5 red lies your entrepreneurial guru told you

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Your entrepreneurial guru has been lying to you

And it's time you learned the cold-hard truth.

We've all had that one mentor or "guru" who gave advice that didn't quite work.

Their guidance was well-intentioned…

But when put into practice…

It just didn't deliver the results we expected.

I've been there too.

Over the years, I believed things that ended up slowing down my entrepreneurial progress tremendously.

Things like:

"Work 24/7 and never take a break" or "Fake it till you make it."

These common startup mantras are actually red lies.

They sound good on paper, but following them blindly can damage your business.

I learned this the hard way.

After one too many burnouts and failed launches…

I knew something had to change.

So here are the 5 most dangerous red lies I see budding entrepreneurs told, so you can avoid months or years of frustration:

1. ‘Work 24/7’:

It's time to bust this common entrepreneur advice:

"Work 24/7 and never take a break."

Here's why:

Burnout is not a luxury problem

It's a reality for everyone

Burnout is a result of an:

— Unhealthy work environment

— Imbalanced lifestyle

— Pressure to "always be on"

If we don't prioritize rest, our:

— Focus gets foggy

— Creativity is stalled

— Mental health is affected

— Relationships are strained

When you prioritize rest:

— You're rewarded with better productivity

— You generate more creative ideas

— You feel recharged and rejuvenated

— You get ahead in business

Remember:

— You can still be successful while taking breaks

— It's not a sign of weakness or laziness

— You cannot do everything at once

— Prioritizing rest is vital for the long-haul

So go ahead, take that vacation or mental health day.

You'll be a better entrepreneur for it.

2. ‘Fake it till you make it’:

Entrepreneurial GURUs have preached this mantra for ages.

But I beg to differ.

For me, authenticity is the king.

There’s something magical about honesty in the journey of entrepreneurship.

When you fake it:

❌ You become a character

❌ You lose authenticity

❌ You lose touch with reality

❌ You distance from your audience

When you're genuine:

✅ You’re relatable

✅ You build trust

✅ Your flaws become relatable stories

✅ You’re connected to your audience

Authenticity in your entrepreneurial journey helps you:

— Get valuable feedback

— Build a community

— Identify your strengths and weakness

— Create an impact in your niche

— Stay true to your vision

While “fake it till you make it” can work in some business settings, it’s not one-size-fits-all.

Don’t fake it in your entrepreneurial journey.

Instead, let your actions speak louder than your words.

People respect authenticity.

And, in the end, you’ll attract the right audience who appreciates you for you.

3. ‘Tik Tok is just for dancing’:

Wake up, fellow entrepreneurs!

TikTok is no longer just a platform for dancing videos.

Let me shock you with this fact:

People spend over $3-$4M daily on TikTok shops.

Yes, you read that right.

This once-overlooked platform is now a revenue-generating machine.

It’s time to leverage it.

You need to be where your audience is and TikTok is where Gen Z and Millennials are hanging out.

Don't sleep on this opportunity.

The key to dominating TikTok is creating content that is:

— Entertaining

— Educational

— Inspiring

Use trending sounds and challenges to grab attention.

When done correctly, you’ll soon notice your followers and sales skyrocket.

So, if you're not already on TikTok, it's time to start thinking about it.

4. ‘Influencer marketing is DEAD’.

No. It's not.

KSI and Logan Paul's energy drink Prime hit $1 billion in revenue.

Let that sink in.

Creators aren't just influencers, they're strategic business partners.

For those who think small niche creators are irrelevant, think again.

Micro-niche influencers are the future.

Why?

Their audiences are:

— Highly engaged

— Culturally aligned

— Niche interested

They're not just spectators.

They're passionate champions.

When a micro-niche creator endorses a product they love, their loyal audience buys it.

Their audience is small, but full of super fans.

And when they say:

— "I use this tool"

— "I love this brand"

— "this product changed my life"

it means something.

It means quite a lot.

It's a small pitch, but to the right audience, it's a grand slam.

KSI and Logan Paul aren't the only ones either.

Countless creators have launched their product lines and successfully sold them.

The lesson?

Micro-niche influencers are the real deal.

It's more than a trend.

They're here to stay.

The future is bright.

5. ‘The only path to greatness is the solo path’:

Don't buy into the lie.

Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a solitary endeavor, but it really takes a team to succeed.

"Solopreneurship" can be a lonely game.

You need a support system. A network. A tribe.

It's how you break through the rough spots and celebrate the wins.

No successful entrepreneur got there alone.

They had a team. A family. A community.

These are the people who:

— Invest in your growth

— Believe in your vision

— Help execute your goals

— Provide feedback & ideas

— Motivate you when you're down

The greatest entrepreneurs achieved their success with a team.

You don't have to go it alone.

Find your people. Build your tribe.

Together, you can create something amazing.

Final thoughts

Question blanket startup advice before fully committing.

What works for others may not work for you.

Run small tests to see if ideas resonate with YOUR audience.

Combine external strategies with self-awareness and experimentation.

Stay authentic, know your niche, take real breaks, and build a support squad.

Do this and you’ll stand out from the entrepreneurial herd.

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.