Startup Mantras Podcast – Life-First Business Isn’t Playing Small

Title: Life-First Business Isn’t Playing Small
Theme: Redefining ambition for women who want calm, not chaos
CTA: Tie-in to Chapter 3 of Before You Begin — The Life-First Filter

Welcome back to Startup Mantras — this episode is for women building their own thing, on their own terms.

I’m Dr. Anu Khanchandani, and today’s episode is for the woman who’s ambitious — but not in the way everyone expects.

It’s called:
“Life-First Business Isn’t Playing Small.”

And no — that’s not a contradiction.
Let’s unpack that.

SECTION 1 – The Hustle Trap

There’s a strange equation we’ve inherited:
More hours = more serious.
Bigger team = bigger vision.
More chaos = more credibility.

And if you’re not willing to run at 200% capacity, the assumption is — maybe you’re just playing it safe.

Let me say this clearly:
Wanting to build calmly, sustainably, and in alignment with your life — is not playing small.
It’s playing wise.

Because what’s the point of building something that costs you everything else?

SECTION 2 – Ambition Can Look Different

Some women want to raise VC money, hire fast, and scale globally.
Amazing.

Others want to earn well, work deeply, and still pick up their kids at 4.
Also amazing.

You don’t have to choose between “building a business” and “having a life.”
You can design your own middle — one that’s profitable and peaceful.

That’s what Chapter 3 of Before You Begin is all about —
It’s called The Life-First Filter.

It helps you ask the questions most business books skip:

• Does this business support the life I want?

• Do I have the energy to sustain this pace?

• Am I building something I actually want to run five years from now?

Because “big” isn’t just about scale.
It’s about depth. And alignment. And joy.

SECTION 3 – You’re Not the Outlier

If you’ve ever felt like the advice doesn’t quite fit you,
Like the systems weren’t designed with your life in mind —
You’re not the exception.

You’re the reason this conversation matters.

There’s a whole wave of women choosing to build slower, smarter, and more intentionally.
Not because they lack ambition — but because they’ve redefined it.

Before You Begin is part of that wave.

SECTION 4 – Closing Thought

So here’s today’s mantra:

Life-first isn’t a compromise.
It’s a design choice.

And if you’ve been waiting for permission to grow gently —
You already have it.

Thanks for being here with me.
The link to the book is in the show notes.
And if you know someone who’s been doubting their pace or comparing their journey —
Send this their way.

This has been Startup Mantras.
I’m Dr. Anu — see you in the next one.