Do Cool Sh*t

Do Cool Sh*t Plot Summary

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself staring at the ceiling, wondering if there's more to life than your current 9-to-5 routine? That gnawing feeling in your gut isn't just hunger—it's your intuition screaming that you're meant for something greater. We've all been there, trapped in the purgatory between dreaming big and playing it safe, between pursuing passion and paying bills. The journey from idea to impact isn't reserved for a select few born with silver spoons or exceptional talent. It's available to anyone brave enough to step off the well-trodden path and forge their own. Through captivating stories of ordinary people who dared to be extraordinary, you'll discover how to identify authentic opportunities, navigate the inevitable roadblocks, and build communities that amplify your vision. Whether you're contemplating your first entrepreneurial venture, seeking to infuse more meaning into your existing work, or simply craving a life less ordinary, these pages contain the blueprint for transforming wishful thinking into tangible reality—without sacrificing your financial stability or personal relationships in the process.

Chapter 1: Breaking Free: Finding Your Authentic Path

I clutched my stomach in pain for what seemed like the third time that week. After a long day working on the set of a Victoria's Secret commercial, gastric distress was the last thing I wanted to deal with again. This time, though, it was worse—a cross between serious bloating and sharp abdominal pain that left me doubled over on my couch with a hot water bottle pressed against my belly. This recurring pain had become my unwelcome companion, appearing mysteriously after meals, particularly creamy dishes or pizza—foods I'd always loved. Determined to solve this mystery, I began researching my symptoms online. The diagnosis seemed clear: lactose intolerance. One in five Americans shared this condition, with symptoms matching mine perfectly. I decided to conduct an experiment, eliminating dairy completely from my diet for a month. Within days, the bloating, pain, and discomfort vanished. While visiting the French countryside weeks later, I made a startling discovery. Despite indulging in local cheeses with abandon, my stomach remained perfectly fine! Confused but intrigued, I began investigating the difference. The answer was illuminating: American dairy products were filled with hormones, antibiotics, and processed from animals fed pesticide-laden feed. In contrast, the French countryside dairy came from humanely treated animals without these additives. Back home, I found that organic, humanely produced dairy didn't trigger my symptoms either. That personal pain point sparked a revelation. If I, and potentially 20% of Americans, had trouble digesting conventional dairy but could enjoy healthier alternatives, there was a massive unmet need in the market. I envisioned creating a farm-to-table pizza restaurant using fresh, local, organic ingredients—a place where anyone with food sensitivities could enjoy America's favorite comfort food without suffering afterward. The idea electrified me. This wasn't just about solving my stomach issues; it was about creating a sustainable business model that supported local farmers and gave people healthier choices. The path forward wasn't immediately clear. I could take a philanthropic approach, advocating for local farms and businesses. I could try the intrapreneurial route, joining an existing restaurant group to introduce healthier options. Or I could go full entrepreneur, creating my concept from scratch despite having no restaurant experience. After careful consideration, my entrepreneurial spirit won out. Despite the risks, I decided to create a healthy pizza concept that would disrupt the $32 billion pizza industry and create a community hub built around sustainable eating. This moment of decision taught me something crucial: when seeking your authentic path, always ask "What sucks in my world?" and then follow that pain point to its logical solution. True innovation often comes from addressing personal frustrations. By addressing what bothers you, you'll likely find others facing similar challenges, creating a ready market for your solution. The journey to doing cool shit begins with identifying problems worth solving in areas you genuinely care about.

Chapter 2: Making the Team: Pursuing Your Passion Against All Odds

I waited with bated breath for the coach of the New York Magic to call out the starting lineup. This was the biggest moment of my career as a soccer player—bigger than scoring my first goal at age four or making national championships as a teenager. Here I was, up against hundreds of top college athletes, and I had already dug so deep to make it this far. If I made the starting lineup of this team, it would all have been worth it. After graduating from Cornell, I had been working as an investment banker, putting in grueling 90-100 hour weeks. But following the 9/11 tragedy, which I narrowly missed being caught in, I had an epiphany about life's brevity. I made a list of my big life goals: play soccer professionally, make movies, and start a business. Soccer came first because of its physical demands—I knew my window for professional sports was limited by biology. The challenge seemed insurmountable. The New York Magic held tryouts in Brooklyn, twice weekly from 6-9 PM. As a banker, leaving work by 5 PM seemed impossible. But I refused to give up before trying. I approached my managing director Bill, who understood my passion for soccer, and created a plan: "I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for the New York Magic. The tryouts are twice weekly for the next two months. I'll come back to the office afterward to finish my work. I have enough energy to do both, and I'm committed to making both work." With his blessing secured, I arranged for my soccer bag to be stored with security guards, convinced my favorite car service driver to wait for me outside the office, and devised a system to escape work twice a week. When I arrived at tryouts, I knew I needed to stand out among a hundred competitors. Being smaller than most, I approached the Italian coach directly, using my limited Italian phrases to break the ice, then passionately explained why I'd be valuable as a right-midfielder. This bold approach worked—he remembered me and placed me on the first team for scrimmages. Over two months of increasingly competitive rounds, I kept making the cut. When I finally got the call from the coach saying "Miki, you made it," I was overjoyed. I had accomplished step one of my dream! For my first game, when they called my starting lineup position, tears welled in my eyes. The game began with our striker passing me the ball, I dribbled down the right, juked the defender, and crossed the ball beautifully. Our striker connected and scored—but in that same instant, the defender slid into my planted leg. The snap was audible across the field—my ACL had torn. Five minutes into my professional career, it was over. After eight months of painful rehabilitation, I returned and made the starting lineup again. Unbelievably, in a semifinal game, I tore my other ACL. As I was carried off the field for the second time, I realized my professional soccer dream was ending. My body was saying no. But through this devastating experience, I learned a crucial lesson: even when things don't work out as planned, the journey itself is valuable. I had given my absolute all to this dream—and that knowledge brought its own satisfaction. The biggest takeaway from this experience was that we must figure out how to make seemingly impossible things work. When pursuing your passion seems logistically impossible, ask yourself: "What would MacGyver do?" Find creative solutions, establish why your goal matters deeply, and get others to empathize with your situation. Most importantly, when life throws unexpected curve balls, move on quickly without dwelling on disappointment. Focus on the next dream, knowing that every setback contains the seeds of a new beginning.

Chapter 3: From Stomachache to Startup: Finding Problems Worth Solving

The voice on the other line shouted, "I am never ever ordering from you again! And I'll make sure my friends don't either." Before I could respond, I heard a click. I checked our orders—they were backed up by more than an hour and a half. My overwhelmed workers, hired only the week before, were doing their best but weren't prepared for such a rush. The phone rang constantly with complaints about late deliveries. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. This was harder than I had imagined. After discovering my lactose intolerance and seeing the gap in the market for healthy pizza, I had raised $250,000 from angel investors to open my first restaurant. Rich Wolf, a successful restaurateur I'd managed to shadow for a month, had advised me to have a "soft opening" before getting press coverage. This would give us time to train staff and fix inevitable issues before a formal launch. But in my excitement, I delivered press boxes earlier than I should have. When Daily Candy published an article about my restaurant two weeks before opening, I was thrilled—until I arrived on opening day to find fifty people lined up outside! Our staff had minimal training, our assembly line wasn't optimized, and we'd prepared only enough ingredients for what we thought would be a slow first week. The entire experience was painful. Customers waited too long, some demanded refunds, and those who did receive pizzas often got imperfect, rushed food. By the end of that disastrous first day, people had sworn they'd never return and would tell friends to avoid us too. After closing, our team discussed everything that went wrong: we repositioned supplies for efficiency, rearranged our assembly line, and prepped more food. The next few weeks gradually improved, but the damage was done. We'd lost many potential loyal customers in those critical first impressions. When the initial press hype died down, we faced the opposite problem—slow traffic during the Christmas season. With 95% of restaurants closing in their first year, I had to decide: throw in the towel or fight to win back customers? Thinking of my parents' determination in overcoming obstacles, I chose to fight. We fixed our operational issues, perfected our food preparation, and hired proper delivery staff. Then I wrote honest letters to the neighborhood: "We are finally ready to reintroduce you to the tastiest, healthiest pizza you've ever had. We've worked hard to get to this point and are looking forward to sharing the improved version of ourselves with you!" I personally delivered these to every apartment in the neighborhood. I also identified places where potential customers congregated—gyms, playgrounds, yoga studios, office buildings—and arranged tastings. When one gym manager refused, saying "No solicitations," I took a weekend course to become a certified spin instructor! Now an insider, I was welcomed to sample my pizzas for gym members. Within a week, business started growing again as people gave us a second chance. This experience taught me several critical lessons about launching a business. First, never make customers part of your learning curve—they won't forgive mistakes easily. Always have a soft opening to work out kinks before publicity. When you do make mistakes, honesty is the best policy—admit errors and clearly explain how you're fixing them. Most importantly, business is iterative. Nothing is ever perfect immediately, and it takes longer than expected for a business to find its footing. Celebrate small victories along the way to stay motivated through inevitable challenges.

Chapter 4: Get Shit Done Fast: Building Your Vision

"Sixty-five thousand dollars!? It would cost that much to create the branding package for my new business? Are you kidding me!?" The proposal from the branding company was more than a quarter of my entire $250,000 budget, and I hadn't even secured a location or started building yet. With no experience, no money beyond what I'd raised, and student loan debt still lingering, I needed to get creative—fast. After calculating that I would need about $180,000 for building out a small location and $24,000 for the first and security deposits on rent, I had only $46,000 left for everything else—branding, inventory, staff training, and working capital. When multiple branding agencies came back with proposals ranging from $15,000 to $65,000, I realized I needed a different approach. I called my friend Richard, a branding expert considering going freelance, and offered him equity in exchange for branding my business for free. This would be a good trial run for his potential solo career. Similarly, I found an architect and interior designer who were both looking to build their portfolios and offered them the same arrangement. This mutually beneficial approach worked beautifully—they got real projects for their portfolios, and I got professional services without depleting my limited capital. The next hurdle was finding a location. Commercial spaces in desirable New York neighborhoods were being snapped up by franchises like Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. After four months of searching, my broker found a $6,000/month space on the Upper East Side. It wasn't my first choice of neighborhood, but it met my budget requirements. The catch? It had previously been a nail salon, with no basement, venting, or restaurant infrastructure. Then came the government paperwork needed to open the business. I called 311, the government hotline, and asked to speak with the business solutions department. Surprisingly, someone answered immediately and offered to help expedite my paperwork through a new city initiative. I made sure to express my gratitude and invited her for free pizza once we opened. Through this phase of building my vision, I learned that when starting a business with limited resources, you must get creative about finding talent and services. Look for people in your network who might be looking to branch out on their own or build portfolios. Create mutually beneficial arrangements where they get something valuable (experience, portfolio pieces, equity) while you get the services you need. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help from government resources—sometimes there are programs specifically designed to help new businesses navigate bureaucratic hurdles. Remember that branding, while important, doesn't need to be perfect at the outset. What matters most is getting started and creating something distinct enough to stand out. Your brand can evolve as your business grows. The key is to move quickly, stay scrappy, and find innovative ways to get things done without depleting your resources. As you build your vision, focus on progress over perfection—it's better to have a good-enough brand and be open for business than to have a perfect brand that exists only on paper.

Chapter 5: Creating Community: The Power of Meaningful Connections

"Miki! I need your help! I don't know what costume to wear!" My friend Andrew and I were searching through the massive costume tent at Burning Man, surrounded by colorful, creative outfits. He was wearing a horrible poncho that looked like a potato sack, and I was determined to find something sexier for him. After rummaging through boxes, I discovered gold pharaoh accessories and helped him transform into an Egyptian king. When he emerged on the runway, back straight with perfect posture, his strong bare upper body adorned with gleaming gold jewelry, I gasped. As he danced seductively behind a costumed princess, I saw him in an entirely new light. In that moment, I fell in love with him. We had arrived at Burning Man as friends, but would leave as something much more. Andrew and I had met six months earlier at Summit at Sea, a gathering of entrepreneurs on a cruise ship. Though we'd felt a connection dancing under the stars, we'd remained just friends, especially since he lived in Washington DC while I was in New York. When our plans to attend Burning Man with a larger group fell apart and others canceled, we decided to go together anyway, even sharing a hotel room with pillows placed between us as a friendship boundary. Our time in the harsh Nevada desert revealed new dimensions of each other. I admired how Andrew handled adversity without complaint when his bike broke, his compassionate work founding a nonprofit for at-risk youth, and his capacity for adventure and joy. After several days of deepening connection, we shared our first real kiss while dancing under the stars. The next morning, I surprised him by fixing his broken bike and cleaning his tent. Touched by this gesture, he grabbed and kissed me again. To celebrate our newfound connection, we visited "Wedlock Ranch" where Reverend FunkPocket performed temporary "marriages" on the Playa. We chose to be married on the "Pier to Nowhere," our favorite place at the festival. As the sun began to set, I rushed to create a makeshift wedding outfit from white fabric and gold ribbon I'd fortuitously purchased before the trip. When I arrived at the pier, I was stunned to find Andrew had transformed too—his beard was gone, and he wore a crisp baby-blue seersucker suit with a red-and-blue handkerchief. As we held hands during the ceremony, I knew this was the love I'd always dreamed of. From this transformative experience, we developed LACE—the four pillars of a successful relationship: Looks (being genuinely attracted to each other), Adventure (bringing new experiences into each other's lives), Challenge (pushing each other to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually), and Enhancement (making each other's experiences better wherever you go). Years later, with travels to dozens of cities together, we've maintained these principles through life's inevitable challenges. The lesson here extends beyond romantic relationships to all meaningful connections. Building authentic community requires patience, sincere listening, and doing small acts of kindness regularly. It means taking deep breaths when conflicts arise, giving partners space to be themselves, and finding ways to reset tense situations with humor or agreed-upon phrases. Most importantly, it means recognizing that relationships, like individuals, must evolve constantly. As Steve Jobs wisely noted, "Everything around you that you call life was made up by people no smarter than you." This applies to relationships too—we have the power to create new patterns, break old rules, and design the connections that help us thrive.

Chapter 6: Giving Back While Moving Forward

"Who wants pizza?" I called out as I entered the Bronx high school classroom, balancing a stack of pizza boxes. Immediately, questioning eyes of thirty fourteen-year-olds turned my way, then widened with excitement as they realized what I was offering. Within seconds, I was surrounded by happy faces and eager hands as the teenagers devoured their favorite food. After they settled down, I asked, "Do you know what you just ate?" In unison, they shouted, "Pizza!" When I asked if they liked it, they enthusiastically confirmed their love for it. Then came my revelation: "Did you know that the crust was made of whole-wheat flour?" Their reactions shifted dramatically to "Ewww!" I continued, "Did you know that we slow cook our marinara sauce and naturally sweeten it with fresh onions from a local farm?" Again came the disgusted responses: "Onions are gross!" I smiled and pointed out the contradiction: "Well, you can't say that now that you've already told me you loved it, can you?" Suddenly, understanding dawned in their eyes. This moment created the perfect entry point into a meaningful conversation about nutrition, food stigmas, and the challenges these inner-city teens faced with healthy eating. We discussed their passions, future aspirations, and how proper nutrition could fuel their dreams by providing the energy needed to focus and work hard. Walking out of that classroom, I felt more energized and fulfilled than ever before. I had planted seeds for healthier lives in these young minds, and that good feeling was something I wanted to chase repeatedly. Since then, I've visited over fifty classrooms and even addressed the United Nations Global Youth Summit about nutrition and social entrepreneurship. This experience highlights why giving back matters, even when—especially when—you're building your own success. Volunteerism and community service typically surge during disasters like 9/11 or Hurricane Sandy, when entire cities unite to help neighbors. But why wait for catastrophe? The warm connection and purpose that come from helping others should be regular features of our lives, not exceptional responses to crises. The benefits of giving back extend far beyond the warm glow of altruism. Through service, you'll meet like-minded, caring people who may become friends, collaborators, or even romantic partners. Volunteering alongside colleagues or new acquaintances deepens relationships in ways that casual interactions cannot. Most importantly, service provides perspective that fuels innovation and empathy—essential qualities for any entrepreneur. My experience with healthy pizza led to a partnership with my twin sister Radha to create Super Sprowtz, a multimedia company featuring vegetable superheroes that teaches children about nutrition through entertainment. Kids would excitedly order broccoli because they wanted to be "super strong like Brian Broccoli" or choose eggplant to become "super smart like Erica Eggplant." This social enterprise grew from our original business problem but expanded to address a broader societal need. The formula for creating such meaningful social enterprises is simple yet powerful: identify a problem you're passionate about that affects your community, envision a solution that could alleviate this problem, and then create a product, service, or business that makes this solution possible. By combining purpose with profit, you create sustainable impact that grows as your business grows—a perfect example of doing good while doing well.

Chapter 7: Learning to Evolve: The Journey Never Ends

When I opened my first restaurant at twenty-six, I was terrified by every unfamiliar challenge. Tax documents from the IRS would send me into a panic. Firing an underperforming manager seemed impossibly daunting. Making business decisions felt like navigating in the dark. Eight years later, I've evolved dramatically through these experiences, learning that freaking out solves zero problems and that patterns emerge over time, making each challenge easier than the last. Looking back at my journey, I realized a powerful truth: doing cool shit is an exercise in evolution. We must constantly be willing to release what no longer serves us—whether in business or personal life. My father once told me a story about catching raccoons: hunters dig a small hole with inward-facing spikes and place a nut at the bottom. When a raccoon reaches in and grabs the nut, it cannot withdraw its closed fist past the spikes. Tragically, raccoons will die rather than release the nut. The moral? Let go of what's holding you back, even if it feels valuable in the moment. This wisdom guided me to my next venture beyond pizza. With my twin sister Radha and partner Antonia Dunbar, I launched THINX—innovative underwear that's leak-resistant, breathable, and beautiful, designed to solve menstruation management problems. We also addressed a global issue: in developing countries, millions of girls miss school during their periods due to lack of resources. For each pair sold, we fund seven washable, reusable cloth pads for girls in Uganda through our partner AFRIpads. Our Kickstarter campaign raised nearly $70,000, exceeding our goal by 130%. We won the Daily Grommet Challenge and the Tribeca Film Festival's Disruptive Innovation Award. Distribution inquiries arrived from around the world. This evolution from pizza entrepreneur to social innovation leader exemplifies how one journey naturally feeds into the next when you remain open to growth. Andrew and I have applied this same principle to our relationship, constantly evolving together without ego. We listen deeply and work to become the most actualized versions of ourselves, always considering each other's needs. This mutual growth keeps our connection vibrant and meaningful through life's inevitable changes. The greatest insight I've gained is that we truly have the power to change the rules of our lives and impact how society functions. Most people passively accept their current reality, expecting others with proper titles or authority to solve problems. But as Steve Jobs noted, "Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you... the minute that you understand that you can poke life... that you can change it, you can mold it... that's maybe the most important thing." You have extraordinary capacity to create things and bring new ideas that positively affect how the world operates. Don't wait for permission or the perfect moment—begin now to build your box of possibilities filled with meaningful experiences rather than mere possessions. Let go of what no longer serves you, embrace constant evolution, and remember that your authentic self emerges most powerfully when you're actively engaged in creating the life you truly want.

Summary

The key takeaway from this journey is beautifully simple yet profoundly powerful: the greatest adventures begin when you identify what genuinely bothers you and commit to solving it, not just for yourself but for others. Rather than accepting life as it comes, actively create experiences that align with your authentic self. Start by asking "What sucks in my world?" then follow that frustration to its logical solution. When obstacles arise, ask yourself "What would MacGyver do?" to find creative workarounds. Build mutually beneficial relationships where everyone wins, whether with investors, partners, or customers. Practice letting go—of perfectionism, control, and outdated ideas—to make space for growth. Most importantly, remember that the journey itself is the reward; approach each challenge as an opportunity to evolve rather than an obstacle to overcome. The world is waiting for your unique contribution—not because you have all the answers, but because your perspective and passion might just be exactly what's needed right now.

About Author

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Miki Agrawal

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