Earlier today, I got asked why I have such a huge commitment to entrepreneurs and, more importantly, how I got into the addictive world of entrepreneurship. I had to take a pause to reflect on it, but in the immediacy of having to come up with an answer when put on the spot, I mentioned “desperation” and “jugaad.” Enclosed are my thoughts on these two key—albeit not the only—drivers for my lifelong commitment to entrepreneurship.

I’ve often heard it said that desperation is the mother of invention, and in my journey as an entrepreneur, I’ve found this to be profoundly true. Desperation often gets a bad rap but it has been a powerful motivator for me, propelling me to start my ventures and driving me to overcome personal and financial challenges. It’s this sense of urgency that has fueled my creativity, determination, and resilience. But there’s another secret ingredient to my success: the beauty of “jugaad”. For those unfamiliar, jugaad is a Hindi word that loosely translates to a creative, frugal innovation. It’s about finding clever solutions with limited resources. Think of it as a blend of improvisation and ingenuity. Jugaad is the art of making things work with what you have, and believe me, it has been my superpower!

Early into my career in Canada, as I began combining my engineering background with my newfound love for business strategy, jugaad became my go-to approach. I was always trying to help those around me find workable solutions. The idea was to build something with whatever could be used, whatever was available, whatever was possible. This mindset allowed me to create practical and effective solutions from the resources at hand. The really interesting piece is how the desperation fed the jugad. It was the desperation that forced me to think outside the box. When traditional methods and resources were unavailable, I had to develop unique solutions to problems. This necessity-driven creativity was, and continues to be, a cornerstone of my entrepreneurial journey. Desperation often lowered the perceived risk of entrepreneurship for me and made jugaad look great. When my alternatives were bleak, starting a business seemed like a viable path despite its inherent risks. This mindset shift allowed me to embrace entrepreneurship with a boldness I might not have had otherwise. Leveraging the intutitive inclination for jugaad, I was able to turn constraints into opportunities, finding low-cost ways to test ideas and pivot quickly.

Building on the perspective further, the urgency created by desperate circumstances provided me with the motivation needed to overcome obstacles. This determination led to long working hours, a relentless pursuit of my goals, and a willingness to learn and adapt quickly. In those moments, my desperation became a powerful driving force. And with jugaad, I was able to keep pushing forward, knowing that every challenge had a clever solution waiting to be discovered. Because of the resourcefulness driven by the situation, I learned to do more with less, a crucial trait for any startup. This habit, I would contend, continues to serve me well, helping me to maximize the potential of whatever I have at my disposal. Desperation often also forced me to focus intensely on creating value for my customers. This focus on customer satisfaction and loyalty has been essential for my business success. I knew that providing genuine value was the key to building a sustainable venture. Jugaad helped me to deliver this value creatively and cost-effectively, ensuring my customers always got more than they expected.

In building the perspective, I drew inspiration from entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, who, after being ousted from Apple, founded NeXT and acquired Pixar, eventually leading to his triumphant return to Apple. Howard Schultz, who, raised in poverty, built Starbucks into a global brand, driven by his desperation to escape his circumstances. Oprah Winfrey, who, overcoming a challenging childhood, built a media empire from sheer determination. And I also noticed, observed, followed, and learned from countless other jugaadu’s who used jugaad around me on a dairly basis to solve their immediate problems.

While desperation ignited my entrepreneurial spark, I also learned that it’s crucial to balance this drive with sustainable business practices. Here’s what I intentionally focused on:

• Avoiding Burnout: The intense drive from desperation can lead to burnout. I had to learn how to balance hard work with self-care. his meant setting boundaries, taking breaks, and recognizing the importance of mental and physical well-being.
• Long-term Planning: While short-term survival is crucial, early on, through significant oversights that led to (for that time) unsustainable lossed, I learnt that one has intentionally bring in a focus on long-term sustainability and growth.
• Building a Support Network: A strong support network of mentors, peers, and advisors provided me with guidance and helped me navigate the negative effects of desperation. Most of them, I continue to have strong relationships till date.

Desperation and jugaad together have been unstoppable forces on my entrepreneurial journey. Here’s to thinking creatively and making the most of every situation! They pushed me to innovate, persevere, and achieve my goals. However, as highlighted above, I also had to learn the importance of balancing this drive with sustainable practices to ensure long-term success. Desperation can be a powerful motivator, but when combined with the beauty of jugaad, it becomes an unstoppable force. Here’s to welcoming desperation and embracing jugaad, thinking creatively, and making the most of every situation on the road to entrepreneurial success!

Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Jugaad #StartupLife #Resourcefulness #Motivation