Maybe today was the day.  The rudest person at work interrupted you for the tenth time, your supervisor ignored your brilliant suggestions, and you had to cancel lunch with a friend because a useless meeting was just scheduled up against your lunch break.

You’ve had it. 

It’s time to get serious about starting your own business.

First question:  Where do you start?

Many people know they want to start a business.  And for many the reason to start is to gain control of your own schedule and manage your time as you see fit.  Entrepreneurship is not easy, and will often be frustrating, but being the boss means you have ownership.  You can make the process as difficult or complex as your resources permit.

Yet even after you’ve made the decision to start your business, you are often distracted by the endless directions advice you receive.  From start a business plan to build a website to complete market research, deciding where to start your entrepreneurial dream can be confusing. 

Here are five tips:

1. Pick a business idea (which can, and probably will, change)

If you already have a business idea, skip to point 2.

If you do not have a business idea, pick one.  You do not have to stick with your pick.  Having a business idea simply gives you the context for getting started on the rest of your business.  Points you will learn about Idea A may help you with Idea B. So the time you spend on an idea you do not actually turn into a business will still be useful.

If you have no idea, start with your hobbies and interests.  Where is there a gap you have identified in the marketplace when people say about a particular good or service: I wish we could have this?  Or I wish it could do that?  That is your opening to slip in your business idea.

Pick your business idea first because this will give you a specific topic to focus on while you get through the next four tips.  It’s easier to say, you need 15 minutes to work on a specific idea than it is to continue to sound as if you are just “thinking about” starting a business.

But if you are still lost for an idea and really want to move forward with your entrepreneurial dream, then keep going. Part of “starting” your business will be to define your idea, you can still move forward on the next four steps.

2. Identify your Space

You will want to have somewhere to work on your business. But when you are just getting started your space does not have to be elaborate.  You can decide to work in the bathroom or closet if that’s the only quiet place you can find. 

Maybe you prefer the library or local coffee shop.  All of these options are viable.

But if you choose a space that is not near your home or work, include the time it will take you to travel to and from that space in the time you are setting aside for work.  So if you are going to do 15 minutes of work and it takes you 15 minutes to get where you need to go, you need to set aside 45 minutes to make it happen.

Be realistic about the time you need and how you plan to use it before settling on a space. You might find you need a spot closer to home to preserve your time.

3. Gather your tools

The tools you need to work depend on how you like to work. 

When you are first getting started you might not even think about this topic, but the minute you sit down to do some research you realize you need a notebook (digital or paper?), a cup of coffee or tea, a brighter light (artificial or natural), a power outlet, a sweater/blanket, a timer, a bottle of water, some chips, maybe cookies, light music (Spotify or playlists?)….

And you do not want to make excuses or get up every minute because you forgot to put one of your productivity tools in your work space.

If you have no idea which tools you like to have around you, go ahead and start with nothing, and add your preferences at the end of that day’s work session. 

4. Clear your distractions

In our busy worlds, distractions are not only living all around us – ie. kids and dogs – but digital also.  You have to figure out how to turn everything off for the time you want to work on your business.

For the family, find the time to do your work within the family schedule.  However that works best for you.  Since you have your business idea (see #1), you can tell everyone what you are doing and how you really need to move forward with transitioning to lifestyle freedom.

For digital, you know what you have to do.  Turn off the phone.  Or at least turn off the sound and lay the phone upside down so you cannot see the screen.  And don’t try and work around any other screens like the TV or your partner’s mobile. 

You only need to give yourself that first 15 minutes to get the ball rolling, so push the distractions away.

5. Take 15 minutes

The best way to start a business is just to get started. 

That may sound roundabout but it’s true.  People often make excuses like they do not have enough money or are not sufficiently qualified for a business idea.  But you really do not know the truth behind those excuses because you have never spent any time working on the business.

Take 15 minutes.  I know you have it.  Before you start bingeing on Netflix take 15 minutes to research your business idea. 

What are you researching?

• Similar businesses to see what other people are doing
• Specifics about your business idea and your industry.
• Courses in your area of expertise or about the product or service you are interested in. 

As you continue researching, you will begin to move towards creating your action plan for starting the business.  But it’s just brain-storming at this point.  You do not have to pursue anything formal.  You will likely find that the more time you spend researching your business and putting together ideas, the more time you will have to work on your business.

Before you know it, you will forget to watch Netflix.

Once you get to number 5, you have started your business.  Because when you set aside time to transition your life, every step counts.  From here you will begin to formulate the questions you want to ask, the activities you want to do and even the courses you may want to take to transform your business idea into a viable reality.

You will also start to build your confidence.  The more you know about your business idea and industry, the stronger you will feel about your capabilities and the possibilities you have for making your lifestyle dream come true. 

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