How OKRs filled my Missing DNA — Part 2/3
Approx 10 years ago, I found that the young generation must need to learn about business in their early stage. When there was not ‘Startup’ buzz word, I created “Student Corporate” and then renamed it “Virtual Corporate”, My own term for a better education system. An effort to bring corporate simulations to students while they are graduating. We eventually tied-up with some of colleges and universities to run this on a scale. I still think that my idea of that system is far better than today’s education/startup system ;) But that’s the story for another blog.
With those students, I created a blast of smaller companies combining students from various streams. MBA Students for management work and IT students for development and others (Or as per their interest) to sales etc. I ran my own ways of experiments. That was the best way I could try to study as many organizations, companies, people and their behaviour for businesses. Each having 3 to 10 people having different roles etc.
The Development continued
While we were creating xEpan 1.0, I was studying business, humans and their relations. I tried my best to put simple but effective components in my so-called ERP to counter humans emotional effect that can hammer on business and to enhance those emotional factors that help business. How and where a human is required vs when and where a human must not be in taking decisions etc. Approx 5 years back, we made this tool ready, Don’t remember but approx 0.7 million lines of code. When we were ready and thought this is kind of right tool, we found this was not scalable as a product (Though I was not interested in the product at that time also, I was interested to see if this can add value to any business).
When we felt it is ready, the team agreed with me that “we know what to build now” but since the current product was made while learning, it is not a good scalable product. We started creating again, from scratch. At this time, I was ready to add a few more elements that I learnt during these years. And that took us again next 3 years to recreate xEpan 2.0
Interestingly, I could resonate with what I was reading in this OKRs book by John Doerr “Measure What Matters”. I learnt all this very very hard way. But I am happy that during these learning and experiments I created my own journey and learnings and also a number of tools (not IT software, but activities and system that can really help businesses) and my own goal setting, assessment system, point system etc. that can be implemented at various stages of business to achieve various sort of results.
I Jumped into today’s Startup culture
I kept studying and working with various Startups, What they think, to what they implement and how. I became part of AngelHack event as Judge being Indian Ambassador for Cluster Point (A NoSQL company based out of Europe).
I Kept finetuning xEpan2.0 also, to create a better solution. Like, my simple point system based group-activity is designed to re-start the enthusiasm in a company where things are not moving and members are not alive. I tested this system so many times. I have now many more tools in my basket for teams, marketing, management and sales. I Tried to add those factors and systems in xEpan2.0. At the same time, I Knew, A Software can barely be a tool to record things. We need to focus on something that is for Team members.
But, this blog is not to market those tools, Its about the above-said title and my journey. Was I okay? Did I achieve what I wanted? Nope, even I had so many tools. Tested, successful systems and an ERP that includes that goals and measurable actions with points etc, I knew I am missing something, I have not reached my ‘AHA’ Moment yet. It is indeed good software, maybe better but it can be best, better than the best and more importantly, I was not ready for putting efforts for a successful business. My ‘AHA’ moment is yet to come!