Week 0 Masterclass Why Entrepreneurship Part 2

Summary

In this inspiring narrative, the speaker shares their journey of turning a passion for music into a successful business. They began by helping friends find students, and through personal interactions, gathered insights to make music classes more affordable. A pivotal moment came when a taxi driver couldn't afford the fees, prompting a shift towards more accessible lessons. Despite skepticism about online learning, the speaker persisted during the pandemic, growing their business into a leading hobby tech company with thousands of students and teachers. Their message: embrace unique ideas and don't let peer pressure deter you.

Takeaways

• 🎼 The speaker started a music class business by convincing students to join and renting places for classes.
• 🚂 The speaker used their daily commute to Navi Mumbai to network and gather market feedback by talking to new people on the train.
• 📝 They noted down potential students' interests and affordability, which helped tailor the music classes to the market's needs.
• 🚖 A conversation with a taxi driver inspired the idea of making music classes affordable for everyone, including those with limited budgets.
• 😔 The speaker faced a challenge when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and in-person classes were no longer feasible.
• 🌐 The pandemic became a turning point, leading to the idea of teaching music classes online, which was initially met with skepticism.
• 🏆 Despite the doubts, the speaker pursued the online teaching model, which eventually led to the company's success and expansion.
• 🌟 The company became one of the first in the hobby tech sector to offer online classes, attracting thousands of students worldwide.
• 👨‍🏫 The business now employs over 60 teachers across India, showcasing the power of persistence and innovation.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes the importance of not succumbing to peer pressure and having the courage to pursue unconventional ideas.

Q & A

What was the initial challenge the speaker faced with their friends' music classes?

The speaker's friends were having trouble getting students to join their music classes.

How did the speaker initially help their friends to attract students?

The speaker used their communication skills to convince people to join the classes and rented places around the vicinity to hold the classes.

Why did the speaker travel to Navi Mumbai for biomedical engineering?

The speaker is a resident of South Bombay and needed to travel to Navi Mumbai for their studies in biomedical engineering.

How did the speaker utilize their train commute to gather information?

The speaker used their extroverted nature to interact with different people on the train, asking about their interest in learning musical instruments and taking notes on their feedback.

What was the turning point for the speaker in making music classes more accessible?

The speaker's conversation with a taxi driver who couldn't afford the high cost of music classes led to the realization that learning should be affordable for everyone.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic influence the speaker's approach to teaching music?

The pandemic forced the speaker to shift to online teaching, which initially was met with skepticism but eventually became a successful model for their hobby tech company.

What was the initial reaction of the speaker's students and teachers to the idea of online classes?

The initial reaction was negative, with students and teachers making fun of the idea of online hobby classes, considering it impossible and not viable.

How did the speaker's decision to pursue online teaching impact their business?

The decision to teach online allowed the speaker's business to grow exponentially, reaching thousands of students worldwide and expanding their teacher base to over 60 across India.

What advice does the speaker give to students about pursuing their dreams?

The speaker advises students to never succumb to peer pressure and to stand their ground when pursuing their dreams, even if others doubt their ideas.

How does the speaker feel about other companies entering the music class market after their success?

The speaker feels proud that their success has inspired other companies to enter the market, seeing it as a validation of their innovative approach and a sign of their impact on the industry.