Being a first generation entrepreneur in Kashmir

Bottlenecks FGEs face

Sameer Malik

Word ‘Entrepreneur’ is very common in Kashmir. Enough to evoke a yawn! Or a cliché to talk about when talking with colleagues and friends. Does it feel like emancipation when you are alone and not talking about it? Don’t worry, it‘s not your fault. For 20 years, ‘entrepreneurs’ and ‘startups’ are two keywords that doubled in Google Search. It has become rant and many times, we too think about starting a small business of our own. Let’s first try to understand ‘First Generation Entrepreneurs of Kashmir’. Are they different from regular Kashmiri entrepreneurs? They are so busy in their lives that they find it hard to remember the names and addresses of all their acquaintances. Specifically, a first-generation industrialist in Kashmir spends more time with banks, in interface with government departments, transport agencies, suppliers, than with family or at the factory for that matter.

Who are first-generation entrepreneurs (FGE)?

They are actually the wealth creators and fresh leaders. The major difference is that a First Generation Entrepreneur can invest a small amount with the risk of losing it all while an established one is ‘Risk-Safe’ or probably with a portfolio. The fear of investment is attached with both and both need dedication and must be industrious workers. For every businessperson all days are not the same; consistency is the most important. First Generation Entrepreneurs are the fellows who repetitively ask themselves ‘How to stay motivated throughout the day, month, and year? How to overtake/surpass the competitors? How to be more productive?’

Even today FGE is not a symbol of business prestige here in Kashmir. The regulatory entities, banks and other elements of the external business environment in Kashmir take time to show confidence in First Generation Entrepreneurs of Kashmir.

How are the First Generation Entrepreneurs of Kashmir doing?

FGE has a strong ideology to win the long road race. With the advent of the modern marketing concept and innovative business plan, FGE can easily create demand and find buyers to fulfil their needs. Specifically, First Generation Industrialists have competed ferociously with traditional businesses of Kashmir. Since half a decade First Generation Industrialists are negotiating credits with banks, waiting for seasons, waiting for favourable business policies by regulatory agencies, expecting favourable environment.

Where are First Generation Entrepreneurs in Kashmir?

They are everywhere. Some will start a cooking startup, others will opt for food business; few will go for logistics occupation, few will provide vehicles on rent for these logistics; some will create a payment gateway, others will cater the security to that gateway. One way or another, they are trying to link into the ideal universal chain, the rest are in education, healthcare, retail, e-commerce and mobile communication space, besides many others.

The perpetual struggle to retain the reputation is the vital factor in entrepreneurship.

The Challenging Road

Being a first-generation entrepreneur makes things a little more about survival guide for those who want to chart their own course and be their own boss. Ten years from now, kids may look back at these successful entrepreneurs and will copy them. Kick start your journey to being a successful entrepreneur with these habits: Read a lot, set short-term and long-term goals, connect with positive people, be humble. Get ready for the hurdles if you choose to walk down this path.

Get into value creation, create jobs, manufacture, and process, pack.  That will help our highly leveraged economy and can be causing its recovery in long run. Importing commodities, infusing debt to the state, restricting capital investment, with stringent lending policies, declining liquidity, hard access to credit will only increase inflation, increase unemployment, put more below the poverty line.

Interrogation

FGEs in Kashmir have answered existential questions from family, friends, and strangers too.  To all aspiring FGEs be ready for annoying and sometimes depressing questions and topics, but don’t get frustrated and continue focusing on the important things in your venture. Be ready for that interrogatory session?  Even getting into business with the highest qualification and other credentials in Kashmir is going to be an uphill task, may it interface with external business entities, finding a match or even getting along with family.

Lost Outlooks for FGE

With no one to look up to for specific business advice at home, your own expectation of challenges isn’t as realistic as it should be. They face unseen challenges and unexpected rivalries in the journey. They might get lost because of the lack of maturity in the path. Are you ready for the be-wilderness and bafflement? We have traditionally a close-knit Kashmiri society, people here will talk about you no matter what you do, I must say IGNORE, go with your gut feeling.

Solitary walk

With high-Risk Quotient, it was always going to be a solitary walk. Even FGE won’t be aware of the breadth and depth of risks involved in one’s own enterprise. Be aware of the advice from your folks. It was meant to be a lone-wolf walk, so you will justify it necessarily. You will fall, rise, collapse again but all it matters is how long you can stand alone. If you cross the specific time successfully, you are no longer the ‘Solitary King’. Now, you are the ‘Sole King’.

Low-pitch endorsement in Kashmir

Well, you won’t be rewarded instantaneously. And you know what you will get in the beginning? A ‘Low-pitch’ appraisal of pessimism and maybe a demotivating message that might lead you to the wrong path, but don’t lose faith. Are you geared up to hear the words you never wanted to?

There you are, cross this bridge and you will be on your way to beat the hurdles you are facing in the First Generation Entrepreneurial journey.

Settled as a bootstrapper industrialist in Kashmir, Sameer Malik has spent nearly a decade working at Delloite and Coke in Gulf and India. He has a master’s degree in finance