Shine On.. Underdog.

I never expect to lose. Even when I'm the underdog, I still prepare a victory speech.

H.JacksonBrown,Jr.

Underdog. A bad word for few, an understatement for many but why one shall be proud. Well, I believe one should be. For a simple reason, it makes life easier.

Yes it does. We live in a fast pace surroundings. Competition is stiff and Consumerism is stiffer.  It is a mad age so the least we can do it to become run of the mill. When this thought struck my mind this afternoon – I asked myself, why am I thinking this? And I realized – God answered to my worries, I was relieved. Having launched my venture some 2 years back, 2 years and 3 months back to be precise, suddenly I found myself stressed.  Life at times is harsh. Perhaps that was the case with me – lot of financial pressure, demanding domestic circumstances and what not? I felt suppressed and dead.  But then I realized, there is something in me which can really relate to being the underdog. May be it’s the perseverance, my resilience but something.

To turn the things worst, I had developed this feeling of loss. Loss of ‘me’, all the above reasons left me with no reason, no possibility for my interests & even wish list. There was absolutely no holiday, I could read books, music – gosh! I have been hearing from others about the latest rocking tracks. This is been tough. And then began the fight within – I felt as an underdog, the pressures from clients (read tantrums) to a start-up, the questions from the family and I would confess,the repeated comparisons of increasing gaps. The gap of where they are – where I am, the gap of their 9 to 5 job and my jobless days and 24 x7 days, the gap in their bank balance and my profits. Everything I felt was shouting and asking me – Have you gone nuts!!

Probably yes. This all had made me a tough nut. And I was wandering once again – have I made a mistake. Shall I look back and be upset. Is it a time to change the plan?

May be temporarily, maybe it’s the need of the hour. Well, then is stepping down a difficult task. No its not, because it’s our life and we have to do what suits it best.  And I believe it’s OK, till the time I know that I am yet to make it large. And then, I am aware – at least for me it’s not the first time. Life enjoys playing with me, testing me and smiling again.

And I am relieved…ready to re-live.  I am ok as I am flexible now..I am ready for the flow to find out what suits me best.  But on the journey called life, I would remember the quote -

I'm very competitive by nature. And I like to be the underdog - It's the best way to win. To come from behind and win is a great feeling!

Zac Efron

We turn Two!

Connect to us at: www.30thfeb.com | www.facebook.com/30thfeb 

Turning 2 feels like turning 22. Remember, when one has to leave the college and suddenly enter the corporate world…. Ah! We are all very excited and yeah so thrilled about the money part…hehe. Not only that’s an experience, a way forward, a new chase- it is a lot more then all of that. It is about identity, self-growth, ambitions, respect, money, goals etc.

The journey this year was difficult and taught me that sometimes it is about the strength of mind and heart which is majorly required to go on. Initial success comes handy for few – now as I turn older by one more year – I feel the same happened to me. Though deep inside I am aware that my last year’s B’day note was about the initial struggle to setting up a business and strive to stick and make others believe on my conviction about 30TH FEB and this being the ‘the thing’ for me.

Nevertheless, the journey is still on as I share this. But yes, growing up is difficult. Because when you know you have started all you can think of about is – to get ahead and cross the new deadlines – the short ones and the long ones. I have the goals and I have the faith.

Build Resilience

Fight those feelings. In a business, it is very easy that a gap will only cause negativity. There will be difference in opinions and thoughts. People will never feel the same about your venture/ job/ dreams like you feel. And the sooner we understand this – the better we get.

Decisions and Choices

Entrepreneurs must learn to follow their heart. They shall learn to listen to all and shall follow the right, as advocated by their heart and mind. Choosing the right is difficult but if you trust the choice you made – you will never be disappointed. Remember, it was your decision and unnecessary expectations will only complicate.

There are many decisions which stuck us up on the ethical points, conscience differs with logic and trends – follow your instinct so that you have nothing to repent later. Remember, choices are good and we are answerable to ourselves. Choose between right & wrong. Decide between gut & conscience. Believe in what you feel and do it.

Fuel-up

Remember, any venture, exercise, mission needs to be fuelled regularly.  Many people talk about keeping the focus but now after two years of entrepreneurial journey I feel focus is not enough if you are not fuelling your aspirations with right efforts. Remember, the efforts have to be oriented in the right direction.

Everything I said above is something I have learnt and experiencing each day. I am growing as an entrepreneur and I have to grow in person, in belief, in goals, in faith and all that will come if I am able to grow my business, my dream, my passion.

Today is been an anxious day. I had something in my mind – yes, my venture turned 2 and I turned 2 as an entrepreneur, a risk-taker, a myopic and what not…I had got many names and still called up, looked upon with lot of names like that.

And today, on the birthday of my dream which I dared to live – my mind was in a wandering state!

Wandering – about where I stand today? I am two year old – monetarily I have been ok. Individually I am well and know what I have been doing. Personally – win some, loose some. Ah! Overall I had the good and the bad moments. The moments of truth and the moments of joy – I had many of them. I am at peace about my decision. I am anxious on what next? How to take the leap?

I am sure - it’s time for next leap.  Next year, I need to be a better person with a better post and some better plans. Until then – it’s a Happy New Beginning for another year! And I am loving it.

Happy Birthday to my entire team. 

J

My First Birthday!

My First Birthday!

Yeah! I am going to write about my first year of life. Not only did I open my eyes in a new world, from tasting the unknown to recognizing the right & wrong – I have grown up to a certain bit in my first year of entrepreneurship.

The Birth:

The idea was conceived few years back but it got life only a year back. Like every birth it was painful & challenging and all I tried was to avoid any complications. Initially it was difficult to take up the challenge and convince my family that I am quitting a job (which was paying me quite decently) for I am going to start on my own. But, like it’s been said – it’s only the first step. Yes, we launched 30TH FEB on November 17, 2009 and I was born as an entrepreneur.

The Inception:

The inception, the observations, the test runs were at times positive, at times negative and weird at others. Some dint like the logo, others failed to love the idea. Some were worried about the complications attached…some failed to understand that it’s equally difficult to kill an idea like it is to a newborn. Some raised eyebrows & others raised fingers. Few were positive about me and others laughed it out.

All this – made me jittery at times but eventually made me stronger.

My First Lesson!

Learning started from the very beginning. While during the inception only I had started developing business. Interestingly, the first project was bagged out of a job interview. Before launching my venture – I had been appearing at the job interviews – to say that I was still double minded and because of which I had not given them an answer on my joining within a week as expected and so when I had sent the launch mail about my venture, my interviewer, the founder CEO of a new venture called me to meet the VP-Marketing for a Brand Development task. Bingo! I felt. And soon I realized that one shall not let the client treat you a novice, desperate start-up who is just looking to perform. I truly felt that people try to exploit their level best only If you allow them to. That led me to my first rule – “Value your own time”. ‘Be professional. Promise results. Stay Confident and remember – No one is doing a favor by giving you a task. Business is all about mutual benefits.'

First time in the Playground!

When a child gets out from home to the playground, he learns about the competition, the society and makes contacts. He starts making his own identity in the playfield. Now the point – is not about playing the game but it is more about staying in the filed.

My first boost came when work started coming & people valued my ideas and hence approached me to work with them. Yes. That helped me raise my spirits and slowly I was getting into a Brand boosted number game. Earlier the chase was to sustain and now I was growing & realizing competition. The idea now was to stay here and to make my presence felt.

With Brand projects dwelling and events happening side by side… I was assured of sustainability but every time I had the same fear – What next? To some extent that still is the case…..

Be-fitting the New Shoes!

Good Brand projects came in. Friends trusted me & clients agreed to the concepts & the caliber. Many agreed to my point – that you need to give us projects to see the portfolio of 30TH FEB and you need to offer the projects based on my personal portfolio.

In simple words, Issue the bill to see me fit the bill. 

A Difficult One!

Things started churning and in no time, I was hopeful against all hopes. People who we had pitched in April….called us and we fetched a project in June. As challenges were growing and we realized that we need to grow in terms of team, people and power.

What I thought of as an Ambitious project turned out as the most difficult project in this one year. Certain execution problems cropped in, my personal life asked attention – leaving me in a real fix at instances. Here I was lucky as my client took charge for few hours and actually made my team work up to her expectations. But again I learnt a lesson – I need to delegate and I can’t be there at all the places at all the times. I knew it was the time to think of expansion.

No Effort is a Waste Effort

We worked we our soul and our dreams survived. We are now working with more diligence & better plans. We plan expansion & we are growing. We are growing in number and we are growing in hopes.

I am Team 30TH FEB. And November 17th,2010 is my first Birthday.