Interview with Devesh Dwivedi from Breakingthe9to5Jail.com

I would like to introduce Devesh, I met Devesh last year and we quickly became friends large in part to our similar entrepreneurial mindsets. He also came on board to help me plan and execute Startup Weeke

nd Calgary which was an excellent success. But I will let him tell you in his own words about his journey!

YGG: We know you’re a “Young Go Getter”, but so our readers know, how old are you?

Devesh: 28

YGG: Can you tell us the quick history about yourself, and what drives you to succeed?

Devesh: I started my first business when I was 14, it was a comic book rental business that I started with a couple of friends who were also big on reading and collecting comic books, since then I have started multiple businesses in fashion, beauty, technology, education. I also worked for multiple Fortune 50 companies in different capacities for half a decade after my MBA from State Univ. of NY (Oswego). I started consulting a coaching small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs out of my technology business and realized that helping entrepreneurs succeed was my true calling, something that I enjoyed doing the most. Now, I help cubicle imprisoned aspiring entrepreneurs break out of the 9-5 jail and start their own businesses.

YGG: How did you get started in this business?

Devesh: As I mentioned I had been an entrepreneur before going for an MBA and traditional corporate job and even after working at many different companies in different capacities I always felt imprisoned, because I just couldn’t work and grow as I wished. I missed the freedom and fun I had as an entrepreneur. Following the instructions that came with “that’s just the way it’s always been done” flavor is what I’m allergic to. I have always been interested in meeting new people and talking and when I mentioned my job as a 9-5 jail at the networking events people started recognizing me as ‘9-5 jail’ guy more than my name, that how ‘Breaking the 9to5 jail’ was born, first a group, then a blog, now a book, blog and source of inspiration and information for aspiring entrepreneurs…

YGG: What are the most crucial things you have done to grow your business?

Devesh: Given. I believe in the give to give philosophy of networking and building relationships more than give to get hand shakes. I take

time to understand the needs of not only my clients and potential clients but almost everyone in my network and help them in the best possible way I can. It keeps coming back and when it doesn’t I don’t mind because I didn’t expect anything in the first place. So, my suggestion to everyone in the process of starting a new business or running one is to build relationships, one at a time and make sure that ‘giving’ registers with your network.

YGG: What has been your most effective marketing tactic or technique?

Devesh: Guest blogging – I write and contribute to Under30CEO.com YoungEntrepreneur.com, EvanCarmichael.com, monthly media queries of Young Entrepreneur Council and my articles have been syndicated to many more blogs and media outlets. This is a great way of building credibility and influence in your niche and gets you access to wider audience and readers.

YGG: What three pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs starting out today?

Devesh:
1. Test your idea for viability, sustainability, and profitability. Very often I see people working on projects simply because they assume others need that when in reality no one cares about that. Don’t assume people have need for what you’re building or have the pain that you’re trying to resolve.
2. Forget loans and investments! Bootstrap! No banks give you a loan for a startup unless you take personal responsibility on your own credit or have been in business for a minimum 2 years. Same with investors, unless you have a proof of concept, market research, and numbers in place, none would invest in it. So, just like charity, startups begin at home. Bootstrap your business and go to investors with a plan and product and not just an ‘idea’.
3. Write an action plan, not a business plan. 50 page theory doesn’t help your business or startup at all… quite often it would only eat dust on your book shelf but an action plan with a rolling to-do list is what will keep you on the right track.

YGG: How does your business “give back” to the community or to society?

Devesh: I volunteer for CYBF, Momentum and other organization that support and youth entrepreneurship and self employment of low-income & afflicted people.

YGG: Why do you do what you do? What inspires you? When do you get most excited?

Devesh: The energy and enthusiasm of would-be entrepreneurs is my addiction. I love what I do. I get the most excited every single time one of my clients tell me ‘today is the day, I’m finally going to tell my boss, “I’m out”’.

YGG: If I could introduce you to anyone, who would it be?

Devesh: A cubicle imprisoned aspiring entrepreneur is who I’d like to meet and help get free. For me, I’d like to meet Seth Godin.

YGG: Can you give us three tools that you use every single day to make your life as a younggogetter more efficient, productive, or fun?

Devesh: 1. iPad & iPhone with loads of productivity apps – Paypal, WordPress, Twitter, FB etc 2. My whiteboard and 3. Mailchimp.

YGG: What is your favourite quote?

Devesh: I’d love to quote myself – “Life is too short to be wasted in a cubicle (or a corner office)!”
I like many quotes but my favorite is the one from movie ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ – ‘You got a dream… You gotta protect it. People can’t do something’ themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something’, go get it. Period.’