The Truth About Entrepreneurship: My Journey

Entrepreneurship is often seen as a glamorous pursuit, full of endless success and fulfillment.

But I’m here to tell you – it’s not all rainbows and unicorns.

My journey has spanned 25 years, filled with both incredible achievements and humbling failures, and it certainly wasn’t a straight line.

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is the idea that being an entrepreneur is easy. Trust me, it’s always hard. No matter how much you plan, unexpected challenges will arise. In my own experience, ignorance was sometimes bliss. When I first started, I didn’t even realize how risky some of the decisions we were making were. Today, my approach is far more calculated. But back then, I had a simple goal: to help people.

When we started my first company, Mentis Rehabilitation, we had no idea what we were doing. We didn’t start the business to make money – we wanted to provide the best outcomes for traumatic brain injury patients. The money followed because we stayed focused on our purpose.

My motto remains the same: do the right thing, and the money will come.

Key Lessons from My Entrepreneurial Journey:

1. Build the Right Team: One of the first things I learned was the importance of surrounding myself with the best people. I didn’t want a team of people just like me – I wanted experts who could fill in my gaps. My business partner’s strengths complemented my weaknesses, and together we built something great.
2. Stay in Your Lane: Over the years, I’ve learned that success comes from staying focused. I’ve made mistakes by venturing into industries I didn’t fully understand. Whether it was wound care or other shiny new opportunities, I stretched myself too thin. It’s tempting to pursue every exciting idea, but I found that focus leads to greater success.
3. Be Realistic About Your Market: A great product or idea isn’t enough. You have to understand the market and who will actually pay for it. I see many entrepreneurs who haven’t done their homework – and trust me, if you’re the “only one doing it,” you probably haven’t looked hard enough at the competition.
4. Bootstrap for Control: I’m a firm believer in bootstrapping as long as possible. The more capital you raise, the more control you give up – and often, the more money you waste. Be intentional with your resources and avoid unnecessary distractions.
5. Failure Is Part of the Process: Not every venture was a success. Some, like my attempt to enter the wound care business, were disasters. But failure is a part of the entrepreneurial journey. Learn from it, grow from it, and move forward.

At the end of the day, entrepreneurship is about resilience, focus, and purpose. It’s not an easy road, but it’s one worth taking.

What’s your biggest lesson in entrepreneurship so far?

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