I am tired. It’s been a whirlwind of a month. Keeping up the pace with The Leather Boutique, spending time with family and meeting social obligations – can really take its toll. I’m off to the jungle tomorrow to spend May day with family and friends. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Just about ready to fling my phone and macbook off a tall building. They do make life easier but also a lot tougher just keeping up with what’s out there. Take a breather guys. Slow down, take a deep breath. The summer will be gone before you know it.
Highlight of the month, I was invited to be a panel speaker at a startup event organized by Headstart Network Foundation, one of India’s largest grassroots level Entrepreneurship communities. Focus was on ecommerce. I was honoured and very excited to be a part of this as it was my maiden panel in front of hundreds of people, fellow ‘upstarts’ included Urban Ladder, Bluestone and Myntra. It was all about crossing the line – from a physical world to a virtual one. Getting onto the ecommerce bandwagon on the digital superhighway. The trick is to keep from tipping over.
Everybody is talking about ecommerce, about starting up in that space or making the transition. So are we – in fact we’re well on our way. Swept up in the tide and riding the wave. It’s not something you can do overnight, unless you have a boatload of money. Even then there’s no guarantee unless you have a fantastic product, in the right market with impeccable timing. My advise – it’s like the wild west out there. Go forth with a belt full of ammunition and a loaded gun. Be shameless in asking for help and advise. Everyone’s an expert, and there are no experts. It’s too new a game for that.
Fundraising. A bridge you will also have to cross someday! Mantra of the new age. Get’s you validation and valuable capital. Helps you ‘scale’ quickly and take on the competition. Yes, its like building a skyscraper overnight, and investors encourage you go out without a harness. They are your safety net after all. It’s all about risking it all and praying the foundation is strong enough. Sigh. Looks like its about to get a whole lot more tiring. Call me on Monday, I’m about to throw my phone away.
Musings of a Leather Man 