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Manish Sabharwal of Teamlease is an interesting mind. Those of you who saw his interview w @jomalhotra of @ThePrintIndia where he spouts stats & speaks his mind bluntly, would surely concur
If you havent seen it do see https://www.facebook.com/theprintindia/videos/549561489002777/?vh=e
1/12
Manish Sabharwal of Teamlease is an interesting mind. Those of you who saw his interview w @jomalhotra of @ThePrintIndia where he spouts stats & speaks his mind bluntly, would surely concur
If you havent seen it do see https://www.facebook.com/theprintindia/videos/549561489002777/?vh=e
1/12
Manish is a 2-time founder now running Teamlease, a listed co.
He recently spoke to Blume’s founders on a zoom call. Here are his key points - culled out of a larger set for its relevance to the founder community.
2/12
He recently spoke to Blume’s founders on a zoom call. Here are his key points - culled out of a larger set for its relevance to the founder community.
2/12
Is your startup a baby or a dwarf? Not easy to know at birth if it will grow to be a fully-sized adult!
What differentiates the baby from the dwarf is the size of the addressable market + DNA of the team.
More here https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/columns/create-babies,-not-dwarfs/story/4316.html
3/12
What differentiates the baby from the dwarf is the size of the addressable market + DNA of the team.
More here https://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/columns/create-babies,-not-dwarfs/story/4316.html
3/12
Mario Cuomo said “campaign in poetry but govern in prose”.
Manish: There is a poetry phase and a prose phase in every startup's life.
- If you only have poetry but no prose, you do nothing.
- But if you have only prose but no poetry, you do nothing great.
4/12
Manish: There is a poetry phase and a prose phase in every startup's life.
- If you only have poetry but no prose, you do nothing.
- But if you have only prose but no poetry, you do nothing great.
4/12
Manish: Avg life expectancy of Fortune 500 in 1955 when the list started was 64yrs. Today it is 14 yrs. Clearly they are getting the balance between poetry and prose wrong.
Skills required to get the trains moving is different from that required to keep it running on time.
5/12
Skills required to get the trains moving is different from that required to keep it running on time.
5/12
Manish: 1st 10 yrs the founder succeeds by not listening. After that the founder succeeds by listening. Manish says he asks the board members to protect him from himself.
(Think we could replace 10 yrs with Series B:) )
Manish to founders: Who is your corporate hearing aid?
6/
(Think we could replace 10 yrs with Series B:) )
Manish to founders: Who is your corporate hearing aid?
6/
Manish: trade higher stakes for more secure businesses. VG Siddhartha of Cafe Coffee Day use to tease him saying he has 50% stake in CCD (thanks to high debt) vs Manish's 18% in Teamlease post IPO.
Manish says that in many bankruptcies he sees, owners have 75%+ of the co!
7/12
Manish says that in many bankruptcies he sees, owners have 75%+ of the co!
7/12
Manish: Distinguish between recipes vs list of ingredients. Recipes are sometimes more important.
This is a terrific way to put it. We see this in edu / content.
When content becomes easier & easier to create then curation & pathways / playlists begin to matter more than ever.
This is a terrific way to put it. We see this in edu / content.
When content becomes easier & easier to create then curation & pathways / playlists begin to matter more than ever.
Manish: 3 upsides to IPOs
- acquisition - your currency improves
- ability to hire better talent
- accountability to numbers that comes with listing; in private much easier to explain away poor growth. But in listed cos, the market will flay you.
9/12
- acquisition - your currency improves
- ability to hire better talent
- accountability to numbers that comes with listing; in private much easier to explain away poor growth. But in listed cos, the market will flay you.
9/12
Manish: I have read a book every week for the last 25 years when I founded and ran two companies. Dont give me excuse that you have no time.
+
says Manish
- dont read business books
- at least 10 yrs old (let time decide what is important).
10/12
+
says Manish
- dont read business books
- at least 10 yrs old (let time decide what is important).
10/12
Here is a list of books Manish recommended.
Biographies rule! (something I have seen in other sharp minds as well).
11/12
Biographies rule! (something I have seen in other sharp minds as well).
11/12
Fin/
I clearly enjoyed the talk by Manish. His distinct metaphors, the data and pointed perspectives make for an interesting combination.
Clearly one of the more interesting minds out there!
12/12
I clearly enjoyed the talk by Manish. His distinct metaphors, the data and pointed perspectives make for an interesting combination.
Clearly one of the more interesting minds out there!
12/12
