The Biggest Lessons and Best Advice for Entrepreneurs: Insights from My Journey
When I reflect on my entrepreneurial journey, the biggest lessons often came from the mistakes I made—mistakes I hope to never repeat but ones I’m grateful for nonetheless. Every stumble taught me something critical, and I’d like to share some of the lessons and advice that have shaped me as an entrepreneur.
1. Beware of Partnerships
For me, partnerships were not the best path. While they might work for others, I’ve found it’s better to start solo and hire out roles as the business grows. Partners can complicate decision-making, and if your visions aren’t perfectly aligned, it can lead to tension or even derailment. By building my business independently, I’ve had the freedom to make decisions quickly and ensure everything aligns with my vision.
If you do consider a partner, be sure to outline roles, responsibilities, and exit strategies clearly—because it’s much easier to deal with potential challenges upfront than to untangle them later. Do not give too much control to a partner.
2. Start Small and Test Often
One of my most important rules is to test product fit before investing too much time or money. I’ve always started small, ensuring there’s demand before scaling up. This approach minimizes risks and gives you space to learn and refine as you go. Whether it’s a product launch or a new marketing campaign, think of the initial phase as a prototype, not the final version.
3. Devour Knowledge Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does!)
Reading and learning have been indispensable to my success. Before I opened Ocha Tea Bar, I read the Starbucks founder’s book, and the insights I gained were invaluable. Today, I’m immersed in The E-Myth on Audible, which is teaching me how to implement systems in my business—a skill I once thought I wasn’t good at but am now mastering.
Investigating your perceived weaknesses can be transformative. For instance, I once believed I couldn’t excel at creating systems, but with guidance, I’ve developed a clear roadmap. Don’t shy away from areas where you feel inexperienced; instead, lean into them.
4. Embrace Lifelong Learning
Entrepreneurship requires constant growth. Recently, I’ve been taking a marketing and e-commerce course—a field I once thought I wasn’t skilled in. To my surprise, I’ve discovered I not only excel at marketing but also genuinely enjoy it. Sometimes the things that intimidate us the most are the areas where we’ll thrive. If you are an entrepreneur, I would highly advise you to take some marketing classes. Next to having a great product, this is the next most important part of your business. I wish I had done this WAY earlier!
5. Adaptability is Your Superpower
Businesses evolve, and so do you. What worked in the beginning might not work later, and that’s okay. Being open to change, learning new skills, and exploring areas outside your comfort zone will keep your business and your mindset fresh.
Final Thoughts
Entrepreneurship is a wild, unpredictable ride. You’ll face challenges, make mistakes, and question yourself—but you’ll also grow, learn, and discover strengths you never knew you had. My advice is to stay curious, keep learning, and trust that every step, whether forward or backward, is part of the journey.
Above all, don’t let fear hold you back. Investigate the areas you think you’re “not good at” because you might just surprise yourself. Who knows? You might find a new passion or talent that changes your entire trajectory.
Keep dreaming big, testing small, and learning always.