150 - The #1 Mistake New Entrepreneurs Make (And How to Avoid it)

May 6, 2026

Watch this episode on YouTube!

In this episode of The Small Business Mindset, Kirsten Flory challenges one of the most common myths in entrepreneurship: that you need money to start a business.

Spoiler alert - you don't.

What you do need is something far more valuable (and completely free): proof of concept.

Kirsten dives into why so many aspiring business owners skip this critical step and how it can make or break your success before you ever spend a dollar.  She shared personal insights from building her commercial real estate brokerage, explaining how starting lean - and resisting the urge to overspend - allowed her business to grow strategically.

You'll also hear a candid (and slightly humorous) story about a business idea that didn't pass the test, and why that failure was actually a win.

This episode will help you:

• Understand what proof of concept really means
• Avoid the trap of relying on friends and family for validation
• Learn how to gather honest, actionable feedback
• Identify your true target customer
• Test your idea without wasting time or money
• Separate "people like it" from "people will pay for it"

If you're thinking about starting a business, or pivoting your current one, this episode will give you a practical, no-cost roadmap to validate your idea before investing in it.

Connect with Kirsten Flory at:

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