What are the Most Common Mistakes First-Time Entrepreneurs Make?

Believing that people will actually care. No, nobody cares about your great idea until that great idea is beneficial to them. 99.9% of people are selfish - learn this early and get used to it fast. It doesn’t need to be a bad thing, as long as you are aware of it. 

Considering all of the good and very little of the bad. I worked a 9–5 once upon a time. I quit that nightmare of a job with my rose colored glasses on. I knew I wanted to work for myself, and I knew it would be worth it. But I didn’t consider that I had to FULLY own it - all of it - to succeed. Remember, the freedom of entrepreneurship also comes with some heavy burdens, so be prepared. I’ve borne the brunt of some serious business related burdens — and still, I would never return to working a 9–5. NEVER. 

Lacking Patience. We are all bright eyed, bushy tailed and completely impatient at first. We want our venture to work out — fast. This is rarely the case. I’ve been running my own operation in one form or another for almost 10 years. I only saw the true success I had always wanted in the last year or so. And personally, I’m NOT a patient person by nature. It’s a brutally difficult trait to adapt when it’s not your nature, but it’s absolutely essential. 

I’m never anything less than painfully transparent with both myself and others. Some of this sounds harsh, but it’s simply the truth. Don’t let it stop you — like I said, you only need to be aware of these things in order to adapt. 

I never wanted to have a glass ceiling over my head. There were times over the past decade when I had no ceiling over my head at all - still, no glass ceiling. Today, I can finally say, it was all worth it. 

 Find a niche, and nail it. 

Have the audacity to do something that no one else can. 

Always remember why you started, and don’t lose sight of the day you can finally say you proved everyone wrong.