Startup Mantras Podcast – Start Where You Are — Even If It’s a Mess

Start Where You Are — Even If It’s a Mess
(Book launch episode for Before You Begin)

🎧 Podcast Script (~6–6.5 minutes)

[Opening music — clean, confident tone]

HOST (you):
Welcome to Startup Mantras — the podcast where we simplify, demystify, and humanize the journey of starting up.

I’m Dr. Anu Khanchandani, startup mentor, technologist, and author.
And today’s episode is a special one — because we’re not just diving into a new topic…
We’re launching a book.

Yes — Before You Begin is finally here.
It’s my business starter guide for women who want to build something real —
Without scaling too fast, burning out, or becoming someone they don’t even recognize in the process.

But today’s mantra — and the message behind the very first chapter — is this:

Start where you are. Even if it’s a mess.

[Soft pause]

Let’s talk about that.

SECTION 1 – The Myth of the Perfect Time

One of the biggest reasons people delay starting?
They’re waiting for conditions to be ideal.

“I’ll start when I’ve figured out my niche.”
“I’ll start once the kids settle into school.”
“I’ll start when I feel ready.”

And for a lot of women — that “ready” never arrives.
Because real life doesn’t pause for your clarity.

You’re managing responsibilities, relationships, routines — and often carrying guilt for not doing more.

But here’s something I say often in my mentoring calls:

Clarity isn’t a prerequisite for action. It’s a result of it.

Waiting until everything is perfect before you start is like waiting until your house is clean to invite people over —
You’ll be waiting forever.

SECTION 2 – How I Started This Book (Imperfectly)

Let me tell you how Before You Begin actually began.

It wasn’t planned on a whiteboard or during a writing retreat.
It started as voice notes, scribbled fragments, and late-night thoughts between work calls and home routines.

There were weeks I wrote nothing.
There were weeks I doubted the whole thing.

But every time I shared just a line or a concept with the women I mentor, the response was always:
“This is what I needed.”

And that’s when I knew — the message mattered more than the structure.
So I built from that.

Before You Begin is not a book about scaling fast or finding your unicorn.
It’s about starting with what you’ve got — and who you are right now.

SECTION 3 – Introducing the 7-Day Validation Test

Now let’s talk about something inside the book that can help you take your very first step.

It’s called The 7-Day Validation Test.

It’s simple, non-scary, and actually doable — even with a full plate.

Here’s the idea:
Instead of writing a 20-page plan or buying a domain name, you spend 7 days running micro-tests around your idea.

You test your assumptions.
You start conversations.
You see how your idea feels in motion — not in your head.

This approach removes the fear of “what if it fails?”
Because the goal isn’t success or failure.
It’s feedback.
It’s movement.

And movement is what creates clarity.

SECTION 4 – Closing: This Book is a Beginning

If you’ve ever felt like traditional startup advice doesn’t see you —
Like you’re too late, too slow, or too tired to start —
I want you to know: you’re not alone.

Before You Begin is for you.

It’s not a checklist. It’s not a hustle guide.
It’s a companion for women who are ready to build with honesty, and with life in mind.

If that’s you — or someone you know — the book is now live.
You can find the link in the show notes.

And if today’s message resonated with you, I’d love for you to share this episode with one woman you think might need to hear it.

Remember, the only wrong time to start is never.

Thanks for tuning in to Startup Mantras.
I’m Dr. Anu — and this is just the beginning.