AJ Tibando’s Post

In today's fast-paced world, the craving for instant gratification is reshaping entrepreneurship and not in a good way. Many people get an idea, open an Instagram page, and pursue it for a few months. When they don't see immediate results, they give up. This "quick-fix" mindset is leading to a significant drop in the number of new entrepreneurs. In fact, year on year, the number of entrepreneurs is reducing by nearly 8-10% globally. Unlike today, entrepreneurs from previous generations, like Tesla spent years perfecting their ideas, facing setbacks but never giving up. Building a business requires patience, persistence and a long-term vision. Real success isn't instant, it’s built brick by brick over time. Stay committed and remember, great things take time!

Attending a Collective 54 event reminded me how critical finding like-minded communities can be for entrepreneurs. Collective54 is a network of entrepreneurs focused on building, scaling, and exiting professional services firms. But it isn’t just the success of Collective54 that inspires me. It’s an interesting and enlightening conversation. My favorite panels were the ones with the seller and the buyer on stage together. In our line of work, you tend to hear more from the seller’s side, so to hear more about the mindset of the buyer was particularly interesting. I also liked hearing from subject matter experts in fireside chats about interesting topics like the implications of the election from a business perspective, and the maturity curve of AI becoming a part of a professional services organization. I learned so much, and I got so much out of just being in a room with 250 like-minded founders. We are all hustling, learning, unlearning, growing, and scaling as fast as we can, and being together felt like it normalized the intense energy that each of us brings to our businesses every day. As an entrepreneur, it's important to be constantly focused and thinking ahead. Sometimes, all this forward-looking energy can cause people to burn out… but when you find a community with others who share your entrepreneurial drive, it makes pushing yourself feel fun and healthy. Build a network of people on the precise journey that you're on. You’ll learn from their experiences, and you’ll be inspired to keep on forging your own.

In my recent post, I promised to share a few steps for aspiring entrepreneurs on how to begin. While you may choose to agree or disagree, these are strategies that have proven effective for me. 1. Research: Dive into your industry, gaining a thorough understanding before diving in. 2. Vision: Craft a clear vision for your venture, as it will serve as your guiding light through challenges. 3. Seek Guidance: Consult experienced mentors and colleagues to glean insights and advice for your journey. 4.Partnership/collaborations: Recognize the value of collaboration; seek partners or build a skilled team to complement your strengths. 5. Start: Take the leap and initiate your venture. Action is the crucial step toward realizing your entrepreneurial dreams. While these steps may not be a one-size-fits-all solution, they serve as a solid foundation for anyone embarking on the entrepreneurial path. Remember, bringing your idea to life may present unforeseen challenges, but with dedication and these guiding principles, success is within reach.

I RATHER See a SERMON Hey there, fellow entrepreneurs! Today, I want to share with you a thought that's been on my mind lately: the power of purposeful action and humble transparency in our entrepreneurial journeys. As we navigate the ups and downs of building our businesses, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, the competition, and the drive for success. But what if we shifted our focus to something deeper, something more meaningful? I'd like to propose a different approach—one rooted in the idea of teaching and learning from one another through purposeful action and humble transparency. Regardless of our gender, race, or economic station, we all have something valuable to contribute to the entrepreneurial community. And by coming together, supporting each other, and lifting each other up, we can achieve far more than we ever could alone. In our journey as entrepreneurs, let's strive to be like sermons—living examples of integrity, authenticity, and generosity. Let's lead by example, showing others the way through our actions rather than just our words. Let's be open and transparent about our successes and failures, sharing our knowledge and experiences for the greater good of all. As a community, we are stronger together. Instead of being fragmented and divided, let's come together to support one another, to lift each other up, and to celebrate each other's successes. Let's create a culture of collaboration, where we freely share our resources, insights, and expertise to help each other succeed. There's no reason why we can't all share in the American Dream. With so much knowledge and experience among us, let's work together to make it a reality for each and every one of us. So, let's roll up our sleeves, embrace humility and transparency, and commit to lifting each other up as we strive for greatness. Together, we can achieve anything. Here's to building a stronger, more united entrepreneurial community—one purposeful action at a time. Let's go out there and make it happen!

The 𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 lesson on entrepreneurship? 📈 𝙊𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙣 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚. Solo founders, ever feel like you're playing two roles? 🚗💨 Introducing: The Mechanic & The Driver. 🔧 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰: Your inner visionary. The genius who zooms out for that big-picture view, laying down the master plan with precision. You're crafting the engine that powers your journey. 🏁 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿: With the roadmap in hand, this is your focused, relentless side that steers through challenges, dodges obstacles, and keeps pushing forward. Mastering the switch between them? Not easy, but oh-so-crucial for solo-preneurs. As your venture scales, guess what? You get to recruit more drivers, offloading the grunt work, so you can soar higher. Dreaming about what’s ahead is what keeps me up at night - in a good way 😄. Curious - what's the 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 lesson your entrepreneurial journey has taught you?

After a business has ended… It’s been quite a heavy few months of business struggles, closures or other handovers in food and drink with a fair few founders I know affected. I just wanted to post and say that I also know many founders who have been through similar experiences in the past and have used that experience. Some have used it to decide that founding is not for them and that employment is. Some have gone in to consultancy and shared their valuable lessons with other businesses. Some have gone again and started something new. Others have changed direction completely and followed a different passion in life they hadn’t had the chance to explore before. Generally these are the people I like to learn from. Empathies with any founders going through it now. Looking forward to learning from you in future. #startuplife #entrepreneurship #founderlife #founders ______________________ I found this fallen leaf with star-shaped pattern (possibly created by a leaf-miner?) yesterday and it struck me as rather symbolic.

The only way to finish is to start—and for aspiring entrepreneurs, this is the mantra that turns dreams into reality. Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey can feel a bit like standing on the edge of a bungee jump—exciting, terrifying, and slightly nauseating. But here’s the catch: the only way to experience the thrill is to take the leap. So, to all you would-be entrepreneurs clutching your brilliant ideas like precious gems, it’s time to loosen that grip and let them shine! Remember, even the most successful entrepreneurs started where you are—nervous, unsure, and probably Googling “how to start a business” at 3 a.m. The key is to embrace your fear and use it as a springboard for action. Picture your future self, sipping espresso on a balcony while your empire runs like a well-oiled machine. Now, wouldn’t future you want you to start today? Begin with small steps—network, research, and maybe even draw up that first shaky business plan. And when fear whispers its pesky doubts, reply with a hearty laugh and a reminder that even Google had its awkward garage phase. So go ahead, take that leap, and let your entrepreneurial journey be the most thrilling ride of your life. Who knows? You might just end up loving the free fall! #StartYourJourney #EntrepreneurLife #FearlessFounders #FutureSuccess #TakeTheLeap

The Future of Work is Entrepreneurial. Are You Ready? 🤔 The traditional 9-to-5 is changing. More and more people are choosing to create their own opportunities and become their bosses. Whether you're a student with a side hustle or a professional looking for a career change, entrepreneurship is a path to freedom, fulfillment, and financial independence. But it's not easy. Building a successful business takes hard work, dedication, and the right skills. That's where Build One comes in. We're a community of entrepreneurs, educators, and investors committed to empowering the next generation of innovators. Follow us to learn: The latest trends in entrepreneurship and innovation. How to develop a winning business idea and build a strong team. Strategies for securing funding and scaling your startup. No matter where you are on your entrepreneurial journey, we're here to help you succeed. #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #StartupLife

Ever wondered what fuels the rocket of success for entrepreneurs? Entrepreneurial communities. That's right. Communities that foster transparency, redefine success, and offer the connections that turn potential into power. https://lnkd.in/gJR89wpG I couldn't agree more. In a world where it's not just what you know, but *who* you know, these communities are gold mines. They're not just networks. They're incubators for growth, resilience, and innovation. Every entrepreneur knows the journey can be a lonely one. But with the right community, it doesn't have to be. Here's to the power of collective wisdom, shared experiences, and the undeniable strength found in numbers. Because together, we're unstoppable. Check this out: https://lnkd.in/gJR89wpG

Gaining experience with entrepreneurship- I am in no way experienced enough to call myself an entrepreneur. But I want to. I want to start something great, lift it off the ground and get better at managing business systems. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, seeing an idea through and becoming profitable from it. So how does someone like me get experience? That’s a question I’ll always be thinking of, until I get some. Though I don’t have time now finishing my undergrad, I’ll keep making those ideas and holding them in my back pocket until I have a chance to implement them. I’ll keep storing tips and tricks from the big dogs that help them run their businesses, ideas that got their ideas in the air. It’s not an easy thing, but neither are any of the most rewarding things in the world.