Ikram Ullah
Stories (22)
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The Gashapon Chronicles
The Gashapon Shelf by [ikram ullah] The shelf was older than the shop itself. At least, that’s what Mr. Kato claimed whenever customers asked about it. Standing proudly behind the counter, it was a tall, narrow display with seven uneven tiers, each crammed with plastic capsules — reds, blues, greens, and yellows — stacked precariously like colorful bubbles.
By Ikram Ullah5 months ago in Art
Leave the Light On
I’ll Leave the Light On by [Ikram Ullah] The storm had rolled in hours ago, turning the quiet coastal town into a blurred watercolor of rain, wind, and shadows. It rattled the shutters, hissed through the cracks in the old house, and painted the windows with streaks of water that distorted the view of the street below.
By Ikram Ullah5 months ago in Blush
How to Write a Business Plan That Works
In early 2025, Sarah Lopez sat nervously in a small conference room at a local bank in Seattle. She was about to pitch her dream: a boutique eco-friendly fashion brand called GreenThread. What she hadn’t yet shared with the loan officer was the single most important thing she had learned in the past months — the power of a well-crafted business plan.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Education
The Best Free Tools for Entrepreneurs in 2025
In the spring of 2025, Maya Patel sat at her kitchen table in San Diego, sipping lukewarm coffee and staring at the blank screen of her aging laptop. She had just quit her job at a corporate marketing firm to pursue a long-time dream: launching her own sustainable skincare brand, TerraGlow.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Education
How to Pitch Your Idea to Investors
Jason Kim stood just outside the glass doors of the Blue Horizon Ventures conference room, his pitch deck clutched in his hands, slightly damp with sweat. At 27, he had left a comfortable job in a tech firm to build NeuroStep, a smart insole that analyzed walking patterns to detect early signs of neurological disorders.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Motivation
Building a Brand vs. Building a Business
Starting a company is exhilarating. There’s the thrill of creating a product, signing your first customers, and watching your vision come to life. But along the way, many entrepreneurs hit a fundamental crossroads: Should I focus on building a business or building a brand?
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Motivation
The Future of Remote Work: What You Should Know
When I landed my first remote job, it felt like a dream come true. No daily commute, flexible hours, and the freedom to work from anywhere. But over time, I realized remote work was far more complex than simply logging in from my couch. As I watched the landscape evolve, I understood that the future of remote work is shaping how we live, connect, and build careers — and it’s not what many people expect.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Motivation
5 Marketing Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make
Avoid These Common Traps and Set Your Business Up for Success When I started my first business, I thought marketing was simple: make a product, post about it on Instagram, and watch the sales roll in. Spoiler alert: they didn’t.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Motivation
How I Started My Business With $100
When people hear “I started my business with only $100,” most assume it’s an exaggeration. But it's the honest truth. I didn’t have wealthy investors, fancy equipment, or even a business degree. What I did have was determination, resourcefulness, and a very tight budget.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Motivation
Business & Entrepreneurship
At 28, Maria found herself at a crossroads. She had spent the last five years working at a prestigious tech company, steadily climbing the corporate ladder. She had the corner office, the high salary, and the perks—everything people told her would bring fulfillment. But the higher she climbed, the less she felt connected to her work.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Education
Why You Should Embrace Being a Beginner
I remember the first time I picked up a paintbrush. I was twenty-seven, sitting on the floor of a small studio apartment that smelled faintly of coffee, dust, and pine-scented candles. A blank canvas stared at me like a challenge, whispering all the things I didn’t know. My fingers trembled slightly—not from fear, exactly, but from that sharp awareness that comes when you know you're about to enter a world completely unfamiliar to you.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Education
