Starting A Business? Here’s What You Need To Know First | Entrepreneur Chronicles #8
5 Hard Truths About Starting a Business 🚀
What if I told you entrepreneurship isn’t as glamorous as Instagram makes it seem?
Starting and building a new business isn’t as easy as it looks. Over the past 3 years developing the Warrior Flow School—the longest project I’ve ever committed to—I’ve learned so many lessons. These lessons, regardless of how this project evolves, are invaluable for the future. Let me share them with you.
#1 Adapting to Change Is Non-Negotiable 🔄
Having a clear direction and vision is vital for any business—you need to know where you’re going. But just as important is the ability to pivot and adapt when necessary.
When we first started Warrior Flow School, our focus was on offering small trainings for stressed professionals—especially in the medical field—using yoga as a tool to help them manage their challenges. But after a few brainstorming sessions, we realized that focusing on yoga teacher trainings instead would have a greater impact and allow us to scale faster.
That pivot, early on, was critical to our success.
Lesson: Be flexible and adaptable. Sticking rigidly to an idea without assessing its viability can hold your business back.
#2 Growth Takes Time—And That’s Okay ⏳
In business, things almost always take longer than you expect. Maybe it’s my natural optimism, but I’ve learned that what I anticipate achieving in a certain timeframe usually takes twice as long.
Patience is key. Without it, the entrepreneurial journey can feel unbearably tough.
Also, be consistent. Entering a market, building trust with your audience, and converting customers takes time. For a while, the effort you put in won’t reflect in measurable results—especially revenue.
Lesson: Be persistent. Keep showing up, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
#3 The People You Work With Define Your Business 🤝
Truth bomb: You can’t do everything alone. Even if you try, you’ll need a support system to help you succeed.
From day one, Adrian and I knew we couldn’t build Warrior Flow School alone. We leaned on Adrian’s vast yoga network to create a unique faculty for our trainings, which became a key differentiator for us. Similarly, we carefully selected a behind-the-scenes team whose values aligned with ours.
But working with a team also comes with its challenges. Firing people, for example, is one of the toughest parts of building a business.When you’ve worked closely with someone, built loyalty, and developed personal relationships, having to make the decision to let them go is incredibly uncomfortable. Separating personal emotions from business logic is no easy feat, but it’s sometimes necessary for the long-term health of the business. These conversations were some of the most difficult I’ve ever had to have.
How you operate internally and behind the scenes might not always be visible on the outside, but it is often felt. So don’t neglect who you surround yourself with.
Lesson: The team you build will either hold your business together or pull it apart. Choose wisely, and be prepared for tough decisions.
#4 Fairness and Integrity Build Loyalty 💡
As I mentioned in a previous article, we decided early on that we didn’t want transactional relationships with the people involved in the school. That’s why we implemented a revenue-sharing model for our faculty and team members.
It wasn’t the most financially savvy decision in the short term, as royalties cost more over time than one-off payments. But it allowed us to grow without borrowing money and built lasting trust and loyalty with our collaborators.
The result? Stronger connections, mutual respect, and a sense of community that keeps us going even during tough times.
Lesson: Fairness, honesty, and integrity go a long way in building relationships that will support your business for years to come.
#5 Your Business Will Test You—And That’s a Good Thing 🛠️
Let’s be blunt: Being an entrepreneur is hard as shit.
When you’re bootstrapping, you wear all the hats—customer service, HR (hiring and firing is brutal), finance, video editor, social media manager… the list goes on. You are the Director of Everything.
But here’s the silver lining: You’ll get creative. You’ll solve problems you never thought you could handle. You’ll develop resilience and skills that will serve you in all areas of life.
Lesson: Whatever the outcome of your business, the personal growth and knowledge you gain will stay with you forever.
Lesson Summary 📋
Be flexible and adapt when necessary.
Understand that growth takes time—and be patient.
Surround yourself with the right people—they’ll define your business.
Build trust through fairness and integrity.
Let your challenges shape you into a stronger, more capable person.
The Bigger Picture 🌍
Starting your own business isn’t for everyone—it’s tough. But if you feel drawn to the challenge, I say go for it.
Whether you succeed or fail, the process will transform you. You’ll learn lessons that ripple through every part of your life. And that’s worth more than any single outcome.
What About You?
Have you started a business? What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned along the way?
Or maybe you’re considering starting something but feel stuck or unsure? What’s holding you back? Let’s talk—reach out directly or drop a comment below.
👉 This is part of my Entrepreneur Chronicles—real stories, real lessons. Dive into the full series here.