Why your childhood dreams still matter as an entrepreneur

When I was a kid, I dreamt of being an inventor. I spent hours sketching up ideas, convinced that one day I’d build something cool. I read the autobiography of another great inventor, Sir Richard Branson, a couple of times before I was 21. It was my own dream to one day meet him.

Fast forward a couple of decades, and I found myself sitting across from the man himself! We talked about startups, risks, and resilience, but what struck me was his unwavering commitment to his childhood dream.

Branson’s story of a dyslexic teenager going to the edge of space isn’t just about grit; it’s about holding onto the aspirations that ignite our imaginations early on. Virgin Records and Virgin Galactic are rooted in passions sparked during his youth.

1. Childhood dreams as North Stars

Our earliest dreams often reflect what we deeply want in our own lives. Revisiting them can provide clarity and direction, especially in the complex landscape of entrepreneurship. My childhood fascination with invention led me to approach Virgin Startup for our first bit of funding when I was setting up MAGIC AI. It felt like coming full circle, pursuing a dream that had been with me since those early sketches.

2. Embracing unconventional strengths

Branson’s dyslexia, once seen as a hurdle, became a unique strength. He credits his imaginative thinking and problem-solving abilities to his neurodiversity. I found it a real struggle kicking off our venture capital raise in the same week we welcomed our baby. I had to draft the pitch deck from the hospital bedside, and it tested my resilience as a new dad AND entrepreneur. But it’s a skill that has put me in good stead today.

3. The journey over the destination

While not every childhood dream will culminate in a billion-dollar venture or a trip to space, the pursuit itself will make you stronger. For my own journey, I often feel I’m not building my startup, but rather it’s the startup that is the one building me.

I’m sure a lot of new fathers would say the same of their own babies – whether that be the business or a child. So, what will I tell my daughter when she shares her wildest dreams with me? I’ll say, “Hold onto them tightly. They might just come true – just as they did for me.”

About Varun Bhanot

Varun Bhanot is Co-founder and CEO of MAGIC AI, the cutting-edge AI mirror that makes high-quality fitness coaching more accessible. Under his leadership, MAGIC AI has raised $5 million in venture funding and earned multiple industry accolades — including being named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024. As a new father as well as founder, Varun shares candid insights on balancing parenting and entrepreneurship in his bi-monthly guest column, Startup Daddy.

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