Chapter 1: The Beginning of My Entrepreneurial Journey

In 2016, I had just completed my college education. As I mentioned in a prior blog post, I had turned down a job offer from Goldman Sachs and found myself unemployed. At 21, unemployment felt manageable; I had few responsibilities to weigh me down. During this time, I consumed a lot of content from Gary Vaynerchuk. Although he wasn't as widely known back then, his messages struck a chord with me. He emphasized the importance of taking risks in your early twenties, a sentiment I embraced wholeheartedly.

My close friend from school and I launched an online project called #readabookchallenge. The concept was simple: challenge a friend to read by sending them a surprise package containing three books, which they had to finish within a month. Once they completed the challenge, they could pass it on to someone else, creating a chain reaction.

Initially, we were eager to start something, without considering it a business or startup. Personally, I had never been an avid reader—I'd only read a handful of books up to that point. However, I was intrigued by the entrepreneurial potential of this initiative.

The challenge gained traction quickly. Within two months, we attracted over 100 subscribers and began contemplating how to transform our challenge into a viable business model. After several attempts and adjustments, we shifted to a subscription-based service where users could rent a surprise package of books. At the end of the month, we would collect the books and replace them with new selections tailored to each reader's preferences. Our subscribers praised our efforts, and we personalized each package with their names.

At that moment, the concept felt revolutionary, and our following grew. We brought on two additional co-founders whose skills complemented ours, and we officially registered our startup. It felt exhilarating, and I dreamed big about its future.

Here's a snapshot of me in 2016, surrounded by packages ready for delivery:

We even received coverage in a local newspaper:

Running this business was a joy. I believed I had found my true calling. I aspired to build something of my own and become my own boss. The experience was a stark contrast to my time at Goldman Sachs, where I often felt dread. Instead, I relished the effort because it was for my own venture. However, the reality of entrepreneurship soon set in.

Sadly, our startup collapsed within a year—a topic I delve into further in this blog. Nevertheless, this experience profoundly shaped my aspirations and clarified my goals.

-Rishav

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Chapter 2: Valuable Lessons from Failure

In this video, I discuss the lessons learned from my first startup's failure and how it inspired my subsequent ventures.

This video outlines the top 10 mistakes that lead to startup failures and how to avoid them, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.