As an entrepreneur you find very less time for family members, and it becomes more necessary to find time from them, because business pressure when coupled with family problem is suicidal for the business.”

Sidharth Routray studied for 12 years at Kendriya Vidyalaya No-1, unit-IX, Bhubaneswar and all his strong foundation was the contribution of his teaches and friends at the school. After the school he went on to join the National Defence Academy, He belonged to the 90-Course, Hunter Squadron. The strong man and the brave heart, what he is now are because of the extra-ordinary days at NDA. He did excellent in the academy and his strengths were outdoor activities where he always lead the team in map-reading, camping, trekking, mountaineering, cross country marathon, hockey, football and also academics.

After his MBA, he served as an ERP-Software Consultant at PCS, Mumbai and worked for various projects on E-commerce, ERP and software development. The erg for doing things on his own, to become HIS OWN BOSS, made him to forgo his international career and move back to his home place, Bhubaneswar.

With his exposure at Mumbai, varied experience, his education, his exposure to internet, and inspiration for his wife Dr.Anita Misra, Ayurvedic doctor and a citizen of America, he ventured into business, one supporting each other financially.

The Payiks – Payik Sentinels Pvt. Ltd: With very limited money Rs.3 Lakh, this was the best option. And at the same time, it started with a commitment. When resigning from the ARMY, his commanders only let him go, with a promise that he has to lead 1000 men. With the background of NDA and IMA he started this company to provide security services, and the company has reach a man-power of 500, and a turnover of 1.5 corers in 4 Years. After the initial success of “The Payiks”, he moved on to the dream project, the Biosourcing.

Biosourcing.com (p) Ltd. The growing market for alternate medicine and organic products, and the vast forest resource of medicinal plant in the forests and organic land of the tribal areas of Orissa, helped him to start an Export Unit. The best part of the venture is 100% Organic product with no fertilizers and pesticides, and better prices for poor tribal farmers. Its been a life time risk with funds worth 3 Crore from family, friends and banks, and family home mortgaged. And Yet to break-even, and lot more to do. Now Biosourcing is got its own farmers, with more than 1000 hector of “certified Organic Land”, a multipurpose processing unit, a world class QC and R&D Lab, a export house, and a retail venture, as Nature-Natural Health World. The Value Chain is quite long, and the company is growing slowly and steadily with all the limited resources and constraints.

Sojourn at IBS…

Cultural Shock: From the training fields, with Guns and Games, to preparing trial balance, P&L Statement of companies, at IBS Hyderabad, was big time cultural shock, but at the same time, the faculty at Hyderabad, were excellent, and from 1s and 2s in many papers, I could reach the toppers in 3 months time. After 6 months I got my-self transferred to Bombay.

There is more to MBA than Studies: The exposure to metro life and media, and a trip to Bombay, made this clear, there is more to MBA, and that is called street smartness, and hoards of common sense. MBA is an attitude you develop and carry along. The life at Mumbai, was less of academic, and more of street life, and interestingly most of the faculties were from the corporate houses, so got a close look at the corporate world from the classrooms itself. Interestingly being the topper in Marketing, joined a software company in the final placement.

Jack of all Traits : The fascinations of marketing of software, made me to find myself joining, an IT company, PCS. Thanks to the multi discipline exposure at IBS, which make you fit for any-work in any kind of company and with quality.

Advice to Wannabe Entrepreneurs….

The End is always Sweet: Being a entrepreneur is like, changing your DNA structure, especially if you are a first generation business man, from a middle class family. The first step is like, jumping from the 10 m diving board, of the swimming poll, for the first time. The life becomes like a sine-curve, up-down-up-down-up, and you keep on walking on a rocky beach, with waves ready to swap you down, but one thing is guaranteed, you keep your patience and derive what ever internal strength you have, and continue, the end is really sweet. For a small example, when I left job, from PCS, and started an “Online Market Research Company called ConsumerRaj.com”, struggled day and night for 8 months, and failed finally. When I started applying for Jobs, I was having 10 offers from various companies at the worst of time, in the industry scenario of the dot.com bust, and that to as a Project Manager. It was like jumping 8 Years in a span of 8 months.

Being Alchemist: Very simple formula, is till the time a “You can manage a square meal”, the entrepreneur has to continue, and if you have read “Alchemist”, you dream something from the deepest part of your heart; the whole world will conspire to get it fulfilled. There is immense potential, in India. And go capture it. Go for the services industry, the investment is Low, and the returns are high, and it needs professionals, and Indians have money to spend on services. Unfortunately 90% or more, entrepreneur in our country is not educated, and they choose business as their last option.

Being Ethical: In addition to all this, you can earn money by being ethical, stick to it, once in business, you get lot of opportunity to become un-ethical, because you see everybody else doing it, but what ever money you make by doing a ethical business, is with lot of peace and happiness.

Making Money: The only way to make lot of money is to build organization, to build turnover, to build team, and money will follow you. Never follow money. You must realize the hell and heaven difference of Signing salary cheques, and receiving salary cheques. It feels so satisfying; when you pay your people and your team good; when you realize you have created JOB opportunities for others and your company is taking care of so many families.

Take care of your family: As an entrepreneur you find very less time for family members, and it becomes more necessary to find time from them, because business pressure when coupled with family problem is suicidal for the business.

Life is perfect when you….

• Do well to people, be the first one to take a accident victim to the hospital.
• Lead India, do your bit for India, not wait for someone to join you.
• Make friends and maintain them, all of them will come handy in different situation and   location.
• Travel and see the world.
• Work hard, and enjoy harder.

De-stressing for me is…

• Go climb mountains, it only make me more competitive.
• Play with my kid and other kids of my family.
• Catch up with friends and party.
• Travel Places as a Bag-Packer.
• Take occasional “Ayurvedic Panchkarma Therapy”.

Biggest Lesson…

• Karna Hai to Karna Hai, (just do it), AND “Aage Bhad Gaya to Piche Hatne Ka Nahi”,   (Never Look back or fall back)

Ideal…

• A mixture of “Gandhi Ji” and “Subash Bose”. I always cherish the idea, of being a fighter,   and believe in the idea of giving blood for the country, but as I am growing up, I have   realized that “Gandhi Giri” works and works wonderfully, in every sphere of my life and   business.

Wadala Gang…

• The “Wadala Gang”, is always active and live, and cannot imagine a life with-out them,   especially the life after retirement. Not in regular touch with other friends, who were not   part of the “Wadala Gang”.

Advice…

• MBA is an attitude, and must work towards it. Its an attitude to enjoy hard work, its at   attitude to think differently, and think big.
• Management is all about “Application of Common Sense”: You must develop   hoards of common sense in you, read lot of news paper and magazines, and books.
• Chose Company, and not let company choose you: Start working on your dream   companies, from the day you join the college, drink, eat, sleep, with those companies in   your mind.
• Take a Break – Try being an “Entrepreneur”, even if you fail, it only improves and   speeds up your growth on the corporate ladder. After being an entrepreneur, you never   face an interview, the interviewer faces you.