Jyoti Bansal’s Post

I'm definitely building for impact which is why I'm proud to be a part of such an incredible organization. I agree that we are more than our companies, and listing out accomplishments could seem child-like but also to add layers or founder's perspective on the topic - most founders when conversing about their companies on a deeper level, are talking to investors - which actually does require us to lead with our experience or accomplishments (however you want to frame them) to "prove out credibility' or 'founder-market fit'. The key is finding that balance. Per usual, excellent perspective with incredible storytelling by Abram S.!

We often meet founders eager to share their impressive accomplishments. It’s like presenting a “rap sheet” of why they’re a big deal. Monica Smith gives her perspective of working with entrepreneurs saying that true confidence and self-connection. Especially, when we step back and let our actions speak, waiting to be asked about our journey. Interestingly, this childlike drive often fuels the grit needed to launch a startup. Yet, the mindset that gets a company off the ground isn’t the same one needed to grow and sustain it. As an entrepreneur, evolving from achiever to authentic leader is crucial. Our role at Pipeline Entrepreneurs is to help navigate this transition, fostering the growth needed to scale what’s been built. Ask yourself - why are you building? For ego or for impact?

99% of successful entrepreneurs actually failed in their first start-up. I’m not an exception. 😣 Despite my background in entrepreneurship, my first venture—a food company—didn’t make it. Here’s what I learned from that experience. 📌 The Reality Check: - The classroom doesn’t prepare you for the real world. - Building a business is tough and often unpredictable. - It requires grit, patience, and adaptability. 📌 Team is Everything: - I realized that you can’t do it all alone. - The strength of my business lies in the strength of my team. - Choose people who believe in your vision as much as you do. 📌 Personal Connections Matter: - Whether it’s your customers or employees, building personal connections is crucial. - People support what they feel part of. Make sure everyone feels valued and heard. I remember taking the time to understand our customers' preferences and listening to their feedback. This not only helped improve our product but also built a loyal customer base that believed in our journey. Similarly, engaging with employees on a personal level ensured they felt valued and motivated. Starting my first venture taught me these invaluable lessons. Though it didn’t succeed, it paved the way for LeadRoad and the successes that followed. For aspiring entrepreneurs out there, remember: Failure is just a stepping stone. Keep learning, and keep growing stronger! P.S. What’s one lesson you’ve learned from failure? Would like to know your story!

After 8 years of meeting with founders I’ve noticed 3 entrepreneurial lies that hold most people back Entrepreneurship is full of myths that seem productive on the surface but quietly sabotage your progress. Lie 1: “I need to work harder.” If grinding harder were the key to success, every overworked entrepreneur would have "made it." The reality? Hard work alone doesn’t scale. It might get you to your first $100K or even your first $300,000K, but beyond that, effort hits a ceiling. In my experience, to break through this, you need systems. Repeatable processes that create predictable results without consuming all your time and energy. Systems let you grow without sacrificing your health, relationships, or sanity. Lie 2: “I have to do it all myself.” Many founders wear the “I’ll just do it myself” badge of honor. But here’s the problem: Trying to juggle everything burns you out and slows you down. Delegation isn’t a weakness, it’s a superpower. By offloading tasks that don’t require your unique expertise, you free up mental space to focus on the few things that truly move the needle. Trust others with meaningful responsibilities, and you’ll multiply your impact faster than you thought possible. Lie 3: “Success will make me happy.” This is the biggest trap of all: Believing that the next: -Milestone -High ticket sale -Revenue goal… …or recognition, will finally bring you fulfillment. The truth? Success without alignment is empty. True fulfillment comes from building a business that supports your life, not one that consumes it. Instead, do this: -Work smarter, not harder. Build systems that scale your efforts and give you back your time. -Delegate to multiply your impact. Focus on what only you can do and empower others to handle the rest. -Align success with fulfillment. Go after things that align with your values P.S. At the end of most of my posts I remind people that you can download the Predictable Revenue Framework for free Inside this free guide is a system for bringing high quality clients into your world without relying on Social Media algorithms Link in the comments below

Except for those who come from wealth... Every early-stage entrepreneur who starts from scratch finds themselves in this stage. Even when I first started, I had no idea how to manage all this. When I began thinking about organizing a team, I was clueless. I didn't know how to manage people or what systems to set up. And even after I figured out team management, there was always another challenge to solve. Setting up systems, processes, and scaling—it seemed like a never-ending loop. But here’s where many entrepreneurs get stuck: they don’t know how to build a team or set up systems. They ask themselves, "Why should I hire someone? If I pay them, my budget will take a hit." If you're thinking this way, you're not a business owner. You're just self-employed. As business owners who start from nothing, we need to constantly re-invest back into the business. We need to take care of your fam (team). You’ll have to endure being dead broke for several years. But if you take care of your business and your fam well, they’ll take you to places you’ve always wanted to go. And that’s okay! Just don’t get stuck in that zone forever. Everyone faces this stage. Be strong. Never give up. Trust that you’ll be in the right place in the future.

I have never been as productive and efficient as a founder as I was in my 9-5. The last few years of entrepreneurship have been a journey of trying to get there in terms of impact and efficiency. In a job, when you're actively accountable to your manager/org + are getting a good saalry - you work not because of intrinsic motivation, but because there is no other option. In your own venture, especially when you're not venture funded and do not have access to a team that pushes and motivates you 24*7, replicating that level of productivity is tough. Counterintuitively, the trick (for me) is to work in extremes. 3 months I give it my all, and then for the next 30 days, take a step back and watch stuff happen (mostly while traveling). This taking a step back has been my key for finding my "balance" and has shown me the way to solve some of the businesses' most challenging problems. What's your founder-trick that helps you maximise your output?

I didn’t know how to fire people. When we first started out, we made a bunch of bad hires. But we let them stay, because we were so new. “Someone is better than no one” “You fire that person, I don’t want to” “If we hire more, we’ll have to share more revenue” These were some of our major concerns. But slowly we rebuilt on our mistakes to have an amazing core team who are as part of BookLeaf Publishing as we are. We also made other humongous errors along the way. But we learned from them all. These books made it possible. Read them to level up your game: 1. The E- Myth by Michael E. Gerber Teaches you about the interview process and division of rules. Best part - It teaches you how to step away from the role of a technician (who just checks off items from his list) and step into the role of a manager. It teaches not to work in your business (doing the same mundane thing day in, day out), but to outsource it and work on your business (how it take it forward, what is the future of your company) 2. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant Teaches you about mindset shifts you need to adopt to make it successful and how to tackle problems Best quote - Learn to sell. Learn to build. If you can do both, you will be unstoppable. 3. The 100$ startup by Chris Guillebeau The holy bible for people who are building their own startups. Teaches you about startup building, and business strategies. Best Quote - Think more about what people really want than about what you think they need. P.S - Any book recommendations for me? #entrepreneurship #business #startups

Founding a company has been a journey filled with countless ups and downs. There were times when I faced rejection after rejection, with many believing in the idea but hesitating to take that first leap. I can't tell you how many times I heard, "That's a great idea! But go out and get a client first, then come back and we'll talk." What this experience taught me is that there is power in perseverance and operating in a "what if" mindset. When I think back on the things that I have learned through this process, these are a few that stand out: 1️⃣ Pivots and Adaptation- Founding a startup means being ready to pivot at a moment's notice. We've refined our approach, adjusted our strategies, and embraced change to stay ahead in an ever changing industry. 2️⃣ Learning from Failure- Rejection isn't failure; it's an opportunity to learn and grow. Each "no" fueled our determination to keep pushing forward, refining our pitch, and proving the skeptics wrong. 3️⃣ Staying Focused on the Vision- The road to success is anything but linear. Despite the twists and turns, we stayed true to our vision, operating with unwavering dedication to our mission and the value we bring to the claims space. 4️⃣ Celebrating Milestones- Every milestone, no matter how small, deserves celebration. From securing our first client to expanding our team, each achievement has fueled our momentum and reaffirmed our commitment to our journey. My advice to all aspiring entrepreneurs out there would be - stick with it! Embrace the uncertainty and operate in that "what if" mindset. The path to success may not be linear, but with determination, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of your vision, anything is possible. 💥 #insurtech #entrepreneurship #successstories #perseverance

Let me tell you something that feels like a load of bull about entrepreneurship: When I started this business, I knew there would be tough days—days I didn’t want to show up. What I didn’t realize was just how often those days would come. Here’s the truth: no matter how much you love what you do, some days are f@king hard. But just because you love what you do, doesn't mean there won't be days when you question EVERYTHING. I always thought the saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,” was the end goal of any job or business venture, but it’s far from reality. I LOVE what I do, and yet, there are days when I feel drained, unmotivated, and overwhelmed by the never-ending to-do list. In the end, entrepreneurship is work. It's messy and demanding, and at times, there is no instant gratification—it demands a level of grit I didn’t know I had. I wish I had understood that sooner. Especially as someone who navigates anxiety regularly, there are days where showing up feels impossible—but I still do it. How? Here’s my (slightly embarrassing) secret: I look myself in the bathroom mirror, take a deep breath, and say: “We can do hard things. You're amazing.” It feels ridiculous. But does it work? Like a freaking charm. As entrepreneurs, founders, visionaries, etc., we sometimes have to be our own cheerleaders when the going gets tough. The days you don't want to are the days you need to because they are the ones that define us from everyone else. So, if you are starting a new job, a new business venture, jumping into a new project, or your journey into entrepreneurship... don't forget to look in the mirror and tell yourself how amazing you are.

Here are three books every entrepreneur should dive into for actionable insights and strategies: 1. The Great CEO Within by Matt Mochary: This book is a treasure trove for startup founders. Mochary lays out step-by-step guides on crucial aspects like recruiting, fundraising, and running effective meetings. If you're navigating the rough waters of a startup, this is your compass. 2. The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni: Lencioni outlines how to transform meetings, and shares his insights on how to foster what he calls "organizational health," providing a robust framework for communication and teamwork. It's an essential read for any leader looking to build a cohesive and high-functioning team. 3. Traction by Gino Wickman: Goal-setting and tracking are at the heart of any business's success. Wickman offers a pragmatic approach to these processes, making his book a must-read for anyone serious about scaling their business efficiently. Investing time in these books will equip you with the tactical tools and frameworks crucial for entrepreneurial success. Want my full list of book recommendations? Comment "Book List please" below!