Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal Summary

Do Cool Sht* is a candid entrepreneurship guide blending memoir and actionable advice. Miki Agrawal shares her journey of launching ventures like WILD pizza and THINX underwear, emphasizing bold action, creative problem-solving, and leveraging relationships. The book provides step-by-step strategies for funding businesses on a budget, testing ideas, and securing free press, all while pursuing personal fulfillment.

Aspiring entrepreneurs, career changers, and creatives seeking motivation will find value. It’s ideal for those wanting to turn passions into businesses, learn from failures, or escape unfulfilling jobs. Agrawal’s irreverent tone and practical frameworks resonate with readers prioritizing purpose over traditional career paths.

Yes, particularly for its energizing mix of personal anecdotes and actionable tactics. Reviews praise its relatability, with takeaways on networking, resilience, and unconventional marketing. Critics note its optimism but highlight its effectiveness in pushing readers beyond comfort zones.

Key lessons include:

• Sell ideas by aligning with others’ interests (e.g., framing her London study plan as a “business proposal” to her parents).
• Eliminate energy-draining commitments using a two-column “uplifting vs. draining” framework.
• Embrace discomfort through bold actions like cold-emailing mentors or testing product prototypes.

Agrawal champions fearless experimentation, emphasizing creativity over formal training. She advocates for bootstrapping, leveraging personal networks, and turning setbacks into learning opportunities (e.g., refining her pizza recipe after initial failures). Her approach prioritizes passion-driven projects that solve real-world problems.

Yes. Tactics include:

• Hosting “idea parties” to brainstorm with diverse thinkers.
• Securing free PR by pitching unique angles to media outlets.
• Validating concepts cheaply (e.g., testing pizza recipes at pop-up events).

Notable lines:

• “Your life isn’t just meant to be lived—it’s meant to be savored, shaped, and celebrated”.
• “The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese” (Tony Hsieh, foreword).

Agrawal normalizes setbacks as growth opportunities, detailing her own missteps (e.g., early restaurant challenges). She advises documenting failures, adapting quickly, and maintaining persistence—a mindset she calls “failing forward”.

Absolutely. The book encourages readers to audit their skills, pursue side hustles, and reframe fear as excitement. One reviewer credited it for their leap from corporate work to launching a sustainable fashion brand.

This tool involves listing life aspects in two columns: things that energize you (e.g., collaborative projects) and those that deplete you (e.g., toxic jobs). Agrawal used this to quit a draining internship and pivot toward impactful work.

Some note the book assumes privilege (e.g., Agrawal’s access to investors) and glosses over systemic barriers. However, most praise its motivational ethos and adaptability to different contexts.

Its focus on agile entrepreneurship, remote collaboration, and purpose-driven work aligns with 2025 trends like AI-aided startups and gig economy growth. The emphasis on resilience also resonates in uncertain economic climates.