On Sunday i went to a very close friend's place (went to her home after years as we shifted cities after school) to attend her birthday party. (with a thought on how soon i will have to remove my age from my fb account) The get together was quite different from the one's i usually attend as this was out and out a family get together with parents and children all coming along. One question which kept on circulating while we all greeted each other is - what do you do?One bit of the conversation on Monday morning blues went like this - (My Friends's Mom) - "So Shradha where is your
office, how far do you have to commute tomorrow morning? Pat comes my friend's reply. "she stays at home" to this (friend's mom) - Job chhord diya? not working anymore?? Now its my turn - "Nahi Aunty, i have my own startup, just shifted to Bangalore so working out of home" (friend's mom) gives me those looks which only mothers can give, one of delving deeper into your words and her reply is a big "O" quickly endorsed by other working souls there - "lucky you" you can chill out tom while we slog!!
This conservation brought back memories of a year back in my life, in every get together when i was asked, the popular question, what do you do?, my reply was - working with CNBC or Times of India. The look of appreciation that greeted me was phenomenal, as if, my whole personality was magentic!!!
Infact such is the present scenario that if some one has to introduce me, its like this, she has worked with CNBC and Times of India in the past... somewhere amidst the introduction my present is easily left out.
I am sure many of us face this on a daily basis, the same question - what do you do? and a good (acceptable and understandable) way of answering it.
So my dear startup friends - let me make this clear, if you leave your branded job and venture in the adventurous startup world, please remember i am here to listen to Your Story with full admiration and appreciation, after all you will only recognise what i do at YourStory.in:))
While i go and figure out how to answer this question well, dear reader you to do your bit and lets start acknowledging a startup in the same way as you would acknowledge your friend in an MNC with a six digit salary.
footnote : got to know from a French friend that in France you might know a person for long, hang out but will still not know what he or she does!!!
- Shradha Sharma
