The One Thing No One Tells You About Running A Business

After 30 years as a small business owner, I've got an uncomfortable truth: you never really get things sorted out. And that's actually your competitive advantage.

Download the guide "How To Write About Yourself When You Have No Idea Where To Start" https://www.storiesthatmatter.co/how-...

*The Myth That's Killing Your Business Growth*

"I'd imagine by your age, you've got it all sorted out." That's what a 30-something business coach said to me last year. It made me realize how many entrepreneurs are living under the pressure of this impossible timeline.

Do you think successful entrepreneurs eventually "figure it all out"? I'm here to destroy that dangerous myth. This belief creates shame, perfectionism, and the false idea that experience equals certainty. The truth? The most successful solopreneurs get comfortable with constant adaptation.

*Business Reality Check: What 30 Years Actually Teaches You*

Contrary to popular belief, decades of experience doesn't equal having all the answers. In fact, it teaches you something far more valuable: how to navigate uncertainty with confidence. The reality? I'm more comfortable with uncertainty at 66 than I was at 26.

*What you'll learn in this video:*
• Why business isn't a linear video game with a final level
• How the "gray hair = magic answers" myth creates entrepreneur shame
• Why younger entrepreneurs look at me expecting secrets (spoiler: there aren't any)
• How different cultures approach continuous learning and growth
• The science of neuroplasticity - our brains develop well into our 80s
• My personal breakthrough about navigating uncertainty vs seeking perfection
• The difference between "making it up" vs "working it out"
• Why curiosity is the birthplace of creativity
• How confidence comes from accepting change, not avoiding it

*Key Timestamps:*
0:00 - The uncomfortable truth about experience
0:30 - The conversation that changed my perspective
2:30 - Why the "linear progression" myth is dangerous
3:15 - Why business isn't a linear video game
5:15 - Cultural approaches to continuous learning (Japan's kaizen, Silicon Valley's "fail fast")
6:45 - The science of neuroplasticity and lifelong learning
7:45 - Personal breakthrough moment
8:20 - My lightbulb moment about uncertainty
9:30 - Practical mindset shifts
10:15 - How to reframe "making it up" as "working it out"

*Research-backed insights:*
Neuroplasticity studies show our brains develop well into our 80s
Japanese kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement
Silicon Valley's "fail fast" methodology
Why confidence comes from adaptation, not perfection

*This resonates if you:*
✓ Feel like you should know more by now
✓ Experience imposter syndrome in your business
✓ Wonder when it gets "easier"
✓ Compare yourself to seemingly "successful" entrepreneurs
✓ Feel behind or struggle with the pressure to have answers
✓ Think you should have more figured out by now

*Perfect for:* Solopreneurs, freelancers, small business owners tired of feeling like they should have it "figured out" by now. Anyone building a business while figuring out life.

*Let's Normalise the Entrepreneurial Journey*

Here's my story: 30 years of self-employment, countless pivots, and the hard-won wisdom that the journey IS the point. The destination mentality is actually holding you back.

*Join the conversation:* What did you think you'd have figured out by now? Drop it in the comments and let's normalize this messy, beautiful journey of entrepreneurship together.

*Real-world applications:*
• How to shift from "making it up" to "working it out"
• Using curiosity as a core business skill
• Embracing change as competitive advantage
• Normalizing the ongoing journey of entrepreneurship

*Free Resource:* "How to Write About Yourself When You Have No Idea Where to Start" - Perfect for entrepreneurs who think they have nothing interesting to say or have too many stories and don't know how to organize them. [link]

*Connect with me:* Share your entrepreneurial journey in the comments. Let's support each other on this ongoing adventure of building businesses while figuring out life.

My name's Mike and I help solopreneurs and small teams tell their own stories by sharing mine - the messy, real journey of building a business while figuring out life. Subscribe for more honest insights from 30 years in the entrepreneurial trenches.
After nearly 30 years of being self employed, it's easy to assume everything is "sorted out". But the truth is, you never really get things completely figured out, and this video explores why that's perfectly normal. Embrace the adulthood myths and remember that economic uncertainty is a part of the journey.