Top Five Tips for Starting a Business

Lessons from 10 Years of Entrepreneurship

Starting a business feels like standing at the edge of possibility; equal parts exhilarating and overwhelming. After 10 years of entrepreneurship, I’ve seen two kinds of founders: the ones who win, and the ones who spin their wheels. The difference isn’t luck. It’s clarity, resilience, commitment, and action.

If you’re curious about how other founders approach clarity and mindset, you might enjoy our related posts: Quarterly Reflections for Female Founders, Building the Right Mindset, and How to Identify a Limiting Belief. Together, they expand on the themes we’ll explore here. And if you’re curious about the tools I use daily, don’t miss our 7-day free preview of the Female Founders Journal; a guided glimpse into the prompts and practices that help founders stay grounded, track wins, and build resilience.

The Evidence Behind Entrepreneurial Success

The five tips I’m about to share go beyond personal lessons and experiences. They’re proven strategies that guided me through setbacks and growth, and continue to help other founders move their businesses forward. The qualities that make entrepreneurs thrive; clarity, community, resilience, and action; aren’t just gut feelings. They’re backed by studies and expert insights:

Harvard Business Review shows that clarity in goal-setting directly improves outcomes. Meanwhile Forbes Coaches Council reminds us that execution matters more than endless planning. Moreover, Entrepreneur Magazine highlights how mentorship and community fuel growth. Ultimately, Psychology Today explains that resilience is built by reframing rejection, not avoiding it.

Five Beginner Business Tips for Entrepreneurs

Starting a business isn’t just about inspiration; it’s about taking practical steps that set you up for long-term success. Over the past decade, I’ve learned that the entrepreneurs who thrive don’t just dream big; they take consistent, grounded action. Below are five strategies that blend my personal experiences with research-backed insights to help you start strong and stay resilient.

Tip 1: Define Your Vision and Goals

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that clarity drives every decision. I love that people want to see me win and often share ideas for my brand. But not every suggestion aligns with the vision I’ve created. Because I’m clear on where I’m going, I can confidently say yes to aligned opportunities and no to distractions.

Tip for entrepreneurs:

• Anchor your year with one clear, measurable goal.

• Break it into quarterly milestones.

• Align daily actions with your bigger vision.

Tip 2: Build Your Hype Squad

Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. Friends and family often want to protect you, which can unintentionally encourage you to stay small. That’s why I surround myself with peers who’ve done bigger things than I dream possible. My girlfriends hype me up at live events, share my content, and say my name in rooms I’m not in. That kind of support is both professional and emotional fuel.

Tip for entrepreneurs:

• Surround yourself with peers who inspire growth.

• Join founder communities that expand your belief in what’s possible.

• Let your hype squad amplify your voice when you’re not in the room.

Tip 3: Start — Like Actually Start

You can read all the books, register all the paperwork, and take endless notes. But at some point, you need to stop learning and start doing. Action is the hard part, but it’s also the only way forward.

Tip for entrepreneurs:

• Launch imperfectly; progress beats perfection.

• Learn by doing, not just studying.

• Treat action as the ultimate teacher.

Tip 4: Build Your Resilience Muscle

Being an entrepreneur means constantly putting yourself out there. Pretty much none of us bat at 100, and we all get way more nos than yeses. During my Kickstarter campaign, I sent out over 200 emails, texts, and video messages. Many were ignored or declined, and that’s entirely fair. But what do I remember today? Not the nos, but the fact that the campaign was successfully funded.

Tip for entrepreneurs:

• Expect more “nos” than “yeses.”

• Focus on wins, not setbacks.

• Treat rejection as training for resilience.

Tip 5: Embrace Embarrassment as the Cost of Entry

Lori Harder, a female founder I’ve admired for over a decade, says it best: “Embarrassment is the cost of entry.” The first few times you put yourself out there, whether on social media, podcasts, or live events; it’s usually cringe. But you have to get through that phase to discover your authentic style. Confidence doesn’t come before action; it comes after.

Tip for entrepreneurs:

• Push past the cringe.

• Experiment until you find your authentic voice.

• Remember: confidence comes after action, not before.

From Spinning to Winning: Why These Five Tips Matter

On reflection, the entrepreneurs who I see stay stuck often lack either clarity, community, resilience, or the courage to start messy. Maybe a combination of them all. But the ones who win? They’re the ones who embrace all five. These tips aren’t just theory; they’re the foundation that transforms setbacks into stepping stones.

Confidence isn’t built from planning, consuming and visioning. It’s built daily; one goal, one action, one reframe at a time.

Your Next Step in Building with Confidence

Founder-to-founder: starting a business isn’t about perfection. It’s about clarity, community, resilience, and the courage to start messy. If you’re ready to put these strategies into practice, explore the Female Founders Journal or dive into our curated posts on mindset and reflections. Think of the 7-day free preview as your guided overview; a glimpse into the prompts and practices that help founders stay grounded, track wins, and build resilience.