Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After

This book arrived at the perfect moment for me, serving as a vibrant reminder that life doesn't have to follow a linear path. Personally, I found Miki’s story about riding her bike into a soccer game to network absolutely hilarious and brave. It’s that kind of outside-the-box thinking that separates successful entrepreneurs from everyone else. The book is packed with great stories and a delightful writing style that keeps you turning pages late into the night. It opened my eyes to the idea that our most authentic selves come through by simply doing the things we love. If you’re looking for a dry manual, look elsewhere, but if you want to be inspired to take a leap, this is the one for you.

Call it self-promotion if you want, but Miki’s unapologetic approach to building a brand is masterclass-level stuff. I’ve owned my own business for years, and it was so refreshing to read something that captures the all over the place nature of the startup life. She gets it. She understands that people invest in people, not just spreadsheets or data points. Her advice on making people feel like experts so they’ll help you is a total game-changer for networking. I don't care about the criticisms regarding her background; the hustle she displays is real and her success speaks for itself. This is a must-read for any woman looking to disrupt an industry and do something truly bold and unconventional.

Stop overthinking your business plan and just read this for the pure motivational fuel it provides! I absolutely loved the no-nonsense tone and the way she encourages readers to stop making excuses and start acting. The advice to avoid small talk and focus on what excites people has already changed the way I network at events. Not gonna lie, I was skeptical at first, but Agrawal’s charm and energy won me over completely. It’s a quick, entertaining read that gave me a dozen new ideas for my own projects. For anyone trapped in a rut, this is the push you’ve been waiting for to finally go out and do cool sh*t.

Finally got around to reading this, and it’s exactly the kind of foundational mindset shift I needed. I know people complain about the author’s privilege, but the core message of taking radical action is still valid regardless of your background. Her writing style is delightful and fast-paced, making it feel like you’re having a coffee with a very intense friend. I particularly loved the section on building a shared vision by using we instead of I when pitching ideas. It’s a simple shift, but it changes the entire energy of a professional conversation. Sure, some of her stories are a bit wild, but isn't that the point? You don't do cool stuff by playing it safe and following every traditional rule in the book.

Ever wonder how someone actually manages to pivot from a corporate desk job to opening a restaurant in New York? This book pulls back the curtain on that journey in a way that is both entertaining and deeply personal. I appreciate that Agrawal doesn't try to write a dry, academic textbook on business. Instead, she gives us a raw look at the chaos of being an entrepreneur. While some of the advice is a bit hand-wavy, especially the part about needing to be athletic to succeed, the overall energy is infectious. I’ve already started implementing her hire slow, fire fast rule in my own small business venture. It’s a great read for anyone feeling stuck in the corporate hamster wheel and looking for a way out.

Looking for a quick kick in the pants to get moving on your side hustle? This book might provide that initial spark, though you’ll want to take the specific advice with a massive grain of salt. Miki Agrawal is clearly a force of nature, and her ask for forgiveness, not permission style is undeniably effective for her specific situation. I liked the focus on making relationships mutually beneficial and the idea that we achieve being through doing. However, the lack of realistic financial advice for the average Joe is a glaring hole. Most entrepreneurs are worried about their next rent payment, not which NYC food editor they should hug next. It’s a fun, quick read that offers a decent foundational mindset, even if it’s a bit out of touch.

After hearing a lot of buzz about Miki Agrawal, I decided to dive into her manifesto for unconventional living. Truth is, the book is a bit of a mixed bag for me. On one hand, her story about starting a pizza shop is genuinely entertaining and showcases a lot of grit and determination. On the other hand, the narrative is frequently interrupted by what feels like shameless self-promotion and a bit of a silver spoon perspective. I did find the communication tips useful, specifically the advice to avoid small talk and ask people about their dreams instead. It makes you realize that business plans don’t raise dollars; people do. It’s not a masterpiece by any means, but it’s worth a skim if you need some low-stakes motivation today.

The title promised a roadmap, but the content felt more like a highlight reel of someone else’s charmed life. While I appreciate the can-do attitude, the author glosses over the massive financial advantages that clearly paved her way. It is one thing to do cool shit when you have a massive safety net, but it's another thing entirely when you’re scraping by. The advice on hiring was one of the few practical takeaways, especially the hire slow, fire fast mantra. However, hearing her refer to female colleagues she disliked as bitches was a huge turnoff for me. It felt unprofessional and immature for a supposed leader in the industry. It’s an easy read, but the lack of depth makes it feel like an extended infomercial for her personal brand.

To be fair, there are a few sparks of inspiration scattered throughout these pages, but they are buried under layers of self-indulgent storytelling. Agrawal’s journey is certainly unique, but it’s hard to find the how-to when the how mostly involves being young, athletic, and financially secure in Manhattan. I found the chapter on health and fitness particularly irritating because it essentially shames anyone who isn't a gym rat. To her, success seems to require an ideal body type, which is a pretty shallow metric for business acumen. The writing style is breezy and entertaining enough for a plane ride, but don't expect a concrete business plan. It’s more of a memoir with some generic motivational quotes slapped on top of it without much substance.

Is this a business book or just a 200-page humble brag for the elite? Frankly, it’s hard to take advice from someone who seems so disconnected from the struggles of an average person starting a business with zero safety net. Agrawal suggests things like hugging editors or riding your bike into groups of strangers to get numbers, but let's be real. If a guy tried that, he’d be lucky to leave without a restraining order or a black eye. Most of us have mortgages, kids, and real-world debt that doesn’t just vanish because we have an Ivy League degree to fall back on. The tone is often narcissistic and the fitness chapter was particularly tone-deaf, suggesting that physical perfection is a prerequisite for success. If you weren't born into wealth in NYC, look elsewhere for actual strategy.