A rejoinder to the journey from doing job to owning a business.

It's been nearly four years since I uploaded the last blog, Journey: Jobs to Owning a Business. I sincerely apologize for the extended delay. 

The first two years of the journey were exciting and smooth but with ups and downs. Then came the pandemic. It was the toughest. Work wasn't easy to come by. Work was frugal, and so was the money. I had words brimming all over my mind, but they overflowed uselessly. Although, whatever projects I got to work on, I delivered my best. 

Nearing the end of 2021, the contractor went bust, and practically, I had no work except a few on-and-off small projects, like 2-3 blogs per month, web content, etc. Well, freelance writers would understand the situation, apart from those who faced grim finances during that period. I can understand the stress and agony of having no work and the impending insecurity of having no money. It wasn't easy for me too. But I held my patience and posture. I say posture because some businesses approach their content with discounts on their minds. It was unfair. I agreed to work on their projects, provided they agreed to my charges because I would never compromise on quality. Some consented, while few paused work. 

November 2021 brought a turning point for my freelance content writing business. A close, confidant friend of over 30 years introduced me to a project that is always ongoing. It can stop only when I decide to quit to work. The project has a far-reaching influence on education abroad, and the project owner is an experienced consultant for studying abroad. So, after a brief interview and background check, the owner hired me to write the required content. The moments were rejoicing for my family and me. But there is a but because my role is of a Ghost Writer. Gosh! Yet, I accepted the offer. Ultimately, what matters is - writing top-quality content and earning money. 

The work was new, and the pressure was high. It was difficult to cope, but I managed. I worked long hours to understand the specifications and client requirements. I picked pace and ensured to meet the demands within four months of initiating work. What is the best part of working on this project? I am continuously learning new elements of education, qualifications, professions, unique study programs, etc. The opportunity refined my vocabulary, enhanced my writing skills, improved my expressive skills, and more. Today, I can communicate/express a message in one line, which I could do in 2-3 sentences earlier. So it is an improvement. In two years, I have processed millions of words. 

I will complete two years of continued efforts to match the demand/s of the consultant this November. The owner is more than happy, and I am happy to earn. Happiness comes at the cost of sacrifices. My family bore the brunt of sacrificing time to make the work run. For me, working long hours is still work, but for them, it is robbing their time. I salute and respect their contribution.

The result of the formal opportunity introduction was positive and positively impacted my personal and professional life. Besides earning good money, what motivates me is the constant flow of work. Money is a by-product of hard work with a tint of smartness. 

Now, I can closely relate to the quote of Nicole Snow. A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in. 

Like me, everyone out there is serving and leaving an impact. I salute the spirit of entrepreneurship. It ceases global boundaries and helps connect the remotest places on the globe. 

I could go on writing to no end. I would stop here. I am grateful to my readers. Your presence inspires me. 

Thank you.

Journey: Jobs to Owning a Business.

A small business is an amazing way to serve and leave an impact on the world you live in. - Nicole Snow

Snow's quote symbolizes 'entrepreneurship' is open for all. The theory of 'entrepreneurship' belonging to one community and only that populace excels in it, is entirely wrong or thrust upon masses. Anyone can become an entrepreneur. Anyone who is ready to provide services/sell products at affordable prices and ensures meticulous and on time After Sales Service is, by all means, an entrepreneur. 

My Baba - Dinanath Sastikar always wanted his sons (me and my elder brother - Mangeshanand Sastikar) to own a business. He used to say, 'Come on, start your own business, I am ready to invest.' But we messed his wishes and ambitions by hopping from one job to another, year after year, for 25 long years. 

At any given time, having a job is good. It ensures a steady income. Plus, you get all the incentives, bonuses, paid leaves, company-sponsored vacation, etc. etc. Life is good, secure, and happy. 

But, I had that कीड़ा (crawling insect) of owning a business, wiggling within me. I tried thrice, I failed all the times, miserably. Every time I tried, I lost everything. Then, set the clock again, search for a new job, win the rat race and boast about being a rat. It was 2012, I was desperately needing a job. I got an interview call from a company involved in the background checks of job aspirants. The interviewer, a lady, operations manager, along with her 'चमचा ' (a sycophant), started the interview. The guy was mum all the time, the lady was yapping arrogantly, she had the least respect for a job seeker. I didn't mind that, but I recall her words, 

"What is your ambition? Like, I want to be a successful entrepreneur. I don't think you have any ambition, right?"

See the fun, she still runs the operations at the same company, while I have grown multiple times. I learned a lesson from this, let not success corrode your brain. 

All this happened in the last 12-14 years. The good thing about losing was, I lost alone, I ensured no one around me was hurt. Although the times were stressful for me and my family. But, losing taught me a great lesson, failure is not final and success is not constant. I recall my Ajoba (Grandfather), he used to tell me.

"सुख-दुःख की चिंता मत कर, वे तो यूँही आते-जाते रहते हैं "

Meaning, 'Do not worry about happiness and or misery, they just come and go'. 

Coming to the present, I am glad I have fulfilled my Baba's wish and ambition of me owning a business of my own. Owing to the financial stress at the company I worked in, I had to quit it in June 2019. From July, I was on my own. Started as a Freelance Content Writer. For three months, I slogged for one client, day and night.  

Today, I have earned 4 valuable clients and I respect their identity and their businesses. Three (3) clients approached directly, saying, they came to know about my dedication, work ethics, work quality, discipline, business knowledge, and keeping promises, through reliable sources. 

Aha! Why should I take credit for all that? I credit my parents for all they have done for me. My Baba & Aai (Veena Ben, I love to call her that way), imparted invaluable lessons of living and working whilst trusting Shri Sadguru. 

So, having a good number of clients on board, it was time to register the business. The business' name 'Gurunath Enterprises' was always on my mind. I was naive with the registration process, I sought help from the right person, good old dear friend - Shri Bipin Vyas. I am indebted to him for taking out time from his busy schedule and helping me do the needful at the municipal corporation office. The registration process took less than one day. Wow! 

At present, Gurunath Enterprises is run from my home on a 2 ft X 3 ft table. With the blessings of my Sadguru, I am sure, the company will have several 2 ft X 3 ft tables in the future. 

Before conceiving the idea of business, I had been writing for clients (from diverse industries) of great, long-time friend Jeet Parekh, for 4+ years. Jeet is a business owner himself, founder of Act Digital. Friendly, knowledgeable, aggressive, and ambitious. I am grateful to him for assigning work to me at regular intervals, even today. Through him, I learn new elements related to digital and online marketing. It is he who taught me, payments in business are uncertain, they can get delayed, due to circumstances or deliberately. 

As the journey progresses, I take this opportunity to thank the Director of my former company Hansaa Digiventures P Ltd. - Shri Shripal Gandhi. Had he not given me a chance to explore writing, I would have continued doing mundane, meaningless jobs, even today. Thank you, Sir. 

I appreciate and salute the contribution of my wife, Anshumati Sastikar and daughter, Chinmayee Sastikar who encourage and support me in this testing phase. Their support and smile help me go that extra mile, every day. I feel sad to see them bear the brunt of my frustration at times, but all is good that ends well. 

Big THANKS to my friends, former colleagues, and family members, who care for me and my well-being. 

Behind everyone's support, encouragement, and contribution, there's an extremely strong, eternal support system - my Sadguru. I can describe God, describe numerous Gurus, but I can't describe Sadguru. All I do is stay at his feet seeking blessings. 

Thank you for reading this long post. I would appreciate it if you could like and follow 'Gurunath Enterprises' on Facebook and refer the business to your friends and family friends. 

वांग्याचं भरीत का भरताचं वांग?

माणसाचं आयुष्य थोडं फार वांग्या सारखे असते. काही छोटे, गोरे-हिरवे गार, तर काही काळे कुट्ट. काही लांब आणि रुंद असून काळेच असतात. काही लठ्ठ-गोल असतात. काही गोड, गुणी असतात तर काही काटेरी, विषारी असतात. त्यांना खाल्याने अंगभर नुसती खाज सुटते. तोंडात फोड येतात. गोड, गुणी ह्यांची गोष्टच निराळी असते. चमकदार तर असतातच, वर चविष्ठ आणि गुणकारीही असतात. 

पण एक गोष्ट सगळ्यां मधे सारखी असते, ते आहे त्यांचे सुंदर मुकुट. 

वाह! राजेच अक्षरश:

बरं मग, माणसा मधे आणि ह्यांच्यात सारखेपणा कसा आणि कुठे असतो? 

भेदानें सुरवात करूया. रंग, उंची, आकार, आणि गुण. शिवाय, जन्म घेणारा प्रत्येक माणूस - पुरुष किव्हा स्त्री, हे उरावर मुकुट घेऊनच येतात. घराण्याची शोभा वाढवितात. बरोबर ना? पुढे चालूया...

वांगे पिकल्या नंतर, विकायला ठेवले जातात, तसेच मुलं-मुली शिक्षण पूर्ण करून नोकरी-धंदा करण्यास तयार होतात. वांगे घरात शिरून, उपयोगात आणताच, बाई त्यांचे मुकुट छाटून टाकते. भुट्टयांना तर चक्क अग्नी वर ठेऊन त्यांची कातडी जाळून टाकण्यात येते. पुढे काय होते, हे आपणास ठाऊक आहेच. छोटे, लांब-रुंद ह्यांना उभे, आडवे कापतात. कधी त्यांत मसाला भरून शिजवतात, तर कधी तेल, बटाटे, टमाटे, मटार, आणि छप्पन मसाले घालून उकडतात. काहींना चिरडून टाकतात. 

आपल्या बरोबर साम्यता दिसतेय ना?

शिक्षण पूर्ण होताच, थकलेले, भागलेले, मुलं-मुली नोकरी-धंदाच्या शोधात घरा बाहेर निघतात. नशीब असेल तर चटकन काही तरी हाती लागतं, नाही, तर शिळ्या वांग्या सारखे एका टोपलीतून दुसर्या टोपलीत ट्रान्सफर होते. 

भाजीवाला स्वताचे नुकसान होऊ देईल का? नाही! तेच शिळे वांगे तेल-पाणी लावून चमकावतो आणि विकायला ठेवतो. मग एखादा गरजू येतो आणि वाळके वांगे कमी दाम देऊन, अति आनंदात घरी जातो, कापतो, चिरतो, आणि पाणीदार रस्सा-भाजी बनवतो, मिटक्या मारत जळक्या भाकरी सोबत खातो. 

आपल्या जीवनात सुद्धा असेच काही घडत असते, नाही का?

नेमकं काय होत - वांग्याचं भरीत का भरताचं वांग?

आता मी थांबतो. बरीच साम्यता दाखविली. याहून अधिक समानता असेलच. 

थोडक्यात, सुग्रण उत्तम असेल तर वांगे चविष्ठ बनतील, मूर्ख किव्हा असमाधानी असेल तर बेत बिघडतो. तसेच, माणूस उत्तम गुण विकसित करेल तर देवाला भेटेल नाही तर उकिरड्यात सुद्धा 'नो-रूम' ची पाटी वाचावी लागेल.

आपली प्रतिक्रिया जरूर नोंदवा.