Three Faces

There are times when u r on top of the world and ready to dictate ur terms… u want to take over everything and u know it is all possible… these are the times when people just stay in a far corner and marvell at you… these are times when u care for no one no more… these are times when you are going at the speed of light on the path decided by you… these are times when you are god…

And there are times when u don’t want to anything… u know every action of urs is very important and still u refuse to move… u know that ur actions will only take u to what u want in life… u are aware that ur movement is required like never before… and still u lie numb doing nothing and wanting to do nothing… these are the times when you have descended to the lowest of what a human can become.

I have been through the roller coaster of both the times and have faced consequences for each. Right now I m in phase three, where you do what is expected of you nothing more and nothing less. The third phase is worst of all coz you don’t dictate, you don’t decide, you don’t take a call.

I am back

Have been keeping away from this blog for long… was concentrating completely on the business and business blog, if u went to that blog u would know what I am talking about. For this post also I was wondering should this be put on the business blog or this. decided on lostconfusedandconfident coz the post matches the blog id.

Ud and I have been working like crazy for last two months. Coordinating work of so many people and so many suppliers was not a joke. In hindi sabhi jagah se pani nikal aya, youngistan. Finally the place is ready, thank god for small mercies, but is still not operative. I think god believes in small mercies only. It’s a new building and the electricity board people are kindda waiting for Christmas to provide power supply. The temporary power supply of the place is too low to support our business.

On the other hand the Mat department says its gonna be normal monsoon this year. Can you beat it of all the years, 2008 had to be normal monsoon year, me and my luck. That will mean less number of people would like to have mocktails at any outlet. Leading this to lesser sales. It has already started raining in Delhi and its just matter of time (time that is getting wasted) that we get rains here.

As if it was not enough, we have found out that the number of seats we were planning are too much for the size of the place, so all the profitability numbers need to be worked out again. And I don’t think they gonna be very encouraging.

I am lost as to what should I do… I am confused, as I cant understand how can there be so many obstacles in a dream run… I am anxious to know what kindda response we gonna get for our outlet… I feel uneasy to see my dream waiting for a government department stamp. Trust me u don’t want to be in this kindda position and I would prayer to god to not to let anyone face this… this is worst than waiting for CAT results or appearing for board exams.

But am I still confident… you bet I am… not because I am sure of success but because I still know… I was born to do something of my own, and doing something of my own is only going to bring me salvation. And I am confident coz I know its all worth it.

Glassfull

Hi Guys,
We have created a new blog to promote our venture. All the entries related to the business would be posted there. Keep visiting new blog and invite others to give it a dekko. Blog address is glassfullahmedabad.blogspot.com.

About Partner, Location and Business

I and Uday, my partner, used to have these seducing thoughts of getting into food business before we were born. And then one day we both sat on a glass of Chivas when we decided to get into the pool together. The decision was made almost 9 months ago. So were we sitting on the thought and waiting for it to hetch? well sort of. We both had our full fledged careers where we were making decent amount of money and spending all the daylight time. Moreover getting into food business is no joke there are hazzaaar things (I will be sharing most of those in coming posts) you got to work on.

It was a glass of Chivas that changed things. I was still with my Bangalore employer and Uday was working in Mumbai. Starting a brick and mortal business would mean we should be in the same geography. So I started looking out for job in Gujarat and Uday decided to call it quits at the right time.

What made us take this decision:
No it was not a mundane job that we were tired off. We both love our jobs still. It was neither the frustration of the bosses. It was not even a spirit of changing the world. I think it was plain sulemani keeda inside us that wanted us to work for ourselves, and enterprising spirit. Probably a cliché that Sindhis are born to do business worked here as well.

We were not our first choices as business partners. Uday had a group of friends and all of them went on to become NRIs. I thought my circle of friends had a different waive length and it would be difficult to work on something together. Involving relatives is too compromising. And after knowing a lot about each other we made this informed choice of becoming partners. So the business line was decided: Food business. And being from Gujarat, Ahmedabad was decided as the playing ground. Ahmedabad market was an obvious choice because people eat out a lot here, the place is becoming more cosmo each day and the realty prices were affordable (at least at the time when we decided). The location had to be good where we would get SEC A crowd, typically working class and college going kids, people in the age group of 20-35. This was not so tricky as other aspects and the area had to be SG Highway, CG road, Drive-in Gurukul or Prahalad nagar. And the search began for the location, coz as one more cliche goes in food business the most important aspect is location, location and location.

Enterprising

Hi guys this is my first entrepreneurial post.

Lots of us nurture the thought of starting something of our own. I have been having this thought for ten years now. I have been craving for starting something of my own since SSC. The thought is now getting actuated, is getting executed. The thought has taken the shape of a small juice bar in Ahmedabad. The bar will serve fresh combination juices, sandwiches and kathi rolls. Yup it’s no rocket science and there is nothing new about it. it’s a tried and tested concept, and that is why I chose it. Doing something of my own was more important than doing something revolutionary. I never thought of anything else but to get into food business. This is one business where u can be as mundane or as creative as you dare. You can go to extreme levels of getting innovative and risk taking or you can chose to play the basic game and be on a safer side. What I am getting into is a reasonably safe and decently innovative concept.

So wish me luck and I will keep you posted about glass full, that’s what the place would be called.

P.S. for those who think guys are complete waste when it comes to cleaning, cooking and housekeeping, this venture is a brain child of two guys who are all game for everything including sweeping the floor and cleaning the doormats.

Award Time

The blogosphere seems to be caught by the bug… everyone has become a critic, jury, junta and judges at the same time. People are throwing awards for best movies, worst movies, best baby products and best sex positions every now and then.

To hum kahe hamau award banten

I was thinking deliberately about in which category or segment I should throw my awards. After a lot of thinking I have decided my awards would be for the most aggressive brands in India. The definition of the aggressive is not necessarily smart marketers and is also not the best marketed brand. In simple words it is the brand which has got fantastic penetration among its target audience.

My list goes like this.

P.s. The order of the winners is random and each of them is a winner with equal dignity irrespective of the ordering in the below list.

ICICI: being the banker consciously I have put ICICI first on the list, as the organization deserves all the respect for being whatever it is today. Profitable or not they just want to get into the veins of India. The funda is simple, largest market share of everything. And they have left no stone unturned. The organization is an ocean of people and trust me, they actually have developed systems where the individual no longer matters. However much we like to hate this bank due to operational goof ups and the infamous collection scandals, I cant stop marveling at the sheer aggression of the bank and its top management.

The Times of India group. Worlds largest circulated broadsheet newspaper. The times of India, economic times, the mirror (Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad), Navbharat times, Sandesh, oh the list goes on. The group is too focused, they don’t want to do too many things. They are clear about penetrating media sector. In the world where the newspaper circulations are going down, this is one group that has courage to launch new dailies in new geographies (Bangalore mirror, Ahmedabad Mirror). TOI is the only popular daily that has sold its editorial page as well. Even the most sacred, sacred space carries Citi advertisement and yet the circulation is soaring. With Lead India do we see a fourth front in Indian politics coming up.

Big Entertainment: what can be more appropriate name for the entertainment group floated by Anil Dirubhai Ambani. The brand started with FM radio and got what it wanted, same frequency across India, so what if it meant the existing players had to change the frequency. Imagine a TT coming into a crowded train compartment and telling you, hey you why don’t u just get up and let this gentlemen sit here, I have made alternate arrangements for you. No, no arguments, he is rich. The penetration levels can be gauged by the below pic. It was shot at a very small chai ka galla in vadodara. The group has gone into various entertainment segments from movie distribution to movie making and music to entertainment parks.

Future group: All of us thought Reliance, TATA, Walmart are here and there will not be enough of future group anymore, a soft take over target. But we all were mistaken and the future group is standing taller than ever. Mr. Biyani has gone aggressively on adding new private labels new brand stores. Big Bazaar kindda changed the whole shopping experience for the Indian middle class. The guy has laid out all real estate acquisition program till 2011!!!

Vodafone: They have paid too much for Hutch, was what all the analysts were shouting… I say every penny is well spent. After all where else you will get so many licenses in place, a good brand to piggy back on, a market with potential of 1 million new connections every month, margins in excess of 40% and a cute tubb to woo so many customers. The magic box opened and the brand spread to all the possible frontiers. The town was colored red and everyone knew hutch is now Vodafone. Just when everyone thought there was not a single place left for putting your brand Vodafone went into colonies and told them “I brand your colony, give u all the boards and signs you need in your vicinity and will keep my little smiling red and white logo next to it.” Community branding I say!!!!

This list is exhaustive and all inclusive. No I don’t think putting IIPM, SRK or OSO next to these brands is a dignified thing to do. There are no other brands as aggressive as the above ones in India. Period. If you think there are try to put a comment for the same and see how I rip you apart.

Cuts Like a Knife

The post was removed by the blogger, as it was personal

They never say what they mean

Background: I handled an IPO for one of my clients recently. Five days after the day of IPO closing, it was a public holiday and I was sitting with Aishwarya in my arms. Suddenly the hand phone rang and Aishwarya jumped out of my hands. I cursed the caller and get out of bed. It was my IPO client (GM). He was singing some melody, I tried to figure out what song was that. And then he said, are you listening.

GM (The abbreviation where M sounds like Charu): Vijay, there is an employee who applied for our company shares, his cheque bounced, can you do something?
Me: But its been 5 days that the IPO has closed, I can not take a fresh instrument (bankers love to use this word while talking to the client, in simple words it means a cheque). It will be an audit issue (Audit is one of the words that bankers use, when we don’t know what reason to give to the client) as the instrument number on form will never match with my records. However let me try. I don’t promise anything (if your banker likes you, these words mean don’t worry, I ll do anything)

After lots of back and forth with all the small and big numbers (read ranks / bankers) in the organization I managed to convince lots of people. With a pleasant thought on my mind to impress the new customer and help an employee I called up GM again.

Me: sir, I can do it. but this will delay your listing procedure by two days. Nothing to worry we will still have two days extra to meet guidelines. I hope that should be ok with you. Trust me no banker would have done it for anyone, its purely because of the relationship we share with your company. (talk about selling)
GM: two days, hmmm let me think.


Big banker: I had chat with A, cant we give him MIS tomorrow (i.e. listing as scheduled) and accommodate the cheque as well.
(GM had called him after talking to me.)
Me: nope
BB: I am sure we can
Me: I am telling you we cant.

I got no phone calls or confirmation from GM. After two hours, my door bell rings.

Stranger (S): GM sent me to give u this cheque. Sorry I goofed up but with the help of our GM and you I am sure I will be able to participate in this money making proposition.
Me: (looks like GM has decided in favor of S). Sure sir, I ll be glad to help you.

S left

Call from GM
Before he said hello
Me: sir S came and gave me new cheque. We will do the needful.
GM: listen first, keep this cheque with you till tomorrow afternoon. Call S and tell him you could not do it, coz of some internal problem and that you were sorry for that.
Me: but sir this will make his life, he will make at least 2 lacs on this.
GM: We have our own constraints. Thank you, anyways as no banker would have done it. I did not want you to make an exception and get into unnecessary trouble. I do appreciate the gesture, thank you for everything.
ME: sure sir.

Next day:
Me: sorry sir, I could not do it, auditors did not agree.
E: (broken, shaken, shattered, destroyed like heroshima). Silent
Me: I am really sorry sir.
E: Silent.
Me: I tried my best.
E: silent.
Me: I will send you back the instrument today.
E: I thought I will not have to take loan for my kid’s education, how could you? Is it because I am too small a person to trouble you or pressurize you.
Me: sir I could not help it, and I can understand what you going through.

I was actually sorry, I still am. Not for being in a position where I could not do anything. It was the client’s call and there was no irregulation from my side. I would have gone against the system, had I accommodated this request. I would have spoiled my relationship with registrar but I still wanted to do it. I could not.

I wonder, how insensitive could A get while telling me to take the blame. I am sure he will love me for the rest of his life and will owe me one. He will give me more business, I will have better numbers to show and appreciation from my boss. But I still wanted to do it for the guy who is working as a production manager for my client for last 15 years. I wanted to do it for his kid, who would be an MBA like me and would probably not do what I did today. I wanted to do it for myself, I know how problematic it can get when it comes to financing education. I had almost given up my confirmed MBA seat.

But I will always hate GM, and make him realize how bad can it get when your bank does not like you.

...they never mean what they say

they never say they mean

they only want you to give in

i wish to god that i could meet somebody

that i could just spend

somebody that i could just spend