It takes a rare individual to build and manage two formidable businesses within two very different industries. But that is exactly what Kula Sellathurai has accomplished. Best Limo, one of Toronto’s leading Limousine service, and Inter-Citi Logistics, a logistics and supply chain company that markets and services IT services to clientele such as TD Bank, Scotiabank, Manulife Financial, Bell Canada, and CGI, are thriving under his leadership.

Like other Tamil Canadians who immigrated to Canada, Kula Sellathurai was determined to overcome the limitations and obstacles that he faced in Sri Lanka. At the same time he hoped to build a new life for his family while contributing to the broader community in a country where all of this was possible.  So what exactly did this insightful business leader learn along the way?  Here are the five key lessons which he himself claims to have taken from his entrepreneurial journey:

1.  Risk is a permanent part of life.  See the opportunity in every difficulty. 

 After the 1983 riot in Sri Lanka, the situation was difficult.  I came to Canada as the opportunities here were much greater than in Sri Lanka.  However, I did not have any Canadian work experience nor did I have any education to start a business so I gained some work experience.  After working five years at modest jobs for various companies and learning about customer service, I started Inter-Citi Logistics, a business that I was passionate about.

I never thought about risk at the time because all I wanted was to build a business so that I can help others by creating employment opportunities.

2.  Every day is exam day. 

Don’t always expect things to go your way.  Everyday I am learning from my own mistakes and improving the structure of my business.  It was through a hijacking and theft experience I learned to restructure the logistics and supply chain business so that it is set-up to deliver quality service for our customers.

Managing your own business can be a roller coaster ride.  You have to be prepared to take losses and be ready to put your life earnings on the line to save the business.  I had to do this during the start-up days to save Inter-Citi Logistics.  Every experience is a learning step.

3.  Prioritize learning over profitability and success will follow.

Money will come when you do the right things, but what is more important is that one shapes his / her attitude towards learning.   My first corporate job in Canada was at Sun Life working as a Life Insurance Underwriter.  The job was my education of Canadian life.  The organization taught me the fundamentals of running a business which helped me start Inter-Citi Logistics.  After running the business for about 17 years, I was looking for the next big challenge so I went back to the corporate world and worked as an Investment Advisor for ScotiaMcLeod to learn the current Canadian business system.  With that knowledge, I started operating Best Limo and tripled the total revenue in a year.

It is also important for the owner to leave the business and the day-to-day activities in the hands of the management team so that the business and its operations can create profit without the owner’s presence.  I did this on a few occasions to assess my delegation and teaching skills to know where I can improve so that the business can create value without my presence.

4.  Invest in the best network you have — your community.

Entrepreneurs need to take care of issues in their community and contribute to the extent they can. I was the President of Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce, an organization that develops and fosters businesses in the Tamil community through various activities and networking. I have also been part of the leadership team of the Canada-Sri Lanka Business Council, which works to help Sri Lanka’s peace process and to help improve trade between the two countries. I was one of the Community Outreach Committee members for the Durham Tamil Association and was a Board member at the Rouge Valley Health System Foundation getting involved in many fundraising activities for the creation of the Birthing and Newborn Centre at Rouge Valley Centenary.

5.  Let strategy, not emotions, dictate your decisions. 

Think fundamentally and logically before you express your feeling when making a decision.  We have to think different and do the right things for the broader community to propel as a Tamil community.   We must provide similar moral and monetary support to the broader community as much as we do to our community when the tide turns the other way.  Because of our past bitter experiences we may allow our emotions to control us and our decisions, at home, businesses or as community. Those decisions made by our oversight may satisfy a few people at that time, but in the long run, it will not only reflect poorly on the community but also may backfire on us. So whenever a serious discussion or decision to take place, we must analyze logically and with the pros and cons without allowing the emotions to control such actions.