Puvan Briah is the founder of Sabhalo, the Mental Maintenance Store. Puvan is on a mission to help other empaths, people pleasers, and perfectionists to stop burning out through her self care boxes and her podcast “The Burnout Brigade.”
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Today on the podcast I'm talking to Puvan Briah about how and why she pivoted her product business. Her story is fascinating. Puvan talks about how she launched her initial product business MDT London, the wins and challenges she faced, what changed for her, and why she decided to pivot and start something new - Sabhalo. We talk about burnout and the pressures of being a product-based business owner. There is so much here to inspire you, and help you on your journey with your own product-based business.
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Welcome to the, Bring Your Product Ideas To Life podcast, practical
Vicki Weinberg:advice, and inspiration to help you create and sell your own physical products.
Vicki Weinberg:Here's your host Vicki Weinberg.
Vicki Weinberg:Today on the podcast, I'm talking to Puvan Briah about how and why
Vicki Weinberg:she pivoted her products business.
Vicki Weinberg:Her story is really fascinating.
Vicki Weinberg:She talks about how she launched her initial products business.
Vicki Weinberg:What changed her, the challenges she faced and what it meant, actually take quite a
Vicki Weinberg:big pivot and start something else new.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, I think there's lots here that you're going to find
Vicki Weinberg:interesting and inspiring to you.
Vicki Weinberg:And, um, I'd now love to introduce you to Puvan.
Vicki Weinberg:So hi Puvan thank you so much for being.
Puvan Briah:Hi.
Vicki Weinberg:So can we start with you, please give an introduction to
Vicki Weinberg:yourself, your business and what you do and sell let's start, start with what
Vicki Weinberg:you sell currently, and then we'll.
Puvan Briah:Ok so I have a business called Sabhalo and I
Puvan Briah:basically sell, uh, self care items.
Puvan Briah:Anything that you can use to, um, to kind of maintain your, your wellbeing?
Puvan Briah:Because I think, um, personally, my experiences of burnout has really.
Puvan Briah:Uh, inspired me to do that because people often say to do self care when
Puvan Briah:you're already at the point of crisis.
Puvan Briah:So I kind of wanted to create a store that's more around doing it
Puvan Briah:regularly and kind of promoting that.
Vicki Weinberg:Thank you so much for that.
Vicki Weinberg:And we definitely will get onto your experience, burn out a bit later.
Vicki Weinberg:So, um, I asked you to put yourself currently, because I know that even
Vicki Weinberg:at the beginning of this year, your business looked completely different.
Vicki Weinberg:So are you okay if we go right back to the beginning and talk about your
Vicki Weinberg:first products business and how you got started, what inspired you then?
Vicki Weinberg:And then we'll bring ourselves up to where we are now, if that's okay.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, sure.
Puvan Briah:So.
Puvan Briah:Oh, where do I start?
Puvan Briah:So basically I used to have a candle brand called, uh, we used to call it
Puvan Briah:MDT, but it was short for Maison De Tourmentin, which is my partner's surname.
Puvan Briah:And the candles were, um, really minimal.
Puvan Briah:It was all inspired by a French artisanal perfumery because that's kind
Puvan Briah:of what my other half wanted to do.
Puvan Briah:And I was kind of like the business head behind it and I really
Puvan Briah:enjoyed the, um, the creative side.
Puvan Briah:I love styling it.
Puvan Briah:I love like I love interiors.
Puvan Briah:So that was really my thing, like the photography, um,
Puvan Briah:and also the brand message.
Puvan Briah:Cause I really enjoyed promoting like the self-care aspect of things and um,
Puvan Briah:and you know, we were doing really well and we were stocked in like quite a few
Puvan Briah:shops around the UK and uh, and then we just kind of got to a point where
Puvan Briah:because of COVID and Brexit and, you know, the, the absolute power couple that
Puvan Briah:is those two for like product shortages at the beginning of January, um, after
Puvan Briah:a really, really successful Christmas, um, our suppliers, uh, they basically
Puvan Briah:would like keeping us on hold for our stock and we're like, okay, we'll wait.
Puvan Briah:And then it kind of got to february.
Puvan Briah:And I started getting DMS and messages and emails like, hi, I really wanted
Puvan Briah:to get this my partner for Valentine's.
Puvan Briah:It was my mom's birthday.
Puvan Briah:And I started really panicking and.
Puvan Briah:And the suppliers promised and kept saying, okay, yeah, we're going to,
Puvan Briah:we're going to get your products to you.
Puvan Briah:And then eventually they, they said we're not restocking yet.
Puvan Briah:They're not, they're not shipping to the UK anymore.
Puvan Briah:And I think I could have really found another candle vessel could
Puvan Briah:have really found another jar.
Puvan Briah:I think actually it was a sign for us to take stock and think,
Puvan Briah:do we actually like this?
Puvan Briah:Like, are we building a business that we've now kind of like, we've
Puvan Briah:like trapped ourselves in that we're not really enjoying, so yeah, that's
Puvan Briah:basically what instigated the big change.
Vicki Weinberg:Okay, thank you.
Vicki Weinberg:And coming back to that, to the candle business.
Vicki Weinberg:So was that something, um, how long did you have that business?
Vicki Weinberg:Actually, first of all.
Puvan Briah:So we had it for about two years.
Vicki Weinberg:Okay.
Vicki Weinberg:And how did you get started as an, were you in a business
Vicki Weinberg:with your, with your partner?
Vicki Weinberg:Was he in the business with you or was he more like a silent partner?
Puvan Briah:Yeah, we kind of did it together, but, um, I would say that
Puvan Briah:when we stopped doing MDT, like our relationship got so much better because
Puvan Briah:I feel like when you have a business with your partner, it's very much like you're
Puvan Briah:like colleagues and we would do stuff like every weekend we'd like go to markets.
Puvan Briah:We did a trade show together, but we never spent like time together.
Puvan Briah:And it was constantly like, have you done this?
Puvan Briah:Oh, did you send that email?
Puvan Briah:Have you replied to this stockist?
Puvan Briah:I think we kind of realize that.
Puvan Briah:You know, we weren't really enjoying it.
Puvan Briah:And, um, and Matt, basically my partner, he decided that he just, he
Puvan Briah:wanted to focus on other things and he just didn't wanna do it anymore.
Puvan Briah:And then I found myself in a position where I was like, okay, I built this
Puvan Briah:business based on someone else because you know, I'm not French I'm South Asian.
Puvan Briah:So I couldn't really talk about French heritage.
Puvan Briah:The style was very much what he likes.
Puvan Briah:And I was like, right.
Puvan Briah:I need to, I need to really like, take a break and then decide what I'm going
Puvan Briah:to go, what I'm going to do next.
Vicki Weinberg:And your, your, your business you have now definitely looks
Vicki Weinberg:more like your business from what I, you know, what I can see from following
Vicki Weinberg:you on Instagram, it definitely looks like, like you, and I guess, does that,
Vicki Weinberg:do you feel that that's reflects that the fact that now you're driving this.
Puvan Briah:Yes, I think so.
Puvan Briah:I tried to, um, make changes, but it was really scary.
Puvan Briah:And I posted a video like in maybe like April 2021, just saying like, I hope that
Puvan Briah:without Matt I'll be enough because he was really like the artist behind the brand.
Puvan Briah:And he was like the creative and I'm like, I chose to change the name, which
Puvan Briah:was like a really big, um, big decision, because like, I did think maybe I'm
Puvan Briah:throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Puvan Briah:Yeah.
Puvan Briah:That stupid saying, cause I was like, it's going pretty well,
Puvan Briah:why am I changing everything?
Puvan Briah:But, um, the name Sabhalo actually means to preserve in Punjabi and I just
Puvan Briah:felt like it was a bit more me and I wanted to make products that are a bit
Puvan Briah:more joyful and that I'd probably buy.
Puvan Briah:So, yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:And so what was the inspiration for starting up
Vicki Weinberg:the candle business initially?
Puvan Briah:Um, I think it was because Matt basically wanted to be a perfumer
Puvan Briah:and I was like, I'll make it happen.
Puvan Briah:Because I think, um, through like my burnout, I realized that I
Puvan Briah:was a bit of a, like a manager.
Puvan Briah:I was very much like, like, I, I don't know.
Puvan Briah:I kind of liked to be a hype man for other people.
Puvan Briah:And I realized that I've taken some time out that actually that's not right.
Puvan Briah:I need to really focus on what I want.
Puvan Briah:And, and that's like a major message and a major inspiration behind Sabhalo.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:So it sounds like was it pretty much his vision?
Puvan Briah:Yeah, because I think I'd be very much be like, oh, what do you think?
Puvan Briah:Do you like it?
Puvan Briah:Which one do you like?
Puvan Briah:So I basically do everything.
Puvan Briah:I design everything.
Puvan Briah:And, but I felt like I needed that approval of like, is this right?
Puvan Briah:You know, I need someone else to validate that I was doing the right thing.
Puvan Briah:And now it is really hard because I make decisions and I've got no
Puvan Briah:one to be like, do you like this?
Puvan Briah:I just need that cheeky little compliment to like, let me post it.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:That's a massive shift for you.
Vicki Weinberg:I'm going from being the two of you to sort of, you know, the being the,
Vicki Weinberg:sort of the main person, I guess the person that the buck stops with as well.
Puvan Briah:Yeah.
Puvan Briah:It's really hard, but I think this was the best.
Vicki Weinberg:And how have you adjusted to that change?
Vicki Weinberg:That is a huge change.
Puvan Briah:Um, I think I, I ha I like to have some pep
Puvan Briah:talks and like self pep talks.
Puvan Briah:So.
Puvan Briah:Before.
Puvan Briah:It was very much like I need to ask a couple of people and I at least need
Puvan Briah:to get some validation from Matt.
Puvan Briah:Do you think this is a good idea?
Puvan Briah:Should I order this?
Puvan Briah:Like I I've been very indecisive.
Puvan Briah:I realized that that's just a part of my personality.
Puvan Briah:So I'm trying to like, um, it's quite woo woo, but I do a lot of affirmations.
Puvan Briah:Like I write in a journal and I'm like, you can do this.
Puvan Briah:You're a capable business owner.
Puvan Briah:And yeah, I think that, that, that has really helped.
Vicki Weinberg:Thank you.
Vicki Weinberg:So, as you said, it sounds like your supply issues you you're having in January
Vicki Weinberg:kind of the catalyst for the change, but maybe it's from what you're saying,
Vicki Weinberg:that perhaps the burnout issues you're experiencing, what that was that prior
Vicki Weinberg:to January, was it, was it the events of January, sought of brought itto a head.
Puvan Briah:I think, um, it was always kind of a reoccurring issue.
Puvan Briah:And I think for a lot of product based businesses, actually, it's really common.
Puvan Briah:Um, because I think what I would do is I would post like every day
Puvan Briah:on social media I'd show up on my stories, I'd be very into, um, being
Puvan Briah:really visible in my business and I could only do that for so long.
Puvan Briah:And then I would just, I would just kind of fall off of the wagon as it were.
Puvan Briah:And I would maybe don't take two months off and then I don't know about
Puvan Briah:you I don't know if have you ever had this when you take a week off
Puvan Briah:or even a weekend and you think, oh my God, I've been away for so long.
Puvan Briah:They're not gonna recognize me when I come back.
Vicki Weinberg:Definitely, it feels almost awkward coming back doesn't it?
Puvan Briah:Yeah.
Puvan Briah:And yeah, it is, it is really bizaare.
Vicki Weinberg:And I guess it's not.
Vicki Weinberg:And also, I mean, we also have to recognize it's not just a social
Vicki Weinberg:media, isn't it is it presumably you'll do all the other stuff
Vicki Weinberg:in the business as well as that.
Vicki Weinberg:And I think sometimes sort of doing the social media.
Vicki Weinberg:Sort of showing up and being positive.
Vicki Weinberg:I'm absolutely exhausted from all the other things you're having to do.
Vicki Weinberg:Like sending out orders and responding customers.
Vicki Weinberg:It can just feel like a bit, much can't it.
Puvan Briah:A hundred percent.
Puvan Briah:I really love what you said about having to be positive because I feel like that is
Puvan Briah:a major thing that makes people burn out is that they go on social media and I've
Puvan Briah:talked to other product based businesses.
Puvan Briah:And then they see everyone's killing it.
Puvan Briah:Like, oh, I've just had hundred sales.
Puvan Briah:Here's my massive box of orders for the post office.
Puvan Briah:And the reality might not actually be like that.
Puvan Briah:You know, they might just saved up the boxes or something
Puvan Briah:else might be going wrong.
Puvan Briah:And I know for myself, there was a time where I was getting loads of stockists.
Puvan Briah:Um, but then I was still going on social media and I'd feel terrible because,
Puvan Briah:um, I'd see other people doing things that I wanted to do or, um, and another
Puvan Briah:thing was actually fulfilling the orders.
Puvan Briah:Cause I actually worked full time during the whole time of my business.
Puvan Briah:And so did my partner.
Puvan Briah:So we get an order for stockists for like 40 candles and have to like, you
Puvan Briah:know, bash out on it on a weekday.
Puvan Briah:So actually what you see on social media is not really, you know, it's not
Puvan Briah:really hunky-dory as, as it seems to be.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, I had absolutely no idea you were working full time as well.
Vicki Weinberg:Wow.
Vicki Weinberg:And were you actually creating the actual candle?
Vicki Weinberg:I know like you were mentioning that you, the jars were came from your suppliers,
Vicki Weinberg:but where you actually physically putting the candles together for that.
Puvan Briah:Uh, we had like the wax melter we had, like in the room
Puvan Briah:moment now we have, um, like just all of the candle making stuff.
Puvan Briah:I've just put it in into like a corner.
Puvan Briah:It's like the dark corner that we don't speak of.
Puvan Briah:But, but yeah, we literally did it.
Puvan Briah:So we'd come home from our day jobs and then literally be
Puvan Briah:like, okay, we've had an order.
Puvan Briah:We need to like make candles.
Puvan Briah:And then we were just like really silently, like like look at each
Puvan Briah:other and just like, not even speak, just make candles together.
Vicki Weinberg:Oh, wow.
Vicki Weinberg:And did that take some of the joy out of it?
Puvan Briah:I think so.
Puvan Briah:Yeah.
Puvan Briah:I think, I think I would actually really like to do candles again, but
Puvan Briah:I just think maybe in the way that I did it, it wasn't sustainable.
Puvan Briah:So like you said, it really took the, take the magic out of it.
Puvan Briah:Cause that's why you make products right it's because you
Puvan Briah:enjoy making and you enjoy like putting something into the world.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, definitely.
Vicki Weinberg:And coming back to what you talking about, honesty and things, not being, as they
Vicki Weinberg:appear it on social media, one of the reasons I was so keen to talk to you Puvan
Vicki Weinberg:was I watched a video that you posted.
Vicki Weinberg:I think it was April time when you referred towhere you were sort of
Vicki Weinberg:telling everyone what was going on and that you were taking a step back and
Vicki Weinberg:thinking about how to move forward.
Vicki Weinberg:And I thought that was so honest.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, Really vulnerable.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, and yeah, so I'd love to just talk about that a little
Vicki Weinberg:bit more that more of as well.
Vicki Weinberg:Cause I thought that was a really brave thing to do to actually say, I
Vicki Weinberg:don't know what I'm going to do now.
Puvan Briah:Um, I basically thought about it for a while, because I knew that there,
Puvan Briah:like I knew that there was a problem.
Puvan Briah:I was getting loads of messages and I was like, I need to like, you know,
Puvan Briah:I felt like a bit of a celebrity.
Puvan Briah:I don't have a huge following, but I was actually like, I need
Puvan Briah:to make a public statement.
Puvan Briah:And I think, um, it was really hard.
Puvan Briah:I literally, I had like no makeup on, I just looked terrible and I just
Puvan Briah:put my camera in front of me and just kind of spoke for like eight minutes.
Puvan Briah:So.
Puvan Briah:I don't know if anyone watched the whole thing, but I just felt like I
Puvan Briah:needed to get so much off my chest.
Puvan Briah:And I was really scared cause I was kind of just admitting and like as a
Puvan Briah:business owner, like imposter syndrome is really like, you know, it's really real.
Puvan Briah:So the worst thing that you can say is, I don't know what I'm
Puvan Briah:doing because that's probably what most of us are thinking anyway.
Puvan Briah:So to actually put it into words and say, I dunno, what
Puvan Briah:I'm doing was, was really hard.
Puvan Briah:But, um, I, it was such a relief.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, and I think you're right.
Vicki Weinberg:I think most of us don't know what we're doing.
Vicki Weinberg:We're just not all brave enough to say it.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, and what kind of reaction did you get from that video?
Puvan Briah:It was really lovely.
Puvan Briah:Actually, it was so nice like that we had so many, um, messages and people
Puvan Briah:that we weren't even, we have no idea that we, we like had done business with.
Puvan Briah:Like, so, you know, when, when you have a product-based business feel that you
Puvan Briah:have like regular customers that, you know, and that you see pop up on Shopify
Puvan Briah:and you're like, oh look, it's Jenny.
Puvan Briah:You know?
Puvan Briah:But then there were some that were like, oh, I met you once a market like
Puvan Briah:two years ago and you were so nice.
Puvan Briah:And it just really touched me that those people in particular, you know,
Puvan Briah:commented to say, oh, you know, you're really knowledgeable, good luck.
Puvan Briah:I know that you're gonna do really well.
Puvan Briah:And yeah, it was really affirming to know that actually, you
Puvan Briah:know, people cared about us.
Puvan Briah:And I think that's the beauty of small business really is that you're not just
Puvan Briah:kind of this like vapid mass production machine, like you sell to people and
Puvan Briah:yeah, it was, it was really nice.
Vicki Weinberg:That is lovely.
Vicki Weinberg:And I think you're right.
Vicki Weinberg:Sometimes you can lose sight of the fact that there's a person on
Vicki Weinberg:the other end of the transaction.
Vicki Weinberg:It's really lovely touch that many people and that they, you know,
Vicki Weinberg:you've got such positive feedback.
Vicki Weinberg:So what happened from then Puvan?
Vicki Weinberg:And so at that point, you weren't really sure what was happening.
Vicki Weinberg:You were just taking a bit of time out, talk us through what happened.
Puvan Briah:So, um, basically I just, I literally just did that.
Puvan Briah:I took time off.
Puvan Briah:I didn't go on Instagram.
Puvan Briah:I basically uninstalled everything and, uh, I, I reduce as many of my
Puvan Briah:direct debits as I possibly could from my business bank account.
Puvan Briah:And yeah, I just felt like I needed the time and I just,
Puvan Briah:I carried on in my day job.
Puvan Briah:And, uh, and then I kind of got to the point where I saw a therapist
Puvan Briah:and I was like, look, I keep, I keep getting really stressed.
Puvan Briah:I keep overworking myself and I don't know why.
Puvan Briah:And, you know, I had a lot of realizations as to why I was doing it.
Puvan Briah:And I think a lot of the times we work really hard because like internally
Puvan Briah:we don't feel like we're good enough.
Puvan Briah:So we need the validation of achievement to feel like, oh,
Puvan Briah:look, this is what I've done.
Puvan Briah:So I'm I'm good today.
Puvan Briah:And, uh, I think in the end I decided to go part-time with
Puvan Briah:my day job as well, which.
Puvan Briah:It was really scary because I think in society, you're kind of
Puvan Briah:often told that you need to have a constant upward progression.
Puvan Briah:So the fact that I was taking like a drop-in money, like an, almost like a
Puvan Briah:drop in status, sometimes when you go part-time, you know, your family and
Puvan Briah:friends are like, what are you doing?
Puvan Briah:Um, uh, but I just knew I needed the time and.
Puvan Briah:I, uh, decided to do, uh, a therapy course.
Puvan Briah:So I'm basically training to be a therapist at the moment.
Puvan Briah:And I felt like I'd had enough rest that I felt like actually, I
Puvan Briah:kind of want to start this again.
Puvan Briah:And now I'm doing my podcast to basically talk about what I went
Puvan Briah:through and talk about others' experiences of burnout as well.
Vicki Weinberg:Thank you.
Vicki Weinberg:And then what point did you decide to add, products To your new business.
Puvan Briah:So I think products is the first thing that I'm going
Puvan Briah:to do because it's what I know.
Puvan Briah:And.
Puvan Briah:I, I think about the things that I've used during my recovery over the last year.
Puvan Briah:And, you know, it's really been kind of like wholesome things like essential
Puvan Briah:oils and, um, like Palo Santo sticks.
Puvan Briah:So you light them and, and then basically they have this like billowing smoke and.
Puvan Briah:Uh, in my kind of like messaging in my, my business, a big thing is like,
Puvan Briah:um, saying no to toxic positivity and actually just letting yourself be sad.
Puvan Briah:Um, and that's really what I had to go through.
Puvan Briah:And that's what I think some people really need is to actually
Puvan Briah:just be sad and no one fix it.
Puvan Briah:So, I mean, I want to be clear though, you don't need products to do this,
Puvan Briah:but I like, it's not the products that help you, but I do feel like
Puvan Briah:having that ritual to mark, like your wellbeing does really help.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:So talk us through what you'll be selling.
Puvan Briah:So at moment, so I literally did this yesterday cause I
Puvan Briah:was like panicking cause I had like a podcast episode coming out today.
Puvan Briah:Um, so I've got an essential oil Rose and Vetiver um, essential oil roll on.
Puvan Briah:So just to use on your wrists and like your temples and just like your pressure
Puvan Briah:points, um, you can just keep it in your bag, like a little pep to go.
Puvan Briah:Um, and also I love Palo Santo sticks actually.
Puvan Briah:The best selling candles, Trizor was based on this wood.
Puvan Briah:And I came to realize that you can actually light it and it smells divine.
Puvan Briah:And you just have it in your bedroom, like you would incense.
Puvan Briah:Um, also I've got incense Indian incense, and I've created a burnout
Puvan Briah:box with like a burnout journal with like exercises and journal prompts.
Puvan Briah:And then.
Puvan Briah:It has like, you know, all of the other stuff in it, like the essential
Puvan Briah:oil and, and yeah, I really just wanted to help people and, and to
Puvan Briah:give them something comforting.
Vicki Weinberg:Oh, that's lovelyand yeah, your products all sounds amazing.
Vicki Weinberg:I'm definitely gonna take a look at those, but yeah, definitely.
Vicki Weinberg:Cause I think, yeah, I think probably most people listening and definitely,
Vicki Weinberg:I definitely can relate to that feeling of getting to the point where you're
Vicki Weinberg:like, oh, actually I've been doing too much and I'm burnt out and it's almost,
Vicki Weinberg:it's not too late, but it would have been good to have caught it sooner.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, that really resonates.
Vicki Weinberg:And so I know that you, um, rather than sort of starting off with, well,
Vicki Weinberg:I guess because it was, is it fair to you've pivoted your business Puvan?
Puvan Briah:Yeah, I would say yes, it's kind of a big U-turn because
Puvan Briah:there's no candles at the moment.
Puvan Briah:That was pretty much what I was doing before.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, I just kind of wanted to focus more on the kind of wellbeing side, whereas
Puvan Briah:before it was specifically about perfumery and also about French heritage, and now I
Puvan Briah:really want to focus more on the kind of like the mental wellbeing aspect of it.
Puvan Briah:Um, and yeah, I'm planning to come up with like loads of other boxes.
Puvan Briah:So I wanted you to look a kind of like a self love, one for Valentines
Puvan Briah:and, and have like different themes.
Puvan Briah:Because I think it's nice, like have an activity that you can do
Puvan Briah:when you're feeling like a certain emotion and a certain you're going
Puvan Briah:through a certain thing in your life.
Puvan Briah:Um, so yeah, it was, it was a really big pivot.
Puvan Briah:Like even the colors everything's different.
Puvan Briah:So I'm hoping that everyone likes it, but you know, only time will tell.
Vicki Weinberg:Okay.
Vicki Weinberg:So you mean you're using your same Instagram account?
Vicki Weinberg:Am I right?
Vicki Weinberg:And you've, I know you've changed that you've updated the name and
Vicki Weinberg:you've refreshed the look of it.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, have you had, how has that had an impact or has it had.
Vicki Weinberg:On your following, because obviously you have followers who
Vicki Weinberg:are following the MDT brands.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, how have things changed now that you've rebranded and you're
Vicki Weinberg:offering something different.
Puvan Briah:Okay, I'll be honest with you.
Puvan Briah:It's not going how I expected because I mean, actually, no, to
Puvan Briah:be fair, I did expect this, but it doesn't make it any easier.
Puvan Briah:So I've completely changed and completely pivoted.
Puvan Briah:And obviously I know that people followed MDT for the specific, um,
Puvan Briah:brand on the specific vibe of MDT.
Puvan Briah:And I am losing a lot of those people and it is really scary to kind of stick to
Puvan Briah:my guns and just think, you know, is fine because, you know, there's that saying in
Puvan Briah:marketing, isn't that attract and repel.
Puvan Briah:You know, if you, if you just be your true self, then the people that
Puvan Briah:vibe with that will come to you and then people that don't want, you
Puvan Briah:know, aren't interested, they will kind of like find something else.
Puvan Briah:And, um, it is really hard because the posting on social media,
Puvan Briah:I'm doing my podcast and I'm sending out newsletters regularly.
Puvan Briah:And the people that were on the ride for MDT, that aren't on the ride for this,
Puvan Briah:you know, they, they are unfollowing me and they are unsubscribing from me.
Puvan Briah:Um, You know, it is like shaking my confidence a little bit, but I'm trying
Puvan Briah:to like really tell myself that actually this is part of the process, and to
Puvan Briah:kind of create a life and a business that's authentic to me this is just
Puvan Briah:a process that I need to go through.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:I think that is really hard.
Vicki Weinberg:And I know myself like unfollows and unsubscribes.
Vicki Weinberg:It's hard not to take it to heart even though it's not you, but because it's
Vicki Weinberg:your business, it feels like it's you.
Vicki Weinberg:And it feels like it's personal.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, I think what you're saying really makes sense though, because
Vicki Weinberg:I guess not everyone who resonated with a French inspires candle brand
Vicki Weinberg:would be the same person who would resonate with what you're doing now.
Vicki Weinberg:So I guess that makes sense.
Vicki Weinberg:But yeah, I can imagine that is really hard, but I like what you said about
Vicki Weinberg:having faith that, you know, the right people will find you and follow you.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, and I guess, yeah, maybe you have to lose a few people along the way, but.
Vicki Weinberg:I think you'll end up with people following you who are really inspired and
Vicki Weinberg:resonate with what it is you're doing.
Vicki Weinberg:It just does take time.
Vicki Weinberg:Does need to build up a following, but I can imagine it's quite scary when
Vicki Weinberg:you built one up and then it starts to,
Puvan Briah:yeah.
Puvan Briah:Oh my God.
Puvan Briah:Yeah so used to the number going up and I was like, yes, this is what I want.
Puvan Briah:And now see it going down and it's like every post.
Puvan Briah:So I'm like, okay, it's fine.
Puvan Briah:This is okay.
Puvan Briah:And I think, cause we know each other through the Janet Murray
Puvan Briah:marketing membership don't we, so.
Puvan Briah:I listened to one of her podcasts actually.
Puvan Briah:And I think she interviewed someone and they were doing a dating blog and it was
Puvan Briah:all about their fun adventures dating.
Puvan Briah:And I listened to that.
Puvan Briah:And then basically she got, she ended up, you know, getting a partner and
Puvan Briah:then her life changed because it wasn't about these crazy dating stories.
Puvan Briah:It became about like, you know, home life.
Puvan Briah:And she actually decided that she wanted to go more into the business
Puvan Briah:side of things to teach other influences, to be kind of authentic
Puvan Briah:in their marketing and in it, they spoke about losing followers and I'm
Puvan Briah:kind of just like, okay, it's fine.
Puvan Briah:Like it's, you know, everyone has to change, like the things that you were
Puvan Briah:interested in, like in your twenties, aren't going to be the same things that
Puvan Briah:you're interested in your thirties.
Puvan Briah:So I think you just have to grow and then hope that your
Puvan Briah:audience kind of grows with you.
Vicki Weinberg:Absolutely.
Vicki Weinberg:And I think that it's, I remember listening to the episode as well,
Vicki Weinberg:because I remember there was a lady and I don't know if it was the same episode
Vicki Weinberg:where she was talking about actively removing followers and subscribers
Puvan Briah:Oh I didn't hear that one I think
Vicki Weinberg:yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:And I just felt, and I thought that sounds absolutely terrifying, but then
Vicki Weinberg:again, Um, I've heard so many times that it's better to have a smaller group of
Vicki Weinberg:people following you or buying from you or wherever it is that really like you and
Vicki Weinberg:like what you do and like your products than to have, you know, a bigger group
Vicki Weinberg:who aren't really that interested or just maybe following you because they clicked
Vicki Weinberg:follow years ago and don't even know you.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, and that does make sense, but.
Vicki Weinberg:Sometimes you don't, I guess you can, the, the metrics almost
Vicki Weinberg:like a vanity thing, aren't they?
Vicki Weinberg:Because coming back to what you said about status, it does feel nice when
Vicki Weinberg:people follow you and painfulwhen they leave and the same with sales as well.
Vicki Weinberg:And you, you know, when you're selling more of your products, it feels good.
Vicki Weinberg:And if you sell less, you start thinking, what have I done?
Vicki Weinberg:But course courses.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, there were so many variables aren't there, but it's really hard
Vicki Weinberg:not to take everything to heart.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, because I think you are your business.
Puvan Briah:So it's hard to, I've been talking to Matt about this, cause like
Puvan Briah:I still consult him sometimes to be like, well, what should I do?
Puvan Briah:Um, but I think it's really hard to separate your work from you.
Puvan Briah:And you have to realize that you are, you're not, it's actually not the same.
Puvan Briah:If your post is bombing on Instagram, you're still a great person.
Puvan Briah:You're still like, fantastic.
Puvan Briah:This doesn't have any bearing as to like who you are.
Puvan Briah:It just means that maybe you need to analyze it and do something different.
Puvan Briah:Like next time.
Puvan Briah:That's so interesting about removing followers, things.
Puvan Briah:I wouldn't even know who to remove.
Puvan Briah:Like how do you, what if they love me?
Puvan Briah:And I've just gotten rid of them.
Vicki Weinberg:I couldn't bring, I mean, if anyone listened to this,
Vicki Weinberg:I'm not going to remove any of you.
Vicki Weinberg:I just couldn't.
Vicki Weinberg:You can follow me forever.
Vicki Weinberg:I'm never going to, it's just not happening.
Vicki Weinberg:Coming to, if you don't mind me asking this Puvan and coming back
Vicki Weinberg:and you just mentioned Matt again.
Vicki Weinberg:So bit of a changes direction, but what, what does he feel about your new
Vicki Weinberg:venture and the way you're taking things?
Vicki Weinberg:Because if you don't mind me asking that, I'm just curious because
Vicki Weinberg:obviously you guys were in it together.
Puvan Briah:So he, well, I did ask him, I said, look, I've got all
Puvan Briah:the formulas can, I just use them.
Puvan Briah:And he was like, if you wanted to use them in the future, that's absolutely fine.
Puvan Briah:Um, because he was like, cause I was actually intending on
Puvan Briah:clearing out all of that.
Puvan Briah:Um, I'll like kind of, um, fragrance oils and he was like, okay, you can
Puvan Briah:clear them all out, but keep all of mine because that's my intellectual property.
Puvan Briah:I was like, okay.
Puvan Briah:So he's absolutely, it was really supportive.
Puvan Briah:He was like, you can use them, you can rebrand them.
Puvan Briah:You do whatever you want, wherever you want to them.
Puvan Briah:Um, and I think for awhile it was really hard for him because like,
Puvan Briah:I was the one that came out and said, here's how me and Matt feel.
Puvan Briah:Here's what we're doing.
Puvan Briah:You know, it was never, it didn't really come from him, even
Puvan Briah:though it was all his feelings.
Puvan Briah:I felt like he had too much fear.
Puvan Briah:So I kind of stepped up and kind of like delivered the final blow as it were.
Puvan Briah:But I think it was really hard becauseinternally.
Puvan Briah:I think he felt like he was a failure and I think he has come a long way since then.
Puvan Briah:And now he's, he's happy to kind of move on to other things, but,
Puvan Briah:you know, it was getting to the point where we were booking, uh,
Puvan Briah:courses for like fine perfumery.
Puvan Briah:So we went to one of the Cotswolds and we had some more planned and, um,
Puvan Briah:I think he was just kind of doing it because he just felt like, oh, well,
Puvan Briah:you know, it's working and I'm here now.
Puvan Briah:And.
Puvan Briah:But when we had an honest conversation about it and I was
Puvan Briah:like, are you actually enjoying it?
Puvan Briah:Like, do you still want to be a perfumer?
Puvan Briah:And I think he did feel really relieved when I asked him, cause he said no.
Puvan Briah:And I was like, that's fine.
Puvan Briah:That's absolutely fine.
Puvan Briah:But it just means that we know what we're doing going forward.
Puvan Briah:And, um, and yeah, I still use him as a sounding board and it's quite nice
Puvan Briah:to have someone that's been through it as well and understands like the
Puvan Briah:struggle of basically starting out again.
Puvan Briah:So yeah, he's been great.
Vicki Weinberg:Oh, that's really nice to hear.
Vicki Weinberg:And so what are some of the things that you've learned through the
Vicki Weinberg:process of a pivot in your business?
Puvan Briah:I think a big thing is don't do things because
Puvan Briah:everyone else is doing it.
Puvan Briah:And you think that's what you need to do to be successful.
Puvan Briah:Because I think it's so easy to look around at other people
Puvan Briah:who are achieving their goals.
Puvan Briah:And think that you want that.
Puvan Briah:So like there, there are a lot of, um, examples of this in real life.
Puvan Briah:Like I was talking to one of my friends who was like, oh, I saw
Puvan Briah:someone from my school is now a stockbroker and is on loads of money.
Puvan Briah:And just made me feel really like crap and.
Puvan Briah:And then she was like, but I don't really want to be a stockbroker.
Puvan Briah:And it's kind of that kind of same thing, you know, when you see another business
Puvan Briah:doing really well and you think, oh, I want that, but then do you actually want
Puvan Briah:that or do you just want the success?
Puvan Briah:Um, I think another thing I've learned is, um, to take breaks because
Puvan Briah:I didn't before and, and just be patient because things will take a
Puvan Briah:long time and it's really hard to.
Puvan Briah:To like be patient because you want the win.
Puvan Briah:Now you want, you want, you know what I mean?
Puvan Briah:You want that kind of achievement, but I think patience really
Puvan Briah:does pay off in the long run.
Vicki Weinberg:Thank you.
Vicki Weinberg:And I'm certainly not trying to ask a leading question here, but
Vicki Weinberg:I'm just curious whether you think that trying to do everything, um,
Vicki Weinberg:quickly get there fast was attributed to the burnout you had eventually.
Vicki Weinberg:And I only ask that because, um, I've definitely been in that
Vicki Weinberg:situation where I've sought of thought I need to be here by this
Vicki Weinberg:point and I need to have done this.
Vicki Weinberg:And, um, so I'm definitely not trying to put words in your mouth or lead
Vicki Weinberg:you anywhere, but I just wondered if based on what you were saying
Vicki Weinberg:wheter that did attribute to it?
Puvan Briah:A hundred percent yes, definitely.
Puvan Briah:Because, so when I first started the business, the first Christmas we did,
Puvan Briah:uh, we both worked full time and then we basically didn't have any annual
Puvan Briah:leave until the end of the year.
Puvan Briah:And from September to December, I'll be booked to a market
Puvan Briah:every day and on the weekends.
Puvan Briah:So until Christmas basically, It was horrible.
Puvan Briah:And then you'd think that at the end of that, we'd be like right
Puvan Briah:let's take a break let's take stock.
Puvan Briah:Now I booked Top Drawer, literally three weeks later.
Puvan Briah:And it was like one of the last minute ones.
Puvan Briah:So I literally was like, oh my God, I've got Top Drawer, which is like one
Puvan Briah:of the biggest trade shows in the UK.
Puvan Briah:And I've got basically organize it in like six weeks.
Puvan Briah:I think there was a real desire to quite, quite feel like I've made it,
Puvan Briah:because I think again, with the imposter syndrome, when you've got a small
Puvan Briah:business, um, especially when it's like crafty, because a lot of my, um,
Puvan Briah:a lot of people would be like, oh, you know, she's got little candle business
Puvan Briah:and I hate it when people put the word little in front of you in front of
Puvan Briah:your passion and what you're doing.
Puvan Briah:And.
Puvan Briah:And yeah, I just had this desire to be like, well, it's in shops
Puvan Briah:now, so it's not so little.
Puvan Briah:And I think that, that definitely, um, that definitely made me burnout
Puvan Briah:because I don't have anything to prove.
Puvan Briah:I don't need to prove anything to anyone.
Puvan Briah:And if anyone's listening to this, you don't have anything
Puvan Briah:to prove you're doing great.
Puvan Briah:And your business isn't little.
Puvan Briah:Did you know what I mean?
Puvan Briah:Like if you're, if you're operating a business, you're already so much
Puvan Briah:further ahead than so many people that don't like want to, but don't try.
Puvan Briah:So.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, I would say that.
Puvan Briah:That is true.
. Vicki Weinberg:I think so too.
. Vicki Weinberg:And it's also what you're saying resonates that so many people.
. Vicki Weinberg:You know, sit on an idea for so long before doing anything with it.
. Vicki Weinberg:And there's, it's completely understandable by the way, cause it
. Vicki Weinberg:is hard and it is a lot to figure out and I get all of that, but I do agree
. Vicki Weinberg:either just by starting you've done something really amazing because even
. Vicki Weinberg:if it doesn't work, how, who cares, you know, it's a story to tell down the line.
. Vicki Weinberg:If, if nothing else, when I say who cares, I don't be saying that
. Vicki Weinberg:so flippantly, if it doesn't work out, that's how that can be hard.
. Vicki Weinberg:But what I mean is it's, you know, hopefully.
. Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
. Vicki Weinberg:It wouldn't be the only thing that you can do.
. Vicki Weinberg:And as you've proven, you can, you can pivot as well.
. Vicki Weinberg:You know, if the first thing you're doing, isn't quite right, you
. Vicki Weinberg:can definitely change and evolve.
. Vicki Weinberg:And I think a lot of us do that anyway, if things are going well,
. Vicki Weinberg:um, you also mentioned by the way about having your, of, you mentioned
. Vicki Weinberg:this very off hand about having your candle stocked in shops as well.
. Vicki Weinberg:So that's amazing when you think what you did in two years.
. Vicki Weinberg:And I know like, as you said, um, the goal shouldn't be to do it all really
. Vicki Weinberg:fast, but it does sound like you were in a really, in a really good place.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, it was, it was really good.
Puvan Briah:And I, I really enjoyed the stockist aspect of it
Puvan Briah:because they were really nice.
Puvan Briah:And I think as a small business owner, if you have a product
Puvan Briah:based business is so scary.
Puvan Briah:You think of stockists as these like entities that are like the gatekeepers
Puvan Briah:of like your dreams, but actually they're like, they're just like you
Puvan Briah:they're just, you know what I mean?
Puvan Briah:Like there were so many really cool ones that.
Puvan Briah:Um, even when I stopped selling, they sent me really lovely messages
Puvan Briah:to be like, you know, good luck.
Puvan Briah:You're going to smash it.
Puvan Briah:And one of them sent me a message that was like your, your like a diamond.
Puvan Briah:And I was like, oh, it was so nice.
Puvan Briah:But, but yeah, I do.
Puvan Briah:I do think that as a small business, and if you're listening to this and you're
Puvan Briah:looking to get into stores, um, building a relationship with stockists, one of the
Puvan Briah:best things that you can do, because, you know, they're just people like you, and
Puvan Briah:they're just trying to figure things out.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, that's really helpful.
Vicki Weinberg:Thank you.
Vicki Weinberg:And I guess as well, having those relationships, so coming back to the
Vicki Weinberg:pivot, some of those stockists might be interested in your new range of products.
Vicki Weinberg:For example, of course not all of them maybe would be the right fit, but.
Vicki Weinberg:Maybe.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, so I think that's something else that if, you know, when we talk about
Vicki Weinberg:pivoting or changing or trying something new, hat often there's things from what
Vicki Weinberg:you were doing previously, that actually can carry over to the new, whether it's
Vicki Weinberg:experiences or relationships or whatever.
Vicki Weinberg:It's amazing.
Vicki Weinberg:Like how.
Vicki Weinberg:Sort of get behind you in a couple of years.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, definitely.
Puvan Briah:I would totally agree with that because even starting out before, like I know
Puvan Briah:so much more now, and I know like how to have newsletter, like I, I know a
Puvan Briah:lot more people as well through doing the markets and networking and, you
Puvan Briah:know, I think, I think when you pivot, there's like a risk of feeling like a
Puvan Briah:failure, like you've done something wrong.
Puvan Briah:Actually.
Puvan Briah:I think it, it shows that you've tried and it shows that, you know, you've tried
Puvan Briah:to do something that was really hard.
Puvan Briah:And, and, you know, I know it's like a cliche, but it's
Puvan Briah:not how many times you fall.
Puvan Briah:It's how many times you get up.
Puvan Briah:And I've been trying to tell myself that, and I think that.
Puvan Briah:You know, that's something that other people should also think
Puvan Briah:of when they feel really poo that they've made a bad decision.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:I mean, if anything, I would say that a pivot is growth rather than failure.
Vicki Weinberg:I mean, I am a glass, half full sort of person that see it because, um,
Vicki Weinberg:it's not, it's definitely not failing.
Vicki Weinberg:It's not giving up.
Vicki Weinberg:It's just moving in a different direction.
Vicki Weinberg:And as I said, I think most businesses, even if you look at really these
Vicki Weinberg:really big successful businesses have gone through a number of
Vicki Weinberg:pivots or changes along the way.
Vicki Weinberg:I think very few of us start out with an idea in mind and just keep
Vicki Weinberg:going on that very straight line.
Vicki Weinberg:I just don't.
Vicki Weinberg:I dunno, maybe there are, maybe there are people won't get examples of that.
Vicki Weinberg:I'm sure there are actually, but I think there will be more examples of people
Vicki Weinberg:whose lines falling all over the place.
Puvan Briah:Yeah, I think that's more likely cause you know, like
Puvan Briah:you said, it's growth, isn't it.
Puvan Briah:And you know, even if you're not trying, you're growing, you know, you're
Puvan Briah:growing every day just by learning what your preferences are and you
Puvan Briah:can't, um, You have to do something before you know that you like it.
Puvan Briah:Do you know what I mean?
Puvan Briah:So when I was like, I'm going to be a candle business owner
Puvan Briah:and I'm going to do X, Y, and Z.
Puvan Briah:Like you have to try out, you have to like, there's no way you're going to
Puvan Briah:know what it's like, and you're not going to know the day-to-day aspects of it.
Puvan Briah:So yeah, I think it is all growth.
Vicki Weinberg:And so it has, um, cutting down your, your, your job to part-time.
Vicki Weinberg:Is that also, I guess that's allowed you more time now to explore.
Vicki Weinberg:You your business and things you might want to do?
Puvan Briah:Yeah, definitely.
Puvan Briah:It means I can do the things I enjoy as well.
Puvan Briah:So I really enjoy the writing a lot.
Puvan Briah:I love content.
Puvan Briah:I love planning podcasts and wanting to a podcast was something I've
Puvan Briah:wanted to do for like two years.
Puvan Briah:And I've just always put it off because I've been too busy and now, yeah, having
Puvan Briah:the two days off really allows me to to just do the stuff that I enjoy about
Puvan Briah:X that's why we do this, isn't it?
Puvan Briah:Because we have a passion for it and because we, we enjoy creating.
Puvan Briah:So yeah, I really liked that part of it.
Vicki Weinberg:And is there anything sort of along the process that you think,
Vicki Weinberg:oh, I wish I did that differently or I know you're a very positive person, but
Vicki Weinberg:is there anything where you think, oh, actually if I was going to go through that
Vicki Weinberg:all again, I would have done X, Y or Z.
Puvan Briah:Um, I have quite a few.
Vicki Weinberg:Do you mind, do you mind sharing some?
Vicki Weinberg:So I've just, I'm just thinking from the point of view of anyone
Vicki Weinberg:listening, whose sort of maybe resonating with some of this.
Vicki Weinberg:I think it could be really helpful
Puvan Briah:um, I think I would definitely take more breaks a
Puvan Briah:hundred percent and not feel guilty about it and not have to, you know,
Puvan Briah:take a week off and think, oh my God, I've completely dropped it.
Puvan Briah:It's, it's dead in the water.
Puvan Briah:No-one's going to know who I am anymore.
Puvan Briah:Um, and also spend less money because I, I think fueled.
Puvan Briah:Uh, it's hard to admit, but sometimes you're fueled by insecurity and that's
Puvan Briah:why I spent so much money on Top Drawer.
Puvan Briah:And even though it was good and we got suppliers and stockists out of it, like
Puvan Briah:even things like the printing materials.
Puvan Briah:So, you know, when you take a line sheet and you take a business card
Puvan Briah:and you take all of the information to give to potential stockists and,
Puvan Briah:uh, I don't know what I thought.
Puvan Briah:I thought I was going to be like millions of people.
Puvan Briah:So I printed.
Puvan Briah:I'm not even joking, like 5,000 of them and I've still got
Puvan Briah:them was like two years ago.
Puvan Briah:So my advice would be spend less money because I always wanted to be prepared.
Puvan Briah:So I always would like be like, right.
Puvan Briah:Okay.
Puvan Briah:I might need 50, but I'm going to buy a hundred just in case.
Puvan Briah:So it might be really obvious to some people, but, and also if you have an
Puvan Briah:idea, If you have an idea, like test out in the smallest and cheapest capacity
Puvan Briah:first before you go gung-ho and invest in everything, all of the stuff for it,
Puvan Briah:because, uh, we tried to do, um, what they called, like structured candles,
Puvan Briah:you know, the candles that have got the funny shapes, um, Basically, we try to
Puvan Briah:make our own molds because we wanted to make something that was truly unique.
Puvan Briah:So we had some shapes screen printed, um, and then we made molds out of silicone.
Puvan Briah:So we did the whole process and, um, and basically it didn't really work.
Puvan Briah:We spent so much money on it.
Puvan Briah:So I would say if you have an idea, You cost it up, think about what was going
Puvan Briah:to be the cheapest way of seeing if it's going to sell, like just sell 10
Puvan Briah:and then if you sell 10 things, okay.
Puvan Briah:Yes.
Puvan Briah:I'm going to do this.
Puvan Briah:Um, because I think that would have saved me a lot of money in the long run.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:And a lot of time as well, that's the other thing it takes so much time,
Vicki Weinberg:doesn't it to sort of, and you put a lot into a new, a new products idea.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah.
Vicki Weinberg:I mean, that's, that's one of the key things I tell people as well is to
Vicki Weinberg:just try and get as much information about whether your idea might work,
Vicki Weinberg:whatever that might look like for you, whether it's taking pre-orders or
Vicki Weinberg:whether it's testing or whether its.
Vicki Weinberg:Even just doing a bit of research and talking to customers before
Vicki Weinberg:spending lots of time and money.
Vicki Weinberg:Cause it can be so hard and you get to the point as well.
Vicki Weinberg:My experience where you go so far down a path with an idea that it's almost like
Vicki Weinberg:even if all the signs are saying, stop back out, you just can't because you're
Vicki Weinberg:all so invested, no, I have to keep going.
Vicki Weinberg:So I think it's good to kind of get that validation or otherwise before you go too
Vicki Weinberg:far down that path and can't be derailed,
Puvan Briah:I wish I spoke to you before I made this stupid mold!,
Vicki Weinberg:you learned something from it and I actually have for
Vicki Weinberg:people are learning from it.
Vicki Weinberg:And I think like I know for myself, I've made so many, I could probably
Vicki Weinberg:do a whole episode on the mistakes that I've made along the way.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, but I think you need.
Vicki Weinberg:Yeah, not to do that.
Vicki Weinberg:And you know, if you can help other people, I mean, the whole point of this,
Vicki Weinberg:that's the whole point of this podcast.
Vicki Weinberg:One of the points of this podcast is if, if you and I, and everyone
Vicki Weinberg:else can sort of teach someone something say, go, oh, okay.
Vicki Weinberg:I won't do that.
Vicki Weinberg:Or I will do that.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, I think that's.
Vicki Weinberg:Really really helpful because when you start out, I don't know about you, but
Vicki Weinberg:I didn't really know what I was doing.
Vicki Weinberg:And the only way I could learn was by making mistakes
Vicki Weinberg:because I was pretty clueless.
Vicki Weinberg:So now I'm just trying to help other people avoid some of them.
Vicki Weinberg:Um, so along those lines, I've got one final, final question.
Vicki Weinberg:If that's okay Puvan, what was your number one piece of advice
Vicki Weinberg:be to a product's business owner.
Vicki Weinberg:Who's thinking about making a change or a pivot.
Vicki Weinberg:What's one thing you'd want them to take away.
Puvan Briah:I'm trying to think I what it to be like golden advice.
Puvan Briah:I want it to be the be-all and end-all like advice.
Puvan Briah:Um, I would say change, change if you feel like it's going
Puvan Briah:to make you happier because.
Puvan Briah:If your business isn't making you happy, then why are you doing it?
Puvan Briah:You know, it, the whole point of it is that it gives you freedom
Puvan Briah:and it gives you purpose and you can live your life on your terms.
Puvan Briah:Um, and that's why I got in, got into it.
Puvan Briah:So if it's not making you happy, then change it to make you happy.
Puvan Briah:Um, and also, additionally, if you have extra stock sell
Puvan Briah:it And it makes some money.
Puvan Briah:So, yeah, that's my, my advice.
Vicki Weinberg:That's really good advice.
Vicki Weinberg:Thank you.
Vicki Weinberg:Say right.
Vicki Weinberg:And thank you for everything you've shared.
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