The Lie That Gets You In

By Veera Ravi Nanda Kishore Vadlamannati

You don't need another book filled with startup buzzwords and cherry-picked success stories. There are plenty of those. They're polished. They're inspiring. They're also misleading as hell.

This book is different.

It's about what actually happens when you try to build a company from scratch—without the filters, without the hustling slogans, and without pretending it's all part of "the journey" when what you're really feeling is panic, self-doubt, or straight-up burnout.

So here's the truth: Most people are sold a sanitized version of entrepreneurship. One that promises freedom, impact, and a big exit. But what actually happens? Most founders hit a wall hard. And because no one warned them—because they thought they were the only ones struggling—they quit. Or worse, they keep pushing until they burn out completely.

This book is here to tell the truth. To show you what it really means to go from idea to company. And maybe, just maybe, help you survive it with your sanity (and some clarity) intact.

If you're here to play startup dress-up, this book isn't for you.

If you're here to build something real—and you're okay with hearing the hard parts—This book is your companion throught out your journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Veera Ravi Nanda Kishore Vadlamannati
• Release date: Jun 16, 2025
• ISBN: 9798231382491

Book preview

The Lie That Gets You In

The Truth About Startups, Sanity, and Building Without Breaking

Nanda Kishore Vadlamannati

Copyright © 2025 by Nanda Kishore Vadlamannati

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

Preface

1.The Lie That Gets You In

2.Ideas Aren’t Enough

3.Idea vs Project vs Product vs Company

4.Validating the Idea

5.The People Equation

6.Building the Product

7.Getting Early Traction

8.The Art of Startup Feedback

9.The Money Problem

10.Building Trust

11.The Emotional Rollercoaster

12.Scaling Carefully

13.The Long Game

14.Mistakes, Regrets and Lessons

15.Closing Thoughts - You are not Alone

Final Reaffirmation

Preface

You don’t need another book filled with startup buzzwords and cherry-picked success stories. There are plenty of those. They’re polished. They’re inspiring. They’re also misleading as hell.

This book is different.

It’s about what actually happens when you try to build a company from scratch—without the filters, without the hustle-porn slogans, and without pretending it’s all part of the journey when what you’re really feeling is panic, self-doubt, or straight-up burnout.

I wrote this because I’ve lived it. I’ve had the late-night what the hell am I doing? moments. I’ve felt the rush of signing a customer one week and the gut-punch of losing another the next. I’ve seen co-founders split, products flop, and funding rounds fall apart. And I’ve also seen how these moments are quietly swept under the rug while the LinkedIn updates stay upbeat.

So here’s the truth: Most people are sold a sanitized version of entrepreneurship. One that promises freedom, impact, and a big exit. But what actually happens? Most founders hit a wall. Hard. And because no one warned them—because they thought they were the only ones struggling—they quit. Or worse, they keep pushing until they burn out completely.

This book is here to tell the truth. To show you what it really means to go from idea to company. And maybe, just maybe, help you survive it with your sanity (and some clarity) intact.

If you’re here to play startup dress-up, this book isn’t for you.

If you’re here to build something real—and you’re okay with hearing the hard parts—let’s get started.

Before you move on, slow down.

This journey isn’t just about reading—it’s about getting real with yourself. Each chapter ends with a quick gut-check to help you reflect, reset, or act. No fluff. No right answers. Just you, being honest about where you are and what you’re building.

one

The Lie That Gets You In

Everyone talks about the leap. Quitting your job. Starting something of your own. It’s supposed to be brave. Bold. Romantic, even.

But here’s the part they leave out: most people don’t leap into startups. They get pushed—by dissatisfaction, boredom, ego, or ambition. The leap isn’t always heroic. Sometimes it’s messy, emotional, impulsive.

And the story they tell you to make the leap? It’s bullshit.

You’re told:

All it takes is a good idea.

If you’re passionate, you’ll figure it out.

Fail fast, learn fast, succeed fast.

The truth?

Ideas are cheap. Execution is brutal.

Passion without process burns out fast.

Most people fail slow, not fast. And they don’t even realize it until they’re out of money, out of energy, or out of belief.

The startup world runs on selective storytelling. You see the TechCrunch headlines, not the breakdowns behind them. You hear the podcast interviews once the founder makes it, not the voice in their head when things were falling apart. You see the Series A announcement, not the 87 investor rejections before it.

This isn’t to discourage you. But if you’re stepping into the founder path expecting clarity, validation, and a straight line to success, you’re already in trouble.

The Fantasy vs. The Reality

The startup story you’ve been fed is clean, motivational, and way too easy to believe. It’s the highlight reel. The hero’s journey – with good lighting and dramatic music.

Let’s break it down. Here’s what you’re told… versus → what actually happens:

Start with an idea … → Start with Confusion, doubt, and 10 half baked thoughts

Quit your job and go all in … → Fight internal battles over when to jump – and whether it's even smart

Build an MVP and launch fast … →Spend weeks overthinking, tweaking, doubting

Raise Money … → Realize investors don't care unless you already have traction

Build the dream team … → Struggle to find one person willing to bet on you

Let’s zoom in.

You think you’ve got a brilliant idea that just makes sense. But in reality? It’s a vague itch. You obsess over it in the shower, then doubt it by lunch. When you pitch it, people nod politely—but no one’s really sold.

You expect users to love the product right out of the box. You launch, hit go, and… 12 people sign up. Nine are friends. Two give you polite feedback. The rest vanish.

You assume boldness will win over investors. But bold emails get ignored. The one investor who responds tells you to come back when you’ve got some traction and impressive numbers.

That’s the Gap.

The fantasy is neat. The reality is messy.

But here’s the kicker: that mess is normal.

No one talks about the three months you spent building the wrong feature. Or the six months you spent trying to convince people to care. Or the fact that deep down, you’re scared this whole thing might just not work.

This isn’t meant to crush your ambition—it’s meant to prepare you.

Because the biggest reason people give up isn’t the grind – it’s the mismatch between expectation and reality. They think they’re failing when, in truth, they’re just in the early, ugly, unspoken part of the process.

But every founder goes