Singapore 2019 (Part 2) – Acquiring the Growth Mindset
The NextPhase Conference was scheduled for September 9th and 10th 2019 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. I used the MRT to get to the Marina Bay and after getting out of the tunnel, I immediately took the footpath to enter the convention centre. I did capture a glimpse of the huge Marina Bay Sands hotel – the most iconic man-made structure that represents the progress and futuristic vision of Singapore. While I was awestruck I quickly entered the centre. The huge lobby, fully carpeted – vibing with the silent sounds of the boots as people approached the elevator.
When I entered the elevator, I stood alongside a gentleman whom I later realised was one of the panelists of the event. After registration at the designated floor, I entered the NextPhase Conference. It was nothing like I’ve ever seen before. The class, the innovation and creativity bombarded all at once. From discovering innovative products by various people across the globe at the expo; to finding Indians reaching heights; to getting to hear first-hand experiences and wisdom from industry professionals like the creator of BHIM UPI, the VP of VISA, and so on, the conference was, as if throwing a trailer at me of what all I could do in this lifetime with that knowledge. I was smitten by the sheer grandeur of the hall and around me were several entrepreneurs, businessmen from Singapore, India and other countries.
While Nikhil Kumar of BHIM UPI argued with the executives of VISA on stage, I kept trying to cope with all that I didn’t know yet – the perspectives, the power of tech and how far your dreams can push you to reach somewhere extraordinary. I remember getting into a call with my mother right after that particular session. I was already overwhelmed when she asked if I could bag a project already, from Singapore. What I couldn’t make her understand was – you don’t go to these places to grab projects, you go to learn, to network, to expose yourself to possibilities and to everything that you didn’t know. It’s a kind of investment on yourself to feed your mind with newer perspectives and meet new people who can help you with the growth mindset.
Cut to Day 2 of the conference – I realised they already had a lot of good food for the guests / attendees of the event. I told myself “what was the point of spending 10 dollars on a breakfast in the mall when they already had great food over here; so stupid I am!!” During lunch a couple walked up to me and asked exactly what we do at Jackson Records (if you’re wondering, it was September 2019 and I had just coined the name Incfrog, but the company name was still Jackson Records Digital Entertainment LLP). So I talked about an online subscription model for automated digital marketing – something that I always wanted to implement but never could; it was more on the concept level and the couple could very well make that out from my low level of confidence when I spoke. They walked away wishing me luck with a skeptical smile on their faces. While they were walking away, I noticed their ID cards – apparently they were ‘investors’ looking for something to invest in. I had just blown my first opportunity to get an investment into my company. I didn’t know what to do! So I did what any other Bengali might have done at that point of time – eat!
An old man walked up to me with a unforgettable smile on his face. “What are you eating?” he asked. I said “having some breads sir, can I help you with anything?” He pointed at some samosas and asked “what are these?”. I explained it to him and he was excited to taste the Indian snacks. He took around 7 mini samosas on his plate with pudina chatni and started having it along with some other snacks. “How many people did you meet today?” he asked, I said “a few – around ten to twelve people”. “How many of them were foreigners, rather ‘not Indians’?” I was a little intrigued by his sudden question but I responded honestly “two”. There was an awkward silence because he realised I was naive, and I had just learned my first important lesson as an entrepreneur in a foreign land. There was an unspoken realisation and he smiled at me and handed over his business card and said “now its three”. He was from Hong Kong and apparently was a seasoned investor who ran his own venture capital firm. He mentioned he had invested a lot of money in India’s Adani Group. While he spoke he kept enjoying his meal. And that gave me another lesson – humility and self love goes hand in hand. The more power you have, the more grounded you have to be and the more you have to utilise your freedom to love yourself.
I was inspired. Later in the day, I walked up to strangers to introduce my company and talk about possible collaborations. I won’t say those were successful conversations but definitely taught me – communication is the key. You can’t stay silent. Before you hit the market, you should be ready to talk about what you’re selling, what you’re good at, your USPs. That reminds me, you must read my blog Founder’s Vibe Check. It talks about how a founder must present himself. Coming back to the topic – a man actually refused to share his card because he had only one left and wanted to share it with someone worthwhile. That was another lesson, rather a challenge, to become important. And how do you become important in the industry? By disrupting it.
I left the convention pondering over all that happened in the entire day, then decided to take a walk to the bay area. While resting outside the Expo Centre for a while I stumbled upon three gorgeous women leaving the Marina Bay mall. My brain stopped braining briefly because they looked like straight out of a Hollywood film, holding each other’s hands, wide laughters and shopping bags!
I took off my shoes. Singapore is so clean that even my socks seemed dirty. I was overwhelmed with everything but one thing I knew for sure – I was coming back to Singapore, better and bigger.
It was almost 7pm and I couldn’t take my eyes off the grandeur of the Marina Bay Sands. That reminds me of the time I first saw the buildings of the bay area from the expo centre on the first day. I was spellbound because they looked unreal.
I spent an hour sitting at the bay area, barefoot. I just wanted to reflect over the past two days at the convention – what all I had learned and what exactly I was taking home with me to India. The only thing that came to my mind was the thirst to build and grow.
The next day was of leisure. Singapore has a lot to offer to tourists. Although I never wanted myself to be called that, because it was a business trip for me. But, you know, when you’re in Singapore, you can’t miss Sentosa or a tour of the business district.
By the way, just in case you missed the other parts, here are the links: Part 1 | Part 3
