Renuka soon grew to become a young man. Upon looking for work he secured a watchman’s job with the help of his older brother who worked as a security guard. The company manufactured plastic goods and was called Shyamsundar plastics. He was paid a wage of 600 Indian rupees per month. However, Renuka wanted to save and accumulate as much money as possible since he didn’t intend being a watchman all his life. In his spare time he would climb large coconut trees to collect coconuts which he sold for 15 Rupees. He even began stitching suitcase covers going from house to house peddling his skill. Unfortunately this was his first setback where he lost rupees 30,000 in this endeavor.
Renuka’s loss didn’t dishearten him. He sold his wedding ring to learn driving and pay for a driver’s license. However fate death a cruel blow when his first day as a driver got him sacked from his new job because of a freak accident. Fortunately for him the owner of a taxi cab and travel company called Ganesh Travels gave him a job after hearing his tragic tale. Renuka did quite well earning upto Rupees 500 a month. His hard work was soon recognized by other similar travel companies who gave Renuka lucrative offers of work.
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He soon started working for another company driving a matador van which ferried customers and doubled as a hearse. Driving dead bodies inspired Renuka where he admits how he learnt something from death. Death taught him to appreciate life and regardless of the problems and obstacles, the biggest gift given to man is his life!! Regardless of your problems, be thankful you still live and have the opportunity to do something with your life.
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Renuka worked here for four years till he joined Manjunath Travels where he received the opportunity to chauffeur foreign tourists around the city. His job earned him several tips in US dollars which he saved. His enthusiasm made him learn basic French to communicate with one particular group who were impressed and happy with him. This made him realize that if he kept customers happy he would never fail.
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Renuka then purchased his own car a TATA Indica which cost him 3.2 lakhs of rupees (4892 USD). To buy the car he had to sell his wife’s jewelry and her Provident fund savings. Renuka also enrolled himself for English classes and learnt Business management. BY 2006, He was soon the owner of five cars which he attached to the travel company, City Taxi.
As a stroke of luck, Renuka was tipped off that another travel company also named Indian City Taxi was up for sale. Renuka jumped at the offer, he sold all his cars and with the help of an additional bank loan, he purchased the company for 6.7 lakhs (10,243 USD). He renamed the company Pravasi Cabs.
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Renuka’s first customer was Amazon to whom he attached 35 cars to run their transport and delivery service. By 2012, Renuka was providing transport for all the big names in the business such as Wal-Mart, Akamai and general motors. His success led him to open another branch of his company in Chennai. With the onslaught of Uber and Ola taxi service, Renuka survived by introducing his own driver –owner schemes leading to a spurt in business. Today Renuka Aradhya is a business magnate at the helm of a 40 crore rupee company and all because he didn’t back down.
From beggar to 40 crore transport magnate Renuka Aradhya’s story teaches us that despite of life’s obstacles trying to get you down, you need to pick yourself up shake off the dust and move forward. Today Renuka Aradhya drives the costliest of cars and even addresses students at business seminars. That shows nothing is impossible.
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