Archie AI: The story I’m trying to write

There is no good way to start a story. There is no promise to be kept here. No magic to be revealed. It’s simple — do what catches the attention of the readers.

That’s the trickiest part. What do the reader want? Is it the job of writer to solve. Or he focus on telling the perfect story he can.

I don’t know the right answer. Perhaps first one is more practical. But I will likely go go for the later one. At least to start with. Somewhat similar situation with Archie AI. We had string of meetings with investor and loads of questions:

• How will you complete with the giants?
• How will you fight the cash rich startups?
• How will you attract talent in India?
• Why not pick something else?

All great questions. They make you think whether to give them what they want or tell the story you can tell best.

At least for now, I will stick to the path I started. I don’t want to give the “I’m-idealist-or-perfectionist” vibe. I’m not. But perhaps a bit stubborn pragmatic. I do like to take the risk to bang my head against wall just to see whether it moves.

But this process also made wonder me what are things I deeply care about Archie AI story as I write it. And without much introspection, these words came to me one after another, as if deepdown I already knew what I’m seeking.

So noting them down here with an intention that I come back to it and keep myself accountable to it:

Things I want to follow:

1. Build the right product.
2. Do the right kind of marketing.
3. Don’t overspend.
4. Fight. Survive. Show grit.
5. Be patient for the result.
6. Work with people who want to grow with you.
7. Follow this priority in general: customer benefit, doing good for people working with you, and making money to keep doing 1 and 2.

Things I deeply believed in:

• Company gets made everyday. Being a founder is a mindset not a prize for someone who was present on day 1.
• Just making money isn’t enough. Just giving us publicity isn’t enough. Just survival isn’t enough. We have to always and always do the right thing.
• Institutions aren’t built in day. They aren’t build with funding. They are build with grit, character, and determination over a long stretch of time.

I know these are mere words. Like every word out there. It will take everything in me to live by it.

And not everything will be in my control. But I’m making a promise to myself that I will give an honest shot :)