The Truth About Starting a Business: What You Actually Need to Hear
Everyone talks about the “hustle,” the “scaling,” and the “moonshots,” but very few people talk about the reality of building something from the ground up. If you are just starting out—or if you’re still waiting to take that first jump—here is the unfiltered advice I would give to anyone looking to build a business.
1. Keep Your Passions and Your Business Separate
We have all heard “do what you love,” but there is a dangerous side to that. Work sucks sometimes. It is work. Even if you love your industry, you will hit periods of burnout.
If you turn your favorite hobby into your primary source of income, when that burnout hits, you risk ruining the things you actually love. I learned this the hard way while trying to turn gaming into a career. Keep the things that give you joy separate from the grind so that when work gets heavy, you still have a sanctuary to return to.
2. Avoid “Shiny Object” Marketing (and Don’t Outsource Too Early)
The internet is the Wild West. You will be bombarded by people promising to “scale you to the moon” or get you leads overnight.
Don’t listen.
Before you pay someone else to handle your brand, website, or social presence, take the time to get educated yourself. You need to understand the value of the work so you don’t get taken for money you don’t have yet. Tools are just tools—they aren’t a replacement for your logic, experience, or intuition.
3. Nothing Beats Handshakes and Referrals
For all the talk about digital automation and advertising, nothing—and I mean nothing—outperforms genuine relationships.
Some of the best business I have ever done has come from friends I made through business. Don’t get so caught up in the “future” of digital marketing that you forget the past: human connection. Build real relationships, have real conversations, and earn your referrals the old-fashioned way.
4. Prove Your Value for Free First
If you aren’t sure if your business idea will work, stop theorizing and start doing. Start doing your service for free—so much of it that it makes your head spin. Once your week is filled with demand, that is when you circle back and offer premium, paid packages. Use the free work to build your credibility and prove your process.
5. Take Care of Your People
If you have employees, remember that no one will ever care as much as the owner. The only way to get your team to work as hard as you do is to give them a stake in the success. Whether it is bonuses, incentives, or just treating them like human beings, take care of your best people. There is always someone else out there who might treat them a little better; don’t let your best talent walk away because you didn’t value them.
6. Stay in the Fight
The reality is that building a business is going to crush you sometimes. It is going to hurt. There will be a hundred moments where you want to give up.
Don’t.
I believe in Newton’s third law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The weight you are feeling right now is just preparing you for an explosion of growth that you aren’t even ready for yet. Build a circle of people who are actually moving, keep marching, and don’t give in to the temptation to quit.
Need guidance on building your business or optimizing your digital presence? I’m here to help. You can find me over at Optilineage.com or reach out via DM on any social platform.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/qs2yoxvM9vc