10 Things People Never Told You About Entrepreneurship
- Jan 28, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 19, 2024
Expert Panelists are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within the areas of Business, Mindset, Leadership, Innovation, Technology and Lifestyle. In Brainz Expert Panel, 10 members of The Brainz Magazine community of experts will share their best tips, advice, ideas, hacks within different topics.
1. Entrepreneurship is a marathon without a finish line
When we set out as new business owners we can have these goals and milestones that we envision hitting, and assume that those things will bring us joy, happiness, and fulfilment. We picture "arriving" and receiving the accolades, money, clients, etc. and that thereafter life will be nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and happiness. The truth is that success is fleeting and that as soon as you hit a goal there's a momentary burst of excitement that's immediately followed by turning our attention to the next goal; essentially you discover those things that you thought would make you happy are temporary. Your journey and personal growth are unending, and happiness is an inside job that nothing external can replace.
2. Entrepreneurship is an act of compassion
If you continually seek to alleviate the suffering of others through your actions without an attachment to the outcome, then your path will be filled with joy and appreciation over stress and frustration.
Once I realised the business was not about me but rather the change that could be possible for others, then I started to see tangible shifts in my internal world and external success.
3. It's not your strategy that counts, it’s your mindset and energy that matters most
When I first started in the entrepreneurial world I thought I was just starting a business, I had no idea it would actually be the greatest personal development journey I would ever go on. I wish I had known first what I know now about the power of your mindset and energy, and how important it is to be able to overcome and release the fears and limitations first in order to succeed. Mastering these things has allowed me to design a business I love, work less, earn far more and create more joy in my life.
4. Putting your mental and physical health first is the key to sustained entrepreneurial success
We cannot show up fully in our businesses without making our health a priority. The push, push, push, overworking mindset can garner success but only for a finite amount of time and at a high cost. Start your entrepreneurial journey by making your health a priority through scheduling breaks throughout your day, using meditation or positive affirmations, and saying no to opportunities that do not support your health. You only get one body, so make supporting it a priority and watch your entrepreneurial success unfold.
Arliss Dudley-Cash, Business and Self Love Coach
5. Good diet and a healthy lifestyle can lead to a better mindset making us achieve our goals
As a Transformative Coach, I advise my clients with regards to their diet (in consultation with their doctor) as this has a big impact on their cognitive ability and mood. Without a good diet and healthy lifestyle professionals and entrepreneurs struggle to change their mindset and achieve their goals.
I also have a biochemistry degree so I have the scientific knowledge to back up my advice.
Those with the APOE4 protein who have metabolic irregularity i.e., someone who is obese brought on by high processed food consumption (high carb, poor quality fats and high salt) have a greater chance of contracting Alzheimer’s due to the reduced function of the High-Density Lipids (HDL, the good cholesterol) in the brain. HDL extracts toxic protein deposits from the brain, if this function is reduced and there are high glucose levels present then glycation can occur. So, beta-amyloid plaques can accumulate in the brain, leading to the dysfunction and disruption of the blood-brain barrier, which leads to Alzheimer’s. disease.
So, diets lower in sugar and seed oils can help prevent dementia and Ketogenic diets can help people currently with dementia.
So, sleep, eat and exercise well.
6. Finding the right coach who can be your mentor is the key to saving time and money
When you decide to become an entrepreneur, it’s easy to focus on the benefits. Who wouldn’t want to have control over their time, not have to report to a boss, and have unlimited earning potential? But what no one focuses on is that it takes many years and a significant investment to create a business from scratch. What potential entrepreneurs should be told is that finding the right coach who can be your mentor is the key to saving time and money. Yes, investing in a coach who has already created a business of their own is the way to fast track your own success. Although it may be scary to make the investment in a coach when you’re first starting out, it’s much better to have a plan you can follow and the support you need to be a new entrepreneur.
Dale Troy, College Success Coach
7. It’s a journey of self-discovery and transformation
One of the biggest lessons and insights I’ve learned about entrepreneurship that no one ever mentions when you first start down that road, that journey, is that it’s not about your work ethic or what you know. It’s about who you are – your values, your beliefs, your mindset, your actions, how you respond. It’s about how deep you’re willing to go in discovering yourself and transforming into who you truly are and what you are truly meant to accomplish.
8. Entrepreneurship is, wanted or not, an emotional rollercoaster
It is a game you play with yourself first and then with the others. The stronger and more flexible your mind is, the more successful the game. At times, it can become a very lonely journey. Create a well-aligned support system and a team with its skin in the game. Learn to understand and manage your emotions - they can either propel you or set you back. Know your "why" because it will give you strength and clarity when you feel like you hit the wall, and you will for sure, at some point, feel that way. Learn to understand when to stop, pivot and continue- you may end up where you never thought you would.
9. Building your brand and company takes time
Patience, patience, patience! Building your brand and company takes time. I went in thinking the payoff would be almost immediate. Little did I know that I needed to gain trust and momentum first. Keep moving but whatever you do, don’t stop!
10. Every day is a decision
You know going in that entrepreneurship comes with significant decisions being placed before you. The decision to even become an entrepreneur is one of those. What no one told me was that it would be every day, all day. Some days it feels like that is your single only job... make decisions. The decisions are not always life-altering ones, but every single day is filled with them. You not only have to decide on what strategies and actions are most aligned with your mission and vision, passion and purpose but also have to decide, on a soul level, to commit to how you want to show up and overcome internal struggles to do it consistently regardless of what life is throwing at you.
