It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

So, this idea has been nagging at you—nudging, poking, consuming your thoughts—and you’re ready to jump into the pilot’s seat and launch your business journey. Congrats! The stats say you’ll join over 300,000 others who started businesses last year. But before you go full throttle, let’s take a moment to check three important things.

Here’s why these checks matter: starting a business or building a product almost always takes way longer than you think. Whatever timeline you have in mind—whether it’s to create a prototype, make your first sale, hire your first employee, secure funding, or even exit the business—multiply it by four. Yep, 4X. That’s my rule of thumb. Sure, some people move faster, but most entrepreneurs find things take at least twice as long, and sometimes much longer than that.

Take my last business as an example—an online legal contracts platform. My co-founder and I thought we’d have a working product in six months. Seven months in, we had… nothing. No product, no sales, not even a clear idea of what the product was going to be. That was seven months with no income and plenty of expenses. It wasn’t until the end of the following year that we had something solid to show potential customers. (Side note: we made a ton of mistakes during that time, which I’ll share in another post. In the meantime, if you’re at this stage, I can’t recommend “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries enough—it’s a game-changer for cutting waste and getting to market faster.)

Now, let’s get to those three checks.

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1. Financial Check: Are You Ready?

First things first—can you afford to take this leap? Here’s my process: I look at my monthly expenses and slash everything that isn’t essential. No holidays, no fancy dinners, no luxury cars. I boil it down to the basics: rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance, food, and transport. Unless you’re already financially independent or have someone bankrolling your startup, cutting costs buys you more time. It also keeps you from making rash decisions or giving away equity on bad terms.

Once I know my bare-minimum monthly expenses, I aim to have 12 months of savings as a safety net—on top of whatever I plan to invest in the business. This is my emergency parachute. If the business crashes and burns, at least I can land softly (and my family can too).

Next, I calculate what it’ll cost to build the product/service and how long it’ll take to break even. (Having learnt the hard way I also use the 4X rule here) I figure out how much I need to fund half of that journey myself. Why half? Because by the time I’ve invested a quarter of the costs, I should (if all goes well) be able to attract outside investment. That extra quarter can either help me avoid dilution in future funding rounds or act as a buffer if things take longer than expected.

Finally, think about the size of the prize. Is this opportunity worth the sacrifices you’ll make? I remember a speaker at an MBA reunion saying entrepreneurship is like walking down a dark hallway. When you finally open the door at the end, you want it to lead to a grand ballroom—not a broom closet. Don’t underestimate the value of ensuring your “ballroom” is worth it.

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2. Physical Check: Are You Healthy?

This journey isn’t a quick intercity trip—it’s New York to Singapore. Before you take off, make sure your body can handle the ride. Spend a little money on a full physical exam. This isn’t about being dramatic; it’s about avoiding hidden health issues that could derail you later, especially if you’re leaving the stability of a corporate job.

Entrepreneurship will test your endurance. Think long hours, limited sleep, stress, and bad eating habits sneaking in. All of this can take a toll, so it’s better to know upfront that you’re fit for the challenge.

Once you get the green light, set up a simple daily routine: exercise, eat well, meditate a bit, and journal every day (if you're building a great business please document the journey). Yes, even when your business demands your attention in a dozen directions. Trust me, this routine will boost your energy, lower your stress, and give you clarity. (Side note: I regret not journaling during my earlier ventures—it would’ve been amazing to look back on the highs, lows along with the good and bad decisions in the detail that only a journal provides.)

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3. Mental Check: Are You Resilient?

This might be the hardest one to gauge. Ask yourself: do you have the mental grit to keep going when the clouds roll in, storms surround you, and you’re almost out of fuel? Because those moments will come. They’re part of the journey.

One of my lowest points was wondering how we’d make payroll for the next month. I was close to throwing in the towel. If you feel overwhelmed just thinking about these scenarios, consider finding a partner to share the load. Look for someone with complementary skills and a “never ever give up” attitude. It can make all the difference—I’m speaking from experience.

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So, you’ve cleared the checks. Time to head to the airport, file your flight plan, and get ready for takeoff. See you in the next post!