Why I Wrote ‘From Startups to Success’

A practical guide for aspiring entrepreneurs and dreamers from ordinary backgrounds carrying extraordinary ambitions.

When I first arrived in San Francisco in 1969 with just seventy-five cents in my pocket, I could never have imagined that one day I would write a book on entrepreneurship and business leadership. I came from Taravada, a small village in Gujarat, where opportunities were limited, but dreams were not. My parents, despite having very little formal education, taught me values that would shape my entire life: integrity, discipline, faith and hard work. Those values later became the foundation on which I built businesses across engineering, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and hospitality in the United States.

My earlier book, From the Village to the World, focused on my personal journey from rural India to building a business empire in America. It told the story of struggle, migration, faith and perseverance. However, after the release of that book, many young people reached out to me, asking not just about my life, but about the practical lessons behind it. They wanted to know how businesses are built, how setbacks are overcome and how one develops the courage to take risks. That is what inspired me to write From Startups to Success.

I wanted this book to become more than a memoir. I wanted it to serve as a practical guide for aspiring entrepreneurs and dreamers from ordinary backgrounds who carry extraordinary ambitions within them. Entrepreneurship is often glamorised today, but people rarely speak honestly about the emotional struggles, uncertainty and discipline it demands. In the book, I write, “The courage to start is the key that unlocks endless possibilities.” That belief has guided my life for decades.

One of the central ideas in the book is what I call “The One Per Cent Mindset". Many people dream of building businesses, but only a few are willing to persist when difficulties arise. As I explain in the book, “The one per cent don’t just dream; they dare. They endure. They persist when others quit.” I have personally experienced this truth throughout my entrepreneurial journey.

No Experience

When I started Pentadyne Circuit Board Manufacturing in California during the 1980s, I had no prior experience in PCB manufacturing. Yet I was determined to learn. I spent months visiting factories, studying systems and meeting consultants. Eventually, I introduced a “Guaranteed Delivery" model because delayed deliveries were a major problem in the industry at the time. Customers trusted us because we solved a real problem for them. That experience taught me that successful businesses are built not only through innovation but also through reliability, preparation and understanding customer needs.

Another reason I wrote this book was to emphasise that success is not only measured through wealth. Throughout my life, family and social responsibility have remained at the centre of everything I have done. In From Startups to Success, I write, “True success is living with purpose, building something that outlasts me, and lifting others as I rise.” I believe entrepreneurship should create value not only for the individual but also for families, communities and future generations.

The book also explores the importance of stepping beyond comfort zones. Looking back, every meaningful turning point in my life came from embracing uncertainty. Leaving India, beginning businesses in unfamiliar industries and taking calculated risks were never easy decisions. But growth never comes from comfort. As I write in the book, “Comfort zones are deceptive. They feel safe, but they are cages.” That lesson became deeply personal to me after immigrating to America and rebuilding my life from scratch.

Deeply Practical

At the same time, I wanted the book to remain deeply practical. It contains chapters on leadership, financial discipline, negotiation skills, operational systems, customer relationships and sustainable growth. However, beyond business strategies, I also wanted readers to understand the importance of resilience and adaptability. Markets change constantly.

Industries evolve, and failures are inevitable. The entrepreneurs who survive are the ones who continue learning and moving forward despite setbacks.

Today, much of my focus is directed toward education and giving back to society. Initiatives such as the Taravada Swaminarayan Gurukul and the development of Dharmajivan University in Gujarat reflect my belief that education is one of the greatest tools for transformation. I have always believed that real success lies in uplifting others along the way.

Ultimately, From Startups to Success is not simply a business book. It is a reflection of my life philosophy, shaped through decades of struggle, faith and perseverance. If there is one

message I hope readers carry with them is this: your beginnings do not define your future. As I write in the book, “You don’t need to be born into the one per cent to become one of them. You just have to believe in yourself, work hard and stay persistent.”

(The writer is an author.)