INTRODUCTION

If taken positively, every struggle contains the the seed of growth and opportunity. The Struggle is when you
refuse to give up and keep taking consistent actions amidst odds and hurdles, regardless of failures and
disappointments. Patricia Narayan, the winner of this years Ficci Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award, is
a burning example of how to take advantages of hard times instead of being used and controlled by them
and how to evolve through difficulties that lead you to the road of accomplishment from battling against
helplessness, getting rid of failed marriage and drug addict and abusive husband, and taking care of two
small kids, she not only managed to pursue he passion but also laid the foundation of success on it by
establishing the chain of restaurants.
Patricia Narayans journey started when she entered the threshold of a complete failed marriage with the
person of her own choice who belonged to a Brahmin family. It was considerably troublesome issue for a very
conservative Christian family to accept it. Unfortunately, she couldnt cope up with drug addict and abusive
husband who would beat her often. She was left with two choices either to die with two small kids or fight
her own battle as her father denied to help her in anyway. She started making pickles, jams and squashes at
home. Her endeavor was successful and soon she found herself to be economically independent. Her first
step of becoming of an entrepreneur was when she decided to sell bajjis, cutlets, samosas, fresh juice, coffee
and tea Marina beach. On her first day, she could only manage to sell one cup of coffee for fifty paise.
However, her progress was briefly stopped by the death of her newlywed daughter Sandheepa. Two years
later, she returned to the business and opened her restaurant after her daughters name. Her success wasnt
a magic or miracle that happened overnight, it actually took her 30 years to be a successful entrepreneur.

RECIPE FOR SUCESS

FICCI Woman Entrepreneur of the year, Patricia Narayan's
tale may sound like the quintessential rags- to- riches
story, but it is also a stark tale of survival. An
entrepreneur by accident, director of Sandheepa Chain of
Restaurants, Patricia belongs to the ilk of those who
bloom in adversity.
An entrepreneur by accident, director of Sandheepa
Chain of Restaurants, Patricia belongs to the ilk of those
who bloom in adversity.

GROWTH AND EXPANSION

To become economically independent, she decided to follow her passion and undertake the only skill she mastered,
cooking.
She started selling homemade jams, squashes and pickles which earned her a couple of bucks and boasted her morale
She started out enthusiastically by laying out a variety of eatables but her sale for the first day was only a cup of coffee
worth 50 paisa. Totally shattered, Patricia was on the verge of giving up but her mother persuaded her to continue.

In the period from 1982 to 2003, Patricias earnings soared from 50 paisa to a maximum of Rs. 25000 a day

Later on, she moved on to running the canteen at the office of the Slum Clearance Board, at the Bank of Madurai and at
the National Port Management Training School.
In 2004, when she was on the verge of starting her own restaurant and building a brand name overcoming her dark
past, life again took an ugly turn for Mrs. Patricia Narayan when she lost her daughter in a car accident along with her
son-in-law
son, Praveen took over the helm and started their first restaurant, Sandheepa in memory of his sister.

Starting from 50 paisa to Rs. 2 lakh per day, from traveling in cycle rickshaw to owning a car, with just 2 people to 200
people now working for her, she battled against all odds-adversities of marriage, being a single mother, and the
challenges on the professional front. Recognition of her hard work came in the year 2010, when the Federation of
Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) rewarded her with the FICCI Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
award.

LIFE LESSONS
Life Lessons
Always stick to what you know.
Believe in yourself and the product you are making.
Never compromise on quality.
Never lose your self-confidence.
You should know what you ask your employee to do.
Struggle makes you even more mature to retain the success for a long time.
Success isnt a status or possession that stays with you for lifetime, or a permanent stoppage of an
accomplishment, it is rather a constant journey where you have to maintain your consistency.
Pain is an inevitable part of life and it shouldnt stop us from moving forward as moving is life
and still is dead.
To be a successful entrepreneur, you dont have to be highly educated (as degree doesnt always
ensure success).
You need a genuine desire to trust your vision to accomplish your dream anyway and anyhow,
determination to create an opportunity out of adversity, honesty towards consistency on the rough
way of destiny and patience to reach it and taste it.

END
Her story is as much about success as disappointment
and tragedy. It is the story of a strong determined lady
who has traveled a long way, conquering all ups and
downs but never let it go.

FUNDING
Nowhere to go Patricia turned to her passion of cooking, took a 100 rupee from her mother
and started making pickles, jam, jelly and squashes.
June 21, 1982 with two disable employees started her own mobile cart at Marina beach. Her
cart sold cutlets, samosas, fresh juice, coffee and tea. First day sale was only a coffee for 50
paisa.
Following day she sold eatables worth 600-700 Rupee, working hard at Marina cart from 1982
to 2003, the maximum she made was Rs 25,000 a day.
.Next she took up catering at the Slum Clearance Board, it boasted her income by 20,000.
Later she left the previous canteen and started serving 300 people daily at Bank of Madurai
canteen.
Her succeeding move was serving 700 students daily at National Port Management training
school. She left Bank canteen. With Marina cart and school canteen she was making almost a
lakh each week. Left the school canteen in 1998.
it was her son started their first restaurant Sandeepha in memory of Patricias late daughter
Patricia grew from 50 paisa a day to an average of Rs. 2 lakh, daily.Ever since Sandeepha has
14 outlets across Chennai.

EARLY LIFE
Patricias family consisted of her father who worked in
the Posts & Telegraphs department and her mother in
the Telephones department along with her two
younger siblings, who were based in Santhome.
Soon she fell in love with a boy who was 13 years elder
than her and was a Hindu and decided to marry him!