Kunal Shah, the CEO of the popular fintech company CRED, recently shared his thoughts on what he believes is a common mistake made by aspiring entrepreneurs. In a
Kunal Shah, the CEO of the popular fintech company CRED, recently shared his thoughts on what he believes is a common mistake made by aspiring entrepreneurs. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Shah highlighted that many entrepreneurs spend too much time consuming content—such as podcasts, reality TV, and social media—rather than focusing on the critical tasks of building their businesses or making sales.
Shah’s message struck a chord with his audience, sparking a wide range of reactions. He argued that real learning in entrepreneurship doesn’t come from listening to podcasts or watching reality TV, but through hands-on experience in building and selling a product or service.
In his post, Shah directly addressed the habits of many aspiring entrepreneurs, saying:
“I see aspiring entrepreneurs often wasting time-consuming content, podcasts, reality TV instead of building or selling, where real learning happens.”
He emphasized that the key to success in entrepreneurship is not about increasing your vocabulary or accumulating theoretical knowledge from online content. Instead, the real lessons come from real-world experiences—especially from doing the hard work of building something from scratch.
Shah made a clear analogy to swimming to explain his point:
“Vocabulary is growing; skills aren’t. Entrepreneurship is like swimming. You can’t learn swimming online,” Shah added.
This statement reflects Shah’s belief that entrepreneurship, much like learning to swim, requires action and practice. Just as you can’t learn how to swim by watching videos, you can’t become a successful entrepreneur just by consuming content. You need to dive in, get your hands dirty, and face real challenges to truly learn and grow.
Shah’s post raised an important point: aspiring entrepreneurs often get caught up in the idea of learning from content, when in reality, the best way to learn is by doing. While it’s true that podcasts, books, and online courses can offer valuable insights, they should not replace the actual work required to build a business.
Here’s why focusing on action is crucial:
There is a big difference between knowing something and actually doing it. It’s easy to consume content and feel like you’re learning, but real entrepreneurial skills come from navigating challenges and solving problems in the real world. Listening to a podcast or watching an interview can give you great ideas, but implementing those ideas is where the learning happens.
As an entrepreneur, time is one of your most valuable assets. The more time you spend consuming content without applying it, the less time you have to work on your business. Entrepreneurs need to be strategic about how they spend their time. Instead of listening to content for hours on end, it might be more beneficial to allocate that time to activities that will directly impact business growth, like product development, sales, or customer feedback.
Entrepreneurship is all about momentum. The more you take action, the more progress you make, and the faster you learn. If you spend too much time absorbing content without applying it, you risk getting stuck in a loop of consumption without progress. Success in business comes from constant iteration, trial and error, and refinement—and that can only happen when you’re actively working on your business.
Kunal Shah’s post quickly gained traction, receiving over 62,000 views and sparking a range of reactions from his followers. Many users resonated with his message, while others added their own humorous takes on the subject.
One user responded with an insightful comment:
“Yes and it’s open water swimming…not in the swimming pool… :)”
This comment reflected the reality that entrepreneurship is unpredictable and full of risks, much like open-water swimming, where you can’t always see what lies ahead. It’s a stark contrast to the controlled environment of a swimming pool, symbolizing how business ventures often involve navigating uncertainties and challenges that no online course can prepare you for.
Another user humorously added:
“Many are gearing up for skydiving when all they’re about to do is dive into a swimming pool.”
This comment pointed out that many entrepreneurs may overestimate their preparedness, thinking they’re ready for extreme challenges, when they’re actually just starting with something much simpler. It highlights the common misconception that you need to be perfectly prepared before taking action, which isn’t true in entrepreneurship—sometimes, you just have to jump in.
Shah’s message is a wake-up call for entrepreneurs who are stuck in the cycle of consumption without execution. Here are some practical takeaways from his post that can help aspiring entrepreneurs shift from learning to doing:
It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to have all the knowledge before you start. However, perfection is an illusion. Instead of waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect plan, focus on taking small, consistent actions. Each step forward, no matter how small, gets you closer to your goal.
Rather than spending hours listening to entrepreneurial podcasts or reading books, focus on building your product or service. Whether it’s creating a prototype, writing a business plan, or reaching out to potential customers, actual product development is where the real learning and growth happen.
Entrepreneurship is a learning-by-doing process. Mistakes are inevitable, and instead of viewing them as failures, use them as opportunities for growth. The more you experiment and fail, the more you learn what works and what doesn’t.
One of the most important things an entrepreneur can do is focus on sales and marketing. Learning how to sell your product or service is crucial to the success of your business. Instead of just consuming content about marketing, get out there and try to sell—whether it’s through cold calling, networking, or launching an online campaign.
Entrepreneurship requires risk-taking, and often, fear of failure can hold aspiring entrepreneurs back from taking action. If you find yourself spending too much time on content consumption, it might be a sign that you’re avoiding taking the necessary risks. Embrace the uncertainty and dive in.
Kunal Shah’s message is clear: stop waiting to learn everything before you start. Entrepreneurship is about taking action, learning from your mistakes, and adapting along the way. While content consumption can provide insights, the real growth happens when you put that knowledge into action.
The best way to become a successful entrepreneur is not by listening to endless podcasts or watching motivational videos. It’s by rolling up your sleeves, building your product, selling it, and learning through real-world experience.
