Sunday, July 14, 2013

Pedal power-Turn your passion into profession

How many of us have the courage to follow our passion instead of opting for the safe route of taking up a regular job? Through this new column, we will share extraordinary stories of ordinary people who turned their passion into a profession

The software industry has made it possible for young Indians to see and learn from cultures around the world. They come back to India and ask some very fundamental questions. Some others, like Rohan Kini, believe in action. 

"Why don't more people take to cycling? Do we enjoy being stuck in traffic jams? Why aren't more of us finding solutions to similar problems that are becoming our daily lot?" he asks. 

Kini knew cycling was the solution even before his IT job made it possible for him to globetrot and learn from other countries. "My commuting time dropped by about 30 minutes when I switched from a car to a bicycle; when I went to Europe — where the cycling community is strong — I was motivated to make bicycling an integral part of my life," says Kini, adding, "and that's how 'BumsOnTheSaddle' was born." 

His company took birth on a school friend's roof top. "We initially started with the desire to promote and build awareness on how awesome cycling was." He later started to sell fancy bicycles but insists that it will never be just a bike shop. "Our goal," he says, "is to have the best people run the bicycling space and help others re-discover the joy of bicycling; we do this through weekend rides, community, races and workshops." 

Kini started his venture at the age of 25. Wasn't it a tad too early? "I probably didn't think through in detail; but thankfully I found my creative edge while I put a cycle together. Besides, a bad experience with a local bicycle store in 2006 made me realise that bike shops should not be run purely as a business. Ever." he states. 

What makes his company different from other cycling companies in India? "It is the people," he smiles, adding, as a cyclist, his goal is to genuinely promote cycling, and as an entrepreneur to ensure that every person has a great experience learning and buying bikes. 

Yet, there are many challenges that Kini faces. "India is a hard place to run a start-up; bureaucracy and red-tapism can easily put you off," he rues. 

For youngsters wanting to move into a similar space, Kini's advice is that you make sure to surround yourself with folks you can lean on or learn from when things get tough. 

"Besides," he adds, "India is just starting to open up to cycling as a sport, recreation or hobby and there is place for plenty of others." 

And, although an educational certificate is not a mean requirement, it pays well to have finance and business acumen. "If you don't have either, hire the best people," he smiles from experience, because when Kini started he didn't know how to write a cheque.

No comments:

Post a Comment