3 Things I Wish I Knew Starting a Business
Mar 20, 2026
About a year ago, I made the decision to forgo a salaried role and pursue a commission-only path, with real equity in what I was creating.
It was a big shift, and one that forced me to learn fast.
Looking back, there are a few things I wish I knew better. Here are three I think stand out.
1. The importance of building a realistic financial cushion
This is probably what I underestimated the most. You need time. More than you think.
I had some money saved and knew income wouldn’t be immediate, but actually mapping it out would have been more helpful.
If I could go back, I’d aim for at least 12-18 months of living expenses. More importantly, I’d plan as if nothing was coming in during that stretch.
How to map out a plan: Emergency Fund as a Small Business Owner
2. Get comfortable being uncomfortable
This took some time to get used to.
- DON’T: wait to put yourself out there until you feel ready. You’ll never be fully prepared.
- DO: initiate random conversations, reach out to your everyone you know, find ways to introduce yourself.
Most of those moments don’t lead to anything right away, and some don’t lead anywhere at all. But ONE might, and that’s what matters.
It’s pretty uncomfortable, especially if you’re more introverted. But I promise you, you won’t make it if you care about failing or coming across as inexperienced.
Take the pressure off each interaction and go into things without expecting anything in return. It makes it easier to just show up and do it, instead of overthinking whether it’s worth it or not.
3. Be flexible with your vision
As you stay patient and continue to gather ideas, just get a viable product/service out there. Trust the uncertainty will help you.
I came in with a pretty clear idea of what I thought the business should look like.
What I didn’t expect, was how quickly that original idea would start to shift.
Certain things that made sense in theory didn’t hold up in practice. And some of the better ideas came from simply paying attention to where people were getting stuck.
There’s a tendency to want to stick to your original plan because you’ve already invested time into it. But treating the business more like something you refine, rather than something you execute perfectly from the start, leads to better outcomes.
The goal isn’t to prove your idea was right. It’s to build something that actually works.
Final Thoughts
I’m still early in all of this so I’m sure things will still develop. However, if you’ve been thinking about starting your own thing, hopefully this helps a bit.
If you can give yourself some financial breathing room, be willing to put yourself out there, and be flexible, you at least give yourself a real shot at making it work long term.
If you’re building something or thinking about making the jump, happy to connect anytime.
And if you ever need help finding a space for an event in NYC, feel free to reach out or Start Here