Many successful entrepreneurs have shared that they wish they had known certain things earlier in their careers. It could be advice about time management, prioritizing their goals, the importance of networking, or the need to focus on self-improvement. Whatever the advice may be, it's clear that every entrepreneur has experienced lessons they wish they had known sooner. By reflecting on past experiences, you can gain valuable insights to apply to your current or future business endeavors. This is one of our favorite questions here at CBNation.
Here’s what CEOs would tell their younger business selves.
#1- To pair hard work with mentorship
Looking back, I'd advise my younger self to pair hard work with mentorship for business success. As the founder of Esthetic Finesse, this approach not only enriched my knowledge of skincare and aesthetics but also sharpened my entrepreneurial skills. I'm incredibly grateful for the learning opportunities & mentors I have had and always advocate for those to learn from mentor programs as these helped shape my future business!
Thanks to Diane Howard, Esthetic Finesse!
#2- To set a goal, break it into smaller goals
Our advice to our younger business selves would be to set a goal, break it into smaller goals, and focus your efforts towards them. We have been successful because we started our careers with the goals of building the skills we would need and the experience that would benefit us as we worked towards our overall goal of one day owning our own business. Having specific and measurable goals along the way will help you to determine how well you are progressing towards your overall goal.
Thanks to Brandon Blackwell and Jen Sherrod, Elysian Events Catering!
#3- To embrace the journey
One nugget of wisdom I would share with my younger self is to embrace the journey and not rush toward the destination. I've been so focused on achieving success and reaching my goals that I often forget to enjoy the process. As an entrepreneur, it's crucial to savor every milestone and hurdle, as they all contribute to shaping our character and business. My advice is to trust the process and enjoy the ride because success is not just about reaching the finish line but also about appreciating the journey that got you there.
Thanks to Burak Özdemir, Character Calculator!
#4- To maintain a healthy work-life balance
Looking back on my entrepreneurial journey, I realise the immense value of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, a principle I wish I had grasped earlier. There were moments when my world revolved solely around my professional ambitions, leaving little room for personal growth or joy. I now understand the significance of carving out time for personal experiences—be it traveling, immersing myself in new cultures, or simply enjoying the company of loved ones. This balance isn't just beneficial; it's essential.
Thanks to Milan Rajkovic, Otto IT!
#5- Be resilient and positive
If I could advise my younger business self, it would be this: “Your mindset and attitude are your most valuable assets. I admit I used to get discouraged easily when faced with challenges, but I learned that resilience and positivity are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving success. Believe in yourself, stay determined, & keep a growth mindset- these will take you further than any business strategy or advice ever could.” So, focus on building a strong mindset because that will ultimately determine your success in the long run.
Thanks to Dana Ronald, Tax Crisis Institute!
#6- To start building a financial cushion
If I could give one piece of advice to my younger self, it would be to start building a financial cushion as early as possible. I was self-employed then & operating on a shoestring, often a broken shoestring. That made business and life stressful & also kept me from taking advantage of several big opportunities. I’m still self-employed, a speaker and writer, & having a bit of money behind me keeps me from tossing & turning at night, stressing out over what might happen if the business gets slow. It allows me to focus on doing my best work, not just fighting to get the next check.
Thanks to Barry Maher, Barry Maher & Associates!
#7- To focus more on building & nurturing relationships
I'd tell my younger self to focus more on people, building and nurturing relationships, even if it means having less time to study new technologies and that latest hot trend everybody's talking about. Up until several years ago, I was much too anxious and overcome with a certain business type of FOMO (fear of missing out). In such constellations, it's very easy to forget that people are the core of every business, even in our digital age. And it's not going to change any time soon.
Thanks to Silvia Borges, RegionalandRuralFinance!
#8- Enjoy the process of learning
As you embark on this journey, you will be learning everything from scratch – from shifting into an entrepreneurial mindset to actual coaching skills, and from overcoming sales ickiness, to learning how to hire people that support your vision. Enjoy this process of learning, don’t worry so much about “failure” or not getting “there” fast enough. One day, through your willingness & persistence, you’ll feel proud of yourself for the impact and income you’ve created from this place of alignment – and it will all be beyond your imagination.
Thanks to Vasundhra, My Spiritual Shenanigans!
#9- To learn how to take risks
Learn how to take risks, and learn how to “fail”. Instead of worrying about something not working, or not working perfectly – try something and learn from setbacks. Setbacks are inevitable, the better you become at taking these in your stride, learning from them, and building your resilience the better you will become at avoiding them in the first place. Nobody is right 100% of the time, the good ones at best are right most of the time.
Thanks to Ross Muller, Vino Rosso Tours!
#10- To put trust in yourself
I would tell my younger self to put the trust within and not to pay attention to any sayers or anything telling me that I cannot. The fact that the desire was so deep in me for decades is all the evidence required to know that this is the right thing to do. I would also tell myself to keep the desire of the big goal or dream alive, while taking the small actions every day, to count my wins, and to improve every day by 1%. It is the 3Ds that make all the difference – Desire, Decision, Discipline. Align these with a strong inner confidence and faith and your success in business is granted.
Thanks to Suzana Mihajlovic, Your2Minds!
#11- To embrace failure as a stepping stone
If I could advise my younger self as an entrepreneur and business owner, it would be to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success. In the early stages of my career, I often viewed setbacks and mistakes as obstacles to be avoided at all costs. However, with time and experience, I've realised that failure is essential to the journey. It's where we learn the most valuable lessons, gain resilience, and ultimately find innovative solutions to our challenges. Don't fear failure; embrace it, learn from it, and use it as fuel to drive your business forward.
Thanks to Jacob Galeac, GCorp Advisory!
#12- To stop trying to do everything yourself
I wish I could tell my younger self these: 1) Validate your idea. Find out if people would pay for your product before you invest considerable time and resources into it. 2) Charge more. Imposter syndrome and perfectionism has cost me a lot of money over the years. Know your worth! 3) Delegate. Stop trying to do everything yourself. Even if you could do it faster or better, you will get stuck on a hamster wheel. 4) Plan. It's all good to do things on the fly, but if you create a plan BEFORE you start working, you'll be able to be much more efficient.
Thanks to Mitch Hills, Mastered Marketing!
#13- To not doubt your abilities
I never imagined I'd be running a successful business today since my heart is in photography. My younger self was more of a photographer than an entrepreneur; I would've told him that. “Success is not just about passion and talent, but also resilience and adaptability.” As a business owner, you'll face many challenges and obstacles, but don't let them discourage you or make you doubt your abilities. Instead, learn from them, be adaptable to change, and don't be afraid to take risks. Trust your passion and talent, and remember to be resilient in adversity.
Thanks to David Zhang, Kate Backdrop!
#14- To trust the process and embrace the journey
If I could go back and give my younger business self some advice, I'd say, “Gabrielle, trust the process and embrace the journey. It's easy to get caught up in the desire for quick success and immediate results, but building a successful business takes time. Don't be discouraged by setbacks or slow progress; instead, focus on learning and growing from every experience. Celebrate small wins, stay resilient, and remember that each challenge is an opportunity to develop your skills and refine your approach. Enjoy the journey, stay passionate about your vision, and trust that all the hard work will pay off in the long run.”
Thanks to Gabrielle Marie Yap, CarnivoreStyle!
#15- To learn and absorb primarily
I would tell myself to treat my early business years as opportunities to learn and absorb primarily, and that the opportunities to progress would follow on afterwards. I think we are probably all guilty (at one time or another), of trying to rush the process and begin climbing the hierarchical ladder for the sake of the new job title and pay increase. Whilst this inner competitiveness and drive to progress like this is a positive trait – I believe that progress for the sake of progress at this early stage means missing out on vital learning opportunities.
Thanks to Dan Hanley, Octane Accountants!
#16- To prioritize building strong relationships
I would advise my younger self to prioritize building strong relationships and networks within the industry. Success in real estate, like business, heavily relies on partnerships, referrals, and collaborations. Establishing trust and credibility with investors, developers, and other key players can open doors to opportunities, funding, and valuable insights. I would emphasize the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in an ever-evolving market.
Thanks to Ahamed Sha, New Launcher!
#17- To not get bogged down by failures
I would tell my younger self not to get bogged down by failures as they provide a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow. In life, when things don't go according to plan, the entrepreneurial reaction is to put on your thinking cap and analyze what went wrong. Sometimes, the factors in the way of your success aren't within your control. However, there are often instances where you can pinpoint exactly what you did wrong and avoid that in the future. A good entrepreneur considers failures as case studies that will guide in making better decisions.
Thanks to Farhan Siraj, EmailBulkSender!
