Entrepreneur, Blogger, Traveller, Pet Lover, Networker, Social Drinker, Party Animal, Movie Addict, Startup Enthusiast, Organic Gardner, Avid Reader....
Yesterday I went to NABARD office in Madurai and realised it was a SOHO at their Madurai officers house. Also it was NEWS that all NABARD offices in smaller cities are SOHO.
I had a long discussion with NABARD representative, but there was no disturbance from family members.
My personal experience from a SOHO has been horrible and so has been the case of most of my friends.
At a time when I was convinced that SOHO is a failure, I came across a government office which has successfully pioneered SOHO.
Starting up is always fun!!! You are always left with limited resources and you keep coming up with ways to counter limitations!!!
One such situation is setting up a corporate office for Temple Town Coffee!!! Though we are fortunate enough to have the support group companies (Cogzidel Technologies Pvt & Cogzidel Consultancy Services) to bootstrap us with required resources and infrastructure, we didn’t want to bother them too much with our request.
Also we didn’t want to disturb the professional culture of those entities with would unruly startup work culture!!
Also we spend most of the time on driving in search of locations and meeting people. So, we found it unnecessary on investing for a office and was working out ways!!!
That is when my co-founder Balki, came with the recommendation of setting up a SOCO(Small Office Car Office).
Our SOCO includes;
Swift Dzire car!!
Reliance 4G WIPOD!!
2 Laptops!!
One official mobile!!
Power Bank!!
Portable Power Inverter Adapter!!
A look at our powerful gadgets;
That’s my Laptop!!!SOCO PhoneBalki’s Laptop
So, mostly we use Truck Bay Lane’s as our office.
This is our new Madurai office address;
Truck Bay Lane
NH7, Nilakottai.
Balki working at T2C’s Small Office Car Office at NH7, Nilakottai.
Since we are not a Technology company, Balki and me decided not to invest on Gadgets. So, we got contentented with gadgets which are not being used by our friends.
I got this broken Laptop of my wife, which is damaged but with small tweaks, uninstalling unnecessary applications and downgraded version of Linux, I’m able to get a good performing system.
This is our customer support phone which was given to Balki by his aunt.
Also this is Balki’s old Laptop which he uses to work and do some weight lifting exercise ;)!!
I’m fortunate enough to get back to startup life and by comfort zone of breaking and fixing this!!
For now heading to my kitchen to explore the recipe of Karupatti Kaapi!!!
I was 24 when I read this book Rich Dad Poor Dad and it’s been 13 years!!!
Before getting into the subject, let me give a brief about me!!!
I’m an entrepreneur managing 3 entities which are into Technology Services, Management Consulting and Coffee Business.
Also I’m fairly doing good with my business!!!
But now where I keep failing for last 13 years is my efforts on creating residual income, which keeps coming even if I don’t work.
In these 13 years I’ve;
Purchased Properties
Invested in MF’s & Stocks
Did Angel Funding & Seed Funding
After doing all these I found India to be over priced on Properties, MF’s & Stocks. Income from these investments are far less than what is showcased on the book.
All I can make is the profits that comes from exits and not from Rent or Dividends!!
Also I’ve burned my fingers on Angel & Seed Funding because I made these investments even before the Startup boom and almost all the entities I invested are dead!!!
But I always enjoyed the experience of being associated with a startup and diverse subject knowledge I gained!!!
With all these failed attempts I’ve come to the conclusion that India is not the right place for creating residual income.
Just looking for anyone who has followed Rich Dad Poor Dad recommendation and made it big in India or is India a wrong place for Rober Kiyosaki’s concepts??
Sometime’s calamities teaches us how we are dependant or addicted to technologies(or multiple technologies)!!!
It has been 24+ hours since I stayed without internet & mobile signal!!! Eventually there was no Facebook, Instagram, Email, Whatsapp or Talking to friends!!!
I didn’t know how to while away time as there was no radio or TV since there was no power!!!
Couldn’t venture out because of rains and winds and added to that, its all trees on the road!!! My own street was blocked by our mango tree which got uprooted!!!
After all this, I managed to while away the day with much difficulty… Once I woke up it was same situation on Internet, Power and mobile signal but the rains and winds have stopped, so I immediate decided to start to office!!! Nobody could contact me nor I could contact my office folks!!! Anyways I decided to goto office and check!!! To my surprise almost everyone was come before me!!!
Greatest relief after reaching was there was internet & electricity!!! And this is what I badly wanted!!! I couldn’t express the joy or relief!!!
After checking official email, the next thing is to update relatives and friends that we are safe!!!
Then wanted to do my banking transactions and tried to do a NEFT transfer!!! After crossing all the stages I got struck when I was waiting for OTP!!! Only then I realised there was no mobile signal to receive messages 🙂
Waiting to receive OTP!!
Though it is going to take 2-3 days to get back to normal!!! I could sense a great feel of relief!!! Now it is time for FB and Blog!!!
On the way to office it all trees on the road!!! But the surprise is people are back to normal life as always!!!
Chakrapani Street!!!Chakrapani Street!!!Chakrapani Street near Five Lights looks like a forest!!! The road got blocked!!Yet another hurdle to office!!! Another street in Kodambakkam!!!Street at Kodambakkam!!! Had to cross this to office!!!Grandmother’s Street!!!Coconut tree at my grandmother’s house!! This tree has sentimental value to me!!! It was planted before I was born, I’ve watered this tree & manures this tree!!! It is really tough to see something die during your lifetime 😦
The damage is more than expected but never see people complaining!!! People have started cleaning the roads without government participation!!!
As it is a norm for every cyclone, life has come to an halt this time too!!
No electricity!!!
Roads water logged and travelling is tough!!!
No electricity, No TV!!
Also we have declared holiday for our Chennai office folks… So, not much work to be engaged. Just talking to Madurai office folks and working on all pending tasks!!!
AnandNataraj 