Money doesn’t give the kick!
Posted by Ashish on February 5th, 2007
One of the slides in the presentation deck that I use during a talk on Entrepreneurship is that ‘there has to be a higher purpose for creating companies than the acquisition of wealth’ for any entrepreneur. Before Tekriti happened, I never imagined how powerful can the ‘creation of a company’ be. As is the common wisdom, it affects not only your life but also affects the lives of people attached with it and their families. I didn’t have to wait 2 years to ‘know’ this but I guess I couldn’t have ’felt’ it if Tekriti hadn’t happened.
Let me ponder more of my thoughts here. In the last couple of months, I have gone in the introspection mode more than a few times - either because I was doing a lot of things but not able to focus enough on one or because I had to continue learning the art of ‘losing control’ as Tekriti grows or because I was not able to spend enough time on blogging, or may be because I was plain agitated at my incapability to increase the speed at which we were making progress. Don’t get me wrong - we are making enough progress and that will be evident by some announcements we make this year but, knowing where we want to reach eventually, no speed is really great.
Introspection is beautiful - it forces you to think about ‘Why’ and not just the ‘Hows’. So - I did ask myself again - why? Why am I doing this? Is it for one of the things: Name / Fame / Reputation / Money - what? Of course, I am not a saint to not think about these ‘earthly’ things - so it is not just because I want to benefit the mankind (it’s another discussion how Tekriti will even visibly help the mankind!) or whatever!!
Quite honestly - I don’t know the answer. I don’t know what keeps me in the office till quite late or forces me to continuously aspire to give my best or want to see not only myself but everybody at Tekriti successful. I don’t know why, for the first time in life, I am happy to see my name second to something - Tekriti. I really don’t know what gives me kick but what I know is money isn’t that. Money is important, lucrative and nice but just doesn’t have that power. Money just doesn’t give the kick!
Reminds me of something that somebody very wise told me once - I dont want money because I need it; I want to make money because I want to be considered ’successful’.
February 5th, 2007 at 2:25 am
You know I am sorta drawing an analogy from the question - ‘why do die-hard fans of Harley Davidson do what they do?’They are really not money-minded - poor fellows have to slog all year to make it to Sturges, no fame coz they dont ride in thinkly populated areas for people to see - I guess one could attribute it to being part of something that is bigger than you - something you will know will still be here long after you are gone - something like procreation - why do we make babies! Remember Maslow and his need hierarchy theory - this is the ‘belonging’ aspect of our need hierarchy.
February 5th, 2007 at 3:03 am
I used to like reading your blog, but nowdays your posts are becomming more and more philosophical with not much substance. Please stop pondering questions related to the theory of entrepreneurship since its not a theory based subject. We would love to hear about actual challenges you are facing and how to work around them or atleast a bulleted, interesting top-ten style that people like Guy Kawasaki is using
February 5th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Hi Ashish,
Taking a step back and taking a stock of what was done(happening) and what we want to get done or where I want to head is very important. The very process could be difficult and painful but the end result will help simplify things and eventually one’s decision making.
I believe starting a business is much more than just making money. It surely is a purpose beyond making money. I think it is an opportunity to drive your own destiny and to make a difference.
February 6th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I like your post very much but disagree with the wise person who wanted to make money to be considered successful.M0ney has nothing to do with success any how you look at it .Some of my favourites who never made money are Baba Amte ,mother Teresa ,Mahatma Gandhi Bhagat Singh and numerous others known and unknown .And also the ones who made money like Jamshed Ji Tata R.N. Goenka ,Bill Gates and also Dhiru bhai Ambani . I wonder if you read about the villager who spent 18 years making a path between two mountains to make life easy for the villagers .If there is any parameter to measure success I think it is the way one can make the difference in the lives of people one interacts with .Enterpreneurship is about taking the thing forward ,creating jobs etc. My fond wish on Tekriti’s second birthday is that it would definitely visibly help mankind .HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEKRITI .
February 6th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Ashish,
Being an entrepreneur, I cannot help but notice the differences in opinions that we may have towards entrepreneurship.
Check out what could be other to become an entrepreneur.
Thanks,
Tarun
February 6th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
I guess the link for my post did not show in the comment. Here’s the link on other reasons for being an entrepreneur: http://kidsdevelopment.blogspot.com/2007/02/entrepreneurship-money-or-salvation.html.
Thanks,
Tarun
February 6th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Thanks guys - for liking it, for not liking it so much and hence the constructive feedback and for penning down different opinion.
Joy - yes, agreed. That is why the success was under quotes.
Even though I also have a lot more respect for the ‘favorites who never made money’ - I find it harder for myself to follow their foot-steps.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
I read your post quite positively. It’s not money “or” something else as the driver, but it seemed to me that you are saying money alone is not powerful enough force to engender the motivation and passion you feel for Tekriti. Just like love itself, there is something “in additon to money” that creates that fire. On an analytical level, the incremental _potential_ for money in an entrepreneurial pursuit often gets harder to justify compared to the incremental responsibility and workload. But it is this “something else” (passion, satisfaction, organization building) that tends to tilt the balance.
Anyway, excellent post.
April 3rd, 2007 at 12:11 pm
God post Ashish. Read your blog for the first time and enjoyed it. Great to see someone writing from the heart about entrepreneurship because thats what it is. Best of luck for your venture.
September 10th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
I believe starting a business is much more than just making money. It surely is a purpose beyond making money. I think it is an opportunity to drive your own destiny and to make a difference.