As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my year: writing and publishing my book. What started as a question in 2020 turned into a four-year journey of introspection, learning, and growth.
This book isn’t just a collection of ideas; it’s my attempt to offer entrepreneurs a companion on their journey. I wanted it to feel like a genuine conversation with a mentor, providing not just tools but empathy for the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
The Journey: Why I Decided to Write a Book
It all began in 2020 with a single question: I have been working with founders for nearly a decade now—what have I learned?
That question opened the door to deep reflection. It was a simple yet profound realization that asking the right question can be the beginning of a transformative journey. Exactly like entrepreneurship.
One good question has been the spark behind many great startups. Similarly, that one question drove me to look back at my years of experience working with founders and ask myself: How can I distill everything I’ve learned to help the next wave of entrepreneurs?
From that moment, I dedicated myself to creating something that wasn’t just a book—it was a resource, a companion for entrepreneurs. I wanted to capture the entrepreneurial journey holistically, showcasing both the successes and the failures. More importantly, I wanted to highlight the essence of entrepreneurship: progress.
Winning and losing can both become hurdles if they stop progress. Entrepreneurship isn’t about arriving at a destination; it’s about embracing each step as a prelude to the next. My goal was to arm founders with the right perception to appreciate what is most essential—learning, growth, and resilience.
Challenges Along the Way
Writing this book wasn’t easy. It demanded focus, vulnerability, and perseverance. Here are some of the challenges I faced:
Creating a Conversational Tone: I wanted the book to feel approachable, like a mentor sitting down with a founder for an honest conversation. Balancing this tone while ensuring the content remained practical and valuable required constant effort.
Capturing the Holistic Nature of Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is nuanced—it’s not just about success or failure but about what you learn along the way. Conveying this complexity while keeping the message accessible was a delicate challenge.
Overcoming My Own Hurdles: Like the founders I’ve worked with, I faced moments of doubt and uncertainty. I questioned whether my ideas were worth sharing and whether they could genuinely help someone.
The Publishing Journey: A Parallel to Entrepreneurship
Publishing my book was far from an easy experience. When I first approached local publishers, I quickly realized that no one truly understood the book. It wasn’t like anything they had seen before. One local publishing house initially agreed to publish it, only to later backtrack, saying the book wasn’t good enough.
That was a tough moment—a mix of disappointment and self-doubt. But just as entrepreneurs face rejection when pitching their startups to investors, I knew this was part of the journey.
Eventually, I found a publishing house in Holland, BIS Publishers, that believed in the message behind the book. They saw its value and gave me the opportunity to publish it on a global stage. That moment of validation, after all the setbacks, was deeply rewarding.
This experience reminded me of the journey founders go through: the persistence it takes to keep going, the belief in your vision despite the naysayers, and the importance of finding the right partners who truly understand and support your mission.
Insights Gained Through Writing
The process of writing was as enlightening as the content itself. Here’s what I learned:
The Power of a Companion: Entrepreneurs don’t just need advice—they need someone or something to walk alongside them. Writing this book taught me the importance of empathy and connection.
Progress Over Perfection: This book reminded me of the core entrepreneurial principle: progress matters more than perfection. Every draft, every idea, and every edit was a step forward.
Entrepreneurship Is Holistic: Success and failure aren’t endpoints—they’re part of the journey. Writing this book deepened my understanding of how critical it is to frame every experience as an opportunity to grow and mature.
What This Book Means to Me
This book is my way of giving back to the ecosystem that has shaped me. It’s a reflection of everything I’ve learned from the incredible founders I’ve worked with over the past decade.
Above all, this book is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t a mystical art—it’s both a science and an art. It’s the art of asking better questions and the science of finding the right answers with high confidence. My hope is that this book will arm founders with the mindset to appreciate the essentials: progress, growth, and the resilience to keep moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Writing a book in 2024 was one of the most fulfilling challenges I’ve ever taken on. It pushed me to grow, deepened my understanding of entrepreneurship, and allowed me to connect with founders in a new way.
To every entrepreneur out there: remember, the journey is as important as the destination. Success and failure are just moments in a larger story. What matters most is your progress and the lessons you carry forward.
Stay Inspired, Keep Making Progress
Goodwill and Respect
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