5 pieces of brutal truths after two decades of entrepreneurship

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Been there, done that.

Two decades in the trenches as an entrepreneur taught me way more than any book ever could.

And hey, I still grab every bit of knowledge I can...

but some hard lessons only came from getting my hands dirty.

You want results?

You want to scale?

Forget the gurus and their shiny promises.

Here's what you REALLY need to know—the brutal, beautiful, and totally non-negotiable truths of building a business that lasts.

I'm not dishing out theory — this is the stuff that separates success from another "what if" story.

The pieces of the puzzle they don't tell you about…until now.

This ain't some fluffy, feel-good read.

This is about action, growth, and making sure the legacy you leave is more than just dollar signs.

If you're ready to ditch the excuses and build something that matters...keep reading.

1. Forget Theory, This is Your Real Business School

Forget the fancy degrees and business books.

Building a REAL business means getting messy.

No blueprint exists – you're writing it as you go.

Ditch the comfort zone.

Test, fail, get back up, and do it again.

Courses and podcasts?

Great for inspiration, lousy for execution.

Knowledge is just potential, action is where the magic happens.

This grind ain't for everyone.

It's frustrating, exhausting, even brutal.

But that feeling when you see YOUR creation make an impact?

That beats any theory hands down.

So take what you learned and use it as a roadmap, not a crutch.

Time to play the game and see what you're really made of.

Your Network is Your Net Worth

Your speed of growth boils down to one thing:

Your network.

You can be:

• The smartest person in the room.

• The most talented one.

• The one with the best solution to a problem.

But if you don't know the right people, you won't grow.

You need to:

• Collaborate.

• Share knowledge.

• Be generous.

You can't go alone.

I am where I am today because of my network.

And you can too.

It starts by shifting your mindset:

• Networking is not a sales pitch.

• Networking is not a waste of time.

Networking is investment.

And you know, better than anyone, that you have to invest to grow.

3. Don't Trade Legacy For Likes

Entrepreneurs, listen up.

We've all been there:

• Spending too much on a fancy office

• Hiring too fast, too soon

• Taking on too much debt

The list goes on.

It's all about instant gratification.

It feels good in the moment, but it digs our graves.

Human nature is wired to seek pleasure > long term planning.

But true entrepreneurs fight that urge.

They think long-term.

They think legacy.

They think impact.

Take a breath.

Get your vision straight.

Don't screw it up with short-term pleasures.

Don't stack a pile of short-term pleasures that'll turn into long-term regrets.

4. Empty Hustle = Empty Life

The biggest myth about success:

It's all about the grind.

Wake up earlier → Work harder → Sleep less.

But what happens when you reach the top of the mountain?

Money is cold. Power is lonely. Status is hollow.

Family and fitness are non-negotiable.

Career success is empty if you sacrifice what matters most.

My morning routine now includes:

• Quality time with my family.

• Yoga or workout.

• A healthy breakfast.

It never used to be this way.

I used to equate success with sacrificing everything else.

But what I didn't realize:

It's not about the end result.

It's about how you climb the mountain.

If you want to be successful in life, you have to learn how to juggle.

• Family

• Fitness

• Career

It's not easy, but it's worth it.

We all have 24 hours in a day.

But it's what we do with those hours that makes all the difference.

Make time for what truly matters.

Success and happiness will follow.

5. Eyes on the Prize

Congratulations.

You just created something new.

But remember this:

If you can't bring eyeballs to your idea, it won't fly.

Not on social platforms.

Not on Google's first page.

Not as a client magnet.

Not as a product launch.

The hard truth is:

Without traffic, your idea is dead.

And that's what every business is after:

• Attention. • Exposure. • Traffic.

What can you do?

#1. Go social

Social media is not for anyone.

But everyone needs social media.

Not for cat pics, but for:

• Networking. • Client generation. • Traffic.

You can make anything viral with the right strategy.

#2. Go ads

Paid reach is the next step.

Social media included.

You can't rely only on organic traffic.

You need to spend to see results.

End of the month, it's all about the ROI.

#3. Go organic

SEO is still King.

Rank higher on Google = more traffic.

And that's what you want.

Organic traffic can bring in a lot of potential customers.

But it takes time to scale up.

Also…

Don't get lost in the pursuit of traffic.

Remember why you started.

Help people.

Provide value.

And the rest will follow.

Final thoughts

Look, some days, building a business flat-out sucks.

You'll question everything.

You'll want to quit.

But those who fight through that doubt, those are the ones who win.

It ain't always pretty, but damn it's worth it.

This is the life you were meant to build.

So stop reading about it, and go do it.

Let's see what you make happen.

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.