Zaren Odyuo~ The Entrepreneur

Business, according to Zaren Odyuo, is a social cause as he meticulously explains that looking at any developing state, “It is the business that controls the economy, the life style of the people, and shapes and determines the conditions of a society.”
Perhaps it was with this firm belief that he got into the world of business, but it wasn’t without hardship that he got where he is today. He recalls that his first business venture was a failure and only another tryst marks the start of a retailing career in his life. Being a first generation entrepreneur, he regrets that he never really had the guidance and finance. He says, “It was and is a big struggle and everyday it’s a big challenge as competitions gets tough,” compelling the need to work harder to be ahead.
He’s had trade lessons, as he calls it, by playing multiple roles such as being a salesman to cashier and has endured sleepless nights over calculated risks. But one thing he’s proud to have achieved is the “trust” he has built over the years. Today, he is one among the best known names in the business world, but he never forgets that it had a humble beginning.
Zaren believes that it takes Good Planning and Patience coupled with Dedication and Hard Work, Building Trust, Consistency, and Humility to be successful in this field. And of course, the challenge, he says lies in taking the risk and having the faith, which he insists has brought him this far.
But while the prospect of business in the State is large and bright, one cannot deny the presence of threats and extortions.......towards this end, he feels that “it is time for our Youth to wake up to the reality and ask ourselves why others can do business for generations (with all the taxes & threats) and we can’t.”
“I know of some shop owners who run small businesses here but have buildings and lands in their villages outside the State. One small electrical shop owner has supported his sons in getting into engineering colleges….the list goes on. They know how to handle and deal with our people and make profits; we Naga Entrepreneurs should learn, adapt, do the same and also, in the process, bring about change,” he says.
He also feels that "unless our youth connect and interact, and much help supported genuinely by the underground and the state government, we will surely be controlled by people who really won’t have much concern for our State except to make profits."
On another note, he is of the opinion that “Naga youths are deprived of role models, people that they can look up on, leaders with qualities of being visionaries, transformers, standing up for the truth, basically being a Christian Man.”
“Naga youth are looking to identify or relate with something and the majority are heading towards adapting different foreign cultures which is degenerating our rich culture of being honest, hard working, self reliant and the respect for one another,” he laments and goes on to add that “as much as the older generations are needed to set examples, the Naga youth have a huge task to transform our land. We know the situation! I believe we have the talents, resources, the right people but getting swayed away can be easy for our youths.”
This Young Entrepreneur has a dream for Nagaland, which in his words is “to bring back our glory days when Man took up spears when the villages were threatened. Our society is being threatened by our own people (illegal taxes, corruption on all levels, law and order, etc).”
“If only we speak out and fight, I believe Nagaland will have better days, better education, better health care etc,” he firmly states.
On a lighter note, it may interesting for many to note that his childhood dream was to be a Government Officer although he confesses that business was always at the back of his mind.
Truly a man with a success story, who never had the support of the Government in terms of finance and never had the luxury of having a huge start-up capital, has established a Brand Name – ‘Gravity’ - in three districts of Nagaland - Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.
‘Tribal Enterprise’ which is his very own brainchild has Benjamin Mozhui as the Co-Owner. Down the years, it has also generated employment to over 90 local youths.
Here is one of our very own who is determined and convinced that it is possible to do business and be successful in Nagaland. He, himself is testimony to it.