"Don't Stay Inside by Thinking About the Competition Outside." - Hamza Sayed

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1. Tell us more about your journey.

Ever since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to run my own business. I don't think I ever doubted it for a second. I always thought it'll be too easy to start and successfully run a business. But boy was I wrong! I don't come from a rich family so what may be a necessity for others was probably a luxury for me. It got even worse when a family feud intensified and led to the separation of my parents. I was 15 at the time, my brother 6, and preparing for boards. Time went by and I completed by 12th oblivious to the fact that my mother was struggling to give us a proper education. 

When I got into college, it became clear to me that my mother couldn't do it alone, although she never said anything. So I dropped out and got the first job that I could! It was an internship I got through some light-hearted begging for a marketing firm in Mumbai for 5000 rs, which was never paid until the end of the internship i.e. 3 months. All this time my mother was completely against my decision and insisted that I complete my graduation and not worry about the money.

To this day, she yells at me to complete my graduation. That was the beginning of my journey.

From there, I went on from one job to another, never sticking at one place for more than 6 months, constantly lying to my employers about my education by telling them I was still pursuing my graduation because nobody would hire a drop-out, a teenager without a degree. I wanted my situation to change overnight. The reason why I quit so many jobs were, (a) I was never content in working for someone I don't respect, and (b) I wanted to start a business because I thought that would change everything instantly! 

When I left paying jobs (on which my family of 3 were dependant) in pursuit of making it big in the business world, I never once considered the fact that I was putting not just myself but everyone else on the line. Every time I would quit my job to start a business, we'd go from being broke to being destitute. My mother never once told me to stop being an idiot and stick to a job so that we could eat! It wasn't until my grandfather (Nana) expiring that I realized I needed to stop this nonsense and stick to a place. 

He was our only support in this world. If we were to fall, he was our safety net, a guardian angel. God works in mysterious ways. He knew He would be taking away our biggest support and got me a job 10 days before my grandfather's death. When he died, we had no money, so I asked my best friend to loan me 2000 rs promising to pay him when my salary was credited. We survived on that RS 2000  for an entire month until my salary got credited.

A few years later, I quit my job once again to start India's first comic book store - The Comic Book Store only to fail again! I got rejected by 62 VCs, friends and family. 2 years and all my salary later, I bootstrapped my dream. I once again put everything and everyone on the line, but this time I didn't fail. I backed myself into a corner and burned all bridges and safety nets to the point of no return. I had no option than to succeed. Sure, I didn't make money immediately, but this time it was different. 

For the next year, I worked on The Comic Book Store alone from my living room that was filled with comic books.

I couldn't afford rent or salaries so I did the job of 20 odd people by myself. Since its inception a year ago, I've been invited to speak at IIM Ahmedabad, won India 500 Startup Awards, nominated for Top 30 under 30 Entrepreneurs, Young of Entrepreneur of the year, TIMES NOW Leaders of Tomorrow, Founder of the Year and Startup of the Year for India at the Global Startup Awards, at 23 years old. Today, The Comic Book Store counts RAFTAAR and other A-list celebs and Fortune 500 companies as its clientele.

I have failed so many times in my life that I had gotten used to it. I became comfortable with being uncomfortable. But I never stopped trying or lost hope. I went door to door asking for a job. There were times we didn't even have 10 rs to feed ourselves. Managers would tear my resume in front of me. I walked 8 kms in scorching heat until my feet bled for a job interview at Reliance Industries because I didn't have money for the bus. 

I polished shoes and made men and women wear those shoes with my own hands. My cousins would make fun of me and often called me "mochi" or ridiculed my job. 

I was never ashamed or embarrassed of my job because whatever I did, I did it to feed my family. Nothing ever bought me down. After many failed attempts at starting a biz, working 2 jobs, being constantly broke & destitute, I’m grateful for how things turned out.
This is my journey.

2. What is the typical role of a brand strategist in any organization?

A brand strategist is a bridge or an intermediary between a business and its customers. A brand strategist's typical role is to study the consumer behavior and overall market to devise a strategy for the way forward (hence the name). He or she (or them) conveys the message, emotion, and sentiments of a consumer and the overall market.

3. What skills does one need to make a career in business management? 

Proactiveness, quick thinking, and good communication skills. It's an added bonus if you're a good listener and empathetic.

4. Could you share some generic tips for lead conversion? 

I'll share a very helpful tip for converting a lead without being too pushy. This could improve your response rate by roughly 50%.

Subject line: <first name>, did I lose you?

Email body:
Hi <first name>,
I have written a few times on helping <company name> acquire new leads. But there is a thin line between following persistently and flooding your inbox with more emails.
Could you hit reply and let me know 1 / 2 / 3 so that it helps me know whether to reach out to you again or not?

1. This could be useful for us - let's setup time next week
2. This is not a good time - call back in a couple of months
3. I have no use for this. Please don't follow up anymore

Feel free to let me know and I can plan accordingly.
This email format will help anyone close leads faster.

5. How can one know if they have a knack for leading business organisation and will enjoy the role?

You have to ask yourself, is it an itch or is it burning? Your answer to that question will tell you everything you need to know.

6. Which is your favourite book and why? 

Fiction - The Abduction by Mark Giminez: One of the best plots ever written! Period. This book had so many twists that I had to, on many occasions, close the book to grasp the reality of it. I cannot count how many times I shut the book in complete awe to understand what just happened. I read a lot and I've never once come close to a crime-fiction thriller as good as this.
Non-fiction - A tie between Zero to One by Peter Theil and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: These 2 books are something every entrepreneur or manager must read once in his or her lifetime. Probably the best self-help books ever written! They are written for start-up founders. They outline ideas, suggestions, and pitfalls for startups and founders unlocking the power of innovation. 

7. Your message for the youth who are aspiring to be future business managers.

"Don't stay inside by thinking about the competition outside."

Take risks. Don't be afraid to fail. When Elon Musk's SpaceX was launching its first rocket, the whole world was watching. The rocket exploded before launch. A year later, he prepared another rocket for another launch and called the whole world to watch. 

2nd rocket, 2nd explosion. Most of us would've given up by now considering the millions of dollars lost. Again a year later, 3rd rocket launch, 3rd critical explosion this time with NASA satellites on board. SpaceX and Tesla were on the edge of bankruptcy when again a year later, Elon Musk prepared a 4th rocket to launch when a reporter asked him, what will you do if this one failed? He said I'll kill myself because this one can't fail. And it didn't! The first successful rocket launch by SpaceX. 

Do you know why he said that? Because he backed himself into a corner and burned down all safety nets. He put everything on this launch. He had no option than to succeed. Every failure is one step closer to success. Who knows someday someone will be writing a story like about you.

- Mr Hamza Sayed 

Interview by - Rohan Bhargav