I was a wantreprenuer for 10 years before finding success with @Beardbrand.

Here’s what I wish I knew 10 years earlier.

1. Consuming educational content is no replacement for doing.

A few books is all you need to start. Lean Startup, 4 Hour Workweek and Eat People were mine

2. An old dog doesn’t learn new tricks. Stop trying to convince friends / family to go into business with you.

Instead put yourself around other entrepreneurs.

@AtxStartupWeek and @StartupWeekend worked for me.

Find events that are similar.

3. Filing with the Secretary of the State and getting an EIN & bank account doesn’t mean you’ve made a business.

In those early days focus on product and sales.

The default business is a sole proprietorship. You can add legal framework after proof of concept.

4. Who you choose as your business parter will determine pretty much all of your success.

Don’t rush to build a business with the first person who says yes.

5. Understand why you want to be an entrepreneur before getting too deep into it.

This will affect how you build a business and who you partner with.

Hell, entrepreneurship just might not be for you.

6. No one knows who you are at the start.

You’re shooting yourself in the foot by being secretive and moving slowly.

You can only have a perfect product by getting feedback from customers.

Launch, learn, iterate, repeat as fast as you can.

7. There’s no one way to build a business.

I said the other day that there are multiple truths which means different things can be the best way for different people.

Write your own path and fuck the haters and doubters. Be humble, learn and do.

Now this guide is for wantrepreneurs and not seasoned business people.

Secrecy and purposeful product dev may make sense when you know what your doing.

You’ll know after you’ve built something.

Most importantly trust your gut and get moving.