⏱️ Timestamped Show Notes

[00:00] Intro – Meet Ashwin Gulati, author of Soul Venture, and his global journey from India to Silicon Valley
[01:30] Ashwin’s personal backstory: early jobs, college in the U.S. and U.K., and what led him to startups
[03:45] From side hustles in Europe to launching his first U.S. company in 1997
[05:20] Why writing Soul Venture wasn’t just a business move—it was deeply personal
[06:50] The cost of vulnerability: publishing a book after decades of privacy
[08:05] Explaining startup culture to solopreneurs—what it really means to “start something big”
[10:00] Freedom vs. fantasy: how startup founders often create 20 bosses instead of one
[11:25] Tips from the trenches – why self-care should be part of your business model
[13:10] Core Dream Team vs. Business Dream Team: the therapists and coaches behind sustainable success
[14:45] Timing: the invisible killer of startups
[16:15] Customers, cashflow, and chaos – hard truths about what breaks a business
[17:10] Solopreneur vs. entrepreneur: defining the difference and pros/cons of each
[19:00] Nikki shares her story: how her accidental business still challenges her daily
[21:30] Burnout, drive, and trauma: what your body knows that your business ignores
[23:40] Why personal growth matters more than perfection in business
[25:10] The hardest kind of startup? Restaurants—and why they fail so often
[27:30] Tech startups vs. hospitality: comparing chaos and complexity
[30:00] Team conflict, expectations, and the reality of startup HR
[33:00] Managing people vs. managing a product—where most founders fall short
[35:10] Ashwin’s first startup: a 1997 research tool that predated Pinterest
[37:00] The dot-com bust, pivoting, and surviving as a founder
[38:30] Music talk – from disco kids to Taylor Swift and staying power in both business and pop culture
[40:30] Closing thoughts – the need for honest conversations in the startup world
[41:15] Where to find Soul Venture and connect with Ashwin