“Where do you work?” “In XYZ, a startup, as a deve….” “A startup... why?”, the sickening voice cuts you off. Be it with an old friend from school, or your neighbor aunty (let’s not defame the Sharmas yet), this short conversation must seem eerily familiar to any of you who’re into the startup scene. If not, then you belong to that lucky breed of our Indian society who have understanding relatives and friends. People choose to answer such exasperating questions in different ways— They might choose the pragmatic way by trying to answer it point by point, explaining the pros and cons. Some people change the topic, they don’t care to explain.
Some people just end up ruining their relationship. Th is article is to help those who actively remain oblivious to the concept of startups in understanding its ABCs and considering working in startups as a career option. So, why choose a startup over a more structured corporate position? Everyone is inspired by great innovators who turn into entrepreneurs.
I mean, who isn’t motivated by the likes of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Elon Musk? So, although there are many who want to reach this landmark, few are sure whether they want to tread this path. Th e real question remains- why don’t people choose startups when many of them dream of one? To name a few Unwillingness to lead or take responsibility; Incomplete knowledge about topics like plagiarism; Fear of failure; Peer pressure to choose one of the conventional paths. And the list continues…. Isn’t 20 lpa very
less for an IITian or any good engineer?
Expectation is a double-edged sword. It can thrust you across
every milestone you ever wanted to achieve or pin you down and restrict you from flying high. Often, people don’t want to go the distance just because they feel burdened with this weight of expectation. They accept this weight as a part of themselves without questioning it and choose to live with it. There are few who challenge these stereotypes. But the fi re those burns in those few incinerates any obstacles coming their way.
All successful entrepreneurs belong to a special catalogue - those who have shown the world that they can change it single handedly. Don’t limit your goals to merely salary hunting. What you gain from a startup is much more in worth than a 20-30 lpa package. Let’s see what they are incentives of joining a startup skill: Startups offer an incentive-based system that isn’t based on
dollars; instead, it focuses on skills attained and opportunities seized. Variety: In conventional jobs, people remain stuck in a particular department with the possibility of vertical growth. They do not find time to venture out into different sectors.
Very rarely is horizontal growth of employees seen. Innovation: To bring your innovation to life and see it as tangible product is a feeling that’s simply irreplaceable. Frugality: Being efficient with money is one of the major skills you acquire when you work
in a startup. Responsibility: Working in startups makes you a more responsible person because of the small team. All your good is appreciated and even smallest mistake is criticized. This carves you into a better person.
Autonomy: Finally, you get to be your own boss. Th ere are many misconceptions among the public as regards to the working of startups. A major faction fails to see the importance of the
incentives offered by startups; they run toward acquiring immediate financial stability. They fear failure. This where people need to understand that even if the startup you join fails, what you learn from it is never lost.
Many have started working in startups just for these skills, and if, later, it doesn’t work out for them, they use these skill sets in established companies. Even big companies' value this experience a lot. Companies have created new positions like “entrepreneur in residence” to bring some adrenaline into the working of startups.
This clearly proves even established companies value the skills you acquire from startups. Further, with new ventures like the Make in India in operation and many angel investorsc willing to invest in new innovation, problems related to funding and marketing of your product are gradually getting resolved. We might even expect starting up to be nearly risk free in a few years (fingers crossed).
Finally, I just want to say that you are born in a time which is considered by many to be the “golden age of entrepreneurship”. It is an age of dreams and opportunities. So, whatever dreams you
have been knitting together since your childhood, the time has come for you to act.