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I often find myself thinking about how I wish I had started my journey into business and real estate much earlier, back in 2008 or 2009. I jumped into the intricacies of these fields during that time. My regret stems from growing up in a family that lacked significant business experience; the prevailing belief was to work diligently in a stable job for one's entire life.

Reflecting on this, I recognize the missed opportunities for learning and growth. If I could travel back in time, I would advise my younger self to dive into the world of business and real estate much sooner. I'd tell myself, "Read this book now, don't wait for three years or more." That's the lesson I've learned along the way.

If I could go back, I would have been much more discerning in my selection of a CPA. The current CPA I have now truly comprehends the intricacies of my business and the broader realm of small businesses. They have been instrumental in improving my financial planning and providing timely reminders, such as quarterly tax obligations. In hindsight, my initial decision to prioritize proximity when choosing a CPA was unnecessary and ended up being detrimental during my first year.

We should have considered pursuing investment opportunities earlier, even though it presented challenges. When we initially approached investors, their response was to return when we had achieved post-revenue status. We also explored the possibility of partnering with some of our customers for investment, although we didn't actively pursue many of these opportunities. Looking back, it's possible that we missed out on potential benefits for our company by not being more proactive in seeking investment. While we did approach some potential investors, they expressed a preference for purchasing our products rather than investing in our company, which was not in line with their usual practices. Reflecting on this, it's clear that we should have put in more effort in this area, especially considering our presence in the manufacturing sector.

At certain junctures, there was a prevailing mindset that did not entertain the notion of failure. There were moments when I was determined that failure was not an acceptable outcome. What I mean by this is that, when faced with adversity, instead of reevaluating our course, I redoubled my efforts. It's not necessarily a negative approach, but looking back, I should have recognized the signs and, in collaboration with my investors and partners, considered a different path. In retrospect, it would have likely been more beneficial for all parties involved if, during that challenging period, we had made the decision to conclude our current endeavor and start afresh.

I want to get better at understanding and managing the financial side of our agency. Rather than just focusing on making money like a salesperson, I want to concentrate more on making a profit. I'm driven by ensuring we have enough money coming in and managing our finances effectively. When I look back, I realize I should have spent more time on the process and financial analysis that leads to profit. It's the most important part of what we do. While we've been successful in making money, I wish I had paid more attention to this aspect instead of just thinking about immediate sales and short-term cash flow.

I would scrutinize potential partners much more thoroughly. We've encountered numerous individuals and companies who seem to be merely testing the waters – they approach us with the intention of assessing the feasibility of a partnership or collaborative arrangement. The challenge here is that, as a startup founder, you must always keep your focus on the next six months, where your company needs to be, and what's essential to achieve those goals. I believe it's beneficial to adopt a more rigorous vetting process for potential partnerships and working relationships right from the start, as it could prevent them from becoming a significant drain on our time and resources.

I must admit, I'm incredibly fatigued, but at the same time, my excitement surpasses my tiredness. It's like an ongoing cycle that never ends. The more I delve into the world of business, the greater my desire becomes to establish additional ventures. Specifically, I envision expanding my endeavors through infrastructure development, involving the creation of diverse servers. Picture having a single server that you can divide into smaller units, each dedicated to a distinct purpose or niche. As time progresses, I aspire to cultivate even more enterprises. It's not solely about monetary gains; rather, it's driven by the concept of scale. The larger the scope of my ventures, the more invigorating the experience becomes. For budding entrepreneurs, particularly those who are curious about the inner workings of starting a business, this journey holds immense appeal.

'Measure twice, cut once.' That means making sure you do enough due diligence and planning in the beginning. We are often so excited to get started with something as complex as our project, I kind of wish I had taken more time, in the beginning, to really measure twice, and cut once. But I also wouldn't change our journey at all. It's kind of contradictory because we needed to build it exactly as we did, but still, measure twice, and cut once. It's tough when you've learned so much from those early mistakes to say that you shouldn't do them again. In everything I've started, I can say that if I had been able to not make certain mistakes or do things better or not hire certain people, it would have been a smoother process. But I probably would have just made that mistake later in the journey. I don't know. It's a tough one to say, but there's a lot of that.

Just not take it personal. I think the first time I experienced my first agent leaving me after investing so much time in them, it crushed me. But then the philosophy of 'me today, you tomorrow' kicked in. I'm not still at the first job I had back in Philadelphia working on Delaware Avenue. No, I'm not there anymore. People go through different stages, and they can move forward. And this is what I do know: if I fulfilled my obligation to them by respecting them, giving them stable employment, and investing in them, the outcome is okay with me because I just don't know, what's happening in their personal lives. There could be something that's influencing their decision that they're not telling me about.