How to cut the crap and start something that matters -- lessons from the startup trenches

'Cut the Crap and Jargon: Lessons from the Start-up Trenches' co-authored by Shradha Sharma and TN Hari, a practical book for every entrepreneur, was launched at TechSparks 2017.

She writes straight from the heart, and he is an already published author. She brings high-octane energy to any space she walks in, and he comes across as patience personified. As expected, the launch of a book co-authored by Shradha Sharma, Founder and CEO of YourStory, and TN Hari, Strategic Advisor at the Fundamentum Partnership, was high on humour and interspaced with wise words.

Shradha promised that Cut the Crap and Jargon: Lessons from the Start-up Trenches is “very natural – all of you will relate to… it’s like talking to you.”

Milee Ashwarya, Editor-in-Chief, Commercial and Business books at Penguin Random House, India, joined the conversation and said she had seen Shradha’s journey as an entrepreneur and that it was a great opportunity for any publisher to have published this book. She added that the combination of Shradha and Hari worked well for a book on startups.

Explaining how it all started, Hari said,

“Sometime in February, Shradha reached out to me and said Penguin wanted to do a book and would I work on it with her? Within 10 minutes, I had replied with a ‘yes’. I have taken all important decisions instinctively and I am privileged to have written with her.”

In their quest to make their dreams of changing the world come true, entrepreneurs often lose the plot when they do not have access to timely, contextual, and good quality advice. The book is as much about these as it is about some of the more complex navigational skills required to avoid major pitfalls. The authors bring a deep understanding of the real issues on the ground that comes with experience in the trenches.

“This is my second book, though the theme is pretty much the same – this has a more provocative title. The real experience from the trenches, the real stuff about everyday life, problems entrepreneurs grapple with in everyday life, the answers may be helpful to you,” said Hari.

On the process of writing, Shradha said, “I speak whatever comes to my mind and get into trouble (sometimes) but mostly being myself, speaking my mind and being real has helped, and writing reflects the same.”

The words of wisdom on publishing came from Milee, who said, “One of my strategies focuses on local publishing, we want more Indians to come out and write. Give life to your writing, share your knowledge and talent. We are here to discover and publish you. India is a young country, and we love aspirational books. There is a renewed interest in culture and history, and also investigative journalism.”

Deep Kalra, Chairman and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, says in the Foreword,

"Entrepreneurship is a journey and not a destination. In this journey, one makes choices that are excruciatingly hard. As Shradha and Hari explain in this book some of the most complex problems can be solved if you reason using the first principles. In a startup the pace at which things come at you is relentless, and this book gives a ringside view of what that journey looks like. When you are in the trenches, you need to figure out your own game plan, and while doing that, keep this book with you."

(Watch out for a bigger and better TechSparks 2018. Sign up for updates now.)