among movies “Rang De Basanti” “Ghulam” have been inspiring. Music I like includes George Michael, Cliff Richard, Rod Stewart, Kishore Kumar although I can’t say its inspiring.