Set Back or Pushed Ahead

Last week was a strange week. Almost injustice, for surely deja vu.

First was the election results and the fate of our honorable Prime Minister in the general elections of 2024. Like many noted, it was almost a feeling of defeat. Given the achievements and pedigree of what was built in the last 10 years, another win was a foregone conclusion. And the poll predictions matched that to a tee. When the ruling party ended 10% short of a majority, sadness crept in. It was a remarkable achievement nevertheless, unheard of in democratic history and the PM was anyways coming back to power. But such were the standards, that alas! Albeit the nation has rallied (so have the markets) and the PM will be sworn in, proudly a 3^rd time.

Then was the case of Novak Djokovic. Almost the same. He bowed out retired hurt from the French Open Quarters. For a winner of record breaking 24 slams, at the age of 37, to be in the quarters itself is huge. And becoming the biggest match winner in slams last week was even bigger. But such were the standards set by him that no one expects him to lose that early. And with Nadal not being a factor, he was expected to go all the way again. So, no celebrations happened.

It’s another matter that PM Modi is being sworn in, and the next 5 years may still spell India’s dominance. It’s another matter that the next Slam, Wimbledon, is just round the corner and the Serb can still get to a record extending 25^th Slam and a record equaling 8^th Wimbledon (at par with Federer).

Why deja vu? My mind harks back to 2021 at OfBusiness and Oxyzo. It was a crazy year that no start-up can forget. Till 3 months, many start-ups had raised at lofty valuations, including some in our own space. So much was expected out of us (by most stakeholders) as the market leader in our domain and being amongst a few that had been profitable for a while. I remember that when we raised at less than a unicorn value in April (but substantially higher than previous), most thought it was unjust. It’s another matter that the world has been much kinder post the period 

I remember thinking then – With lofty expectations, a setback can seem like a defeat but may also be the push ahead that one just needs (sometimes deserves).

#lifeatofbusiness
#lifeatoxyzo