By Alvie

When I started my journey as an entrepreneur, I had the fire, the ambition, and a vision. But if I could sit down with my younger self—early 20s, full of raw hustle but maybe a little too cautious—there’s a lot I’d share about what it really takes to build something lasting. In the years that followed, from launching Nightlife 360 to setting up ArtXRow, I learned hard truths, made bold moves, and faced setbacks that would’ve broken a lesser man. But through it all, I picked up lessons I wish I knew at the start.

I’m putting them down here for anyone who’s grinding, building, and figuring it all out. This is what I’d tell my younger self—and anyone hungry to make it.

1. Your Time is Your Greatest Asset—Protect It Like Gold

In the early days, I did everything. I thought that the more I controlled, the better things would turn out. I was handling operations, marketing, events, and even the little day-to-day details. Looking back, that was a massive mistake.

If you try to do everything yourself, you’re going to burn out and hold your own business back. The real play is learning how to delegate. Know where your strengths lie—whether it’s creative vision, strategy, or leadership—and let go of the things that other people can handle better or faster. I wish I had learned this earlier, especially when building Nightlife 360. It was only when I started trusting my team with responsibilities that we saw real scale.

My advice? As soon as you can, invest in a solid team and empower them to take over what doesn’t need your direct input. You can’t build an empire alone.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Think Bigger—and Take That Risk

Here’s something I wish I had known earlier: playing it safe might keep you afloat, but it won’t make you fly. There’s always this temptation, especially when you’re just starting, to play small. You’re worried about failing, about losing money, or about making the wrong move.

Let me tell you something: the moments that scared me the most are the ones that shaped me the most. When I decided to launch The Copper Door, there was no guarantee it would be a hit. The risks were real, and failure was a possibility. But I pushed through the fear, and it paid off.

To my younger self, I’d say this: Take those calculated risks early. You’re going to learn more from jumping and adjusting mid-air than you ever will from staying on the ground. Be bold. The worst thing that happens? You fail—and then you try again, but smarter.

3. You Can’t Please Everyone—And You Shouldn’t Try To

This is a big one. Early on, I made the mistake of trying to make everyone happy. I wanted every client, every partner, every customer to be satisfied. But here’s the truth: trying to please everyone dilutes your vision. It weakens your brand and makes it harder to stay true to who you are and what you stand for.

I had to learn the hard way that not everyone will be on board with your direction. And that’s okay. When you try to cater to everyone, you end up sacrificing what makes your business special. The real success comes when you double down on your vision and let the people who connect with it stick around. If others walk away, they weren’t meant for your journey.

In the nightlife industry, especially with Nightlife 360, I had to learn to trust my gut and not get sidetracked by every critic or piece of feedback. Staying true to your brand attracts the right crowd—and those are the people who’ll take your business to the next level.

4. Failure is Fuel—Use It

Nobody likes to fail. It sucks. But failure isn’t the end of the road—it’s part of the process. When things don’t go the way you expected, instead of wallowing in frustration, take a step back and ask yourself: What’s the lesson here?

When The Copper Door wasn’t hitting the numbers we expected early on, I didn’t let that define the entire venture. Instead, I used it as fuel to analyze, adjust, and improve. Every failure is a feedback loop—it tells you what needs fixing, what you missed, and where you need to pivot.

The truth is, if you’re not failing, you’re playing it too safe. Take those setbacks and let them sharpen your approach. The entrepreneurs who succeed are the ones who keep moving forward, even when they get knocked down.

5. Surround Yourself with the Right People

I can’t stress this enough: who you surround yourself with matters. Whether it’s mentors, your team, or even the people you hang out with outside of work, the company you keep will shape your journey. In the early days, I tried to do it all alone. But as I got deeper into the game, I realized the value of building a strong network.

My mentors have been game-changers. They’ve helped me see opportunities I would’ve missed, avoid mistakes that would’ve cost me, and stay grounded when the pressure was high. If you don’t have a mentor yet, find one. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people who inspire you and ask for their guidance. Most successful entrepreneurs are willing to share their wisdom if they see you’re serious about growth.

And don’t just look for mentors—build your dream team. Whether it’s your employees, partners, or collaborators, you need people around you who believe in your vision and are willing to hustle with you. No one builds an empire alone.

6. Trust the Process—Greatness Takes Time

In the era of instant gratification, it’s easy to get frustrated when you’re not seeing immediate results. But here’s the thing: building something great takes time. Success is a long game. The grind doesn’t stop after you’ve opened the doors or launched the product.

When we were developing ArtXRow, there were countless moments where progress felt slow, where setbacks threatened to derail the vision. But I reminded myself: keep moving forward. Every step, every brick laid, was a move closer to the end goal. You have to stay patient, trust your vision, and keep refining.

If I could tell my younger self one thing, it’d be this: don’t rush the journey. The process is what shapes you into the kind of entrepreneur who can handle success when it comes. Enjoy the ride, learn along the way, and know that every struggle is preparing you for the next level.

Final Thoughts

If you’re just starting out—or even if you’ve been grinding for a minute—remember these lessons. Time is your greatest asset, think big, embrace failure, build your tribe, and trust the process. I’ve learned all of this through hard-earned experience, and I can tell you: the path isn’t easy, but it’s worth every late night, every setback, and every risk you take.

Here’s to the journey ahead. Stay focused, stay hungry, and never stop hustling.

– Alvie