Big goals don’t take longer—they just take courage.
In this inspiring #ThroughlineThursdays episode, Ritu Narayan, Founder & CEO of Zum, shares how thinking big changed the trajectory of her company, her career, and her impact.
Joined by host Neha Malhotra, Ritu breaks down why ambitious goals are often just as achievable as modest ones—and how bold thinking attracts the right people, investors, and momentum to bring your vision to life.
What you’ll learn:
• Why we underestimate what we’re capable of achieving
• How to shift from short-term to long-term thinking
• Why big ideas attract better people and bigger resources
• How Ritu’s startup journey led to backing from Airbnb, Google, and DoorDash investors
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Timestamps:
00:09 – Why people fear thinking big
00:30 – “It takes the same time to do something big as it does small”
01:15 – Long-term vision vs. short-term hustle
01:45 – How bold thinking attracts the right resources
02:15 – Ritu’s journey: from solving her own problem to building a high-growth company
02:50 – The mindset shift: Dream bigger, deliver bigger
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Are you playing small when you should be thinking big? Drop a comment below—we’re listening.
Neha Malhotra (Host):
Tell us—how have you thought big and bold in your career?
Ritu Narayan (Founder & CEO, Zum):
This theme—thinking big and bold—has been with me throughout my journey. But lately, I’ve become even more convinced of its power, because I’ve seen what happens when you fully embrace it.
Most people hold back from thinking big. Why?
Because they assume:
• It’ll take too much time
• It’ll require resources they can’t access
• Or they believe it’s not meant for them—because no one who looks like them or thinks like them has done it before
But here’s what I’ve learned:
👉 It takes the same amount of time to do something big as it does to do something small.
Once you start a project—whether it’s a job, a venture, or a new initiative—it will take 5 to 10 years to truly grow, no matter its size. So why not go big?
If you’re used to thinking in 1-year timelines, start thinking in 3.
If you think in 3-year plans, stretch it to 7.
Having a long-term vision helps you:
• Choose bigger, more meaningful projects
• Stay focused, so your efforts compound over time
• Avoid bouncing from one small thing to the next
And here’s the magical part:
👉 The right resources will find you.
Great people and powerful support systems are drawn to bold ideas.
They don’t rally around the small stuff.
In my case, I started out just trying to solve my own problem. But once the vision got bigger, it attracted world-class investors—the same people who backed Airbnb, DoorDash, Google, and PayPal. They saw the potential and helped us scale far beyond what I originally imagined.
So yes—I’m a strong believer in big, bold thinking.
Whatever arena you’re working in, having a clear, long-term vision can truly transform your journey.
