The Ario Kavousi Experience

We all do it — miss opportunities, waste time, let other people’s judgments control us. This episode is about acting now before “later” turns into never.

Partnerships make or break your business.

I’ve learned the hard way: it’s not about locking clients in with contracts — it’s about building relationships they never want to leave.

In this episode, I share my raw lessons on:

• Why honesty beats “polished lies” every time.

• Walking partners through agreements (and why the paper means less than you think).

• Handling mistakes with humility instead of hiding behind walls.

• How saying “no” the right way builds more trust than false promises.

This isn’t theory — it’s startup reality. Listen in.

Early-stage hiring can make or break your startup. In this episode, I share the real mistakes I made: skipping the hard talks, putting people in the wrong roles, firing in anger, and moving too fast.

If you’re building a startup, these lessons will save you time, money, and sanity.

If you’re under 20, this episode might save you years of pain.

I share the biggest mistakes I made — losing over 100K on taxes, trying to be a one-man show, ignoring time management, crab mentality, and more.

These are the lessons I wish someone had told me when I was younger.

Not theory. Not “LinkedIn motivation.” Just raw, real mistakes I lived through.

👉 Shoutout to Podcast.Today— they featured this show among some of the biggest podcasts out there. Not a promo, just grateful they help highlight the most useful content.

You can’t build a startup by just watching YouTube or listening to podcasts. You have to do the work.In this episode, I share the raw truth about what really happens when you jump into entrepreneurship unprepared – How I got crushed by taxes and insurance– Why hiring too early almost killed my company– Why ego kept me from finding a co-founder– How watching smart content isn’t enough — you have to apply it. These are the lessons no one talks about. And I’m still paying for them. Literally. If you’re building something, this one might save you years of pain (and thousands of euros).

In the early days of a startup, hiring feels exciting—but it can become your biggest mistake. No budget. No brand. No structure. And yet you need people. But who do you hire when you can’t afford A-players? How do you fire fast when it’s not working? And why do most early hires end up killing your momentum?

In this raw episode, I break down:

• How I hired and fired in the early days

• Why most resumes mean nothing

• Interns, hustlers, and finding people who believe

• Why you, the founder, MUST train every role early on

If you're building from Day 1, this is the blueprint I wish I had.

There were at least five moments when I could’ve given up. I was broke, coming from Iran, rejected by banks, ignored by investors and VCs, blocked by the system, and stuck during a pandemic. But I didn’t quit. I kept executing. Today, TheList operates in 3 countries, with 1,500+ high-end venues and global users.This episode breaks down the 5 critical moments where it all could’ve ended — and how I pushed through every single one of them.

Two restaurants. Same revenue. One lives in chaos, the other lives in peace.

In this episode, I break down the art of building smart businesses vs. stressful ones — and why so many founders pick the hard road. One of my partners runs a flashy, high-end sushi fusion spot in Brickell. DJs, influencers, staff issues, low margins, and daily fires to put out. The other sells eggs and juice out of a chill boho café with mismatched chairs — no stress, high profits, no drama.

So why do founders still pick chaos? Because we’re crazy. Because legacy matters more than money. Because we chase problems, even when life is already good.

If you’re building a business, or thinking about it — this episode is your wake-up call.

Most people don’t take action because they’re scared of one thing: judgment.

They stay quiet.

They play small.

They avoid risk—not because they can’t do it, but because they’re afraid of what others will think if they fail.

But here’s the truth:

No one’s really watching.

And the people you’re afraid of impressing? They don’t care.

This episode is your reminder to stop living for other people’s opinions.

Start living for yourself—before it’s too late.

Listen now.

Most people don’t fear failure—they fear judgment.

And because of that fear, they live a life that’s not even theirs.

They work jobs they hate. Stay silent. Play it safe.

All to impress people who don’t actually matter.

A palliative care nurse once documented the top regrets of people on their deathbeds.

The #1 regret?

“I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself—not the life others expected of me.”

Let that sink in.

This episode is a reality check.

Live loud. Live real. Live your life—before it’s too late.