The Most Common Entrepreneurial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

by Lisa MacDonald

Masterclass in Entrepreneurial Development We all want to be in charge of our own lives, but what happens when the game of business keeps changing? How can you successfully find new clients, beat the competition, and do it on a shoestring budget? Lisa J. MacDonald has coached 1000s of business owners for over 25 years, has a PhD in the school of hard knocks, and is the mother of eight. In The Most Common Entrepreneurial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them , she uncovers proven cutting-edge business principles to quickly shift entrepreneurs from overwhelm and confusion to confidently fulling their vision sustainably. You will learn the Your successful business is waiting for you. You don't have to go at it alone. Get this state-of-the-art research-based step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to get unstuck, attract your best clients, and fulfill your vision.

180 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2023

Reviews

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Shifted How I See Entrepreneurship

Reading The Most Common Entrepreneurial Mistakes and How to Avoid Them by Lisa J. MacDonald felt like sitting down with a mentor who’s been through it all. Lisa’s wisdom comes from decades of experience, and she shares it in a way that’s practical, down-to-earth, and inspiring.

Right away, the chapter on mindset stood out to me. Lisa dives into the doubts and fears all entrepreneurs face those moments when you’re questioning if you’re good enough or if your idea will succeed. What struck me was her focus on action over perfection. Her advice to keep moving forward, even when things feel uncertain, hit home for me. I’ve definitely been guilty of overthinking instead of just taking the next step.
Another section that really resonated was about understanding your market. Lisa explains how so many businesses fail because they don’t truly know their audience. It made me think about my own projects am I solving a real problem, or just assuming I know what people need? Her tips on research and messaging were a reminder to stay grounded and connected to the people I want to serve.

What really stayed with me was her take on relationships. Lisa makes it clear that success isn’t just about strategy it’s about people. Whether it’s your customers, team, or partners, the way you build and nurture relationships can make or break your business. I’ve always valued connection, but this reminded me how intentional I need to be about it.

Honestlty this book is also is how actionable it is. Lisa doesn’t just talk about big ideas she gives you step-by-step advice that you can apply immediately. From building clarity in your vision to staying competitive in your industry, the lessons are practical and easy to follow.

This isn’t just a book about avoiding mistakes; it’s a guide to growing as an entrepreneur, even when things get crazy.

[Dave Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent look at the challenges of starting and running a small business. The book is well organized making it easy to find the areas you want to know more about as well as the strategies and action plans you can adopt to address those challenges head on. The many stories and anecdotes collected from entrepreneurs with varied backgrounds, business areas and levels of experience bring the ideas down to earth.

I was most impressed with the section on finding mentors because the advice nails what I have always believed is the key to finding a community of support for your business. You need to surround yourself with both well established leaders and your fellow business builders who are just a step or two ahead of you. The vision and perspective of established leaders can only take you so far because they can neither truly put themselves in your shoes nor remember what it was like to be at that stage in their business. Times have and will change rapidly from what they new. There is tremendous value in finding a community of curious, collaborative and equally passionate peers who will help you figure it out. Who meet you where you are and collectively support everyone’s paths to success.

Anyone who is starting a business will certainly benefit from avoiding the mistakes the author identifies. And those of us with years under our belt will see ourselves in the text. This is a timely and important read!

[Robbie Samuels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a treasure trove of insights, each chapter addressing a different pitfall that entrepreneurs often encounter. Lisa's writing is not only engaging but profoundly practical. She draws from her extensive coaching experience, personal journey, and dozens of interviews, to provide invaluable advice on removing these pitfalls. The real-life examples and relatable anecdotes make the lessons easily relatable. She is not just an author but a mentor who genuinely wants to see entrepreneurs thrive.

[Christopher Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

MacDonald possesses a deep understanding of the challenges and pitfalls entrepreneurs encounter. She offers practical insights based on thousands of coaching clients. Additionally, MacDonald provides actionable advice to common mistakes. As a business owner and mother of eight, she speaks from experience. Her advice is adaptable so you can run your business on your terms.

[Mochammad Hadyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the book, it's so simple and straightforward, focusing on explaining the mistakes with some real-world examples. In the end of every section, she's providing insightful actions to manifest the learning completely.

In the end of the book, the author provide useful appendix containing actionable checklists we can do to perform better as entrepreneur without need to repeating pioneers.

[Shaun Amey · Rating 5 out of 5]

no-nonsense, practical advice

This book delivers no-nonsense, practical advice for entrepreneurs, grounded in the author’s hard-earned experience and straightforward approach. With helpful exercises, actionable takeaways, and a focus on common pitfalls, it’s a solid guide for anyone looking to start, grow, or sustain a business.

[Marcey Rader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa J. MacDonald managed to culminate the experiences of entrepreneurs and business owners into a book encompassing the lessons earned and the wisdom of attending years of masterclasses, courses, and reading other books. This is a must-read for new and seasoned people in business.

[Victoria Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring and must read

This book is a must-read for anyone starting or growing a business. Packed with practical advice, it will help you avoid common pitfalls such as poor planning, underpricing and poor networking. Simple, attractive and easy to follow - don't miss it!