The Costly Mistakes I’ve Made as a First Time CEO (So You Don’t Have To)
If you’re building something right now, whether that’s a business, a personal brand, a podcast, or a creator career… this might sound familiar.
You feel like you need everything at once.
Strategy. Content. Coaching. Tools. Equipment. Courses. Mentors.
And the thing is… it all adds up fast.
I’ve learned this the hard way over the last three years as a first-time CEO building OAC.
Some of those investments moved me forward. Some of them really didn’t.
So this is less about regret, and more about reflection, the things I wish someone had told me earlier.
1. Not every course or training is worth it
Early on, I felt like I had to constantly be learning to keep up.
So I said yes to courses, training, and programmes thinking it would fast-track my growth.
But what I didn’t realise was that: I was already sitting on a lot more knowledge than I gave myself credit for.
And because I wasn’t always implementing what I was learning, I wasn’t actually getting the value out of it.
Now, I’m much more intentional. I still learn constantly, but I rely heavily on free, high-quality resources like podcasts, YouTube, and real-world experience and I only invest in things I know I will actively use.
2. You don’t need the most expensive setup
I genuinely thought better content meant better equipment. New cameras, new gear, constant upgrades.
But the reality is, for most creators and founders, you don’t need nearly as much as you think. A good phone and a solid mic will take you incredibly far.
Clarity of message will always outperform fancy equipment.
3. Be selective with who you learn from
This one changed everything for me.Not all mentorship is equal, and not every investment in guidance is the right one.
The biggest shift came when I started asking myself:
Have they actually walked the path I want to go down?
Do they have real data, experience, and results?
Do I actually know what I want help with?
And just as importantly, I now always ask for references and context before committing, because alignment matters more than authority.
The biggest lesson
Not every investment I made was a waste of money, but I did learn to become far more intentional with who I listen to, what I buy into, and where I put my energy.
The biggest shift in my growth didn’t come from doing more.
It came from doing the right things.
If you’re in this stage right now…
If you’re building something but feel stuck in that in-between space, where you want to move forward but aren’t sure on direction, you don’t need to figure it all out alone.
My Power Hours are focused 1:1 sessions where we step back, look at where you’re at, and map out clear, tailored next steps so you can move forward with confidence.