When Steve Belyea started BASE Engineering, he had little more than an idea and a single customer. Over the next three decades, he built the company into a global business serving customers in 28 countries, completed two successful exits, and learned some expensive lessons along the way.

Building a business often looks straightforward in hindsight. Growth milestones, new locations and successful exits tend to become the visible markers of progress. Justin John and Eric Velez-Chua know the view from the inside usually looks different.

Some industries force clarity. Energy is one of them. Cycles move quickly, capital is unforgiving and decisions have long consequences. For entrepreneurs operating in that environment, the margin for error is smaller and the feedback is immediate.