In May this year, I took the plunge, both literally and figuratively. Yes, I finally jumped off a plane to an amazing skydiving experience, something I always wanted to do!
More than just the sheer thrill of the jump, to me, it was a profound reminder of some of the values that have driven me over the years. Not only in my journey as an entrepreneur, but also in my leadership style. As I soared through the infinite vastness of the sky, I couldn’t help but draw these parallels between the exhilaration of freefall and the sense of freedom in entrepreneurship.
The Risks and Rewards
Skydiving is quite a scary thought if you think about it! Most people would consider it a crazy thing to do. Just imagine – paying money to jump off a plane and putting your life at risk!! Many things could go wrong: the parachute may not open, you could have a hard landing, break a bone etc. etc. However, why do people do it? There is a certain thrill which is unmatched and a certain freedom from fear that is inexplicable.
Just as starting your own enterprise and putting your hard-earned money into something which is risky, one must take that calculated risk. It took me two days to make up my mind to skydive as I did my research on various aspects including evaluating my current health conditions. Similar to all the businesses I have founded or invested in, I tend to do my research and take calculated risks. And sometimes, I just go with my gut!
The Take Off
Once I had decided to do it, the excitement was unmatched. As the pilot put on the harnesses on my body in the sky-dive office, I could hear my heart beat faster in excitement of what was soon going to come. I remember getting on that mini-bus to take us to the airport and chatting with my tandem-pilot about his life and family. When we reached the airport, the walk to the aircraft from the bus felt like we were a bunch of para-commandos on a mission. As I stepped into the plane, there was no going back.
Creating a business is very similar, once you have decided to do it, the early days are very uncertain and exciting. From creating the business plan, logo, branding and sales plan, everything is super thrilling.
Freefall and Total Freedom
As the plane took off, I could see some stunning views as it ascended over the beautiful landscape of Cairns – some beautiful coastline on one side and small hills on the other. The sun was just beginning to set, and it was going to be an amazing dive. Finally, the pilot of the airplane announced that we had reached 15000 feet and he was about to open the door. The time had come!
My tandem-pilot hooked himself onto my harnesses and asked me to sit with my legs dangling out of that plane door. The next thing I knew, I was in free fall!! It seemed like an eternity, before the parachutes opened. I just enjoyed the sun setting in the horizon, and avoided looking down. I had to fully trust my tandem-pilot to do the right things and enjoy the moment. In that moment of the plunge, you have no choice but to let go of control and you need to simply embrace it all.
In businesses too, sometimes we have to let go and enjoy the moments you have. There are days when you feel everything is going wrong and you are in a free fall. You have to trust your teams to do the right thing and the processes to work. Often times, it does go right and sometimes wrong too! Every now and then, we have to let go of the tight grip we have on things to experience growth.
The Safety Net
After the free fall for a while, I screamed with relief as the pilot opened the parachute and the air lifted us up to start the slow descent back to the ground. The next several minutes until we actually landed was an amazing feeling. Finally, everything had worked and I could enjoy the views around me – the sunset in the horizon, the views of the shores and the land around us. The pilot even let me control the parachute to experience its navigation capabilities. These few moments were amazing.
In Business too we need to have a safety net around us and a plan B. Akin to a parachute, we need to have our own safeguards. Having said that, most businesses after the initial tough years, give us the space to enjoy the moments of our hard work, just like the descent with the parachute.
Safe Landing
After a successful flight, free fall and a slow decent with the parachute, we finally made a safe landing on the grass. The whole experience was over and the adrenalin rush was truly unmatched.
Often times, in Entrepreneurship, we need to know when to exit the business and have that safe landing. Holding on endlessly is meaningless.
Freedom and Leadership
When it comes to leadership, it is present in many forms in skydiving. For me, it has never been about dictatorship and autocracy. True leadership is when you can empower others and encourage creativity and independence. Leading has to be done with a spirit of freedom by encouraging teams to explore, innovate, and reach their full potential. I still meet my former team-mates who share this feeling.
When I was building Theorem, as we expanded into a new city, everyone discouraged me from setting up an office in Mysore. I was told that many had failed there. I took the leap of faith and not only set up successful operations there, but grew the teams to over 1000 people there on a beautiful state-of-the-art huge campus with its own facilities. It was clearly swimming against the tide and taking huge risks.
Letting go…
What has Skydiving done for me? Well, it has reinforced my commitment to leading with freedom and empowering others. The value of letting go of control, trusting the process, and embracing that exhilarating freedom that comes with it is unmatched. I encourage all leaders and entrepreneurs to embrace freedom, autonomy, and empowerment in their leadership styles. While navigating the freefall of our professional journeys, it’s also important to remember that true freedom lies in empowering others and embracing the unknown.
For me, jumping out of that plane was a reinforcement to live and lead fearlessly by pushing boundaries and embracing freedom. So, people: Take that leap in life and experience the limitless possibilities that come with it.
