🎙 Inventive Journey | Real Stories From the Startup Survival Club

Many startup CEOs and entrepreneurs often get stuck on their first idea, treating it like their baby. They hold onto it for too long, draining resources and relationships instead of adapting. The key is to listen to the market and your customers—they’ll guide you in the right direction. Pivoting or iterating isn’t failure, even if it feels that way at first. It’s simply a shift in mindset toward growth.

Forget about having a traditional work-life balance. I’ve heard this echoed by many other startups and small business owners, and even a few well-known entrepreneurs. Personally, I set boundaries on only a handful of things—like my birthday and Christmas—but beyond that, most of my “social life” happens at conferences or networking events. I often work weekends, and it’s not unusual for me to be up working until 3 a.m. The night-owl side of me, probably the astrophysicist in me, makes that routine feel almost natural.

A key rule of thumb is to test as much as possible before officially launching. Market research can be tricky—asking people “Would you come if I opened an Italian restaurant here?” doesn’t always give reliable answers. But for certain types of businesses, especially low-cost ones like cleaning services, you can start small and validate demand right away. Go out, find a few clients, and talk directly to potential customers. Many businesses allow you to do this kind of groundwork, reducing risk before you fully commit to launching.

If you’re starting a business for the first time, one of the most important steps is to carefully decide what kind of product or service you want to offer. Take the time to really think it through and brainstorm your ideas thoroughly.Many people see an opportunity and jump in right away without proper preparation. They often don’t fully understand why they are selling a particular product or offering a certain service. This lack of clarity can lead to problems later on.That’s why the most crucial step is to deeply consider what you’re offering, why you’re offering it, and how it will provide value to others before you move forward.

If you're just starting a startup or small business, the most important thing—based on my experience and those I've worked with—is to focus entirely on your product or service. Whether you're offering a service, selling a physical item, or building a SaaS platform, make sure it's something people genuinely want. Then, identify exactly who those people are. Spend 99% of your time refining your product or service and understanding your target audience.

My biggest advice to anyone starting out is to avoid setting expectations for how long it will take to experiment and find your footing. Unless you're following a franchise model, no one has done exactly what you're trying to do—so there’s no set timeline. And since time is money, the more you can explore, test, and learn while working another job or having some financial support, the better. Giving yourself that buffer will allow you to figure things out before fully going to market, which can make a huge difference in your success.

Don't start coding, hiring, or building anything until you've sold the idea. Your first job is to talk to potential customers, deeply understand their problems, and validate that a real solution is needed. This is a lesson I’ve learned over multiple ventures—this being my third. In fact, we didn’t write a single line of code until we had a signed contract in hand. That shift has fundamentally changed our company culture: we stay commercially focused, but always grounded in solving real problems. It’s not about pushing my idea onto the world—it’s about listening to the world and building what it actually needs. So, always sell first. Get proof that someone is willing to pay before you start creating.

One of my mentors shared something I always come back to — it comes down to three key things. First, self-motivation. You’ve got to have that inner drive to go after what you truly want. Second, prioritization. You need to know what matters most and what can wait. And third, mentorship. Find someone you trust, someone who can guide you. And along the way, don’t forget to trust yourself too — if something feels off, listen to that instinct.

The rule of thumb I followed—and one I still believe in—is that it's perfectly fine to change direction, to explore different paths, or even juggle multiple interests at once. If you don’t have everything figured out from the start, that’s completely okay. What matters most is getting out there and gaining real experiences. Don’t fear trying, and don’t fear failing. Every attempt, every bit of exposure, teaches you something new—and it's that very exposure that will eventually lead you to your passion.

Keep trying—because you're going to hear a lot of "no's," and the key is to get comfortable with rejection. I even have a note taped to my desk that says, "Try to get rejected—to get over the fear of being rejected." As an entrepreneur, especially in the beginning, you'll face resistance and doubt, often from others and sometimes from yourself. But success comes from showing up over and over again, even when it feels like no one believes in you. Persistence is what separates those who make it from those who give up. You only truly fail when you stop trying—so keep going.