Have you tried something in the past that didn’t work out? Maybe you have a great idea but still find things overwhelming—starting that business.
Perhaps, you have several ideas but are still confused about which one to execute. You don’t have to worry too much if any of that resonates with you.
I have been there, and I’ll not just be dishing out the traditional steps you need to start your journey.
In this post, I’ll share my personal experience so you’ll see that you’re not alone on this and hopefully, brace up and execute that great idea of yours.
So let’s get started
Ideas Don’t Come Complete
Whether it’s starting a new business, coming up with a home decor plan, or even getting some tasks done, you cannot completely know what would work out. The key is to take action, and everything else will fall into place.
Most of the big brands you see today didn’t start big. It was a catalog of trials, errors, and continuous improvements. Google isn’t what it used to be some 20 years back.
So if you have a great idea, execute it because they don’t come complete. It is in the process of doing that things get clearer.
If you aim to learn a digital skill and start your brand, let nothing stop you, even when you don’t have everything figured out yet.
Maybe you have the idea of starting a freelancing agency; there is a 90 percent chance that you wouldn’t know how everything would play out, and that’s fine.
You need to focus on what you can control—and that is getting started and bothering less about what’s beyond your reach.
Put Your Idea on Paper
It is not enough to have an idea; you should get a pen and a paper and start writing it down
Writing creates mental reinforcement and allows you to fragment your goals, making them easier to achieve.
Not only does writing allow you to break down your objectives. It simplifies things and gives you a sense of direction. What’s written is easy to navigate, and what’s clear enough for you to see is easy to attain.
But what’s there to write about? You may say. Writing is the first stage after you get an idea. So instead of leaving your ideas to float in the cloud, it allows you to think critically and plan for the future.
Rather than leaving your ideas hanging, write them down and swing into action.
Identify a Problem Your Idea Can Solve
Your have should be capable of solving a problem. If it doesn’t address a problem or need, you may eventually get burned out.
As much as it’s important to have a great idea, there should be a balance between demand and supply. Do not create an arbitrary need in your head and assume that people will find you.
It doesn’t work that way. It’s demand first before supply. Your ideas should address the needs of real people.
One of the ways to identify a valid problem that needs attention is to look at the number of people who have their attention on that problem.
There are free tools to help you see what people are searching for on the internet. If it has a relatively higher search volume, it is an indicator of a problem that needs attention, which is an opportunity to explore.
Tools like Google Trends help you to see what people are interested in or searching for, which could be an eye-opener.
Sometimes, your idea may revolve around an established problem. For example, you could have an idea to script YouTube videos for creators so they can have more eyes glued to their content.
But that does not mean that you should become a YouTuber. In such a case, you are providing a solution, one that vloggers can leverage to increase their engagement and earn more money for themselves.
Conduct Thorough Market Research
Studying the market will help you to understand consumer behavior, who your competitors are, what they are doing, and what’s missing.
When you’re researching a specific market, you will be extracting and analyzing data or trends related to the type of business you want to venture into.
Ask Yourself If It’s Something You Are Passionate About.
What is that thing that you can do for hours without feeling bored? That could be a pointer. Most times you don’t need an elaborate vision to start that journey. You just need an unclear idea to execute.
Let me share how I started my journey. My passion lies in writing, so I sought out methods to initiate my journey. I began publishing books on Amazon KDP.
At that time, I met a friend who was also in the business of KDP, but I guess he wasn’t that passionate about writing.
We wrote a few books, which we uploaded to KDP. After six months we didn’t record any sales. My friend opted out, and I was left with my fate. What kept me going was the passion I had for writing.
In the seventh month, I got my first $5. At that moment, it dawned on me that it is possible to make money on the internet following your passion. My perspective about the internet changed.
Then I got €50, and the rest is history. Had it not been that I was passionate about writing, maybe I wouldn’t have been in the business of publishing.
The point is when you feel unsure of what to do, think about what you love doing that you can fall back on even when you have not met your reward.
If you have a passion for web design, consider which specific area you would like to specialize in as you build your brand.
Are you interested in front-end development or full-stack development? Would you prefer to concentrate solely on WordPress? Or would you like to explore AI-driven platforms such as Figma or Relume?
If digital marketing interests you, you may want to niche down to search engine optimization, social media marketing, content creation, email marketing, pay-per-click, or affiliate marketing.
The question is, “What are you passionate about?” Because you stand a better chance of succeeding in what you love doing than in something you find boring or problematic.
Avoid the Shiny Object Syndrome
When you’re just getting started, there is a possibility that what you choose to do may not yield results at the initial stage, and that is a significant phase of the journey.
This stage is where most people give up or switch to something else that looks enticing or interesting to the eye. And that is where the problem lies: this “shiny object syndrome.”
The fact that something isn’t working right now does not mean that it will continue to be that way.
Time is one of the recipes for growth and results. Nothing good comes easy, and starting a business that would later become successful does not absolve one from initial challenges. It is in the presence of challenges that real growth is ascertained.
Of course, that does not mean you should continue doing something for a very long time even when you’re not getting results. You may want to change strategy even while you look for ways to improve on what you do.
But whatever it is that you’re already doing, stick with it first, then get better with time. I have learned to stick with a specific course even when the results aren’t enticing at the moment, and I can tell you for free that’s where real growth starts.
If you keep hopping from one business idea to the other because of people talking about it, you may lose your focus and waste your time. So rather than looking for ways to make fast money, choose something you are sure of and give it your undivided attention.
Acquire the Necessary Skills
You could think that the most crucial resource for carrying out a business plan. However, money is only one part of the whole picture.
To start a business that would later become successful, you also need social capital, human capital, skills, and a networking system. You need to have an audience to sell your services or products to. So it is important to not focus on money alone.
Instead of worrying too much about money, focus on the skill set that comes with running the business. For example, creating a structure or system around a business that functions without your presence is a skill that most people would struggle with.
A business that can function with minimal effort from the founder stands a better chance of succeeding than a business that depends on your input every day of the week.
Now you see why having an idea is merely the beginning. The true challenge lies in execution, learning, and creating the right framework that can transform your ideas into a thriving business.
Come up With a Strategy
A strategy is a plan designed to take you from point A to point B. Point A represents your current situation, while point B is where you want to be.
In simple terms, a strategy consists of the steps or actions you develop to achieve a desired result. It can be as straightforward as selecting a social media platform to share your content.
Or even choosing the time to post content. Whatever strategy you decide to endorse, you have to make sure that it is tailored toward your goal.
To develop an effective strategy, conducting research is essential to understand what is effective and what is not.
You need to identify the right platform that aligns with your business idea, needs, and mode of engagement. Whatever strategy that you choose to come up with should do just one thing, and that is to bring you close to your goal.
Launch Your Idea
Launching your idea demonstrates your willingness to take risks, adapt to feedback, and create a positive environment for growth and success.
Ideas that remain solely in your mind exert no influence on the world; it is the execution of those ideas that hold significance and the potential to effect change. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Launch now!
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