The Dark Side of Entrepreneurship (And Why It’s Worth It)

Business ownership has been glorified on social media. We see the highlight reels, the laptop lifestyle, the freedom to travel, the passive income promises. And while those things can be real, they don’t come without cost.

What worries me is how many people step into business because they see what others are doing online and assume it will be simple. They think, “I’ll post content, people will pay me, and that’s that.” But if it were really that easy, we’d all be millionaires.

The truth is, entrepreneurship will stretch you more than almost anything else. It requires grit, resilience, and a willingness to face not just external challenges, but your own patterns, fears, and blind spots.

And here’s a reality check: the more impact you try to make, the more you help others, the more criticism you will face. People project their fears onto you. They doubt, they question, they sometimes try to tear you down. It hurts. But it’s part of the journey.

I’ve been an entrepreneur for 26 years across multiple industries. I’ve coached and mentored hundreds of business owners worldwide. And I can tell you, only a small minority truly understand what it takes to walk this path.

Now we’re living in a time where kids are building overnight businesses powered by AI. And while I find that incredible and encourage the next generation to embrace the leverage technology gives us, I also worry. Because results without growth don’t last.

AI can help us create outcomes from our sofas, but if we skip the climb, the failures, the growth, the resilience we build along the way, what will we be left with? Success without fulfilment? A hollow victory that doesn’t shape us into who we’re meant to become?

That’s why I believe it’s vital to ask yourself what you truly want in life before stepping into business. Because the grass isn’t greener elsewhere. It only becomes greener when you take care of it.

So if you’re ready for the real journey, the messy middle, the stretch and the growth, then business can be the most empowering, liberating, and fulfilling thing you’ll ever do. But only if you’re prepared to embrace the climb.

✨ If you’re serious about creating success that feels aligned and fulfilling, I’d love to hear from you. Simply email [email protected] with the words “Let’s go” in the subject line, and I’ll share what I can to support you.