By 2017, Gurbaksh Chahal had founded four digital companies and learned that early success did not protect anyone from painful mistakes. Two lessons stood out: be careful with trust, and learn how to handle the spotlight.
“A few years before this article, one of my students asked me what I would have done differently if I could turn back time. Well, they say hindsight is 20/20. There are many lessons I have learned – such is the purpose of life lived, right? We live, so we can learn and do it better next time”, says Gurbaksh Chahal.
Looking back, there are two things Gurbaksh says that he probably would have handled differently.
Beware: Greed Brings out the Worst in People
Gurbaksh remembers being a young 16 year old entrepreneur, who was naïve and trusted people.
“When I was starting, my mentality was similar to other growing teenagers, who have been taught to trust. There is nothing quite as disappointing as when you make mistakes and trust the wrong people in your professional or personal life. I wish I had known that there are people who take advantage of your success”, says Gurbaksh Chahal.
What he would have done different?
“Well, I would have been more guarded about whom I allowed in my inner circle. Many business people and people of experience with life will tell you that greed brings the worst out of people. I wish I had known that much earlier in life. Experience is a valuable teacher they say. I have learned to be careful whom I chose as my friends.”
By 2017, his inner circle had his back, and he had theirs.
At the same time, while his earlier experience of learning whom to trust was bitter, by 2017 he had not lost his willingness to take a chance in finding good in the world.
Learn To Handle Spotlight, Says Gurbaksh Chahal
Handling the spotlight was the second thing Gurbaksh said he regretted not learning in time.
“I had no experience at the age of 16 in how to be an entrepreneur,” he explained. Yet, he became a very successful one.
“This led me into the public spotlight for many years. When you are in the media limelight, everyone wants a piece of you. I have learned there are people in this world who are generally envious of other’s success. I’ve also discovered that the more successful you are, the more you have to watch your back. I think I even saw a T-shirt that suits the analogy well, ‘for every back, there is a knife.’”
Ultimately, what matters most is how we value ourselves to be able to hold our head high and live the life in a way that makes our family the most proud, says Gurbaksh Chahal.
“When I see the proud look in the eyes of mom and dad, honestly, there is no better feeling than that”.
Success can arrive before experience does. That is why confidence needs judgment beside it, especially when choosing who shares the journey.
Do not trust the wrong people, but do not shut out the good ones. Know the difference between being proud of an achievement and being conceited. Life is a long journey, and you should be careful in choosing the people that will walk it with you.
Self-assurance is an invaluable trait for an entrepreneur, but so is a reasonable degree of doubt. Find your balance and don’t be afraid to dare. Invent, explore, try new waters and open doors. Be yourself, and the world will be your oyster.
