Plenty of people have thought about starting a business. I tried a few years ago, and a mentor told me, "Entrepreneurship demands complete commitment." But naive as I was, I thought I could side-hustle while building a startup!
I went ahead fueled by passion, but ultimately failed—for many reasons. Lack of time was one. I'd just started a full-time job, so I had to invest energy in learning company operations. After work, squeezing in time to worry about my startup meant everything blended together. Work frustrations bled into my dreams, and I was easily influenced by negative self-talk: "You can't do this," "You won't do it well."
The biggest issue, after reflection, was that I didn't really understand entrepreneurship before diving in. A few friends joined me to start an online shop, and everyone said they'd volunteer without pay. Because of this kindness, I couldn't ask much of them or push back. I even tried to do things their way. I realized my mindset was wrong for a founder, but lacking confidence, I felt paralyzed despite having ideas.
How could I develop long-term if I couldn't even manage internally?
Another harsh reality: I wanted to "build a brand" from day one—my own website, Facebook page, app, products, logo. I spent money getting everything "perfect," thinking this perfection would translate to immediate success. But sales were nowhere near expectations. The website was barely used. We started from friends' circles, so nobody used the official site—they just messaged me privately. A mentor actually suggested starting on large platforms like Yahoo or Rakuten instead.
But I arrogantly dismissed them, thinking their interfaces were ugly, they limited product photos, and everything looked the same. I overlooked how much more recognizable these platforms were than my startup. I should have prioritized sales first, then expanded. I should have cut costs initially. The following articles on "startup failure" are exceptionally well-written and practical. I'm sharing them because entrepreneurship truly demands focus—and you only learn how to adjust after you've failed.
"The ideal outcome is becoming the missing puzzle piece the market needs, making your product or service an indispensable part of the entire value chain, creating a complete business ecosystem. That's what makes a successful product."
Article Recommendations
Entrepreneurial Failure Formula: #1. Wanting to Hire Employees
Entrepreneurial Failure Formula: #2. Wanting to Build Your Own Product
Entrepreneurial Failure Formula: #3. Wanting to Partner with Big Companies
Entrepreneurial Failure Formula: #4. Wanting to Have a Perfect Plan
