The Basic Rules of the Entrepreneurship Game

Hello community, and happy 2026!

Jorge here, with a new article for the Latin entrepreneurial community in the Okanagan.

This piece is for those who feel like they are working incredibly hard, but moving “too slowly.” That feeling tends to hit especially hard in February: the New Year momentum fades, and uncomfortable doubts start to surface.

This article is for entrepreneurs at every stage of the journey. For those just getting started, for those who have been at it for months or years, and for those in that quiet moment where you start wondering whether all this effort will really be worth it.

I write this from my own experience, and from what I’ve learned by observing, making mistakes, and talking with other entrepreneurs along the way.

Over time, I realized something important:entrepreneurship is not just about having a good idea or working hard.It’s about learning how to move within a system that has rules—many of them invisible at the beginning.

Some of those rules are not written in any manual. Others do exist, but no one clearly explains them when you arrive in Canada as an immigrant. And many of them only become clear after making costly mistakes in time, money, or mental energy.

The “rules of the game” I talk about here are not magic formulas. They are practical principles that show up again and again in the real experiences of people who build businesses. Understanding them earlier can make a big difference.

The Basic Rules of the Game

The episode of the Latino Sin Filtro podcast where Humberto Morales shares his experience was a strong reference for me, because it put into words many things that others of us are also living through.

1. “It’s only real if you sign”

There’s a phrase that comes up repeatedly in the episode and applies perfectly to entrepreneurship: “it’s only real if you sign.” I would add: and you pay.

The moment you sign and pay, that’s when things truly begin. In business, “signing” can mean registering your company, getting permits, organizing your finances, signing contracts, or making a real decision—even if it’s scary.

If everything stays only in your head, the business doesn’t exist yet.

2. Life will throw you curveballs

The goal isn’t to avoid them, but to learn how to adapt.

Life doesn’t move in a straight line. Markets change, costs go up, and plans fall apart. When I finished registering my business, I thought the hardest part was over—but right away came challenges with licences, suppliers, and distribution. And I know more are still coming.

Strength doesn’t come from being rigid, but from adjusting quickly.

3. No one buys from you at the beginning

“Six months without selling anything, and then the partner leaves.” It’s a real and tough story.

At first, it feels personal—but it’s not. It’s just business.

In my own experience, there were moments when I thought that if nothing was selling, it meant I should shut everything down. Over time, I realized my market didn’t clearly understand what my product was for. I adjusted the design and the message, and that changed everything.

4. Your relationship with money is part of the business too

This is deeply cultural.

From childhood, we absorb messages about money that later influence how we spend, save, and make decisions. The 50/30/20 rule that Humberto mentions isn’t a universal formula, but it is a useful way to start bringing structure and awareness to your finances.

5. “Don’t let anyone turn off your light”

Motivating yourself on your own is hard—but it’s possible.Seeing how others have built businesses helps.

Books like The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel and 12 Months to $1 Million by Ryan Daniel Moran helped me focus on moving forward, instead of everything that could go wrong. Believing in yourself matters, but so does constantly evaluating, testing, and adjusting.

6. In Canada, structure matters

In many Latin American countries, there’s a mindset of “I’ll start however I can and fix it later.”Here, that “later” can be expensive.

Fines, poorly managed taxes, and weak contracts can put everything at risk. Consulting an expert early is not an expense—it’s an investment.

How to Apply These Rules in Real Life

This is where everything becomes practical.

Define what you’re building in one sentence

Something that helped me a lot was writing, in very simple terms, what I do, who I help, and what problem I solve—one single sentence.It helped me focus and stop spreading myself too thin.

Work in short cycles

Breaking a project into smaller pieces reduces pressure.I stopped thinking in 12-month goals and started working in 30-day cycles.

Every day, something small that moves you closer to the goal.

Identify the rules you haven’t mastered yet

It’s not about knowing everything, but about recognizing what you still need to learn: licences, taxes, pricing, margins, contracts, or trust-building.

Clarity reduces frustration.

Build community before asking for sales

When no one was buying, Humberto decided to go out, volunteer, meet people, and become visible.It wasn’t marketing—it was human.

For me, it has also been difficult, but volunteering is where I’ve learned the most.

Get professional help when it’s time

Not so others do everything for you, but to avoid expensive mistakes caused by lack of knowledge.

Conclusion

If you related to this article, you’re not alone.Entrepreneurship as an immigrant carries a double load: language, systems, culture, money, and loneliness.

But it also brings something powerful—creativity, the desire to build, and a community that grows stronger when it supports itself.

Come and see it for yourself at one of our events.I invite you to the next Latin Entrepreneur Network gathering, this Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

If this article helped you, share it with someone who might need it too.