By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
NVIDIA’s CEO, Jensen Huang, shocked many when he said:
“If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t start a company.”
This came from a billionaire. A man who helped build one of the most powerful companies in tech. But he wasn’t joking.
And Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, echoed the same hard truth:
“All overnight successes take about 10 years.”
Ten years.
Of 18-hour days.
Seven days a week.
No sleep. No salary.
Living on potato chips and hope.
And sometimes—not even hope.
Because here’s what nobody tells you: running a business will take everything you have.
It’s 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, no sleep, no guarantee. You will give it your all—and still wonder if it’s enough.
Let’s break it down.
1. Funding & Cash Flow: Chasing Money Just to Stay Alive
You’ll raise money. It’ll run out. You’ll try again. Some days, you’ll beg a friend or max out a credit card just to keep the lights on.
Fun Fact: 82% of businesses fail because they run out of money.
Real Talk: You’ll skip meals. You’ll delay your rent. You’ll live on instant noodles, potato chips, and caffeine—while your employees still get paid.
2. Strategy & Planning: The Market Doesn’t Care About Your Plans
You’ll create a detailed business plan. But customers won’t follow it. Competitors won’t respect it. Life won’t care.
Lesson: Plans are useless after the first punch. You must adapt daily.
3. Business Management: CEO Means Chief Everything Officer
There’s no “department.” You are the department.
Need IT? It’s you. Broken printer? You. Late invoice? Still you.
Truth: It’s not glamorous. It’s exhausting. And yes, it’s lonely.
4. Operations & Administration: Death by Paperwork
You’ll spend hours dealing with taxes, contracts, bills, inventory, and compliance—things that make no money but take all your time.
Fun Fact: Even tech startups spend 30–50% of their time on operations, not innovation.
5. Marketing & Sales: No One Cares Until You Make Them Care
You’ll launch a website, post on social media, and… crickets.
Then you’ll learn: marketing is war. Sales is survival.
Most successful businesses? They market 10x more than they build.
6. HR & People Management: You’re Not Just Hiring a Resume
You’re hiring emotions, expectations, habits, and personalities.
Some will work. Some will quit. Some will break your heart.
Tip: Culture is built by what you tolerate—not what you say.
7. Customer Relationship Management: You’re Only as Good as Yesterday
Even loyal customers will leave after one bad experience.
And the ones who complain loudest? They never pay the most.
Lesson: Serve everyone like they’re your last customer.
8. Scaling & Growth Pains: Growth Can Break You
You finally grow—and everything starts falling apart.
Systems crack. People burn out. Quality slips.
And still, you must smile and say, “Business is great.”
9. Vendor & Partner Management: The Domino Effect
One late supplier. One lazy contractor. One broken promise.
And your reputation crumbles—along with your income.
Reminder: Your partners can make or break your future.
10. Managing Investors & Lenders: Smile Under Pressure
Investors want returns. Banks want payments.
You’ll learn to fake calm—even when you’re drowning inside.
Fun Fact: Most business relationships die from silence, not mistakes.
11. Regulations & Red Tape: The Hidden Boss Level
There’s a law for everything. And if you miss just one?
Fines. Lawsuits. Shutdowns. License renewals. Incorporation fees.
Some businesses spend more time on compliance than on customers.
12. Loneliness at the Top: Everyone Looks to You, No One Checks on You
You’ll inspire your team. Cheer up your staff. Keep everyone motivated.
And then sit alone at midnight wondering if you’re good enough. You are sorry for everyone but no one is sorry for you.
Fact: Entrepreneurs suffer depression at 2x the national average.
13. Expanding & Managing Your Network: Who You Know Matters More Than What You Know
You’ll need mentors, advisors, allies, connectors.
But real relationships take time—and trust.
Reminder: Most big opportunities start with a tiny conversation.
14. Everything Else: Firefighting as a Lifestyle
Servers go down. Staff walks out. Competitor steals your idea.
And that’s just Tuesday.
Running a business is chaos in a suit.
Final Word:
When Jensen Huang said he wouldn’t do it again, he wasn’t being ungrateful.
He was just telling the truth. A truth few are willing to say out loud.
Building a business takes everything.
Time. Money. Energy. Sanity.
You will go days without sleep.
You will live on potato chips with no regular paycheck.
You will question your sanity and your self-worth.
You will work 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, with no sleep and no guarantee.
And you will still have to show up—strong—for everyone else.
But if you survive…
If you push through the chaos…
If you build something that solves real problems…
You won’t just make money.
You’ll make history.
About the Author
John is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of JS Morlu, LLC, a Virginia based CPA firm with multiple software ventures including www.FinovatePro.com, www.Recksoft.com and www.Fixaars.com . With operations spanning multiple countries, John is on a mission to build global infrastructure that empowers small businesses, entrepreneurs, and professionals to thrive in an increasingly competitive world. He believes in hard truths, smart execution, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. When he’s not writing or building, he’s challenging someone to a productivity contest—or inventing software that automates it.