If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you will make progress. ~Barak Obama
I said before that when the path revealed itself I would follow it. It has and I’m building a business.
What an interesting journey it’s been so far.
Early on my focus included creating programs on ideation principles for women wanting to take action. But deciding what I’d offer became difficult to figure out and caused me to be somewhat disillusioned. Plus, I wanted the programs to be concrete, tangible, practical and needed. I grasped but nothing quite fit the bill.
What I imagined my business would be isn’t what it’s shaping up to be. It turns out that I’m revisiting the original business idea I launched years ago.
(Flashback to 2012: I had all the intention in the world, but I lacked clarity, and my timing was off. So I walked away from it.)
As this not-so-new idea came together, I didn’t force it or rush into it. It needed to incubate for a moment so I could experience that aha moment last October. I needed to appreciate the connections the aha moment brought. And eventually, I needed to say it out loud in a room full of women entrepreneurs.
This public declaration resounded in the right ears at the right time. I received validation about my idea on the spot. Several women said they needed my service so we scheduled calls.
What started as a spontaneous effort began to synchronize with my lifelong journey. And the process of building a business this time happened serendipitously.
With a new sense of direction, I became more sensitive, deliberate, and intentional. I was able to override the internal gremlins that often provoked me to self-doubt. But I persisted, mapped it out, took action, and began tying up a few loose ends.
I paid more attention to what it felt like being in my element, how my body responded, what my energy was like. Did I rev up? Was there a natural ease? Did my speech flow? Were my words getting through to the potential client? Was I grounded, anchored?
And I discovered a few valuable lessons. Hopefully, what I’ve learned helps you on the path of building a business.
🌺 Do it to learn it.
After the idea becomes clearer, test it out and don’t wonder about it for long. Actively testing your idea makes some of the uncertainty and fear go away. And yes you won’t get paid right away, but the experience will pay off.
I gained confidence early in the process by talking to someone interested in my service. I listened to their problem and worked to solve it. This helped me wrap my head around the key aspects of my business. And it made it easier for me to devise my approach to working with clients, a package, and a pricing structure. This lesson is huge and will forever remain at the top of my list. If I never had those calls with potential clients, I’d still be stuck at the starting line. And who knows how long it would have been before I was ready to launch.
🌺 Hire a coach.
Once you have the aha moment and the idea begins to take shape, hire a coach to guide you through the learning process, save you time, and lessen your frustration. There is no shortage of business coaches these days. Go on FaceBook and you’ll see ads popping up all over your timeline.
My suggestion is to look for someone who has a thriving business and a concrete program. Before signing with them, do your homework. Follow them on social media. Engage them in conversation. Subscribe to their newsletter. Does their message resonate with you? More importantly, are you ready to receive what they have to offer?
🌺 Do the not-so-sexy work too.
Logos, business cards, a FaceBook page, and Instagram account should never take precedence over the financial and legal aspects of planning a business. Have registered the business with your state? What tax considerations have you made? Do you have a budget? What about your offer, have you worked out all of the legal contracts? How do you know people need what you have to offer?
It’s easy to look at the activity out there and be inspired to jump on the entrepreneur bandwagon, but realize that most of the work isn’t sexy. It’s hard and you’re going to need to be smart about moves you make.
I’m still learning lessons as I continue building a business. I’m grateful that it has unfolded rather serendipitously and that my intention followed.
(I couldn’t have planned it this way if I wanted to. Remember, things can happen accidentally on purpose!)
Before reflecting on this post, check out these resources:
Why Learning By Doing is the Key to Accelerating Change
4 Reasons Why You Should Seek a Business Coach
The One Legal Document Every Service Business Must Have
Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prison to Thriving Entrepreneur*
If you’re on the path of building a business, what has your experience been like so far? In what ways has your journey been serendipitous? In ways have you been intentional? What lessons are you learning? Write a personal reflection in your journal or comment below. Share your thoughts with me at zoe@gonegirlgo or on the GoneGirlGo 6-11 Network on Facebook.
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