Nandu Ashok

At just 18 years old, Nandu is an exuberant solopreneur running a 5-figure design business and Notion template store. Leveraging his skills and passion for design, technology, and helping others, Nandu has made an impact by helping over 4,000+ solopreneurs advance their businesses and lives with his digital products and services.

His mission is to help 10,000+ solopreneurs live a happy and joyful lives by helping them create time for their loved ones. Nandu is Notion Certified and a Recommended Creator on the platform. He also serves as a Typedream ambassador.

Nandu’s major recognition came when he got his Notion template series acquired for close to 5-figures. This proved to the over 1 million Notion users that Notion templates are potential startups.

Beyond solopreneurship, Nandu aspires to become an airline pilot one day. When he is not ideating new digital products, he enjoys driving, tinkering with electronics, and playing guitar.

Currently, Nandu is actively scaling his portfolio of digital businesses and products to $100K in annual recurring revenue before the end of 2024. Driven, creative, and devoted to helping fellow solopreneurs, Nandu is one to watch in the world of online business and Solopreneurship in the years ahead.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

I usually start my day at 7 am. I wake up, get ready, and head to college. Whenever I don’t have classes or it’s lunchtime, I work on my business. College ends around 3:30 pm, and I go back home. Then, I exercise for an hour and start working at about 5:30 pm.
I finish work around 11:30 pm and plan for the next day. After that, I go straight to bed.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Transforming ideas into reality is a system I’ve developed. I use Notion to collect all my ideas in one place. Every week, I spend 15 minutes reviewing these ideas. I pick the ones that fit my strengths and can make a big impact quickly. These go straight into my active projects. Others, which need more time or resources, go into a ‘future ideas’ list. This way, I ensure I focus on ideas that bring the most value while keeping a treasure trove of potential for later.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Solopreneurship excites me the most. Though AI is the talk, I find it thrilling to see people leaving traditional jobs for solo ventures. What’s even more fascinating is how they’re building their businesses around AI.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

Blocking out multiple 2-3 hours for focused work based on my energy levels and rewarding myself with Netflix after that ensures I complete all the tasks I’ve set for the day.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Here’s my advice: “Embrace uncertainty because you’ll never have it all figured out. Follow your curiosity, pour your absolute best into everything you commit to, and trust me, you’ll discover your true calling.”

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

I actually don’t agree with the idea of not being good at multiple things. Exploring various areas helps gather different skills. Eventually, it often leads to becoming really good at something unique that combines a mix of those skills.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

Always follow your curiosity. It’s what I’ve done consistently since I started my business at 16, and it’s my advice for everyone. It leads to places you’d never expect, and unlike passion, curiosity never fades.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

My go-to remedy is simple. I take an immediate break, grab my motorbike keys, and go for a 30-minute ride. Riding clears my mind completely—it’s just me, my bike, and the open road. When I return, I’m recharged and dive back into work with a fresh perspective.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Shifting my focus from acquiring new clients to retaining existing ones has been pivotal. This strategy elevated my business from generating less than $2,000 to cross the five-figure mark. Prioritizing client retention boosted their lifetime value, allowing me to understand their needs better and ensure their satisfaction. This approach freed up time for other aspects of my life. Happy clients became my best marketing channel, referring others through word-of-mouth, eliminating the need for constant client hunting.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

I’ve faced four failures in my business journey before hitting success. The significant one was a startup venture with six amazing people alongside my main business. Unfortunately, the startup failed due to a dispute among external developers, wiping away six months of hard work. It affected me personally, my business, and even my academics. However, discussing it with my mentor, who was also part of the team, helped me overcome it. The main lesson I learned is the importance of self-reliance until reaching profitability.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Here’s an idea: Create AI-powered SaaS tools that upgrade existing non-AI tools. For instance, a SaaS product for Solopreneurs that analyzes their week’s time management. It generates a personalized time-blocked schedule based on their daily routine, which users can adjust as needed. If a tool like this existed, I’d be more than happy to pay for it.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Notion is my go-to software. I’ve set up a system called ‘Nandu’s HQ’ in it. This system lets me manage tasks, keep track of my life and business, monitor my health and happiness, handle finances smartly, and act as a second brain for all my notes, thoughts, and ideas.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

The best $100 I spent lately was on an Apple Pencil. It’s been a game-changer for me both personally and professionally. It simplifies annotating documents for clients, helps me express my ideas more beautifully, and allows precise photo editing and design work.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

‘Shoe Dog’ penned by Nike’s founder, Phil Knight, stands out as my go-to. This book is an incredible source of inspiration, revealing the raw realities of forging a business despite adversities. The book resonated deeply with my own journey in entrepreneurship, making it a favorite of mine.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

Suits has been my recent binge-watch, and what drew me in was the character dynamics, particularly Harvey Specter and Mike Ross. The series beautifully showcases the complexities of relationships, highlighting themes of loyalty, trust, and the blurred lines between personal and professional connections. And not to mention, every scene with Louis Litt would leave me giggling non-stop xD

Key learnings:

• Passion follows curiosity. You never become truly passionate about something before you explore it with a free mind.
• Adopt a childlike attitude towards decisions. Ask questions both before and after making significant decisions in life or business.
• Normalize saying YES to opportunities until you can trade money for time. Don’t hang with a ‘NO’.