by Case Lane

This is Part Two of Two posts about my new book Recast: The Aspiring Entrepreneur’s Practical Guide to Getting Started with an Online Business.

The book is ten practical actions for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start a business online, live with purpose and achieve their dreams

In this second post, I’m covering the Creative Actions, where aspiring entrepreneurs must understand the options for moving forward with a business idea

Part Two: Recast

When you Recast Yourself as an Entrepreneur, you are deciding to change the way you think, work and act so that you can bring forward – usually from scratch – the vision of a product or service that provides a solution for people who want or need it from you. 

You are doing something exciting and terrifying.

You are aimed against the tide, and this whole societal idea of what you should and should not be doing. 

Maybe it’s a little crazy? 

And maybe it’s the entire idea of progress. 

But how exactly do you do it? 

Recast for Success

The role of Marty McFly in the fabulous Back to the Future movies was originally played by Eric Stoltz.  They had already started filming when the production decided Stoltz was not right for the part.  They wanted Michael J. Fox, who at the time was the star of a hit comedy series called Family Ties.

Now this is Hollywood, and Hollywood does not exactly share talent.  The problem is like having a professional athlete who wants to play two sports.  Like Bo Jackson, who played professional baseball and football at the same time.  Both teams are freaked out that the athlete will be injured in the other sport – and then deny the other team their star.  This might explain why you rarely get the two-sport professional anymore.

When Back to the Future was recast, the production had a problem.  How do you get Michael J Fox in two places at once? Legend says they worked out a deal where a car service, and an assistant took him back and forth between the Back to the Future set and the Family Ties set, and made sure he was where he was supposed to be.

Both sets had to work out a schedule, plan their shooting for when he was available, and the transport had to get him back and forth as required.

Presumably, Michael J Fox could catch up on his sleep in the car.

Both Back to the Future and Family Ties were iconic mega hits, so history can assume everybody was happy. 

But the opportunity for came from working through the logistical and schedule details.

The Creative Actions

For an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to get started with an online business, which requires navigating between an old life, and a new dream, you have to focus on the Creative Actions that bring the dream to fruition.

The five creative actions you need to move forward, follow the five foundational actions discussed in a previous post. As in the book Recast which covers all ten actions together, the count for the creative actions begins at…

6. Identify your Idea

7. Research

8. Connect

9. Create an Action Plan

10. Do Activity #1

6. Identify Your Business Idea

Your business idea is the core value you want to deliver as an entrepreneur.  What is the product or service you believe is wanted or needed by people in your soon-to-be-defined community in the world?

Identify your interests and skills, your passions within those interests and skills, and extract your business idea from that information.

Even if you are not sure about the idea, pick one so you can move forward.  You can always change it later as thousands of entrepreneurs have done before you.

7. Research

Once you have your idea, you begin researching.  This research is specifically about how to get started and set-up a business around your idea. For example, if you want an online store, you begin investigating how to set-up an online store.

Your research can include taking an online course, reading books, listening to podcasts, watching videos – taking notes.  Whatever is the best way you like to approach learning. 

Take notes about key points so you go alone.  For example, if someone outlines a step-by-step, take notes include where there are gaps in your understanding.  Your next research will be to fill in the gaps.

Put together a picture of the work you have to do next.

8. Connect

Part of your research is also action #8 – connecting.  You want to talk to people who have done what you want to do.  If you cannot find like-minded people – you can continue to research specific people by listening to their podcasts, or watching videos and reading their books.

If you can talk to specific people, use the information you gathered in your initial research phase to ask questions that continue to fill in the blanks.

Ask what the gurus leave out!  That’s the most valuable question: What are people not saying about a particular product, service or industry?

9. Create Your Business Action Plan

As you are gathering research, you are creating an action plan. Make a blueprint for the activities you need to do to start your business.

Your blueprint can include activities such as buying your domain name or options for product manufacturing.  Each activity will likely have additional activities attached to it. As you create your action plan, account for any area where there are still questions.

In your Action Plan, include how long an activity is estimated to take, who is needed to do it, and how much it could cost. 

With any cost that looks prohibitive, identify alternatives, or create another action to identify the money.

Keep going through this process until you’ve given yourself a complete overview of all activities you would need to do to get your business up and running. 

But do not keep adding ideas and activities forever.

The key to the entire process is to take Action.  You create a plan only as far as you need to begin creating your business.

10. Complete the First Activity in Your Action Plan

Your final get started action is to complete activity in your action Plan. Finishing the activity will lead you to the next one. Completing your first action gives you momentum – and feedback.  You can begin to see results and get more ideas.

Your Action Plan is a living document.  One that adapts and changes as you take action.  You keep it going with each new move you make.

Summary: Your Creative Actions

When you Recast as an Entrepreneur, you are setting yourself up for a life of – professional satisfaction, financial security and lifestyle freedom – on your terms. 

But you have to be prepared to be an entrepreneur. 

And you have to get started.

Your Creative Actions for Your Entrepreneurial Dream are to:

• Identify your Business Idea
• Research
• Connect
• Create your Action Plan
• Complete your First Activity

Every action you take towards building your business gives you the confidence and momentum to keep going forward.  And if you keep going forward, you avoid falling away to the fears and obstacles that stop many aspiring entrepreneurs from achieving their lifestyle dream.

Disclosure: Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links which earn for eligible purchases at no additional cost to you.

ARE YOU FOLLOWING THE RECAST PATH?

CLICK TO GO TO THE GETTING STARTED FACTOR YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND NEXT:

CONFIDENCE

TIME

MONEY 

VALUE

LIFESTYLE

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Case Lane is delivering a FREE WEBINAR: How to Start an Online Business With An Idea You Champion!

Thursday 10 am PST via Zoom

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WANT TO READ THE BOOK?

You can Download Recast at Amazon.com

Get all the details about how to Recast your life, and become an online entrepreneur in this exciting new book!

Disclosure: Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links, which earn for eligible purchases at no additional cost to you