Ask MiGoals: "I want to start a business but I can’t get my act together."

Posted by Anna Mackenzie on March 28, 2024

Question:

I’ve wanted to start a business forever, but despite all my wanting I’ve never actually been able to get my act together and do it.

For context, I’m in my mid-20s. I studied graphic design at uni but once I graduated I couldn’t find a designer role and so I’ve ended up working as an Account Manager at a creative agency. I’ve tried to move sideways into a creative role but unfortunately I haven’t had much success.

My dream is to start my own graphic design business and I’ve been working on my idea for months. I’ve tinkered with building a website and I’ve been mulling over what to call my brand. I’ve listened to countless podcasts about getting clients. I’ve looked at how other graphic designers showcase their work. I even got a friend to build me a financial model to show me how I’d bring in as much money as my current salary.

I feel like I’ve done so much but 12 months on I’m still sitting in the same job and feel like I’m no closer to making my dreams a reality.

I’m working so hard but getting nowhere and I’d love some practical advice. Any ideas? I’m in my mid 30s and feel totally stuck.

— Tom

This Ask MiGoals column is written by Anna Mackenzie.

ANNA'S ADVICE

@annaclmack

Anna is a founder, startup consultant, host of the lady-brains podcast and writer of Anna Mack’s Stack; a weekly newsletter sharing business, career and life lessons infused with a dash of humour and vulnerability. Subscribe to her newsletter here and follow her on instagram.

Tom, you’re not alone in struggling to get your business off the ground. In fact many (if not most) people find it challenging going from zero to one. Putting your skills out there and your heart and wallet on the line is Big Scary Stuff.

I know a thing or two about it.

A few years ago I started a business with two friends that eventually became a top rated podcast where we interviewed some of the world’s most accomplished founders. We had some initial success, landing a network contract and travelling to New York for some high profile interviews. After that early traction we decided to create an online course to help would-be founders flesh out their business ideas. We deliberated on a course name. We went back and forth on the colour palette for months. We tinkered endlessly on the course material. We wrote and rewrote the sales page close to a hundred times. Eventually we got the damn thing out of our minds and into market, but what should have been a six month project ballooned into two years of stress-induced-dilly-dallying and faffing about. By the time it finally launched, we were exhausted.

What I didn’t know then (but I do know now) is that while we were working hard, we were working hard on the wrong stuff. We weren’t focused on what mattered most: shipping a minimal viable version, proving demand and getting cash in the door.

I think this is where you might be right now, Tom. It sounds like you’re agonising over little details - like “do I want burnt orange or bright orange as a brand colour” - and big questions - like “how will I build this business?” or “how will I ever do this full time?” or “how will I make six figures?” or “how is it going to work?”. These big questions are valid ones and I suspect the planning, strategising and enlisting of your friend to build a financial model are your honest attempts to find the answers.

But here’s the thing: you don’t find the answers and then start, you uncover the answers during the very act of your doing. The doing is what’s important. The action is where the magic lies.

Author of Atomic Habits, James Clear, explains this best through the framework of Motion vs. Action. He writes:

Motion:

Talk to a personal trainer
Research your book idea
Explore different types of meditation

Action:

Do 10 squats
Write 1 sentence
Meditate for 1 minute

Motion feels like progress. Action is progress.

Motion is sneaky. It likes tricking us into thinking it’s action when it’s not. To dive a little deeper, let’s take a look at some of the things you’ve been working on:

Tinkering around with a website. Having somewhere to showcase your work is important however your use of the word ‘tinkering’ is a big clue. Tinkering means tweaking, pruning, refining, delaying, questioning, reworking and rebuilding, all things that lead to spinning your wheels. Tinkering is motion, not action.
Listening to countless podcasts. I’ll be the first to admit that books and podcasts are amazing tools, but they’re only impactful when you’re implementing what you’ve learned. Listening to a podcast about how to make a sales call is one thing, but picking up the phone and calling a potential design client is another thing entirely. Learning is motion, not action.
Getting a friend to build a financial model. In the early days of starting a service based business a financial model is not that useful or meaningful. What’s useful is banking your first buck. Strategising and planning is motion, not action.

Tom, are you starting to see how some of your efforts might be more motion-y than action-y? Is it possible some of your well intentioned effort is misplaced? Might it be possible that if you were redirected into taking action; heart-in-your-throat, pulse-racing, beads-of-sweat, why-am-I-doing-this type action; that things would start to take shape?

Here’s a little secret. It’s not your website or brand or messaging or strategy or fancy financial model that will make you feel like you’ve got runs on the board. It’s landing your first client and getting that first dollar in your bank account. Because that is proof you can generate income from your skills. It’s evidence supporting your hypothesis that you can build a business.

With that in mind, an action oriented to do list might look like something like this:

Create a pitch deck outlining who you are, the services you offer, and how you can help.
Send 10 sales emails to potential clients per day.
Do 1 sales call per day. Take them before or after work hours, or on your lunch break if you need to.
Offer to do highly discounted (or even free) work for your first few projects. A testimonial and case study is worth its weight in gold.

These are the steps that will land you a client. And once you have a client, you have a business. Once you have a client there’s no turning back. Once you have a client, you’ve started.

And once you’ve started, there will be no stopping you.

— Anna

Got a dilemma MiGoals can help solve?

Have a question about goal setting or personal growth that you’d like answered? We’d love to hear it. Go on, ask us.

Share online

43 comments

The lack of clear and correct information on media platforms has cost a lot to many people. I was also misled, which cost me even more money as I sought to recover my 91,000 USDT. I had worked with 4 hackers without success. It is never easy accepting that you have been scammed. So it’s a constant mental struggle. It’s not easy to share such information with your loved ones either. On my final shot at help-seeking, I came across the name TECH TASK HACKERS on the list of reviewed hackers by cyber security personnel. Spent a couple of evenings doing deep research on this team. Finally, I decided to give them a final shot and so I reached out to them. Very responsive and fast I must say. With a few starter questions(revolving around the amount, date, and addresses to which I lost my funds), we were started. So imagine my surprise when all was recovered within 24 hours. Honestly, I am baffled to date. They made it so easy to achieve what I thought was out of reach. So, anyone in need of some help like I did, in Cryptocurrency or Funds, drop them an email and talk to them. Email: techtaskhackersATprotonmailDOTcom

Walter Brown on November 20, 2024

After exhausting all other options to recover my social media accounts, I was referred to Angelina, a highly skilled professional at META. Her expertise and efficiency were impressive, as she helped me regain access to my account in under 24 hours. If you’re facing similar issues with your account, I highly recommend reaching out to her. You can connect with her on Instagram at Angelina_Christopher1738 or via email at AngelinaChristopher1738@gmail.com.

Jeremy61 on October 22, 2024

Losing crypto online has become alarmingly common, and the sophistication of scammers is ever-increasing. Many individuals find themselves victims of scams, leaving them feeling hopeless and defeated. The emotional toll of losing hard-earned funds can be overwhelming, often leading to a sense of resignation. However, recovery is not just a distant dream; it is a tangible possibility when you reach out to the right sources. I speak from experience. Like many others, I fell prey to a scam that stripped me of my investments. Initially, I felt a wave of disbelief and shame. How could I have been so careless? The regret was suffocating, and for a while, I considered giving up on my crypto journey altogether. Yet, deep down, I knew that quitting was not an option. I realized that I needed to take action rather than wallow in despair. While searching for potential recovery options, I encountered numerous offers that seemed too good to be true. Unfortunately, many so-called “experts” were merely another layer of deception, ready to exploit my vulnerability further. It was frustrating to navigate through the myriad of scams that preyed on victims like me. But then, I stumbled upon a helpful article discussing legitimate recovery avenues. This article rekindled my hope and guided me toward finding real solutions. That’s when I decided to reach out to (→ Folkwin Expert Recovery ). Their approach seemed different from the others I had encountered. They emphasized the importance of thorough research and were transparent about their methods. Their team took the time to understand my situation, offering a personalized plan tailored to my needs. I felt a sense of relief—perhaps I had finally found the help I was looking for. Throughout the recovery process, I learned a crucial lesson: persistence is key. I realized that not giving up, even when faced with setbacks, often leads to better outcomes. The journey was not easy; there were moments of frustration and doubt. However, staying focused on my goal and trusting the process made all the difference. With the right support, I was able to recover a significant portion of my lost funds, which reignited my faith in the crypto space. To all scam victims out there, remember that recovery is possible. It takes diligence, the right resources, and an unwavering spirit. Do not let despair dictate your journey. Seek (→ Folkwin Expert Recovery ), and don’t hesitate to act. Just like I did, you can turn your situation around and reclaim your financial future. Keep fighting; your efforts may very well lead to the success you’ve been searching for.
DETAILS TO CONTACT FOR ASSISTANCE.
WhatsApp:+1 (740)705-0711.
Email: FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY @ TECH-CENTER (.) COM
Website: WWW.FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY.COM
Thanks,
Anne Sashikata .

Anne Sashikata on October 19, 2024

I’m posting this positive feedback about Century Web Recovery, the most credible and trusted cyber security and cryptocurrency recovery company. I was lucky enough to have benefited from their service when I lost my cryptocurrency ( USDT & Btc to be precise) I was able to contact Century Web Recovery Hacker company through their website and submit all the information about my lost cryptocurrency, Century Web Recovery did their investigation with proper professional assistance and transparency, Century Web Recovery was able to recover my stolen cryptocurrency within 72 hours of my request. I’m amazed by their service and I’m hugely grateful for their help in recovering my cryptocurrency. I recommend their services to everyone in need of a cryptocurrency recovery team.

Visit their website at; centurywebrecovery.pro

Email: century (at) cyberservices.com

WhatsApp (+14) (136) (316) (896)

Becky Garry on October 18, 2024