Lesson #1: Nobody will care about your business as much as you do.
Learning #1: Nobody will care as much about your business as you do.
When I started NextGen Center, I shared the idea of our business with countless people. About 70% loved it and offered encouragement. The remaining 30% had different views.
The good news is that I’m all for differing perspectives, but what I didn’t fully comprehend at the time is this: most feedback is a projection of someone’s experiences, fears, and preferences.
Sometimes the feedback isn’t about you at all. It’s about what they’d worry about if they were in your position.
“Are you sure this is stable enough?”
“People don’t pay for that kind of service.”
“You should have a backup plan.”
If you’re not focused or grounded, other people’s fears can become your own. Some may be wise, but most are just heavy bags to carry– and they don’t belong to you. Knowing which is which keeps you focused on the work you’re truly meant to do.
The Early Days are Tough.
In the beginning, I met with anyone who would take a meeting with me. I pounded the pavement, working hard to build relationships, ask for feedback, and pitch my services and ideas to anyone who would listen.
But here’s the part that people don’t share: a lot of people didn’t call back. Some never followed up. Others praised the idea and then disappeared. Warm introductions went silent for reasons I’ll never know.
I understood this behavior from my years in business development and client services. Logically, I expected it. Emotionally, it was entirely different.
This time, I wasn’t selling someone else’s product — I was selling myself and my services. And when people ghost you in that context, it’s hard not to take it personally.
Early on, I remember spending hours writing proposals that only got a 20% acceptance rate. This is not bad statistically, but the hours spent on the other 80% were draining. And when prospective clients went silent, it really stung.
But here’s the truth that I’ve come to accept over the past 10 years: People aren’t thinking about you nearly as much as you think. They’re navigating their own lives and making decisions on their own timeline. They buy when they feel ready – not when you decide the timing is perfect.
And that’s why nobody will care about your business as much as you will.
You can partner with all the consultants, coaches, advisors, investors, and colleagues. The best ones will support you, help, and cheer you on. But they won’t feel the weight of ownership the way that you do.
That’s the cost — and the privilege — of owning your own business. Once you accept this and stop expecting the world to match your urgency, you can redirect your energy into the work that actually moves the needle.
Put another way, most new entrepreneurs assume that because they’re solving a big problem, others will instantly see the value. They imagine customers will be just as excited as they are.
But customers and clients buy when they feel ready. On their timeline. From their point of view and their point of pain. Not yours.
Counterintuitively, that’s a good thing. Shared ownership makes for stronger long-term partnerships. But in the short-term it’s hard to accept.
Being in Year 10…
Now, my proposal acceptance rate is closer to 70%. That didn’t happen by accident. It came from:
10 years of conversations and follow-through.
Learning from every experience and setting expectations early.
Honing my craft, going deeper into the work, and delivering consistently.
Focusing on the people who show up and follow through.
There are still people who don’t get back to me. There are still skeptics. There always will be. Growth isn’t determined by winning over skeptics, it’s measured by how many lives we touch.
This past year brought its own set of challenges. With economic uncertainty early in the year,, I spent a lot of time listening, learning, and reconnecting with people I trust. This past year has been a grind in many ways, but it helped me reset my expectations for what ownership actually requires.
Entrepreneurship is not about ease, it’s about ownership. It’s about accountability, resilience, and the willingness to care early and consistently.
Accept that fully, and your business (and frankly, your view on life) transforms.
Not because the world changes, but because you do.
The weight of ownership.
To learn more about the Foundation for Effective Leadership Program, go here.