The Self Startup Show with Zaynab and Hafsa

Is work your identity?

Have schools made us risk averse?

In this episode, we unpack the key differences between the employee mindset and the entrepreneur mindset.

Can the habits that make you thrive in a 9–5 could actually hold you back when building a business or side hustle…?

We also dive into:

- How the education system might be shaping us to avoid risk and follow rules

- Why your identity isn’t defined by your job title

- The myth of the “one right path” unconventional careers and defining success your way

- Why Y Combinator prefers new grads to start companies? We discuss if the employee mindset holding people back?

Tune in for an honest conversation about mindset, identity, and the courage to carve your own path.

Follow us: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

Share your dilemmas: ⁠https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX⁠

Ever feel like you’ve planned your life to death… but haven’t actually done the thing? Same.

This one’s for anyone caught in the loop of overthinking, endless journaling, and “perfect plans” that never quite leave the page.

🎙️ We get into:

• Why planning feels productive (but isn’t).

• The sneaky way analysis paralysis kills progress.

• Journaling and finding balance between action + reflection.

• Letting go of self-doubt and just doing the thing.

• Why community + shared accountability beat solo overthinking every time.

✨ Plus: some raw stories of us crashing out of over-planning mode, and what actually worked to get moving again.

If you’ve been saying “I’ll start once I’ve planned it properly” … this one’s your sign to just start.

September is basically the real New Year, and TikTok’s Great Lock-In trend is proof 👀

This week, Hafsa & Zaynab dive into why the last four months of the year are the perfect time to reset, reflect, and get intentional .

🎙️ We get into:

• Why September energy hits harder than January resolutions
• How to plan your life without losing spontaneity (yes, free will is still a thing)
• Work-life balance hacks that don’t involve hustle-culture nonsense
• The grace you need when you “drop the ball” on your goals

✨ If you’re craving a reset or curious about joining the Great Lock-In…this one’s for you.

Resources:

• Dr. Tara Swart’s podcast on Change Your Brain with Ali Abdaal: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/change-your-brain-the-power-of-neuroplasticity/id1587142091?i=1000583255775

• Mohammed Faris / Productive Muslim: https://barakaheffectbook.com/

Follow us: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

Share your dilemmas: ⁠https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX⁠

We’ve all been there – stuck, overwhelmed, or pretending we’ve got it together when really… we don’t. 👀

This week, Hafsa & Zaynab are breaking down one of the most underrated startup + life skills: asking for help.

🎙️ We get into:

* Why asking for help is actually a strength, not a weakness

* The secret “board of advisors” most successful people have (and how to build yours)

* How to make requests that people want to say yes to

* The myth of the “self-made” founder (spoiler: they don’t exist)

* Stories from our own lives where help made all the difference

✨ If you’ve ever worried about being a burden, struggled with where to start, or want to get better at both asking and giving – this one’s for you.

💌 Send us your dilemmas: https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX

Follow us on our socials: click here

Feeling the grind of your side project AFTER your 9-to-5? You're not alone.

In this unfiltered episode, we get raw and real about the challenges not many highlight.

Hafsa shares a voice note from the Self Startup founder chat of her crash out, when she realises the road to success can be a long, uncertain one.

We deep dive into:
• The conflict between grind culture and slow living for 9-to-5 professionals.
• Why instant gratification makes delayed gratification so hard in business.
• The crucial realisation that something has to give if your goals and actions are misaligned.

💌 Share your own dilemma: https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX

Join our slack & follow us on Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

We’re back (again 😅) – and this time, we’ve got stories, reflections and real talk from our wildest months yet.

🎙️ In this one, we get into:
• The real tea from our first ever live event – how did we find it?
• Zaynab’s last-minute trip to Dubai – spontaneous founder dinners, business insights & why the UK might be lagging
• Are we using AI... or is it using us? From “AI besties” to influencer bots, we talk what’s exciting – and what’s straight up terrifying
• The myth of “no time” – how we’re rethinking our calendars and designing a life that actually works

✨ From spontaneous dinners in Dubai to why your brain might be suffering from “information obesity”… this one’s a full-circle reflection on building something real — in a world that’s becoming increasingly artificial.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by tech, disconnected from people, or like you’re running out of time – this one’s for you.

Resources:

The Social Dilemma: Documentary on Netflix about social media addiction.

💌 Share your own dilemma: https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX

Join our slack & follow us on Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

This one’s for anyone thinking about building with a friend, choosing a cofounder, or navigating the “wait… are we still friends?” stage of starting up.

🎙️ We get into:

* How we “stress-tested” our friendship before becoming cofounders.

* The group chat system that saved our relationship 😂

* Conflict hacks, red flags, and when to walk away

* Reddit drama (one cofounder tried to cash out on round 1 🫠)

* 65% of startups fail due to cofounder drama - we unpack why

✨ Plus: lessons from our own working relationship. What works, what’s still weird, and how we make space for both friendship and business.

If you're thinking of saying “Will you be my cofounder?” to someone- listen to this first.

References:

• The Founder Dating Playbook
• 10 Questions to Discuss with a Potential Co-founder
• Article: Co-founders are fighting so much that nearly half are forced to leave the startup
• Article: Why Cofounder Partnerships Fail — and How to Make Them Last
• Reddit Thread: Co-founder Breakups

💌 Share your own dilemma: https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX

Join our slack & follow us on Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

We’re peeling back the layers on a conversation that everyone in the creator/business world needs to have:

Do you really need to build a startup—or is a small business more your vibe?

And what if success isn’t about scaling fast... but about building a life you actually enjoy?

🎙️ In this episode, we get into:

- Startups vs. small biz: the real differences in mindset, money & lifestyle

- Why the “Company of One” model might be the freedom you're craving

- The hidden costs of hustle culture no one talks about

- A juicy listener dilemma: Should I post my side hustle on LinkedIn? 👀

Whether you're dreaming of building the next unicorn 🦄 or just want a solid side hustle that funds your freedom, this one’s for you.

References:

Work-life Graph - https://www.instagram.com/melrobbins/p/Cx-y1cNL8_H/?img_index=8

Book - Company of One by Paul Jarvis

💌 Share your own dilemma: https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX

Join our slack & follow us on Linkedin: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

Uncomfortable? Good. You’re Growing.

We’re BACK after a looong break (life was life-ing, the sun came out, and we needed it🤣).

This time, we’re switching it up – recording on video for the first time ever!

🎙️ We talk about:

- Why comfort feels good – but can secretly hold you back

- Balancing rest vs. growth (and when each is actually productive)

- The myth of the “fearless” entrepreneur – and why everyone feels cringe

- Building willpower like a muscle (shoutout to the anterior mid-cingulate cortex iykyk😝)

- Dilemma Time: How do you pick a niche without boxing yourself in?

This one’s for anyone chasing growth but unsure if the discomfort is worth it. (It is.)

✉️Submit your dilemma: https://lnkd.in/eYdyHsmP

Join out Slack Community: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

🖇️ References:

How to Make $10k/Month as a Writer - Nicolas Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB8Rw147Xwg&ab_channel=DeepDivewithAliAbdaal

The Dip by Deya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7blrkYeNo4&t=26s&ab_channel=Deya

Andrew Huberman on Willpower and the brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwakOgHIT0E&ab_channel=AndrewHuberman

📚 Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

📚 The One Thing by Gary W. Keller, Jay Papasan

We are back with a slightly longer episode!

Join us as we unpack the real consequences of being a self-starter. When “locking in” turns into burnout, how strict calendars kill spontaneity, and why balance is key to long-term success.

🎙️ Tune in for a deep dive into:

- Does the UK weather really mess with our mood and productivity? Is moving out actually worth it?

- The pressure to always be in grind mode and how it affects relationships

- Ramadan and why we’re stepping back in March to prioritise it

- Dilemma Discussion: What to do when you feel stuck at work, lose consistency, and struggle to find direction

Join the community and submit dilemmas through here: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

We are taking a short break and will be back with more episodes after Ramadan!