6 Learnings in 6 Years of Business

By Roland Youakim

When I think back on the past six years of my entrepreneurial adventure, I can say that I have overcome many obstacles and grown significantly. I want to share six key lessons that have influenced the way I think about success, personal growth, and business.

People first, Customers second

• Heaps of companies rave on about putting their customers first, but I’ve learned if you back your people and put them first, then they look after your customers and they deliver the best experience. Making your team feel safe, secure and supported is what I have found is more important than anything.

Prioritise your physical and mental health

• As a business owner there are no sick days, so taking care of yourself is crucial to avoid burnout. Exercise, like running and regular weight training, has been a game-changer for me. Treating my exercise like a client appointment has ensured I don’t chop, change, and cancel.

Embrace discomfort

• I’ve discovered that the most profound progress occurs when I embrace discomfort and face my fears head-on. Whether it’s landing a PD Presentation gig in front of 500+ Mortgage Brokers or running my first half marathon (soon to be full marathon), setting ambitious challenges has strengthened my mental fortitude and enhanced my overall well-being. These experiences serve as powerful reminders that great achievements require hard work, dedication, and a willingness to step outside our comfort zones. Embrace discomfort as an integral part of your journey towards personal and professional growth.

Win the Morning

• If you have a team, you know how important it is to have some downtime to get through emails, work on strategy and just get other work done without distractions. Getting up at 5am, having a workout and starting my work day at 7:00-7:30am gives me a solid hour to 90 minutes before the team starts. This time is priceless and sets a positive tone and boosts productivity.

Seek coaches/mentors

• I always find it helpful to have something to chase, and more importantly, people I can learn from. We are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with, so surrounding myself with people who have achieved what I strive to achieve is super important to me.

Celebrate the wins

• As a highly driven individual, I used to just move on to the next challenge after accomplishing something. I’ve learned it’s super important to stop and smell the flowers and reward myself for achievements, whatever they may be. Being your own biggest supporter is a game-changer.

These six crucial lessons I’ve learned during my six years in business have had a significant impact on how I approach entrepreneurship, personal development, and general wellbeing. We build a foundation for long-term success and fulfilment by prioritising people, making investments in our physical and mental health, embracing pain, making the most of our mornings, asking advice, and celebrating our accomplishments. Let’s continue to grow, learn from, and motivate one another as we pursue our individual business journeys.