Sanat Ranganathan, Principal Attorney at The Law Office of Sanat Ranganathan, works as legal counsel for multinational entities. A job that he handles successfully and efficiently. Sanat has worked for a multinational company where he communicated effectively with team members to develop technology service agreements, SaaS, software agreements, vendor/supplier contracts and other third-party agreements, and advised on intellectual property rights such as copyright, proprietary source code & open-source licensing.
He also interpreted prior executed agreements and advised on rights and obligations, and what information can or cannot be shared with company customers or the public. Contracts typically include all of the rights, duties, obligations, and responsibilities of both parties to avoid potential future conflicts. Sanat Ranganathan’s primary responsibility as a company attorney was to safeguard against future problems by negotiating and drafting well-considered contracts, in accordance with good practice regulations and procedures.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
Ever since I was a kid, I planned to be a lawyer. While still in high school, I admired the legal profession, and then worked very hard throughout law school to obtain my numerous degrees and bar associations. Working to the point where I could establish my own law firm has been an accomplishment that I am very proud of.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
I would say that top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur are:
- The ability to manage one’s own time and stay organized.
- The ability to adapt to market trends and conditions, especially when the business is still in startup stage.
- Communication skills- this one is very important because entrepreneurs interact with all types of people in their businesses, from investors to employees.
What were the top three mistakes you made starting your business, and what did you learn from them?
- Not spending much time networking in the beginning when I first started my business. If I would have spent more time networking with others in my industry, I would have been able to have generated more customers who are loyal to me and my company.
- Focusing too much on making things perfect rather than getting them done quickly. I have improved a lot at this, but I tend to be a perfectionist. Now, I make sure things are good enough, and then move on.
- Not knowing when it is time to outsource certain tasks in my business.
I would say that I have learned from these mistakes to do a much better job, so, in a way I am also very grateful for that time of learning and growth.
Tell us a little bit about your marketing process, what has been the most successful form of marketing for you?
The most successful form of marketing has been referrals. I have made sure that all of my clients are happy with the work that I do for them, which in turn generates more business.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
I would advise new entrepreneurs to establish their own successful law firms by starting small and growing slowly. This will allow them to continue doing good work, while also establishing themselves in the market. Once established, a career as a successful entrepreneur is highly rewarding.
What’s a productivity tip you swear by?
I swear by being able to multitask and prioritize the important tasks that need to be done. Since a business owner is always busy, I have learned not only how to handle any task that comes my way, but also how to prioritize them so that deadlines can be met without sacrificing quality.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
If I had $1000 dollars to start a business, I would spend it on marketing hiring consultants that are experts in their fields, as well as allowing myself enough time to work out any bugs with the product(s). $1000 doesn’t get you very far these days, but I think that would be the best way to use those funds.
How have the pandemic and Lockdown affected you or your new business?
I was hoping that it would be over by now, but my business is doing well considering the circumstances. Of course, I had to make adjustments to my business due to the pandemic and Lockdown, but I am proud of how much I have been able to accomplish in spite of what has been happening these past 2 years.
I’d say that after I adjusted to working from a new office, at home instead of a separate location, the work itself stayed the same in some ways and changed in others. Many businesses needed help with the verbiage around their new work environments that found themselves in too. So, it wasn’t all bad. Just different.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
The feeling that I am helping others, while also running a successful business is what helps me stay motivated. Being able to see my progress keeps me going. Even in the darkest times I have always told myself “I can do this” and kept moving forward.
What is your favorite quote?
“The only thing that stands between a man and what he wants from life is often merely the will to try it and the faith to believe that it is possible.”
– Richard M. DeVos
What is your definition of success?
Success for me is being able to achieve my goals, while helping others do the same. I have never been one to work just for money or prestige, so when I see other people achieving their dreams it makes me extremely happy.
How do you personally overcome fear?
I overcome fear by thinking of the worst-case scenario, then I plan every single way I would overcome those worst-case scenarios. By feeling like I always have a plan, I feel much less afraid of things and much more in control. Then I let my strong determination take over! Even when I may find myself feeling afraid, I always make myself make the effort, knowing that I will be able to handle whatever comes my way.
Can you recommend one book, one podcast, and one online course for entrepreneurs?
A book I recommend is 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
I was originally recommended this book for a project, but it ended up being a very helpful guide to getting ahead in business and other areas of life. It has been a helpful resource when I have needed something to push me one way or another, or even just wanted to take the opportunity to make a good first impression. It is filled with useful information and interesting stories, as well as helpful quotes by such people as Julius Caesar and John D. Rockefeller.
One podcast I recommend is Heavyweight– I just really enjoy these stories and find that it is a great way to relax after a hard day of work. I have always been fascinated by people and how they make connections with one another. This podcast gives you insight into relationships and the intricacies of how they work, or don’t always work.
An online course I recommend would be Coursera. I have found that Coursera is a great way to learn something new, or you can use it as a refresher for things that you want to remember in order to help your career and business.
How can readers get in touch with you?
If someone would like to get in touch with me, please visit my website sanat-ranganathan.com
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