Theatre is often perceived as merely an art form or a means of entertainment. However, my personal experiences in theatre during high school and college have taught me invaluable lessons that have shaped me into a better professional and leader. The skills I acquired through theatre have been invaluable in my journey as a successful operator and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
The Roman Epic Experience
My first encounter with theatre was during high school when I acted in a production of the Roman epic “Caligula.” The experience was unique and eye-opening. The rigorous rehearsal process instilled in me the importance of commitment, discipline, and attention to detail – qualities that would later prove essential in my professional life.
Discovering My True Passion
During college, I continued exploring theatre, but after a couple of acting productions, I realized that my true passion lay backstage. The chaos of a production required a semblance of sanity, and a great stage manager had to have everything planned and accounted for, with contingencies in place for unexpected situations.
The Disaster that Taught Me Resilience
I vividly remember the first show I stage-managed – it was a disaster! The technical rehearsal saw every possible thing go wrong – the backdrop fell, props were missing, and an irate parent even hurled abuses at me because her child “didn’t get to shine” due to my perceived shortcomings. This experience taught me a valuable lesson in resilience and the importance of preparation.
The Production Book: My Secret Weapon
From that low point, I vowed to improve and started meticulously documenting every aspect of the production in my “production book.” This book became synonymous with my identity – people associated me with my book, my utility jacket with a thousand pockets, and my all-black outfit (which eventually became my go-to wardrobe).
The Six Pillars of Stagecraft and Life
Through my theatre experiences, I developed a six-pillar approach that has served me well in both stagecraft and corporate life:
1. Understand: Sitting through rehearsals allowed me to grasp the rhythm and cadence of the show, much like understanding the pace of development in the corporate world.
2. Prepare: Ensuring that all necessary props and tools were in place and positioned correctly, just as having the right resources and tools is crucial in a corporate setting.
3. Plan: Meticulously planning the movement of props, actors, and crew members, akin to strategically allocating resources within an organization for optimal efficiency.
4. Practice: Rehearsing scene changes, movements, and team coordination, just as practice and preparation are essential for successful execution in any professional endeavor.
5. Feedback: Seeking input from actors and crew members to identify areas for improvement, mirroring the importance of open communication and feedback loops in a corporate environment.
6. Execute: When the show begins, all the training and practice come into play, seamlessly executing the plan while being prepared for contingencies – a skill that directly translates to managing operations and addressing issues in the corporate world.
The Lasting Impact of Theatre
My stint in theatre has had a profound and lasting impact on my personal and professional life. The lessons learned backstage – commitment, discipline, attention to detail, resilience, preparation, planning, practice, feedback, and execution – have made me the best COO I could be across various organizations. Theatre has truly been a transformative experience, equipping me with essential life skills that have been invaluable in my journey as a successful operator and leader.
Category: entrepreneurial blog
New rules around Special Purpose Acquisition Companies
The recent SEC rule changes for SPACs have sparked conversations across the investment landscape. While some view them as a blow to these “blank check companies,” I, like many others, remain optimistic about the future of SPACs as a valuable tool for entering the public market.
The new focus on enhanced disclosures and stricter projection guidelines is undoubtedly a positive step. Transparency is crucial for investor trust, and by requiring SPACs to shed more light on their operations, compensation structures, and target companies, the SEC is promoting more informed decision-making.
However, as a SPAC operator myself, I believe the underlying power of this instrument remains strong. Let’s demystify the advantages:
1. A Smoother Path to Public Visibility: Compared to the traditional IPO marathon, SPACs offer a more controlled and predictable journey. Costs are upfront and transparent, eliminating the uncertainty of fundraising rounds. Moreover, having completed much of the due diligence during the SPAC formation stage, companies merging with SPACs can hit the ground running as publicly traded entities. This “IPO-as-a-Service” approach streamlines the process and minimizes disruption to business operations.
2. Leveraging Financial Strength: Strong balance sheets give companies an edge in navigating the capital markets. This pre-IPO stability translates into bolder and more achievable future projections, setting a solid foundation for their public life. With less financial pressure after merging, companies can focus on execution and delivering on their promises, building investor confidence.
3. Focus on Fundamentals over Hype: The increased disclosure requirements mandated by the SEC will help shift the focus from speculative projections to the company’s core strengths and potential. Investors will have access to richer data and deeper insights, enabling them to make informed decisions based on actual realities rather than hypothetical “moonshot” scenarios.
Of course, adapting to the new regulatory landscape will require strategic adjustments. As a recent SPAC operator who prioritized transparency throughout the merger process, I am confident that embracing these changes will ultimately strengthen the SPAC ecosystem and foster healthier, more sustainable ventures.
In conclusion, while the new SEC rules undoubtedly reshape the SPAC landscape, they represent an opportunity for growth and maturity. By embracing transparency, leveraging financial stability, and focusing on fundamentals, SPACs can remain a powerful tool for companies and investors alike. Let’s approach this evolution with optimism and work together to build a better, more informed public market for the future.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are solely my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization I am associated with. These views are personal and are provided for informational purposes only. The information presented here is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes. Any reliance you place on the information from this blog/post is strictly at your own risk. I reserve the right to change, update, or remove content at any time. The content provided is my own opinion and not intended to malign any individual, group, organization, or anyone or anything.
interesting #statistics
I was going through some reports on the locations from where people have accessed my blog! very interesting! 🙂
Mr. V – thanks for visiting from Switzerland!
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fundraising and VCs
Startup Central?
how friendly is society towards startups? well, its slowly dawning on me- not very.
1. finances: if a startup needs a loan – its not available unless you have been in existance for 3 years with all audited financial information- which kinda defeats the purpose of a startup.
2. market sentiments – well- everyone seems to be out to take you for a ride- esp if you are not doing some form of mild rocket science. thye are like- you are a startup – so what canyou possibly do. so the moral of the story is – market whatever you do as rocket science.
3. realestate- realised that the folks in the building need to see fancy spancy crap to think that you are a worthwile company- which is annoying to say the least. Just today – i had the watchman for the office building saying that the parking is not available for us- which is very strange- because the owners have had parking slots for almost 3 years.
guess its a matter of perspective- as to who can be walked over and who would turn around and bite you back.
being on your own
Today was a day of reckoning. we took some decisions as a company. and we are proud of them. Being on your own its nice- this feeling. At times its troubled thoughts on how one might put food on the table, but its also a sense of liberation which allows you to do anything you might want at any time and any point. explore limitless possibilities and all along be happy- simply because you are choosing to do so.
decisions
when you work for an established orgnization, you assume that all bills will be covered. however, when you are on your own – you have to make sure you have enough money to make sure the bills are covered. so if you want to buy an AC for the office- hmm- thought needs to go in – to how much the bills are going to be and whether this is a necessity or an extravagance. that rule of thumb literally goes for everything that we need to purchase. getting money is the 2nd most critical thing, the first being – the balls to take off. you need money for eveyrthing- and every tom, dick and third bihari thinks that since you have a startup – you are flushed with cash. which is not the best thought since- they will jack up the prices. here- being a startup- you will be as cost conscious as possible- comparing vendors to even supply you toilet equipment, whereas most of the suppliers think- hmmm… new company… more money! 🙁 sadly – the saga for the entrepreneur is never over.
another golden rule- time is money. when you decide not to work – you loose business. you can’t afford to sit back with your feet in the air saying – im my own boss- i think i wont go to work today. nein – that does not work these days! 🙁
so a tip – think a million times before you jump in! 🙂
The Entrepreneur
Sunday 22nd June 2008- sitting in office at 4pm, wondering what the hell were we doing pushing ourselves so hard. It was Saturdays, sundays, all days 8am to 2am almost. I had always wanted to be on my own, so decided, if i can work so hard for someone, doing something for which the benifits I will never see, I must have it in me to do it for me? well, at that moment, I logged into the system, and clicked on the one button all of us stuck in the rat race always dream of clicking- “submit resignation”. That being done, Startedworking with even more gusto, because i saw light at the end of the tunnel. something which i felt that wll allow me to explore the relems of life, and enjoy the joy of success.
Thursday 31st July 2008- Was effectively my last day at the company. I went about finishing my formalities, had a small farewell party – a cake and a lovely gift voucher – most importantly, it was a gathering to say goodbye. The light at my tunnel was appearing brighter, many a times during the 1.5 months, I wondered if i had taken th right decision. If this was the case, then should i withdraw my resignation? so, here i was, at the cusp of the next big step of my life. I was finally going to be an entrepreneur. my dream and my ambition.