Entrepreneurship is about building something new. Something that solves problems, creates value, and makes a difference.
You don’t step into entrepreneurship for the fame, the title, or even the money – though those can come along for the ride. No, an entrepreneur is a creator, a doer, a visionary. They look at the world, see what's missing, what’s not working, and say, “I can change this.”
They don’t sit around waiting for permission or the perfect moment. They start where they are, with what they have, and they learn as they grow.
Entrepreneurship is not destiny. It’s a series of decisions, small ones at first, then bigger ones, that gradually turn into a company. And it’s a process anyone can learn.
So, if you’ve ever felt that pull, if there’s an idea in your heart or a problem you’re itching to solve, this might just be your calling. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
1. Set out to help people
Entrepreneurship begins with one thing: a problem. A real, tangible problem that slows people down, irritates them, or creates friction in their lives.
Successful businesses don’t create problems to solve, they see what’s already there and step in to make it better.
How do you find a problem worth solving? You pay attention.
Frustrations you face daily are often good starting points. But you should also watch others and ask questions:
- What takes them too long?
- What do they complain about?
- What costs them their hard-earned cash?
- What do they hack together because no solution exists?
When you’re thinking about your problem, always remember to ask the question: Does this problem matter enough for people to pay for a solution? If it does, you could have a startup idea on your hands.
Take Stone & Chalk startup DLP Manager.
Like many innovations, DLP Manager was born out of frustration. Founder Chris Polin spent years working in the construction industry, and repeatedly encountered the same set of problems during the handover phase of projects.
He knew there had to be a better way to handle post-construction management, but from what he could tell, it didn’t exist. So he set out to solve the underlying problem – and startup DLP Manager was the result.
2. Start small and build bigger
There’s no such thing as the perfect time to start.
Too many people wait for the stars to align: the perfect business plan, the perfect funding, the perfect moment. Don’t be one of them.
The best entrepreneurs start small. They build a minimum viable product, a little first version of their idea, to see if it works. It doesn’t have to be pretty or polished; it just has to work well enough to get feedback.
Starting small means taking risks that won’t ruin you if they fail. It’s easier to adjust and learn when you’re testing an idea with ten customers rather than thousands. You’ll find many famous companies began as startups this way:
- Amazon started as an online bookstore.
- Facebook was just a social network for college students.
- Google was a simple search engine.
Here in Australia, take Build Club. This startup began life as a just bunch of friends working on AI projects over the weekend, before evolving into what is now the Asia-Pacific’s largest AI community.
None of these companies tried to do everything they do now at first. They started with one thing, did it well, and grew from there.
3. Learn as you go
Entrepreneurship is a process of learning. You will get things wrong. What separates founders who make progress from those who stall is how quickly they notice what’s not working and adjust.
This process, sometimes called iteration, is central to entrepreneurship.
When something falls flat, and it will, don’t panic or give up. Slow down and get curious; look hard at what actually happened. There’s almost always a useful signal hiding in the mess.
Here’s how to stay in learning mode:
- Have regular customer conversations. Ask what they’re trying to achieve, where they get stuck, and what they currently do instead of using your product.
- Test assumptions. Write down what you believe is true (e.g. “People will pay for this” or “This feature is the main value”). Then design a small test to prove or disprove it: a landing page, prototype, manual workaround, or pilot.
- Stay flexible. Be willing to pivot – to shift your solution, your market, or even your entire idea if necessary. If the same issue keeps showing up, don’t argue with it. Change direction early while it’s cheap and manageable.
Take Stone & Chalk startup Littlepay.
The original idea behind the company was to broadly process micropayments. But as they grew they narrowed their focus to transit and mobility.
Their willingness to adapt to what the market told them has helped them grow into the company they are today.
You don't need to get it right the first time, that's not the goal. The goal is to get to the right answer as quickly as possible.
4. Walk boldly into your fear
Too many people think of entrepreneurship as reckless gambling or fearless leaps into the unknown. It’s not. It’s managing risk intelligently and staying resilient when the going gets tough.
Smart founders don’t blow up their lives on day one. They take measured steps. They test ideas before committing fully. They keep their job a little longer than they’d like. They protect their savings. They give themselves room to learn without everything being on the line.
Fear doesn’t disappear as you go, it just changes shape. One day it’s “What if this doesn’t work?” Later it becomes “What if this does work and I can’t keep up?” The work is learning how to move forward with fear in the passenger seat, not waiting for it to leave the car.
And then, when things get hard, resilience becomes your superpower. There will be days when rejection stings, when progress feels slow, when you’re tempted to throw in the towel. Those moments are part of the journey.
To make it work, you need to keep moving forward, even when it’s hard. So how do you do that?
- Focus on progress. Celebrate small wins. They remind you how far you’ve come, even if the big picture feels overwhelming.
- Find your people. Surround yourself with mentors, fellow entrepreneurs, or a supportive community that lifts you up and helps you navigate the challenges.
- Take care of yourself. You need to rest. Move your body. Take breaks. Burnout doesn’t serve you or your vision.
The path won’t be easy. Success is slow. The “overnight wins” are almost always the result of years of quiet work, wrong turns, and persistence when no one was watching.
But if you believe in what you’re building, trust the process. Manage the risk, act anyway, and keep going. Because on the other side of fear and resilience is something extraordinary: the chance to create something that matters.
5. Build a team to 10x your effort
The myth of the lone genius founder, building an empire on their own, is just that, a myth.
Yes, you might start alone, but to bring your vision to life and scale it into something meaningful, you’ll eventually need a team. People who believe in your vision and bring it to life with you.
A strong, aligned team will do more than support your efforts; they’ll amplify them. Here’s what to look for in your first hires:
- Complementary skills. Bring in people who are strong where you’re not. If you’re a technical founder, find someone with business savvy or marketing expertise.
- Shared values. Skill isn’t enough. You need people who believe in your vision and work ethic. Do they believe in your vision? Do they share your work ethic?
- A willingness to learn. Startups move fast. You need people who can, and want to, grow with the business.
And remember: you’re not setting out to find superstars. You’re building a team that works well together, trusts each other, and multiplies your effort.
Final thoughts
Entrepreneurship is seeing the world not as it is, but as it could be, and rolling up your sleeves to make it happen.
So, start with a problem that matters. Start small. Stay flexible. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. When the road gets tough, and it will, remember why you started.
And the rest? The rest is just doing the work.
