Success does not happen by chance. Often, entrepreneurs wear many hats associated with sustainability, habits and strategic decisions. While founders usually find fulfillment in building a business from the ground up, the road to success can be challenging and full of obstacles. will have moments of doubtand you'll wonder if it's all worth it or if it's time for you to give up hope.

These five lessons, which put me in a position to start a company and quickly scale my business, are ones I wish someone had taught me when I was just starting out a few years ago.

Connected: I wish I knew these four things before I started my business

1. Niche down

Entrepreneurs want to be the leader of all professions. But now more than ever, sitting down in your expertise and target audience will help you become an expert and keep you top of mind.

As a founder, I decided to shift most of my conference attendance to specific events in the healthcare industry since a large portion of our PR clients are in the healthcare space. This has helped me speak to my target audience much more closely, as I have taken the time to get to know their problems and provide them with personalized, data-driven solutions.

2. Hire a coach

Earlier this year, I hired one of my business coaches, Lauren Powers, through Pinnacle Global Network. She is also in the agency space and has experience helping founders cross nine figures. I've been able to quickly gain deep expertise without having to learn hard lessons or wade through a bunch of different options before figuring out what works financially. She also helped me see where there were other income opportunities within my business that I was missing out on.

I also hired an acquisition coach who specifically helps agencies acquire other agencies. I've been on the other side of dozens M&A but have never executed the strategy for an agency. I want expert advice that condenses knowledge into what I need right now so my brain isn't clouded by information that wouldn't be relevant right now.

Hiring a business coach with years of expertise can provide you with deep insights into achieving exponential growth and uncovering untapped revenue opportunities without extended periods of trial and error, which can save you time and resources.

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3. Offer free work

When you're starting out, the stakes can be high and companies can be reluctant to take a chance on newcomers, so offering work for free in the fields where you want to gain experience you can open the doors to many opportunities.

There were many times I worked for free early in my career just to gain experience and not feel pressured to get something else in return just because I knew I had to navigate new and unknown territories. By volunteering my time, I got a seat at the table during high-stakes transactions and learned firsthand how the private equity and VC space worked.

Today I am one of the many media advisors wanted, so it's definitely overpaid. Sometimes, the experience and connections you gain are worth more than the immediate salary.

4. Prioritize opportunity over salary

Some incredible companies may not offer high salaries, but pursuing in-demand roles, even with a pay cut, has always paid off for me.

A few years after passing my Series 7, I was recruiting for a job with a significantly higher title that would involve doing things within leadership that I hadn't yet been exposed to. The catch? It was at a less glamorous company with lower pay and benefits. I still chose the position for its opportunities and growth potential.

After about a year and a half, I was promoted to a new position that doubled my starting salary because the company saw the value and results I brought. During my tenure, I learned more about broker-dealers than I could have ever studied or experienced at my previous company.

5. Read, read, read!

Successful entrepreneurs are often voracious readers. At any given time, I have 4-5 books ready on topics I'm looking to dig deep into. books they still hold tremendous value, either in listening or on paper, which I personally still prefer.

I have always found that it is best to learn from several people through different mediums. If you rely on other people to train you or provide you with the education you need, you are limited to their perception and methodology of the subject.

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Keeping a firm hand makes all the difference in entrepreneurship. This means leveraging available resources – no matter how seemingly insignificant – to strategically build and accelerate your competitive advantage. While it is a calling, entrepreneurship is also a skill honed through persistence and purpose. It's never a lucky break. It's about smart bets and a hunger for knowledge. It's about turning every obstacle into one learning experience. In this competitive industry, playing the game of strategy will help you thrive.