From CAT to CHAI —The Story of MBA Chaiwala
If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present. — Rabindranath Tagore
While I’m writing this blog, I am nothing but proud and inspired when I read the story of Prafull Billore, the intelligent mind behind this idea of selling tea after dropping out of college and trusting his gut. This MBA dropout changed lives of millions and I am one of them today. You need to know about his journey and you need to know about it now!
You are the creator of your own destiny — Swami Vivekananda
This powerful quote by Swami Vivekananda ji gave me the most powerful meaning when I got to know about this brilliant mind of Prafull. From nothing to everything, his story is life-changing! He portrays the idea that you can sell anything. You need to put your heart and soul to it and connect the whole world with it.
An Empty Pan with a Million Dreams
Belonging to a small village in Madhya Pradesh, Prafull had a curious childhood. He was always curious about everything. He talked about social issues, economy problems, global politics with his father and his father’s friends. He was an average student in school but he had extraordinary knowledge about global issues. After setting his footsteps in 12th standard, he came across IIM’s, CAT, GMAT, GRE and pursuing MBA from top institutes was his ultimate aim then. He started preparing for MBA in 2nd year of college and sweat his guts out for 2 years in preparation. But the results weren’t in his favor and he felt completely lost. A family with a farming background and profession couldn’t bear MBA fees from private colleges and Prafull didn’t even want to pursue MBA now.
He started exploring the whole country from Bangalore to Hyderabad to Chennai etc. and finally to Ahemdabad, the place where his journey began. Prafull’s idol, Jeff Bezos worked in McDonald’s before beginning his billionaire journey and he started working at McDonald’s too because he dropped the idea of MBA now. For 4–4.5 months, he worked as a waiter, made burgers, fries, took orders just because he was a curious student. He learnt a lot about upselling while he worked at McDonald’s especially when he did the ordering work. He knew he couldn’t that job forever, he had to move forward. So, instead of opening a big store or cafe, he started from the very scratch, the CHAI business. He chose to sell tea because tea was one thing that connected the whole country. Tea is evergreen and people would never stop drinking it.
Time to Pour the CHAI
He borrowed 8000 rupees from his father and lied to him by telling him that he took 8000 rupees for some international, import export course that he wanted to learn and his father happily gave him the money. There’s a saying:-
“Lying for someone’s good is equal to 100 truths”.
It took him 50 days to start his chai business. He researched, went around to 50 vendors selling tea because he wanted to know what he is getting into and how this business works. After some time, his parents got to know about this and it was starting to manipulate his thinking which forced him to block his parents’ number. He kept everyone out of his small world of Tea, himself and dreams. He sold 10 cups of tea on his first day making a total sale of 300 rupees.
In 2–2.5 months, he literally dumped the business of other street vendors to which he was beaten up by the mob for doing so good with his own business and even went into lockup 3–4 times. And when I tell you what insightful strategies he planned out which made him own the area around, it will change the way you look at a business.
Not Just Selling Tea
You’re appreciated when you’re different. You’re selling tea. What different can you do? Well, Prafull did. An MBA dropout, with all the knowledge of global politics, finance, social, economic issues, would definitely sell something more than just tea.
- People came to him with all kinds of problems such as personal, relationship, financial, and he solved all of their problems while selling his tea. He was a career counselor for the people.
- He put up a white board next to his cart. Giant business owners driving Audi, BMW even left their contact numbers there so that if someone comes looking for a job, he/she could contact them through that white board. He literally made lives while making tea.
- He got a taste of virality when he announced that on 14th February, Valentine’s Day, he was selling tea to all the singles out there for free!
- He donated money to support the people of Kerala when it got hit by massive flooding. A whopping 2.5 lakh rupees were collected and donated.
- He organized Ludo events there. Basically, he gave everything on a cart what expensive cafes gave to people.
Internet was a major factor in his business. While he made 2 cups of tea, 4 photos had already been shared on social media.
Prafull Billore is a Marketing Genius!
Moving on from CART to CAFE
He opened his first cafe in 2019, in Ahemdabad. He bought a small shop just near to his cart. He managed to attract more crowd while he was selling tea above and in the basement too. One thing lead to another and when the time came, he opened a small cafe and that was the opening of the first MBA Chaiwala Outlet in Ahemdabad.
Present Scenario
MBA Chaiwala is now expanding. They’re soon going to be dealing in a wide range of products with MBA CHAI WALA STORE. With more than 50 outlets in first-tier and second-tier cities, this man’s story is life-altering. The IIMs, where once he wanted to study and pursue MBA, now calls Prafull as a Keynote speaker and some students from those institutes even work for him now. Things seem so big when you dream but when you achieve those dreams, you realize how far you’ve come and how small these things look now. Time changes. If Prafull Billore’s journey doesn’t inspire you, then what will?!
Dream Big, Start Small, Act Now — Prafull Billore
