Are You Truly an Entrepreneur or Just a Remote-Preneur? The Hidden Struggles Ashkan Rajaee Exposes
Remote work seems easier until you're deep in it. Ashkan Rajaee reveals the high cost of building a remote empire.

What If You’ve Been Chasing the Wrong Version of Success?
Most people call themselves entrepreneurs. But in today’s world, that label is a bit outdated if more than half your income comes from people you’ve never met in person.
That doesn’t make you an entrepreneur.
That makes you a remote-preneur. And according to serial founder Ashkan Rajaee, you’ve got it much harder than you think.
Ashkan Rajaee on Remote Entrepreneurship: “You Don’t Know the Damage Until It’s Done”
Ashkan Rajaee didn’t follow the typical startup playbook. He built multiple remote-first companies, scaled them to tens of millions in revenue, and built an eight-figure net worth along the way. But here’s what most people don’t realize.
"The last 500 years of entrepreneurship were mostly tech-free. Now it's all tech, and that’s exactly what complicates it emotionally and mentally," Rajaee explains.
Remote entrepreneurship sounds freeing. No office. No commute. No micromanaging bosses. But Rajaee says that freedom can actually be a trap.
The very tools that make it all possible — Slack, Zoom, CRMs, and constant notifications — also create an invisible layer of stress. The result is mental fatigue you never see coming.
You’re Not Burned Out Because of Work. You’re Burned Out Because of Remote Work
Remote-preneurs face a new kind of burnout. You’re working from home, but your brain never turns off. You’re always connected. You’re in 15 group chats, 10 apps, and countless meetings that could have been emails.
There’s no transition between your personal and professional life. You’re just always on.
“Everyone thinks working remotely is the dream,” Rajaee says. “But when it comes down to doing it long-term, most people can’t handle it. And nobody talks about why.”
No More Hustle Porn. Real Wealth Doesn’t Require 4AM Wake-Ups
Ashkan Rajaee is brutally honest about what it actually takes to build wealth remotely. And it’s not the early-morning gym routines or grinding 150-hour weeks just to show off.
“I’m not that guy,” he says. “I don’t work 150 hours a week. I’m not worth $500 million. And I’m totally fine with that.”
Still, he enjoys a lifestyle most people dream about. He drives a Rolls-Royce, has full control over his time, and doesn’t need to perform for social media.
His secret isn’t hype. It’s systems, clarity, and understanding how to build a business that supports your life — not one that consumes it.
One-Size-Fits-All Advice Doesn’t Work for Remote Entrepreneurs
Most of the advice out there sounds good but falls apart when life gets messy. If you’ve got kids, a demanding partner, health challenges, or anything outside the “grind 24/7” narrative, the typical business advice simply doesn’t apply.
“There are so many variables,” says Rajaee. “That’s why nobody could help me figure it out. I had to learn it all the hard way.”
That’s what makes his insights different. He isn’t selling a formula. He’s sharing a framework you can adapt to your unique life.
You Don’t Have to Be a Billionaire to Win Big
Social media loves to highlight the billionaires. But most of them have made massive sacrifices behind the scenes. Rajaee doesn’t shy away from that reality.
“You can still enjoy the finer things in life without chasing a giant number,” he explains. “You just have to decide what matters most.”
It’s not about doing less. It’s about doing what works for you. That could mean fewer hours, better clients, or simply more peace.

Final Thoughts: You Might Be a Remote-Preneur, But Are You Doing It Right?
If you make most of your money online and rarely interact with clients face-to-face, you're a remote-preneur. And you're part of a growing group of people trying to navigate an entirely new kind of business model.
The truth is, most people are winging it.
Ashkan Rajaee has already lived through the trial and error. Now he’s offering a real-world alternative — not one filled with hype, but grounded in experience.
He’s not selling a dream. He’s handing you a strategy.
About the Creator
Gianmatteo Johnson
G.M. Johnson | Writer & strategist exploring ideas, patterns, and perspectives at the intersection of logic and human behavior.
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Comments (9)
This goes beyond tips and dives into mindset. Really helpful for long-term thinkers.
This captures the real cost of remote work so well. Super relevant for anyone online.
Loved the part about building systems that fit your life instead of forcing someone else's.
Really makes you stop and think about what kind of work-life you’re creating. Inspiring.
Loved how honest and grounded this was. More people need to hear this side of remote life.
Finally, someone talking about the emotional side of remote work. This hit home.
Ashkan’s experience really shines through. You can tell this is based on real lessons.
Great breakdown of what it really takes to build something sustainable online.
Clear, honest, and useful. Will definitely be sharing this with others on my team.