It was on one of these planning days that I had one of my most important realisations to date; one that has had a watershed effect on me and my ability to challenge my clients. In a moment of clarity, I recognised that I was operating under old assumptions, and that in order to elevate to another level, I needed to “unlearn” many of the things that had been holding me back.

In life – particularly in the world of entrepreneurship – we are often slowed down by the very beliefs and assumptions that initially fuelled our early success. The startup landscape has shifted in recent years, making venture capital harder to come by, particularly for industries outside of AI, fintech, or biotech. All the more reason for entrepreneurs to routinely challenge their own assumptions and belief systems in an effort to continue to grow, evolve, learn, and innovate as the world around us does the same.

At the end of the day, entrepreneurship is less about what you know and more about what you are willing to unlearn. I’ve learned time and time again that many of the assumptions I have had were incorrect and provided no value. These assumptions weren’t my beliefs – in fact they were contrary to them – and as such, were the source of so many of my troubles when it came to growing my business. Or in some cases, I found my assumptions weren’t wrong, but they did blind me to better alternatives.

There is a hidden weight to assumption and judgment, and it clouds our ability to make good decisions in regards to everything from customer behaviour to leadership philosophy. And it’s not as simple as disproving outdated assumptions or personal beliefs – we’re constantly fighting endless noise in the form of opinions of others, the influence of technology, and social media misinformation. Countless voices declaring what an entrepreneur should be or is supposed to be – most of which are massively misaligned and misdirected.

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned it’s essential to have a strong point of view in order to stand out amongst the crowd, and to be successful, having a clear vision and demonstrating decisiveness are necessary. But this must be met with a certain level of curiosity. We have to learn how to ask true questions – a request for information where you legitimately do not know the answer. This opens the door for ongoing discussions with your network, team, and community, welcoming new ideas to promote evolution and growth.

The framework is straightforward, but must be a part of any successful entrepreneur’s routine and philosophy. These are my ‘best kept secrets’ in practicing the uncomfortable – pushing yourself to unlearn what you’ve long believed to be true:

“Speed is everything” → sometimes slowing down elicits better strategies.

“My vision must stay intact” → iteration is not compromise, it's maturity.

“I know my customer” → market behaviour constantly shifts.

“Everything is safer when under my control” → collaboration out-performs micromanagement.

“Leadership is command and voice” → listening fosters greater respect and trust.

The path we take in leadership and entrepreneurship is forged from our earliest memories and experiences as we’re told what to do and believe about the world. Parents teach tradition, history, expectations, and beliefs to their children. Often, as we have challenges, we build our behaviours to protect us from fear and rejection, many of which are so deeply ingrained in us that we are unaware of the decisions we are making, victims of our subconscious and the ongoing spinning record that is our life.

This record continues as we age. We continue the traditions and stories we were told, not necessarily understanding why they are relevant or impactful. Many of these “beliefs” become irrelevant as the context of change adjusts the world around us. And, when we poke our heads up in our 30s, or 40s, or 50s, we feel lost and unanchored. But to all those out there dedicating their lives to building teams, solutions, and systems – it’s never too late to scratch the record and unlearn what was in order to create what can and will be.

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