How My Startup Became an Enterprise
The new beginning
What to do next? How to do it? I don’t know where to start? But I have to start somewhere.
A few years back, these questions emerged after I graduated from business school. Today, I would like to share my own experience with you, that how my small startup became a prominent proposal in my country.
During my business finals, I attended many lectures and seminars. Also, I spent time conceptualizing the aptitude of an entrepreneur. For this reason; I involved myself in marketing and management research. In 2015, I graduated from business school.
After my graduation ceremony and celebrations, we (my friends & family) gathered at a dinner party. My father and uncles inquired,” have you thought about your startup, or will you participate in any running business also known as becoming an employee?”
At that time, I smiled at them and created a charade that I understood much less than I did. These questions revitalized me. I spent too much time focusing on the day of the graduation rather than formulating a plan of what the day after the graduation would look like. These questions forced me to develop my emerging ideas into plans for my career.
The next morning, my laptop flew open to begin my search for jobs. Expecting a cascade of opportunities to accompany the completion of my studies. And I waited, eagerly, for everyone to offer me positions that coincided with upward mobility as I rose quickly to the top.
Who will dare to reject me? I am the distinction holder, plus I am the best. But Alas! What was I thinking at that time? Honestly speaking, nine companies rejected me, a few firms did not bother to give any chance to a someone who lacked experience in their chosen career, and I never expected that five international companies didn’t even shortlist me. Those years I struggled with depression and the effects that accompanied my baren road. Littel did I know, the real challenges that awaited me were difficult and life changing.
“And suddenly, you just know it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginning.”
After, I spent three years unemployed I wondered,” What will I do now?” That was the time of my life when I confronted my true ambitions of creating a startup where I was the boss and accountable for the start up’s success or demise.
One day, I was sitting in front of T.V., suddenly; I watch an eye-catching advertisement about food. At that moment, I decided to build a business related to food. As nourishment is a necessity and everyone required food to live. More importantly, the majority of clients prefer hygienic food to consume especially when food is homemade,
The same day, I designed a rough business plan of which I revealed to my family members. They liked my idea and agreed to support me; my family suggested that before I focused on the aspect of homemade food, a client is more likely to begin to consume beverages and snacks before their meal is prepared.
Impressed with this idea, I determined that the risk was low: a beverage with snacks is not costly, and I estimated if my business operated at a loss then that the company could overcome the depreciation after we implemented the homemade meals.
The next day, I researched the most consumable beverage in my area. Milk tea continually popped up as the most consumable drink with pastries, biscuits, and cakes. Plans do not exist without action. Therefore, I ordered the necessary ingredients for making tea and snacks and arranged a whole set-up in front of my gate with a proper hygienic environment.
The land was owned by my father so it was easy for us to set-up our small shop with an adequate sitting environment. We M father hired some cooks and some workmen arranged by my father. And as the plan began to flourish, I invited one of my best friends to be involved in the startup.
We converted a small portion of the garden as a kitchen, arranging everything before the office opened at 7:00 a.m. The Homie Corner, the startup’s name, proudly matched our vision is to deliver hygienic, fresh, and delicious tea with snacks.
Before the inauguration day, I took one week to advertise The Homie Corner with the help of multi-media and friends and family. I printed and designed my brochures, and pamphlets resulting a festive opening of our hard work.
My friend Maria and I supervised everything. It was an inauguration day, so all menu items were free to our customers. Delivering a speech to our customers about the hurdles and strides of opening this small start-up created an electrifying buzz within the audience. The response we received was unbelievable. My relatives and customers appreciated the whole concept. Overall it was a great experience and placing me on the road to success if I continued to strive with perseverance and tenacity.
Days passed, and my little start-up starts to grow, and gradually, much to my happiness, The Homie Corner converts into a branded food restaurant. I hired new chefs and waiters and taught them our home’s secret recipe.
Within six months, my restaurant was ready for another new beginning. My ability to adapt was tested by opening a new place, but I put one foot in front of the other and handled each step with my newly acquired confident nature.
One year passed, and I can’t believe that now I am the owner of one reputable restaurant. Not just teenagers, students, families, shopkeepers, and people from different backgrounds dine in, but they also prefer to take away service. Now “the homie corner” gained its reputation and became branded food of the city and got the license of an authentic food restaurant.
Soon my siblings and cousins contacted me to open related branches in other cities of the country. In December 2019, my little start-up became one of the biggest brands in the food chain. I hired more than 600 waiters, staff and chefs to fulfill our needs while launching new and exciting ideas along the way.
Although various employees and managers tended to the strategy I aforementioned, the workload of my business incredibly increased. I arranged a few training sessions for my employees, and after some struggle, things were moving along smoothly due to my dedicated employees that also believed in my vision.
In March 2020, due to pandemic, we all faced hardship and enormous loss. It was a very tough situation for me, and my team faced hurdles. The struggles I faced are private but new struggles arise continually. We started a new, on-going, home package, and delivery service.
The onslaught of positive feedback from our customers motivates my company to thrive. We aim to deliver food with the same quality we offered at the beginning. Every business path is long and hectic that requires sincerity, honesty, and struggles to gain promising results.
“Don’t stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done.”
This story is shared with readers to share life lessons I experienced as an amateur in the business world. My hope is that at least one person, who has a dream, may dare to do the work it requires to be the owner of their venture one day.
I love to write articles daily, but thanks to this platform, now, I can share my views and experience with you all. My primary field is Engineering, and afterward, I have done a business degree from a university held in high esteem. I have finally become the owner of a successful food enterprise that includes my family, cousins, and uncles who all agree the way to success is through a delicious home-cooked meal and unvarnished dedication.
“Be strong when you are weak, brave when you are scared and humble when you are victorious”.
