What are the three biggest challenges that aspiring entrepreneurs face?

Question

Rachel Rai Henry · Accepted Answer

Some of the most common challenges include:

Comparison

I believe that entrepreneurs at all stages face similar challenges but as a new entrepreneur, comparing oneself to others is one of the most common obstacles to overcome. In a world where vanity metrics from likes and shares set the tone for what success looks like, it is easy to get caught up comparing ourselves to trends. As a new entrepreneur, try to remember that what you have to offer matters. Remaining authentic online and offline will give you inner satisfaction, which is far more valuable than the approval of anyone outside of you. It is ok to have a healthy dose of self-comparison — striving to be a better person and contributor to society each day by viewing setbacks with self-compassion as an opportunity for personal growth. I also encourage modeling after well-vetted mentors who can teach you how to achieve goals through actionable guidance.

FoMO

Another challenge new entrepreneurs face is the feeling of being behind or Fear of Missing Out [FoMO] -- the idea that the world is moving ahead fast and that their peers are having fun, experiencing things without them. If you are a new entrepreneur, affirm to yourself that you are exactly where you need to be, so enjoy your journey. Take each day as an opportunity to explore your endeavors with fun and experimentation and never be threatened by another's success. If someone can reach success, there is a formula that exists that you can also discover. You will never be behind and no matter how many setbacks you experience or changes you have to make along the way — consider it data research for your career.

Lack of experience

When just beginning your entrepreneurial journey, it’s expected that you don’t have much experience, but that you do have a wellspring of passion and determination to support the hard work that comes with building a profitable business. To match that passion with practice, I recommend new entrepreneurs gain mentorship through a training course, fellowship, internship, or by volunteering in the industry they love for a minimum of 90 days. If you can become fully immersed in the day-to-day activity and culture of your industry, you will make more informed decisions about what makes you happy, and where you can show up and create change through innovation. The world needs more innovators! Practicing in your field can show you where it is needed most.

Hunter Ray Barker · Answer

My entrepreneurial pursuits started at age 12, selling mangos outside of Walmart…

At 17, I helped build the entertainment industry's first-ever directory guide of over 2,000 of the world's top Stunt Performers.

Now just over decade later we have grown the business, hosting the largest Stunt Performer networking events across the country.

These efforts allowed us to start helping other small business owners launch their own one-of-a-kind events for their customers and community.

Here are the top (5) biggest challenges I faced over the years:

1. Earning Enough Money To Build AND Test, Test, Test…
Before “going all-in” I outlined exactly what I needed to build and budgeted how much money I needed to make it happen.

This figure is going to be different for everyone…

I needed to build a moderately complex website to bring my vision to life (meaning I needed to raise a good chunk of change to achieve those starting goals).

I had already been burned and wasted money trying to do it cheaply by hiring a developer who finished the project and then shut down all contact, locking me out of the website with no way to get back in!

Make sure you devise a plan to figure out exactly how much money is needed to get your idea off the ground — and more to start testing what works and what doesn’t.

I spent 3 years working really odd jobs to reach that initial figure.

2. Embracing Entrepreneurial Anxiety And Constantly Innovating

When things start to “click,” your business starts turning a profit, and folks are loving what you are offering them — it’s real easy to get comfortable and keep doing the same ole, same ole...

This happened to me. Life was peachy and I got very comfortable. I felt that… well, I didn’t need to do anything new!

Then sales started slipping — and something had to be done.

I made it a point to constantly innovate. I started blocking out time each month dedicated purely to innovation.

What can we do to keep things interesting for our customers?

While some ideas failed, others brought wild success. And have allowed us to stay ahead of the curve within our industry.

The large-scale events we host (that have become a huge success in the business) derived from the time spent driving innovation.

3. Learn To Love Failure

Innovation, testing, and experimentation brings me to this next challenge: failure.

My journey has been littered with total failure.

Ad campaigns that didn’t work. Events that flopped. Joint-ventures that turned sour. Projects that became a total bust.

There are also huge hazard signs that might beg you NOT to try something — that end up being a major success. That you’d never know if you didn’t embrace the failure and try.

I’ll never forget the first year we geared up to bring our networking event on the road — and a competitor of ours posted on social media totally slamming us!

And to my horror, I saw hundreds of comments from folks in our community engaging on the post. Some reveling in the drama he started. It was sad and upsetting.

Friends of mine called in saying, “Man, are you still going to do it?”

Of course we did!

I knew, that like many other failures before, it might not work. But I also couldn’t know if we didn’t try.

Needless to say — we hosted the event and it performed EVEN BETTER than the events he’d been throwing for years at home.

I couldn’t believe it. I saw folks that were igniting the “drama” online show up and buy VIP tickets!

What started off feeling like what should’ve been a total bomb turned into a sweet success. Failure is fantastic.

4. Become A Champion For Community

The #1 greatest difference I’ve tracked between business pursuits that worked and those that didn’t… were that the ones that worked served a community.

In the entrepreneurial world, folks will call it “choosing a niche” — but I find that to be a little soulless…

That isn’t to say that wildly successful businesses must always require a deep love and spiritual connection with those you are serving — or even what you are offering…

Nope.

But when you’re learning to walk as a young entrepreneur, I’ve found it really challenging to stay focused and committed to the game if you aren’t invested.

I have served the Stunt Performer community for well over ten years now because I come from a family of Stunt Performers. I have been involved with the stunt community my entire life.

By dedicating my business to this community, I have been able to stay all-in. And that is ultimately what this challenge is all about.

It’s easy for young entrepreneurs to get “shiny object syndrome” and jump to the next seemingly profitable market, industry, media, platform, etc, etc.

By serving a community you genuinely love, you will climb to the ranks as a leader much faster, easier, and stay in the game for the long haul.

5. Enjoy Being A Lone Wolf

This is the most personal challenge out of the lot.

For me, I’ve enjoyed the greatest success in my journey by removing myself from distracting environments.

And as a young person, it’s very easy to find yourself in these out-of-control environments and living spaces.

I, admittedly, have an outrageous personality. I absolutely love madness and insanity. I am by all means a “rubbernecker” addicted to the chaos life brings us.

So I had to make the decision to remove myself from it…

By not living in the heart of the city. Distancing myself from people I love to be around. And not engaging in the activities that don’t contribute to the success of my business.

That’s up to you to find that balance! For me, yes, it was moving out to the middle of nowhere — where it would cost me easily $200 in gas to get to the places that would cost a lot more in the long run…

Enjoy your journey — and all of the challenges, failures, and success it may bring you!

Anonymous · Answer

Two Challenges

* Price & Market
Let's say you have a revolutionary design for a bicycle.

Manufacturing the bike is very complicated because you need to secure your supply chain at best price

You go to a factory to get your frames manufactured. The factory which charges HERO only ₹ 1400/- for tubular frame will charge you ₹2800/- for the same materials because of your quantity

Wheels costing ₹615 a pair for HERO will cost you ₹ 2000 a pair due to the same reason

Your entire Chain assembly and drive train system that costs HERO around ₹1700 would run you almost ₹3000

This a Bicycle that costs Hero ₹5400/- for production and assembly would cost you ₹ 10200/-

Your retail price would be around ₹22000/- because you won't have a proper retailer deal due to your low volumes

You simply can't compete and you simply end up closing your business or selling your design to HERO for ₹1.5 -3 Crore rupees

Your design may be superior but you simply can't secure a safe and affordable supply chain

You can't secure a retailer deal or distribution deal

So eventually you give up or sell your design for pennies on the dollar to a big player and go home

So as an Entrepreneur, your greatest challenge is not the design but the eventual product delivery at competitive price

Even if your design is so revolutionary that a manufacturer of wheels or frames or chainguard and drivetrain decides to manufacture at cost for you

The BIG FISH will immediately throttle you

They will demand that the manufacturers either stop working with you or charging you 100% more or they (the big fish) will cancel orders

Eventually you will be forced to sell your design and quit

The way to beat it is simply bring in more and more manufacturers who can make these components

That will allow free competition and allow you to get your best quote

These manufacturers are also newbies like you who will grow with you

Yet in India this is IMPOSSIBLE

Foreigners from China and Vietnam will be driven away with Anti Dumping Tariffs which prices an Axle from ₹1300 to ₹ 2390, almost ₹1090 more

Locals will not get loans to set up manufacturing units to make such components because the risk of default is high

Government is of course not gonna help

So the Entrepreneur will FLEE TO SINGAPORE and work out a manufacturing deal with Vietnam and sell in the Singapore , Malaysian and Chinese market

This is the biggest problem Entrepreneurs who have innovative designs face in India

Monopolies and Cartels

Not Tax problems which GOI always focuses on 24*7

Only Product Manufacturers not Service Entrepreneurs who are relatively safer from these issues

Riajur Rahman · Answer

The journey of entrepreneurship is filled with opportunities and rewards, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are some of the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurs:

1. Uncertainty and Risk: Entrepreneurship is inherently risky. Starting a business involves uncertainty about market demand, competition, and financial stability. Entrepreneurs often invest their own money and time, which can be a significant personal risk.
2. Financial Challenges: Securing initial capital and managing cash flow are major hurdles. Many startups struggle to access funding, and even successful businesses must carefully manage their finances to ensure sustainability.
3. Market Competition: Competition is fierce in most industries. Entrepreneurs must find ways to differentiate their products or services, build a unique value proposition, and establish a strong market presence.
4. Regulatory and Legal Issues: Navigating the complex world of regulations, permits, licenses, and intellectual property rights can be daunting. Violating regulations can lead to costly legal issues.
5. Team Building and Talent Acquisition: Building a skilled and motivated team is vital, but it can be challenging to find and retain top talent, especially for startups with limited resources.
6. Scaling the Business: Scaling a business while maintaining quality and consistency can be tricky. Rapid growth can strain resources and operations if not managed effectively.
7. Customer Acquisition and Retention: Acquiring new customers and keeping them satisfied is a constant challenge. Entrepreneurs must invest in marketing and customer service to build a loyal client base.
8. Adaptation to Change: The business landscape is constantly evolving due to technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences. Entrepreneurs must stay agile and adapt quickly to remain relevant.
9. Work-Life Balance: Entrepreneurship often demands long hours and dedication, which can lead to burnout and strain on personal relationships. Balancing work and personal life is a perpetual challenge.
10. Mental Health and Stress: The pressures of entrepreneurship can take a toll on mental health. Stress, anxiety, and the fear of failure are common issues that entrepreneurs face.
11. Lack of Experience: Many entrepreneurs are venturing into unfamiliar territory, which can lead to mistakes and learning curves. Seeking mentorship and advice can help mitigate this challenge.
12. Access to Networks and Resources: Establishing a network of contacts, mentors, and resources can be challenging, particularly for first-time entrepreneurs.
Despite these challenges, entrepreneurship can also be immensely rewarding. Overcoming obstacles, achieving business goals, and making a positive impact on the world are some of the many gratifying aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. Success often hinges on resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from failures.

Anonymous · Answer

Giorgio ~ I’m old school so this may not ring true to you. But, give it time & you may find work-arounds.

1. Don’t lose your self. It’s not hard to do. Never put 100% of your heart in a project or company. Conserve & live to fight another day. Anchor outside of work. Don’t forget family. Live.

2. Assuming you possess proficiency in your field, surround yourself with those proficient in areas of import which are not your fortes. Listen to them, weigh their inputs then decide. Lead by measuring risks. Move quickly with reversible decision, less so with irreversible ones.

3. Always be aware of and strive to avoid the “House of Horrors,” or what I call ‘Lawyerland.” Whether you are seeking counsel or involved in litigation (ubiquitous today), it is the La Brea Tar Pits of the business world & will drain your resources, energy & focus. Refer to 2, above, & use your team to shield you from situations which are likely to draw you into someone’s spider web. It’s more common than you may think to become a target ~ a little success goes a long way toward attracting predators & parasites. Develop & observe sound business practices on a consistent basis.

Bonus ~ Keep a sense of humor and promote good morale. No one comes to work hoping to feel unappreciated or be used & abused . Celebrate even small successes & visit opportunities early, often and with compassion.

A former boss once told me:

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

It’s a balancing act to be sure.

Good luck Giorgio ~ go get ‘em!

In joy, m

Eric Griffin · Answer

This is the biggest challenge to being an entrepreneur can be summed up in one simple graph:

It typically takes about 5 years to get traction. 10 to have a company (not just a product). 20 to have a company that the founder doesn’t need to be involved day to day. And all of that is assuming you make it - 90% of entrepreneurs fail within 5 years.

In the beginning, you’re doing something no one has done before. That new, crazy idea you’re convinced will change the world. To everyone else - it’s just a crazy idea. It’ll never work, it’s too different, too expensive, too difficult to build, etc. somehow, you find a way to let that go in one ear and out the other. You feel it in your gut that you’re on to something big.

Then you finally start getting traction. A few customers, maybe one big one that is out of your league. Things are finally looking up.

It’s right about here in your journey that something will break. Maybe a competitor sues you for patent infringement. Maybe your landlord tells you he sold the building and you have to move. Or maybe, your key employee got a new job. I don’t know what it will be, but I do know that it will be.

Rinse and repeat - success, followed by surprise. At every surprise, you worry that “this will be the one that takes the company out”. At ever success, you will hope that “this will be the one that makes the company catapult forward!”

The reality is that business is mostly a game of hitting singles. You might get lucky and hit some home runs. You will definitely strike out a few times. But in the end, if you keep hitting singles, in 10 or 20 years you’ll look back and you won’t believe how far you've come.

Robert D Allen MBA · Answer

You're looking at the wrong bulwarks.

Info
You should be an expert in the field before you ever try to launch a company in the space. If you've never worked in the space, you'll make a ton of obvious mistakes which will kill momentum or bury your project.

Partners
If you're not able to owner-operate, then you'll be immediately giving up either a portion of the company or a portion of your savings to get the ball rolling. This is extremely unwise unless you've got a ton of savings and a really strong network.

Cash
You shouldn't get stalled on money to launch a business. Tech and web is free. Brick & mortar has cost. Automotive has enormous barriers to entry. Figure out the projected costs and triple them. If you don't have that available to set on fire, then you'll be conflicted in your decisions moving forward and be more prone to bad choices.

The biggest problem I had in launching my company was in thinking these three elements were factors. They should not be.

Prateek Saxena · Answer

An an Entrepreneur and one who used to interact with entrepreneurs from different parts of the world, I have jotted down the following hurdles faced by entrepreneurs:

Uncertainty: When you are starting your own business, you cannot be 100% sure of anything. You did market research but have no idea if it is accurate or not. You don’t know which all competitors will rise by the time your product hits the market and marketing strategies they are going to follow. You are not sure if your profitability model will work or not. This instability forces many want-to-entrepreneurs to take their step back and kill their idea within their mind.

%3E The real entrepreneur is the one who embraces the uncertainty, who know how to take calculative risk, one who remains motivated all the time and is ready to give a second try even if the business fails.
Perfectionism: We all say, “Practice makes a man perfect”. This does not work in the world of entrepreneurship. The competition is increasing day after day, so you cannot wait to become 100% perfect so as to launch your business. Also, you cannot launch it instantly without market research and face failure. Thus, an entrepreneur faces this hurdle of when to launch your business and how to deliver best results.

%3E If you have confidence in you and your idea, and have all the other required things, you can launch your business. Perfection is not needed, you just need to give your best shot. If you succeed, you grow. And if you fail, you get an experience to learn from and move forward.
Responsibility: Your decisions have a large impact on your business and brand reputation. A single wrong decision can ruin your business. So, you have to take the best possible decision. This might seem easy, but is not so as everyday you come up with a new problem. Moreover, this responsibility of decision-making grows as the business grows and so the risk of getting bad reputation.

%3E Proper understanding of the situation and analysis of the pros & cons can lower down the risk to some extent.
Balance: When working on startup, you wish to put more & more potential into it. You devote more time and efforts to launch your brand in the market and maintain the quality at the earliest. In this race to knock the doors of success sooner, many entrepreneurs end up with bad health and less efficiency to work any more. Many even get no time to do anything else in their life beside business. In short, maintaining a balance in your personal and professional life is one of the top challenges faced by entrepreneurs.

%3E Various entrepreneurs, including me prefer to wake up early to give some time to their mind and body. Also, I make it certain to invest my weekdays in professional growth and weekends...they are meant for personal life only!

Stephanie Cowley · Answer

There are many challenges in being a leader and an entrepreneur and depending on your area of influence or industry, these can change.

3 main challenges that are really impacting us in the world today are:

1 Our ability to truly listen and hear

In a world that is all about ‘me’ it is really important that as leaders we are listening more than we are speaking.

Remember the old saying?

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak”

This is a big challenge with all of the ‘noise’ and information around us, but it is a critically important skill. Successful leaders and entrepreneurs listen to their employees and customers; not just listen, but really hear them and affect change as a result.

2 Keep up with technology

The rate at which technology is advancing is terrifying. It is a daily challenge for leaders and entrepreneurs to keep up with the ever-changing technological advances.

3 Hiring the right people

People, people, people. They are our biggest assets and our worst headaches. Hiring the right person for the right role with the right skill set is the biggest challenge of all. Your people will shape your business in so many ways, not just operationally, but directionally and culturally as well. It is critically important that you not just recruit the right people, but you develop and grow them as well into brand ambassadors for your organization or startup.

Veronique Palmer Rottcher · Answer

Learning to work with money and manage cash flow is a biggie. This is not taught to us, nor how money really works. Read books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, do courses in financial management, learn how to manage credit cards and debt. Start an investment portfolio sooner rather than later. Build a business that makes you money when you sleep. Never give anyone access to your bank account. Hire a super smart tax guy to manage that if this is not your strong point. You will have good months and bad months. It's normal. Learn to go with that flow. And the number one rule with money is - if the money is not in your account, it's not a sale.

Ray Zinn · Answer

For me it was launching a semiconductor company without venture capital.

VCs dislike me saying this, but anyone can avoid the trap of VC money, the endless raising of rounds, and forced sell-outs. But it requires not taking their money, being well disciplined in cash management, building a great culture that drives success, and keeping focused on bottom-line profitability.

I leveraged everything I had — cash, real estate, ect. — to get started. But I ran my company for 37 years (36 profitability), went public, and employed thousands of people. It may have been a challenge to avoid VC money, but in the long run it was worth the challenge.

Bryan Shao · Answer

Thinking about this at a meta level, three main challenges imo facing most businesses but especially entrepreneurs is:

Value - is what you’re doing valuable to your customers? Will the short term value meet their needs? Will the long term value meet the market/industry/investors needs? You must always be aiming to create the most valuable product or service possible.

Execution - if you have something that could be valuable, is there a path to making it a reality? Will the sheer effort erode the projected or perceived value? Do you have the right people in place to see this to the end?

Capital - obviously financial capital, but also do you have the required relationship capital with your customers? Partner businesses? Investors?

I’m sure I’ll think of a different three in a couple of hours but these seem to be pretty fundamental for any entrepreneur.

Norm Jones · Answer

3 things:

1. loneliness- sometimes being the MAN can be lonesome (lonely at the top) for a lot of reasons but for one, most people are NOT entrepreneurs so they really can’t relate with your struggles
2. Being Ok with failure. If you see failure as a stepping stone to success and greatness, then you could be an entrepreneur.
3. Confidence- if you’re a “born” entrepreneur, then you can’t imagine life any other way and you make it work. But if you have a creative spirit and a burning desire to be your own boss, it can be hard to find exactly where you fit. But the good news is that there are SO many ways of making it on your own steam, anyone can fill some niche.

Anonymous · Answer

1. Courage to start your own business:

Starting your own venture is not an easy task. You need a lot of courage and strength to quit your job and start your own business. One needs to be determined and confident towards his/her goals. You need to convince yourself that there is a need of such product in the market and you are the best person to build it.

2. Is your idea big enough?

Idea is the most important challenge which every entrepreneur faces.

* What are you planning to go for?
 * What type of business you are going to deal in?
 * Who are your target audiences?
 * Is your Idea really worth giving a chance?
These are few questions that would come up in your mind and you need to find answers for them.

3. Raising Capital:

Money is another biggest challenge faced by an entrepreneur. Now you have to decide when, how and from whom you are going to raise the required capital. At times, people need to bootstrap their start-up for a longer period of time.

4. Hiring right talent:

After you have decided to start your own venture, you need a team. Behind every successful business is a dream team - be it finding a right co-founder or the founding start-up team. Getting someone, who believes in your idea/venture as much as you, to make it work is always difficult, but yet the most crucial.

5. Effective marketing on limited budget:

Being a start-up it’s very essential to create visibility among your consumers. You need to reach your target audiences by using effective marketing techniques.

6. Facing Failure:

It’s not necessary that every idea of yours will work. With launching of new products and scaling new markets comes the notion of “failing fast”. If you’re trying a lot of new things, not everything will work and you will not succeed at each of those ideas.

7. Dealing with stress:

It is correctly said ‘No pain no gain’. Entrepreneur has to go through many stresses – whether it is related to its business or family. To run a successful business one needs to be very strong and clam. So if you are starting up your own venture, then be prepared to deal with the daily stress.

Anonymous · Answer

Navigating the endless morass of city, county, state and federal regulations.

Mauricio López · Answer

When it rains it pours. As an entrepreneur things come in waves and that makes life hard.

At the beginning you have a stage of creativity, where its all about the product or service, we call it one side of the propeller. Its an amazing time full of future potential.

The problem is you can live without sales, and the you fixate on the other propeller, sales, marketing, and services.

Both sides are extreams not really giving you time for the other. It takes years to dominate both at a time.

This concept also happenes with money, employees, clients, and projects.

An example with money is that for some unknown reason even if you have 200clients they will mentally connect when they pay late. This has happened to me multiple times. All culminating in a single day of deposits that solves your problem,but that you mostly owe already.

When you have a lot of clients most stop innovating but when they are going through hard times innovate to refresh and be reborn. In both cases its a case of extremes.

Ben Hucker · Answer

Lack of sleep. Anxiety and guilt over unpaid invoices. Building good teams. Finding investors. Charming investors. Reporting to investors. Applying for government grants. Building new products. Building new services. Coming up with marketing ideas. Executing on marketing on ideas to drive revenue. Keeping your wife & kids happy while working seven days. Maintaining your personal health. Making time for your personal health. Staying on top of your domestic life and its demands. Knowing the ins and outs of working capital and business finance. Applying for credit with no proof of income. Explaining over and again to family members what you do for a living. Having family & friends think you’re a bit weird. A bit different. Biting your tongue when your family sends you job opportunities online. Being nice to entitled customers or clients when you’ve had two hours sleep. Maintaining a narrative of ‘everything’s all good’ when you’ve just looked online for a definition of insolvency. Lack of resources. Training staff. Motivating staff. Being radically transparent and honest even when it hurts. Copping criticism on the chin.

That’s just Monday morning.

Some make it through this unending quest.

A lot don’t.

Vijay Jeste · Answer

These would be my favorites:

1. Changing the status quo - I have found it to be very difficult to get old-timers to accept change and work with you to implement radically new solutions to an old problem or new innovative solutions to make dramatic improvements. I have seen senior members of the team doing all they can to create obstacles and making sure such efforts don’t succeed. Your job becomes much harder when you have to win fights within the organization, but if or when you do succeed, the results can be awesome.
2. Changing the mindset - people are so set in their ways of doing things that they don’t want to try new techniques, technology or processes even if they know it will improve productivity, efficiency, and quality of the product or process. Customers, in particular, are reluctant to try new products or ideas because what they have been using works for them and they don’t want to “rock the boat”. Introducing new products or services becomes a huge challenge.
3. Teamwork - when you have a team that consists of several disciplines such as finance, marketing, production, R&D, accounting, legal, HR, etc. it is difficult to get all of them to understand and appreciate your viewpoint, especially if it is a radical new idea, in order to get their buy-in. Unless and until you get all of them to go along with you, it is very difficult to push anything through.

Dheeraj Maheshwary · Answer

Young entrepreneurs face unique challenges, but with the right mindset, they’re all manageable. Here are the biggest hurdles and how to tackle them:

1. Lack of Experience

* The Challenge: You don’t know what you don’t know. Inexperience can lead to costly mistakes.
 * Solution: Learn relentlessly. Read, take courses, and seek mentorship from those who’ve walked the path before you. Experience comes faster when you’re intentional about learning.
2. Limited Capital

* The Challenge: Starting with little or no money can feel restricting.
 * Solution: Start lean. Focus on businesses that require low investment, bootstrap wherever possible, and reinvest profits smartly. Creativity often beats cash.
3. Balancing Risk and Stability

* The Challenge: You’re eager to take risks but also fear failure or financial instability.
 * Solution: Take calculated risks. Start small, validate ideas before scaling, and always have a backup plan.
4. Building Credibility

* The Challenge: People may doubt your abilities because of your age.
 * Solution: Let your work speak for itself. Focus on delivering results, building trust, and showcasing your expertise through small wins.
5. Handling Rejection and Failure

* The Challenge: Facing rejection or setbacks can be disheartening.
 * Solution: Build resilience. Each “no” brings you closer to a “yes.” Use failures as fuel to improve and push forward.
6. Managing Time and Focus

* The Challenge: With so many distractions, staying disciplined is tough.
 * Solution: Prioritize ruthlessly. Focus on tasks that move the needle, set boundaries, and stay consistent.
Final Advice

You’ll face challenges, but every obstacle is an opportunity to grow. Personally, I overcome these by staying curious, seeking advice from experienced people, and focusing on execution over perfection. Plan for obstacles, adapt quickly, and remember—persistence always wins.

Sujaya Kumar · Answer

Lack of continued FOCUS…

Most of the times due to the unfavourable situations, we deviate from the main goal. We are held up doing which are not so important for the venture. Thus, moving away from the mission. Success gets delayed.

An entrepreneur live the of role - peon, clerk, mailman, lawyer, chairman, tech head, marketing manager, finance head, delivery boy and what not. While living these positions, somewhere sometimes one gets lost. It’s really important to identify and take corrective measures in order to succeed.

It’s true that a start up / entrepreneur can’t always hire someone for all the tasks they do. So they end up doing everything themselves, ending up with big mess some times. ‘Half knowledge is very vulnerable’

Initially, it’s really difficult to get mentors or people who will really want to help you out with minimum investment. Network with people, start vetting people - to find out like minded and helpful.

Finding the right person to the right work at the right time - this is a hell lot of homework, man! That to when we need with minimum expenses, optimum utilisation of resources. We want everything to be perfect, the way we want, but it seldom happens! But its okay to learn from own mistakes. Certain lessons can’t be learnt from others mistakes. It’s okay to be low at times.

We can never know everything in life. We have to learn to deploy/delegate work effectively in order to stay focused to the main goal - Achievement of the target.

I have shared my own experience, which I have been through and living in day in and day out. I have adapted to the following lines:

“Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do…”