it's my birthday

some reflections from last two years of startup life

Hey everyone, Good morning!

Today is my birthday. I'm writing this newsletter to share something very personal. First of all, I'm really grateful that I know some of you very much personally. You have given me the privilege, the space, the comfort to know you, to be able to connect with you on a deeper level or to help you in any way possible beyond my startup life. Today I’m going to write about 4 different things —

A. People
B. 5 years
C. Community and
D. Apology

People

To be honest, it has been always about people in my life right from my school days. I always enjoyed talking to people. I'm a single child - I never had a sibling. So maybe that's one of the reasons I value relationships. Maybe that is one of the reasons I love talking to people. Maybe that is the reason I love connecting with them at a deeper level, knowing them personally, and contributing to their journey in any way possible. This is something that comes naturally to me.

This is a bit personal because I never thought that I would be able to build a startup back in my college days. But yes I was pretty sure that I'll build a startup because this was something I was really passionate about. In the later years of my college, I was pretty much convinced that either I'd be working at a startup or building it myself someday. And here we are today.

Last 5 years

In the last five years of my career, some of the career decision such as reading, writing, learning about the stock market, startups, and freelancing has had the highest ROI. Not because I made a lot of money, but because I somehow understood how organizations work, the dynamics in human communication and relationships, the importance of community, and how money works. Not an expert here in terms of money, but I at least understood the fundamentals. And all of those compounded over the years and today it is helping me to help my people. Big shoutout to Internet & Books.

Keeping it very short — just being grateful and really happy that we are building Fueler with you all together. Being a community-driven startup from day one, your feedback, and support have been always invaluable to us.

I personally want you all to succeed, all of you to make big in life. If we have ever talked before, you know this already. I really want you to be happy in your life, make a lot of money, and be mentally and physically well. To be able to make your parents, your loved ones, and your friends proud. This is something I’d personally want for you every day.

Fueler Community

If you are a part of the Fueler Community, thanks to the infinity for that, because you have helped me grow in my life knowingly and unknowingly. There's something I have always believed — “If the student is ready, the teacher will always appear”

The teacher would come in different shapes and formats. You have to seize the opportunity and have the lenses to spot them. And learnings like this are not going to be springs and roses. You will learn it all the hard way possible, but it is 100% worth it.

I have shared more about my POV on community building

The Ultimate Strength of a Startup

Apologies

Also, apologies if ever I have hurt you. This is something I would never ever want. Trust me when I say this, I would never ever want to hurt you. I feel life is very short — live each day to make your life or someone's life better and exciting. That is the simple philosophy I believe in. So if I ever have hurt you in any way or offended you, I'm sorry for that.

Last but not least, big cheers to Aquib, Anshu, Rahul, Prantik, and the entire team Fueler for making everything possible — 100% credit goes to them for all milestones we have achieved today at Fueler.

Please let me know if in any way, always here to help you. Here’s to many more years of friendship and good times. Thank you so much for being here. Bye, see you soon.

P.S: Rooting for you all, we are Fuelers 🤜🤛