Interview with Sanjay Dalal of Ogoing : Young Entrepreneur

What’s the definition of a serial entrepreneur? If you look it up in the dictionary you might just see a picture of Sanjay Dalal, the subject of today’s interview. Sanjay is the founder and CEO of Ogoing, a social network exclusively for businesses.

Prior to starting his current venture, Sanjay founded the India Business Network, a network dedicated to helping companies in India do business around the world. He also founded Bharat Market, an online shopping network for Indian made goods. On top of all that, Sanjay has a consulting services company, called InnovationMain.com, and he’s authored more than 350 articles on the state of innovation in business as well as an eBook on innovation that has been used by more than 650 corporations and organizations worldwide. Some of the companies that have implemented his recommendations are HP, Pepsi, Hallmark, Best Buy, UC Irvine, Nokia, and more.

With a plate as full as Sanjay’s, we were lucky to catch him long enough to answer a few interview questions, and the interview is below. Enjoy!

Complete Interview

Startup Ideas and Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur

Ogoing is my seventh startup since I moved to California in 1997. Ogoing.com is an exclusive social network for small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. The idea of Ogoing began to form in the midst of the current recession in summer of 2009. I put together the Ogoing business and product plan, and began designing the social network. At that time, I had simultaneously started another startup India Business Network in June 2009, and was actively marketing my Creativity and Innovation eBooks for business, consulting and Innovation boot camp through InnovationMain.com (my fifth startup that I started in 2008).

I am happy to share that over 1,000 small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs have joined the Ogoing Small Business Social Network. India Business Network has grown to over 3,500 member global businesses. And InnovationMain.com has provided innovation resources, eBooks and inspiration to over 1,500 businesses, including many startups.

I had launched another startup, an investment company Innovation Index Group or IIG in 2007, that I closed in 2009. IIG was a great failure; I learned that it is very difficult to launch and grow a company outside your domain of expertise. IIG was focused in the investment market place; when the stock markets crashed and the nation went through a deep recession, it spelled the end of IIG. However, the failure of IIG helped me re-discover my passion for building Internet software products. And the idea and seeds for Ogoing began forming.

I have three pieces of advice for young entrepreneurs interested in starting their first business, i.e. their first startup:

1. Have an unlimited drive. Be very passionate about your product or service that you are building. You have to believe in what you are doing, and not lose sight of the big picture - why you started doing this in the first place! As you grow the business, begin forming a team that helps you grow and achieve your vision. Surround yourself with advisers and mentors who can guide you and help you course-correct. There will be plenty of naysayers along the way. Do not get distracted, and stay focused.

2. KISS - Keep it simple stupid. As entrepreneurs, when we listen to lots of inputs from the market place, we may end up creating products that are way too complex. Simplicity sells. And it sells big! Think Groupon, Apple iPad, Google Search, Facebook and Twitter, Amazon Kindle, Salesforce.com and WebEx meetings. Be wary of adding bells and whistles. As your business grows, keeping it simple is a challenge! Don't fall in the features trap.

3. Don't run out of money. This is huge! Many a great ideas can fall short if they don't get funded adequately and in a timely manner. Bootstrapping is good to a point. Beyond that, the entrepreneur must look for outside help to get their business going. Getting funded is a full-time job. You or someone in your executive team has to be out there scouting the angels or VCs for money.

If you are looking to start your first startup, you have to be a risk-taker. Ask these questions: What if I fail? Do I have the staying power? Do I have adequate financial backing to see my vision through? If you are risk averse, a startup may not be the best place for you to start. However, if you enjoy the challenge, have unlimited faith, love to swim with the sharks, and want to make a positive difference, a startup will be the most fulfilling experience of your life.

I would like to share one of my favorite quotes for all startup entrepreneurs:
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Martin Luther King, Jr.

--
Sanjay Dalal, CEO / Founder, Ogoing Inc.
Connect: http://ogoing.com/sanjaydalal
Main: 949-288-6880 (M-F 9 am to 5 pm)

Address: 111 Academy Way, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92617

Ogoing Inc. is an Irvine Chamber of Commerce member, and a national general resource partner of Startup America.

The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely Different Principles for Breakthrough Success

The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely Different Principles for Breakthrough Success

A "THINK DIFFERENT" APPROACH TO INNOVATION -- Based on the Seven Guiding Principles of Apple CEO Steve Jobs

In his acclaimed bestseller The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs author Carmine Gallo laid out a simple step-by-step program of powerful tools and proven techniques inspired by Steve Jobs's legendary presentations. Now, he shares the Apple CEO's most famous, most original, and most effective strategies for sparking true creativity--and real innovation--in any workplace.

THE INNOVATION SECRETS OF STEVE JOBS

"Steve Jobs has reinvented music distribution, the mobile telephone, and book publishing. You might want to take a look at how someone creates multi-billion dollar ideas, and turns them into multi-billion dollar products that everyone loves and admires. This book is not an option. Buy it now, bank it tomorrow." -- Jeffrey Gitomer, author of The Little Red Book of Selling

“In The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs, Carmine Gallo captures the true mindset of Jobs and Apple. This book is not just for the techie and marketing crowd, although they will gain valuable insight that can be applied to their worlds. It is also for anyone who loves technology and wants to understand how to create simple devices that are easy to use and can impact our lives.” -- Tim Bajarin, president, Creative Strategies, Inc.

"An inspiring roadmap for anyone who wants to live a life of passion and purpose."
-- Tony Hsieh, author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.

"Apple changed the world with the Mac and hasn't stopped innovating since. Carmine Gallo reveals the secrets and gives you the tools to unleash your inner Steve."
-- Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com and author of the national bestseller Behind the Cloud

Learn how to RETHINK your business, REINVENT your products, and REVITALIZE your vision of success--the Steve Jobs way.

When it comes to innovation, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is legendary. His company slogan "Think Different" is more than a marketing tool. It's a way of life--a powerful, positive, game-changing approach to innovation that anyone can apply to any field of endeavor.

These are the Seven Principles of Innovation, inspired by the master himself:

1. Do What You Love.
Think differently about your career.
2. Put a Dent in the Universe.
Think differently about your vision.
3. Kick Start Your Brain.
Think differently about how you think.
4. Sell Dreams, Not Products.
Think differently about your customers.
5. Say No to 1,000 Things.
Think differently about design.
6. Create Insanely Great Experiences.
Think differently about your brand experience.
7. Master the Message.
Think differently about your story.

By following Steve Jobs's visionary example, you'll discover exciting new ways to unlock your creative potential and to foster an environment that encourages innovation and allows it to flourish. You'll learn how to match—and beat—the most powerful competitors, develop the most revolutionary products, attract the most loyal customers, and thrive in the most challenging times. Bestselling business journalist Carmine Gallo has interviewed hundreds of successful professionals--from CEOs, managers, and entrepreneurs to teachers, consultants, and stay-at-home moms—to get to the core of Steve Jobs's innovative philosophies. These are the simple, meaningful, and attainable principles that drive us all to "Think Different." These are The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs.


How does Apple, the #1 innovative company in the world, innovate and create game-changing innovations such as the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad and more? What is Apple's secret recipe for innovation success?

Download Apple's Innovation Strategy, and learn how Apple became the #1 innovator through:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Innovation in Products
• Innovation in Business Model
• Innovation in Customer Experience
• Innovation and Leadership
• Steve Jobs Visionary Leadership

Revised in 2011! Steve Jobs interview
Learn more...

Ogoing Launches Small Business Social Network

Irvine, CA, June 14, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Ogoing launches the exclusive small business social network for small businesses, entrepreneurs, startups, emerging businesses, and SMBs.

A small business can instantly set up a powerful business profile, promote their products, build online visibility, attract new customers and jump start sales on Ogoing. Already over 1,000 businesses have joined Ogoing during our beta launch.

"Small Businesses do not have time, resources and expertise to build their social media presence. Ogoing Small Business Social Network provides immediate online boost to a small business using the latest social media. Best of all, Ogoing is free to join and very easy to use," Sanjay Dalal, CEO of Ogoing Inc.

Small Businesses share their latest deals, product briefs, company news and events, business services, sourcing needs and referrals in real-time, live on the Ogoing Small Business Social Network.

Why should small businesses join Ogoing?

1. Ogoing is very easy to use, and free to join. A business can get started on Ogoing with a complete profile in less than five minutes.
2. Ogoing is built for the business. Small Businesses can find and connect with local businesses and customers instantly on Ogoing.
3. Ogoing markets the business. Companies can promote products and services to local markets using innovative social media on Ogoing.
4. Ogoing helps businesses do more. Organizations get new referrals for their business, and are able to post business needs on Ogoing.
5, Ogoing boosts online visibility and search engine rankings. Ogoing enables sharing of real-time updates about business deals, services, news and events.
6. Ogoing helps power the social brand. SMBs can promote their brand on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and cell phones using Ogoing.
7. Ogoing helps businesses grow their sales. Using Ogoing, a business is able to expand local contacts, brand and sales.

There are over 25 million small businesses in the USA alone who need help with their social media presence. Ogoing invites these businesses to get started on the exclusive Small Business Social Network today, and attract new customers:

Join today: http://www.ogoing.com

Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Emerging Businesses and SMBs are invited to join.

Ogoing Inc. is an Irvine Chamber of Commerce member. Ogoing is head quartered in Irvine, California.

Get Your Business Going on Ogoing.

‘Made in America’ Alive and Well - The Next American Economy

If you thought "Made in America" was a thing of the past, think again.

"[Manufacturing] is one of the bright spots of the American economy at the moment," says William Holstein, author of the new book The Next American Economy. "It is globally competitive, [and] it has adapted."

Contrary to popular belief, many U.S. companies and industries of old have done an excellent job surviving and adapting in today's global economy. It's sometimes difficult for consumers to recognize this when they hit the store for clothing and electronics, says Holstein, because most of the things the U.S. makes are much more specialized and much less visible to the average shopper.

In the interview above, he discusses a few examples with Aaron:
1. U.S. automakers: The Big Three have made a comeback and are now on the offensive against Toyota
2. Caterpillar: Turned back an assault from Japan's Komastu.
3. Boeing: Still the world's largest maker of airplanes.

In his new book, Holstein who is also a veteran business writer and author of Why GM Matters, looks to the future of manufacturing in the U.S. and features nine case studies on how Americans in cities across the country are already innovating at the grass-roots level.

Despite another mainstream perception, America has not run out of inspiration and new ideas. He points to Cleveland, where companies are targeting flexible electronics, San Diego where genomics is the focus and Pittsburgh, where advanced robotics is the center of attention.
Holstein makes the case that the only way the country can move forward from recession and create millions of new jobs is to continue innovating and creating new industries. The good news is that he feels the country is on the right track. However, much more can be done to foster this innovation. His key suggestion and hope for the future -- connect businesses with community colleges. "[Community colleges] are the ones that can adapt their curriculum to create course work that is really relevant to what employers need in the workforce today," he says.

As for the other popular notion that the U.S. is overly regulated, businesses are taxed too much and the nation just is not a good place for companies to operate, he says that's "rhetoric" and "empty posturing."

"We are doing things that are very advanced in the world, and that is very attractive to large multinationals ... that are looking for hot new ideas that are emerging from the small- and medium-sized companies," he says.

In fact, in his book Holstein lays out the case for on-shoring and cites these examples for why companies should bring business back home:
* China is no longer the cheap labor jackpot.
* Locating manufacturing offshore disrupts or restricts the process of innovation.
* Companies need to be in the U.S. AND in other parts of the world.

References:
By Stacy Curtin | Daily Ticker – Thu, Jun 9, 2011 7:43 AM EDT

iCloud it! Apple's new cloud

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple introduced the new, free service, iCloud, which would replace the personal computer as the central hub of people’s digital lives — storing photos, music and documents. Relying on the PC, he said, no longer works now that millions of people have multiple devices, each with photos, documents, songs, phone applications and other files.

“Keeping these devices in sync is driving us crazy,” Mr. Jobs said at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. “We have a great solution for this problem. We are going to demote the PC to just be a device. We are going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud.” Read more

The biggest player in digital music has finally vaporized its content. Starting this fall, you'll be able to stream your digital music library over the Internet, rather than having to download it to your devices and store it on them. We've already seen Amazon and Google's attempts at a Web-based streaming music service, with the former's Cloud Player and the latter's Google Music Beta, but with iTunes' dominance in digital music, Apple's iCloud could eclipse both of them. Apple's offering differs from those of Amazon and Google in some big ways, though. Here's a rundown of the three services' differences and similarities. Read more

Bottomline:

I use Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod... and hardly ever use my PC nowadays (shhh...). The Apple iCloud is exactly what the doctor ordered! I can now instantly share and download my photos, documents and music across all three devices, and on my future MacBook (yup, this year!). I have had instances where I shot a video on my iPhone, and want to download it straight to my iPad... I believe, now I can with the latest iCloud. I download photos or docs from the web on my iPad, and want to view them later on my iPhone. Now I can. I want to have one place for all my music that I have purchased from iTunes, be it iPod, iPhone or iPad. Now I can. I have different apps on my iPad and iPhone from the App Store, and always wondered if I had to buy or download apps separately for each device... Now I can share my apps across all Apple products. Finally, the all important calendar. I only use iPhone for my calendar, and was frustrated that I cannot automatically synch this with my iPad calendar. Now I can. For all the Apple users out there, iCloud is a huge step forward wherein we can now enjoy our music, photos and videos everywhere, work with our apps and documents anywhere...and never miss another meeting. The best part - iCloud is FREE for all the normal things we do. Diehard fans will use Apple products round the clock, 24/7, for everything, thanks to the iCloud. Apple, please make sure our information stays secured, and doesn't get hacked. Apple iCloud - loving it!

Apple is the undisputed innovative leader when it comes to creating, branding and promoting new innovations for business or personal use. Over the course of the year, Apple makes only three or four major product announcements at a live event. Before the actual announcement, a few members of the press get the wind of what is being announced, and begin the rumor mills. Press starts hyping up the event, and anticipation grows higher and higher before the event. An artificial awe begins to form about what Apple will be launching. The buzz reaches great heights on the day of the event. At the actual event, the magician and leader Steve Jobs takes center stage. He awes the audience, again, with beautiful slides, splashy video, uncanny presentation style, and what some just might say, "pure magic." Apple has gained mastery of creating brand and product demand by pre-announcing the launch event, increasing the hype and buzz, eventually culminating with Steve Jobs keynote address. As for the end users, they are simply amazed by this whole phenomenon, and grab the products the soonest Apple makes them available. Bravo Apple!

References:
Apple.com
Watch the Video of all the announcements