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,
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.
