{"id":264,"date":"2023-01-25T13:30:26","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T14:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/xy4.co.uk\/?p=264"},"modified":"2023-10-10T09:37:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T09:37:57","slug":"entrepreneur-tips-and-lessons-from-toronto-raptors-superfan-nav-bhatia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/xy4.co.uk\/index.php\/2023\/01\/25\/entrepreneur-tips-and-lessons-from-toronto-raptors-superfan-nav-bhatia\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrepreneur tips and lessons from Toronto Raptors Superfan, Nav Bhatia"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Nav<\/div>\n

Starting a small business can be described in many ways. But for Nav Bhatia, the Canadian businessman who is nicknamed the Raptors Superfan \u2013 after attending every home game from 1995 to 2020 \u2013 it\u2019s like planting a tree.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you plant a seed, the fruit doesn\u2019t grow right away. You need to be ready for the process,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe problem with a lot of people is they want to see immediate results and sometimes that doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the Official Small Business Insurance Partner of the Toronto Raptors, TruShield sat down with Bhatia to learn more about how he started his business and what advice he has for new entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

How it began<\/h4>\n

Bhatia moved to Canada in 1984 in the midst of anti-Sikh riots in India. He took various jobs to support himself including landscaping, painting, and janitorial services before landing a job as a car salesman.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had some speed bumps breaking into car sales. People made fun of me,\u201d Bhatia said. \u201cBut it was motivating. I said to myself: \u2018Nav, if you want to survive in this country and in this environment, you have to be better than good.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to achieve a record 127 car sales in three months before eventually being promoted to a general manager position at another dealership. Now, he owns five dealerships across the Greater Toronto Area including the one where he began his career.<\/p>\n

Key tips for running your own business<\/h4>\n

While running his businesses, Bhatia has learned a lot. He says the most important thing to consider when running a company is having the right insurance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many unknown factors when operating a business,\u201d Bhatia explains. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re a one-man start-up or a big company, you cannot run a business without insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bhatia recalled a time when he had to lean on his commercial insurance policy after experiencing a large leak in one of his buildings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the help of our insurance, we were able to quickly take care of the leak and get back to business,\u201d Bhatia says. \u201cIf we didn\u2019t have insurance, it would have sent us backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rewards and lessons of entrepreneurship<\/h4>\n

Bhatia also believes that hiring like-minded people is a vital step in eliminating some of the uncertainty that comes with starting a business. He thinks it\u2019s important to \u201ccreate an environment of trust\u201d and to \u201ctreat employees and customers like your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

His commitment to treating his employees like family has led to some of his most rewarding moments as a business owner.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to treat people similarly to how you want to be treated and deliver hard and honest work. My dad used to say there\u2019s no substitute for hard and honest work,\u201d Bhatia says.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say you can please everyone. Bhatia\u2019s biggest learning experience was realizing that you can\u2019t please every single customer. But, he says, it\u2019s important that you continue to try.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you hit a wall and you cannot do any more. Most of the time, people appreciate what you\u2019ve done but there\u2019s always one person who wants more,\u201d he says. \u201cI strive to make that customer happy. And that\u2019s the key to my success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bhatia and the Toronto Raptors<\/h4>\n

When he\u2019s not throwing himself into his businesses, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll find Bhatia at a Raptors home game. But this wasn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom 1984 to 1994, I basically worked 110 hours every week. I was a workaholic,\u201d Bhatia says. \u201cWhen the Raptors arrived here as a franchise, I bought two tickets and said, \u2018I\u2019m going to try it for a season and see how it is.\u2019 Because I didn\u2019t have a hobby, my hobby was work, work, and more work. The very first day I went to the game, I fell in love. And the rest is history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019s harnessed the notoriety he\u2019s gained as the Raptors Superfan and channeled it into his own charitable organization, the Nav Bhatia Superfan Foundation<\/a>, a non-profit dedicated to raising money to build basketball courts and camps for kids in Canada and across the globe.<\/p>\n

Be prepared with TruShield Insurance<\/h3>\n

As a proud partner of the Toronto Raptors, TruShield has seen firsthand the exceptional community the game has fostered. In the spirit of that community, we\u2019re offering Raptors fans 5 per cent off our small business insurance policies.<\/p>\n

Get a quote now!\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

This blog is provided for information only and is not a substitute for professional advice. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information and will not be responsible for any loss arising out of reliance on the information. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply to coverage. See policy for details.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Entrepreneur tips and lessons from Toronto Raptors Superfan, Nav Bhatia<\/a> appeared first on TruShield Insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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