Inventive Journey

Many startup CEOs and entrepreneurs often get stuck on their first idea, treating it like their baby. They hold onto it for too long, draining resources and relationships instead of adapting. The key is to listen to the market and your customers—they’ll guide you in the right direction. Pivoting or iterating isn’t failure, even if it feels that way at first. It’s simply a shift in mindset toward growth.

Forget about having a traditional work-life balance. I’ve heard this echoed by many other startups and small business owners, and even a few well-known entrepreneurs. Personally, I set boundaries on only a handful of things—like my birthday and Christmas—but beyond that, most of my “social life” happens at conferences or networking events. I often work weekends, and it’s not unusual for me to be up working until 3 a.m. The night-owl side of me, probably the astrophysicist in me, makes that routine feel almost natural.

A key rule of thumb is to test as much as possible before officially launching. Market research can be tricky—asking people “Would you come if I opened an Italian restaurant here?” doesn’t always give reliable answers. But for certain types of businesses, especially low-cost ones like cleaning services, you can start small and validate demand right away. Go out, find a few clients, and talk directly to potential customers. Many businesses allow you to do this kind of groundwork, reducing risk before you fully commit to launching.

If you’re starting a business for the first time, one of the most important steps is to carefully decide what kind of product or service you want to offer. Take the time to really think it through and brainstorm your ideas thoroughly.Many people see an opportunity and jump in right away without proper preparation. They often don’t fully understand why they are selling a particular product or offering a certain service. This lack of clarity can lead to problems later on.That’s why the most crucial step is to deeply consider what you’re offering, why you’re offering it, and how it will provide value to others before you move forward.

If you're just starting a startup or small business, the most important thing—based on my experience and those I've worked with—is to focus entirely on your product or service. Whether you're offering a service, selling a physical item, or building a SaaS platform, make sure it's something people genuinely want. Then, identify exactly who those people are. Spend 99% of your time refining your product or service and understanding your target audience.

My biggest advice to anyone starting out is to avoid setting expectations for how long it will take to experiment and find your footing. Unless you're following a franchise model, no one has done exactly what you're trying to do—so there’s no set timeline. And since time is money, the more you can explore, test, and learn while working another job or having some financial support, the better. Giving yourself that buffer will allow you to figure things out before fully going to market, which can make a huge difference in your success.

Don't start coding, hiring, or building anything until you've sold the idea. Your first job is to talk to potential customers, deeply understand their problems, and validate that a real solution is needed. This is a lesson I’ve learned over multiple ventures—this being my third. In fact, we didn’t write a single line of code until we had a signed contract in hand. That shift has fundamentally changed our company culture: we stay commercially focused, but always grounded in solving real problems. It’s not about pushing my idea onto the world—it’s about listening to the world and building what it actually needs. So, always sell first. Get proof that someone is willing to pay before you start creating.

One of my mentors shared something I always come back to — it comes down to three key things. First, self-motivation. You’ve got to have that inner drive to go after what you truly want. Second, prioritization. You need to know what matters most and what can wait. And third, mentorship. Find someone you trust, someone who can guide you. And along the way, don’t forget to trust yourself too — if something feels off, listen to that instinct.

The rule of thumb I followed—and one I still believe in—is that it's perfectly fine to change direction, to explore different paths, or even juggle multiple interests at once. If you don’t have everything figured out from the start, that’s completely okay. What matters most is getting out there and gaining real experiences. Don’t fear trying, and don’t fear failing. Every attempt, every bit of exposure, teaches you something new—and it's that very exposure that will eventually lead you to your passion.

Keep trying—because you're going to hear a lot of "no's," and the key is to get comfortable with rejection. I even have a note taped to my desk that says, "Try to get rejected—to get over the fear of being rejected." As an entrepreneur, especially in the beginning, you'll face resistance and doubt, often from others and sometimes from yourself. But success comes from showing up over and over again, even when it feels like no one believes in you. Persistence is what separates those who make it from those who give up. You only truly fail when you stop trying—so keep going.

You know, it’s different for everyone, but a good starting point would be reading the book Emotional Intelligence. It’s a great introduction to understanding EQ. If you don’t really know who you are — and many people don’t, especially when starting a business in their 20s — take time to explore that. Talk to the people around you. Ask them how they perceive you. What do they think are your biggest weaknesses? It’s not always easy to hear, but getting that honest feedback early on can save you a lot of trouble later.

Follow your heart and trust your instincts—they’re often more powerful than you realize. I’ve always had a strong gut feeling about the things I pursue, a sense that tells me, “This needs to happen, this will work.” When I’ve shared my ideas with others, the response has been overwhelmingly positive—people are often surprised and inspired, saying they never thought of it that way. That kind of validation is encouraging, but it starts with knowing what truly drives and excites you. Figure out what you’re passionate about, what you’re naturally good at, and what energizes you. Then, surround yourself with the right people who believe in the vision and can help you bring it to life.

If there's one key piece of advice I'd give to anyone in business or entrepreneurship, it's to beware of the tyranny of the now—the intense pressure of immediate problems like a lost contract, a team member leaving, or an unexpected crisis. These challenges feel overwhelming in the moment, but they are temporary. Don't let short-term pain lead to emotional decisions that could harm your long-term vision. Instead, stay focused on why you started—your original dream, belief, and purpose. The present will pass, but your future is still in your hands. Handle the moment, but don’t let it define you.

Stay liquid — hold on to as much cash as possible. If you're ready to go all in, be prepared to make serious lifestyle adjustments — even something as extreme as crashing on a friend's couch with just a sleeping bag. You need to fully grasp that whatever you're planning for your business — the launch, the execution, everything — will likely take longer, cost more, and face more uncertainty than you expect.Expect delays. Expect higher costs — for materials, labor, permits, and everything in between. The market is volatile, with unpredictable factors like tariffs, labor shortages, and regulatory slowdowns.Talk to someone who has been through exactly what you're about to do. Ask them how much additional risk they see in today’s environment. Learn from their experience — and move forward with caution.

Get really good at listening to your own gut. You're going to receive a lot of advice—everyone will be convinced they know exactly what you should do next. Some of that advice might be valuable, but I always take everything with a grain of salt. What’s more important is learning to pause and tune in to your own instincts.We're actually in one of those moments right now—a bit of a pivot, a shift in focus. And instead of speeding up or seeking even more input, what I really need to do is slow down, step back, reflect, and listen closely to myself. It’s about thinking things through and making sure I feel truly confident about the direction we’re taking.

I don’t want to pretend like I know how every business works—because I don’t. But in my experience, with my own business, I truly believe the most important thing is being fully present. You have to live in the business. I just don’t see how this can be done remotely. Even if it could, I think there’s so much value—in terms of company culture and team morale—in working alongside your people. If a truck shows up and there's a lot of work to do, you jump in and help unload. If there’s trash on the floor, you pick it up. As a business owner, you lead by example.

I'd suggest ignoring the common advice in business culture that tells you to hack your time, boost productivity, or master time management. Instead, shift your focus to managing your energy. That change made a profound difference in my life. So many of us are walking around nearly depleted—burned out, overwhelmed, and under constant stress. The real antidote isn't doing more or achieving more, but figuring out how to stop the energy leaks and restore what fuels us.

There are two books I always recommend to entrepreneurs just starting out, and one of them is Profit First by Mike. The book is a game-changer. Coming from the corporate world, I had a traditional mindset about finances, but this book completely flipped that perspective. It taught me to prioritize profit from day one and helped me restructure how I manage cash flow and budgets in my business. The core takeaway for me was that if I'm running a business, the goal is to pay myself—not just cover expenses. It really drove home the importance of having a solid handle on your cash, because no matter how brilliant your idea is, if you run out of money, you're done.

I strongly advise anyone in business to pay close attention to both internal and external factors. Your internal state significantly impacts how you present yourself in business, from pricing discussions to interactions with team members, freelancers, and contractors. What I mean by this is simple—do the work. Invest in yourself by hiring a coach, whether it's a business coach, branding coach, or life coach. I've been fortunate to work with various coaches, and their guidance has directly shaped the way I show up and perform in my business.

Staying organized in your business is crucial—whether it's managing finances, streamlining operations, or preparing for future team growth. Keeping yourself structured ensures efficiency and clarity.At the same time, don’t be afraid to experiment. However, it's essential to track the results of those experiments. For example, if you're investing $2,000 a month in marketing, regularly assess its effectiveness rather than assuming it's working. Similarly, don't blindly trust someone just because they claim to be an expert—verify their expertise.Many businesses, even large ones, fall into the trap of making assumptions. They assume strategies will work, that hires are competent, or that expenses are justified, without proper evaluation. Avoiding these assumptions and staying analytical can make a significant difference in your success.