Recently, I was asked to speak about the things I know now that I wish I knew back when I first started in business. This really got me thinking through everything I have done, what I have seen and the mistakes I’ve made. Here is my list of insights that I wish I had known way back when:
- You can save yourself a lot time, redundant emails (and maybe some hurt feelings) simply by picking up the phone or walking across the room to ask the person that question you’re typing right now.
- Employing people who don’t fit is hard work. Look for people who fit your values. Most other things can be taught, picked up, or beaten into them.
- If you’re lucky, your employees will always be smarter than you. Employ for that.
- You’ll learn more from people who think differently than you.
- That person who you just ‘back stabbed’ will be your boss tomorrow.
- Get a mentor – or 3. Their role is to ground you, build you and comfort you, but never do for you what you must do for yourself.
- You will become who you align yourself with. Pick your advisors/role models wisely.
- Always take the business card. You never know who that stranger really is. (This is how I met my mentor Richard!)
- No is a totally acceptable answer.
- If it’s not your strong skill, hire an expert. It’s a waste of your time, business and money to do it yourself.
- Always remember why you’re doing this. Know what you’re trying to build and why you’re trying to build it. It will see you out of some difficult times. Make sure your team remembers it too.
- You won’t always know what you’re doing or have all the answers. You just need to know where to go to find them.
- It’s never the product or concept that you like that will be successful. It’s what *they (customer)* likes that will sell. Remember that.
- You’ll get more from promoting others than you will from promoting yourself. You’ll also learn more, be introduced to cooler people and hear about things sooner.
- Think before you execute, but don’t procrastinate. A mediocre idea that’s acted upon will always trump the genius idea still in your head.
- You are going to meet some amazing people as result of all the blood, sweat and tears. You just have to relax enough to enjoy it.
Those are the things I wish someone had sat me down and told me when I started on this path. What are some of yours?
