“Creativity begins the journey, but management marks the destination.”
Starting a business is not an act of impulsive courage; It is a decision of conscious responsibility. Many projects fail not because of a lack of ideas, but because of management errors made from the beginning. The good news: most of these mistakes are known, repeated… and avoidable.
The myth of initial enthusiasm
Books, articles and data agree: early-stage failures often follow clear patterns. The most common failures include: lack of planning, poor financial management, wrong choice of partners, absence of information systems and excessive centralization on the founder.
Added to these are external obstacles: bureaucratic procedures, lack of access to credit, insecurity and complex regulations. But the greatest risk is rarely outside: it is inside the entrepreneur himself.
Poor management stops growth
According to recent studies, up to 90% of startups end up closing, and only 10% survive the first year. Between the second and fifth year another 70% disappears. The main causes:
- 42% due to lack of adjustment with the market
- 29% for running out of cash
- 23% due to lack of adequate equipment
- 19% due to competition
This data reveals an uncomfortable truth: many companies die not because of the product or the market, but because of the way they are managed.
Emotional attachment as a brake
One of the biggest obstacles is the emotional attachment to the initial idea. Changing is perceived as giving up, when in reality it is business intelligence. Adapting the model, redefining the value proposition or adjusting the partners is a sign of maturity—not weakness—and may be what saves the venture.
Seven classic mistakes that are often ignored
- Lack of vision and adaptation
Governing “by intuition” without data or continuous review leads to late decisions.
Protecting the brand and legal aspects from the beginning prevents serious conflicts.
- Finances without professional control
Sales without financial control are spaces where vital resources leak.
- Underestimated tax obligations
“It is resolved later” can end in sanctions, fines and even operational paralysis.
The entrepreneur who rejects advice renounces strategic clarity and better decisions.
- Not cultivating organizational culture from day one
A strong culture attracts talent, retains employees and strengthens resilience.
- Ignore technology as an ally
Postponing digitization and the use of management tools is like running blindfolded. Technology is not a luxury: it is the language of today’s market.
You may be interested in: Strategic risk management to lead the future
Reflections to take care of the details
- Management is not bureaucracy, it is strategy. Each system, each control and each measurement are pieces that support the freedom of the entrepreneur. Improvising seems faster, but it is the most expensive way to lose your way.
- Time is the most expensive resource. Each error due to lack of planning not only costs money, it costs months of business life. Ask yourself: what decisions can you anticipate today so you don’t regret tomorrow?
Entrepreneurship is not a race of speed, but of endurance. Without systems, measurements or openness to change, the start may be quick… but the journey will be short. Management does not kill creativity; holds her.
2026 is not just a new calendar: it is an invitation to rethink how we undertake. Before you take the first step, check your map, adjust your compass, and strengthen your equipment. Because ideas light the spark, but management keeps the flame burning when the winds of change blow.
Starting off on the right foot means anticipating risks, protecting your assets, professionalizing your finances and surrounding yourself with advice. It means understanding that improvisation can be creative, but never strategic. Every decision you make today will be the foundation on which your project is built—or collapsed—tomorrow.
Remember: the difference between a dream and a sustainable company is in the details you take care of when no one sees them. It is not enthusiasm that guarantees permanence, but the discipline to convert vision into processes, culture and control.
If your company had to survive without your presence, without your daily energy, would it have enough systems, people and structure to stay standing and grow?
If the answer is not a resounding yes, the best time to correct course is today.
About the author:
Twitter: @mariorizofiscal
The opinions expressed are solely the responsibility of their authors and are completely independent of the position and editorial line of Forbes Mexico.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and don’t miss our content
