Pete Sits Down with Pete

I recently had the good fortune to travel back in time five years to share some advice with my younger self, just as he was about to open Kestum Bilt.

Younger Pete: Thanks for dropping in.

Older Pete: No problem. It’s nice to be back.

Younger Pete: Why are we sitting so far apart?

Older Pete: Long story. But take this mask. One day you’re going to need it.

Younger Pete: So… am I making the right decision? Does Kestum Bilt work?

Older Pete: Yes. And your film professor was right. You’re going to be happy you got the MBA instead of the MFA. There’s a lot to running a successful business.

Younger Pete: I like the sound of success.

Older Pete: Slow your roll. It won’t always be that way. Get ready for a lot of highs and lows. The highs will feel incredible. The lows, some of them will keep you up at night. Both are necessary.

Younger Pete: That sounds exhausting.

Older Pete: It is. Also worth it. Here’s what I’d tell you: don’t wait until you feel ready to make decisions. You’re never going to feel completely ready. Make the call with the information you have, and adjust when you’re wrong. You’ll be wrong sometimes. That’s not a character flaw.

Younger Pete: What would you do differently?

Older Pete: I’d invest in the right relationships earlier. Not networking, actual relationships with people who are good at the things I’m not good at. Surround yourself with people who complete the picture, not people who duplicate you.

Younger Pete: Anything about the work itself?

Older Pete: Don’t confuse being busy with being productive. There will be stretches where it feels like you’re running full speed and going nowhere. Those are usually the moments to stop and recalibrate, not to push harder.

Younger Pete: Last one. Does it feel worth it?

Older Pete: Yeah. You built something real. You helped a lot of clients tell stories they couldn’t have told on their own. You grew a team that was genuinely good at this. That’s not nothing.

Now go build it. And get some sleep when you can. You’re going to need it.