For Anand Bansode, life has thrown him many curveballs. Each curveball threatens to pull him further away from his love for adventure and mountaineering. Yet, he made it a point to bounce back stronger with every adversity he has overcome. Today, Anand is a mountaineer who has scaled some of the highest mountains around the world. In his constant quest to scale new heights, Anand also holds multiple World Records for his feat. He also continues to champion for multiple social causes in his journey. On top of that, Anand is also an accomplished author and motivational speaker.
As the founder of 360 Explorer Inc, specializing in Adventure Expeditions and Treks worldwide, adventure is in Anand's blood. True to his unyielding spirit, Anand's entrepreneurial streak has brought him to start a variety of businesses, and embrace the digital world in bringing his experience and expertise to the world.
And here we present to you: Anand Bansode's inspiring story on entrepreneurship, perseverance and resilience of the human spirit. Let's dive in to learn about Anand's passion for pushing boundaries, overcoming challenges, and making a positive impact in the world.
Humble beginnings: of setbacks, determination and overcoming obstacles
Anand was born and raised in Solapur, Maharashtra, India. Describing his humble beginnings of growing up in a small hut without electricity, Anand also struggled with dyslexia and Rhoticism. These affected him academically and he also faced challenges in pronouncing certain sounds correctly.
It was in the mountains where Anand found his purpose and true calling. After years of hard work and trekking experience, Anand successfully summited Mount Everest on May 19, 2012. In the face of extreme weather conditions, Anand recalls this defining journey which tested his physical and mental limits.
Over the years, Anand has set and achieved numerous world records in mountaineering. From playing the guitar on Everest Camp-2 to conquering the highest mountains on four continents, Anand constantly pushes himself to new heights. His accomplishments have been acknowledged in prestigious record books such as the Guinness Book of Records, Limca Book of Records, India Book of Records, and High Range Book of Records.
However, his life of adventure came to a sudden halt in 2015. Anand suffered a cervical injury that left him bedridden. Some doctors believed that he would never walk again. However, Anand refused to accept that fate. Through months of rigorous physiotherapy and rest, he defied the odds and made a remarkable recovery.
"This experience taught me the power of perseverance and the resilience of the human spirit,"said Anand as he reflected on his journey to recovery.
The birth of 360 Explorer: Anand's entrepreneurship journey begin
Growing up with very little material comfort and many hardships has shaped Anand into a driven and ambitious person. From young, he held onto his ambitions of being a successful person in life. As he finds his true calling in mountaineering, Anand embarked on increasingly challenging expeditions to scale the mountains.
However, his turning point came in 2015. During his attempt to climb Mount Denali in 2015, Anand received the devastating news of his father's passing. He left the expedition and returned to India. However, Anand met with another setback when he sustained a cervical injury that left him bedridden for several months.
"During this time, I witnessed the kindness of strangers. Many folks helped me with necessities, reinforcing the value of community and support," recalled Anand.
When asked what inspired Anand to start his business, he recalled the difficulties that his family went through. In 2016, Anand's wife took up a teaching job to support the family, only to be abruptly fired after 12 days. Some time later, their first son had to be admitted to the hospital, and the accumulated medical bills became overwhelming.
Determined to make sure that he can provide for his family, Anand knew he needed to turn his passion into his business. He hoped to achieve the financial success that had eluded his family for generations.
In 2017, Anand established 360 Explorers, organizing small treks and adventure expeditions worldwide. With his foray into entrepreneurship, Anand hopes to life-transforming experiences through adventure tourism.
Anand begins his life as an entrepreneur
Despite starting small, 360 Explorers eventually found success rapidly. With Anand's passion for adventure and expertise in organizing exhilarating expeditions and creating life-changing experiences for adventurers from around the globe, demand for 360 Explorers' services grew.
Recognizing the need for a more formal structure, 360 Explorer registered as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) in India in 2019. With the aim of expanding reach and catering to an international audience, Anand took a significant step forward in 2022 by establishing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in the United States. Building upon this success, in 2023, 360 Explorer expanded further by launching operations in Canada.
One of the significant milestones for 360 Explorer was being accepted into a top acceleration program in Silicon Valley. This has opened doors to greater opportunities and global recognition. Anand aims to further establish 360 Explorer as a leading brand in life-transforming adventure tourism.
Besides running a successful business in tourism, Anand also ventured into digital marketing and brand building, establishing 360 Digital Infinity. With this venture, Anand leveraged the power of social media and digital platforms to promote his company's services and reach a wider audience. The team is also focused on creating a strong online presence and building a community of passionate adventurers.
Not wanting to rest on his laurels, Anand launched AnandBansode.com (2015), a coaching business aimed at helping individuals achieve their goals and unlock their full potential. Through coaching and mentoring, Anand has guided more than 300,000 people in finding clarity, setting goals, and transforming their lives.
"The journey of entrepreneurship has been filled with challenges, but it has also brought immense satisfaction and personal growth. Seeing the positive impact we have had on the lives of our clients and the joy they experience through our expeditions is truly fulfilling," said Anand.
Scaling new heights for 360 Explorer
Over the years, Anand's business witnessed substantial growth in terms of customer base, revenue, and market presence. Having established 360 Explorer as a reputable brand in the adventure tourism industry, Anand is focusing on expansion. Describing 360 Explorer to be in a growth phase, Anand is looking to expanding operations both domestically and internationally. The recent foray into the United States and Canada has allowed them to reach a wider audience.
Looking at the competitive landscape as more providers offer adventure tour packages, Anand sees the importance of staying ahead. From innovation to customer experience and a strong brand presence, Anand is focused on delivering unique and unparalleled adventure experiences to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
"One of the main challenges is scaling our operations while maintaining the high level of service and customer satisfaction. We also need to navigate a competitive market and differentiate ourselves to stand out among other adventure tourism companies. Additionally, recruiting and retaining talented individuals who align with our company's values and vision is crucial. Financial management and ensuring regulatory compliance are ongoing challenges that require diligent attention. However, we see these as opportunities for growth and improvement. We are continuously striving to overcome challenges and deliver exceptional experiences to our clients."
When COVID19 brought travelling and the tourism industry to a halt, Anand saw an opportunity to connect with adventure enthusiasts and potential customers through a social media marketing campaign.
"Everyone was saying, “Bhai ye ad band kar ab kuch nahi hoga duniya ka”. Still, I ran the ad."
Bringing his (ad)ventures online
Looking back at his journey, Anand saw his foray into the digital space as a crucial factor for his business growth and success. Having started by building his online presence on social media platforms, Anand quickly realized the immense potential of other digital channels in boosting his business.
"One of the most impactful digital channels has been my website. Having a website is crucial for our business at this juncture. It serves as a central hub for potential customers to learn about my services, explore available expeditions, and make bookings. Through an intuitive and user-friendly interface, my website has facilitated seamless customer interactions and conversions," explained Anand.
Strategies like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has helped to drive organic traffic to his website. On top of that, Anand utilizes email marketing to continue engaging with his audience. By building a subscriber list and sending regular newsletters, updates, and special offers, he has maintained a strong connection with past customers and nurtured relationships with potential ones.
In Anand's opinion, having a website is crucial for the growth and success of any business, regardless of its size. "While the process of building a website may seem daunting, there are now user-friendly website builders, content management systems, and affordable hosting options available that make it easier and more cost-effective than ever before," said Anand when asked about the challenges of building a website.
Using GoDaddy's solution to supercharge Anand's business online
Back in 2015, Anand purchased his first domain (www.AnandBansode.com) from GoDaddy, and has never looked back since.
I had a positive experience with GoDaddy's overall service and found them to be reliable and trustworthy. Their user-friendly platform made it easy for me to register and manage my domain.
Since his first domain purchase, Anand has registered several more domains with GoDaddy. Each domain represents a different aspect of his business ventures, allowing him to effectively market and promote his products and services. As Anand continues to build his ventures online, he is currently using GoDaddy's Web Hosting, Email Services, Website Builder and SSL. In his opinion, GoDaddy is a one-stop shop providing a wide range of services and tools catering to the needs of entrepreneurs and businesses at competitive prices.
"Additionally, GoDaddy has a strong reputation in the industry and is known for its excellent customer support. Whenever I faced any technical issues or had questions, their support team was responsive and helpful in resolving them promptly."
Overall, working with GoDaddy has allowed Anand to establish a strong online presence for his diverse range of products and services, enabling him to reach a wider audience and showcase his brand globally.
Valuable lessons learnt in Anand's entrepreneurship journey
From dealing with challenges as a child to overcoming setbacks later in life, Anand has been through a lot. Still, the sense of fulfilment from pursuing his passion and building something meaningful was worth it.
"It's the freedom to be your own boss, create your own path, and have control over your destiny. I love the opportunity to challenge myself and continuously push the boundaries of what I can achieve. Ultimately, it's the knowledge that you are living a purpose-driven life and leaving a legacy that inspires others to follow their dreams.
The process of building his business has taught Anand many important lessons. Anand persevered through the challenges in life and of entrepreneurship, showing resilience and determination. Through this process, he has learnt to embrace failures. For Anand, failure is not the end; it's an opportunity for growth.
Business planning was also an important lesson for Anand. Having a clear vision and setting meaningful goals is essential for driving success for Anand's business. These goals enabled Anand to stay focused and make informed decisions to achieve his business objectives. In this process, Anand has also learnt the importance of keeping the end goal in mind, as he realised it would have helped him to avoid spreading himself too thin.
His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs who wants to start their own ventures? Be adaptable and flexible, build a strong team and strong relationships with your customers. In the ever-changing world, being open to new ideas, embracing change, and adjusting strategies accordingly are crucial for long-term growth and sustainability. For Anand, his strong relationships with clients, partners, and team members has helped him to establish a loyal customer base and create a supportive network.
On top of that, being able to deliver value to customers is key. Anand stresses the importance of understand audiences and their needs, and to provide value and exceptional customer experiences to build lasting relationships.
At this stage, Anand hopes to continue growing 360 Explorer and his many ventures, achieving new goals and scaling new heights.
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