You've got your website, your IG page is popping, and your followers are either increasing or nonexistent. What then? What’s your next move, boss?

Prioritize Execution Over Concept: Execution involves the day-to-day operational efforts, adaptability, and strategic decision-making that contribute to business success- it doesn’t have to be pretty for it to make impact. Forget just having a dope idea. You gotta hustle every day, make moves, and stay on your grind. It's not about what you say; it's about what you do.

After 7 years of being a business owner, I can say that only crazy people choose to do this “business” thing willingly. That’s why I have never actively told anyone to quit their job despite the toxic corporate drama. If you keep racism, occasional bullying as a result of envy, and sexual harassment— not to leave out an unhealthy competitive workspace environment aside, a job is a whole lot better, safer than running a business.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t consider it; it’s a rollercoaster ride—fun to some and unnecessary to most. It’s one thing to run a profitable and positively growing business, and it’s another to just have a business. That’s why it’s getting harder to believe new entrepreneurs saying how easy it is to run an online business; business is still business regardless of your platform.

I could sell my mangoes under a tree and have it easier than an online business with 30K active customers, and vice versa could be (still) true.

Yes, working in business class is a better experience.

Yes, waking up to the ocean in the Maldives is a better work environment.

Yes, living 5 minutes away from Dubai Mall is amazing.

But this is just feeding my dopamine. It has nothing to do with the REAL process behind the scenes. The process that makes the “simple” and “little” pleasures possible isn’t that glamorous. There’s a lot you have to sacrifice in order to get to the “top.” Work-life balance is a mere myth for the underdogs. You only get the privilege to choose balance when you have a significant amount of money in your bank account, because then you can outsource, trade your money for more time, and put your money to work.

But as a beginner? Everything is new to you—feels like learning Korean in Chinese. You’re learning as you grow, so even if you buy a $6K course or coaching session, the mental clarity doesn’t make much of a difference to a struggling and aspiring entrepreneur.

Learnin' Never Stops: Forget those fancy courses fixing everything. Real growth is a slow burn. Embrace the learning curve, and don't expect to be a boss overnight.

As a struggling entrepreneur, your journey starts from “I am scared to start” to “I am now stuck,” and it takes a really long time for us to transition. You began your survival journey thanks to fear, and now you’re out of fuel.

Realistic Expectations: Understanding that it might be easy but it isn’t that simple, don’t underestimate the weight of misfortune and plan accordingly. Planning for emergencies doesn’t make you pessimistic, it makes you prepared. Understand that this business hustle ain't a cakewalk. It's more like a rollercoaster with extra twists and turns. Brace yourself, and don't be fooled by the glam pics people paint.

Focus on Mindset and Mental Strength: One of the things I would do is focus on my mental health a bit more. Building a successful business involves overcoming fears, enduring hardships, and maintaining a strong mindset. Mental resilience is crucial for long-term success.

Before you start your business, you have these third-person scenarios of what it’s going to be like; you have a list of things you’re hoping to avoid because you don’t want to start a failing business. You’re afraid of failure, but you’re willing to start anyway, despite the probability. Then after a few years, you’re exhausted—your knowledge and willpower, your hope in a money-rich future is depleted, and you feel stuck because you’re way too burnt out to feel anything else—anything else is one kiss away from giving up.

From a champion who started scared to a numb winner who chooses not to quit.

That’s why a lot of businesses fail before they get to grow. The WHY behind your business plays a minor role in your success. It’s the execution that changes the game—the HOW is what makes the WHY so special.

According to Investopedia, about 20% of new businesses fail within the first two years, 45% within the first five years, and 65% within the first 10 years. Only 25% of new businesses make it to 15 years or more.

According to Nav, the average lifespan of a small business is only 8.5 years.

According to Fortune magazine, 62% of American companies have an average lifespan of less than five years. Small and medium-sized enterprises have a lifespan of fewer than seven years, multinational companies have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, and large enterprises have a lifespan of fewer than 40 years.

According to a study by McKinsey, the average lifespan of companies listed in Standard & Poor's 500 was 61 years in 1958. Today, it is less than 18 years. McKinsey believes that, in 2027, 75% of the companies currently quoted on the S&P 500 will have disappeared.

Balancing Short-Term Wins with Long-Term Vision: Distinguish between short-term pleasures and the long-term process. While the immediate rewards might be satisfying, it's crucial to balance them with a focus on the underlying, sometimes less glamorous, aspects that contribute to sustained success.

In my seventh year as a (serious) business owner and after a few failed businesses, I changed my perspective. My next move did not need to be big to shake the table. After all, I built this table. Anything beyond my ability chains me to other people’s expectations, and I’m tired of answering to people who don’t bring anything productive to the table I toiled to build.

Nobody cares about where you’re coming from; you haven't been anywhere. Who cares where you came from and where you’re going? The destination is more appealing to those willing to be your customers. Once they’re immersed in your appreciation of the destination, that’s when they’re curious to know how you got there. I know I say your behind-the-scenes are important, but that’s when you’re selling the product. But marketing your entire business is more complicated than that.

Forget Unrealistic Expectations: Don't buy into the fairy tales. Most businesses don't live forever. Be real about the stats. Know that setbacks are part of the journey, so don't trip if things don't go as planned.

I don’t know what’s next for you, but I know what’s next for me: no more playing small. I’ll face the worst and come out better. I’ll play the game and work smarter, not harder. If hard work were detrimental to success, then we’d all be richer than Jeff Bezos. I’ll tap into my strengths and strengthen my weaknesses. I’ll face my fears before I do anything scared; I don’t want fear anywhere near my plans. I’ll endure necessary hardships, walk away from unnecessary pain, and enforce stronger boundaries.

Know Your Strengths, Fix the Weakness: Figure out what I am really good at and play to those strengths. I don’t think we ever put our talents and strengths to the test. We just know we are good at something but we don’t know how far they can go. This doesn’t give us time to fix our weak spots. Face those fears, set boundaries, and level up. Understand the importance of self-awareness. Identify personal strengths and weaknesses, and actively work on building strengths while addressing and mitigating weaknesses.

Personally, this is what makes me a successful entrepreneur—more money, capital, revenue means nothing if I’m mentally and emotionally weak to stand up for myself even as I learn. Entrepreneurship is a combination of mind games, a little like chess. Winning is always on the agenda, but I know you need to do more than just make the next move. It’s more than moving pieces on the board. It’s mind over matter.

So, you’ve started your business. What’s the next move, boss?