A father’s wish…
1993 – February
I was a lot thinner; polite too. Certainly not the trigger happy, fat badass I have become. After three year of hunger, ambition and walking the edge of what was computer science then at FAST, I was all set to change the world.
On the stairs and under the shade of a Neem tree that is now long gone, Kheiri, Amir Khan and I debated the right way to build and train a BAM (a Neural Network for the less technically inclined). I spent hours tweaking my C code on the UNIX terminal and spent hours more training my network on KSE stock prices, trying to dig out the gold hidden inside predictive modeling. I wrote operating systems with microcode simulators in my spare time (ok, a little exaggerated), line detectors for class projects and copied the compiler code from Fawzia so that I could hack every game in existence and make turbo C do things that Borland never intended it to do.
I wasn’t a God, but I was certainly surrounded by them at FAST. I was just a thin, lowly geek, all set to change the world…
15 years ago, on this day, I turned my back on the road less travelled and sold out for 8,000 rupees a month. It was the easiest decision I ever made.
And my father said, “Baita (Son), you are better than this. Strike out on your own and you will do fine. It will be difficult but you will do fine”
It is funny how the easiest decision in your life, leave so much on the table; the difficult agonizing ones are the ones that really change your life. And how fathers are mostly right…
2008 – February
I met another father and son team, a dozen women, two of them mothers, seventy dreamers, a Harly rider (sorry Adnan) and seven individuals who feel that their changing the world is not enough; everyone else needs to do their bit too. Together we corrupted young minds beyond belief with naughty videos (you missed them), naughtier advice, really really bad food, a healthy dose of caffeine (hot and cold) but most importantly hope.
Hope that Baita, you are better than this. Strike out on your own and you will do fine…
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February 10, 2008
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14 Responses
I guess FAST does have a history of producing ambitious young people who have changed the world, in some way or the other. I’m just another FASTian, more on the electrical engineering side this time, wanting to change the world for the better!
An inspiring post Jawwad! Whatever we heard there, whatever it was. It was good. But not everyone has the same story, not everyone meets the same luck. So like you said, ‘Strike out on your own and you’ll do better than this’, I hope I will, I hope I will change the world, I hope I’l stay focused!
I’v never been in the company of so many inspiring people gathered at one signal place, that is what’s best about Start-up Insiders!
Ammar, it was great to have you there. Hey of course you will do well. Just stay focused and don’t let anyone tell you that there is anything you can’t do if you come up with a unique idea, put in the right amount of effort and attract a wee bit of luck. Remember most of these people did just that. And failing once, twice or thrice didn’t stop them. Believe in yourself and try try again. We’ll keep the SI sessions up in all 3 cities and maybe even take them to smaller cities at some stage. All we want to do is share and then sit back and revel in your success. I will put up my post soon – watch for it.
True, there are people who wants to change the world … but there is an ‘if’ in Jehan’s post, “if you come up with a unique idea”, and it always creates uncertainty
I’m eagerly waiting for your post Jehan. People discouraged me initially, now they listen to me. It happens when they see you. I started my website in 2002, 15 years of age then. End of 2003 it was when I borrowed money from friends to launch pakmarkaz.com, a utility portal with all that childish approach, music, games and everything. By the end of 2006, I had raised half a million ruppees in ad revenues.
Then studies hampered my dedication to the website and I stopped it. People kept coming back to what remained of it till Mustafa told me to utilize these loyal visitors and launch something professionally this time. It came out on the 1st of January 2008 called PakMarkaz.Net.
We’re doing a lot of work behind the scenes. A lot of freelancing because of these small ventures of ours. God willing, we’ll have an office as soon as I graduate. We need your support and guidance! I was there at S.I. 1, I was there at the 4th, I want to be there at all of them!
@ Qasim: No there’s no If, you can always pick up services and run what is called a ‘dev-shop’ too! Depends on the uniqueness of your approach though, and that is what you learn from experienced people like those at the S.I.!
@Jawwad: Thanks for hosting such a nice event. The food I think whenever its free its gud since you paid for that you didnt like it
. What you said I agree with it completely. And you did pollute some minds!! FAST, what can I say i become nostalgic whenever I hear someone say this word or I read it. A place to be I would say, a place that helps its students to be ready for the bad and ugly world.
I hope to see more of these SI sessions in Karachi, I have infact started a campaign to tell my friends about this event, and to make then think about working for themselves.
@Qasim: I wouldnt be uncertain coz thats how it goes, If you dont have a unique idea then you have to have self-belief and willingness to deliver your best by your hardwork and passion for the work you do, and you will secceed.
I agree… Jawad, I am floating a question here…. does mean by unique idea is only an innovative product? (I know it does not…) If not, then?
Gent and Jehan.
A separate post to answer your questions on theunique idea. Will try and post it later tomorrow night. Check after 8 pm PST time. In short, no it does not. Details to follow
Ammar, luck favors the bold and the prepared and the ones who knock on its door. Keep on knocking.
I will Jawwad, I will! You guys were perhaps the right inspiration for me at just the right time, right after we launched PakMarkaz.Net, the Startup-insiders things began, fueling our passion to change ourselves and our nation! Thank You Jawwad!
Inspiring stuff Jawwad! You know what, the very first question my father asked me after the event “Beta! Ali, When we goona have the next SI” and now he himself started bloging! Wow! I surely encourage all other young guys to bring their parents along, SI is surely changing their mind sets about starting a new venture and all other stuff.
More than me gents you have to thank Osama Hashmi at Green and White and the team at PASHA for executing on this concept in three cities in one month
We, entrepreneurs just tagged along for the ride and the high.
Unique product post is up.
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