Start Before You’re Ready

There is a great adage I like to share with founders and beginners building their business framework: start before you're ready.

I love this because ready is a bullsh*t word. Ready will never come if you wait for it.

In any business journey, there is always this one truth — you need to get started at some point. Your dream can't exist only in your mind. Sure, it can be perfect in your imagination, but nobody else can experience it.

I get the hesitation. It took me years to take the leap and go off independently. It's painful to start working on your dream because, in the beginning, it won't be perfect. It won't come together as easily or quickly as you'd like. You will second guess yourself, and somedays, you'll feel like a total imposter.

The work will grind you into dust, make you think about quitting again and again, then pull you back with its luring magic. It may be challenging, but starting is critical in the journey.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting with the first one." - Mark Twain

As much as we'd like there to be, there's no magic crystal ball to see the future. The best way to predict your future is to create it, though.

So, start working on your idea. You'll be surprised how easily the ideas pour out once you're moving.

But how do you get started? I suggest research. Research your category and your niche as deeply as you can to have a strong understanding of the landscape. Don't only research, but document your research well, so you can have a database that you can come back to and update as time goes on. Grab our Competitive Analysis Tracker to keep your information super organized.

To improve upon anything, you must know the limits of where it currently exists. You need to know the ins and outs and everything in between. Many consumer brands are created with bits and fragments of existing ideas repurposed into new concepts without borrowing too much from any single source.

You'll also want to note the areas that don't seem to be working or don't work for your brand's business framework so you can avoid them. Everything from the way you speak to customers, the type of photography you use, and the products you sell will be impacted by this document if you know how to use it.

Examining successful businesses and creating frameworks based on their success is how good design and marketing are done.

So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get out of your head and begin! The world needs your gift. Only you are capable of bringing this idea into the world. Quit gatekeeping and bring your business to life.

Don't forget to grab your copy of our Competitive Analysis Tracker! 🌟