At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the start-up ecosystem. As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur Dinesh Verma for an exclusive interview with us. Dinesh is a Leader, Coach, Storyteller, Author, Trainer and a Seasoned Entrepreneur. He is the Founder and CEO of Gullybaba Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. and CEO of Pendown Press. Let’s learn more about his inspirational journey and his advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Dinesh:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem. Please let us know about your background and the journey so far and also share a little bit about your books.
20 years back I started my MCA. I saw that Study Material supplied by University for MCA through correspondence was not sufficient, and even the Google was in its nascent stage. The availability of computers was also very less, finding a knowledgeable teacher too was a herculean task. It was like hitting an F-16 sitting on a conventional fighter plane 20 years back. There was no one thinking to support students through this challenge.
I give credit to the upbringings of my parents that activated my thought process to think beyond I, me and myself. In a quest to help them all, I started preparing notes and gave them to firstly my close friends and then friend’s friend, their friends so on and so forth.
In this way, my prepared notes got good circulation. Though there were elements of apprehension as well for the success of these notes, when the result came out, it bolstered my belief. The takers of my notes had a big smile on their face, and that was the biggest incentive for my effort. I felt, “when small, unstructured effort can yield such a good result, a coordinated effort in this direction, will certainly serve the purpose of students at large.”
I think that was the spark in my life, a life-changing thought. I swung into action. Clarity Crept into my mind. I got focused on my effort became concerted.”
I started creating books for IGNOU. Writing books helped masses and I could see my mission of helping people getting realised with velocity. I still remember, how I would dream of writing a book and lose my sleep over this thought almost daily. I was resolute to make the MCA Menace a cakewalk and give a ray of hope to my juniors.
I talked about my plan with so many friends, seniors, etc. Most of people ridiculed me. I still remember: when I narrated my plan to write a book with exuberance, one of my friends mockingly replied, “You do not have any business background. Forget business background, hardly anyone in your family is in a position to give you tips of some value on what is brewing in your mind. How come you even dare to have this type of utopian idea and waste my time?” But, of course, there were few who helped me keep my hopes alive and I think that was my biggest driving force.”
Now, the honeymoon period was over. I was badly in need of a publisher. I started running from pillar to post in search of a publisher. But, to no avail. The moment I would say to any publisher that I want to publish my book through his publishing house; he would start gazing on my eyes; as if I am asking for his kidney. I was feeling dejected and rejected, my self-confidence came at the lowest ebb.
One day when I was feeling wretched, a spark of thought, I can still feel, went through my mind. I understood one thing—this is the time to decide. Either I should bog down to the all-demanding publishers and Kill my Creativity, or make my creativity find a way surpassing the publishers’ paranoid demand. I opted for the latter. “I will start my own publishing house”, this very thought titillated me.
I started my publishing house with site name Gullybaba.com in the year 2002. Firstly, I started putting everything online, then published my first book in 2004. Till date, we have published 2000+ books under the banner Gullybaba Publishing House Pvt. Ltd. While dispensing my service through Gullybaba, I thought, I should shoulder greater responsibility. I should try my level best to change the lives of millions of people.
I nurtured my thought, explored the way I can, and after a series of meetings and pep talks, I finally found the way. I decided to open a publishing house that will work dedicatedly for Ent., speakers, trainers, consultants, healers, business owners as if they write books, millions will follow and my dream of bringing significant changes in the lives of millions will be fulfilled.”
When Pendown Press came into existence and started doing well, I encountered a problem. Big names of the society, generally do not have time. And to overcome this paucity of time I started
BestsellerWithDinesh.com website where I want people to take the book out in seven days’ time. This website has proved to be of great help for not only who do not have time to write, but also for those who want to write a book fast. Over 80% of people in India would like to take their books out but because they don’t know how to write, what to write, when to write, how to launch, market or publish a book, they struggle, they keep their dream alive but never take any action in the direction of the fulfilment of that dream. I am on a mission to help them all, impact 1 million lives through books by 2025.
What attracts you towards entrepreneurship instead of a corporate career?
I think both of these forms of doing work have their own USPs, and I do not see it as what is better. There are so many people doing their corporate job, drawing happiness with their jobs and are satisfied in their life. In the same way, there are many who have never done any job and are happy in their entrepreneurial pursuit.
But, what attracted me in entrepreneurship is that you need not be the part of a system. You have the freedom of developing your own system, whether you become successful or not, or even if you become successful, how much satisfaction do you draw of that success, maybe altogether a different thing.
I chose entrepreneurship because I had developed a vision for my life, earlier than the time when people think about doing a job. Back in mind, a career in corporate was not fit for me, as I was not willing to be a part of a system since my own vision was ingrained into my mind, and for that, I had to develop the system.
‘Gullybaba Publishing House’ is such a unique name; let us know more about it, please.
Yes, of course (smiles). Gullybaba is a unique name and lots of people have asked me this question. I think I must raise the curtain on this “mystery.”
Why I started publishing house named Gullybaba that I have already mentioned. Like what types of hardships came into my way, and what prompted me to start my own publishing house.
Here, I want to explain why the name “Gullybaba.”
The very name Gullybaba is a combination of two words, viz., ‘Gully’ and ‘Baba’. The word ‘Gully’ comes from the ancient game played in Rural India–Tip cat. In Hindi, we call it Gully Danda ” गुल्ली डंडा ” which symbolises Focus & Fitness. The word ‘Baba’ stands for the teacher, an embodiment of Respect & Honour. And these are the fundamental parameters for achieving success. The reasons why the word Gully is incorporated in our name are as follows:”
1) Focus – In the play Gully Danda, focus plays a pivotal part. Even if the force is applied, but the focus is not taken care of, there is every chance that the Gully will take more elevation and less distance. And this will result in catching the Gully by the opposing team and subsequently, the hitter will lose his turn.
Same is true in the field of education. Hard work without focus is like thought without action, which bears no fruit. Hard work with focused approach yields the required result.
2) Fitness – Fitness is the most important aspect in the play known as Gully Danda or Tip Cat. The more is the force, the more distance the Gully will traverse.
This is exactly true in the education arena. Hard work has no substitute. The more you work as a student, the better equipped you become for the examination, the more knowledgeable you become in your subject and subsequently more becomes the possibility of your success.
3) Respect – The word “Baba” in “Gullybaba” refers to the teacher. In India, there is old precedence of calling Baba to a teacher, guide, the mentor. There is folklore in India, “Bin Guru Hoi Na Gyan” meaning wisdom or knowledge is not possible without a Guru(Baba).
In this way, the very meaning of the term Gullybaba is force, focus and respect(for teachers, for elders and for everyone), the three most essential components for achieving excellence in education. We at Gullybaba sincerely believe that our brand is our name and our name is what keeps us moving.
During this COVID-19 crisis, what are the measures you have undertaken to continue your business without disruption?
In order to make my business as immune as possible to Covid, I introduced a number of measures, such as:
a) Work from Home to as many people as possible
b) Informed our authors in advance that your sales will hit hard, due to this extraordinary situation, and did not let sales staffs go out. Though we did retain them and told them that they need to pull their socks up, for after Covid days.
c) All authors’ meetings got shifted to Concall. We discouraged every physical meeting.
d) Sanitation drive in our office, to be strictly followed by the employees.
e) We tried our level best to make every aspect of my business tech-enabled so that there could be automation at the highest possible level.
How do you manage yourself and keep on going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I always try to make my people develop A Sense of Belonging for my company. It is simply because I sincerely believe that the only way you can make your employees work for your company diligently and wholeheartedly is to instil in them a sense that the company belongs to them.
I do not like the idea of being a superhuman for my company—appearing on every occasion, every day-to-day issue and trying to impose my own ideas and belief. Challenges are part of life, but the best to take on these challenges is with a calm, serene, but prepared mind.
I almost without a miss, conduct daily PPE (Performance Progress Evaluation) meeting at 12 where all of the team shares today’s important things to be accomplished, followed by one short motivational discussion.
In addition to these, to manage my mental equilibrium, I try to travel, spend time in writing or book reading in café with my favourite coffee and spend time with my family. Travelling and writing helps me clear my mental clogs and focus on the issues that need my attention. For me, Travelling is also the Mother of Ideas.
Given the rapid pace at which the world is changing, what are the leadership traits that are necessary for success?
I think the must-have leadership traits include Clear Vision about the future, Creativity and Innovation, Taking Responsibility of Failure and Giving the team the credit of Success, Out-of-Box approach, a good predictor of the future trend in the market.
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
My business mantra is: think fast, think first. Ideas are no body’s monopoly. Whatever I believe, I pursue. I prepare myself to give in my best shot at each and every opportunity that comes my way.
In your opinion – what is more necessary: Idea or a good team for a successful startup?
I think both are necessary. But before that “Pagalpan” should precede which is the foundation on which both of these lands or survive.
Now, an idea without a good team is like a womb, without a mother. For proper delivery and success of an idea, an efficient and effective team is a must. Importantly, you need not know everything to start your business. But, it’s like swimming; you will have to descend on water.
Last but not least, you have to be super tech-enabled. Tech reduces the dependence on physical staff up to a considerable extent and helps check the number of employees on Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube, etc.
What are the three most important lessons you have learned building your startup?
I think, let me prioritize. Yah. It is
1) Conceptualise in your Brain
2) Check the Market Demand
3) Start with the never-to-give-up approach
You are always positive and motivated; what keeps you going?
Of course, passion is there. But for me testimonials from authors, readers about the impact of books in their lives, add the booster dose. Authors giving credit to me for their success in their business when they close high-ticket size clients from across the globe as their book presence is acting as a magnet to them, makes me feel that I am on the right track.
They are making their presence felt in less time and effort, and this success of theirs is what makes me feel motivated always. And I think there are so many things that I need to do in my book business and that zeal keeps me fresh like morning dew.
Please share with us what has worked well for you so far?
I think what has worked for me is the confidence of people on me. This is the only thing that I have gained so far, and I think, without this, I would not be here in your program.
Apart from startup, you are already running more than a decade old company successfully.
We would love to know your advice for all those starting out as an aspiring entrepreneur?
Write a book that will make you respectable from start. Sometimes have no reputation is as hard on you as having a bad one.
Writing a book makes you credible since you do not have much to prove as your credibility.
And shouting about that you know much, and your prices are lower than others, you can give free offers…falls flat, until you have something credible which can make you Audible to All.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
