Can Indians be a little more Professional please?

One grouse I have against Indians is their lack of Professionalism. Not all, but a vast majority. They are the worst when it comes to responding to professional E Mails or requests. They just dont reply. Most dont believe in keeping appointments. Just yesterday, a Calcutta based ERP Company, had fixed a Demonstration at 7 pm my time for me and two of my Omani Friends, who are his prospective partners. This was fixed one week ago. I didnt get any communication till 6.52 pm. I sent him a message, and the guy said, "I will confirm in 30 minutes" I told him I have another meeting after his demo. His reply "My Technical Head is on his way home, and I shall get him and reply to you" At 7.10, he is sending a message "Guys, Meeting is called off. Can we have it on Tuesday 8.30 pm?" "I told him I shall get back to him on my availability" I texted my Omani Friends and posed a question "If this is how he treats a prospective partner, how can we recommend him and his product to a Customer and be sure he will deliver?" Four months ago, I got in touch with a Solar Installation and Operations Company with a proposal to work together in Oman,for a lucrative PDO Project. PDO is the Government Oil Exploration and Marketing Company and a giant. A junior guy replied, but hardly gave info I wanted I had to get someone in India to get hold of a Top Level Manager in charge of Overseas Operations. He was barely accessible, and delegated the same Junior Guy to answer my queries and give me supporting documents. They were inadequate Since that day, neither the Top Guy or the Subordinate has followed up with me as to what happened. People will give their right hand to get a contract with PDO. I did in fact ask whether they were keen to work in Oman, and they said yes. I just cannot understand them. The Contract was worth a few million dollars over 15 years!! A year ago, I wanted a quotation urgently. Called a friend in Delhi at 9 pm his time on a Friday, and asked him to send. He said "Too Late. Will let you know tomorrow" I googled and activated a few other contacts, and in the next 2 hours got 4 quotations from all over the World, negotiated and finalized by mid night. My friend called me up at 3 pm next day and asked me to repeat my requirement. I told him not to bother. He was indignant I gave the order to someone else and is not talking to me since. In today's world, you have to be on the button, 24x7, 365 days

Let COVID 19 mark a new beginning for Entrepreneurs

COVID exposed a fatal flaw in most of the Indian Companies, especially the MSMEs. 

It is apparent that MSMEs were literally working on a hand to mouth existence, and just did not plan for a crisis. There was no contingency plan or fund.

This could have been because MSMEs are not professionally managed. In most of the cases, the Entrepreneur is a technocrat or a marketing guy who lacked skills in other domain. The entrepreneur falls into the trap of 'I know everything and can manage' syndrome and were clueless when the sky fell on them as they ran out of cash.

Cash flow is critical for any business.

As a New Venture Advisor, I always insist that either the Entrepreneur employs quality people to man Finance, Marketing, Logistics or alternatively have professionals advising him in these areas.

I have heard complaints that Banks do not entertain funding requests from MSMEs. Having been an Investment Banker, I can vouch that 99% of the proposals are poorly made, do not cover what is required by the Financial Institution, and is more of Project ideas, than detailed Project Reports with 5 year financials plus risk assessment. The least MSME can do while seeking funds is to involve your Auditor and ask him to prepare the documents are required by the Financial Institutions.

Be Professional, assess your Business Risks, have a Risk Mitigation Plan.

Let COVID 19 mark a new beginning