Starting a business is one heck of a journey, and anyone who's been there can tell you it’s filled with lessons—some you learn the hard way.
But what if you could skip a few bumps by hearing from folks who’ve already paved the path? That’s what we’re diving into here.
We gathered advice from entrepreneurs who’ve been through the ups and downs, the long hours, and the risks, and each one shared a piece of wisdom they wish they’d known earlier.
You’ll find some real gems here—lessons that can save you from a few common mistakes and keep your momentum going strong.
1. Break Out of the “Learning Loop”
Cody Burch, email storyteller who has spent the last 12 years building a laidback online business, sees a common trap many new business owners fall into: the endless “learning loop.” It’s that cycle where you just keep gathering info—taking courses, reading books, signing up for webinars—but never actually take action. Cody gets it; knowledge is key. But he points out that if you’re not putting what you learn into practice, it’s like stashing money under your mattress—technically, you have it, but it’s not doing anything for you.
His advice? Start small. Take one thing you’ve learned each day and put it into action. Implementing even tiny ideas builds real progress, and it solidifies the habit of doing, not just learning. That way, you’re seeing real-world results and moving closer to your goals every day.
2. Build Your Audience First
Alegre from Beyond Your Wildest Dreams, mom-entrepreneur on a mission to empower other moms, wishes she’d understood this one from day one: start building an audience before you even have a finished product. Too many entrepreneurs think they need everything perfect and market-ready before bringing people in. But as Alegre found out, that’s backwards thinking.
She recommends building a community from the get-go. Share valuable content, connect with people, and show up consistently. You can start small with a freebie—like a mini-course, an ebook, or a helpful webinar—to start collecting emails and engaging potential customers. The key is to build a relationship with people so that by the time you’re ready to launch, they’re already interested and waiting for what you have to offer.
3. Don’t Go It Alone
Asia from Grow Cook Nourish emphasizes the power of community. Working on your own can feel isolating, and let’s face it—business isn’t meant to be a solo act. Whether it’s an online group, a local meetup, or a professional network, a community can provide shared learning, support, and collaboration opportunities.
She suggest joining groups where you can share ideas, get feedback, and even team up on projects. By connecting with others, you get a wider range of expertise and a new perspective, which can speed up your growth. Community isn’t just about networking; it’s about finding people who lift each other up and share in the journey.
4. Embrace the “Launch, Learn, Adapt” Mindset
Brenda Adelman, a critically acclaimed speaker and storyteller, has been at this long enough to know that business is all about learning and adapting on the fly. She’s a big believer in iteration—testing, measuring, and making adjustments along the way. Waiting for “perfect” is a sure way to stall out, so instead, she focuses on progress over perfection.
Brenda’s approach is simple: launch, get feedback, tweak, and then repeat. This cycle keeps you agile, allowing you to adapt quickly to what’s working (and what’s not) without getting bogged down by perfectionism. Remember, business is a moving target, and those little improvements over time can lead to huge results.
Last Thoughts
At the end of the day, the journey to business success doesn’t come from endless planning or doing everything on your own. It’s about action, community, and being open to change.
So, remember the lessons from these entrepreneurs’:
- break out of the learning loop,
- start connecting with people early,
- build a community,
- and, most importantly, stay flexible.
Every step you take builds momentum, so start applying these insights today. You’ve got this—just keep moving forward, one step at a time.
