Basic Lesson in Entrepreneurship

Today's ET carries a piece by Sudeshna Sen titled "Rita Sharma: England's richest Asian woman entrepreneur", profiling England's richest Asian woman entrepreneur.

It's refreshing to read a name that hasn't been splashed all over the papers, and although there is less said about Rita's journey to building a successful travel agency and picking up the Entrepreneur of the Year award to boot, than about her glamour quotient, the story provides some interesting insight into the stuff she's made of.

Contrary to the officious sounding success mantras spouted by a lot of pin-up entrepreneurs, Rita appears deeply rooted to the ground. Coming from a family of first generation Punjabi immigrants, she candidly admits that the lessons she learned growing up are what have made her the businesswoman she is. Not surprising, since the characteristics of enterprising Indians are possibly the most visible in the pockets they migrated to.

Conservative and careful in a world of shooters-from-the-hip Rita Sharma stands out as real. And that's the most important lesson aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from her success.