If you ask me, I would describe myself as a person of extremities. Either I do or I don’t. There is no in-between.
Growing up with a father who had been passionate about the stock market throughout, it is no wonder that I developed the same passion from a young age, albeit in a slightly different direction. My interest lay in trading. All the talks at the dinner table in the Kumar household revolved around the world of stock markets. I grew up watching Zee Business more than Cartoon Network. I have many fond memories of waking up in the mornings and waiting until 9:15 a.m. for the markets to open so that I could watch the stock prices go up and down. I used to love those red and green numbers— oblivious to the power they had to make or destroy lives.
On that account, it comes as no surprise that I opted for the commerce stream in Grade 11. I topped my school in boards. After my boards, I began preparing for IPMAT. The rationale for doing the same was to enter the much talked about - IIM fraternity. The place with one of the country's brightest minds hailing from diverse backgrounds— from horticulture to economics— all gathered together in one room, sharing their unique perspectives. I wanted to be a part of those discussions and widen my horizons. IPMAT is one of those opportunities which opens the door of IIMs, the earliest it could. One could call it destiny; IIM Rohtak announced its decision to launch its Integrated Programme in Management, one of the rarest IIMs to offer such a programme. Acing through the examinations and interviews, I finally entered as one of the 140-odd students of the first IPM batch of IIM Rohtak.
IIM Rohtak delivered on its promises. A premier institution where some brilliant minds from across the country gathered. Faculties with years of experience and expertise that no books could ever impart. Quality infrastructure. Access to quality literature. Thought-provoking classroom discussions and challenges that constantly pushed and readjusted the limits I never even knew I had. But it came with a price— the hefty fees.
Not one to sit back, I wanted to do something to help share the burden with my family. After a stint at internships, I quickly realized, much to my dismay, that the returns were not sufficient. At this point when I was at a crossroads, and one of the faculties of IIM Rohtak suggested that I should learn Technical Analysis. I taught myself using the online resources that I could get my hands on. While at it, I also taught myself the Chartered Market Technician Certification course syllabus, though I did not sit for the exam because of the exorbitant fees. Then, I further acquainted myself with the theories of Fundamental Analysis.
Armed with the knowledge, I gained over those few months, and the many years of experience from my father, I began to plan for something bigger. Something that could help me achieve my goal of amassing a sizable amount to pay at least a portion of my fees. To begin with, I got myself registered on the National Stock Exchange. I started trading, and within the first few months, I had quite an excellent trade-win ratio of 0.73. I had the innate confidence that I could certainly grow this into something bigger and turn it into a start-up. However, I needed clarification about the idea. I spent a few months discussing it with my father and also conducting market research. After two months of holistic preparation and planning, my business model was finally ready. The result was 365Days— the start-up I founded in my first year of graduation.
I purchased franchises with brokerage firms such as Upstox and Motilal Hoswal. Courses such as Technical Analysis and Fundamental Analysis were being sold for around INR 8000 in the market. So, I designed and created my own four-week-long course, which I sold for free to specifically targeted clients. These clients, in return, would simply have to open a Demat Account in UpStox or Motilal Hoswal. The clients got a good deal because they didn’t have to pay for the services. In this way, I grew my business, persevering one step at a time. Over the past two and a half years, I was able to acquire more than 400 clients.
There were indeed challenges to my approach. I was selling something free of cost. I had to make people trust that I was not running a scam. Over the years, I have made over 3000 cold calls. I remember working for more than 16 hours a day, attending my classes until evening, and then spending the rest of the day making around 25 calls every day. My business card says, “Feel free to call me, even if it is 3:00 a.m.” That one quote can accurately convey the amount of grit and hard work I invested in my start-up. At 19 - when most youths were hanging out with friends - I had to choose between my social life and my goals.
One thing that kept me going was my innate fear; I did not want to die an ordinary man. That one thought made all the blood, sweat, and tears I shed bearable. In the end, it all paid off. My earnings allowed me to pay a few lakhs of my total fees. Today, I can earn quite a sum sitting idle, a reward for two and a half years of hard work and sacrifices. I was lucky because I knew exactly what I wanted. Owing to my army background and disposition, I did not go with the flow. I knew what I wanted and worked hard to achieve my goal. I proved that age becomes a barrier to your dreams only when you allow it to. They say, “Go big or go home,” and I went home, striking it big.