Are you all-in?

There is so much free ‘gyaan’ on what entrepreneurship really is. I have advice for everybody who is reading all of that in the hope of becoming an entrepreneur some day - You don’t learn anything till you start yourself! It’s exactly like poker. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur and haven’t played poker - play today! You will fall in love with it.

This is a fun, yet intriguing comparision between entrepreneurship and poker.

Not a sure shot win?

1. Founding Team: The founding team is like the set of cards in your hand. Unless you have good cards, don’t even bet on seeing the flop(next set of cards). Even if the founding team is very good, you need to get the right employees(cards on the board) to make it a winning combination.

 
2. Uncertainty: Even though you can see your cards you are never sure about what can happen in the game. In fact, the beauty of the game lies in the uncertainty!

3. Risk vs Reward: The best players always gauge the risk and reward better than the others. This plays a huge role in winning the game. It's not just about taking risks, it's about taking risks smartly.

4. Odds: Statistics and odds are against you when you are starting in a poker tournament, similar to when you start as an entrepreneur. Yet if you play your cards right, you will always beat the odds and win.

5. Stupid vs Brave: You have to make important decisions very quickly in the game, but there is a very thin line between being stupid and being brave. When you bet a lot of money and then you realize you may not have the best cards, do you go all-in or fold? You never know when lady luck may pay you a visit :)

6. Addiction: Whether you win or lose once you play this game you will most likely get addicted to it. Some get addicted beyond reason :)

7. Learning - The best players always pay attention to the details and keep learning. You never graduate in entrepreneurship or poker!

8. Experience: With experience you learn the game more and know what to avoid. Yet it is not uncommon to see newbies win and experienced players lose. What a game! :)

In entrepreneurship, just like in poker, its not the best hand that wins, its the one who plays their hand best that wins! Keep playing, keep learning - until you win.

What's your take on poker vs entrepreneurship?

Murphy is right!

We have committed many mistakes through our startup journey so far and we have made efforts to learn from them. On a lighter note, here is some 'gyaan' for anybody who wants to be an entrepreneur.

- Murphy's laws are true! Always remember this!
- Life screws you when you least want it to. How logical!
- Time flies. Again when you least want it to :)
- Communal forces act against you. Always!

- Don't be so f**king strategic! Move your a** and understand what you really don't understand.

- If you think your idea is very innovative, IT DOES NOT MATTER! What matters most is that you execute it.

- You do not have infinite time.

- For the first time in your life you'd be hoping that Friday doesn't come soon. You always want it to be a Monday. Think about what you used to think when you were working in your cushy job :)

There is a lot of entrepreneurship advice and experiences available online but this is just a lighthearted look at my learnings.

Why Mahendra Singh Dhoni will make an excellent entrepreneur

As I was talking to my friend about entrepreneurship and my experiences so far, we slowly delved into the topic of who would make a good entrepreneur and then this question struck me

Which Indian celebrity would make a very good entrepreneur?

My pick is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Here’s why

1. Leadership: Who better than Dhoni? He is a natural leader, he knows how to maneuver his troops. He is arguably one of the best captains we have known. He leads by example and proves his mettle when its most needed. Who can forget how he drove India home in the world cup final, one of the most important matches in our cricketing history.

2. Risk taking ability: He boldly takes risks and is not too worried about following the status quo. He is calm and composed under pressure.

3. Ability to learn from failures: He knows how to handle defeat. Failure does not rattle him. The recent England tour is a testament to this fact. He remained calm and accepted that the team was beaten by a better side. Everybody knows how India returned the favour to England.

4. Fighting spirit: Irrespective of the situation he does not give up, he sticks on till the end. This is a very important quality of an entrepreneur. Unsurprisingly, many believe he is the best finisher in the game right now.

5. Confidence: Extremely confident in his abilities and the team’s potential, and has taken the Indian cricket team to great heights.

Who do you think will make a good entrepreneur?