How my failure taught me to make the right decisions

Before starting the story, I just wanna convey that I am just a graduate working in a startup and working for my own business as a product manager but I think the one who has seen failures can guide much better than a person on the track of success.

I know many of you have compromised your careers just because of your friends, peer pressure, age, relationship, etc. and I am sure many of you:

1. Took the wrong stream/course in your school.
2. Did want to go for medical but ended up engineering, and a similar situation happens with students of other courses.
3. Currently involved with the Job which is not related to what you have studied and spend lacs of rupees and around 4 years (35040 hours)

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Let’s Begin

Before gaining some knowledge and insights let's unfold my story.

The story began with a thought process back when I was in college. From the very start, I love building products from scratch or help the existing ones to grow. I have worked with many startups, built my own, generated revenue, built a huge network, literally knows people from all the 29 states, basically I wanted to do everything and I remember my sleeping hours were restricted to 3–4 hours for more than a year. We all know how our mind wanders, and the same was happening with me when it hit me hard that should I go for MBA to get the knowledge that I need to run the ventures, or take the job in a startup. (I am not an MNC kinda guy. No Regrets). Bewildered right. I met a lot of people, discussed with them, got mixed reviews, and started preparation but just left after 15 days as I didn’t want to spend lacs of rupees and increase the operational cost (yes I know this jargon :)) and took the placement offer.

Next was the dilemma between two offers, one was from an in-house startup that recently got funded, and one was from the Bangalore-based startup. Just like everyone I went with the secured one, I still regret why I took that decision and I realized money is inversely proportional to freedom. I joined the company, gave my best, went on-site as an intern only, I was at the top of my performance but was not happy :(. Again took the decision of trying for an MBA and gave my first attempt without any preparation and of course, the result was the worst. After my results, I just thought lemme try for a year and give my best. I left my job, broke up before the exam (I still regret my behavior and the bad decisions of leaving my job, and breaking up I took). I cleared a few of the calls not the top layer cream but the backup cone. 5 colleges in hand and not took the single one. Why? My mind was into the zone that never settles for less than what you deserve. Why is that every time we settle up especially with our career?

I remember when I went for my admission counseling for some other college and took admission in some other. I just went to see the college just because my flight was in the late evening. And that was not all I ended up taking the stream I was not aware of :). Funny right. But I am sure this is what happens with > 90% of aspiring individuals. Coming Back to where I was, MBA right, after my results, I actually sat down and asked myself all the interview questions that are actually helpful for self-introspection

1. What are my plans 5 years down the line?
2. What is the ROI?
3. Will, it actually helps me 10 years down the line
4. Why I want to do, just because it is a status symbol, peer pressure, and many more reasons
5. What if I invest half of my fees in some venture.

I decided this time either go for best, or plan, and invest in your growth.

What next???

1. I started investing heavily in the stock market (Do your research, I started investing after one year of comprehensive research and study).
2. I earned two certifications in a span of a week.
3. I started reading about what I am actually interested in.
4. I started giving more time to my business and increase my yearly sales by more than 100%

5. Currently in a planning phase of a startup (can’t reveal)

These were a few of the decisions that I took and a few are in progress related to my career and decision making is not restricted to here. A few of my other activities in the past from which I learned were:

1. Toxic Relationship - college days
2. Wrong peer group (yes you can’t always select the best) but the ones which are there are the best
3. 6 relationships (difficult to believe but its the truth)
4. Tried wannabe

Now you can imagine the immense amount of learning one can take from these hurdles.

Last thing I just wanna convey that never give up, never settle, and never adjust. Learn from your mistakes and accelerate your power to make the right decisions. Decision-making is not a subject that you can learn. It comes from within and with experiences. Someone told me this very inspiring sentence

One who fails early can handle the bigger challenges than the one who fails at the age of 50

Good Luck…