Back in 2010, I was a student doing my under-graduation from a college in Chennai. I agree, not really remarkable. But despite the lousy internet connection in my hostel, my hurtful heart-break in college and UN-inspiring grades – I was surviving, I took solace in my baby – a blog called Collegefallout.com which was based on entrepreneurship, startups and motivation.
As a blogger like millions of other Indians trying to make a mark in the online world, it can get pretty demotivating as you see your peer bloggers progressing quicker because of their niche or talent – whichever is applicable.
On November 6, 2010, ten days before my birthday I get a mail from Alok which was (as screenshot shows below):
When I received this mail in my usually uneventful inbox – I was ELATED. Here was Alok Kejriwal, among the most successful digital entrepreneurs in India contacting me with a request! For a 21-year old, let me tell you, it can get pretty over-whelming….and indeed it was. From a mere blogger, I was inspired to do something more significant.
I went on to join a leading ecommerce company in India after graduation and recently, have launched my own startup – BigCurious.com – a online store that sells second hand books online. I have no educational degree that would cater me to become an online entrepreneur but I am purely in the industry because of my passion and hope that was provided to me via a single mail. The mail for me was a sign that I was doing something right for someone as big as Alok Kejriwal to contact me.
Back then, I immediately included his then new community (TheRodinhoods.com) in my article. Not surprisingly, today it is one of the most active online entrepreneur communities. But I took notice of him way back in 2010. While I may not be the most social member of The Rodinhoods, I have been a part of this community and have been following closely with its discussions. I can only hope that Alok sir still remembers contacting me and considers me as someone who has been a fan of him even before The Rodinhoods ever began.
As Alok Sir is a big fan of Star Wars and Yoda, I would like to conclude with a quote by the great Jedi himself: “Size matters not, … Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?” (I started with only a blog and it helped me with a career and a business!). Over to the DOERs, your comments?