Our World is Changing Faster Than Ever Big businesses, corporate chains, and the acceleration of technology are transforming the fabric of our communities. The corner stores, the family-owned businesses—once the heartbeat of our neighborhoods—are slowly disappearing, replaced by chains, supercenters, and endless online shopping.
It’s already bad, and it’s only going to get worse. Artificial intelligence, automation, and digital tools are about to be used at scale by the corporations that can afford them—and by your competitors who are willing to learn to use them.
As these tools spread, the businesses that adapt will accelerate, while those who refuse… will be left behind.
But here’s the truth: while this change is terrifying, it also presents a massive opportunity for those willing to adapt. I’ve worked with million-dollar businesses, and I’ve also seen businesses that have struggled just to break through.
If you’re feeling the pressure, you’re not alone.
Today, I’m going to share the FOUR key lessons that separate those entrepreneurs who are thriving right now and will be in the future, from those who will be left behind and won’t survive.
Lesson #1 – Decide
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most entrepreneurs are only half in. They want to dip their toes in, see if something works before fully committing to it.
Or working on a business for years and never growing it where you want it to be because you are not willing to learn something new that will grow your business.
Jim Carrey said, ‘You can fail at what you don’t want, so why not take a chance on doing what you love?’
The most successful entrepreneurs I’ve seen decide, then do, learning from the mistakes and successes along the way, but keep driving towards their goal.
Look at Elon Musk. He didn’t know how to build rockets when he started SpaceX, but he committed anyway. That’s what separates those who make it from those who don’t—deciding, and then figuring it out along the way. I read that he first learned about rockets by reading books on the subject after deciding to start the company.
Think about any time you’ve truly succeeded in life—it came from a decision first. And then doing what it took to accomplish what you wanted. You didn’t start your business to only get this far.
Lesson #2 – Entrepreneurship is Self-Improvement
In today’s world, knowledge is everywhere. Almost everything you could want to know is a click away, but this access isn’t just yours—it’s your competitors’, too. The only difference is whether you’ll choose to learn.
Entrepreneurship is a decision to become the person who can have the business you want to have. You don’t start with a 6- or 7-figure business without becoming the person who can have that. Dan Koe talks about the power of becoming a synthesizer: someone who takes knowledge from different places and applies it in their own unique way.
You decide to become a synthesizer by pulling together all the information, tools, people, experiences, whatever it takes—to become the person who then creates a business that is different from the rest.
It’s easy to say, ‘I don’t want to do that’ or ‘that’s not my thing.’ But in a world moving this fast, you can’t afford to avoid learning.
On top of learning what you’re good at, business basics, some marketing & sales, hiring people, signing leases, whatever it takes.
In the digital world, it’s also whatever will make you successful like digital marketing, automation, or using AI; your ability to grow depends on your willingness to embrace change.
You don’t need to do everything yourself, but you need to know enough to either manage or direct others who will.
Remember: no one will care about your business as much as you do. If you’re not willing to learn, you’re leaving your future in someone else’s hands.
Lesson #3 – Define Your WWWH
Clarity is power. The best businesses don’t just know what they do—they know why they do it, who they do it for, what problem they solve, and how they uniquely deliver it.
Your Why, Who, What, and How—is the framework that keeps everything aligned. Without it, you’re just reacting to what happens instead of creating the future you want.
When I first read Start with Why by Simon Sinek, I was working a six-figure banking job. On the surface, I had everything. But it wasn’t aligned with my Why; I felt sick going into work every day. After reading the book, I left it all behind to pursue a career in digital marketing. It wasn’t easy. I worked harder, made less, and went through all my savings, but eventually, I built a business that aligned with my life more. Entrepreneurs and small business owners became my Who, and I get to do my What & How through my agency and now this channel.
When you have a strong Why, everything else falls into place. If you notice, the most successful entrepreneurs you see have created a strong Why, are tuned into their Who, know their What, and have their own unique How they do what they do.
If you want to start defining your WWWH, click the link below to download my free guide and start creating clarity for your business.
Lesson #4 – Leverage
Leverage is the key to doing more with less.
Naval Ravikant defines leverage as the ability to get outsized returns from the same amount of input.
In the digital age, leverage is everywhere. It’s more accessible to find capital, people, technology, and create your own content platform.
Capital lets you invest in what matters. People allow you to multiply your efforts through employees, partners, and networks. Technology lets you automate, scale, and save on time/money & people.
And having a content platform—becoming your own mini media company. I think that is the best leverage you can build today. This leverage can combine all the other leverage points into one—your digital platform—allowing you to reach thousands or even millions without leaving your home.
Think of Mr. Beast, who turned a YouTube channel into a billion-dollar brand by leveraging content and attention. He started doing random videos, then giving money away, and now he’s leveraged that content platform into merchandise, philanthropy, launchable, and his own burger chain. Love him or hate him, that’s what content platforms can do.
The examples are endless—entrepreneurs who have built million-dollar brands from nothing, kids making millions on YouTube, influencers who leveraged their platforms to build empires. The key is finding the right leverage for your business.
There are countless businesses that have scaled through social media and automation. The tools are out there, but the question is: will you use them? The businesses that leverage technology and platforms today will outpace those that don’t.
There you have it—the top four lessons that will take your business from struggling to thriving today and beyond. But don’t wait on this. The train is leaving the station and picking up speed. Within the next few years, we may not even recognize the landscape.
If you found this valuable, please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel, and click the link below to download my free guides. Now it’s up to you to take the next step. Until next time… Boom!
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