Fly that Rocket

Did you guys get to see Rocket Singh, Salesman of the Year? I tell you now, that movie is probably going to do more for entrepreneurship in India than all the mentors, associations and networks put together.

This is a movie about Harpreet Singh Bedi (HP), an honest-to-god Sikh boy from Mumbai, whose first job after struggling through college is that of another struggle—he sells computers for the ironically named AYS (“At Your Service”) IT solutions, where regular business is about bribing purchase managers and thugging customers.

Our morally upright HP, however, is not of the same mold. He predictably runs foul of his boss when his refusal to bribe a purchase manager costs them a client. He is humiliated for this and is restricted to cold calling, thanks to which the workload for his colleagues is doubled. He, of course, becomes the butt of their jokes, insults and paper rockets.

Our HP is literally in the dumps. So what does he do? True to the Sikh entrepreneurial traits, HP channels all that humiliation into starting his own company—right under the noses of his bosses! Using one small lead and roping in a couple of other unhappy employees, HP starts Rocket Sales Corporation.

HP and his team are true jugaadus. Their stationery comes from the AYS office supplies, their contact number is a vacant AYS line, their client list is AYS’s dead list of clients, and their servicing hours start when AYS’ shuts. They undercut AYS rates and offer unbeatable deals.

In no time, Rocket Corp really starts to fly and lead the market. And all this while, HP and his team are still at AYS! This, my friends, is a fictional tale of entrepreneurship that has many relevant lessons for us. First and foremost, it tells us why one turns entrepreneur: to be one’s own boss.

Yes, it’s true. Most of us hate our jobs—and our bosses. I mean, there are about five-odd million jobs for a billion of us in this country. How many of us will land up at the company of our choice, have half-decent bosses and colleagues, and do what we enjoy?

HP’s tale also tells us that if you cannot work within the system, use it to work around it. It tells us that the best way to start a business is while still at your job. Just look at the advantages. You have tons of free resources— office space, internet, stationery, printers, an office line, computers and maybe even a coffee vending machine if you are lucky. And nobody would mind you working late. Heck, you may even get commended for it.

Plus, you will still have your salary, and so the funding bit is sorted. In case you enter the same line of business as your company, you will have the advantage of knowing your competition inside out. And when you want to break out, you will probably know who all will come with you.

But most of all, imagine the look on your boss’ face when you tell him you are entering the field against him. MasterCard can’t even dream of buying that.

AUGUST SHARK is a once-failed, second time successful bootstrapper who resides in Mumbai. He can be contacted at august@stumpspeak.com.

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August Shark, Rocket Singh, speak, stump