Anupam Mittal, a prominent investor on Shark Tank India, recently shared his insights on the skills needed for entrepreneurial success. According to Mittal, fancy degrees and qualifications are less important than having two critical abilities: selling and building. Mittal emphasizes that selling is not just about pitching products or services but about persuasively conveying a vision.
Building involves the relentless problem-solving and perseverance required to turn ideas into reality. He believes these core skills are essential for both business success and navigating various life challenges. In a recent post, Mittal highlighted the importance of a solution-oriented mindset over mere ambition.
He noted that entrepreneurs who focus on solving real problems stand out more than those who get lost in the hype. Mittal elaborated on the distinction between “Level 1” and “Level 2” thinking. “Level 1 founders talk about what they want to build.
Level 2 founders explain what stands in the way. The first is surface-level enthusiasm without structure. The second shows they’ve interrogated the problem and moved beyond energy towards clarity,” he said.
He explained that this deeper understanding is what truly captures his attention.
Mittal’s key entrepreneurial skills
“Instead of saying ‘I am building the next big social network,’ when someone says they’ve cracked the cold start problem, I lean in.
Not because it sounds cool, but because it means they’ve taken the time to figure out a possible solution to the problem,” Mittal said. Mittal’s post resonated with the startup community, with many agreeing with his insights. One user commented, “This post is a masterclass in founder discernment.
Ambition without clarity burns fast; it impresses, but it rarely sustains. The founders I now bet on? The ones who obsess over constraints like they’re building with their own money.”
Mittal suggests that mastering selling and building early on can open up numerous opportunities and pave the way to achieving entrepreneurial goals.
He views these not just as job skills, but as life skills essential for anyone looking to excel, particularly in the startup world. In a market that often chases quick success, Mittal emphasizes that true entrepreneurship is a long-term journey. He advises against simply following trends or copying others, as this is unlikely to result in lasting success.
Instead, he encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to show up every day, constantly improve, and persistently work on their solutions. “Success comes from years of hard work and consistency, rather than fleeting moments of viral popularity,” says Mittal. By honing selling and building skills and combining them with dedication and perseverance, entrepreneurs can cultivate confidence in their vision and back it up with effective execution, laying the foundation for long-term success.
Photo by; Tamarcus Brown on Unsplash