What did you learn about being an entrepreneur in 2022?
From “Resilience is key” to “Humility is rewarding,” here are 11 answers to the question, “What has 2022 taught you about being an entrepreneur?”
- Humility is Rewarding
- You Don’t Need a Physical Office Environment
- Success is Measured by Your Happiness
- Practice Rigid Flexibility
- 2022 Has Taught Me that Dreams Don’t Come Easy
- You Must Be Agile and Open to Learning New Things
- Empathy is Key
- How Important Collaboration is
- Resilience is Key
- Keep Your Head Down and Avoid Distractions
- Stay the Course
- I Learned that a Business Can Thrive During Tough Times
- The Importance of Workplace Flexibility Autonomy
- Building Relationships and Having the Right People
Humility is Rewarding
2022 taught me that, as an entrepreneur, I should never forget my very essence. It taught me humility. In a practical sense, this entails letting go of my ego and accepting my flaws. I am aware that this goes against conventional wisdom for entrepreneurs, who are advised to be as assured and confident as possible. Although humility might seem to be the polar opposite of this quality, it has actually improved me a great deal.
Timothy Woods, Director, Carnivore Style
You Don’t Need a Physical Office Environment
You don’t need a physical office environment to succeed. Technology has greatly developed during the pandemic, which allows work to be completed from anywhere. It’s easy to hold virtual meetings with people from all over the country instead of showing up in person. Editing documents is easy thanks to G Suite and Invision. It’s a new way of working, but much more effective virtually.
Karim Hachem, VP of eCommerce, La Blanca
Success is Measured by Your Happiness
The year 2022 has been an invaluable learning experience for me as an entrepreneur. It has taught me the importance of having realistic expectations, learning to adapt and be flexible to changes in the environment, and that success should ultimately be measured by happiness and personal satisfaction instead of simply monetary success.
This has enabled me to make informed decisions that lead to the realization of both short-term and long-term goals while remaining mindful of the impact on both my well-being and success. Overall, 2022 has instilled in me a newfound motivation towards success and provided me with the means necessary to take more calculated risks and capitalize on opportunities with increased confidence.
Jim Campbell, CEO, Campbell Online Media
Practice Rigid Flexibility
Entrepreneurs have no shortage of creativity, ideas, or priorities. While we might make plans to do one thing, a newer, shinier, better idea might pull our focus. Entrepreneurs need to be rigid enough in their goals to know where they want to be, but flexible in how they achieve those goals. It’s OK to not stick with a plan when something better comes along. It’s OK to lose focus on something that isn’t serving you or your business. Always going “by the book” could mean missing out on valuable opportunities to learn and grow.
Alli Hill, Founder and Director, Fleurish Freelance
2022 Has Taught Me that Dreams Don’t Come Easy
The year of 2022 has been a roller-coaster ride for aspiring entrepreneurs, but if there is one thing it has taught us, it’s that dreams don’t come easy. Being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park — success requires dedication and more than a little bit of luck. But with the right plan, strategy, and mindset, even the most difficult goals can be achieved. For those of us willing to take risks and fight for what we believe in, this past year has revealed that success is out there waiting to be claimed. All it takes is patience, vision, and hard work!
Carlos Trillo, CEO & Founder, Evinex
You Must Be Agile and Open to Learning New Things
This year has consistently reminded entrepreneurs that the most successful leaders are those who are agile and open to learning new strategies and technologies. As the world of business continues to evolve, entrepreneurs must remain on top of new trends and be willing to adapt their skills and strategies as needed. This will also play a big role in staying motivated and driven to achieve important goals.
Lilian Chen, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Bar None Games
Empathy is Key
2020 and 2021 were trying times for most, with small businesses suffering the worst of all due to lockdowns, travel restrictions, and other issues related to the global pandemic. This taught me that, as an entrepreneur, empathy is essential. It’s not enough to create a business plan or design a strategy; you need to be aware of how your decisions impact others and their livelihoods.
I have found myself always considering the needs of my customers and employees first before making decisions. Empathy is not only essential for running a successful business but also for understanding how your actions can affect the world around you.
Sinoun Chea, CEO and Founder, Shiftweb
How Important Collaboration is
The year has taught me how important collaboration is. Luckily, technology has made it so easy for us to connect virtually and work together. Through Zoom meetings, team messages, and G-Suite platforms, we can effectively communicate and get the job done in a virtual setting. It’s amazing to see how much technology has evolved in the last 10 years, and we can partner together to create a virtual office and meet an end goal.
Randee Machina, Director of Marketing, Simpli Pleasures
Resilience is Key
While the first few years of any new business are filled with challenging experiences, it has become crystal clear that resilience is key to success in business. No matter what industry you are in, there will always be obstacles to overcome. It’s important to have a plan in place that allows you to pivot and adapt quickly when the unexpected happens.
Resilience starts from within — a strong mental and emotional foundation will help you remain optimistic and steady throughout the course of any business project. I also learned that having a great support system — family, friends, and mentors — around you is vital. Having a solid network of like-minded entrepreneurs has been invaluable in helping me stay motivated and inspired throughout this journey.
Neil Platt, Director, Emerald Home Improvements
Keep Your Head Down and Avoid Distractions
It’s not controversial to say that these days, distractions are all around us. Trying to focus on business while existing in a global market that is rapidly changing all the time is no easy task. Every day there are both new challenges and shiny opportunities that take our attention away from the work in front of us. 2021 taught me that no matter what’s happening outside, running a business requires a huge amount of direct focus, day after day. For 2022, try focusing more on your business and less on what everyone else is doing.
Kyle Clements, CEO, Quipli
Stay the Course
2022 has taught me and reinforced my belief in staying the course. Things get difficult sometimes and businesses will face challenges that might make them want to pivot on the fly. The COVID-19 pandemic was difficult for all of us and it made us question the route we were on. Sometimes you might even question what you are doing. However, in 2022 things came back around and we got back to real business. Everything will turn around and 2022 has taught us that. It’s worth keeping in mind the next time things get challenging or the world changes. That’s my takeaway from 2022!
Shaun Connell, CEO, Credit Building Tips
I Learned that a Business Can Thrive During Tough Times
The previous two years have seen businesses facing unprecedented challenges, but if 2022 taught me anything about being an entrepreneur, it is that no matter the challenge, there are always ways to weather the storm and thrive. Whether it was pandemic restrictions, supply chain issues, office operations, or uncertainties caused by inflation, recent times have seen many businesses having to deal with issues that they had never witnessed, let alone considered.
However, with the new technologies in everything from office software to marketing programs, and with creative efforts to find gaps in the market, I have learned that a determined entrepreneur can always find ways to not only deal with these issues but also flourish in what may appear to be an impossible situation. In 2022, I learned that an entrepreneur’s job is not only to find ways to help their business thrive, but they can do so no matter the circumstances.
Mackenzie Whalen, Marketing Director, Luxin Hemp Group
The Importance of Workplace Flexibility Autonomy
2022 has been an insightful year for me, as an employer and entrepreneur. I believe we are at the precipice of a massive shift in hiring and workplace dynamics, and understanding these will be key for company sustainability in the years to come. What 2022 taught me is the importance of workplace flexibility and providing employees with workplace autonomy. Covid debunked the old myth that remote work cannot sustain productivity, and now more and more employees desire a higher degree of flexibility when it comes to work hours and remote work. Adapting to this will enable an entrepreneur to entice top talent, and offering them workplace autonomy will allow you to keep them engaged, motivated, and productive.
Shawn Harris, CEO, Uniquegiftcards
Building Relationships and Having the Right People
In 2022, I learned that being an entrepreneur is about more than just having a great idea. It’s about building relationships and making sure you have the right people around you to help bring your vision to life. When it comes to running a business, no matter its size, hard work and dedication will always be rewarded with success. Having a strong team in place that can adapt and grow with the industry’s ever-changing climate is essential.
Making sure lines of communication are open between all departments can prevent issues from arising or escalating further down the line. Finally, never forget why you got into entrepreneurship in the first place – because it’s something you’re passionate about! By keeping this thought at the forefront of your mind, it’ll help you stay motivated and focused on the bigger picture.
Bruce Kramer, Managing Partner, Buttercup Venues