Geetika Saigal, Pioneers India’s First Mentored Publishing Platform With Beeja House, To Turn People Into Brands And Stories Into Books
“I could write a book on my life.”, says almost everyone! If only that dream could come true. Humans invented writing around five thousand years ago and publishing has now become one of the most powerful industries in the world. India being the 6th largest publishing nation in the world, is all set to cross INR 800 billion by 2024.
New business models have emerged, however, none of these have solved the most fundamental of issues - how to go from blank page to published author. Studies rightfully show that 97% of those who start writing a book, never finish it!
Beeja House, the brainchild of Geetika Saigal, is now heralding a new era with Mentored Publishing - mentoring aspiring authors step-by-step along their book writing journey. Here, in conversation with Geetika, we understand the thoughts leading to the vision.
Q: There is always one thought that paves the way for our mind to function. What was your "one thought" that led to the creation of Beeja House?
A: I thought to myself “What if”. I started by asking “What if I give them the one critical missing link, and be their mentor to write a book?” but it’s when I pushed the envelope with the next idea “What if I also give them the platform for publishing, marketing and becoming a brand?”, that made me walk on this path.
Q: India today is flushed with several publishing houses. So in this super competitive world, what is your milestone to comprehend "success"?
A: The publishing industry has become fairly transactional in nature. On the one side we have traditional publishers placing their bets primarily on celebs and influencers and on the other we have a slew of newer houses that simply tick the boxes to get the job done.
We are author-focused and we recognise success when my mentees have that shimmer in their eyes that says “Yasss! I have completed the book”, because it signifies their personal achievement of finishing a seemingly impossible feat! The rest of it is a by-product of that success.
Q: Do you feel other publishers are a risk to your new-age publishing house?
A: We are a movement first, and then a publishing house. We make you dream, then help you achieve it! At our core, we are innovators. Today we are changing the way people build their path to create their identity. Tomorrow, we will take on newer challenges, bring in newer ideas, and create newer solutions.
We chalk our own path, so we don’t view competition as a risk. Rather, it helps keep us on our toes to bring out a better version of ourselves every day!
Q: Starting a company, that too one-of-its-kind, is a risky affair in itself. What made you confident enough that you'll sail through?
A: Standing on the shore you’ll always be safe, but safe ain’t gonna get you nowhere great! In my career there have been multiple times when I choose the risky way and regardless of whether I succeeded, I learned. There is no bigger loss than the loss of opportunity. If you win, great; if you lose, learn. Either way, you create memories, experiences and who knows, an interesting enough life to write a book on it!
Q: What is the "Chemical - X" that gives your company a superpower to be different from the rest.
A: We nurture individuality and work as a collective. Each one of us is a leader; and we lead different initiatives. I learnt early on from one of my mentors that collaboration is greater than competition. So we don’t compete internally, we don’t nurse egos; we all lead and we all support, at the same time. 2 + 2 = 22
Q: That’s interesting! So what is your Vision?
A: To establish Beeja House as an abode for “Purposeful” people. If you have a purpose, we help you achieve that by creating a roadmap to your success and empowering you with the Skillset, Mindset and Habits you need, to navigate that path.
Q: What is your overall philosophy for leading the company?
A: To think big and execute baby steps. And for that we conquer small milestones, every single day. It doesn’t matter if it is small or big, but progress is paramount. Every brick matters, when you are building the skyscraper of your dreams.
Q: What is that one line that sums up Beeja House?
A: Where your imagination comes alive in a book, a book that creates your identity, an identity which transforms your future.
