4 hard lessons every entrepreneur learns the hard way

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Warning ⚠️

Today's newsletter is going to hurt.

It's going to hurt because every entrepreneur has been there.

We've learned the hard way.

We've made mistakes, we've failed, we've been through the ringer.

But, with every punch, we've come back stronger.

Today, I'm sharing with you 4 hard lessons every entrepreneur learns the hard way.

It's time to prepare yourself, stay open, and take the hits.

It won't be easy, but it's necessary.

Ready to learn? Let's go.

1. Books Won't Build Your Business, You Will

Reality check:

No amount of books will help you build your business.

You know what will?

Actually building your business.

I’m serious.

Sure, you might learn some tips and tricks for the building process.

But until you’re actually in the trenches, you won’t truly understand the nuances of entrepreneurship.

You can read books on swimming all you want, but it won't teach you how to swim.

You need to jump into the pool, splash around, and learn how to navigate the water on your own.

The same goes for building a business.

So, get out there.

Take risks.

Build your business.

And don’t be afraid to get a little wet.

2. Entrepreneurship 101: Be a Problem Solver

Entrepreneurship = value creation.

That's the secret.

Replace "entrepreneur" with "problem solver".

Now that sounds like a great job.

Solving somebody's problem pays.

So, what can you do to start?

• Pick a market

• Pick a problem

• Solve it

Do this a few times and you're set.

Better yet, you don't have to be an expert.

You're an entrepreneur, not a rocket scientist.

You learn as you go.

Moral of the story?

Value creation is king.

Be a problem solver. Get paid. Live life on your own terms.

3. Forget Routines, Focus on Systems

The biggest misconception about entrepreneurs:

"A successful entrepreneur is highly disciplined."

Umm, excuse me? 🤔

Let me tell you...

I know entrepreneurs who get up at 10 am. Entrepreneurs who work weekends. Entrepreneurs who never work after 4 pm. Entrepreneurs who can't focus on 1 thing.

What do they have in common?

SYSTEMS.

A to-do list isn't enough. Discipline isn't enough. Not even 5 cups of coffee is enough.

What is enough?

Setting up systems that will progress towards the goal.

For example:

• Refining your ideal work schedule

• Creating SOPs for routine tasks

• Using productivity tools

• Building a reliable team

It's all about leveraging systems to create long-term results.

So, next time you see a successful entrepreneur, ask them:

"What are your systems?"

Not "What's your daily routine?"

You're welcome.

4. Nobody Is Coming to Save You

Listen up:

"If you want something done right, do it yourself."

This is the motto you should live by.

Because the truth is, nobody is coming to save you.

Nobody.

Not your friends.

Not your family.

Not your investors.

It's up to you to create your own opportunities.

You have to be your own hero.

Don't wait for the perfect moment. That moment doesn't exist.

Start now. Start small. But start.

And don't be afraid to fail.

Because every failure is just a stepping stone to success.

So, take a leap of faith and create your own destiny.

You got this, entrepreneur.

Final thoughts

So, there you have it.

4 lessons every entrepreneur learns the hard way.

But, let's be real.

Life isn't easy and neither is business.

The true difference-maker is how you choose to respond to the lessons life teaches you.

Normalize building a business that works FOR you, not against you.

Talk soon,

Roy

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Raise crowdfunding: We can help you turn your product prototype into an investible asset. If you’ve got a working prototype, and need funding to scale, send me a direct message on Linkedin (click here) saying “funding” for more details on how we can help.
   

2. Validate your physical product concept: Got a concept (napkin sketch or full concept design) for a killer product? We want to see it. Click here to submit it for review.
   

3. Free Guide - Crowdfunding 101: How to prepare your physical product for a crowdfunding campaign. Click here to learn more.

4 hard lessons every entrepreneur learns the hard way