Every success story is appealing and every story has a beginning. For Vivek Bindra, a successful motivational speaker in India, his journey started very early. He had a tough childhood that deprived him of stability at home and at school. Behind a successful businessperson of today is a young man who always believed in bouncing back and started working early. Rather than stopping there, he befriended books written by many renowned business authors and created a business of his own.
Vivek Bindra dreamed of going to London Business School, but because of his poor economic conditions, he could not. That did not let him deter him as he started his journey to become a public speaker.
First, he started Global Act in 2012 and, in 2019, he started what he is best known for today: Bada Business Community. Ultimately, he fulfilled his dream for today, he is sought as a guest lecturer in international business schools including his dream school in London.
Vivek Bindra is arriving in Nepal to conduct a one-day executive leadership programme on April 24 for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs here. On the eve of that, Onlinekhabar caught up with him and discussed a few aspects of entrepreneurship and motivational speaking.
Excerpts:
You have visited Nepal many times now. What attracts you the most about the country? Anything you like, in particular?
I like that the [Nepali] people are very hardworking and progressive in nature. They are the most reliable, brave, and honest community and they are known for this all over the world. They are the people that make the impossible possible.
I also love travelling in the country. I have been to Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. And other places I would love to visit are Namobudhha, Budhanilakantha, Lumbini and Janaki mandir. Spiritually, I have wanted to visit the Mount Kailash landscape and spend time at the Hare Krishna temple chanting hymns and songs.
Nepal, in particular Kathmandu, has been booming in terms of startups. What are some of the best ideas you think the entrepreneurs can use to explore possibilities here?
As entrepreneurs, if they are looking to commence a startup, they must look for a great foundation on principles rather than great ideas that people often run after. And there is just one way you can do it; identify the burning problem of the customers and solve it in a way that the customers need you.
After you have that, you have to make sure the business can profitably and sustainably grow without you in the picture. This means the business idea should have a profitable business model that can last and grow or scale up with a team that is well-organised and can work independently without your interference.
I recommend the VRIO model that guides that the business should be valuable to your customers, and is rare and not imitable while being organised. That way you can create an organic, ethical monopoly.
Being an agriculture-based economy, the young people here are eager and trying to automate and commercialise the agricultural sector too. What kind of advice would you give to the agro entrepreneurs and where can they seek support from?
First of all, there is a need for young people to learn about the sector and the agri-based economy. فريق أتلتيكو مدريد Entrepreneurs can look into ways that can minimise the labour costs through technology, in all steps of farming from seeding to growing and harvesting. Then, you can look into a chemical-free natural farming approach as well as promote natural and zero-budget farming reducing the carbon footprint.
Another area to work on can be reducing food wastage and looking forward to setting up microprocessing units including a forward integration model in the business. For example, any farmer growing potatoes or tomatoes or fruits should be able to scale up his/her profession into a business and produce industries that produce potato chips, tomato sauce and fruit juice, respectively.
You have set up the Bada Business Community. What is the idea about and how does it help entrepreneurs? لعبة البلوت في السعودية How will the community flourish here and help young Nepali entrepreneurs here?
Whereas Facebook is for friends and family, LinkedIn is for professionals. In the same way, Twitter is for socio-political opinions. But, we felt that there is no platform for entrepreneurs. That is where the Bada Business Community comes in where entrepreneurs, new and old, can get relevant content, generate leads, work with mentors and build the network and stay up-to-date with everything. The community is full of businesspersons, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, investors, business content creators, mentors and professors. The platform helps you grow your community rapidly and generate revenue, in a short time.
From Nepal, we already have many users who are taking advantage of the platform and the exposure as well as learning and earning on various topics of the business world.
What do you suggest to those who are thinking of and are about taking up the challenge by starting their own new business rather than looking for a job?
If anyone is thinking of starting a business, there are always a few things that one should consider.
First of all, the key is to build something that your customers like and not what you like. The best way to do this is by recognising the opportunity gap. Secondly, you have to make sure that you focus on just one thing and not too many things; that is how many businesses fail. Then, you have to make sure you are not outcome-oriented but focus on the process that solves consumers’ problems and always focus on a better product experience. If your skill, your passion and your market work together, the business will flourish.
Next, you have to have a recurring revenue model. So, do not focus more on the investors, focus on the consumers instead, that is what will keep your business afloat. Target customers should be niche, so remember not everyone is or can be your customers.
If there is something that people often neglect, it is inventory management. It takes up a big chunk of your budget, so always focus on fast-moving products instead of slow or non-moving ones.
Find ways to adapt and scale up your business, either through feedback from customers or through technological advancements. But, do not shy away from it just because you do not know the technicalities; you can learn them.
And, it all ties up together with a team that works independently yet harmoniously.
At the same time, there must be many who do not want to run their own business or a startup. What would you say to them?
While we talk about entrepreneurs, I also want to highlight that there are intrapreneurs. Intrapreneurs are people who work in the company but do not behave like employees; those who become entrepreneurs within the organisation.
Intrapreneurs take better responsibility, accountability and ownership and use critical thinking skills to solve the problems independently. They are not limited to their salary; they take initiative; they work beyond their set work hours. Rather than waiting for opportunities, they create them and even get extra incentives and out-of-turn promotions.
Intrapreneurs create value for themselves, which is why they are an asset to the company. They will always have a secured job, better pay and increment. uno rules
Many motivational speakers are emerging here in Nepal too. Have you had the chance to be familiar with their content? What are your thoughts?
I want to, but I have not been able to. It is because of my nature that I do not look at the content of other motivational speakers, but at what my consumers are saying.
But if the Nepali motivational speakers want to connect and train with me, they are most welcome. We will give them the training and the platform to conduct masterclasses. I am looking forward to sharing my thoughts and experiences with all Nepalis there.
