Every entrepreneur, and every business, has a story to tell about how they got where they are, the peaks and the troughs and how they navigated both. These stories tend to tell the big picture, the headlines. What they often miss out is the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, and drives potential success stories to become real achievement. It’s worth pausing for a moment to understand what is gained from those behind-the-scenes contributions.

A mentor is always worth having

If you’re going into business for the first time, it is always worth seeking out the advice of someone who has done it, been there, and worn the scars and the crown. If it’s your first business, you’re going to have a lot of other firsts: first sale; first complaint; first conference. It’s hard to know how to react to these, and having the ear of someone who has seen the best and the worst is an invaluable boost. Your best bet is to seek out someone who has been over the course relatively recently - someone retired may have made the right decisions at the right times, but there’s a difference between the 2020s and the last century.

Digital heroes are often unsung

If you want to get anywhere in modern business, you are going to need technical support and a solid IT infrastructure is utterly non-negotiable. This is where you will come to rely on managed IT, which offers entrepreneurs the peace of mind to know that their tech infrastructure is under the management of people who know what they are doing. The right people handling your IT needs means a minimum of downtime, rapidly-updated software and websites that look good and load in a timely fashion. It is not a corner you can cut.

Lifelong learning means what it says

Starting your own business is not the end of your path of learning, even if you’re leaving the classroom behind for the boardroom. In many ways, it is only the beginning of the path. You’re going to learn more in your first six months in business than anyone learns in their entire stint at a business school. And you’ll keep learning. Technological innovations, legal necessities, working methods and a whole lot more will develop during your time in business. You’ll need to learn alongside that. You’ll also quite simply learn a lot about decision-making and work-life balance just by being involved. And yes, you’ll have a certain amount of classroom-based learning, if you’re doing things right.

Last but not least

When someone successful makes a speech - on their retirement, when they win an award, or at any other key point, they tend to make a point of thanking their friends, family, partner and other people they are close to. It sounds nice and most people treat it as a platitude, but supportive friends and family are an essential if you’re to succeed in business and stay grounded. They’ll be the ones who reinforce your belief when you find it wanting. They’ll be the ones who help you shake off a disappointing work day by showing you there’s more to life. They give you valuable perspective, something you can’t do for yourself.

Each of the above bricks in the wall of your business edifice are invaluable to your eventual success. And as much as it may seem to be a cliche, most people don’t see what really goes into a successful business.

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