That day I got a call from Rajesh Uncle (Name not changed because there was no need!)
This post is that conversation in short!
People involved ( Rajesh Uncle(RU) and Tejas Nimbargi (ME))
Description: Rajesh Kulkarni is settled in US. Managing Director with a Top Insurance Company, he is a big guy. My role model in every sense. Now disappointed with me because I did not do MS in Biomedical Engineering. He loves Academics 🙂
I am a Biomedical Engineer, working in a Software Company as a SAP Consultant, resigned with nothing in hand, but with a vision and an idea.
Vision to complete my MBA from IIM
An idea to set up a QSR.
RU: How are you Tejas?
ME: I am fine. How are you Mama?
RU: We are all fine here. (He knew my next question would be how is Mami and their son, so he told this to me beforehand so that I won’t waste his time. Man, I know how much he loves time, and how much I respect him for that).
So I had a talk with your mom. Quickly tell me what’s going on in your life.
ME: (After taking a long gushing breath) Mama, I have resigned from the company.
RU: Oh… you can carry on without waiting for my monosyllables.
ME: (A little shocked with this reply but continuing my answer) I am planning to do my MBA next year and have a business idea in my mind. It was not possible for me to do both these things with my job. So I have quit my job. Now I am serving my notice peri….
RU: So what’s your plan? Just the gist.
ME:(I knew I had to be short and to the point so I explained to him my point. For people who haven’t read, here it is.
RU: Well. I am not interested your business model. The business plan you forwarded to me, I have already deleted that.
Answer some of questions:
1) Who will make Pav Bhaji?
2) What if he agrees and then doesn’t turn up the next day?
3) What if his Pav Bhaji is just not up to the mark?
How well are you prepared to handle these scenarios??
ME: (I somehow had no definite answers to these questions. I tried to explain him that we would try to talk to other cooks, make sure he comes daily blah blah blah…
He patiently waited for my lame answers to get over)
RU:
Teju(he was in a lighter mood now) I have always known you as a level headed person and that you would do good. But one thing I wanted to hear from you is ” I l make my own Pav Bhaji”
You are trying to sell a product, build a brand , but if you do not know how to make a Pav Bhaji, how do you believe that customers would come and still maintain their loyalty.
I do not oppose to your idea of having a cook. But you must also know how your product is made.
If you cleaner doesn’t turn up, you should be ready to sweep the floor. If your waiter doesn’t turn up, you should personally go and take orders with a good smile on your face.
At the same time, treasure the person who will make Pav Bhaji to you. Ultimately it is your product which is going to create value for your company and your cook would play a pivotal role in that. Do not treat him as a commodity.
Never dream about franchising now, (I had mentioned that plan of ours in the near future) take number of years to build a brand, delayed gratification is always a pleasure later.
Concentrate on just one center that you will be opening, make your Pav Bhaji great. Call yourself a chef. Invite everyone to your house and make them eat your Pav Bhaji. If they say that it is good enough to be sold in the market, then think of opening a Pav Bhaji center.
Do not worry about VC. I will come to India and eat your Pav Bhaji. If it is good enough I will be your VC. But your Pav Bhaji should make me come back to you.
I hope you are getting me.
I had no words to describe what I felt. These were valuable lessons. Although I knew how to make Pav Bhaji and was cognizant with most of the lessons he gave, this one was gem of an advice.
This was one advice which had care, concern, warning and lot of blessings in it.
I could not thank him more. We talked about general things for some time and the call ended with a punchline…
“Do Not Build Business, Build Value. Do not Follow Money, Follow Ethics. All the Best to you”
What a conversation it was….
Thanks for your patient reading.