The Hardest Lessons I Had to Learn as an Entrepreneur

I was so naive in my early days of being an entrepreneur. Having grown up in a small town around people whose word was their bond, I believed everyone was true to their word. I trusted people to do good to me just as I would do good to them. I didn’t know anything about people being sharks or being out to get you.?

When someone would call me with an opportunity for the magazine, I truly thought they were being supportive of me. But I quickly learned there are people who only like you when they feel there’s an opportunity for themselves.??

I remember back in 2008. A person told me they were a millionaire and had connections that could help me grow my magazine. (Keep in mind I had NEVER met anyone of this statue at that time). They had me believing they had lined up all these deals with big beauty brands who were itching to work with me. This person told me they were designing the ads and to keep an eye on my inbox.?

I was so excited! I thought it was my big break, that I had finally landed on one of the biggest opportunities ever for my magazine. It never crossed my mind they could be lying to me. I took her at her word and printed stacks of magazines to be distributed to the newsstands. I didn’t worry about the cost because I knew I’d make up for it with the beauty brand deals.??

And as quickly as this individual had appeared, they vanished into thin air. That person ghosted me, leaving me to deal with a big bill from the printing company. That bill put me in a deep hole financially.??

When I tell you it hurt badly, I mean IT HURT BADLY. It was a tough lesson to learn, but it opened my eyes to the truth: you can't just rely on someone’s word. Not everyone has your best interest in mind. You need to do your own research to figure out if what they’re telling you is true.??

I also learned I needed to distinguish people who were genuine from people who were only looking for an opportunity. I learned I needed to value what I brought to the table, and not quietly sit back and let someone use my dream for their own selfish purpose. I learned I needed to put agreements in place to protect myself as well.

I wish I could say that was the last time someone tried to take advantage of me, but it wasn’t. Each time it happened, it caused me to question myself, thinking I wasn’t cut out for the magazine industry. I questioned whether I was too nice to succeed in the business. Fortunately, I realized that wasn't true.?

The key is to surround yourself with a team of like-minded people, people you can trust to have your back. It has taken me eighteen years to get to that place of having a reliable team, but I’m so thankful I have that team now. They believe in the bigger picture and genuinely want to help me grow Hope. It has made all the difference in my success.???

Was there a time in your entrepreneurial journey when someone took advantage of you? Share in the comments. ????