If you're an entrepreneur running a small business #startup and are always paranoid by the funding news and are constantly self-doubting, here's what I've learned in the last 7 years of running businesses. 1/n [thread]

Everyone will tell you to grow (fast) like its a race. Grow your company, make it 100 people team, make it a National brand, acquire $$ funding, and only then you'll be successful. And when its all around, you'll believe them.

No. Growth is not everything and it is certainly not the measure of success. You can be successful by building a sustainable business. You don't need to become a medium or a large scale business.

You can be a small business, work with a three, four, or five people team whom you love and who are well paid and happy to work with you. Build products/ services you love.

Make just enough money that you have the power of choice. You do not need to own a BMW or a penthouse to be successful. Take that pressure off.

Focus on building a brand/ business that's loved and admired. Grow at a steady pace and try and maintain a healthy life & work balance.

The ability to take a holiday with your friends & family at an instant is the new rich. Doing what you wanted to do for yourself after retirement now is the new rich. And that certainly is a success. Go on, build what you love, but without any pressure <3