Get really good at listening to your own gut. You're going to receive a lot of advice—everyone will be convinced they know exactly what you should do next. Some of that advice might be valuable, but I always take everything with a grain of salt. What’s more important is learning to pause and tune in to your own instincts.We're actually in one of those moments right now—a bit of a pivot, a shift in focus. And instead of speeding up or seeking even more input, what I really need to do is slow down, step back, reflect, and listen closely to myself. It’s about thinking things through and making sure I feel truly confident about the direction we’re taking.

I don’t want to pretend like I know how every business works—because I don’t. But in my experience, with my own business, I truly believe the most important thing is being fully present. You have to live in the business. I just don’t see how this can be done remotely. Even if it could, I think there’s so much value—in terms of company culture and team morale—in working alongside your people. If a truck shows up and there's a lot of work to do, you jump in and help unload. If there’s trash on the floor, you pick it up. As a business owner, you lead by example.

I'd suggest ignoring the common advice in business culture that tells you to hack your time, boost productivity, or master time management. Instead, shift your focus to managing your energy. That change made a profound difference in my life. So many of us are walking around nearly depleted—burned out, overwhelmed, and under constant stress. The real antidote isn't doing more or achieving more, but figuring out how to stop the energy leaks and restore what fuels us.

There are two books I always recommend to entrepreneurs just starting out, and one of them is Profit First by Mike. The book is a game-changer. Coming from the corporate world, I had a traditional mindset about finances, but this book completely flipped that perspective. It taught me to prioritize profit from day one and helped me restructure how I manage cash flow and budgets in my business. The core takeaway for me was that if I'm running a business, the goal is to pay myself—not just cover expenses. It really drove home the importance of having a solid handle on your cash, because no matter how brilliant your idea is, if you run out of money, you're done.

I strongly advise anyone in business to pay close attention to both internal and external factors. Your internal state significantly impacts how you present yourself in business, from pricing discussions to interactions with team members, freelancers, and contractors. What I mean by this is simple—do the work. Invest in yourself by hiring a coach, whether it's a business coach, branding coach, or life coach. I've been fortunate to work with various coaches, and their guidance has directly shaped the way I show up and perform in my business.

Staying organized in your business is crucial—whether it's managing finances, streamlining operations, or preparing for future team growth. Keeping yourself structured ensures efficiency and clarity.At the same time, don’t be afraid to experiment. However, it's essential to track the results of those experiments. For example, if you're investing $2,000 a month in marketing, regularly assess its effectiveness rather than assuming it's working. Similarly, don't blindly trust someone just because they claim to be an expert—verify their expertise.Many businesses, even large ones, fall into the trap of making assumptions. They assume strategies will work, that hires are competent, or that expenses are justified, without proper evaluation. Avoiding these assumptions and staying analytical can make a significant difference in your success.

Fail fast and learn quickly. Don’t get attached to your idea—get attached to success. Focus on your customers, not just the idea itself, because ideas evolve. Who you are today won’t be the same as who you’ll become if you succeed.

Keep communicating—because no business thrives in isolation. You need customers, and they need to hear from you. You often rely on partners, whether they are employees, suppliers, or collaborators in government or other sectors. Your family and friends also play a crucial role in your journey. The key is to ensure alignment between your actions and their expectations. Miscommunication or misalignment is what leads to conflict. So, if there's one essential principle to follow, it's this: keep communicating.