Get small business and entrepreneurial inspiration from six famous entrepreneurs. Learn the six lessons they wish they had known when they started their businesses.

1. 6 Things Great Entrepreneurs
Wish They Had Known
When They Started Out

2. The secret formula for success….

3. Does not exist. Instead…

4. Building a great business is
a constant process of
reinvention, revision and reimagination.

5. Experience can be a great teacher,
as even great business leaders have tips
they wish they’d known
when they were starting out.

6. Focus, Focus, Focus.
As John Coleman, founder of VIA
Agency, said, [1]
“Don’t spread yourself too thin.
When I started VIA, I had grand
visions of a global network of small,
independent offices… Although the
vast group was exhilarating, it spread
our resources and attention across
too many fronts. Once I established
greater focus for the agency, we
began to grow in a much stronger
and more profitable way.”

7. Simplify
As Alexander Ljung, founder of SoundCloud, said,
“It’s not about building every feature or
understanding everything the first time around.
It’s about creating the best, tailored experience
for your community and company.” [2]

8. Seek Assistance
As Thomas Michael, CEO of
Michael Management Company, said, [3]
“Take the time to find a really good assistant
— it’ll be one of the best investments you’ll
ever make because being able to delegate
operational tasks to your assistant will allow
you to ‘work on your business, not in your
business.”

9. Find Time to Think
As Michelle Peluso, CEO of Gilt.com said, [4]
“It’s important to get out of the day-to-day and
spend some time really thinking, instead of just
reacting… It could be as simple as a night (or
a few hours) away from email, where you sit
with a pad of paper and pen and think about
things.”

10. Don’t Get Discouraged
As Richard Branson said, [5]
“Don’t be discouraged. Any good entrepreneur must take risks
when starting new ventures, and most
enterprises do not work the first time around.”

11. Budget Responsibly
As Marc Ringel, founder & CEO of Floor
Works NY, said, [6]
“The pitfall was that a big influx of money
can make you think, ‘Oh, I’m rich now,’
but that’s when you need to be careful.
Winter got very slow.”

12. If you’re looking for more advice about what it takes to make a business succeed,
feel free to reach out to Rob Dwyer,
Vice President of Freedom Small Business Lending
at (844) 508-8488

13. [1] http://www.businessinsider.in/15-Small-Business-Owners-Share-What-
They-Wish-Theyd-Known-When-They-First-Started/John-Coleman-CEO-
and-founder-of-the-VIA-Agency-has-learned-that-sharp-focus-enables-
sustainable-growth-/slideshow/28899512.cms
[2] http://www.fastcompany.com/3009482/dialed/8-successful-entrepre-
neurs-give-their-younger-selves-lessons-they-wish-theyd-known-th
[3] http://www.forbes.com/sites/entrepreneursorganization/2015/11/11/
ceo-advice-to-my-younger-self/#1518a10e6bc3
[4] http://www.fastcompany.com/3030512/hit-the-ground-running/gilt-
coms-ceo-%20advice-to-her-younger-self
[5] http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-gives-advice-to-a-12-
year-old-2012-7
[6] http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240527487037205045753766642
85510930
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