The Self Startup Show with Zaynab and Hafsa

Zaynab and Hafsa
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We started this because there’s a conversation we ALL need to have more often: what it takes to regain control of your future, embrace entrepreneurship, and make your passion projects a reality.

  1. 1D AGO

    Ep 21: Chasing Money Is Tiring (Let’s Talk About “Enough”)

    Feeling like you’re stuck chasing the next number instead of building something that actually matters? What if money wasn’t the goal... but just the compass 👀 This week on the Self Startup Podcast, Hafsa and Zaynab unpack the real tension between purpose and profit, and what it means to build something meaningful without burning yourself out in the process. We talk about things like: - why money matters, but shouldn’t overshadow your purpose - how the obsession with maximising earnings can lead to burnout - defining your own “enough” number for clarity and peace - why entrepreneurship is about solving problems, not just making money - focusing on value creation before profit Whether you’re a self-starter, building a business, or rethinking what success really means, this episode will help you zoom out and realign. SSU Links: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

    26 min

  2. FEB 5

    Episode 20: Are We Romanticising Ambition and Avoiding Responsibility?

    Fear of success. Fear of failure. Fear of looking cringe. In this episode, we talk about fear and how it quietly becomes one of the biggest roadblocks to building anything meaningful. We also touch on: ambition, and whether it’s actually enough to carry you to successwhether embarrassment is really the price of successwhy our obsession with being “original” stops us from startingwhy inaction often hurts more than trying ever willIf any of this hit a nerve, come try and debunk it with us on the podcast. Email us: selfstartup.business@gmail.com Our links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

    30 min

  3. JAN 30

    Ep 19: Questioning the “Safe” Path — A Deep Dive into The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd

    What if you didn’t have to follow the traditional route — and could build your own instead 👀 This week, Hafsa and Zaynab read and unpack the gems from The Pathless Path and explore what it really means to question the default path and design a career around your curiosity, creativity, and values. We talk about things like: embracing uncertainty instead of fearing it taking breaks to reflect and reconnect with yourself experimenting with ideas before locking into one path building meaningful networks and being generous with your work Whether you’re rethinking your direction, exploring new interests, or carving your own lane - this episode will give you the mindset shift you didn’t know you needed. Email us: selfstartup.business@gmail.com Our links: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup

    28 min

  4. JAN 22

    Episode 18: Use Your 9–5 to Build Your Dream Life This Year

    Feeling like you’re stuck in a loop where you’re living to work? In 2026, challenge yourself to dedicate a little time after work to try new things like: practicing public speaking attending a networking event exploring that hobby you’ve always wanted to try This week, Hafsa and Zaynab share tips on how to use your 9–5 to get ahead in 2026. Whether it’s building a network beyond just your colleagues, leveling up your skills, or exploring a side hustle, these small moves can help you live a more fulfilling life. Links: Follow Self Startup: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup Email us at selfstartup.business@gmail.com

    34 min

  5. 12/18/2025

    Episode 17: Shiny Object Syndrome Is Ruining Your Progress: Setting Yourself Up for 2026, Not Just January

    NEW EPISODE – Shiny Object Syndrome Is Ruining Your Progress New ideas feel exciting. But if you’re constantly chasing the next thing, this episode might explain why nothing’s sticking. In this episode of the Self Startup Podcast, we reflect on a year of growth, consistency, and what actually moves the needle — especially as everyone starts thinking about “resetting” for the new year. 🎙️ We get into: • Why shiny object syndrome quietly kills progress • Asking ChatGPT to do our 2025 wrap-up (and what surprised us) • Whether moodboarding actually works or is just aesthetic procrastination • The difference between planning that builds momentum vs planning that stalls it • Why starting before January is the real advantage This one’s for anyone feeling the pull to start something new — when the real work might be staying with what you’ve already begun. Prompt: Tiktok --> @Eva_Meena_: Here’s the prompt: Make me a Spotify Wrapped-style year-end summary of all my conversations with you this year, highlighting my top recurring topics, most-discussed hobbies or projects, any memorable conversations, and quirky patterns in what I ask or how I talk. Present it in a fun, Spotify Wrapped-style format with headings like “Top 5 Topics,” “Most Unexpected Question,” “Biggest Obsession,” and “Signature Style,” and include a month-by-month recap that notes my biggest hyperfixation, favorite topic, or mood shift for each month. Keep the tone playful and witty, with bold headings, emojis, and short punchy commentary like Spotify does. Self Startup Links

    25 min

  6. 12/04/2025

    Episode 16: Are You Even PMFing rn? Product Market Fit or Product Market Force?

    Sorry to catch you offguard but…are you even PMFing rn? This week Zaynab and Hafsa break down the buzzword we’re all guilty of throwing around:  Product Market Fit. What actually is PMF? How do you know when you’ve hit it or when you’re miles off? And what can we learn from the brands that nailed it and the ones that definitely didn’t? On the podcast, the team even try to invent a competitor to ice-cream trucks live on the call and debate whether it would ever find PMF 🤣 ------ All SSU Links: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup Podcast References: Find Product Market Fit Video, that Zaynab referenced: https://youtu.be/rgaP-tMkJaw?si=80wcqbi8PEyvsXGt  Paul Graham’s How to Do Great Work Essay: https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html

    31 min

  7. 11/27/2025

    Episode 15: Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Spark? Lucky Syndrome is Calling. Time to Big Yourself Up

    Anyone else feel like their spark is fading lately? You are not alone. This week, Zaynab and Hafsa dive into how your words, the way you carry yourself, and your own self-image shapes the way the world sees and reacts to you. They also explore the reality of being a founder: success is often about having relentless confidence. Hear about lucky mindsets and serendipity, why acting like the person you want to become is the ultimate cheatcode to success. ------ All SSU Links: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup Podcast References: Sunrise Lamp - https://healf.com/collections/sleep-quality The Courage to Be Disliked are Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga Lamide Elizabeth - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lamideelizabeth_this-year-marks-five-years-since-i-started-activity-7298250127083802625-sxLO/

    33 min

  8. 11/20/2025

    Episode 14: Bootstrapping, VC Money, and Getting Pushed Out Your Own Startup

    Is the grass really greener outside a 9–5?
 Are we glamorising the founder path without understanding the real risks? This week, Hafsa and Zaynab talk about the parts of entrepreneurship most people never talk about. The moments where the dream feels more like a trap. --- Share your own dilemma: https://tally.so/r/3yd0eX Follow Self Startup: https://linktr.ee/selfstartup Email us at selfstartup.business@gmail.com

    31 min
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We started this because there’s a conversation we ALL need to have more often: what it takes to regain control of your future, embrace entrepreneurship, and make your passion projects a reality.

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