The Mirage of Market Size: Lessons from 1997 to Today
In 1997, when I started INT., I was a wide-eyed entrepreneur trying to figure out how big my web design business could grow in a city like Kolkata. To be honest, it wasn’t for some grand business plan—I just wanted to know where I stood and, maybe, indulge in some daydreaming. I turned to the […]
The Costliest Mistake You Can Make in Business: A Wrong Hire
Hiring the wrong person isn’t just an expense—it’s a domino effect of challenges: lost money, derailed processes, cultural misalignments, and missed opportunities. And yet, most of us still approach hiring reactively, treating it as a transactional activity rather than a strategic one. Here’s the biggest mindset shift that changed everything for me: Recruit, don’t hire. […]
No Two Entrepreneurial Journeys Are the Same. Stop comparing. Start celebrating.
As an entrepreneur, you’ll often find yourself standing in a room full of stories—each one inspiring, challenging, and wildly different from the next. Yet, we see leaderboards and rankings for entrepreneurs, as if success in this field is something that can be quantified and compared. Let me tell you—it cannot. Here’s why: 1. Every journey […]
The Premium of the Unknown: Why Stories Trump Numbers in Startup Valuation
I’ve always been fascinated by how markets value startups and mature businesses so differently. One phenomenon that stands out is what I like to call the “premium of the unknown.” Here’s what I mean: When something is unknown—like a new startup or a groundbreaking product—people tend to speculate, often assigning value based on a wildly […]
Every job, however small, teaches you something valuable.
Today, I and Vivek Bajaj, a dear friend, recorded a podcast episode for his Face2Face MSME series. One of his question triggered some memories, and I felt it will be great to share my learnings from my four jobs! My first job was a part-time gig with The International Award for Young People, India in […]
Kaise hoga, Jaise hoga, Aise hoga – The key to getting things done.
I have another simple way of classifying team members based on their ability to get things done. This is a theory by my good friend Alkesh Agarwal (and all credit to him), which I have tried to extend a little. There are three kinds of team members: The “Kaise hoga” type – These are the […]
My 1-3-9 System of Talent Rating & Management
Talent rating for the knowledge industry cannot be done on the linear scale of 1-2-3-4-5. The difference a good talent can make compared to an average one is exponential – be it quality, quantity or impact. Therefore, such talent must also be rated on an exponential scale. I call it my 1-3-9 system. Let’s dive […]
Are we promoting our teams to their level of incompetence?
In corporate world promotion = progress. Progress can happen with increase in responsibility, and growth in quality (skill) or quantity (efficiency) of work. Most promotions lead to improvement in responsibility and pay. However, blindly promoting team members without assessing their readiness or ability to contribute can lead to mid-long term consequences for the individual and […]
The Art of Leadership: Balancing Strategy and Execution
“If I get into this granular level, how will I scale? Let me hire the best people and let them do their job.” “I understand this problem the best, hence I am the best one to do or guide it.” These are two extreme posture by Founders, and Senior Leaders. One is glass-office, death-by-excel management; […]
Why do the best laid plans fail?
I am not the most organised person. But there are some fundamental ideas about planning that I learned through reflection. 1) Short-Term vs. Long-Term Expectations: We often expect too much from ourselves in the short term and too little in the long term. This disbalance creates unrealistic timelines, which can trigger frustration and negative emotions […]