Ghazal Alagh, co-founder of Mamaearth, TheDermaCo, Dr. Sheth’s, Aqualogica, and BBlunt, recently shared insights on LinkedIn about the real reason many startups never succeed.
“The biggest graveyard for startup dreams isn’t failed businesses. It’s unstarted ones,” she wrote. Reflecting on her entrepreneurial journey, Alagh recalled meeting countless people with “amazing business ideas” that they had been perfecting for years, many of which remained unlaunched even after more than half a decade.
The Failure Happens in Your Mind
Alagh emphasised that startup failure often occurs before a business even starts.
“The failure doesn’t happen when your startup runs out of money or loses customers. It happens in your mind, months or years before you ever take action,” she said.
She outlined key mental barriers that prevent founders from turning ideas into reality.
Mental Barriers That Kill Startup Dreams
- Analysis Paralysis Disguised as Research: “You’ve read every business book, watched every Gary Vaynerchuk video, and can recite startup statistics by heart. But research becomes procrastination when it replaces action,” Alagh explained. She stressed that no amount of studying will teach you what one week of actually trying will.
- Perfectionism Masquerading as Professionalism: Entrepreneurs often wait for flawless business plans, perfect websites, or bug-free products. Alagh noted, “Successful entrepreneurs are launching imperfect products and improving them based on real feedback, not theoretical scenarios.”
- Waiting for the ‘Right Time’ That Doesn’t Exist: Many delay launching until conditions seem perfect—after a promotion, saving more money, or market stability. “The right time is a myth designed to keep you comfortable in your current situation forever,” she said.
- Comparing Your Starting Point to Others’ Highlight Reel: It’s easy to assume you need the resources, team, or knowledge that successful entrepreneurs have today. “They started with none of that either,” Alagh reminded aspiring founders.
Start Before You Feel Ready
Alagh observed that most people who say they want to be entrepreneurs are seeking the outcome, freedom, wealth, and recognition, without embracing the daily grind, uncertainty, or sacrifice.
“But the ones who succeed aren’t the smartest or most prepared. They’re the ones who start before they feel ready, learn by doing instead of planning, and treat failure as education rather than evidence they should quit,” she said.
Kanimozhi Sivakumar
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