Most people quit their jobs to build a startup, thinking they'll get rich quick. Then, just weeks later, they wish they never did - and regret everything.
I have coached over 50 startups and built 2 myself - let me show you what you need to know before you quit your job to build your own startup. You will learn what you need to consider and how to prepare perfectly to make YOUR startup a success.
But first, let me show you why 90% of startups actually fail.
Let's dive right in!
I have coached over 50 startups and built 2 myself - let me show you what you need to know before you quit your job to build your own startup. You will learn what you need to consider and how to prepare perfectly to make YOUR startup a success.
But first, let me show you why 90% of startups actually fail.
Let's dive right in!
Why 90% of startups fail
Here's the brutal reality: 90% of startups fail. And if you don't prepare properly, yours will too.
Most startups fail because of one of these 3 reasons:
Most startups fail because of one of these 3 reasons:
1. The valley of death
They fail because of the valley of death - that's when you've launched your startup, but you don't have any customers yet. So every single day, you're burning through your cash without a dollar coming in.
❌ And if you don't become profitable quickly, your startup journey will be over.
❌ And if you don't become profitable quickly, your startup journey will be over.

A lot of founders quit their jobs because they think they'll get investors anyway and don't have to worry about money, but they soon realize that funding is not that easy. But then it's already too late.
They run out of money before their startup even gets off the ground.
They run out of money before their startup even gets off the ground.
2. Poor business plan
The second reason why so many startups fail is a very common one - the sad thing is that it could easily be avoided. But hey, I made the same mistake when I started, so I can't blame anyone.
It's having a bad business plan.
A lot of founders start with passion but no plan. They build products that no one really wants, they underestimate what it will cost to run their startup, or they have no idea how they will make money.
The thing is, having a cool idea isn't enough. In the first startup I joined, we had a cool idea. But we didn't know how to make money, what it would cost to run the startup, or what our profit margins would be.
Long story short, our startup failed - and you need a business plan.
It's having a bad business plan.
A lot of founders start with passion but no plan. They build products that no one really wants, they underestimate what it will cost to run their startup, or they have no idea how they will make money.
The thing is, having a cool idea isn't enough. In the first startup I joined, we had a cool idea. But we didn't know how to make money, what it would cost to run the startup, or what our profit margins would be.
Long story short, our startup failed - and you need a business plan.
3. They can’t find customers
Many founders focus on building, not selling. So they sit in their office with their team for months or years, and build the best possible version of their product.
Big mistake!
👉 Remember this: You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it, it's worthless.
No customers → no revenue.
No revenue → no startup.
So don't try to make everything perfect. Instead, build something valuable, and go out there and get your first customers.
Now that you know why most startups fail, let's talk about how you can avoid those mistakes and what you really need to know before you quit your job and build your own startup.
POWERFUL STARTUP RESOURCESBig mistake!
👉 Remember this: You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it, it's worthless.
No customers → no revenue.
No revenue → no startup.
So don't try to make everything perfect. Instead, build something valuable, and go out there and get your first customers.
Now that you know why most startups fail, let's talk about how you can avoid those mistakes and what you really need to know before you quit your job and build your own startup.
What you need to know before you build your startup
Here’s what you need to know before building your startup. Knowing these things will put you ahead of 90% of founders.
1. You will NOT get rich fast
We start with the biggest misconception - and the fastest way to set yourself up for disappointment. If your goal for building a startup is to get rich quick, I have to disappoint you.
Building a successful startup takes time.
There are no cool parties and big celebrations. Most of the time there are long nights and early mornings where you and your team work to reach the next milestone.
When I first started out, I used to see these 20-year-old startup gurus living the "perfect life" on Instagram. After 10 years in the startup world, I can tell you, that’s not the reality.
Even the most successful founders struggled for years before making any real money. So if your goal is to get rich in a few months, you're in for a rude awakening. Remember that.
Building a successful startup takes time.
There are no cool parties and big celebrations. Most of the time there are long nights and early mornings where you and your team work to reach the next milestone.
When I first started out, I used to see these 20-year-old startup gurus living the "perfect life" on Instagram. After 10 years in the startup world, I can tell you, that’s not the reality.
Even the most successful founders struggled for years before making any real money. So if your goal is to get rich in a few months, you're in for a rude awakening. Remember that.
2. If you don't have the drive – you won’t make it
Building your own startup is hard. It's not like you build your product, release it, and customers come flooding in. No.
There will be days when nothing goes right. Where you lose the investor pitch to your competition, where you struggle to get customers, or where you don't know what the next big step is.
If you don't have a strong why - if you don't have the drive - you're not going to make it. So I want you to take a second - think about it:
There will be days when nothing goes right. Where you lose the investor pitch to your competition, where you struggle to get customers, or where you don't know what the next big step is.
If you don't have a strong why - if you don't have the drive - you're not going to make it. So I want you to take a second - think about it:
✏️ What is your ultimate goal?
What's driving you to build your startup?
I know there's a bigger reason behind your plans, dreams and ideas. It's not about having a profitable startup just for the sake of it.
Maybe you want to gain financial freedom, prove to yourself that you can do it, or build something that supports your family.
Here's what I did: I wrote down my vision - the reason I started this journey - on a big piece of paper and taped it to my wall. That way I can see it every day and it reminds me to keep going.
I challenge you to do the same! Write down your WHY.
Put it somewhere visible.
And every time you doubt yourself, read it.

3. You will have downsides & question yourself
Every founder I’ve worked with - including the ones who made millions - felt like quitting at some point. And that's perfectly normal. Even successful founders doubt themselves.
I remember lying awake at night thinking:
• Can I really do this?
• Is my idea good enough?
• Should I get a normal, safe job?
So I want to be super honest here:
You're going to face rejection, setbacks, and moments where you wonder if you made a huge mistake. That's normal.
But what separates those who succeed from those who quit is the ability to persevere. It's the resilience you have. And if you are passionate about what you do, I guarantee you will make it!
I remember lying awake at night thinking:
• Can I really do this?
• Is my idea good enough?
• Should I get a normal, safe job?
So I want to be super honest here:
You're going to face rejection, setbacks, and moments where you wonder if you made a huge mistake. That's normal.
But what separates those who succeed from those who quit is the ability to persevere. It's the resilience you have. And if you are passionate about what you do, I guarantee you will make it!
✏️ So, are you mentally prepared for the tough days ahead? If not, now's the time to build that resilience.
STARTUP Worksheets, checklists, cheatsheetsOkay, so now you know why so many startups fail and what to expect from startup life - at least in the beginning.
But even if all this sounds super frustrating - let me tell you - the feeling of working on something you truly believe in is 100% worth the struggle.
The feeling that you're making progress every day and moving in the direction you believe is right - that's priceless. So let me help you build your successful startup - let me show you how to prepare optimally!
I will show you how to tackle the 3 most common reasons startups fail. But before that, let me show you something that will help you on your startup journey - my Startup Success Bundle.
The Startup Success Bundle is perfect for you if you are looking for an actionable, proven system - full of worksheets, cheat sheets and templates - to guide you to startup success.
Check it out!
But even if all this sounds super frustrating - let me tell you - the feeling of working on something you truly believe in is 100% worth the struggle.
The feeling that you're making progress every day and moving in the direction you believe is right - that's priceless. So let me help you build your successful startup - let me show you how to prepare optimally!
I will show you how to tackle the 3 most common reasons startups fail. But before that, let me show you something that will help you on your startup journey - my Startup Success Bundle.
The Startup Success Bundle is perfect for you if you are looking for an actionable, proven system - full of worksheets, cheat sheets and templates - to guide you to startup success.
Check it out!
How to prepare optimally for your startup journey
Here’s the best way to optimally prepare for your startup journey, based on what I’ve learned from over 10 years in the startup industry.
1. How to survive the valley of death
Remember, the startup valley of death is when you've just launched your startup but don't have any customers yet. You are basically burning through your cash with no revenue.

So instead of quitting your job without a backup plan, here's what I recommend:
1. Accumulate some resources before you go all in
For example, before I started my startup, I calculated the cost of running my startup and had 12 months of runway in my bank account.
The more runway you have, the better you sleep at night because there is not as much pressure - but at the same time you might not push as hard. So you have to estimate for yourself how much runway you want, but I recommend not less than 6 months.
The more runway you have, the better you sleep at night because there is not as much pressure - but at the same time you might not push as hard. So you have to estimate for yourself how much runway you want, but I recommend not less than 6 months.
2. Keep your day job if possible
The second tip to avoid running out of money early is to just keep your day job if possible. The idea is the same - to have enough resources & cash flow to keep the startup going.
You can work on your startup in the evenings and on weekends until you feel you are close to the revenue stage. But be aware that if you choose this approach, it may take longer to see results and it may take a lot of your time and energy.
You can work on your startup in the evenings and on weekends until you feel you are close to the revenue stage. But be aware that if you choose this approach, it may take longer to see results and it may take a lot of your time and energy.

3. Sell your product before you start
The third tip is a super powerful one.
🎁 Pop quiz - when is the best time to make money with your product?
• Before you start development?
• Before the product is finished?
• After the product is finished?
The best way is before you start development and invest more resources, because you reduce the risk of building something nobody wants. You could pre-sell your product on Kickstarter, for example, or build a waiting list even before you develop it.
But keep in mind to be super transparent that the product is not finished and still in development when people invest money in it.
🎁 Pop quiz - when is the best time to make money with your product?
• Before you start development?
• Before the product is finished?
• After the product is finished?
The best way is before you start development and invest more resources, because you reduce the risk of building something nobody wants. You could pre-sell your product on Kickstarter, for example, or build a waiting list even before you develop it.
But keep in mind to be super transparent that the product is not finished and still in development when people invest money in it.
2. How to avoid a poor business plan
A successful startup isn't built on guesswork. It's built on a clear plan. I had to pivot one of my startups because I simply didn't have a plan to make money from it. Don't make the same mistake. Build a strong business plan.
Here's what you need to do - and hey - you can even do it while you have your day job.
Here's what you need to do - and hey - you can even do it while you have your day job.
1. Validate your idea
Validate your idea BEFORE you spend any time or money on development. You can simply go to potential customers and ask people if they would pay for it.
I made a particular video on how to validate your idea with just 9 simple questions. Validating your idea is absolutely critical because it's basically your free insurance against building something nobody wants.
I made a particular video on how to validate your idea with just 9 simple questions. Validating your idea is absolutely critical because it's basically your free insurance against building something nobody wants.
2. Build your MVP and get feedback
Next, build a simple MVP and get some real customer feedback. This can even be some scribbles of what your final product will look like.
If it's an app, just scribble the different screens and talk to potential customers about how they feel about it, if they value it, and if they would pay for it. You want to get real customer feedback.
If it's an app, just scribble the different screens and talk to potential customers about how they feel about it, if they value it, and if they would pay for it. You want to get real customer feedback.

3. Know your numbers
Ask potential customers how much they would pay for your product and if they would prefer a one-time payment or a subscription method. You want to get a rough idea of your numbers.
• How much people would pay
• The cost of running your business
• The price range you can sell your product at
• How many customers you would need to make a profit
That's how you build a solid business plan.
• How much people would pay
• The cost of running your business
• The price range you can sell your product at
• How many customers you would need to make a profit
That's how you build a solid business plan.
✏️ Before we move on to the next point on how to best prepare your startup journey, I challenge you - talk to potential customers and validate your idea PLUS calculate your numbers.
STARTUP WORKSHEETS, TEMPLATES, CHEAT SHEETS3. How to find customers before you even start
One of the smartest things you can do to build your startup is to build your audience BEFORE you launch. That way you can get a lot of customers right when you launch - because they are already fans of what you are doing.
So how do you do that?
So how do you do that?
1. Clearly define your audience
You have to be super clear about who's going to use your product and who's not. That will help you chose the marketing channels that will give you a real return.
2. Build a waiting list
When I coached a Fortune 500 company, we did this exact strategy. We built this huge product that took months to build.
But we didn't wait to sell it until it was ready.
We built a landing page where leads could sign up for a waiting list. And such a landing page can be really simple, but it allows you to capture people who are interested in your product.
Later, you will send these people an email when you launch.
But we didn't wait to sell it until it was ready.
We built a landing page where leads could sign up for a waiting list. And such a landing page can be really simple, but it allows you to capture people who are interested in your product.
Later, you will send these people an email when you launch.

But here's the trick. For this to work, you need to give people a reward, like a 10% discount on the product when it's released, or access to premium features. This is an excellent strategy to build some excitement up front and capture leads organically.
3. Create valuable content
And the most important tip for building an audience before you launch is to create some valuable content for your future customers and let them know that something big is coming.
It's called content marketing and it has always been one of my favorite marketing channels because you can build awareness and show people your product.
And it's a great way to get leads organically.
It's called content marketing and it has always been one of my favorite marketing channels because you can build awareness and show people your product.
And it's a great way to get leads organically.
What's next
Most founders quit when things get hard. But not you. You now know the truth about building a successful startup, and you’re ready to push through.
Remember - success isn’t about luck, it’s about preparation. And you just took your first step. And trust me, if you have passion - you will make it.
But hey, why not increase your chances of building a successful startup with a proven system? Check out my Startup Success Bundle. It's my answer to founders getting stuck in the process or making critical mistakes that cost their business.
The Startup Success Bundle is perfect for you if you are looking for an actionable, proven system - full of worksheets, cheat sheets and templates - to guide you to business success.
Check it out now!
Remember - success isn’t about luck, it’s about preparation. And you just took your first step. And trust me, if you have passion - you will make it.
But hey, why not increase your chances of building a successful startup with a proven system? Check out my Startup Success Bundle. It's my answer to founders getting stuck in the process or making critical mistakes that cost their business.
The Startup Success Bundle is perfect for you if you are looking for an actionable, proven system - full of worksheets, cheat sheets and templates - to guide you to business success.
Check it out now!