I had written about leaving my corporate job and how I was doing a year ago. Too many things have happened since then and I'm excited every day. A former colleague was asking what is my year two update. I had brushed it aside that now I am not having time to write.
I noticed that this year has been super busy and my blog has gone un-updated. Either I was too busy to write or I did not feel the urge to pen down anything. I have to at least make one customary update so I continue my blog for the 19th year with at least one blog post. Likely, I will make this a short post... not one of those meandering blogs I've penned down before. Time is in short supply.
So, with that, here goes my story. For those who are new, here's my blog post of last year - Financial Independence: A year after leaving a corporate job.
A one-sentence summary is - I've gotten more busy than when I was working at Enphase. I've become a reluctant entrepreneur and gotten involved in a few companies.
My activities
First, an update on Dwaith. As I had written previously, one of my main reasons for charting out was to create a company (Dwaith), get a portfolio management service (PMS) license, and actively manage money.
I've realized that I cannot fight SEBI and bureaucracy. The best way to navigate is by becoming entrenched in the system. Dwaith has become a full-fledged SEBI-registered Investment Advisory service. I've actively refused clients so I can focus on giving quality returns to the ones I have until I can convert this operation into a PMS (or an AIF Cat 2/3). The PMS/AIF is just around the corner at the end of the year.
I am very thankful for some of my ex-colleagues who became my first customers. The returns have been phenomenal, but - more importantly, I get to interact with them on a regular basis which is even better. A lot more people have started approaching me now through word of mouth.
Secondly, I've got two great partners in the two businesses I'm closely involved in - Ramesh @ Zepco and Rajesh @ Power One. One is a startup and the other is a well-established company that is poised to take off. Both companies play in excellent fields with large opportunities set ahead of them.
We have a clear strategy and goalposts ahead at both these companies which is keeping me busy. From a five-day work week - I've suddenly got into a six-day workweek mode. I am not complaining.
That apart, I continue to meet quite a few new people and companies. I've realized that when people come to know that they can bank on you and will not take them for a ride, quite a few quality people approach you for an association. I've got a lot of good luck and help from people, so helping others is a way of paying forward.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Most importantly, I've realized India is poised for growth this decade. Nobody; not even ourselves can stop the growth. Young people with immense talent and potential are looking at creating new companies and sometimes, I wonder how people fresh out of college have the guts and gumption to start companies. I've become a reluctant entrepreneur by chance (I'm first to admit, it was not planned), and more importantly, I'm seeing young people around me being a lot more innovative and risk-taking.
Energy, power electronics, manufacturing, motors, and associated industries are poised for enormous growth. These are the areas where I am focusing on. I cannot comment on others. I think we in India will slightly tweak the China growth model to make it our own. Our opportunity set is even bigger than China's.
I was in China a few months back. I was completely taken aback at the kind of response a show like SNEC had. I was used to visiting Intersolar, REI, All Energy, etc in various countries before - but the sheer number of people attending the show in Shanghai blew my mind. Somewhere down the line, a hockey stick-type growth curve is waiting to unfold in countries like ours.
India is just getting started. Five years out, it would be interesting to see how things pan out.
I am super excited about the things I'm involved in. I think in some of the cases, we are charting out a new destiny. Here's a quote to sign off that I keep on my desk -
As your desire is, so is your will
As your will is, so is your deed
As your deed is, so is your destiny
Your deepest desire is your destiny
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
