CYLS 146: Startup Confessions and Exits with TejPaul Bhatia

Description

Episode Summary

TejPaul Bhatia shares an honest story about his journey from founding to startups to ultimately leaving that world. He talks about what happens when your entrepreneurial dreams take you away from who you truly are, and how having a “normal” job has provided more space in his life for authenticity.

Kevin Y. Brown

Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author. The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free. Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan. Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

TejPaul Bhatia

TejPaul Bhatia is the New York startup lead for Google Cloud. Before that, he was an entrepreneur in residence at Citi Ventures. He was the COO for Explain Everything, an interactive screencasting whiteboard app. He was also the CEO and co-founder of Chatwala, a mobile video chat app and Kaptur (acquired), an app that enables users to aggregate photos taken at an event in seconds. He also worked for ESPN as the senior manager of product and international strategy. TejPaul is still an active member of the startup community in New York.

Insights From the Episode

Strategies to find investors and generate capital for your startup
Secrets to handling rejection
Secrets to the power of networks and community
Strategies to bring yourself into the present moment, as often as possible
Tips to make physical and mental health a priority in your life
How to leverage the passion and excitement entrepreneurs possess into opportunities
Secrets to finding gratitude for your life

Quotes From the Show

“With my first startup, I probably hung on to some of the ideas months, maybe years longer than I should have.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146
“As entrepreneurs we’re relentlessly optimistic, because we have to be, because the odds are against us, but if you can find your truth and hold onto that optimism but try to be yourself throughout it, not lose yourself, you have a much better chance of balance no matter what happens after.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146
“Those moments when I could be present, were so powerful. They’re so liberating; so freeing.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146
“It sometimes takes burnout to know how not to get burned out.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146
On receiving criticism: “Take what serves you and ignore what doesn’t.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146
“You have to be affectionate and supportive of yourself before you can do that for anyone else.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146
“Know what you want, but also act on it immediately.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #146
“Presence is the most powerful thing that we possess.” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #146
“The past and the future don’t actually exist, they’re constructs that exist in the computer that is our brain.” - TejPaul Bhatia, Create Your Life Series, #146

Resources Mentioned