Perception Is Not Reality - About Sanjay Dalal

I would like to share with you a bit more about me, Sanjay Dalal, and give you some real facts...

1. I am a simple & happy family man, father of two growing children in Irvine, and husband to my wife since 1993 (technically 1992 since we got married in the court). We all moved to Irvine in 2007 from Fremont, CA. I love Turtle Rock, Irvine, where we live. I love my children & wife, relatives, my community, my friends and God. I love peace, happiness and well being for all... For more on my story, go to my website: http://www.sanjaydalal.com

2. I am a software entrepreneur, deeply passionate about collaboration software for social networks. I spend more than 10 hours a day thinking, planning, marketing & growing my latest software launch... oGoing. What's going on? http://www.ogoing.com
Further, I only know about computer software and some computer hardware. I do not have any working or professional knowledge of anything else besides computer software, and that too, mainly collaboration software and services. I do like to teach my children different technologies & always ask them to be curious about the latest cool things including cultures & traditions of their friends & families... just like any parent would do.

3. I launched India Business Network last year (2009) to help grow awareness of Indian professionals & businesses, and also in turn, learn about social networking, and the platform on which India Business Network hosts (Ning). Today, India Business Network has about 4,000 global members. India Business Network is a registered non-profit organization. Go to: http://www.indiabiznet.com to learn more...

4. I have failed many times over as an entrepreneur, including my latest failure... Innovation Index Group that managed Innovation Index Fund in 2008. Innovation Index Fund is closed, and is only supporting remaining 4 investors (May 2010 update - my father is not an investor anymore). All 4 investors are U.S. based, and are all friends based in Orange County & Los Angeles Area (who I have met a few times, and know them on a first name basis). There are no foreign investors, no foreign interest, no partners from any foreign countries / cities such as Dubai, Middle East, Africa, Europe in Innovation Index Fund. I am always learning from the failures such as Innovation Index Group... it only prepares me better for my next startup. Case in point: oGoing :: What's oGoing on? (tm) http://www.ogoing.com

5. Show me the money... First, I was successful in Silicon Valley at two startups that allowed me to be an entrepreneur (from the money I made in Silicon Valley). But I also lost money in the stock market (like everybody else, but probably more than I would like). I make money by selling Business Innovation eBook, Apple Innovation Strategy, Innovation Bootcamp, Internet & Social Media marketing, web & mobile application consulting, and investing in stocks (I enjoy it). This keeps me occupied and very busy all day...

6. I love ABAOC (Asian Business Association of Orange County), and am quite grateful & proud to be a board member. I take this job seriously, and would do everything to make ABAOC shine... this is my commitment to the board. I also love TiE Southern California, Irvine Chamber of Commerce and Dean's Leadership Circle, Paul Merage School of Business, University of California.

7. I am looking for partners for oGoing - Enterprise Social Network... if you or someone you know would like to get on the ground floor of a hot new startup that will potentially be a $100 million plus business in five to ten years, this is your chance. Just ask me for a business plan or executive summary, and I would be happy to share it with you... email me: ceo at innovationmain dot com

I love community development & community service... hence, I am active with my daughter's Turtle Rock School PTA & School Site Council, Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine, and take time to volunteer & promote / donate to charities... I was a basketball coach three times for my son's teams, and an art master for my daughter's class.

In 2005, I found out I had Osteoporosis in my lumbar spine. I have been fighting it since, and have made good progress. I am doing much better now... I started a non-profit in 2007 to raise awareness of this: http://www.osteofoundation.org (you can also read my story there)

Hoping this would clear up any perceptions you may have about me... or not ;-)

Now, let's do some business!!

Sincere regards,
Sanjay Dalal, Entrepreneur
Social Media. Internet. Innovation.

www.SanjayDalal.com

direct: 949-288-6880 (Receptionist: 7 am to 5 pm, M-F)

p.s.: I don't spam w. text, email, voicemail

What is American? Coming from India ...

What is American?

Yesterday, my wife, Mamta, told me she was taping on our DVR, American President. One of our favorite movies – starring Michael Douglas as the American President. We also enjoy Harrison Ford’s movie where he stars as the American President and fights the terrorists on Airforce One… what an exciting movie! He beats the crap out of all those loonies one by one! My son’s favorite movie also.

From talking about the movie, Rohan (our son), Suhani (our daughter) and we started talking about different things. The other day, Mamta had asked whether we had enough American Cheese – I told her I call it “White” cheese or “Yellow” cheese. To that, my son said, that sounds “racist” dad. I told him, when I host my online innovation workshops. I show my customers presentation on the “whiteboard”. And I must have delivered about 100 presentations where I have talked about “whiteboard”, “black box”, “white walls”, “white collar”, “black pepper” and some even recorded. My favorite when we order “white rice” or “brown rice” or “fried rice” at Chinese restaurant, or if you go to Indian restaurant, we call it “Biryani” or “Pulao” or “Safed rice”. Our house has white walls and black furniture. The other day, my eight year old daughter Suhani comes home and asks me, “Dad are we white and do we have a black president?” We tell her the right thing to say is “Caucasian and African Americans”, and then I went on to explain to her about various differences, and that we are all Americans. We also talked about our plans for President’s day holiday (no plans, just relaxing).

So, this was a typical evening conversation at the Dalal Family dinner table. You are welcome to join us…

Welcome to America!

Coming from India ...

Our kids are born here, and are natural born American citizens. My wife and I immigrated from India, world’s largest democracy and a country of rich heritage and traditions. We are American citizens also. During the Christmas holidays – we also setup Christmas Tree, share gifts, and believe in Santa – we saw the movie SlumDog Millionaire – an amazingly tantalizing love story that has something for everyone. How many have seen this movie? Must see. My wife and I argued a bit about this movie. I thought it was great, and she enjoyed it too… however, she felt that it represented only a section of what India is all about, and again, the movie shows too much of the poverty and slums. And I do agree… but I told her the educated know India is much more than poverty and slums. Just like America, it is a land of dreams, freedom and opportunity. And the movie does go on to show that how even the poorest of poor can one day grow and win the highest prize! An underdog who goes on to win millions!

I was born in Ahmedabad, India in 1968 – born on October 31. I am a Halloween Baby… my mom did not know that… although my kids think I can be really scary. I call it CRAM – Crazy, Angry, Mad… just kidding! My daughter tells me “I have bushy hair”. I do…

I did my elementary, middle and high school in India. My proudest moment was securing a ranking within the top 50 students in the entire state of Gujarat in my high school exams – thereby providing me an opportunity to pursue any higher education in college that I would like. I also had a great time in my eleventh grade when a few of us friends went for an Oceanographic exploration at Goa, India – a must see beach city in the state of Maharashtra. The best time was going to Goa in a ship from Bombay, now Mumbai. Still fondly remember that trip.

I also spent about eight months of college in Ahmedabad before I moved to the U.S in 1987 with my sister, Situ. I started my undergrad in Electrical Engineering at University of Oklahoma, she began her Masters in Civil Engineering.

My father, who many of you met, provided me the opportunity to come to USA. He has been a great mentor to me over the years, and I am very thankful to him and my mother for their guidance and support.

My highlight when I was at OU: 1. Great education by my English instructor and Math professor Dr. John Albert 2. Securing first position in Putnam math competition, after getting inspired by Dr. Albert to participate. OU won the first prize after dozens of years. 3. President’s honor roll, and my very first job as Library assistant appointed by Mr. Wellburn.

One Saturday, as I was going to the library for studying, I saw this huge swarm of people going to the stadium, waving flags, high fiving each other, and chanting “OU, OU”… I got introduced to Football – American Football!! And I am a huge fan of Football now, albeit Texas Football and NFL. Why? I transferred to the University of Texas at Austin after my first year in 1988 because I got a scholarship from UT. And Texas, although boasting a huge football program as well, had better Engineering education.

It was at Texas that I met Mamta, my future wife to be during my second year in 1989 in the summer, when we were helping new students from India as they arrived for their education at UT. And we played lots of Volleyball together that summer. And the rest is history!

My highlight at Texas was getting EE scholarship, instate tuition, computer programming lab position nominated by Dr. Terry Wagner (thank you Dr. Wagner), Secretary position in Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honors Society, and International Office Scholarship. The biggest coup: Becoming the Treasurer of India Students Association. My low-light: getting reprimanded for checking out professor notes over the weekend for a class that I did not take.

Professionally, I began my career at Honeywell Bull in 1992 after doing summer internship in the town of Seguin, Texas at Alamo Group.
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Part two of the story of Sanjay Dalal here...

Excerpts of Sanjay Dalal's speech at the Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine when I was inducted a Rotary Member on February 12, 2009

Rotary Club of Newport-Irvine Induction Speech by Sanjay Dalal, President and Managing Director, Innovation Index Group

I am indeed honored to become the newest member of Rotary Newport-Irvine Club today. Thank you President Jerry, Angelita, Rotarians, members and the executive team!! Our family has a deep appreciation for Rotary and Rotary foundation – my father, who is a very proud Rotarian, and proud of me becoming a Rotarian – came to U.S.A. in 1957 with a Rotary Foundation Scholarship, and obtained his MBA from Stanford Business School. If he had not come to the States, who knows? I may not be here in front of you today. Exactly 30 years hence, in 1987, I came to America. Thank you Dad and Mom for sending me here for education and our success.

A little about me... I am not right wing, nor left wing... nor affiliated with any political wings. I just became a U.S. Citizen. I have a question for the audience: What is the most important right of a U.S. citizen? (right to vote)

What I am though is a married family man, raising two wonderful kids, participating in many local activities including basketball coaching, art master, school site council and more. And yes, my business is all about determining the fundamentals of companies whose stocks we invest in.

I am proud of my heritage, my parent country India, the world’s largest democracy. It is a great privilege that my family and I live in America, our home, the world’s greatest democracy, a country of tremendous opportunity and pioneering spirit.

I want to thank my wife, for raising two wonderful children, and who has stood by me through thick and thin over so many years.

Today, in LA County alone, we have tens of thousands of kids who live in foster families. There are more than 600 children currently waiting for an adoptive family. I invite the Rotarians to contribute your time and money to help these children through the KidSave organization based in Los Angeles.

My wife and I have sponsored a child in India for the past many years through Christian Children’s Fund. He lives in Jharkhand state. He is a growing kid, and when we got a letter from him where he talks about, I quote, “the Save Environment program in Jharkhand where the main objective is inhibition on hunting because life is the right of animal” end quote, it really moved us.

Over the years, we have donated our time and money to many charities including USO, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Free Wheel Chair Mission, Fire Fighters, Police and Sheriff organizations, Hurricane Katrina, Tsunami Relief, China Earthquake, Myanmar Floods, BAPS and more.

Last week, at the local Jain Center, thousands of Jains celebrated the opening of new temple, and asked for forgiveness. My wife is a Jain, and we follow the principles of non-violence, peace, honesty and kindness.

I want to take this opportunity to thank America, our home, for helping us grow and flourish, and letting us enjoy the free spirit and democratic ideals.

We, all of us, are quite blessed by God. Let us take a moment to thank our parents, our family, our friends, our colleagues at work, our partners, our neighbors, our community and our country. We work hard, and most of us have a nice house to live, drive good cars, do not have to worry about food, are healthy (best wishes for Brady) and do well financially. So, let us make a promise to ourselves today: We must not complain.

God Bless Us All and God Bless America...