The Reboot Podcast

Feelings of isolation and loneliness have been well documented amongst today’s leaders. That’s why the simple question “Are you ok?”, asked with genuine concern, can elicit such a profound impact for those who are struggling through a tough time, such as shutting down a business like Avni Patel Thompson. At the time of this recording, Avni was in the wake of shuttering her previous company, Poppy. In this exchange, Jerry and Avni discuss the trauma and pain that go hand in hand with closing a business, reflecting that failure is a foundational part of the vast majority of startup journeys. Avni describes how Jerry’s open and honest question of, “Are you ok?”, revealed a well of unprocessed emotions and kick-started the inquiry process about her next steps as an entrepreneur. Avni determines that while Poppy as an entity no longer exists, her overall mission and purpose that drove its existence lives on in her new company, Modern Village. As she sublimely reflects, the collapse of her previous business has dri