When we first embarked on our entrepreneurial journey, we had no clue how to run a business. We didn’t grow up around business owners, nor did we have friends who had taken that path. All we had was a dream and an unshakable desire to make it happen. Back then, I believed that passion and hard work alone could guarantee success—despite knowing the harsh reality that most startups fail. But we were determined, and nothing was going to stop us.

We tried our hand at several small businesses—wedding cards, cleaning, candle-making—but it was food manufacturing that took off. Looking back, it makes sense. We understood food. We knew how to make products, and selling them seemed doable. We narrowed our focus to Sri lankan savory chips and decided to approach Indian retail stores. What we didn’t know was… 

everything else. Sales, marketing, strategy, regulatory compliance—we were walking into the unknown.

The first few years were brutal. We learned fast, failed often, and made more mistakes than I can count. But through it all, we built resilience, gained industry knowledge, and slowly realized that, sometimes, we knew more than the people around us.

Despite the challenges, we scaled our business from a startup to $7 million in revenue within three years. We grew to  30-40 staff, seven product lines, and a high-level accreditation. By the time we achieved "success," we were too burned out to enjoy
it.

And that’s when I learned the biggest lesson:  You don’t have to figure everything out the hard way. Had we sought the right guidance at the right time, our business would have been even more successful—and we would have actually enjoyed the journey. Coaching wasn’t as common back then. No one we knew had a business coach. But today, there are so many avenues for mentorship and support that we didn’t have access to.

If I had a coach, I would have asked:

Am I moving in the right direction? 

Am I spreading myself too thin?

Is my business structure too complicated?

How can I market my products to stand out?

A simple nudge in the right direction could have changed everything. I had plenty of ideas but lacked someone to sound them out with. I also had untrustworthy people in the business and needed help setting boundaries. The biggest realization? 

I didn’t need to know it all. I just needed to act faster—hire a great marketer instead of relying on my own sales skills, build a solid team instead of trying to do everything myself.

I wish I had a coach, a mentor, or even a business group where I could share my struggles and wins. Most of my friends didn’t understand the path I was on. They thought I was crazy and couldn’t relate to the challenges—Growth, new product launches, getting customers, distribution, partnerships, managing staff amongst other things. And let’s be real, Dr. Google isn’t the best business advisor.

If you're starting out or already on this wild entrepreneurial journey, 

don’t be afraid to ask for help. Surround yourself with the right people—whether it's a paid team, a mentor, or a supportive business group. And most importantly, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to be great at everything.

All you really need is  a clear vision and a solid plan —the right people will help make it happen.