Book Review : Enjoy Success, Relish Failures

Mr. Padmasingh Isaac, the founder of Aachi Masala Food Products, has a fascinating story to tell. The book focuses on Mr. Isaac’s entrepreneurial adventure, in which he created Aachi food products from the ground up. While his journey may appear to be a classic rags-to-riches tale, it is packed with unique hurdles, as branded food manufacturing and adaption are completely new in nations like India. He experienced various hurdles along the way, which adds to the read’s appeal. According to the most recent data, Aachi masala has an annual revenue of 1200 crores from its 150+ culinary products. They claim to have over 3000 exclusive distributors selling Aachi masala culinary products. Over 10000 retail establishments across the country sell Aachi masala food. They also export to over 20 nations.

While the book has many personal tales, I’d like to highlight the top five learnings that any entrepreneur may take from Aachi masala.

1. Have a Wider Vision for the Organization:

India’s middle class has benefited greatly from the globalization period. A plethora of opportunities continue to emerge, which also applies to the middle class. This also implies that both the husband and wife in the family work to capitalize on the chance. Because of the societal structure in India, women in the home must also take care of the cooking chores in addition to their work. Almost every Indian dish requires the use of many spices in order to create a well-balanced blend. It is commonly referred to as ‘masala,’ and it plays an important function in the aroma and flavour of food. To make this masala from scratch, you’ll need a lot of time and work.

This is where Mr Isaac saw an opportunity and founded the Aachi brand to target the pain points of working middle-class women. The answer emerged in the form of ready-made masala packets, which can speed up the cooking process. He believed in increasing the quality of life because the spices used in masala have medicinal effects as well. One of the most crucial characteristics an entrepreneur or firm should have is a larger purpose, such as making a difference in someone’s life. In fact, this unwavering devotion only assures that the company overcomes any obstacles that arise.

2. Count Your Challenges as Blessings:

Mr. Isaac and his team experienced numerous hurdles along the way, beginning with acquiring funds for the company. He got the business off the ground by pledging his wife’s jewellery. It wasn’t easy for him to ensure end-to-end quality once he started executing. Every single detail, from obtaining raw materials to packaging, necessitated ingenuity. Furthermore, acclimating buyers to branded food goods was not a simple task. Mr. Isaac uses a plethora of instances in the book to show how he and his team overcame adversity. Entrepreneurship entails spending the majority of one’s time in an unfamiliar area, as several examples throughout the book demonstrate.

3. Continuous Improvement:

Continuous improvement, also known as Kaizen in Japanese, is a vital component for a company’s long-term success. Mr Isaac and his colleagues have made this a priority from the company’s inception. Every new product under development gets delivered to 8000 foodie ambassadors before the product is released to the market. The product will not be released unless all of them give their approval. Their staff attends the world’s premier food production conferences on a regular basis to ensure that the most up-to-date food production and manufacturing processes are learned and used. Apart from these, Mr Isaac points to numerous other enhancements in packaging, advertising and messaging, distribution channels and many other areas where they have achieved continuous improvement.

4. Building a Team:

Every successful entrepreneur understands the value of a strong team. While the entrepreneur may well have came up with the initial idea and vision, the success or failure of the venture is defined by how well the team executed it. Mr Isaac emphasizes the need of instilling a sense of purpose among team members, as well as providing an atmosphere in which they can learn and grow. Aachi has developed an excellent team with cross-functional talents such as food research and development, market research, food science experts, the gourmet community, brand ambassadors, and so on over the years. Mr Isaac stays in touch with the first employee who is now 72 year old who is still involved in the masala production process. Building such long term committed employees is a true asset, which applies to the Aachi masala team as well.

5. Quality Is the Real Long-term Differentiator:

While having good raw ingredients, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution networks might help a company succeed, nothing beats ensuring quality and consumer happiness. When developing a new culinary product, they make no compromises on quality. Quality should be viewed through the eyes of the consumer. Aachi’s food goods should satisfy or surpass the expectations of their customers. Only by doing so will you be able to ensure that the product is bought repeatedly, developing a long-term profitable business. Several examples of how Aachi went out keeping very high quality standards are given throughout the book.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship can be seen in every field. Aachi masala has proved its ability to successfully re-invent a fundamental item like masala and provide it to the ordinary man with great quality. Apart from developing a corporate empire, it has touched and transformed many lives in the process. It’s inspiring to learn from such forward-thinking entrepreneurs who, while rarely in the spotlight, are doing everything right by starting a business from the ground up.