Turning to Entrepreneurship: A Journey Through Accepting Failure and Embracing Design

Resilience and adaptability are crucial traits for any entrepreneur. One crucial lesson that can change a life is the acceptance of failure as an integral part of the journey. In my own entrepreneurial path, failure taught me valuable lessons that guided me towards my current venture.

A Life-Changing Experience as an Entrepreneur

My life as an entrepreneur can be summed up in the acceptance of failure as a part of the journey. It’s like the matrix you’ve been conditioned to see - failure as the end of the world rather than seeing it as a lesson. This acceptance led to significant growth and transformation in both my professional and personal life.

My Journey as an Engineer and Entrepreneur

By the end of my mechanical engineering degree, I secured a campus placement in a reputable auto ancillary industry, working in the design department. However, my work there was clouds by two persistent irritants: my demanding boss and the inflexibility of factory timings. Frustrated, I looked for a new path and joined a machine tool firm, where I was assigned to sell special-purpose machines. Over the next seven years, life continued to present challenges, but in 1997, a specific assignment became a turning point.

Turning Point: Selling CNC Machines to a Government Firm

I was tasked with selling Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines to a government defense firm in Chennai, a collaboration with an American company. The CNC technology was new to our factory and the collaborator. My role was to not only highlight the benefits of our machines but also to quote for them. With a lack of hands-on experience, we spent four weeks meticulously preparing all the technical information and proposals. The order was received, but the challenges had just begun.

The Nightmarish Realization of Limitations

When the machines arrived, my team immediately encountered technical issues. Despite having received a brief training, I fell short of practical experience. I faced skepticism from both the factory and the sales department. However, fate intervened, and I was thrust into the role of problem-solving. The pressure was immense, but my engineering common sense and logical approach led to a successful trial. This experience not only fortified my technical skills but also revealed my true strengths.

The Journey to Entrepreneurship

The successful implementation of the CNC project marked a turning point. It helped me realize that I was more suited to design and technical roles rather than sales or administrative tasks. This realization was the catalyst for my transition to entrepreneurship. After completing the project, I launched my own design and consultancy firm, Productive Solutions. Over the next two decades, I not only honed my design skills but also ventured into software programming and product development.

Despite a successful career, I was later drawn towards a spiritual path. I left my mundane world and shifted to an ashram in Kerala, where I sought spiritual fulfillment. My entrepreneurial spirit remained alive, and it was later reignited as my son started a web marketing and branding consultancy firm, Productive Solutions.

The journey from failure to success taught me invaluable lessons that guide my entrepreneurial path today. Acceptance of failure and a willingness to learn and adapt are the keys to achieving true success.

Key Takeaways:

Failure is an essential part of the entrepreneurial journey. Self-awareness and recognition of one's true strengths are crucial. Adaptability and resilience lead to personal and professional growth.

The path to entrepreneurship is not always smooth. It involves accepting failure, embracing challenges, and recognizing one's true calling. My story is a testament to this truth.