If I Were Starting a Business Today, Here’s What I’d Do Differently

More than 20 years ago, my business partner and I landed a government-funded research project that took us across the province interviewing stakeholders from every corner of British Columbia. It was a big win for us —and a big undertaking.

Our work culminated in a final presentation at UBC. Ten minutes in, though, we knew something was off. The room felt... wrong.

A few minutes later, it was undeniable: the entire project had a fatal flaw. Our government sponsors had failed to define the scope properly—and in doing so, they left out an entire stakeholder group. No matter how thorough our research was, it was incomplete by design.

We never finished the presentation. And the research? It never saw the light of day.

It wasn’t my first presentation, nor was it my first rough day. But it was one of the first times I asked myself: If I had the chance to do it all over again—start fresh, knowing what I know now—what would I change?

It’s a question I still ask myself.

I ask it to myself after an initial meeting with a new prospect.

I ask it to the team after a project wraps up.

I ask it to myself between Board meetings.

I ask it even when things have gone well.

In many ways, this is the most personal post I've written. If you're in your first year of business—or about to take a leap into entrepreneurship—I hope there’s something in here for you. I’m not writing from a place of perfection, but I am writing from experience.

Under the heading of 'Lessons Learned' - here’s what I’d do differently if I were starting a business today

I’d Start with the “Why”

When I first got into sales, I focused on all the things I thought would matter most. First, it was product knowledge. I wanted to be that guy—the one who knew every detail inside and out. Then I dropped money on a few new suits so I could look the part. Sharp. Presentable. Professional. (I can hear ZZTop as I write this ... ) Next came presentation skills. I worked on being more relatable, and become a better listener. I wanted to be the kind of person people liked doing business with.

While all of these things helped, I was still only marginally successful. Truth is, I was running flat-out, hustling from one strategy to the next, with no real sense of where I was headed—or why.

If I were starting again, I’d begin with one simple question: Why am I doing this?

The reason that this question is important is that the answer includes the word "because" ... and the words that follow reveal purpose. As Simon Sinek writes - purpose drives motivation. When you know why you're doing something—your core belief or cause—it fuels your motivation. It gives meaning to the grind, clarity to the chaos, and resilience when things inevitably suck.

Without a why, you're clocking hours. With a why, you're on a mission.

I’d Build Systems Before I Needed Them

Later in my career, I had my own small business. Everything was in my head. Client notes. Project timelines. Invoice reminders. Renewal dates. Payroll. Accounts Payable. Accounts Receivable.

For a while, it worked. Everything worked. Until, of course, it didn’t.

You don’t notice the stress of carrying your entire business in your brain until it starts leaking out and showing up in the form of missed emails, emails that you drafted but didn't send, phone calls that you forgot to return, missed meetings, and sleepless nights.

If I could start again, I’d build systems as if someone else might need to take over tomorrow. I'd build systems as if my future self might want a weekend off. There's a concept!

There's nothing fancy here.

• I'd create a shared document with key contacts.

• I'd create a CRM (even if it’s a spreadsheet at first).

• I'd document a clear client onboarding flow.

• I'd have templates for proposals

• I'd have a documented plan for following up.

Why? Because hustle is a terrible long-term strategy. Structure buys you freedom.

I’d Protect the Home Team From Day One

One of the biggest things I’ve learned? Entrepreneurs need more than a business plan—they need a relationship plan.

Through my practice, I've encountered dozens of founders who pour everything into the business and come home emotionally bankrupt.

They think they’re building for their family, but somewhere along the way, they stop building with them.

If I were starting again, I’d treat the Home Team—my partner, my family, my closest supporters—as stakeholders. I’d share the vision, the risks, the milestones. I’d ask for their input, not just their patience.

Entrepreneurship has a gravitational pull. If you don’t anchor yourself to something real—something human—it will pull you away from the very people you’re trying to build a better life for. These are often the same people you ask for support . Support doesn’t mean silence. It means shared purpose and shared input. So, share your map. Let them be part of the journey.

I’d Focus on Being Better, Not Bigger

There’s a moment in most businesses where you get seduced by scale. You imagine a bigger office. A well-functioning team. Maybe you vision a passive income. But here’s the truth: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, often it’s just more complicated.

If I were starting again, I’d aim for better. Better processes. Better client relationships. Better alignment. Better sleep. I’d stop trying to look successful and focus on being valuable. The kind of business people come back to, talk about, and trust.

Growth is only worth it if it doesn’t cost you the very things you started this for in the first place.

I’d Say 'No' Sooner—and Ask for Help Faster

If I could take one tool back to my younger self, it wouldn’t be software or strategy—it’d be a well-practiced “no.”

Too often, I said 'yes' to the wrong clients, the wrong projects, the wrong partnerships — because I thought more meant progress. It didn’t. It just meant more noise.

Sometimes I said 'yes' to projects because I felt I needed the cash flow only to find that better opportunities were around the corner. When you say 'yes' to the wrong projects, there is no passion to drive you to the finish line. Once again, you're clocking hours.

Today, I know: clarity beats hustle every time. And “no” is the fastest path to getting there.

Right alongside that is this - If I were starting again, I’d ask for help sooner.

For years, I wore struggle like a badge of honour. I prided myself on the ability to wrestle a problem to the ground. I felt that if I was really in business for myself that I’d be able to figure things out on my own.

What garbage!

Leadership is lonely enough. Don’t make it harder by isolating yourself.

• Hire the bookkeeper.

• Call the coach.

• Find the peer group.

• Talk to someone who’s been where you’re headed.

• Your courage isn't in doing it alone—it's in doing it with intention. Keep asking questions!

The Bottom Line - Watch your ego!

If I were starting a business today, I’d spend less time trying to prove I was ready—and more time making sure the business was actually worth being ready for.

I’d build slower, but smarter. I’d let values drive decisions—not urgency, not optics, and definitely not ego. And I’d remember that success isn’t something you chase. It’s something you create.

So to anyone just getting started:

• You don’t need all the answers.

• You need clarity.

• You need community.

• You need the courage to course correct when things stop making sense.

You’ve got this!

Just don’t forget to protect your Home Team—and ask for help before it’s a last resort.

At the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to build a business—it’s to build one that works for you, not the other way around.

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Norm Adams is a Certified Professional Business Coach with three decades of experience working with business owners, Indigenous governments, and startup founders. He’s made the mistakes (more than he'd admit to), learned the lessons, and now helps others build businesses that don’t just survive—but sustain. Reach out at norm@pivotleader.com