Are You A Pragmatic Problem-solver?

In order to succeed in a rat race, I believe in the philosophy to keep up with times, technology and the digital era. As a rule, one should never hesitate to ask why or how. It is good to be an optimist; however, it pays to be cautious. In doing so, prepare yourself for an emergency well in advance.

It is a known fact that the film industry is highly speculative and inherently risky. We have been able to succeed only because of one prime philosophy: “Be prepared for the worst and nothing can go wrong.” One of the most important resources for an entrepreneur to succeed is mental strength. So, if you are prepared for the worst, and if it turns out better than expected, you are mentally equipped to sustain the low points in your business. However, let’s not confuse this with a pessimistic attitude, which might encourage negativity. In order to succeed, one needs to have a good team backing oneself.

How does one find the right customer? To develop an enterprise and ensure escalation, one needs to look for market gaps and any additional value one’s organisation provides. One should respect the value of time, as well as the client’s time plan, while also giving room to unavoidable circumstances, which are beyond human control. One needs to stick to perfection and strive to achieve 100 per cent all the time. Though it is a Herculean task, sometimes it is worth the pain to gain accolades.

There are no shortcuts to name, fame or money. The major deficiency in our industry has been lack of transparency. In my organisation, we maintain transparency in our dealings and deliver statements to the producers of films, thus maintaining relationships over a longer period of time. In fact, even I try to accommodate the client’s demands, and this slight “giving in” goes a long way in building trust, as long as my integrity is not jeopardised.

My journey as a third-generation entrepreneur has been exciting, as I’ve explored the possibilities of providing entertainment to the expatriate South Indian Community since 1988. AP International started as a pure trader in 1988, and in the past 29 years, we have grown to be in every vertical of the entertainment business, except for the production of films. It has been aptly said that “Necessity is the mother of invention.” With the expansion of the digital medium, we have progressed from VHS cassettes to VCD, DVD, Blu-ray and now the Internet through Over the Top (OTT).

We have been able to do this through the support of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), which has enabled me to utilise three of their core values: Boldly Go!, Trust and Respect, and Thirst for Learning. EO provides an excellent opportunity to enable entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. I will continue to reap the benefits of EO as I work to make an even bigger mark in our industry and beyond.

Sanjay Wadhwa is the Managing Director of A P International Group, a leading distributor of Tamil films in the overseas market, based in Chennai. Wadhwa is the global board of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and from the EO South Asia’s Chennai Chapter.