WIN's Entrepreneurial Initiative -- An Invitation

[ai927 at freenet.carleton.ca]

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  ai927 at freenet.carleton.ca

>
>	   This is an invitation from the Worldwide Indian Network (WIN) 
>	to all Indians to explore with us the possibility of developing 
>	effective and successful businesses.  Our goal is to lay the 
>	foundation of an organization within WIN that will facilitate 
>	communication and collaboration among people of varying skills 
>	and resources.  We intend to foster an entrepreneurial spirit 
>	among participants leading to the formation of new business 
>	enterprises.
>
>	   During the past half century, Indian politicians have talked 
>	themselves into oblivion.  Nevertheless, in each election they 
>	continue to get mandates from the people to lead the country in 
>	the same direction.  Meanwhile, Japanese workers have built an 
>	industrial marvel from a heap of ashes.  Today, Japanese 
>	productivity is 12 times that of India, and its per capita gross 
>	national product (GNP) is 105 times greater.
>
>	   Following Japan's example would be a good way for India to 
>	industrialize herself.  We have the main ingredient -- India has 
>	the second largest reservoir of trained manpower in the world 
>	(behind the United States).  What we seem to lack is an 
>	entrepreneurial tradition which enables us to take risks, and a 
>	spirit of cooperation which will make teamwork possible.
>
>	   Henry Ford is the idol of many businessmen; 66 million people 
>	around the world drive Ford cars every day.  Conrad Hilton is 
>	another idol of many businessmen; 110 thousand people around the 
>	world sleep in Hilton Hotels each night.  What we do not know is 
>	how many Fords and how many Hiltons failed to realize their 
>	ambitions.  Statistics show that 6.0% of start-ups in the United 
>	States fail in the first two years.  And only 62.4% of new 
>	businesses are still in existence ten years later.  We 
>	definitely don't want to fall into the wrong side of that 
>	statistic.
>
>	   To this end, we need an organization that will bring together 
>	individuals with complementary skills and a common interest in 
>	establishing businesses.  Unless one has the right combination 
>	of technical and managerial skills along with a sufficient 
>	amount of money, the odds are against successfully establishing 
>	a solo business.  If one has technical and managerial skills but 
>	lacks financial resources, one will need an investor to support 
>	any potential venture.  At the same time, investors and venture 
>	capitalists need to draw upon people with technical and 
>	managerial skills.
>
>	   In addition to the satisfaction we entrepreneurs would 
>	achieve for ourselves in establishing businesses, we would also 
>	contribute something to our country.  The formation of 
>	businesses creates jobs; in turn, the creation of jobs fuels 
>	economic growth and prosperity.  A healthy economy can relieve 
>	the misery and anguish of people by providing them with decent 
>	jobs and can enable them to prosper by offering affordable goods 
>	and services.
>
>	   Productivity -- efficiency or output per person -- will 
>	definitely take an upward turn once we form businesses.  First, 
>	when a person owns his own business, he will be completely 
>	committed to its success: he will have a heightened sense of 
>	responsibility, he will allow himself no excuses.  Moreover, a 
>	creative person, when working for someone else, is not always 
>	free to explore his own sense of creativity.  As a business 
>	owner, that same person is free to decide the best way to 
>	accomplish his objectives.  He will then act with creativity, 
>	good judgment, and with full awareness that the success of his 
>	business depends primarily on his efforts.
>
>	   Consumers have an enormous amount to gain if productivity 
>	improves.  Efficient production leads to better goods at lower 
>	prices, and lower prices mean people can have more: more food, 
>	more clothes, more leisure, more variety, more of everything 
>	money can buy.
>
>	   Each time the Government of India has devalued the currency, 
>	the leaders(?) have come up with a very persuasive argument for 
>	the illiterate masses: "Exports will improve substantially," 
>	they claim.  But the facts prove otherwise.  From 1979 to 1993 
>	the rupee has lost three-quarter of its value -- it has 
>	depreciated from Rs 8.076 to Rs 31.364 to a dollar.  During this 
>	period the cumulative current account deficit of India amounts 
>	to $64.11 billion.  In the same fifteen years, the yen has 
>	doubled in value -- it has appreciated from Y219.140 to Y111.198 
>	to a dollar.  Japan's cumulative current account surplus for 
>	this period amounts to $764.47 billion.  What the demagogues in 
>	India fail to realize -- or lack the courage to face -- is that 
>	the key to improved economic conditions is PRODUCTIVITY.  Only 
>	when productivity increases, do employment, incomes, and exports 
>	rise.  Productivity growth is the engine that drives the long-
>	run improvement of living standards.
>
>	   Two kinds of investors -- those who invest their skills and 
>	labor, and those who invest their money -- will compose this 
>	organization.  Hopefully, each participant will contribute both 
>	kinds of investments.
>
>	   Those who invest their skills and labor will benefit in many 
>	ways.  First, they will eliminate the middleman -- the employer 
>	-- and receive the total benefits of their labor.  If the 
>	employer pays an employee one dollar he does so only if he makes 
>	at least two dollars out of the employee.  Moreover, because the 
>	entrepreneurs will be their own bosses, they will derive greater 
>	personal satisfaction from their work, and they will have 
>	control over their own destiny.
>
>	   The investors of money will also benefit in several ways.  
>	They will receive a higher return on their savings.  If a bank 
>	pays 5% interest, it is certainly making at least that amount 
>	for itself.  By eliminating the middleman -- the bank -- and 
>	investing directly in businesses, the investors receive the full 
>	benefit of their savings.  Furthermore, they will own a portion 
>	of a business, rather than simply giving money over to a bank 
>	for the bank to invest.  Thus the investors will have direct 
>	control over their money.
>
>	   Finally, the channeling of funds from individuals who have 
>	savings to others with productive investment opportunities will 
>	be a tremendous boost for the economy and to the parties 
>	involved in the exchange.  Each investor will have the great 
>	satisfaction of knowing he is promoting the economic success of 
>	India.
>
>	   If you are willing to help your fellow Indians in forming 
>	businesses, please send an e-mail to win at neu.edu.  Use the word 
>	BUSINESS in the subject line, and your e-mail address (in small 
>	letters only), home zip code, full name and telephone number(s) 
>	in the body using the following format:
>
>	bhalder at lynx.neu.edu : 02128 : Mr Biswanath Halder H617-567-0667
> 
>
>