5 Ways Running and Entrepreneurship are Similar

I have been running since more than an year and an entrepreneur from a little earlier than that. And, I have been thinking recently about how running and entrepreneurship are similar in some respects. Here's why -

You must be a little crazy to do it

Sure, some people run marathons - and surely enough, most others don't understand why. There doesn't seem to be any point in running without having any reason to. It is almost impossible for most people to understand why someone would wake up at 5am, on a weekend and dodge quite a few stares, dogs and run back to where they started from.

It is daunting to start

It is extremely hard to imagine being able to run a 5 or 10km trail, especially when you have been taking your vehicle out even to go to the store 200m away. You can justify that as being an attempt to save time, which is more precious than fuel of course (and which you will judiciously use to watch dumb shows on t.v), but the fact is that you are lazy to try something that takes more effort. No, you can't run much the day you start - you will lose your breath, your stomach will hurt, you lungs feel like they will burst. But, like they (Confucious or Lao Tsu?) say - A journey of a 1000 miles starts with a single step.

It is a mind game

Unlike other physical exercises, running is more a mind game than about your muscles. No, not when running short distances, i'm talking about long distance running. When you are physically drained and your legs start feeling heavy as logs, your mind has to concentrate only getting the next step right - toes to land before the heel does so you can keep going.

It is very personal and at times lonely

Running is an individual sport. You do not depend on a team mate to pass you the ball which you can convert to a goal. Many times, you will question your sanity and wonder if all of it is worth anything. You will even want to have somebody who would listen to you - but all your mates are busy with their own things. But that's when your mind needs to be stronger and keep going.

Having partners helps

Although it is personal and mostly individual, having a running buddy helps. Not the kind who will weigh you down but the kind who will inspire you to push yourself harder. Who makes you want to improve your pace, your mileage, discuss strategies to tackle a difficult trail. Having somebody with whom you can plan goals and then train together in order to achieve them makes a lonely journey much more enjoyable.

I may be entirely off the mark here, but I just wanted to corelate two things that I love doing. You may find

Half baked idea of the day

Long time since I blogged. Have a lot of things to write, but haven't had the time (read will to sit down and write) to. Anyway, inspired by a post on Upstart Advisors, I'm going to pen down my own half baked idea for the day. There are some more, which would do better out in the open rather than rotting somewhere in my notes as the projects to do 'next'.

So how many of us misplace important little things around the house, try finding them and just wish that we could give them a ring just the way we could to our cellphones. Things like keys, wallets, etc.

Here's the solution I have in mind - tiny stick-on strips of sensors (which go on the thing you want to track) which can be programmed and detected by a base station. The base station should be a box you can fix on a wall or similar. The sensor strips will not have a power source of their own and will come devoid of any information initially but should have a unique frequency assigned to them. They should be configured from the base station initially, the base station should store the i.d and assign it a human readable key to identify (such as keys or cellphone, etc). When you want to find your misplaced item, you select the key from the base station and it will send out a signal at the corresponding frequency. When the sensor detects this signal, it should get activated and somehow convert it into energy (if not possible then give it a small energy source) and beep. Voila you find your misplaced item!

What do you think?

If you borrow this idea and build something, do give me 5% of your profits :).

First official 10k!

Ho hum

"A person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed." - Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10 this Sunday. Didn't go very well. I thought I had them backed up to an external drive, but hadn't - lost all emails to TripNaksha i.ds. And that because I chose to use the entire disk for the fresh install. Even after that I could've recovered the data but copied the backup from the external drive. Kicking myself still. And, internet seems slow on this OS.

I haven't it mentioned right? I'm getting out of my partnership and am thinking what to do next. Reasons for this may best be avoided here. May take a huge financial hit because of this. Getting a job is not on the cards yet. Have been offered positions at a couple of startups I know in Hyderabad, but i'm not sure if i'll join them. Thinking up another project with a friend. Low investment needed and will leave me time to keep working on TripNaksha as well.

Have been invited to quite a few weddings this month more than 5, all in the last 10 days of this month, may attend only a couple. Gearing up for the 10k run this Sunday. Ran in the rain for the first time today. Yet to buy a new mobile phone and a pair of shoes. Thinking i'll decide the model, size, etc of the shoes by trying some out in stores here and then getting them from the U.S.

Activity clubs in Hyderabad

Original post here, have added details (marked clearly) in some places, added links and clubs (at the end) that I know of. I haven't cross verified the phone numbers, etc from the original post though. HTH!

K-Circle
Tel – 09885054941 (K.S. Srinivas)

Supposed to be the oldest quiz club in the city, K Circle was set up in 1972 by a group of quiz-inclined individuals who resolved to meet once a week to do what they like the most - Quiz. This informal club boasts of having members mainly from software giants like Wipro, Microsoft, Google and TCS, besides students and academicians. Anybody interested in quizzing, starting from the age of eight years is eligible to join this club. Far removed from the monotonous, the quiz that they conduct is well-researched and interesting. Each week a quiz session is organized by two quiz masters who take up the job on a voluntary basis. The members of this club also visit schools and other institutions to conduct quiz programs. You can become a member by paying Rs. 100 (employed) or Rs. 50 (students) as annual fee. They meet once a week at YMCA, Secunderabad.

Ajay's update -

Website - http://kckcircle.googlepages.com/

The quizzes are walk-ins and you don't have to pay to participate. Also, some of the members personally sponsor prizes in order to encourage the culture. Saturday meets are at 4.30PM IST :).

Hyderabad Toastmasters
Tel – 09393002396 (Salil Ganeriwal)

If you are looking to master your public speaking skills, then join Hyderabad Toastmasters. Over here, you can learn and practice to speak effectively. Their meets happen twice a month on every second and fourth Sunday at 11 AM and each meeting gives everyone an opportunity to practice how to conduct meetings and give speeches even if these are impromptu. In order to become a member, all you need to do is attend two meetings to get a first-hand feel and then enroll by paying Rs. 100. For the first six months the fee is Rs. 2,900 and subsequently it becomes Rs. 1,900 for every six months. They meet at VMRG Media School, Venkata Ramana Colony, Khairatabad in Hyderabad.

Moving Images
Tel – 09849655363 (Aparajita Sinha), 09849160105 (Ram Kiran)

The idea of this film club was mooted to promote meaningful global cinema with strong social themes among people. Set up in August 2004, it was inaugurated by poet and film maker Gulzar and has about 300 members from various literary and artistic backgrounds.
A film lover’s club, it organizes screenings of two films (classics, documentaries and award-winners) a month at different locations (that’s why the name Moving Images) and its uniqueness lies in the fact that they invite eminent film personalities to introduce their films and interact with the members. Girish Karnad, Goutam Ghose, Javed Akhtar, Jaya Bachchan and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra are some of the noted film personalities who have visited it. You can become a member of this club by paying Rs. 1,000 (single) and Rs. 1,500 (couple) per annum.

Bird Watcher’s Society
Tel – 09393319333 (Susheel Kapadia)

Spotting species of birds is quite an art and if you wish to turn it into a vocation, Bird Watcher’s Society of Andhra Pradesh (BSAP) is the right place to be in. Formed in 1980 by a group of amateur ornithologists, it aims to promote bird watching and create awareness about nature. BSAP members meet once a month for outings on a Sunday and visit the wilderness in and around Hyderabad to watch birds. Spotting the numerous and colorful birds (even those endangered) is what they gain utmost pleasure from. They also organize three to four day camps at natural bird habitats for members twice or thrice a year. BSAP membership is open to all. Interested individuals can register by paying Rs. 100 apart from an annual membership fee of Rs. 200. BSAP also churns out a monthly journal called 'Pitta'.

Hyderabad Film Club
Tel – 09391020243 (Prakash Reddy)

This voluntary organization had its genesis in the year 1974 with an objective of creating a movement in Hyderabad for a better understanding and appreciation of cinema. Banking upon foreign embassies and consulates in its pursuit to show global cinema to the common man, it does 6-7 screenings of classics, documentaries or award-winning films per month at Sarathi Studio in Ameerpet. The screening is done in the evenings from 6.30 PM onwards. Anybody above 18 years of age can join the club. Half-yearly membership fee is Rs. 500 (single) and Rs. 600 (couple). They also offer life membership for a sum of Rs. 4,000.

Hyderabad Photography Club
Tel – 09989099123 (Kishore Nagarigari)
URL – www.flickr.com/groups/hpc/

Got a camera and wondering where to start from? Digital camera revolutionized and brought photography to common man. It opened lots of opportunities to experiment and learn without headache of post processing. Life is lot easier to people who want to click.

Want to meet people with similar interest and passion? Hyderabad Photography Club (HPC) is the right place to be in. Formed in 2006 on Flickr by a group of amateur photographers, it aims to promote photography and help people learn, share experiences. HPC members meet once a month for outings and visit the interesting places in and around Hyderabad to capture life in still. They also organize three to four day trips to locations for members twice or thrice a year. HPC membership is open to all. There is no joining fee as such and it’s free.


Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh (ACAP)
Tel – 09849270575 (Ranga Rao)

If you are daring and activities like rock climbing, exploring caves, mountain biking and kayaking excite you, call on Adventure Club of Andhra Pradesh (ACAP). This is an autonomous body established in the year 1991 solely to promote adventure activities in the state. Other things that you can enjoy through ACAP include hiking, rafting, wilderness survival and outdoor adventure education. Every year ACAP organizes a mountaineering expedition to the Himalayas and a rafting expedition in Ganges. The club gives membership only to highly experienced people (in adventure sports) who are also inducted in their governing council. However, those interested in participating in these programs can become mailing members by forwarding their basic details and interests to this e-mail id – acap@rediffmail.com.

Dramatic Circle of Hyderabad
Tel - 09848025000 (Pranav Singhal),( 09848030526) Vijay Marur

Interested in theater and want to showcase your talent? Join Dramatic Circle. Set up in the year 1964, this is the oldest amateur theater group that has generated 100-odd plays. A non-profit organization, it basically acts as a forum for people who love theater. Some of the plays they have done include The Odd Couple, Bed Full of Foreigners and The Merchant of Venice. Anybody in the age group of 16-75 years can join this group by paying Rs. 16. Members meet at their houses by rotation only when they are doing a production (two per year). Those interested can e-mail Pranav Singhal at axisdiesel@gmail.com

Ajay's additions -

HydVentura

This group was started in Infy - the one here is a sibling of the groups in Bangalore and Pune. Lots of current and ex-Infocions. Sadly there aren't too many places near Hyderabad to trek to, but you can understand their passion of this group when they travel to Bangalore and Pune and then go hiking/biking! Very able photographers like Animesh and bikers like Srikanth in the group too. This is where I got the idea for building TripNaksha btw.

Website - Hydventura

Great Hyderabad Adventure Club

Stumbled on to this group when researching for TripNaksha. I haven't myself been on any of the trips with the group but they go on trips pretty regularly. Not really hard ones as there is a diverse group of people in the club. Members are pretty active in writing about their trips too.

Website - GHAC

Great Hyderabad Bicycling Club

I have been to only one event and that too to help with organizing it (primarily because I don't have a bicycle myself :) ), but they are a very passionate and active group too. Wednesday and Sunday rides are regular. Rides happen both in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Website - Meetup group

Hyderabad Runners

Very regular and active group. Quite a few marathon runners and many half-marathoners. Very nice and motivating group too, looking for advice on running? Drop in! Usually the Saturday runs are well attended, but many members run in small groups almost everyday. Wednesday (Botanical Gardens, Kondapur), Saturday (KBR park) and Sunday (long run - venue keeps changing) are scheduled regular runs.

website - Hyderabad Runners Google group (you will need to sign in)

Hyderabad Hash House Harriers (Running club)

Comprises primarily of expats and returning Indians. They run every Sunday afternoon at 4.30PM. It's a social event so there are women and kids and dogs too! And half the group just walk. First timers don't need to pay, then Rs. 50/- for every run. It's not just about running, you have to search for the trail at some points. After the run is over there are some funny rituals and socializing (over beer and soft drinks).

Website - www.hyderabadhash.com/

Enjoy a song

Long time since I posted anything, so here's something for you (rather for geeks). If you don't read XKCD, you should - like right now.

I Love xkcd from NoamR on Vimeo.

Here's the original Discovery ad (which I love as well!) -

Pizza with a podcast and another short vacation

Yesterday, Chaitanya invited me to his company office for a monthly event they have called Pizza and a podcast (although they don't necessarilly eat pizza). The team has lunch together, listen to a podcast and try to map some of the things said in the podcast to their company and learn from it. Yesterday's podcast was one from the Stanford e-corner collection by Greg Ballard called "Confessions of a Serial Silicon Valley CEO". I'd already listened to this podcast, but what I really liked was the concept of the team sitting together and discussing it too. Note to myself - do something similar at my company too. However, the informality you can maintain in a software company is not really possible in a regular business, that's something i'll have to work on customizing.

At our recruitment consultancy (which I don't talk about often), things have been getting better - good number of placements this month. I had customized a buggy open source enterprise recruitment software for using at our office so that we could track all activities in a better fashion. Still spend a lot of time fixing bugs which crop up. As expected, the employees have shown some resistance, but I'm being firm too. I think it'll be a very useful tool as everybody uses it religiously. Plan to introduce a revenue linked incentive salary package too from the coming month.

Last week I met an eclectic group of people and loved it! Friday, a minister in the A.P government, saturday - Kcircle quizzers, where our team won the 2nd prize and sunday the Hash runners. I didn't know how long the trail was, but ran nearly 10km. In hindsight, it was much easier running with the group than alone. Also, it was an offroad trail and although it was in a region I thought I knew well (very close to home too), it made me realize that I didn't really know the places nearby. When I got there, it was a little surprising to find so many white people (in fact I was one of the handful Indians there), but I being the person I am, didn't have a problem making a few friends. The funny ceremonies after the run are a bonus to running with the group.

Today I leave for Dharwad on a short vacation. Uncle's family is already there, and Kiran and Srinesh's friends (mine too since some time) also are coming over. So, it's going to be a full house (more than full rather). Thinking of doing a 10km run on sunday in Dharwad too, with all the hills there it's going to be quite a challenge. Hmm...

P.S - See Pushkin, an entire post without referring to TripNaksha! Oh rats, I just did :).