🏹 First 10 users, sign up here →https://www.genyodha.com/cohort-1💚 Join the unofficial board: https://www.genyodha.com/become-an-unofficial-board-director ----------------------------------------------------------------------Gen Yodha:Check out Gen Yodha 🏹: https://www.genyodha.com/Follow Gen Yodha 🏹 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genyodha/Read the first unofficial board update: https://genyodha.beehiiv.com/p/day-1-of-gen-yodhaHow is Gen Yodha different from LinkedIn? Read our product updates - https://www.genyodha.com/product----------------------------------------------------------------------Join From Zero: anushakannan.com/newsletterLet's connect:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anusharameshkannannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/Who even am I? https://www.anushakannan.com/🎙️ For marketing nerds: Subscribe to The 360° Marketing Show @The360DegreeMarketingShow Polywork raised $44.5M from Series B and shut down on January 31st, 2025. They were backed by Andreessen Horowitz (led Series A), Stripe founders John and Patrick Collison, Alexis Ohanian (Reddit co-founder), and more. In this video, I break down exactly why the "anti-LinkedIn" failed...the cold start problem, the unclear value prop, and the pivot that alienated their core users. Plus, what this means for anyone trying to fix professional networking (including me with Gen Yodha).Sources:- Polywork shutdown announcement: https://x.com/multiplay3r/status/1873859669065978327- Series B funding ($28M): https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220915005370/en/Polywork-Secures-28M-Series-B-Funding-as-it-Launches-Out-of-Private-Beta- Series A funding ($13M, led by a16z): https://www.siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/polywork-series-a- Polywork post-mortem analysis: https://www.productreleasenotes.com/p/what-happened-to-polywork-an-eye current subs: 159💚tags: polywork shutdown polywork failed linkedin alternative why startups fail anti linkedin polywork vs linkedin startup post mortem network effects cold start problem gen yodha early career networking startup lessons linkedin competitorMusic from Capcut: Reasoning, Verification, Serlous, News, Accompaniment: LP(1455637)

BECOME THE UNOFFICIAL BOARD DIRECTOR: https://www.genyodha.com/become-an-unofficial-board-director

Want to be part of shaping this? Fill out this research form (anonymous!): https://forms.gle/Y6L5zHr5eY2AmMAv9

I've been job searching on and off for 3 years. And the biggest lesson? Senior people rarely responded to my cold outreach. But my peers-classmates, friends, people at my level--they're the ones who actually helped. Real referrals. Real information. Not generic advice.

That's why I'm building Gen Yodha. A place where early-career people actually help each other instead of performing for algorithms. If you're trying to build a personal brand without a big company name, building something alone, or just want a job without the performative culture, this is for you.

This is the name reveal. Welcome to Gen Yodha. 🏹

T I M E S T A M P S

0:15 - the people who actually helped me get jobs

0:33 - why your peers matter more than you think

1:05 - the problem with existing networking platforms

1:26 - what if helping each other was the default?

1:56 - the name reveal

2:16 - what building a career actually comes down to

2:30 - the unofficial board of directors (and how to join)

3:37 - BTS: filming at 4 AM because my neighbors won't keeep it dowwnn hehe

If any of these resonate with you, drop a comment and let me know which bucket you're in (or if you're all three, like me).

Read my story & decide if you'd like to follow along: anushakannan.com/newsletter

Let's connect:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anusharameshkannann

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/

Who even am I? https://www.anushakannan.com/

🎙️ For marketing nerds: Subscribe to The 360° Marketing Show @The360DegreeMarketingShow

Want to be part of shaping this?

Fill out this research form (anonymous!): https://forms.gle/Y6L5zHr5eY2AmMAv9

3 years ago, I was looking for something that didn't exist. After trying to find it everywhere and getting 100+ job rejections along the way, I decided to build it myself.

In this video, I'm sharing what I'm building and why it matters for three types of people:

→ Bucket 1: People building their personal brand from scratch (without a big company name backing them)

→ Bucket 2: Builders who feel completely alone and need real feedback from people who actually get it

→ Bucket 3: Job seekers who just want a straightforward recruiting process, not generic rejections with zero feedback

T I M E S T A M P S:

0:15 - Why the job market is brutal for Gen Z & millennials

0:47 - The 3 types of people this is for

1:00 - Bucket #1: Building your brand without a big company name

1:58 - The harsh truth about personal branding

2:35 - Bucket #2: Builders who feel completely alone

3:27 - Why 98% of friends are too nice to give real feedback

4:27 - Bucket #3: People who just want a job (no influencer stuff)

5:21 - The "step marks" concept for recruiting

6:09 - The problem: no space to be visible without performing

6:25 - What's coming next + how to join

7:02 - Moving back to India from the US (quick update)

If any of these resonate with you, drop a comment and let me know which bucket you're in (or if you're all three, like me).

Join From Zero: anushakannan.com/newsletter

Follow along→

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anusharameshkannann

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/

Next video, I'll reveal what I'm calling this platform, the plan, and how you can join the first 100+ people helping build this thing.

Who even am I?: https://www.anushakannan.com/

🎙️ For marketing nerds: Subscribe to The 360° Marketing Show ⁨@The360DegreeMarketingShow⁩

tags: PersonalBranding, BuildingInPublic, StartupJourney, EarlyCareer GenZCareers JobSearch CareerDevelopment Entrepreneurship SoloFounder BuildingAlone StartupCommunity CareerAdvice JobMarket2025 AIandJobs EntryLevelJobs RecruitingProcess CareerPlatform ZeroToOne BuildingFromScratch ProfessionalGrowth CareerTransformation StartupLife FounderJourney CommunityBuilding RealFeedback CareerSupport

VIDEO ON YOUTUBE! https://www.youtube.com/@anusharameshkannan

I used to think being a generalist meant doing everything at once. Two podcasts, a newsletter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, even writing a book- all at the same time. And I burned out. Hard.Then I read Essentialism by Greg McKeown, and it completely shifted how I think about focus, priorities, and what it actually means to be a generalist. Turns out, you can have range without spreading yourself thin. You can explore multiple interests without doing them all simultaneously.In this video, I'm breaking down 10 lessons from the book that helped me enter my "focus season"- and why I decided to pause my podcast, my newsletter, and other projects I built from scratch. This isn't about doing less. It's about doing what actually matters.If you've ever felt like you're building a bunch of things but not THE thing, this one's for you.Subscribe if you want to follow along on this journey- I'm building something new and I'll be sharing the whole process.Timestamps:[00:32] Why I started (and paused) so many projects[01:46] Lesson 1: Less but better- doing the RIGHT work[02:16] Lesson 2: The power of saying no (and why I paused my podcast)[02:35] Lesson 3: You can't have it all, but you can have the right thing[03:20] Lesson 4: Burnout isn't a badge of honor[04:53] Lesson 5: How to prioritize when everything feels important[05:30] Lesson 6: Clarity of purpose eliminates distractions (this validated everything for me)[07:19] Lesson 7: "What if I need it later?" is a trap[08:33] The difference between time stacking and multitasking[09:10] Essentialism is a practice, not a destinationJoin From Zero: anushakannan.com/newsletterLet's connect:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anusharameshkannannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/Who even am I? https://www.anushakannan.com/🎙️ For marketing nerds: Subscribe to The 360° Marketing Show @The360DegreeMarketingShow

VIDEO ONLY ON YOUTUBE:https://www.youtube.com/@anusharameshkannan

I usually just record audio when I'm thinking out loud, but this time I captured the video too.

This is me, unscripted, driving to the gym at 5 PM in the rain, processing my thoughts on building in public. It's raw. It's unfiltered. And honestly, this is how most of my ideas form, not at a desk, but when I'm moving.

In this video, I talk about:

Why building in public feels terrifying (and why you should do it anyway)

The difference between intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation

Why "aura points" are an illusion

What the Misfit Experiments are really about

How to shift from building for validation to building for yourself

No script. No edits. Just me thinking through the fear, the process, and why I'm committing to this publicly.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Why there's so much content (but you still have something to say)

1:04 - The fear of being "not interesting enough"

2:05 - Aura points are an illusion

3:18 - Who are these people judging you anyway?

4:16 - If you lose, they won't care. If you win, they'll show up.

5:05 - Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic: The shift that changes everything

6:19 - Why I'm calling it the Misfit Experiments

7:21 - Building for yourself, not for validation

8:25 - Documenting the messy middle

9:47 - Conclusion

DISCLAIMER:

This video was filmed hands-free on a securely mounted camera. My eyes remain on the road at all times, and no handheld devices were used. I am an experienced driver familiar with these roads. Please do NOT attempt to replicate this unless you are confident in your driving abilities and familiar with your route. Safety first, always. 🚗

tags: building in public startup journey founder mindset intrinsic motivation entrepreneurship building a startup product development misfit experiments solo founder generalist vs specialist overcoming fear self-development mindset shift consistency content creation startup advice early stage founder, validation ego death thinking out loud raw content unscripted business journey startup vlog building from scratch

Join From Zero: anushakannan.com/newsletter

Let's connect:

Instagram: / anusharameshkannann

LinkedIn: / anusharameshkannan

Who even am I? https://www.anushakannan.com/

🎙️ For marketing nerds: Subscribe to The 360° Marketing Show ‪@The360DegreeMarketingShow‬

There's a huge gap between knowing you're messing up and actually doing something about it. We all think we're so self-aware- we can explain exactly why we procrastinate, why we attract certain people, why we make the choices we make. But here's the uncomfortable truth: self-awareness without accountability is just sophisticated self-deception.

For years, I could tell you exactly why I was stuck in certain patterns. I understood my triggers, recognized my mistakes, and had a whole psychological framework for my behavior. And you know what changed? Nothing. Because knowing isn't the same as doing! 🤷‍♀️

In this video, I'm breaking down the difference between self-awareness (observing your patterns) and accountability (actually changing them). I'm sharing the moments when I had to face the fact that I was the common denominator in situations I kept complaining about- from one-sided professional relationships to holding impossible standards in friendships.

This isn't a feel-good video about "being kind to yourself."

It's about the ego-threatening work of looking in the mirror & admitting: "I'm the reason this keeps happening." And then actually doing something about it.

If you keep finding yourself in the same situations with different people, if you're tired of observing your life instead of changing it, if you're ready to stop getting credit for just "recognizing" your patterns- this one's for you!

⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣⇣Join From Zero: anushakannan.com/newsletterLet's connect:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anusharameshkannannLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/Who even am I? https://www.anushakannan.com/🎙️ For marketing nerds: Subscribe to The 360° Marketing Show!

Why the popular advice 'don't take anything personally' backfired completely and how learning when to take things personally actually changed everything

Let's stay in touch!

💌 GET MY NEWSLETTER: anushakannan.com/newsletter

👩‍💻 FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/

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WEBSITE: https://www.anushakannan.com/

tags: boundaries, self-respect, toxic positivity, people-pleasing, emotional intelligence, personal growth, relationship red flags, workplace dynamics, self-advocacy

Hey everyone! In this video, we talk about the five most uncomfortable but transformative lessons I've learned over five years of building from zero. These aren't feel-good motivational quotes you'll see on LinkedIn - they're the raw, messy truths that actually changed how I operate in the world. We dive deep into why consuming self-development content can become mental masturbation, how to treat major life decisions as experiments instead of permanent commitments, the painful but necessary skill of letting go, why progress feels like you're going insane, and how to work with fear instead of against it. If you're in your 20s or 30s and tired of surface-level advice, this one's for you! :)

💌 GET MY NEWSLETTER: anushakannan.com/newsletter 👩‍💻 SOCIALSX: https://twitter.com/anusharkannan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anusharameshkannan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anusharameshkannann🌐 WEBSITE https://www.anushakannan.com/

T I M E S T A M P S 00:42 - Why these lessons are uncomfortable (not feel-good content)00:59 - Lesson 1: The Progress Illusion (Mental Masturbation)01:18 - The dopamine trap of consuming vs. creating02:17 - Why your brain can't tell the difference02:39 - My browser history wake-up call03:25 - The shift: Output over input04:03 - Action bias vs. information bias04:46 - Lesson 2: Experimental Mindset05:28 - Why most decisions aren't permanent05:50 - My corporate job paralysis story06:44 - How to reframe decisions as experiments07:19 - Why experiments can't fail08:24 - Lesson 3: Knowing When to Let Go08:58 - My pattern of clinging to everything09:19 - The "From Zero" question that changed everything10:05 - Letting go of projects, relationships, old versions of yourself11:33 - The "let go audit" system12:11 - Lesson 4: Progress is Not Linear12:32 - What the roller coaster actually feels like13:17 - Why everyone has valleys14:15 - What non-linear progress really looks like14:57 - Reframing valleys as necessary growth16:00 - Lesson 5: Fear is Not the Enemy16:42 - How resisting fear gives it power17:19 - My podcast fear story17:55 - Fear as information, not instruction18:39 - How others use your fear against you18:54 - Courage vs. fearlessness19:15 - These are ongoing practices, not one-time downloads!tags: building from zero, mental masturbation, self development, progress illusion, entrepreneurship lessons, personal growth, productivity tips, action vs planning, experimental mindset, letting go, nonlinear progress, fear and courage, analysis paralysis, stop planning start doing, 20s life advicemusic code: 4IZOJYLXTBDL5GEN