Why Authors Can Stop Competing with Ruchika Malhotra

Send us Fan MailWhat if success wasn’t about competition but collaboration? In this episode of Kind of a Big Book Deal, host Meghan Stevenson sits down with bestselling author Ruchika Tulshyan, whose new book Uncompete flips the script on what it means to win. Ruchika shares how the myth of “doing it all yourself” keeps entrepreneurs and authors burnt out and isolated and how equity, generosity, and radical collaboration can build true, sustainable success.Listeners will learn why letting go of scarcity thinking opens doors to creativity, opportunity, and community. Ruchika and Meghan talk candidly about navigating publishing gatekeepers, building authentic professional relationships, and finding courage to redefine success on your own terms. Whether you’re dreaming of your first book deal or just want to stop competing with everyone, including yourself, this conversation will change how you think about success.This week’s guest is Ruchika Tulshyan. Ruchika is the author of Uncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success. She is also the founder of Candour, a global inclusion strategy firm. A former business journalist, her writing appears regularly in publications such as Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times, and more. She has previously held adjunct faculty positions at Seattle University and the University of Washington, where she now advises the Communication Leadership graduate program.Ruchika is the author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work, MIT Press’s top-selling book of 2022.Find Ruchika on social https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchikatm/https://www.instagram.com/rtulshyanUncompete: Rejecting Competition to Unlock Success, will be released on Nov. 4. Preorder the book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/753092/uncompete-by-ruchika-t-malhotra/Find upcoming events with Ruchika at https://www.ruchika.co/speaking.Episode Highlights:(0:00) Intro(2:32) Meghan introduces author and inclusion strategist Ruchika Tulshyan(3:17) The harmful myth of competition and burnout(5:47) Why doing it alone doesn’t work(10:46) How patriarchy and scarcity shape women’s success(17:28) Gatekeeping and breaking barriers in publishing(25:07) Building audiences through generosity and collaboration(28:27) The power of amplifying others online(31:19) Creating long-term success through referrals and trust(36:06) The loneliness of authorship and need for community(42:14) Redefining success beyond bestseller lists(49:06) Lessons for landing book deals and writing great books(52:57) OutroHave a great idea for a book but don't know where to start? MeghanStevenson.com/quizTraditional publishing expert Meghan Stevenson blasts open the gates of the “Big 5”—Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and Macmillan—to share what every entrepreneur and expert needs to know about landing a book deal. In episodes released every Monday, Meghan shares wisdom and stories from 20+ years in publishing as well as interviews with authors, literary agents, and editors. She also answers questions from listeners like you. Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur with an empire, or are just starting out—this podcast will help you understand what you need to do in order to turn your dream of being a bestselling author into real life.