Employee to Entrepreneur – Edition 2 "Bridging the Gap: Turning an Idea into Action"

Dear Aspiring Entrepreneurs,

Do you ever feel like your entrepreneurial dream is stuck in your head, waiting to come alive?

You’re not alone.

For many, the hardest step isn’t having the idea—it’s turning that idea into action. The gap between an employee and an entrepreneur can seem wide, but the truth is, it’s just one bold decision at a time. Let’s explore how to take that leap.

The Mindset Shift

Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur isn’t just about changing your job—it’s about reprogramming your mindset. The biggest hurdle? Fear. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of stepping into the unknown. I've had these fears all the time and perhaps still do.

But here’s the thing: the only way to overcome fear is through action. Start small. Dedicate just 30 minutes a day to your idea. Progress isn’t about time—it’s about consistency.

I've been meaning to contribute to the society by sharing the knowledge and experience I've gathered over the years. But I have not been consistent. But here I am again, making another attempt at it on this auspicious day of Lohri. Here's wishing you all a blissful Lohri & Utrayan tomorrow. Fly your dream idea.

Let's explore how.

PS. I conduct trainings & workshops on Mindset Shifts using Lego Mindset Model.

Practical Steps to Begin Your Journey

1. Validate Your Idea

Not every idea is a business—but every business starts with an idea. The key is not to get too attached to your idea thinking this is the biggest thing. Especially when you tell your friends about it and they say, "yaar ye to dhamal idea hai" (This idea is too good) Treat your idea like you are an investor investing into this idea. Would you? That requires validation.

• Research your target audience: Who needs this? Why?
• Talk to potential customers and get their feedback.
• Test your concept with a small group.

Ask yourself: Does my idea solve a real problem? If yes, who will benefit the most?

2. Test with Minimal Resources

You don’t need a massive budget to start. Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP):

• A simple version of your product or service.
• Something small enough to test, yet impactful enough to show potential.

For example, if you dream of starting a bakery, don’t open a store just yet. Start with pre-orders online or a weekend market stall. Or if you want to start a travel agency, don't start just yet. Partner with a big agency or become and affiliate. Offer your packages to your network of people. See if they're willing to buy.

3. Financial Planning 101

Your finances are the runway for your takeoff. And don't be afraid. Just plan. Most important thing is to not STOP thinking you do not have finance. There are many ways to source funds. I'll write another newsletter for that. Stay tuned to read. If you are serious about becoming an entrepreneur, subscribe to this newsletter.

• Save at least 6 months’ worth of expenses before making the jump.
• Bootstrap your venture where possible, or start a side hustle while you’re still employed. I am 48, consulting 5 companies and still building my startup.
• Track every rupee—small steps lead to big savings. When the day comes, you will value every rupee saved.

A Real-Life Success Story

Meet Ritesh Ajmeri , a marketing manager turned entrepreneur.

Ritesh spent his evenings freelancing while working his 9-5 job. He used his free time to build connections, test his services, and save money. Within 11 months, his side hustle grew into a full-fledged SEO agency.

What made Ritesh successful?

• He started small.
• He didn’t quit his job impulsively and he still continues to work the 9-5 job but also works on massive SEO project including a project of one of my clients.
• He learned to balance risk and opportunity. He maintained a very subtle balance between the two and yet was bold enough to take the step forward.

Entrepreneurial Skills You Can Build as an Employee

Even as an employee, you can start preparing for entrepreneurship. In fact, every top management employee should have an entrepreneurial mindset. Understand the business of the company they are working for deeply and add value consistently.

I am a firm believer that employment is also entrepreneurship. You can consider your desk as your startup and scale you employment from 50k/mo to 5L/mo of income if done right.

By the way, I conduct entrepreneurship workshops. If you or your company is looking to grow, reach out to me for a transformative workshop that will leave you with profound learning.

So what skills can you learn to become an entrepreneur in 2025?

• Leadership: Volunteer to lead a project at work—it teaches you responsibility. Top example I would give is Aishwarya Singh & Vikas Gupta at UNIRE Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd. who are always ready to take up lead for all new projects. They are the best examples I have seen of resident entrepreneurs whilst being employees.
• Problem-Solving: Identify inefficiencies in your role and find ways to improve them. Innovating new ways to solve problems and overcoming mundane tasks by delegating them, building a team below you who can save your time is crucial.
• Networking: Build relationships beyond your team. These connections will be invaluable when you start your business. My dad always said, "there is no bigger SHIP than Relationship". Keep sailing.

"There is no bigger ship than Relationship"

Think of your current job as a training ground for your entrepreneurial future.

Closing Thoughts

The bridge from employee to entrepreneur isn’t built overnight. It’s a journey made up of small, intentional steps. Start where you are, with what you have. Test your ideas, sharpen your skills, and trust the process. Start today. Start by writing down your ideas. Save this newsletter to follow the steps. DM me for more guidance on pro-bono basis.

You’ve got this.

What’s your biggest challenge in turning your idea into action? Reply to this newsletter and let me know—I’d love to address it in the next edition.

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I conduct workshops and trainings for Entrepreneurship | Leadership | Lego Mindset | Design Thinking - You can reach me via www.atulvaya.com

"You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." — Zig Ziglar

Resource of the Week Read The Lean Startup by Eric Ries to learn how to validate and scale your ideas efficiently. Read stories of how others started small and built even a small business to attain 2L/mo in sales. No one turned a unicorn overnight.

#EmployeeToEntrepreneur #StartupMindset #TakeAction #DreamBig #EntrepreneurshipJourney