What, apart from money, attracts people to working in business (corporates, start-ups et al) as opposed to academia, arts, research, etc?

Ans: Passion and energy - my 2 words for success. You can learn from Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli what matters most.

Ans: Deciding whether to start a business or work as an employee can be a tough call. It really depends on what you want, your personal values and the level of risk you're comfortable with.

Entrepreneurship has its perks, like being your own boss and making your own schedule. You can also potentially earn more and have the satisfaction of creating something new. However, it can also be risky, with no guarantee of success, and can require a lot of work and effort.

On the other hand, being an employee has benefits like a steady paycheck, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. However, it can also feel limiting and may not allow for as much personal or professional growth.

So, it really comes down to what you value most. Do you want the freedom and potential financial gain that comes with running your own business? Or, do you prefer the stability and security of a regular paycheck and benefits? It's important to think about what you want and what you're willing to risk to get it.

Ans: The career scope in business marketing is quite broad and offers numerous opportunities for individuals who are interested in this field. Business marketing, also known as B2B (business-to-business) marketing, involves promoting products or services to other businesses rather than to individual consumers. Here are some aspects and career opportunities within the field of business marketing:

Marketing Management: This is a common career path for business marketing professionals. Marketing managers are responsible for developing marketing strategies, managing teams, and overseeing marketing campaigns to promote products or services to other businesses.

Product Management: Product managers work on developing and managing the products or services that a company offers to other businesses. They often collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure products meet market needs and generate revenue.

Marketing Strategy: Marketing strategists or consultants work on crafting marketing plans and strategies for businesses. They may provide recommendations on market research, branding, positioning, and promotional activities.

Digital Marketing: In the digital age, online marketing is crucial for businesses. Digital marketing specialists focus on online channels such as social media, content marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) to reach B2B audiences.

Content Marketing: Content marketing involves creating valuable and relevant content to attract and engage B2B audiences. Content marketers often work on blog posts, whitepapers, eBooks, webinars, and other content assets.

Market Research and Analysis: Market researchers collect and analyze data to understand market trends, customer behavior, and competitors. They provide insights that help businesses make informed marketing decisions.

Business Development: Business development professionals work on identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations. They often play a crucial role in expanding a company's customer base.

Trade Show and Event Management: Managing trade shows and industry events is another area within business marketing. Professionals in this role plan, coordinate, and execute events to promote products and services to a targeted audience.

Public Relations (PR): PR specialists focus on building and maintaining a positive public image for a business. They may work on press releases, media relations, and crisis management.

Account Management: Account managers are responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key clients or customers. They ensure that clients' needs are met and work to grow the business within existing accounts.

Sales: While sales is a distinct field, it closely aligns with business marketing. Sales professionals sell products or services to other businesses, often working closely with marketing teams to generate leads and convert them into customers.

Market Segmentation and Targeting: Specialists in this area focus on dividing the market into segments and targeting specific groups of businesses with tailored marketing strategies.

The career scope in business marketing can be highly rewarding, offering opportunities for advancement and specialization. The specific roles and career paths available may vary depending on the industry, company size, and individual interests and skills. As businesses continue to evolve and adopt new technologies and marketing strategies, there will likely be ongoing demand for professionals in this field.

Ans: Let me repeat the answer I just gave to Rizwan today
I have suggested approaches to take with respect to identifying and validating business ideas to previous Rediff users. Kindly go through the same. There are several opportunities but you need to focus on those which
1) are relevant to your experience, expertise,network, passion,
2) take into account finance available or that can be organised by you, plus
3) offer growing prospects.
One option to look at would be to offer outsourced accounting and administration services to companies. There is competition no doubt, but if you have the requisite background and contacts, you could get a roster of 10-15 clients needing such services on a regular basis. Pl study this and other ideas further before you make a thoughtful decision.

Ans: Well there is no age to start a business and there are many case studies of late starters who built multi billion dollar empires. See what skills you can leverage and plunge in. However, invest only in a way that even if you loose the investment, your basic livelihood would not be impacted.