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Vikas Raj Sharma

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Vikas Raj Sharma

Director & Co-Founder Cosmic Structures Ltd.

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?

I happen to be a very independent person by nature. My biggest strength over the years has been my ability to visualize a goal and work towards it unimpeded. So I think the journey of being an entrepreneur started from this desire to work freely. Apart from this, I believe being an entrepreneur gives you all kinds of freedoms in your life; freedom of thought, as you are free to experiment in your ways and means, freedom of vision and mission, which isn’t exactly something you would find working with an organization, and freedom of action, as once you set a goal for yourself, you are independent to work towards it with a free mind and a great deal of enthusiasm, not having to worry about the course being taken or the pace being set. Most of all, when you are an entrepreneur, you are working for yourself. So this puts in a lot of zest into the efforts and brings out much more impressive results. Being an entrepreneur, you also tend to inspire others as the achievements are a source of admiration. And all things aside, I think there isn’t a better feeling in the world than setting a goal for you and working tirelessly towards seeing it attained.

How did your varied experience in multiple fields help you in becoming a prominent name in the construction industry?

I would have to say I have worked in a lot of sectors and with numerous organizations throughout my career. I have gained something or the other from each of my stints and hold the experiences dear to me. I began showing signs of talent whilst at school. I was considered somewhat of a Whiz kid as I was highly inclined towards IT and had started developing computer games in BASIC language in my 8th standard. This led me to learning computer programming and development. I started my professional career in the shoe industry working with Phoenix. This was a major opportunity as Phoenix had a tie up with Reebok and manufactured products for them in India. This gave me the chance to understand the intricacies of import and export. Thereafter, I worked with varied sectors like textile, education, institutional organizations and subsequently I also got back to IT. All this exposure gave me a chance to travel across the world. I have been to over 25 countries throughout my career. Here I got to observe the way infrastructure was central to all the industries and how every form of business ultimately relied on quality infrastructure. This led me to thinking of Real Estate as the most logical choice as the sector is a base for all. In addition to this, I had amassed vast amounts of knowledge and understanding of businesses and developed a lot of relations owing to my stints in multiple fields and organizations. Real Estate offered an opportunity to put this network to use and utilize it for mutual gain.

What would you say are qualities that every leader should possess?

I would say a leader is somewhat similar to a point man in defense terms. A point man is the one who leads from the front, one who keeps guiding you through the way and is the first one to take a bullet. If he is down, the whole charade would halt. A leader must have this quality to lead from the front and set an example for the people he is leading. He has to be in the driving seat. Another very important aspect is his ability to gain followers, ones who are willing to follow him and be guided by him. He must be one to display ample wisdom through his words and actions. He should be able to set clear guidelines for administration of a task and should be able to get them implemented aptly. He should have a unambiguous approach towards how a mission is to be accomplished and should be able to guide his men through to it. He should be an excellent manager and should be able to allocate resources and attend to grievances in a prolific manner. He should be one who his proteges look up to and can easily relate with.

Can you name some people who have inspired you and what you have learned from them?

Being a spiritual man, I would say everyone has inspirational qualities of their own and I, frankly, am inspired by everyone I come across. It is like what Lord Shiva teaches us, “Har Har Mahadev” which means every being is God.

But I have to; I would say there are two different walks of inspirations for me. Spiritually, I have been inspired by Maharshi Dayanand a lot. His spiritual preaching has given me strength over a lot of rough patches in life. Another figure that greatly inspires me is Swami Vivekanand. His understanding and vision of life has also altered my life in ways beyond mention. I also look up to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel for his administrative prowess and abilities as a people’s manager.

Professionally, I have never been inspired by anyone as much as Subrata Roy Sahara. His clear understanding of the missions he is out to achieve and exemplary leadership and administrative capabilities are something I always look up to.

Through your stints in numerous roles throughout your career, what are the most valuable lessons that you have learned?

Over the numerous years I have spent in the professional world, I have learnt a lot of lessons that I rely upon heavily and keep close to my heart. Most important thing I learnt is the ability to manage people. I believe it is the people who make an organization and if the workforce is well managed; half the management’s job is already done. Another thing I have discerned is the law of “LAW”; looks, actions and words. Looks are crucial as how you look is a parameter of what you are capable of. A confident man is apparent from his gestures and the way he carries himself. Actions are what define you as a professional. What you do is what you are judged for. Your actions also give an insight into your thought process and clarity of vision. Words are the most important judge of character. Well spoken and timed words can easily take you to the upper echelons of success. Your words are what you are responsible for. A commitment has to be fulfilled at all costs and this will bring you trust and respect. Another lesson I have learnt is never to make false commitments and be honest. Unlike general perception, honesty always pays off well in the longer run and lends weight to your words and actions.

I understand all these would seem to be highly general lessons, but I believe these are the most important ones that people tend to overlook while craving success. One has to remember; long lived success has to have strong foundations otherwise one would spiral down as swiftly as the ascent began.

What would be your message to youngsters who want to start their own ventures?

My biggest message for young and aspiring entrepreneurs would be to place your trust in God. Our scriptures tell us the importance of Karta, Karma, Karna, Bhagya and Vidhata. These are all essential inputs to success. But, by far, the most important one is Vidhata, i.e. The Almighty. He is the supreme force and has the power to make ways where none seem to exist. Though I believe everything is pre-destined, God is the one who can change your fate and lead you to unprecedented levels of fame and glory.

This, however, doesn’t mean inactivity on your part. This calls for placing your trust in your abilities and not trying to find a substitute for plain hard work. There is nothing like the sweet success you achieve after putting in a lot of effort and being rewarded for it. Always be true to yourself and your goals and keep working through rough patches in life.