Life is a great teacher, bringing us numerous lessons each day through its myriad experiences, if we are willing to look for them. However, since we can only learn so much from our own endeavours in one lifetime, it is prudent, in our pursuit of knowledge, to also absorb the life lessons of others. And with so many biographies, memoirs, and autobiographies out there, there is no dearth of options.
One of my latest, and quite spontaneous, picks was a memoir by Manish Vij titled Brick By Brick. One of the endorsements on the back cover described the book as an “exceptional guide for an aspiring entrepreneur…” and that spoke to my conscience. After all, in every corporate employee lives an aspiring entrepreneur, who tends to come alive during chai breaks, annual appraisal cycles, and on days that are perhaps rougher than others. So, I thought: why not read this one while you wait for your own time to come? Keep that desire alive.
In this book, Manish Vij very lucidly narrates his quite serendipitous journey as an entrepreneur, which began with a modest start during his graduation days in Indore. He recalls how helping his father in a trading business introduced him to the world of business-oriented thinking. Later, during the final days of his graduation, a simple need to enhance his résumé led to his first entrepreneurial venture, KabadiBazaar.com, his first claim to fame.
He goes on to explain how his willingness to act, network, and pay heed to advice created a virtuous chain of events that ultimately made him one of the pioneers of digital marketing and e-commerce in India, at a time when the industry was still in its nascent stage. He co-founded Quasar, India’s leading digital media agency; SVG Media/Tyroo, a pioneering AdTech company; and Letsbuy.com, a prominent e-commerce platform. His ventures attracted investments from top venture capital firms and established global business collaborations
The book, to some extent, explains the why of his journey but falls a bit short on the how. There could have been more detailed accounts from the author on the methods and actions that helped him build his network, ventures, and relationships. However, the book does excel in the what, offering some very actionable insights.
Here are a few noteworthy ones:
- Dream – Deal – Do: There are enough takers in this world willing to invest in people who dare to dream and follow that up with relentless action. We just need to be out there and make the right deal.
- Relationships Form the World: Whether it’s landing your next big meeting or navigating a rough patch, it is always our relationships that carry us through.
- Find Your Escape Velocity: Our ideas and thoughts are like rockets, they must find their escape velocity. They’re just waiting for the right thrust to break through and find their place in the universe.
- The Attitude of Gratitude is Everything: A simple gesture that reminds us of our humble existence and the importance of being thankful to the universe and its enablers.
- Optimize for a Common Value System: A critical factor in transforming a good work environment into a great one. After all, when everyone is in sync, it creates a harmonious orchestra.
- Never Run Out of Cash: A lesson echoed by Google’s co-founder and quoted in the book, cash is still king. For all the fancy financial metrics a business may have, the one thing that can sustain it through a Black Swan event is having enough cash on hand.
- Story Rules: The world loves a good story. If you want to build, expand, and sell, find yours.
And finally, the best insight of them all:
“Allow Serendipity to Be Your Friend.”
Sometimes it’s a chance meeting, a good omen, or an unexpected chain of events. Let it be part of the grand design, and submit to it.
All in all, Brick By Brick is a fairly easy and light read, offering a glimpse into what it takes to take charge of your own business. It may not fall into the must-read category, but if you do happen to pick it up, it certainly won’t be a bad choice.
