Do Epic Shit

Do Epic Shit Plot Summary

Introduction

Imagine standing at a crossroads in your career—one path leading to conventional success, another to the unknown. This was Ankur Warikoo at 29, jobless with no money, no plan, and seemingly no future. Yet this moment of apparent failure would become the foundation of his most profound lessons. Through raw honesty and deep reflection, he transformed his setbacks into stepping stones that would eventually lead him to become one of India's most influential entrepreneurs and content creators. What makes success meaningful? How do we embrace failure as a teacher rather than an enemy? These questions lie at the heart of the journey we'll explore together. Through personal stories of spectacular failures and unexpected triumphs, we'll discover that true success isn't about external validation or material achievements, but about making conscious choices from a place of awareness. As we navigate through insights on building habits, managing money, fostering relationships, and embracing entrepreneurship, you'll find practical wisdom to redefine success on your own terms—creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling beyond conventional measures.

Chapter 1: The Courage to Define Your Own Success

In school, Ankur dreamed of getting into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). When he failed the entrance exam, he witnessed his father cry for the first time. The rejection represented not just a personal disappointment but the shattering of his family's hopes for financial stability. This initial failure was followed by a cascade of others—rejected from St. Stephens, failing again at IIT entrance exams, dropping out of his PhD program in the US, and returning to India at 24 with "no money, no plan, no direction, no career, no education." Even after getting into Indian School of Business against the odds, Ankur continued facing rejection. Most consulting firms turned him down. When he finally landed a role, his manager bluntly told him, "If I can't trust you with your work, it doesn't matter how smart you are." Later, when he joined a startup as co-founder, he was fired after a year. At 29, he found himself back at square one: jobless, directionless, and broke. Throughout his thirties, Ankur started two businesses, raised funding, but ultimately "made absolutely no money for myself or my investors." He had to lay off employees and made what he calls "poor people decisions." At 39, he was again jobless with no money, no plans, and no visibility for the future. Yet surprisingly, he writes, "I wouldn't have it any other way." What makes Ankur's journey remarkable isn't the failures themselves, but his relationship with them. He recognized that society continuously defines success and failure for us—getting a job (success), getting divorced (failure), making money (success), losing it (failure). But he chose to rewrite these rules for himself. "If you stay true to them," he notes, "it doesn't matter whether you are a failure according to the world." Through his failures, Ankur discovered that success isn't about external validation but about staying authentic to your own definition of fulfillment. Reflecting on his journey, Ankur realized success for him wasn't about money, fame, or recognition—it was about "the ability to do what I wanted to, without caring about what the world thinks of me." His failures became his greatest teachers, providing insights that shaped his authentic path forward. True success, he discovered, isn't measured by outcomes but by the relationship you have with yourself.

Chapter 2: Turning Failures into Stepping Stones

Ankur's "failure résumé" reveals the depths of his struggles. When his startup nearbuy was running out of money, he had to make the painful decision to lay off 80 people. "Stood in front of the company apologizing and crying," he writes. "I had failed everyone. And myself." Later, when trying to raise more funding, he pitched to 68 investors—67 refused, and the one who gave a term sheet withdrew before signing. The financial toll was devastating. All his savings had been invested in nearbuy. His credit cards maxed out. He had to keep his parents' house as collateral to raise money for his sister's wedding. Most heartbreaking was when he had to sell his wife's gold bangles to buy his son Vidur a bicycle for his birthday—something the boy had been asking for a year. "We surprised him when he came from school. He broke down. So did we." These failures weren't just professional disappointments—they cut to the core of his identity and responsibilities. "My investors and colleagues trusted me, with their money, their careers, their time. And I failed to keep their trust intact," he reflects. For the first six years of his son's life, Vidur drew family pictures with Ankur holding a phone in his hand. "That is how he remembered his father." Yet Ankur approaches these painful memories with remarkable perspective. "The scars that you wear on your body. Don't regret them. Don't hate them. Don't reject them," he writes. "They are signs of a battle you fought. And even if you lost, the scars were left behind as a reminder of who you were and who you can be." What distinguishes Ankur isn't his failures but his relationship with them. Where others might see shame or reasons to quit, he saw lessons and opportunities for growth. "I am who I am because of these failures," he reflects. His journey illustrates that failure isn't something to avoid at all costs—it's something to engage with consciously, extract wisdom from, and use as foundation for authentic growth. The failures themselves didn't define him; his response to them did.

Chapter 3: Building Habits That Transform Your Life

For years, Ankur struggled with waking up early despite his best intentions. The breakthrough came when he realized "the trick to waking up early is not waking up early. It is sleeping on time!" This simple shift in perspective transformed his approach. Instead of focusing on the outcome (waking early), he focused on the process (sleeping well). "Otherwise, what's the use of waking up early and feeling groggy and eventually hating yourself?" he points out. This insight became a cornerstone of his philosophy on habits. Ankur discovered that "targets are the enemy of habits." When we set targets instead of habits, we forget about the kind of person we want to become. "We not only want to run a marathon. We also want to get fit," he explains. "We not only want to look sculpted. We want to see how disciplined we are." By focusing on habits rather than goals, he found a more sustainable path to transformation. One of Ankur's most impactful habits was carrying a notebook everywhere. "I take notes like a school student," he shares. He meticulously documents ideas, daily to-do lists, and meeting notes. This simple practice freed his mental energy: "My mind's energy should be spent in thinking. Not remembering!" Similarly, his rigorous calendar management became his "lifeline," with everything scheduled—from bills to birthdays to afternoon naps with his daughter. These habits might seem restrictive to some, but Ankur found them liberating. "Most people think it is imprisoning. For me, it's liberating," he explains. "Because it allows me to be more of who I am." His afternoon nap, for instance, became a cherished daily ritual and bonding time with his daughter. By creating environmental structures that supported his values, he eliminated the internal friction that often derails good intentions. What makes Ankur's approach to habits powerful is its focus on identity rather than outcomes. "The things that are easy to do are also the things that are easy to ignore," he observes. "If you choose to do them with consistency instead of ignorance, they can change your life completely." Through consistent habits, he developed not just skills but a way of being—a mindset where "progress is a way of life." His experience shows that transformative habits aren't about willpower or motivation, but about aligning your daily actions with your deeper values and identity.

Chapter 4: The Power of Self-Awareness in Decision Making

When facing critical life decisions, Ankur discovered that confidence wasn't the key factor in making good choices—awareness was. "Most of my decisions in life were not made because of my confidence in the decision," he reflects. "They were made because of my awareness of the situation." When he dropped out of his PhD program, joined business school, or left his corporate job for a startup, he wasn't certain these were "right" decisions. What he knew with certainty was that continuing on his current path felt wrong. This insight transformed his approach to decision-making. Rather than waiting for absolute certainty, he learned to act from a place of honest self-awareness. "I knew I had to make those decisions because I would regret not making them later," he explains. He realized that "decisions are not for decoding destinations. Decisions are for deciphering the path you want to demonstrate next." Ankur's experience taught him that indecision often stems from fear rather than laziness. "You don't procrastinate because you are lazy. You procrastinate because you are scared," he observes. The questions that paralyze us are often ones like "What if I fail? What if I succeed? What if my life is sorted after this? What if I have to face rejection?" This fear keeps us trapped in analysis paralysis. To overcome this, Ankur developed a powerful mental model: "Ask yourself, 'What's the worst thing that can happen?' Close your eyes and vividly imagine it happening. Then ask, 'Will I be okay—mentally, socially, financially, physically, emotionally?' If yes, go for it." This approach helped him recognize that most decisions in life are reversible—we just assume they're set in stone. What makes Ankur's perspective on awareness so valuable is its practicality. He distinguishes between mere knowledge and true awareness that leads to action: "Awareness is the start of the decision. Not the end of it." Many people know what they should do but never act on it. "You won't go anywhere if you are aware but don't do anything about it," he emphasizes. True self-awareness involves not just recognizing what needs to change, but having the courage to implement that change—even when the path forward isn't completely clear.

Chapter 5: Money as Freedom: Rewriting Financial Narratives

Growing up in a financially struggling household, Ankur developed a complicated relationship with money. "We grew up without any money. Perpetually in debt. Hand-to-mouth existence," he recalls. This background led him to hate money, viewing it as "the cause of all our problems." Paradoxically, this attitude caused him to disrespect money, making critical financial mistakes despite having "a knack for making money." His mistakes were numerous and costly. He took loans to buy real estate without calculating realistic returns. When he earned extra cash, instead of paying off debts, he invested in high-risk startups—"basically went to a casino convinced I would make enough money to repay my loans." He focused almost exclusively on illiquid assets (startups, real estate) rather than building liquid reserves. During his decade at nearbuy, he took below-market salaries in exchange for equity that ultimately yielded nothing. The consequences were severe. When financial difficulties hit, Ankur had "a lot of 'paper wealth' but no cash." He maxed out credit cards and accumulated more debt, all while maintaining an unsustainable lifestyle in the hope that "one mega event in the future would resolve all issues." It was his wife's investments—which he had mocked—that saved the family three separate times. Through these painful lessons, Ankur developed a more balanced philosophy about money. "The biggest lesson that I have learnt about money is that it buys you freedom. And freedom is a privilege," he reflects. He came to understand that money itself isn't the problem—it's our emotional relationship with it that causes suffering. This realization led to a profound shift in perspective. While growing up, he was taught that "dreaming of earning a lot of money was a taboo, investing money was never discussed and spending money was always considered a socially desirable action." These cultural narratives had set him up for financial struggles. Now, he advocates for a more conscious approach: "Money gives you freedom. Freedom is a privilege. But the minute we run after money we are not free anymore. Use money to earn your freedom. Don't give up your freedom to earn money." Ankur's journey with money illustrates how our early narratives about wealth shape our financial decisions—often unconsciously. By bringing awareness to these patterns and rewriting these stories, we can develop a healthier relationship with money that serves our deeper values rather than controlling our lives.

Chapter 6: Meaningful Relationships: The Foundation of Fulfillment

When Ankur's son Vidur was five, the family couldn't afford to buy him the bicycle he desperately wanted. They eventually managed to purchase one, and when Vidur saw it, he broke down in tears. Later, when his parents asked what was the best gift they had ever given him, they expected him to say the bicycle. Instead, he answered, "Uzma"—his little sister. This touching moment revealed the profound value of family bonds that transcend material possessions. Ankur's relationship with his own parents shaped his understanding of love and resilience. Despite financial struggles, his parents ensured he and his sister attended the best schools possible. "We knew we didn't have money, but were never made to feel so," he writes. His father took career risks that didn't pay off, yet "would take the same risk again if he had to," teaching Ankur that "risk and failure are a state of mind." His mother's empathy became her "superpower," always encouraging him to consider others' perspectives with the question: "What would they be thinking?" These lessons carried into Ankur's parenting. In a letter to his son, he writes: "Every time you ask me to share our money/ice cream/biscuits with the kids on the street because they do not have what we have, you remind me of how all of us were, before we became who we are. Please don't become who we are." He cherishes his children's natural empathy and encourages them to maintain their authentic selves. Ankur discovered that relationships thrive on genuine communication and acceptance. "All relationships thrive on communication," he observes. "Feeling upset with someone? Why not talk? Feeling upset with yourself? Why not talk to yourself?" He learned that understanding doesn't require agreement: "We don't have to agree with each other as long as we understand each other. The best relationships have the best acceptance despite their differences." Perhaps most importantly, Ankur realized that how we treat others reflects our relationship with ourselves. "How we treat others is a reflection of how we treat ourselves," he writes. "It is rare, almost impossible, for a mean, conniving, hurtful, racist, bigoted person to truly love themselves." This insight transformed his approach to relationships, helping him recognize that true connection begins with self-acceptance and extends naturally to accepting others as they are. Through his journey, Ankur came to understand that meaningful relationships aren't built on perfection or constant agreement, but on honest communication, mutual respect, and the courage to be vulnerable. These connections become the foundation of a fulfilling life that transcends material success or social status.

Chapter 7: Entrepreneurship as a Mindset, Not Just a Career

When Ankur became an entrepreneur, he quickly discovered that the reality differed drastically from the glamorous image. "Entrepreneurship is f**king hard," he states bluntly. "The early excitement of building a team, planning a name, launching the first version will fade away. And insane details that life has, will begin to emerge." What sustains founders through these challenges isn't external validation but internal narratives—"the stories you tell yourself" about why you began this journey. One of his most painful experiences came when nearbuy was running out of money and he had to lay off 80 people. Standing before his company, apologizing and crying, he felt he had "failed everyone. And myself." Later, when seeking new funding, he faced rejection from 67 out of 68 investors. These moments tested not just his business acumen but his identity and purpose as a leader. Through these trials, Ankur discovered that entrepreneurship is "the most brutal way to discover yourself." It reveals character in ways few other experiences can. "How you handle yourself and your mental state during the times when everything is not a bed of roses, truly determines who you are," he reflects. The journey becomes valuable not despite its difficulties but because of them—revealing strengths and weaknesses you might never otherwise discover. Perhaps his most significant insight was recognizing that entrepreneurship isn't limited to starting a business—it's a mindset available to anyone. "Entrepreneurship is not a profession. It's a state of mind," he explains. "You can have a job and think of building new things, energizing your team and making sure you are helping the business grow." This perspective liberates the entrepreneurial spirit from narrow definitions of success or specific career paths. Ankur also learned that the true measure of entrepreneurial success isn't raising funds or achieving a high valuation—it's creating value for others. "Congratulating an entrepreneur on raising funds is like congratulating a chef on buying vegetables," he notes. "Money is the ingredient to the startup recipe. It is the start. Not end." Similarly, he discovered that true leadership isn't about titles or authority but about empowering others: "Build a team so strong that someone from outside doesn't know who the boss is!" Through his entrepreneurial journey, Ankur came to understand that the most valuable skills aren't technical expertise or business strategy, but emotional intelligence and self-awareness. The ability to remain calm during crises, to acknowledge mistakes, to trust team members, and to lead by example—these qualities distinguish great entrepreneurs from merely successful ones. His experience reveals that entrepreneurship, at its core, is less about building businesses and more about building character.

Summary

Through vivid stories of spectacular failures and hard-won insights, we've traveled alongside Ankur Warikoo as he transformed from a broke, directionless dropout to a fulfilled entrepreneur and content creator. His journey reminds us that our greatest teachers often come disguised as our most painful setbacks. From selling his wife's gold bangles to buy his son a bicycle, to standing before employees with tears in his eyes after layoffs, these raw moments became the foundation of his most profound wisdom. The thread connecting Ankur's diverse experiences—whether in relationships, money management, habit formation, or entrepreneurship—is the power of conscious choice. Success isn't defined by external metrics or social validation, but by the ability to make decisions from a place of self-awareness rather than fear or ignorance. As he eloquently puts it: "Your superpower is already within you." For Ankur, it was his relationship with time. For others, it might be discipline, creativity, or empathy. By identifying and honoring this inner strength, we can navigate life's inevitable failures with resilience, transforming them into stepping stones toward a more authentic and fulfilling path forward. The journey isn't about avoiding mistakes, but about embracing them as essential teachers on our unique road to becoming more fully ourselves.

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Ankur Warikoo

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