Don’t just be a consumer, be the creator

An MBA dropout, Prafull Billore, four years ago, started his career by selling tea by the roadside in Ahmedabad. With consistency and handwork, Prafull, 24, now has his presence in five cities. From working at McDonald’s to set up a tea stall with a mere turnout of Rs.30 on the first day to currently grossing about Rs.3.5 crore, Prafull has accomplished a lot. For him, tea is an emotion. In a conversation with Corporate Citizen, Prafull, Founder, MBA (Mr Billore Ahmedabad) Chai Wala, shares his obsession for pursuing an MBA and why did he give up on that, the challenges of starting MBA Chai Wala, his dreams, and a lot more

Corporate Citizen: So, Prafull, how are you doing? And talking about the current situation, although we all are getting back to normal, can you tell us how did you manage your business during the lockdown? Also, throw some light on the learnings from this situation.

Prafull Billore (PB): Thank you, I am doing fine. Well, yes. The outbreak of the Covid-19 was tough on all the industries. We are a startup, and we did face a lot of difficulties. As soon as, we were hit with the pandemic, we designed a plan to stick to delivery or take-out. This period was quite challenging, but we knew that situations are temporary. What matters is your attitude towards life and how you encash on the learnings. During this, I realised the value of time, money and relationships. So, as soon as the situation comes to normal, I will be visiting different cities with the intent to support the people whose lives have been affected by Covid-19. I will be making tea and raise money for their living. This cause will support more than 100 families. I wish that my passion for making tea helps to raise funds for the needy.

CC: Kudos to your zeal to help others. Moving on, can you walk us down memory lane, and tell us a bit about your childhood days?

I grew up in the small town of Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, which is about 50 km from Indore. People here are quite empathic, welcoming, and generous. My connection with the city’s roots is immense that is why I have embodied all these qualities. As a child, I was not studious, but I was sure curious. The more you know, the more you realise the different avenues that life has to offer.

My family owns a business. Watching my father grow his business has inspired me to do something big. It was then I was taught, not just to be a consumer but to be a doer as well. There are two ways to live in this world-be a consumer or a creator. The thing about creators is, everything they do is to make an impact. This fact will remain with me forever. It will be right to say that the seed of being an entrepreneur was sown since my childhood.

"The thing about creators is, everything they do is to make an impact. This fact will remain with me forever. It will be right to say that the seed of being an entrepreneur was sown since my childhood"

CC: Can you tell us about your infamous saga with the MBA course?

Back home in Dhar while growing up, I had joined an English coaching class. The professor there enlightened me about several aspects of education. I was introduced to IIM and IIT, and that’s where my obsession began. I aimed to study MBA with one of these institutes. I studied day and night. Despite all my efforts, I wasn’t able to score well in CAT. And if my scores did not match the cut-offs of these institutes, there was no chance of my dream coming true.

The thing is, it takes around one or two years to prepare for CAT. Once you clear this test, it takes three years to complete your MBA. So, finally, after five years, you are eligible for a job. I had no more strength to go through this process. I know the worth of time, money, and relationship. Within five years, people can build a billion-dollar business. And I did not want to waste any time. When you give your heart and soul to prepare for something, and you still fail-that moment is quite heart-breaking. Therefore, I decided to give up on my dream of pursuing an MBA.

CC: Soon after your graduation, you went on a journey to find yourself. Tell us about that.

My family wanted me to continue my journey with MBA. However, that wasn’t working for me. And in this whole process, I had lost myself. But I knew this wasn’t the end of my life, instead, it was the start of something beautiful. And in times like these, you need to keep moving forward or else you start moving backwards in life. I did not want to be like stagnant water, deep and dangerous. I wanted to be more like a flowing river water, clean and clear. After I completed my graduation, I went on a journey of self-discovery. I had decided that I won’t touch the books henceforth. And, so, I packed my bags and left where the roads took me. Life begins when you get out of your comfort zone. I travelled to Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Gurgaon, and various other cities. This journey was worthwhile than reaching the destination. I met new people who broadened my horizon with their insights. This gave me a lot of time to introspect.

"My family owns a business. Watching my father grow his business has inspired me to do something big"

CC: And this journey led you to Ahmedabad, where you put up your first tea stall…

I must have been around 20 when I left the house. Yes, this journey was blissful. And I am glad that I settled down in Ahmedabad because this city felt like home. Putting up a tea stall needed funds. Before that, I had to pick up a job to fend for myself. Growing up, I had read somewhere that people who are now successful, used to once work at small joints. I pulled up my socks and applied at McDonald’s. In 2017, I cleared the interview and was offered Rs.37 per hour. The job wasn’t easy. I started from starch. My role included cleaning the table, clearing off the customers leftover food and sweeping the floor too. I always believe that no work is small and did my job at McDonald’s with utmost dignity.

Right from housekeeping to serving the people and making burgers for them, I learnt everything. Soon I was promoted. Meeting new people and understanding their stories added value to my life. But there came a point where I thought to myself ‘untill when would I be doing the same job’. Instead of working for someone else, I wanted to work for myself. Tea is something that connects our country. Tea is an emotion for many. And at times when I used to study late nights for my exams, it was tea that gave me company. At that moment, I was ready to put up my first tea stall. This stall wasn’t fancy at all. It was by the roadside near SG Highway, Ahemdabad. It was small, but it was mine.

CC: Okay, so now, your tea stall is up and running from there on was it a smooth run? Walk us through your initial hardships.

Hardships and adversities are a part and parcel of every journey. What I am today is because of the obstacles that I overcame. The first day was quite tough. I was able to sell only one cup of tea. I was learning to make tea, and in that process, I added too much sugar and the milk was spoilt. The first day was a miss. But I wasn’t going to up give that easily. I put in my tears and sweet to master the art of making tea. As the stall was at the roadside, I had to face the wrath of immense heat. But then I got used to it. Not just that, initially people laughed at my thought of starting a tea stall. The only way I could stand up to them was by being successful. I knew it was going to take time, but I was ready for it. Be it rain or heat or cold winter waves, I was there at the stall severing people. Of course, I needed some funds to start this business. My parents used to send me money with the hope that I take admission for MBA. But I never wished to go back to college. For their sake, I even got admitted to a college but within months, I dropped out. I utilised that money for my business. At the end of the day, I was earning money and I was independent.

I learnt marketing on the go. When people did not come to my stall, I gathered all my courage and went to people to invite them for a cup of tea. I told them my story, and they were highly impressed with the way I spoke. Soon, I become quite famous owing to my charisma and tales. The first few days I earned only Rs.30. The people who knew me started coming back and the business picked up. The next day I earned 600, and then 1000, and to reach 3000, it did not take long. And then, there was no looking back. Meanwhile, I had to change several locations. Finally, I approached a nearby hospital and asked them if can lay my stall on their premises. They readily accepted. I guess that was sort of a turning point. The tea stall was flocked by people. And the business was going great. As a goodwill, I had placed a blackboard next to the stall where people who were seeking jobs wrote down their details. And people who were looking to hire approached them. I am glad my stall helped many to get placed.

As the word spread about my unusual tale, I was invited by several platforms to talk about my journey. Ironically, even the top-notch business institutes welcomed me for a guest lecture. Adding another feather to my cap, it was a dream come true to set foot on the TEDx stage. My journey gave me the confidence to become a social leader and stir a wave of difference.

"There is no shortcut to success. You will have to work hard no matter the situation. Focus on your goal. There will be times when you will fail but remember your day will come"

CC: The struggle is very real, Prafull. Your will and determination to overcome is exemplary. Correct us if we are wrong. It was because of this stall that you had to spend a night in jail. Is it true?

Friends and well-wishers gather to support Prafull Billore

To be successful in life, you have to take some risks. When my business started growing, the other tea stall owner couldn’t digest this fact. I was shooed off from my original location. I did my research and narrowed down a few locations. Obtaining permission became an issue. Even the local municipal corporation warned me several times. As the stall was getting fame, I took the risk of keeping it open till late at night. The municipal team noticed this and I was taken to the station and spent a night in jail. This happened a few times. But that’s how we learn and move ahead in life.

CC: The name ‘MBA Chai Wala’, does it give you a feeling of redemption?

To some extent, yes. We had come up with around 350 names for my venture before we settled with this. However, here the MBA stands for Mr Billore Ahmedabad. Although it is synonyms to the MBA course, MBA Chai Wala for me is my life and soul. From starting a tea stall at the roadside to now having a turnover of around Rs.3.5 crores, I have come a long way. With a team of about 35 members, we are currently present in five cities-Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Indore and Kolkata.

The menu has grown leaps and bounds. With tea still being our USP, we do offer a wide range of beverages and food items like types of Maggie, French fries, puffs, sandwiches, etc. The lockdown gave us more time to strategise for the future. We are planning to come with 25-plus outlets in the coming year, and we are open to handing out franchises as well. With this, we are trying our best to put our foot in the international water.

From the very beginning, I always wanted to deliver more than I was asked for. If someone asked me to run 10 km, I gave my best and ran 12 km. So, I feel, I was born to be an entrepreneur. Initially, my parents were sceptical of my venture. But now, when they see me do so well, they are quite proud of me.

CC: You dropped out while pursuing your MBA to start a venture which is reaching new heights. Can you state your views about our education system?

Our education system isn’t up to date. Suppose in a class if there are 50 students, it is wrong to give them the same goal to follow. The system fails to understand that each kid is different. In fact, the education system should come with a plan and offer these 50 students, 50 different business plans or goals. This means, once they pass out, we will have 50 freshers with myriad industry knowledge. Our country will certainly benefit from this.

Through my experience, I reckon that people hold themselves back while sharing their knowledge. For instances, a chef wouldn’t share the secrets of a dish. Now with the advent of the internet, we have an open market where all the information is easily accessible. Today’s generation has no excuse because everything they want to know is freely available on the net. The importance of theory and practical knowledge depends on the domain that the student picks. The system should give enough independence to the students to follow their dreams and should not box everyone in the same category.

CC: Word of advice for people who wish to make it big in life?

There is no shortcut to success. You will have to work hard no matter the situation. Focus on your goal. There will be times when you will fail but remember your day will come. Till then keep giving your best. Surround yourself with people who add value to your life. Being yourself is fine, but unless someone gives you a reality check, you cannot find yourself. And most importantly, be the star of your story.