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One of my mentor (a successful entrepreneur) now a good friend used to mention that “entrepreneurship is a lonely journey”.
Time and again, I have heard this statement from a few more people.
Sure, there are times when a whole bunch of people don’t believe in your idea, your dream(s) or simply, they don’t have believe in you.
Though to say entrepreneurship is a “lonely” journey, is to take the essence of entrepreneurship. During the past few months since I decided to work on Play Your Sport, I have met so many new people who have added to my learning experience. There were times when things would not go as planned, heck there are still a bunch of things that don’t go as planned. There are some challenges where as a team we try to figure out “we have tried 10 things whats next?”
There are deals lost. Plans that didn’t work out. Days when there is a term sheet in hand. The day when there is no term sheet in hand.
Yes, there are times when you wonder does anyone get the agony that an entrepreneur goes through?
You meet new people. You make new friends.
Here are a bunch of people I met, some of them who are now good friends and few with whom I spent most of my days.
For someone who started as a single founder, I met a bunch of wonderful people on my co founder dates. It didn’t work out probably 10 times before I found the co founders or they found me. It sounds like a blind date and sure it was. All the 10 people that I met were from different walks of life and all of them added to my experience of learning.
Then, the mentors and advisors, who I have spent so much time building up the business. It’s surprising that all you need to do is “Ask” and people are more than happy to give you the time. If some don’t you can always follow up or move on.
The team of interns and full time employees, these are the people you spent most of your time working on the goals. These are the people who make work so much fun. Along with the co founders of course!
Its an amazing feeling to get a message from an intern who worked with you, I got one such message that said “ thank you for all the learning and I am so happy to see Play Your Sport grow so much!”. Yes, I took a screenshot of that message and I have it with me till today.
The investors, these are the people who believe in your capabilities thus, are ready to take the plunge with you. These are the people who trust you with their money.
The business partners, vendors and strategic alliances, some of them have been in business more than your age (well I am in my late 20’s so definitely some of them had businesses for years more than my age!). They trust you with the services you provide them.
The entrepreneurs, some of them are in similar or competitive businesses, some are in different industry. These are the new friends you make who understand the agony and pain. You realise everyone has different approach and story to share, oh its fun listening to a bunch of entrepreneurs. The hits and the misses. They will tell you all.
The people with whom it didn’t end well. Let’s be honest, at times there is not a happy ending with certain people, could be an employee who was asked to leave or an investor with whom the deal didn’t strike well. Again, these people have given you an experience and its upto you to learn from it.
I am grateful to have an opportunity to work on something I truly believe in. Entrepreneurship is not a lonely journey, its a journey where like minded people come together to help you build your dream, therefore I am grateful to each and every person that I have interacted with and welcome more people to join me in this journey!
By: - Supriya Mamgain, Founder & CEO, Play Your Sport
