Aidan Brotherhood

My journey into entrepreneurship isn't one of those overnight success tales often shared online. I've encountered many setbacks and failures along the way, each one teaching me more about perseverance, adaptability, and the harsh realities of business.At 17, faced with the choice between university and diving headfirst into the business world, I chose the latter. I was disillusioned with formal education and hungry for real-world experience. Without a clear direction but with a burning desire to carve my own path, I dabbled in various ventures—from a digital marketing agency to e-commerce—before settling on digital marketing, attracted by its low barrier to entry.As a young entrepreneur from the small town of Scotland, I started my business journey with more enthusiasm than experience. I juggled part-time jobs, like working in Glasgow, while educating myself through online courses and a lot of reading. The reality of entrepreneurship hit hard and early; it was nothing like the glamorised stories often told. The challenges were relentless, but so was my resolve to learn and grow.Ambio was my first serious venture, a digital marketing agency where I took on local clients, learning on the fly and adapting to each new challenge.The story of my business is one of repeated attempts, failures, and learning. From starting out with naive optimism to facing the stark realities of inadequate business models and the brutal honesty of market needs, each phase taught me invaluable lessons about the importance of focus, understanding market demand, and the real costs of entrepreneurship.As I navigated through various iterations of my business, including attempts at expanding into different areas like CRM systems and service marketplaces, the constant challenges and occasional successes kept my entrepreneurial spirit alive. However, with each setback, the importance of resilience and the ability to pivot became more apparent.Currently, I'm revisiting my entrepreneurial ambitions, focusing on developing a software company, Ambio, which is a pivot from the original marketing services. This new direction represents a culmination of all the lessons learned: the need for a solid, scalable product, a clear business model, and a market demand that justifies the effort.While my journey hasn't been easy or straightforward, it has been incredibly educational. I've come to appreciate the value of failure and the importance of failing faster, as it often leads to quicker learning and adaptation. My story is ongoing, a continuous loop of learning, adapting, and striving for success.Thank you for taking the time to understand the context of my work, my philosophy, and the hard-earned lessons that shape my approach to business today. Whether you're a fellow entrepreneur or simply curious about the realities of starting and running a business, I hope my story provides you with insights and encouragement on your own journey. For more details and to follow my continuing adventures, visit my website and subscribe to my newsletter.