We’re all sprinting through life, juggling a hundred things at a hundred miles an hour. But amid all this chaos, it’s crucial to pause and make sure our foundations are solid. Before you find yourself knee-deep in problems, you’ve got to tighten things up at the base.
I recently sat down with a friend who shared an interesting perspective. He believes that sometimes, you have to start with nothing and just go for it. Jump in headfirst and learn the hard way what happens when you don’t have a strong foundation. It’s like ruining your credit when you’re young; once you’ve felt that sting, you won’t make the same mistake twice.
While there’s some truth to learning from failure, I argue that having a plan from the outset can save you a lot of pain down the road. You don’t need to obsess over every tiny detail, but you should have a North Star guiding you. What’s the goal? What’s the plan? What does success look like for you?
Now, let’s talk money. Are you prepared to invest both financially and time-wise into building that foundation? It’s like the old saying goes: “You can’t shoot a cannon from a canoe.” You might have the most powerful cannon in the world, but if it’s sitting on an unstable canoe, you’re not going to hit any targets.
The Cost of Ignoring the Basics
Let me share a story that shook me to my core. A client of mine called me in a panic. Her friend’s GoDaddy account had been hacked. The hacker transferred her domain out, took over her email, and then demanded a ransom—starting at $30,000 and quickly jumping to $50,000 when they tried to fight back.
This wasn’t a small operation; this was a Shopify store doing significant business. They’d been so caught up in day-to-day operations that they overlooked basic security measures like enabling two-factor authentication. They ignored email alerts about the domain transfer because, well, they were “too busy.”
The result? Total loss of their domain, years of built-up equity gone overnight, and the monumental task of starting from scratch with a new URL. All because they didn’t have their foundation secured.
Don’t Put All Your Trust in One Person
Another point I can’t stress enough: don’t centralize all control in one person’s hands. Whether it’s your domain access, hosting, or DNS management, there needs to be checks and balances. I once heard about an employee who, after being terminated, went into Google Search Console and disavowed their former company’s main URL. Their first-page rankings vanished overnight.
It’s not just about rogue employees, though. Even well-intentioned team members can make mistakes if they have unrestricted access. Decentralizing control protects you from both malicious actions and honest errors.
Cheap Isn’t Always Good
Look, I get it. We’re all looking to save money where we can. But when it comes to foundational aspects of your business, cutting corners can cost you exponentially more in the long run. I’ve seen companies offer to build websites for next to nothing, but here’s the reality: you get what you pay for.
Professionals charge for their time because they bring expertise to the table. If someone offers to build you a custom website for $500, ask yourself how much time and effort they’re actually putting into it. Are they designing it from scratch, or are they slapping your logo onto a generic template?
Invest in the Right People
Having the right team in place is critical. You need people who care about the outcome as much as you do. I’ve had clients who initially went with cheaper options, only to come back to me after wasting time and money on subpar work. One client spent nine weeks waiting for a homepage that turned out to be garbage.
When you invest in professionals who value quality, you’re not just paying for a service—you’re investing in peace of mind. You’re ensuring that your foundation is solid, your systems are secure, and your business is poised for growth.
Final Thoughts
Building a strong foundation isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. Whether it’s securing your domain with two-factor authentication, decentralizing control among trusted team members, or investing in professional services that prioritize quality over cost, these foundational steps can save you from catastrophic losses.
Don’t wait for a disaster to teach you the value of a solid foundation. Take the time now to get things right. Your future self—and your business—will thank you.
