Key Insights
- Being curious often matters more than being an expert.
- The best lessons come from those doing the work, not just from the top.
- Honesty is essential for a successful business.
Navigating Uncertainty: A Personal Journey
How do you handle uncertainty? I grew up thinking it was better to stick with what was certain.
For many years, I followed a safe path. By my early thirties, I had established a digital marketing firm, SEO Corporation, which was doing well and had reliable clients.
However, comfort often leads to restlessness. To clear my mind, I’d take hikes in the Himalayas. During one trek through Uttarakhand, I encountered something that changed my perspective.
Our group visited a small village outside Chamoli. There, our guide Vijendra pointed to piles of dried hemp stalks. “That’s hemp,” he explained. “It’s strong fiber, but nobody wants the stalks. They usually just get burned or discarded.” My curiosity sparked, and I couldn’t help but think there was more to those leftovers. Even back in my office in Delhi, I found my mind drifting back to those hemp stalks.
Although I had no knowledge of materials science, I recognized two things:
- There was untapped potential in those stalks.
- Farmers would be willing to partner with me if it meant an additional income stream.
So, I took the plunge. I sold my shares in my company, started visiting village kitchens and fields, and asked questions about processing hemp.
That leap into the unknown ended up being an incredible business move, teaching me lessons that no degree could provide.
Lesson 1: Curiosity Over Expertise
At first, I felt out of place in agriculture. My first exposure was at a workshop at IIT Guwahati, surrounded by experts. Hoping to soak in knowledge, I quickly felt overwhelmed by complex terms like “chain scission” and “crystallinity.”
More than once, I found myself using Google to understand what was being discussed. That’s when I embraced the fact that I didn’t know much. I started asking “Why?” repeatedly, sometimes to the annoyance of others, but my fresh perspective allowed me to notice things that experienced insiders missed.
For instance, when we attempted to create our first hemp-based EcoGran™, the initial compostability test failed. Even after six months in a compost bin, our sample remained unchanged. It was supposed to decompose in 180 days, but it didn’t. Through persistent questioning and testing, we discovered our formula’s pH was wrong, preventing breakdown. A simple adjustment improved our results.
This “beginner’s mindset” became vital for us. I sought input from everyone—researchers, farmers, and even local school teachers. One women’s group in Pauri helped us evaluate the strength of different hemp varieties, directly benefiting them with new income as they sold the stalks they previously burned.
My experience showed that simple questions can lead to significant advancements.
Lesson 2: Ground-Level Learning
Innovation often occurs outside of labs. Some of my best insights have come from farmers and artisans in their fields.
In Chamoli one day, we were conducting a workshop on drying hemp and nettle. Our team assumed that drying in strong sunlight was the fastest method, but an older woman advised against it. “Too much sun, too fast,” she said. “We dry nettle in the shade at home.”
Intrigued, we decided to experiment. We split the batch into two: one dried in the sun and the other in the shade. A week later, the sun-dried fibers were brittle, while those dried in the shade remained sturdy and flexible.
This was an eye-opener. Traditional methods hold years of knowledge acquired through experience. We adapted our processes, and our product quality improved.
Many lessons unfolded during casual moments, sipping chai on kitchen floors. Farmers provided insights that influenced our bioplastic films and compostability. The best ideas came not from formal meetings but from genuine conversations.
Lesson 3: The Power of Integrity
Trust is crucial when stepping into a new industry. You have no reputation, only your word.
Soon after we launched EcoGran™, a supplier proposed an unapproved additive that could boost production. I recalled past lessons: shortcuts typically lead to trouble. I told my team, “We either keep our commitments, or we’re just another company after quick profits.” We declined the offer.
Months later, that choice paid off. A significant European buyer required proof of every ingredient. Since we operated transparently, our deal succeeded. The buyer said, “We trusted you because your claims matched your numbers.”
Integrity is vital, not only with clients but also with partners. We openly publicized our prices for hemp and nettle. If prices fluctuated, we didn’t exploit farmers. Over time, our supply chain grew from mutual trust rather than contracts.
Many new entrepreneurs discuss core values, but for us, integrity is what sustains a business during tough times.
As I reflect on what my company has achieved, I’m thankful I didn’t let my lack of credentials hold me back. We’ve gained support from top institutions and developed EcoGran™, a product creating real change.
Today, a thousand farmers supply us with crop waste and earn from materials they once discarded. Startups in India and beyond now use our products for eco-friendly packaging, ensuring they return to the earth safely.
Challenges remain—scaling operations, managing costs, and navigating regulations. But my understanding of success has shifted. It’s no longer about contracts or profit margins; it’s about cleaner ecosystems, happier farmers, and hearing children say, “We don’t burn the stalks anymore.”
If you’re considering a leap into the unknown, don’t wait to feel like an expert. Stay curious, uphold your integrity, and remember that a fresh perspective can lead to remarkable solutions.
