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6 Things No One Told You About Entrepreneurship

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No one ever said that starting a business would be easy. However, even if you understand there will be challenges when you first start to develop entrepreneurial aspirations, you can’t be completely prepared for what lies ahead.

Before they reach success, every entrepreneur finds there are certain lessons which can only be learned the hard way, Here are a few of them:

1. If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward

The world is a dynamic place, and nothing is ever standing still. You have to constantly push forward and advance just to avoid falling behind. Change along with your environment or exert the strength necessary to change your environment to suit your needs. Either option will require a commitment to innovation.

Unwillingness to change doesn’t necessarily equate to perseverance; it just means that you’re going to follow your set path regardless of whether it leads to success or failure.

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford

2. Some people won’t like you

Setting a goal to avoid having any enemies seems like a really nice idea. However, it’s not a particularly realistic one.

The truth is, some people simply aren’t going to like you. Bending over backwards to please everyone will only strain your quality relationships and exhaust energies on people who won’t appreciate the effort. When you are faced with someone who is committed to disliking you, it’s best to just come to terms with that fact and move on.

 

3. Your priorities will probably change

Many people assume entrepreneurship and ‘being your own boss’ means exponential amounts of free time. In reality, your new business venture will likely demand more of your resources than your previous work life. As a result, some of your priorities will need to change. It’s important to recognize early on what you are and aren’t willing to sacrifice.

It’s also important to realize that just because relationships and activities change, doesn’t necessarily mean the change is for the worse. For example, occasionally, a Saturday morning with the kids might be an all-family envelope-stuffing party rather than lying on the sofa watching cartoons. That’s ok. Look for ways to maintain quality time in light of your new situation.

 

4. If it were easy, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun

Yeah, it’s going to be tough, but that’s what makes entrepreneurship so great! If the path to success were a gentle, consistent upward incline, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge. And if it weren’t a challenge, you wouldn’t feel the sense of accomplishment or self-worth.

Remember that concept when you’re confronted with the constant highs and lows. When the going is good, take the time to look back and see how far you’ve come. When you’re feeling down and out, focus on the inevitable highs that will accompany your determination and perseverance.

 

5. Your ability to be a team player is one of your most valuable assets

Personal development author Brian Tracy said, “Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, ‘What’s in it for me?’

Teamwork is essential for success. Look for opportunities to connect with other people and strengthen both your efforts. That might mean mentoring someone, attending local networking events, presenting at industry conferences, or spurring on your coworkers and employees.

You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish when you accept the fact that two minds are better than one.

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobbs

6. Consider ‘expert’ opinions, but stay true to what you know

New entrepreneurs often follow the advice provided by ‘experts,’ then later realize that advice is faulty or impossible to implement. When that happens, entrepreneurs often blame themselves. Could it be that they’re simply not good enough to make a foolproof strategy work for them? Not necessarily.

Taking advice is not a bad thing, however, you shouldn’t blindly follow what someone else says simply because they have more years’ experience than you. Take your own experiences, capabilities, and preferences into consideration. Then, use your own personal insight to evaluate the effectiveness of any suggestion before you put it into practice.

If you know something is true—whether based on your own past experience or a gut feeling, act on that knowledge. Don’t disregard what you know for what someone else says. Your own intuition, first-hand experience, or hunch got you into this situation; don’t disregard everything you’re passionate about on a whim.

There are probably hundreds of realities you’ll uncover during your entrepreneurial adventure. However, you’ll only make those revolutionary discoveries if you take a chance. Don’t sit on the sidelines, afraid and guarded, just because you are uncertain of what the future holds.

Get out there and experience life. Make your own mistakes along the way!

What did you learn about entrepreneurship when you jumped into it? Leave your thoughts below!

Monica Eaton-Cardone is an author, speaker and entrepreneur. She currently serves executive roles at three different companies, all of which she’s founded in the last five years. Her internationally-recognized risk mitigation and chargeback management firm, Chargebacks911, manages more than 200 million transactions each month and helps some of the biggest brands in eCommerce. In addition to being a friendly fraud expert, Monica also shares her expertise regarding eCommerce stability, threat metric analysis, and much more. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Business

The Entrepreneur’s Reading List That Transforms Ideas Into Empires

These must-read titles and writing insights reveal how entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into empire-level success.

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top entrepreneurship books for business growth
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Entrepreneurship is powered by stories—of accomplishment, failure, and decision moments that define businesses. Books are maps, providing insight from individuals who’ve traversed the road ahead. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs

Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

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Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)

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