"DO NOT HAVE A PLAN B IN PLACE"

If you really believe in your dreams then go ahead and chase them fearlessly till you achieve what you want. Do not have the comfort of a safety net with a Plan B in place. That is the secret to success, says Sharan Parashar who went on to chase his passions and achieve his dreams. Read on to see how he made it all happen.

Q. Tell us about Prasha Chemicals and how have you contributed to its growth ?
A. The company was started by my father in the year 2008. Today we are the top 5 producers of Sodium Hypochlorite in the country. We have also been ranked as one of India’s top 300 MSME and have won awards too. I have been personally looking after the operations of the unit and have been ensuring that we keep improving, growing and expanding.

Q. From chemicals to a cookhouse! What made you venture into the hospitality sector ?
A. This journey started with the basic thought of diversifying into something totally different as diversification has become the need of the hour. So when the question arose of which industry to diversify in I thought to myself what are my other interests and passions besides what I am currently doing - The answer was simple - GOOD FOOD AND GOOD MUSIC. So I decided to combine both and venture into hospitality and open up a lounge which would offer both, That was how I started my first lounge ZAI in GK2 (New Delhi) in 2015. Very recently I have started a new chain of restaurants by the name of ‘Kalamata Cookhouse & Bar’ in New Friends Colony.

Q. What are the key elements to running a successful business ?
A. Although there can be a billion answers to this particular question but personally i feel the most important aspect to running a successful business is EMPATHY. Yes I feel that stepping into the shoes of your customers and thinking from their point of view before actually selling them your product is the key. If you can get into your customer/client's head and figure what he actually desires half the battle is won then and there.

Q. What is the best advice you ever got? From whom ?
A. My father once told me, “Once a day gets over never carry forward the success or the failure of that particular day to your next day.If it was a bad day it ends with the day and if it was a good day it ends with the day too.A new day always brings new challenges and opportunities for us to explore, better focus on that.”

This is the simple yet golden rule by which I live my life.

Q. "Great leaders are also great speakers” Do you agree ? How did your personality development classes help you in your business ?
A. Yes I absolutely agree that good leaders are good speakers and my personality development classes at IIPM helped me a lot in every aspect of life be it professional or personal. These classes gave me the confidence to take on the world head on. In today's time a great leader has to be a great speaker, a great influencer.

The business world today is divided into two kinds of people - first are those who are good speakers and second those who are not. I would advice everyone to be in the first category it would just make your life a lot easier.

Q. If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out what would it be ?
A. One advice that I would like to give to someone who is just starting out would be - DO NOT HAVE A PLAN B IN PLACE.

It might sound a bit risky but I honestly believe that if you have a Plan B in place it simply means you are not 100% confident in your plan A. You have to put your heart and soul in Plan A (your first project) and not think of having a safety net.

Q. What motivates you ?
A. This might sound cliche but the feel of success, of being able to achieve my dreams and just being happy at my workplace motivates me to work harder each day.

A happy entrepreneur is not a myth.

Q. Your favourite vacation spot ?
A. My favourite vacation spot has to be New York City.

Q. Your favourite designer ? Dress ?
A. My favourite designer currently is PAUL SMITH. I am obsessed with their suits.

Q. Your favourite quote ?
A. A. My fav quote would be from the legendary Steve Jobs - "People don’t know what they want until you show it to them”

Q. Your favourite movie / song / book ?
A. My favourite movie would be ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.'