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These 5 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Advice They’d Give to Their Younger Selves

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What do you wish you knew when you first started as an entrepreneur? Was there a misstep you took that set you back? We can all relish on what it was like when we first started. There were probably many ups and downs, along with good and bad memories.

Picture yourself sitting in a room with your eighteen-year-old self. You decide to walk up to yourself and you’re going to give them the best piece of advice on what it takes to start a successful business. That’s exactly what the entrepreneurs in this article did.

Below, 5 entrepreneurs share the advice they would give their younger selves:

1. Jay Papasan

Jay Papasan is a best-selling author who has co-authored the books, The One Thing, and The Millionaire Real Estate Agent. Jay works as vice president and executive editor at Keller Williams.

While looking back, Jay said he wishes he was clear from the start on what he was trying to accomplish. He realized that his intentions weren’t clear early on in his career. People say they want to become successful, but what does that mean? Everyone has a different version of what it means to become successful. What is your version of success?

By getting clear on what you want, you can break down your goals. You can start with a five-year goal and break it down into a weekly goals you need in order to achieve the bigger one. Nonetheless, you can’t set a five-year goal if you don’t know what you’re actually trying to chase. Be clear on what you want and then start taking massive action.

“I believe the last thing I read at night will likely manifest when I’m sleeping. You become what you think about the most.” – Daymond John

2. Bedros Keuilian

Bedros Keuilian is a renowned fitness business expert and CEO of Fit Body Boot Camp, the world’s fastest growing gym chain. When you’re the founder of the world’s fastest growing gym chain, you will be under enormous amounts of stress. You can either let that stress eat you up or you can do something about it.

Bedros learned from an early age that the best way to deal with the stress is through working out. He’s taken this idea to heart and works out every day. This doesn’t have to be hitting the gym, it can be as simple as doing yoga or a quick run, anything that’ll help release your stress and allow you to come back better than before.

3. Alan Burak

Alan is the founder of the renowned investment firm, Never Alone Capital, where he specializes in helping every day traders understand the power of options. Alan learned early on, especially in the investment world, that where you put your focus, energy will flow.

When the crash of 2007-08 happened, Alan could’ve had a negative energy flow, but he knew there was money to be made. No matter what your situation is, there’s never a reason to be negative.

In most situations, they are the cause of your own fault. Life shouldn’t be easy because if there was predictability, it wouldn’t be interesting. Deal with the highs and lows that come with being an entrepreneur.

If you don’t like the job you’re working or a client screwed you over, what can you do to better your situation? Do you think complaining about your previous client will help? Of course not! You could use your time to prospect new clients. When you’re positive, positive events will appear in your life but, don’t forget the same can be said if you’re negative.

4. Grant Cardone

Grant Cardone is a New York Times Best-Selling Author, creator of Grant Cardone TV, CEO of four businesses, and currently has over $400 million worth of real estate holdings.

If you’ve never heard of Grant Cardone, he has an amazing story. I don’t want to play spoiler too much but when he was in his twenties, Grant was addicted to drugs. He inevitably turned his drug addiction into working on his business. Grant understood the power of addiction if you’re using it the right way.

Everyone is addicted to something whether that be their phone, working out, or even drugs. Take those addictions and put it towards your work. Instead of checking your phone when you wake up, use that time to read a book or put time in your business.

Most people want to complain about their situation without making the necessary changes to improve their lives. Addictions don’t have to be bad. Use any addiction you have right now and put it towards the work you’re trying to accomplish.

“There’s no shortage of money, only of people thinking big enough.” – Grant Cardone

5. Andy Frisella

Andy Frisella is the founder of Supplement Superstores, Paradise Distribution, and the renowned fitness brand 1st Phorm International. His companies combined, bring in more than $100 Million Per Year.

Andy dropped out of college to start his supplement store. He wishes he would’ve known that he didn’t have to undercut his prices to become successful. Andy would cut his prices and the result of that was he could barely make a profit.

If someone came into his store and purchased $400 worth of items, he’d give them 20% off because $400 was a lot of money to him. However, just because $400 was a lot of money for Andy, doesn’t mean it was to his customer.

When you’re creating a product or service, never discount your price because you never know how much your customer would pay. Your views on money won’t match up to someone else’s views.

I want you to think back on your younger-self. What do you think you would’ve said to him or her? How do you think your life would’ve changed if what you know now, you knew back when you were first starting? Let us know in the comments below!

Trevor Oldham is a 19-year-old entrepreneur who’s had eleutheromania ever since he can remember. When he’s not working or studying, you can catch him by the ocean taking photos of the world in which surrounds us. Trevor is the co-founder of Become The Lion and founder of Trevor James Products.

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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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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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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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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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