An Excerpt that led me to finally Drop out of College | Shams Jaber

My dad gave me a call(from Chittagong) one day and recommended that I read the book, ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napolean Hill. I did my research and found out that this was a classic, best seller one. So, I started reading it and just a few pages through the first chapter, I made up my mind to do something my dad wouldn’t be too excited to hear. I decided to INCOMPLETE my degree at BRAC Business School. Here’s the excerpt that gave me enough courage and led me to drop out of college and pursue my passion full time, back in February of 2013.

If not you, then who? If not now, then when?

____________________

TRULY, "thoughts are things," and powerful things at that, when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a BURNING DESIRE for their translation into riches, or other material objects.

A little more than thirty years ago, Edwin C. Barnes discovered how true it is that men really do THINK AND GROW RICH. His discovery did not come about at one sitting. It came little by little, beginning with a BURNING DESIRE to become a business associate of the great Edison.

One of the chief characteristics of Barnes' Desire was that it was definite. He wanted to work with Edison, not forhim. Observe, carefully, the description of how he went about translating his DESIRE into reality, and you will have a better understanding of the thirteen principles which lead to riches.

When this DESIRE, or impulse of thought, first flashed into his mind he was in no position to act upon it. Two difficulties stood in his way. He did not know Mr. Edison, and he did not have enough money to pay his railroad fare to Orange, New Jersey.

These difficulties were sufficient to have discouraged the majority of men from making any attempt to carry out the desire. But his was no ordinary desire! He was so determined to find a way to carry out his desire that he finally decided to travel by "blind baggage," rather than be defeated. (To the uninitiated, this means that he went to East Orange on a freight train).

He presented himself at Mr. Edison's laboratory, and announced he had come to go into business with the inventor. In speaking of the first meeting between Barnes and Edison, years later, Mr. Edison said, "He stood there before me, looking like an ordinary tramp, but there was something in the expression of his face which conveyed the impression that he was determined to get what he had come after. I had learned, from years of experience with men, that when a man really DESIRES a thing so deeply that he is willing to stake his entire future on a single turn of the wheel in order to get it, he is sure to win. I gave him the opportunity he asked for, because I saw he had made up his mind to stand by until he succeeded. Subsequent events proved that no mistake was made."

Just what young Barnes said to Mr. Edison on that occasion was far less important than that which he thought. Edison, himself, said so! It could not have been the young man's appearance which got him his start in the Edison office, for that was definitely against him. It was what he THOUGHT that counted.

If the significance of this statement could be conveyed to every person who reads it, there would be no need for the remainder of this book.

Opportunities at BetterStories | Minhaj Anwar

BetterStories Limited is an ideas agency with three business units: Media and Communications, ICT & Research and Business Incubation. We work with clients such as the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, UNICEF, British Council, Universities.

We are now looking for experienced and competent individuals for an anticipated multi-partner project. Interested applicants are requested to send their CVs with a cover letter explaining competencies and experiences within 1000 words by 30 August 2011 to info@betterstories.asia. Please mention your current salary in your application. Please write the title of the position you are applying in the subject box of your email.

Senior Communications Specialist

• At least 8 years of experience of working in communications and media management
• Experience in developing communications strategies
• Team Leadership and Management
• Experience working with Government offices, donor community, NGOs and media
• Excellent professional communications skills – both writing and speaking in Bangla and English
• Experience in writing speeches, opinion pieces, press briefings and handling press conferences
• Rapport with senior editors/journalists and the civil society
• Applicants who are receiving less than Tk.120,000 per month will not be considered for this position

Stakeholders Management Specialist

• At least 4 years experience in managing large-scale advocacy and campaign programmes
• Experience of working and communicating with civil society, media and NGOs
• Experience of engaging with public representatives and local communities
• Skilled in communications research
• High level of professional writing skills in Bangla and English
• Excellent communicator

Community Engagement Officer

• At least 3 years of experience of working with community on social mobilisation and communication for development programmes
• Experience of working with NGOs, local government and officials, local media
• Report writing and remote reporting
• Experience in working or managing resettlement and rehabilitation programmes

Media Relations Officer

• At least 3 to 4 years experience of working in or with the media at national level
• Experience in coordinating press briefings and developing press kits
• Experience in writing press releases, opinion pieces, speeches in both Bangla and English
• Strong understanding of news and capacity to identify probable new stories

Besides this fulltime positions our database of Communications Consultants are being updated. If you have professional experience of working in developing communication strategies, communications need assessment, media monitoring or an area in this genre, please send your detailed CVs with a cover letter to info@betterstories.asia by 30 August 2011 clearly mentioning your availability and expected daily fee rate. Please write “Communications Consultant” in the subject box of your email.

We are also looking to enrich our pool of Interpreters having strong English language skills equivalent to an IELTS score of minimum 7.0 in speaking.  The selected interpreters may have to travel outside Dhaka for 5-10 days by car or by sea-plane with high profile visitors. Interested applicants are requested to send their CVs by 30 August to info@betterstories.asia. Please write “Interpreter” in the subject box of your email and mention your availability and daily fee rate.

About BetterStories Limited

1.1           Who we are: BetterStories is an ideas agency with three business units:

–  Media and  Communications

–  ICT and Research

–  Business Incubation

1.2           The History: The agency has been established in 2008 jointly by a woman entrepreneur, a development professional and an environmentalist to work on an ambitious goal of creating a whole new generation of leaders for Bangladesh through entrepreneurships. The aim was to create at least 1000 leaders by 2050 through Green, Ethical and Responsible Businesses (GERB).

1.3       BetterStories Vision: At the core of this organisation is the programme calledLeadership through Entrepreneurship which aims to develop at least a thousand leaders by 2050 to take the country to the global forefront. These young people would lead the nation towards a better future by firstly being high growth and high impact yet responsible entrepreneurs and then gradually preparing to join healthy politics to take the country out of the shackles of poverty.

These entrepreneurs will learn how to run the country by learning to run business enterprises as businesses are countries in microcosm. The primary areas where we encourage entrepreneurships are Clean Technologies, Tourism, Bio-technology, ICT and Media & Communications.

To help achieve the long-term, ambitious and capital-intensive vision of creating a whole new generation of leaders BetterStories mobilises its own resources by providing professional consulting services in the areas of Communications, Research and ICT where it enjoys a distinct competitive advantage and solid market reputations.

1.4           Examples of BetterStories work:

–  Media and Communications: Developed a Communications Strategy for the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, the largest public sector investment in Bangladesh with an estimated cost of about US $3 billion co-financed by the World Bank, ADB, JICA, IsDB and the Government of Bangladesh (2010-11).

–  ICT and Research: The Implementation of Rural MSME services using ICT in Bangladesh project for Bangladesh Telecentre Network, project funded by Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The overall objective of this project was to improve the performance and sustainability of the MSMEs in 30 locations in 6 districts (Noakhali, Chittagong, Bagerhat, Jessore, Joypurhat and Bogra) in Bangladesh. Under this project BetterStories developed two e-modules on Enterprise Start-up and Access to Finance currently available at the domain: www.byabsharkhobor.com which has received an award at the e-Content and ICT for Development Award 2010.

–  Business Incubation: BetterStories runs Bizcube, the first business incubation centre proper in the country. It aims to contribute in the country’s endeavour on strategic issues like creating young entrepreneurships in the sectors of country’s foremost need such as Clean Technologies, Tourism, Bio-technology, ICT and Media & Communications. Bizcube is a member of the Asia Pacific Incubator Network (APIN) and InfoDev of World Bank, them being prestigious networks of incubators in the region and worldwide respectively.

1.5        BetterStories Going International

BetterStories has also been recognised as a capable company of handling international assignments. Recently, it has completed an All-India Communications Strategy development exercise for the Australian Sports Commission, Government of Australia. The assignment has been awarded to BetterStories through a competitive international bidding process. Previously, BetterStories has delivered several projects of Oxfam Netherlands.     

1.6        BetterStories Mission

BetterStories tries to create a positive and lasting change for the people it comes across for various reasons. Although a for-profit company by registration it prioritises the needs of the country and therefore, often provide pro-bono services that are of extremely high importance for the country. One such example is the collaborative work with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka to help the department enhance the research facilities, modernise teaching-learning and establish a graduate entrepreneurship development programme. The combined efforts have helped the Department win the Academic Innovation Funds 2010-11 form the University Grants Commission worth BDT 42 million. BetterStories often walks extra miles and proactively goes beyond the project brief to deliver customers the most appropriate and cutting-edge services. BetterStories mission is aligned with the country vision of achieving the middle-income status by 2021 and advanced economy by 2050.

Entrepreneurship, Startups & Bangladesh | Mahbub Arman

From last 2-3 years, the word called "Entrepreneurship" become so much popular in Dhaka. Once upon a time when we was in school we just think that "Entrepreneurship is an occupation and it is for those who is illiterate or who is drop out" but now a days the explanation or the definition of Entrepreneurship is just changed. I think the main power of starting a new start up started form last year, 2013 after the first Startup Weekend Dhaka. In beck at December, 2012 Government of Bangladesh also gave a chance to the IT startups and business to to take a part at "Digital World 2012". After this few events, the criteria of Start ups are growing massively.

In 2013, we celebrated "Global Entrepreneurship Week" and the program was  named "Startupbashbd" or "Startup Bash Bangladesh". This was a 6 day long program. This was a tremendous event for Entrepreneurs and start ups. In back Government of Bangladesh also arranged an program named "National Entrepreneur Summit - 2013" this was another bother big event for entrepreneurs who lives in Bangladesh.  Beside this, few months ago a film was released showing the current scenario of tech start ups community in Bangladesh. It was named "Startup Dhaka" total cost of this movie was generated from a crowdfunding platform "Indiegogo".

Though we all say, "For a start up you don't need money. First of all you need an idea what is innovative, what can make a change, what can make a difference. And obviously you need some dare to do something new." But beside this entrepreneurs also needs some basic knowledge about the idea execution and the management pf financial part also. Getting loans from Bank is really tough. So we need other sources for investments.

Angel Investors are arrived at Dhaka already. There is some Local and International Investors and venture capital firms who already trying to help this start ups and entrepreneurs. But as it is a international style to pitch about your business, start up or idea in front of investors with in 2 minutes is not so easy. I know, "Describing your business, start up or idea with in 2 minutes in front of investor's can be an ART" but 2 minute is definitely not enough to describe a business, start up or idea when it is a dream of some one. But yes "Describing your business, start up or idea with in 2 minutes in front of investor's can be an ART."  

But all is well. We are happy with this community. I think we will be able to do something different soon. Cause I believe "Together we all can make a better Bangladesh." 

_____
 I am Mahabubur Rahaman Arman. I am an ICT Entrepreneur & Professional, Internet Entrepreneur through e-Commerce and f-Commerce, e-Commerce Consultant, T-shirt Brand Consultant, Marketing Consultant, Ideapreneur, recently start working with electronics products and also I am a professional Graphics Designer.

T-ZONE (www.tzonebd.com) manufactures and sells t-shirt directly to consumers through our e-commerce and f-commerce store fronts. We also happen to be Bangladesh’s first on-demand custom design t-shirt printing solution serving both domestic and international clientele at a price and quality that cannot be beaten.

My Mission & Vision - 100% Independent, 100% Different then others. I am 1 of the 5% of that people who is working and trying to change the economy of Bangladesh.

Change we need, Yes we can.

My source of energy | Ahmed Zibran

I always get source of my energy from three kinds of people in this world.

 One, Youngsters, who brings renewal to my life through their energy and spirit; whose Joie de vive toward facing life’s many challenges: whose passion for innovation and progress incites within me an endless source of affection for them.

Two, my Friends my Dostos, who know me both personally and spiritually and have made me believe that I can go the extra mile. Whose company always brings out the real me, for which I will forever cherish every moment I have spent with them.

Three, My Elders, whose wisdoms continue to enrich each phase of my life, whose experiences, trials and tribulations I learn and grow better from, whose two words of appreciation inspire me to go further, whose presence & guidance makes me a more stronger person and inspires me to respect and honor them with all my heart.

To all the Statups, struggling entrepreneurs and who are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur | Samira Zuberi Himika

(I am writing this note in a hurry (5 minutes) in a traffic jam. I actually don’t have time to write such important things most of the time. Today I made an attempt. Without any editing I am publishing it on FaceBook. So ignore my bad writing.)

To all the Statups, struggling entrepreneurs and who are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur.

The word "Entrepreneurship" may sound very cool.You may find the whole idea of becoming an entrepreneur very trendy, amusing or sexy. You may just want to try it because you are inspired my people like us who are giving great speeches/talks or mentoring you in many events or may be because some of your friends are trying it out having a Startup.......

For you all, my true suggestion is - before you take this path for whatever the reason, its good to know some facts from an honest and passionate entrepreneur (me).
-      It is god damn hard work. You have to let go or give least priority on most of the other things you are good at, best at.
-       It is not a seasonal fever. You just cannot stop being an entrepreneur one day just because you don't feel like doing it anymore. Becsause your commitment, other’s job and dreams are depending on you.
-      Entrepreneurship is a LIFESTYLE. This is a new world all together. Here you may have to sacrifice best things of your personal life...because there is no difference between the 'personal life' and 'professional life'.
-      It is a everyday fight with yourself, your co-workers, your board, you supply-chain, your clients and most importantly the external factor on which you have no control over.

All that I have written and many that I have not, are true scenario for REAL entrepreneurs. This is a true pattern of entrepreneurial life, be it world's richest ones, powerful ones, influential ones, successful ones or budding ones. They all live this life everyday. If you ever have chance to meet them, you can ask. If they are truthful they will tell you.

But entrepreneurship is the answer for development. It is the key to unlock one’s fortune, country’s fate and future of human kind. Because we bring the innovations, creativity in the market. Most of the times an entrepreneur is a mix of so many things, not just a marketer. We are inventors, craftsman, business developer, new market creator and producer of millions of goods, products and services required by a society, community, country and beyond.
If you are choosing this life realizing the responsibility and the possibility of the amazing greatness (fame, money, respect etc.) you must also know the other side of the coin. Today I tried to give glimpse of that. Now you are enrolled to the incredible 'Entrepreneurial life'.

P.S. Never take suggestions about/on your dream or initiative or enterprise/company/organization from a person who never walked that road before. You are better coach than him/her.
#Bangladesh #Entrepreneurship #Startup #Youth #tmengine #lifestyle