Travis L Wright – What I’d Tell My Younger Entrepreneur Self

If I could sit down with my younger self — that ambitious, impatient, eager-to-prove-something version of me who was just starting out in the world of entrepreneurship — I wouldn’t give him a cheat code or a blueprint. I wouldn’t hand over a business plan or a list of hot industries to jump into. Instead, I’d offer a few lessons that only time, experience, and failure have taught me. Things I didn’t know I needed to hear back then, but that shaped everything that came after.

Here’s what I’d say.

Don’t Confuse Speed with Progress

In the early years, I believed that moving fast meant I was doing well. More meetings, more emails, more hustle — that had to equal momentum, right? Not always.

I’d tell my younger self that speed without direction is just spinning your wheels. Slow down. Focus. Measure what actually matters. The real wins are in clarity, not chaos.

Learn to Listen (Really Listen)

Back then, I wanted to be the smartest voice in the room. I thought leadership meant always having the answer.

What I know now is that true leadership often means asking better questions and listening twice as much as you talk. Your employees, partners, even your clients — they often have insights you’re overlooking. Don’t just hear them. Listen to them.

You Don’t Have to Wear Every Hat

Like most young entrepreneurs, I tried to do everything myself. I handled operations, marketing, client relations, bookkeeping — all while trying to grow a company.

It took me years to understand that delegation isn’t a weakness. It’s a superpower. Trust others. Build a team. Focus on the few things you’re uniquely great at and empower others to handle the rest.

Reputation is Everything

There were times when I prioritized the deal over the relationship, the outcome over the process. I thought that short-term wins were all that mattered.

They weren’t. Reputation sticks with you. How you show up when no one is watching, how you handle a setback, how you treat people when it’s inconvenient — that’s what defines you long-term.

Build slow if you must. But always build with integrity.

Be Okay with Getting It Wrong

I wasted too much time trying to avoid mistakes. I wanted to look polished, successful, in control. But the truth is, most of my growth came from missteps.
Failure isn’t a signal to stop. It’s a signal to adjust. Get used to discomfort. Learn to fail forward. Every misstep teaches you something that success never could.

Protect Your Peace

There were seasons when I let the business run me instead of the other way around. I burned out. I let stress dictate my decisions. And I paid for it in energy, relationships, and clarity.

I’d tell my younger self to set boundaries early. Success isn’t just about scale. It’s about sustainability. Protect your time, your health, and your mindset like they’re assets — because they are.

If I could go back, I wouldn’t change the journey. But I’d show up with more patience, more humility, and a lot more trust in the long game.

That’s what I’d tell him.



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