BEFORE YOU BEGIN
A Business Starter Guide for Women Who Want to Do Their Own Thing
Transcript
Welcome back to Startup Mantras, the podcast for women building with intention, not intensity.
I’m Dr. Anu Khanchandani, and today’s episode might hit a little closer than usual.
Because we’re talking about something we all face:
The voice of self-doubt that pretends it’s just being practical.
This one’s called:
“When Self-Doubt Sounds Like Logic.”
SECTION 1 – The Voice That Sounds Like a Strategy
Let’s say you have an idea.
A business. A course. A small service you could start.
And suddenly you hear:
“It’s not the right time.”
“The market’s too crowded.”
“What if no one pays for this?”
“I should wait until I have more clarity.”
And those thoughts?
They don’t sound scared.
They sound smart.
They sound like planning. Like strategy. Like maturity.
But here’s the thing…
Self-doubt often doesn’t show up screaming.
It shows up in a spreadsheet. In an overly researched doc. In your “To-Do Next Quarter” list.
It disguises itself as logic.
SECTION 2 – The Sneaky Cost of Over-Planning
And the cost of that logic?
You stay exactly where you are.
Because self-doubt doesn’t always say “Don’t do it.”
It says:
“Just wait a bit longer.”
“You’re not quite ready.”
“Let’s be realistic.”
And here’s what I want to offer you today:
You can be careful and still be scared.
You can be rational and still be stuck.
The challenge isn’t knowing what to do.
It’s admitting what’s actually stopping you.
SECTION 3 – Try This Instead (Journal Prompt)
So if this feels familiar — if your hesitation feels “sensible,”
But your dream is still sitting in drafts — here’s a small practice.
Take out a notebook.
And write at the top of the page:
“The real reason I haven’t started yet is…”
Then let it flow.
No edits. No justifying.
Just brutal honesty.
You might be surprised by what comes up.
And if what comes up is fear? That’s okay.
Because fear doesn’t mean stop.
It means pay attention.
SECTION 4 – Closing
In Before You Begin, I call this the “honest filter” —
Not the kind you use for branding.
The one you use with yourself.
Every founder I’ve mentored has hit this wall.
It’s not the business plan that moves them forward.
It’s the moment they say:
“I’m scared… but I still want to try.”
If this episode brought something up for you — let that be your start.
Thanks for being here.
I’m Dr. Anu, and this is Startup Mantras.
📘 Before You Begin is available now.
With over two decades of experience in the software technology arena, having worked in multinational and SME companies in India, USA and Singapore in the capacity of programmer to CTO – I felt now was a good time to give back to the world what I have learnt in this journey. Even if it ends up benefitting a few of my readers by giving them insight or solving a technical issue, I think I will have achieved my mission!