Before taking the first step towards being an entrepreneur, I wanted things done my way. I wanted my voice to be heard above the pack and my vision and road map to be followed. In short, I wanted to be a leader.
Five years ago, I began a business and took it from a start-up to a firm with global offices. I weathered countless cash flow issues and the ‘C’ word, of course, and thoroughly enjoyed the journey as a leader. Recently I was asked to reflect on that journey, and here are my thoughts.
Growing up in the land of leadership and vision: Dubai and the UAE, I thought it would be easy. Have a vision. Work hard, play hard. And everything will fall into place. Well, let me tell you, it’s not quite as easy as that! There is definitely a burden as well.
You have to make your business idea come to life and drive its vision, while paying attention to every other detail. Right from ensuring DEWA and telecom bills are cleared, to meeting staff salaries and vendor payments, the burden of leadership comes with many challenges.
I look at my business as a car, which has to keep moving, otherwise it will rust and not get me anywhere. My goal is to get the car from its current destination to the destination of my choice. The number of stops and the route I take is my decision as the driver.
Think of it this way, the vision is the engine. All the other things: sales, purchasing, and the other business pillars are the tires and other moving parts. However, without petrol (or nowadays, a battery top-up) nothing is going to move.
As entrepreneurs, we are the petrol, the energy, and we need constant refilling to enable us to keep moving the car to the destination of choice. The further the destination, the more the refueling. And let’s not forget the aches in the joints and the pressures on the body. However, as they teach us in business schools: no reward without risk, no result without effort. So, we have to bear the burden and put in the effort, or the car will not move.
Over the years, I feel I have found my sweet spot to counter the physical burden. I still ‘work hard’, but base it on a routine: timely work attendance, daily cashflow meetings and a quick check on the other pillars before dealing with day-to-day matters. I have found that some physical activity, meditation, and thankfulness in the mornings helps me put my thoughts in order. As for ‘play hard’, well, that’s the easy part!
You may think I solved the equation by tackling the physical and mental burden, but no. Being a business leader affects those around me. It has taken a toll on my family. Countless meals without dad or husband at the table, holidays where I was not present… these are some of the burdens that come with leadership. However, in due time and with the blessings of the Almighty, I have somewhat moved away from the daily grind to spend more time with family.
They say it’s lonely at the top, but I feel it’s an acceptable burden because it is an honour to lead. From family to staff, to the 150+ people who have a direct or indirect impact on my leadership, these people have given me their dreams to handle in some way or another.
It’s this burden that drives me back to work every day as it’s an honour to lead my team and my family. I feel eternally blessed in being their leader, and I will make all their dreams come true!
So, take on the burden and lead from the front.
Pravesh V. Jethwani, founder and chief executive officer of VeeChem Global
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