Meet Kriang Khanijomdi — a Shopify veteran turned startup founder and the creator of PuppetVendors, a multi-vendor marketplace used by e-commerce brands worldwide.
In this episode of On My Own Terms, host John Lim explores Kriang’s journey from big tech to entrepreneurship — the pressure of being the “last line of defense,” taking risks in your 30s, and the mindset shifts needed to build beyond your comfort zone.
💬 In this episode, we talk about:
👉 Why solving a problem you personally experienced is the strongest foundation for a startup
👉 The biggest mindset shift from being a corporate employee to becoming a founder
👉 How AI is reshaping the future of e-commerce, small business, and product development
👉 Why conviction matters more than timing, and how to stay in the game long enough to see results
👉 The hidden skills from corporate life that become superpowers in entrepreneurship
👉 How to manage time, reflect daily, and build momentum without burning out
👉 What “living life on your own terms” means after transitioning out of big tech
—-----------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Why People Quit Too Early
02:02 Introduction
02:33 Who is Kriang Khanijomdi
04:47 What Shopify Taught Him About Winning
19:56 A 10-Year Problem Became His Business
33:11 Why He Says NO to Customers (On Purpose)
33:54 How He Levels Up
36:18 The Toughest Part of Building
42:31 What AI Can Do (And What It Still Can’t)
53:51 When You Become the Last Line of Defense
—-----------------------------
Where to find Kriang:
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4rONvs4
PuppetVendors: https://bit.ly/4acW4qB
🔍 Scale Score™— Free Quick Diagnostic for SMB FoundersRunning a business that’s generating revenue but still feels heavier than it should?
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Most businesses don’t need more tactics or tools. They need clarity on the real constraint before investing time, money, or energy (including things like AI).If you want a clearer signal on what to fix next — and what to ignore for now —
👉 Take the free Scale Score™: https://bit.ly/3MC4aiE
🎯Find practical tools and resources to guide your journey:
Check out: https://bit.ly/3CTMZRW
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Email: johnlimcy@gmail.com
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📌 References, Recommendations & Resources:
✅Shopify — Where Kriang learned shipping intensity and product execution. Start your Shopify free trial here 🔗 https://bit.ly/48tXjQL
✅Puppet Vendors — Shopify app that helps Shopify store owners convert their store into a full-fledge Multi-Vendor marketplace. Drop-shippers, marketplaces, and consignment businesses also commonly use the app to help better manage their sales, commissions, and payout reporting with 3rd party vendors. Click link for 14-day Free trial: 🔗https://bit.ly/4oJTHz2
✅ AI as an Enabler — How Kriang uses AI to speed up execution and decisions. 🔗 https://bit.ly/44h6JMU
✅Calendly - Free online appointment scheduling software 🔗https://bit.ly/4pVGt31
✅Cursor - AI-powered code editor 🔗https://bit.ly/4aFY0YA
✅Notion - AI-powered workspace 🔗https://bit.ly/4rTurJu
✅Daily Reflection Habit — Kriang’s method to improve faster, every day. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4oIMfny (general resource for habit building)
✅ Entrepreneurship Resources — Guides that shaped his approach to building and validating ideas. 🔗https://bit.ly/4aE9awX
[Mindset, Startup, AI, Millennials]
#EntrepreneurshipJourney#StartupFounder #CareerTransition #TechEntrepreneur #EcommerceBusiness #AIinBusiness #OnMyOwnTermsPodcast