They say every great business starts with an idea, but no one tells you what happens after that lightbulb moment in your head fades away and the real work begins.
When I first came up with the idea for my venture, I was brimming with energy, optimism, and if I’m being honest, a little bit of delusion, because what’s life without envisioning your dream? I thought passion alone could carry the weight of sleepless nights and everything I didn’t know (yet).
Spoiler: it didn’t.
But here’s the truth: I wouldn’t trade that version of me for anything because that person had the guts to start. And I believe that is all you need…because what scares you is where it all begins.
Let me walk you through the expectations I had vs. the reality I was hit with, which changed the way I build, think, and lead.
Expectation: If you build something great, people will come.
Reality: People won’t come unless you make them care.
Everyone assumes that the value they offer is obvious. But the truth? No one’s waiting around for your product to arrive. People are busy. They need to be shown why it matters.
I had to learn storytelling. Positioning. Branding. And most importantly, empathy, because you don’t sell solutions; you solve problems. There’s a difference.
Expectation: I’ll work hard, and things will start falling into place.
Reality: You’ll work hard, and things will still fall apart. And then, you work harder.
No one is prepared for all the things that could go wrong. All you need is a mindset that prepares you for it. Success is never linear. Each mistake sharpens your vision, makes you more resilient, and honestly, more human.
Expectation: I’ll be my boss. Freedom!
Reality: You’re everyone’sboss
Entrepreneurs. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that word? Money? Success? Someone who’s got it all figured out? Being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean lounging in cafes with your laptop. It means answering calls at 11 PM, fixing errors you didn’t cause, making peace with uncertainty, and mainly being there for your team.
So if you’re someone sitting on an idea, half-baked, kind-of-scary, wildly ambitious, I’ll tell you this: Start. Be okay with the chaos. Because even on the hardest days, you’re not just building a brand, you’re building the person who can carry it.