Nabarun Chakraborty, the Founder & CEO of Autify Network, understands that the entrepreneurial journey is full of challenges, uncertainties, and critical decisions. One of the most crucial factors determining an entrepreneur’s success is the advice they receive and, more importantly, whom they choose as mentors. In a world where information is abundant and everyone seems to have an opinion on how to build a startup, filtering out outdated and unhelpful advice becomes a vital skill.
Nabarun Chakraborty highlights that not all advice is good advice. While guidance from experienced individuals is invaluable, blindly following outdated methods can be a major hindrance to success. Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of listening to mentors who may have succeeded in the past but fail to understand the current business landscape. Entrepreneurship evolves rapidly, and what worked a decade ago might not be relevant in today’s digital-first world.
Startups operate in unique conditions, and every business has its own set of challenges. Nabarun Chakraborty stresses that founders should critically analyze the advice they receive instead of accepting it at face value. The market, technology, customer behavior, and competitive landscape are constantly shifting, making adaptability a key trait for any entrepreneur. Mentorship, when chosen wisely, can be a game-changer, but selecting the wrong mentor can lead to stagnation or even failure.
One of the key lessons Nabarun Chakraborty shares is the importance of choosing mentors who have real-world experience. Titles, positions, or social status alone do not make someone a good mentor. What matters is whether they have navigated the same challenges that current founders are facing. An effective mentor should offer insights that are relevant, practical, and applicable in today’s context.
Nabarun Chakraborty’s perspective is especially important in an era where entrepreneurship has become more dynamic than ever. Traditional business wisdom often emphasized stability and slow, calculated growth. However, the modern startup ecosystem is driven by innovation, speed, and agility. Many conventional business strategies no longer align with the fast-paced demands of the digital economy. This is why entrepreneurs need mentors who are not just successful but also attuned to present-day business dynamics.
Bad advice, according to Nabarun Chakraborty, is not just ineffectiveit can actively hold entrepreneurs back. Many founders receive guidance that keeps them stuck in outdated practices, preventing them from exploring new opportunities or making necessary pivots. In the worst cases, following poor advice can lead to costly mistakes that could have been avoided with a better understanding of current market conditions.
Nabarun Chakraborty urges entrepreneurs to be selective and intentional in choosing their mentors. The right mentor can accelerate growth, provide clarity during difficult decisions, and help navigate challenges with a forward-thinking approach. The wrong mentor, on the other hand, can stifle innovation and create roadblocks that limit potential. This makes mentorship one of the most critical investments a founder can make in their journey.
Entrepreneurship is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Nabarun Chakraborty reminds us that what worked for one person in a different industry or era may not necessarily work for another. This is why founders must seek out mentors who align with their specific industry, goals, and vision. Seeking diverse perspectives and staying open to new ideas is essential, but filtering out outdated or irrelevant advice is just as important.
The emphasis on relevant mentorship extends beyond just business strategies. Nabarun Chakraborty believes that a mentor should also understand the emotional and psychological aspects of entrepreneurship. Building a startup is not just about making profitsit involves resilience, adaptability, and dealing with failures. The best mentors are those who offer holistic support, guiding founders not only in their business decisions but also in developing the right mindset for long-term success.
In today’s competitive landscape, where startups face immense pressure to innovate and scale rapidly, choosing the right mentorship can be the difference between thriving and struggling. Nabarun Chakraborty encourages founders to ask themselves critical questions before taking advice: Is this mentor truly experienced in the current business environment? Have they faced similar challenges? Are they helping me move forward, or are they keeping me tied to outdated ideas?
Ultimately, Nabarun Chakraborty’s insights serve as a reminder that founders must be proactive in shaping their own success. Advice is valuable, but only if it is relevant, actionable, and aligns with the realities of the modern business world. Entrepreneurs must take charge of their learning journey, continuously seek out mentors who add value, and have the courage to disregard guidance that no longer serves them.
As Nabarun Chakraborty emphasizes, the quality of mentorship directly impacts the growth trajectory of a startup. Founders must prioritize learning from those who have navigated similar paths, understand the current landscape, and can offer practical, experience-based insights. Choosing the right mentors is not just about networkingit is about ensuring that every piece of advice received contributes to real progress. By doing so, entrepreneurs can build resilient, forward-thinking businesses that stand the test of time.
