“My mentor reminds me to take a step back and look at the whole picture instead of just the parts that I want to see. Once I told my mentor I did not have enough time to meet with my team managers and keep track of operations. He was quick to realize that over time, this behaviour could lead to a loss of focus on operational efficiency. He convinced me to plan weekly meetings with all my managers to facilitate communication and improve efficiency.”

“Know your market. A business plan isn’t just for the banks! A lot of time should be taken researching your business. Support is offered by many levels of government and private organizations to help you. Also, consider co-working. If you’re on your own and can join a community like HUB and CSI, the benefits are considerable. Get involved and meet fellow entrepreneurs and organizations big and small to share business ideas and find opportunities to help each other grow.”

“Entrepreneurship should be considered as a real career path. Whether you are successful or not, the knowledge and connections you gain will stay with you forever. Without a doubt, the experience helps you to grow.”

“Looking back on my first start-up venture, I wish I had the chance to integrate with other entrepreneurs and build an entrepreneurial community earlier. I can’t say enough about surrounding yourself with support. Having people around you who are going through the same thing is critical to survive the rollercoaster of start-up life.”

“Success is not easy. Success takes time. Come prepared for the long haul. You can not do it alone, so make sure to have a good network of people around you and your business.”

“It is the hardest and easiest job you’ll have, so make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. ”

“Be ready, it is a lot of work. You must have a complementary team and a lot of respect must exist between partners to overcome challenges and occasional disputes. You will all be tested, so make sure you find the right partners! It takes a lot longer than you think to accomplish your objectives and meet your goals.”

“Prepare - you'll need the financial resources to see yourself through the launch of your business. You can save, find financing or start your business part-time in order to build up revenue so that you can start drawing an income. Talk to lots of potential customers before taking the leap. It's critical to understand the value your customer is really paying you get started. ”

“Take the risk, measure the potential. Surround yourself with mentors, talk about your ideas with the right people (protect your ideas as well), read books to better yourselves or (even better) talk with seasoned entrepreneurs to overcome your obstacles... behind every obstacle, there is a chance to innovate and impress your clients!”