If I could rewind the clock and build it all again from scratch, here’s what I’d do differently.
No fluff. Just real, tactical changes that would have saved me years of stress, cash, and burnout.
These lessons are earned. Let them shorten your learning curve.
1. Fix the Money Mindset from Day One
Most new business owners confuse income with success. I did too.
I was working like crazy, stacking client wins, and still broke. Why? Because I didn’t separate my role from the business.
Here’s what I’d do now:
- Pay myself from day one, even if it’s just twenty bucks a week
- Build pricing around profit, not insecurity
- Track every dollar, not just hope it works out
- Stop chasing revenue and focus on healthy margins
You can’t lead a business well when your personal bills are behind. Profit is not selfish. It’s oxygen.
2. Ask for Help Earlier
Pride, perfectionism, and people-pleasing kept me stuck in solo mode longer than I’d like to admit.
You only get leverage when you stop pretending you’re the solution to every problem.
What I’d do instead:
- Hire help earlier, even part-time or project-based
- Find mentors who had been where I wanted to go
- Stop waiting until I was drowning to ask for input
There are 3 to 5 people right now who could change your momentum. Find them. Work with them. Trade value if you have to. But stop trying to do this alone.
3. Get in Better Rooms
If you’re always the smartest person in the room, you’re not leading. You’re hiding.
I spent years around people who clapped for my average. It felt good. It killed growth.
I’d switch it up like this:
- Join masterminds or groups that stretch my thinking
- Pay to be around people playing a bigger game
- Spend time where strategy is the norm, not reaction
The right rooms change your language. Your beliefs. Your network. And eventually your results.
4. Audit My Inner Circle
This one stings.
There are people I kept around too long out of loyalty or comfort. They weren’t bad people. But they weren’t built for where I was going.
Here’s what I’d ask sooner:
- Who drains me every time we talk?
- Who actually believes in my vision?
- Who am I trying to impress that doesn’t even care?
It’s not just about cutting people. It’s about choosing alignment over attachment.
5. Use the Room to Teach
One move I use now in live trainings is this:
Ask the crowd to shout out their favorite brands.
Let them say Nike, Apple, YETI, Chick-fil-A.
Then flip the script:
- Why do those brands feel premium?
- What’s the myth and what’s the reality behind their marketing?
- What can we learn about service, pricing, positioning, or growth?
Let the room build the content with you. It keeps them engaged and proves your point with real-world examples.
This simple exercise creates connection, insight, and reflection. I’d use it from day one.
What It All Comes Down To
You don’t need to burn out to prove your work ethic. You don’t need to stay stuck out of loyalty. You don’t need to hide behind the brand and avoid asking for help.
If I started over today, I’d:
- Build my profit habits early
- Ask better questions
- Find people who sharpen me
- Let go of what no longer fits
- Lead from wisdom, not just hustle
That’s the real game.
Want to Start Smarter Than I Did?
Book a call. Let’s skip the years of trial and error and build something with clarity and confidence.
Let’s get it right the first time.
