This blog post is surely one of the closest to my heart! And before going ahead with it, I must thank the people in my life who have made it possible for an ever middle class, traditional, safeguarded by Jobs background individual (which I was) to be a dreamer, an entrepreneur today!
There are many, though to name a few, My Folks, My Life 
, Avinash, Neha, Sarika, Rajiv Sir and a host of others who have always been a support!
Entrepreneurial life is something, which can only be read about in books and blogs, but felt the high of, only when you leave a comfortable job, to find your dreams, when you give into your eternal calling and make a way for yourself.
How I got My Wings?
I remember how I was the happiest soul on earth when I had received a good offer from a major Indian IT company to work in their testing practice at Bangalore, I was sure that now the career is set. It was a different kind of a high! BUT still, what was a bigger high for me, as I remember those moments today after a couple of years, was to sit on a plane, the first ever flight of my life. I had never been on a plane all my life and that one journey from Delhi to Bangalore on a plane, got me my first wings!
After delivering a highly successful project, I felt a void, some sort of a calling. When everyone else used to leave office at 6-7PM, I used to sit at the library, get books, loads of them, and sit through reading stories of established people. A Ratan Tata, An Ambani, they were all dreams that time. And finally I decided its time!
I Quit my First Job after 9 months
Obviously everyone in the friends and family said, you have lost it, why do you want to come back to Delhi when you have all the chances of going onsite and have a good life? I still remember, when I packed my bags from Bangalore and got onto the flight, with nothing in hand, I was a little unsure as to what will I do next after landing in Delhi.
Finally landed in Delhi, quite some humiliation and frustration, but finally when the dust settled everyone accepted the fact, that I had quit a safe haven only to do something of my own. And I started my search for something.
My Ex-boss From My Part Time Job from Class 12th Called up
I was working since class 12th. Did road shows, Joined a Start-up BPO unit which today is pretty established while I was pursuing full time college. My Ex-boss called up, when he got to know I’m in Delhi and we said lets work again.
And to everyone’s utter amaze, I became a Relationship Manager with an insurance company. The job was simple, go pick your bag each morning and come back to office with a cheque in your hands and be happy till you are performing.
The targets, the pressure of performing, the heat, dust, cold weather, abusive people in Delhi, I faced it all. Iv knocked at people’s doors, just to be shooed away under the name of insurance agent.
I was performing though, but was not satisfied. Though till today I think this was one of the most steep learning phase of my life, when I got to know how to sell! YES! I could sell… taking a cheque worth a lakh of rupees in India, from a lala sitting in a Gandhi Nagar, Kapda Market, is no less than a feat.
I moved on…
I submitted my resignation to my boss, who was against it, telling him, Boss I will come back one day with my own company. There is a bigger calling for me in life.
And I started looking again and hit upon my first idea and floated a company called: “WeYouPoint – Together we make a point” it was an idea of creating an online platform to get the industry and the academia together. I did my research and started building contacts, by going to smaller colleges and delivering lectures and talks!
I became the second youngest Indian after Ankit Fadia, to deliver a talk at Symbiosis Pune! Where it was a mixed feedback I got, but for me, it was a high of sorts. I remember, how it was hurting to invest 3500 rupees to catch a flight to Pune and reach the college, but I had in mind that this could be the turning point.
But As They Say Life Aint That Easy…
The venture could not work out, due to two simple reasons:
- I was immature to really understand the dynamics of running a venture
- I learnt the art of building the right team of people
And I came back to square one, jobless, again an undecided member of the family, and someone who was not right as per the people around. At an age of 20-21 when I was discovering myself and following my heart, there was a lot which put me back, also I missed not having a mentor around at that time.
Finally to sustain myself, I had to go back to being in a job and I knew selling, so went back to the wealth management industry and started performing, with my eyes and ears open to all sorts of ideas and stories and everything else.
And Now I wanted to Know, How People Earn From the Internet?
YES! Internet was catching up at that time, and I wanted to know how people could just sit at home and earn. And my quest started, which pulled me into studying the internet closely. Closely such that one fine day I stumbled upon a major industry association’s Blog.
And to be honest, I did not know what a blog meant, till I saw it and this was in 2007 end.
I knew I could write and there was a lot in me which wanted to share and learn and grow and hence I contacted the administrator of the blog, with a blog post, who actually responded back and today he is a mentor, a guide to me! He came as a stroke of opportunity and it changed the game.
I started blogging and that is how Paritosh Sharma the blogger emerged. I got my motivation from the fact that people started liking my work and this kicked in me the view of taking it to the next level, which was to take my skills LIVE. And I started going to events, while LIVE blogging them.
People till today express amaze as to how fast can you capture the thoughts of a speaker, speaking LIVE at an event? And I say, its the love of the work guys, it makes you achieve things automatically!
I became the Official Blogger for One of India’s Largest Industry Associations…
While this happened, it opened a new chapter in my life with an offer from a start-up into Social Media Marketing, to expand the Social Media operations with the Co-Founding team! Though Social Media was fresh, very fresh 2 years back, we started dabbling into the same and made a name for ourselves.
This was a good learning period for me as it opened up a whole new world of opportunities, which spelled future!
And future it was, with the New Media industry gaining ground, I found my calling. I knew this is it. This has enough scope for exploration, freedom of expression, delivering absolutely innovative solutions and creating new possibilities for clients.
Becoming a Social Media Evangelist was a turning point in life and till date Iv never looked back.
Plugging Gaps in The Industry Which I Realized Early On, I Started Until ROI
Looking at the gaps in the delivery and expectations of the market, I again set out to plug the same and started a venture called Until ROI.
Its been 7 months now and we have been growing as a company briskly, with interesting offers of acquisition and the rest. I remember how it all started from a very modest small store room, a laptop and me. Yes, that was http://untilroi.com/ when we started and today we are a growing team of passionate people who are simply winning hearts with absolute client satisfaction and innovative solutions for the market.
I want to thank every client, every one who supported us through all the rough patches, these 7 months have not been the easiest months of our lives. For me personally its been like a new birth. Like a new life, which is of learning, exploring, knowing the various dynamics of creating an organization.
And today as I sit at a good looking, though a small one room office, at 5 AM in the morning, remembering old times, and taking new decisions, making new calls, I feel blessed, to be, to choose to be an Entrepreneur! With dreams of making it big for not just myself, my team, my people, and many others who I wish to touch with the possibilities of seeing dreams and reaching out to get them, today I feel good taking strides!
May God Bless everyone and give everyone the power to change the world for the better of everyone else
Hey Paritosh,
Interesting Blog,it was as if sitting with you & chatting.
All the best.
Cheers,
Rinku
Thanks tonnes Rinku. Its people like you who keep me kicked about things all the time. There are many challenges even now, but the past 1 month has made me a much stronger person.
Thanks for all the support, and all my best wishes for you for life
gr8 story Paritosh .. and inspiring for all those who like you want to move out of their comfort zones and explore !!
Happy Paritosh that you followed your heart and being happy now…good luck and wish you great luck and good times ahead…
PS: Very nice article…
Thanks Rajat, Monish
I will always need your help and support and motivation to get cracking on new milestones in life!
I firmly believed that you will succeed big time!!
@Sarika you are a big reason of my motivation and a big reason of what I am today! Always need you around!
Have always wanted to know how you came up 2 where you are today…really amazing and inspirational to read your story..am sure you will get all the success as you go forward
I have a lot to say, like hell lot.
But I think it really sums up in:
You never get it done and you never get it wrong. All is well.
Cheers to the blessed inner calling.
Hey Sid,
Thanks for your comments
Im sure you will have lots… keep sharing..
Cheers,
PS
Totally Inspired man… Life is never a bed of roses right from the very beginning phase.. The height which you have gained and gaining presently is undoubtedly due to all sole your high aims, hard-works and specially your dedication to be an entrepreneur.. I respect the zeal you have. Good luck Man..
Boss, u r definetly going to rock!
I am among those who are far away frm the word “reading” but, some one like you can make the people stick to the story.
I am sure yr novel is on the way…?
best of luck ahead ….
Lokendra
Thanks Saurav for your kind words and the good wishes, I wish the same for you
@Lokendra thanks a tonne, for the amazing words you have said
Though I have considered writing a small book, but I dont think, Iv achieved enough in life to inspire people to achieve more and more and make INDIA a SOLID & PROUD SUPERPOWER and no more a 3rd world country!
I will come out with a small book soon!
Thanks and I wish you all the luck
I’ve No words to praise your mettle….
Awesome. Its really a nice way of describing about yourself. Just amazing
Best of luck for your future
Keep up the great work dude. Abhi to shuruaat hai. Looking forward to bigger and better things from you. All the best dost. Cheers! – Che
@Shreya thanks so much
was lovely talking to you last night. Look forward to exploring opportunities!!
@Shweta thanks so very much
and hey fantastic and true wishes from my side as well 
@Che bro, thanks tonnes… I am sure together we will make OUR INDIA a power to stand up with an not against!
Hi Paritosh,
Its really awesome and the true story of a struggling man. I have lot to say but you know there is not enough space. keep posting your achievements
it may work as motivation for all the people.
Regards
amit
great work paritosh,
very inspiring, best of luck to you and am sure will see u getting bigger over time with your positive and never give up attitude.
paritosh some places i felt it was me, like when you get good job offers and money is comfortable but the inner calling is bigger, wants to do thing that are bigger better and the dirve is there but need a mentor. i am also looking forward to doinging something big in social entreprnership after giving up media marketing job and freelance journalism, i now wish to do something worthwhile after a break of 14 years. people keep telling me its not possible, things have changed, world has gone ahead faster while i was caring for my family, i was in biss then but now i have the time and liberty to think about my dreams and am sure i too will achieve them some day.
CONGRATS on begining your journey to success.!!!!!!
Hi Mr. Sharma,
Really an inspiring and thought stirring story of your journey.
Wish you a good road ahead on the ongoing journey
hi sir,
interesting we share the same name.
i found the first person with exactly the same name as mine on web.
well coming to the point…i also wanna distinguish myself from the common world practice-graduating and getting a job.
As a startup i am planning to launch my web development company online.
would you like to be my online mentor?
please reply on my mail.:-)