Ever dreamt of diving headfirst into the startup world? At 16, that dream became reality for me. I swapped the familiar comfort of Bengaluru for an eye-opening adventure at Xpert, a SAAS company specializing in ad targeting with audiences that have a prior purchasing history.
What started as an internship morphed into something far greater: a crash course in entrepreneurship. It was an experience that transformed me from a wide-eyed teenager into a seasoned problem-solver.
In this blog post, I'll share the invaluable lessons I learned, lessons that continue to shape my journey as an aspiring entrepreneur.
- Entrepreneurship is an art of managing chaos.
At Xpert, we were a lean, mean, startup machine. Resources? Limited. Tasks? Unlimited. As the Swiss Army knives of the office, we flipped between code, design, and even marketing- all at breakneck speed at our manager's orders.
But here's the kicker: amidst this whirlwind, I discovered the essence of entrepreneurship: rather than doing different jobs, entrepreneurship is about orchestrating the cacophony of tasks into a symphony of productivity. It's about bringing order to complexity through effective delegation - a skill I now actively utilize in my own venture.
Towards the end of my internship, my manager gave me some advice on how I could effectively delegate tasks to my own team:
"When delegating work, the outcome is a reflection of either competence or comprehension. If you're receiving poor results and their ability isn't the issue, it's likely a consequence of your own communication of what's expected".
Explained in such a simple manner, it ironically underscored the difficulty of being able to do so, prompting a few questions:
What would have happened if our tasks weren't effectively delegated? Would we have still been able to be Swiss Army knives?
- Don't bite more than you can chew.
Now, picture this: A high school student, working nine-hour days at a startup, juggling school activities, laying the groundwork for his own startup, and even eyeing future opportunities like the YouVah fellowship. If it sounds exhausting, you're right. It was.
After returning from work, I was constantly traveling from one relative's house to another, and after dinner worked after it till after 2 AM. In other words, I had a busy and rather unhealthy schedule, teaching me a valuable lesson about balance. Ambition is a powerful fuel, and while it was a great indicator of my drive, it took a toll on my quality of work and well-being.
In hindsight, I don't regret being driven. However, I wish I had been more realistic and managed my time and deliverables better.
- Deliver results.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned wasn't explicitly taught. It was the simple act of delivering results. This concept truly hit home when I launched Paradigm and expected the same dedication from my team. The ability to tackle unfamiliar tasks is a game-changer as reliability is a prized quality in any team.
For instance, while working at Xpert, I was tasked with implementing a CRM strategy - consumer reports. Did I have any clue how to do it? Nope. But did I back down? Absolutely not!
I dived headfirst into the challenge, seeking feedback, conducting research, and tapping into my network. I found this approach helped me tackle challenging tasks, pushing me to learn new skills, such as how to copyright, create pitch decks, etc. on the fly and become a valuable member of the team.
Overall, my internship at Xpert was more than just a summer job; it was a rollercoaster ride that equipped me with the mindset and skills of an entrepreneur.
I learned to navigate the complexities of startup life, balance ambition with reality, and the importance of delivering results.
For anyone who wants to start working professionally, I highly recommend diving into the startup world. There's no better place to learn than the challenging, fast-paced environment of a startup.
No comments yet, but you can be the first (Click me)!